cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing nitrogen and phosphorus removal potential of five plant species in floating treatment wetlands receiving simulated nursery runoff

The feasibility of using floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) to treat runoff typical of commercial nurseries was investigated using two 8-week trials with replicated mesocosms. Plants were supported by Beemat rafts. Five monoculture treatments of Agrostis alba (red top), Canna × generalis ‘Firebird’ (canna lily), Carex stricta (tussock sedge), Iris ensata ‘Rising Sun’ (Japanese water iris), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), two mixed species treatments, and an unplanted control were assessed. These plant species are used for ornamental, wetland, and biofuel purposes. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removals were evaluated after a 7-day hydraulic retention time (HRT). N removal (sum of ammonium-N, nitrate-N, and nitrite-N) from FTW treatments ranged from 0.255 to 0.738 g·m−2·d−1 (38.9 to 82.4% removal) and 0.147 to 0.656 g·m−2·d−1 (12.9 to 59.6% removal) for trials 1 and 2, respectively. P removal (phosphate-P) ranged from 0.052 to 0.128 g·m−2·d−1 (26.1 to 64.7% removal) for trial 1, and 0.074 to 0.194 g·m−2·d−1 (26.8 to 63.2% removal) for trial 2. Panicum virgatum removed more N and P than any other FTW treatment and the control in both trials. Results show that species selection and timing of FTW harvest impact the rate and mass of nutrient remediation. FTWs can effectively remove N and P from runoff from commercial nurseries.
Detecting ECG Heartbeat Abnormalities using Artificial Neural Networks

The detecting heartbeat abnormalities (i.e. arrhythmia) depends mainly on the examination of ECG signals over an adequate sampling period. This sampling period needs to contain sufficient data that can be extracted as features. Such features provide accurate measures for the diagnosis of heart arrhythmias. The problem, however, is that the analysis of ECG data requires to properly detect arrhythmias requires many ECG samples to be collected from patients and requires the extract of many features (e.g. temporal or morphological properties). In this paper, we introduce a neural network based solution that can detect heartbeat abnormalities with aim to minimize the feature-set required during the analysis process. Throughout the paper, we present results from testing our neural network using the MIT/BIH Arrhythmia database which show an accuracy rate of 98.70% success rate. We also provide insights to efficiently classify heartbeat rhythms as normal, bradycardia or tachycardia.
Identifying causes of persistent HIV viremia in adult patients at an academic medical center.

Objectives Despite many advances in medicine, not all individuals with HIV are able to achieve complete virologic suppression. This retrospective study identifies variables associated with persistent HIV viremia in an academic clinic. Methods We studied 66 HIV-infected patients with a viral load of >200 copies/mL over 1 year, with controls matched 1:1 via a propensity score utilizing age at diagnosis, era of diagnosis, gender, and initial CD4 count. We collected data on multiple variables including medications, adherence, comorbidities, hospitalizations, and insurance status. Conditional logistic regression was used for unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Results A total of 66 viremic cases/matched controls were included. Fewer viremic patients were on antiretroviral therapy for all 12 months (45% vs 77%; odds ratio: 0.33, p = .018) and fewer were of white race (52% vs 70%; odds ratio: 0.49, p = .053). Hospitalization (11% vs 3%; odds ratio: 10, p = .028), underinsurance (20% vs 1%; odds ratio: 5.87, p = .022), and conflicting personal beliefs about their disease (17% vs 3%; odds ratio: 5.5, p = .027) were more common in viremic patients. Psychiatric illness increased the odds of viremia in patients who had four or more visits (odds ratio: 1.63/6.64 with four/five clinic visits, respectively). Conclusion Psychiatric illness is an important contributor to the presence of persistent viremia in HIV-infected patients and deserves further study.
Athletic Trainer Burnout: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Objective To identify the causes, effects, and prevalence of burnout in athletic trainers (ATs) identified in the literature. Data Sources EBSCO: SPORTDiscus and OneSearch were accessed, using the ...
Dispersion of solute in straining flows and boundary layers

Solute dispersion due to an instantaneously released source in steady, laminar, axisymmetric flows with an axial inflow and radial outflow is investigated analytically. Attention is given to large-time characteristics of dispersion, where the concentration reduces in proportion to e−2λτ, where λ is an eigenvalue that depends on the axial inflow and τ is the time measured in units of axial-diffusion times. Prospects of some other flows are also considered.
Maps in History: Renaissance door maps in Florence

Dominating the Piazza della Signoria in the heart of Florence stands the massive fourteenth-century cubical town hall with a thin but 94-m tall clocktower. Here Dominican friar Ignazio Danti (1536–...
Are There Multiple Kinds of Episodic Memory? An fMRI Investigation Comparing Autobiographical and Recognition Memory Tasks

What brain regions underlie retrieval from episodic memory? The bulk of research addressing this question with fMRI has relied upon recognition memory for materials encoded within the laboratory. Another, less dominant tradition has used autobiographical methods, whereby people recall events from their lifetime, often after being cued with words or pictures. The current study addresses how the neural substrates of successful memory retrieval differed as a function of the targeted memory when the experimental parameters were held constant in the two conditions (except for instructions). Human participants studied a set of scenes and then took two types of memory test while undergoing fMRI scanning. In one condition (the picture memory test), participants reported for each scene (32 studied, 64 nonstudied) whether it was recollected from the prior study episode. In a second condition (the life memory test), participants reported for each scene (32 studied, 64 nonstudied) whether it reminded them of a specific event from their preexperimental lifetime. An examination of successful retrieval (yes responses) for recently studied scenes for the two test types revealed pronounced differences; that is, autobiographical retrieval instantiated with the life memory test preferentially activated the default mode network, whereas hits in the picture memory test preferentially engaged the parietal memory network as well as portions of the frontoparietal control network. When experimental cueing parameters are held constant, the neural underpinnings of successful memory retrieval differ when remembering life events and recently learned events.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Episodic memory is often discussed as a solitary construct. However, experimental traditions examining episodic memory use very different approaches, and these are rarely compared to one another. When the neural correlates associated with each approach have been directly contrasted, results have varied considerably and at times contradicted each other. The present experiment was designed to match the two primary approaches to studying episodic memory in an unparalleled manner. Results suggest a clear separation of systems supporting memory as it is typically tested in the laboratory and memory as assessed under autobiographical retrieval conditions. These data provide neurobiological evidence that episodic memory is not a single construct, challenging the degree to which different experimental traditions are studying the same construct.
Advances in Intra-abdominal Sepsis: What Is New?

We have reviewed the literature regarding recent advances in the management of intra-abdominal sepsis, with a focus on antimicrobial agents, duration of therapy, and source control. Several important developments in these areas are discussed in this review. The introduction of a new antimicrobial agent—ceftolozane/tazobactam—marks the first novel agent for treating intra-abdominal infections in a number of years, and its indications for use and supporting evidence are reviewed here. In addition, we discuss recent evidence that clarifies the importance of early source control for intra-abdominal infection and new data that suggests that an abbreviated course of antimicrobial therapy for intra-abdominal infection is equally effective as prolonged therapy.
Basis of the electrocardiogram in right venricular hypertrophy. Relationship between ventricular depolarization and body surface potentials in dogs with spontaneous RVH-contrasted with normal dogs.

Abstract Equipotential surface maps were generated by digital computer technique from 200 thoracic ECG's recorded from normal dogs and 5 dogs with spontaneous RVH. Corrected VCG's were also recorded using the axial lead system. Epicardial and transmural ventricular activation studies were performed in all animals and sequence maps of ventricular depolarization were produced. The mechanisms of altered QRS potentials in RVH were demonstrated by correlating the major surface and cardiac electrical events. Differences in the patterns of body surface potential distribution were related to specific variations in the distribution of ventricular mass in 2 forms of RVH. The information in equipotential surface maps and VCG's was qualitatively compared by correlating the 2 displays with the changing distribution of depolarizing wavefronts. The distribution of surface potentials and vectorcardiographic displacements were observed to be primarily influenced by discontinuities in the activation distribution. The size of these discontinuities or openings and their locations in relationship to the torso were important in determining whether surface potentials were dipolar or nondipolar. It was also observed that changing nondipolar potentials correlated with the sequence of localized depolarization of the heart, both in the normal dogs and those with RVH.
Inverse scattering solutions of the hunter-saxton equation

The nonlinear partial differential equation was proposed by Hunter and Saxton as an asymptotic model equation for nematic liquid crystals. Hunter and Zheng showed that it is a member of the Harry Dym hierarchy of integrable flows, and solved the equation explicitly for a family of finite dimensional, piecewise linear functions in the case when ux has compact support. In this note, the associated inverse scattering problem is used to obtain the explicit solutions of the finite dimensional flows in both the compact and non-compact case.
Processing and characterization of a model functionally gradient material

A technique for preparing model Functionally Gradient Materials (FGM) using polyester resin and cenospheres is developed. The cenosphere volume fraction in the polyester matrix is continuously varied through a buoyancy assisted casting process. FGMs having cenosphere volume fraction varying from 0 to 0.45 over a length of 250 mm are prepared. The overall properties of the FGM are varied by adding plasticizer to the polyester matrix. The physical, elastic and fracture properties of the prepared FGMs are evaluated as a function of location to generate the property profiles. The results of the material characterization indicate that, the quasi-static and dynamic modulus of the material increases and the material density decreases in the direction of increasing cenosphere volume fraction. The quasi-static fracture toughness increases up to a certain volume fraction of cenospheres and then decreases. Fractographic analyses of the fractured specimens indicate a change in the fracture mechanism as the cenosphere volume fraction increases. Estimate of the composite modulus using the Halpin-Tsai model with porosity correction matches closely with the test results.
Automated Deduction Techniques for Classification in Description Logic Systems

Mechanical theorem provers are becoming increasingly more powerful, and we believe that it is time to examine whether certain tasks that have formerly been accomplished by other means can now be performed efficiently by a theorem prover. One such task is classification in description logic-based knowledge representation systems. Description logic systems provide a formalism for expressing knowledge based on concepts and roles. Subsumption checking is one important reasoning faculty offered by such systems. In this article we use a theorem prover coupled with a finite-model finder to perform subsumption checking. This approach is complete and sound for description logic systems whose underlying logic has the finite model property. The performance is compared with several other well-known description logic systems. Some efficient strategies to compute the subsumption hierarchy, known as classification, are also described.
Are physicians too rude

Whither the good-natured physician with the Norman Rockwell smile? Doctors attending the annual meeting of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada last month were asking that question after learning that by far the most common complaint against physicians is rudeness to patients.
A Semantics for Groups and Events

First published in 1990, this dissertation presents an event-based model-theoretic semantics for plural expressions in English. The author defends against counterarguments the hypothesis that distributive predicates are predicates of groups, and not just individuals. By defining the collective/distributive distinction in terms of event structure, he solves formal problems with previous group-level analyses. The author notes that certain adverbials have a systematic ambiguity between a reading indicating collective action, and readings indicating spatial or temporal proximity; the event-based definition of collective action makes possible a parallel treatment of these readings. This book presents a formal proposal on the algebraic structure of groups and events, and a semantically based analysis of number agreement.
Silica Surfaces: Characterization

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 NMR Strategies for Silica Surface Selectivity 3 1H 29Si CP in Silicas 4 1H 17O Cross Polarization 5 Proton NMR Approaches 6 Correlating 1H-based and 29Si-based Information 7 Subsurface Silanols 8 Summary and Conclusions 9 Acknowledgements 10 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Round-Cell Mutant of Salmonella typhimurium

A mutation at the divD locus in Salmonella typhimurium confers a round-cell morphology and enhances cell division under certain growth conditions.
Biomarkers of Nanoparticles Impact on Biological Systems

Studies of nanoscale mineral fibers have demonstrated that the toxic and carcinogenic effects are related to the surface area and surface activity of inhaled particles. Particle surface characteristics are considered to be key factors in the generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species and are related to the development of apoptosis or cancer. Existing physico-chemical methods do not always allow estimation of the nanoparticles impact on organismal and cellular levels. The aim of this study was to develop marker system for evaluation the toxic and carcinogenic effects of nanoparticles on cells. The markers are designed with respect to important nanoparticles characteristics for specific and sensitive assessment of their impact on biological system. We have studied DNA damage, the activity of xanthine oxidoreductase influencing the level of free radicals, bioenergetic status, phospholipids profile and formation of 1H-NMR-visible mobile lipid domains in Ehrlich carcinoma cells. The efficiency of the proposed marker system was tested in vivo and in vitro with the use of C60 fullerene nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Our data suggest that multiwalled carbon nanotubes and fullerene C60 may pose genotoxic effect, change energy metabolism and membrane structure, alter free radical level via xanthine oxidase activation and cause mobile lipid domains formation as determined in vivo and in vitro studies on Ehrlich carcinoma cells.
Investigation of Single-Bit and Multiple-Bit Upsets in Oxide RRAM-Based 1T1R and Crossbar Memory Arrays

In this paper, the susceptibility of oxide-based resistive switching random memory (RRAM) to heavy ion strikes is investigated. A physics-based SPICE model calibrated with ${\hbox{HfO}}_{\rm x}$ RRAM is employed for circuit and array-level simulations. The RRAM state-flipping is attributed to the transient photocurrents at neighboring transistors. Single-bit-upset (SBU) caused by either single-event upset (SEU) or multiple-event upset (MEU) is modeled and simulated in the one-transistor and one-resistor (1T1R) array, which corroborates with experimental observations. In addition, circuit simulation is performed to investigate the impact of transient-induced soft errors in a $1024 \times 1024$ crossbar array. The sensitive locations in crossbar arrays are the driver circuits at the edge of the array. The simulations show that the crossbar array with ${\hbox{HfO}}_{\rm x}$ RRAM is of high radiation tolerance thanks to the V/2 bias scheme. However, multiple-bit upset (MBU) may occur if using other oxide materials with lower operation voltage. Voltage spikes generated at the edge of the array may propagate along rows or columns as there is no isolation between cells in the crossbar array.
Interferon gamma allows long-term maintenance of VZV-infected neurons in vitro

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a neurotropic alphaherpesvirus. During primary infection, VZV causes varicella (chicken pox), after which the virus go latent in ganglionic neurons along the entire neuraxis before reactivating decades later to cause zoster (shingles). Interferon gamma (IFNγ), produced during viral infection, stimulates transcription of genes that mediate antiviral responses. Herein, it was tested whether IFNγ treatment of human neurons inhibits VZV infection of human neurons in vitro . Infected neurons not treated with IFNγ developed a cytopathic effect in 4 weeks, during which time VZV DNA increased 7-fold and viral RNA accumulated. Infected neurons cultured in the presence of IFNγ for 8 weeks or infected neurons cultured in IFNγ for 4 weeks followed by cytokine removal for an additional 4 weeks had only a 2.8- and 3.6-fold increase of viral DNA, respectively in the 8 weeks post-infection. Furthermore, levels of VZV transcripts did not increase between 4 and 8 weeks post-infection when IFNγ was removed at 4 weeks post-infection, and even began to decrease when the cultures were maintained in IFNγ for the entire 8 weeks. In accordance with reduced DNA accumulation and mRNA levels when infected neurons were maintained in IFNγ, less CPE was evident at 8 weeks post-infection compared to cultures which had IFNγ removed at 4 weeks post-infection. Replication of VZV DNA and transcription of viral genes was inhibited by IFNγ, and the extent of virus gene expression in IFNγ-treated neurons compared to VZV expression in latently infected human ganglia remains to be determined.
Traceability of performance evaluation materials

One of the most critical elements of a performance evaluation (PE) program for radioactivity measurements is the traceability of the PE materials to the national standards. The requirements and criteria for the production of traceable environmental and radiobioassay PE materials have been defined by ANSI N42.22 and ANSI N13.30 standards. It is important to note that use of traceable source materials does not necessarily ensure the traceability of subsequently derived PE materials unless verification measurements exist in conjunction with the preparation processes. This paper describes the protocol currently used by NIST for the preparation and verification of air filter, acidified water, spiked soil, synthetic urine, and synthetic fecal PE materials for low-level radioactivity measurements. The process involves gravimetric dilutions and mixing of primary radionuclide NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRMs), addition of the derived master solution to sample matrices, and subsequent verification measurements. Several gamma-emitters were used to trace the gravimetric dilutions and spike addition through an unbroken chain of gamma comparison measurements. The massic activities of alpha- and beta-emitters in the diluted solutions and PE samples were also measured by radiochemical methods and compared with their gravimetric values. A correlation analysis demonstrated that the gamma emitters quantitatively followed 90Sr, 238U, 238Pu, and 241Am throughout the dilution and spiking and can be used as effective process monitors. The statistical results from t-tests, box plots, and normal probability tests suggested that traceability of radionuclides in the PE materials to their primary standards can be verified to within 1%, with an overall precision better than 2% (1s).
Yes, yes, IL-6: what else?

in this issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology , the article “Time course of changes in inflammatory markers during a 6-mo exercise intervention in sedentary middle-aged men: a randomized-controlled trial” by Thompson and colleagues ([6][1]), independent of the specific sets of results
Do women medical students outperform men in obstetrics and gynecology

PURPOSE: To determine whether there is a difference between the performances of women and men students in the study of obstetrics and gynecology. METHOD: 127 students in the classes of 1996 and 1997 at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine studied obstetrics and gynecology as part of a four-week module on human reproduction in the fall of their second year. The module was followed by an 80-question multiple-choice examination. In their third year, the students rotated through a six-week clinical clerkship, during which they were scored on many aspects of their work, including relationships with patients. The present study examined by gender the students' overall clerkship scores, their ability to relate to patients, and their performances on the multiple-choice examination. RESULTS: No significant difference between the scores of the women students and the men students were found for the module's multiple-choice examination or for the clerkship's score on relationships with patients. However, the women scored significantly better than the men in the clerkship's overall score. CONCLUSION: The women students clearly outperformed the men students during the clinical clerkship on obstetrics and gynecology. The reasons for this are not immediately apparent. Further investigation is necessary.
What is a surgeon

I wish to thank you for the distinct privilege and pleasure of serving as president of the Southwestern Surgical Congress during this past year. It has been a year of change and challenge, but each of my predecessors in this office could have made the same statement. Like them, I have faced the prospect of delivering a presidential address, and wondered what would be pertinent to an organization of surgeons of diverse geographic locations, practice set-
Fragments of Death: Configurations of My Mother

This article is a story about the author’s experiences dealing with her mother who had manic depression for a large part of her life. In the story, the author attempts to have the reader understand the difficulties of dealing with a mentally ill parent; the feelings of guilt, frustration, and fear; as well as the deep sense of loss after her death.
Free convection heat transfer from horizontal wires to pseudoplastic fluids

Abstract Experimental Nusselt values are reported for free convection heat transfer from small diameter horizontal wires to pseudoplastic fluids.
Responsiveness in newborn infants of overweight and normal weight parents

In exploration of the relation between obesity and heightened responsiveness to prominent stimuli, an examination was made of the visual and taste responsiveness of 1–3 day old babies whose parents were both overweight or were both of normal weight. Twelve infants of overweight parentage (OP) and 12 infants of normal weight parentage (NP) were presented with three trials with a pair of red stripes, and with three different concentrations of a glucose solution followed by sterile water. Results indicated differences in visual and taste responsiveness between NP and OP babies. OP babies' average responses to water following glucose were lower than those of NP babies. Presented with two stripes in the visual field, OP babies shifted their gaze significantly more often and with greater magnitude than NP babies did. NP and OP babies did not differ significantly on a variety of physical and developmental measures; estimated gestational age, firthweight, skinfold thickness (SFT), and weight/length2 (BMI) were similar for the two groups. Supplemental analyses of the taste data, classifying babies according to SFT and BMI, however, indicated that while most babies preferred glucose solutions of increasing concentration, “thin” babies did not.
Oxygen metabolism, oxidative stress and acid-base physiology of dental plaque biofilms

Dental plaque is a natural biofilm which has been a focus of attention for many years because of its known roles in caries and periodontal diseases. Acid production by plaque bacteria leads to the erosion of tooth mineral in caries, and the cariogenicity of plaque is related to population levels of acid-tolerant organisms such as mutans streptococci. However, the biofilm character of plaque allows for survival of a diverse flora, including less acid-tolerant organisms, some of which can produce ammonia from arginine or urea to counter acidification. Plaque is often considered to be relatively anaerobic. However, evidence is presented here that both supragingival and subgingival plaque have active oxygen metabolism and that plaque bacteria, including anaerobes, have developed defenses against oxidative stress. Even in subgingival plaque associated with periodontitis, measured residual oxygen levels are sufficient to allow for oxygen metabolism by organisms considered to be extremely anaerobic such as Treponema denticola, which metabolizes oxygen by means of NADH oxidases and produces the protective enzymes superoxide dismutase and NADH peroxidase. The finding that plaque bacteria produce a variety of protective enzymes is a good indicator that oxidative stress is a part of their everyday life. The biofilm character of plaque allows for population diversity and coexistence of aerobes, anaerobes and microaerophiles. Overall, agents that affect oxidative metabolism offer possibilities for reducing the pathogenic activities of plaque.
New approach to prepare Pt-based hydrogen diffusion anodes tolerant to CO for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Abstract A new approach to prepare Pt-based hydrogen diffusion anodes for PEMFCs based on galvanostatic pulsed electrodeposition is demonstrated to be a reliable alternative to the conventional electrode preparation methods. The performance of the PtRu electrodeposited anodes depends on the electrodeposition parameters such as the peak current, on time, off time, and the total charge applied. The peak current density and the relaxation time are crucial in the control of electrode performance. Electrodes prepared using a cathodic peak current of 0.400 A cm −2 , a duty cycle of 5.66% and a charge density of 6 C cm −2 demonstrate high catalytic performance towards hydrogen oxidation.
Observation of random π phase jumps in a ring laser with backscattering

Abstract We have observed jumps of ±π in the phase difference between the two counterpropagating modes of a HeNe ring laser, whenever the complex backscattering coefficients R 1 , R 2 satisfy the condition R 1 + R ∗ 2 =0. The experiments made use of two retro-reflectors that allowed light to be reflected back into the ring laser cavity with controllable amplitudes and phases. The phase jumps are usually accompanied by oscillatory instabilities of the two mode intensities. The observed behavior is found to be consistent with computer solutions of the coupled equations of motion.
OSMOTIC AND METABOLIC ALTERATIONS OF MITOCHONDRIAL SIZE.

Sustained contraction (dehydration) of rat liver mitochondria can be readily produced by increasing the tonicity of the outside media, provided Ca++ is removed by EDTA, fatty acids are removed by albumin, and a source of chemical energy (mitochondrial substrate or ATP) is present. This was demonstrated both gravimetrically and turbidimetrically. It was also demonstrated that the net movement of sucrose and H2O under altered conditions of tonicity in mitochondria was dependent on the state of the mitochondria; e.g., in the presence of EDTA, diffusion was blocked, both into and out of mitochondria, whereas, in the presence of EDTA and electron-transport substrates, movement of sucrose and water out of mitochondria was increased. In the presence of Ca++, gramicidin, or fatty acids, diffusion of sucrose into and out of mitochondria is very rapid. Mitochondria obey osmotic law only after Ca++ and fatty acids are removed from them.
Risk Stratification in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy- Associated Desmosomal Mutation Carriers

Background— We investigated the role of phenotypic characteristics in stratifying the risk of sustained ventricular arrhythmias in patients harboring arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy–associated mutations. Methods and Results— Clinical, electrocardiographic, and arrhythmic outcome (composite measure of first occurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia/resuscitated sudden cardiac death/sudden cardiac death/appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy) data were obtained for 215 patients (104 families; 85% PKP-2). During a mean follow-up of 7 years, 86 (40%) patients experienced the arrhythmic outcome. Event-free survival was significantly lower among probands ( P <0.001) and symptomatic ( P <0.001) patients. Integration of ECG repolarization and depolarization abnormalities allowed for differential risk categorization. Event-free survival at 5 years for the low-risk ECG group (0–1 T inversions or minor depolarization changes) was 97% versus 81% for the intermediate-risk ECG group (2 T inversions+minor depolarization changes) versus 33% for the high-risk ECG group (≥3 T inversions±major or minor depolarization changes; P <0.001). Incremental arrhythmic risk was seen in patients with increasing premature ventricular complex count on a Holter ( P <0.001). Proband status (hazard ratio, 7.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.8–22.5; P <0.001), ≥3 T-wave inversions (hazard ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–14.5; P =0.035), and male sex (hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–2.8; P =0.004) were independent predictors of the first arrhythmic event on multivariable analysis. Conclusions— Pedigree evaluation, an ECG, and a Holter examination provide for comprehensive arrhythmic risk stratification in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy–associated mutations. We propose an approach to risk stratification based on these variables.
Scanning in situ Spectroscopy platform for imaging surgical breast tissue specimens

A non-contact localized spectroscopic imaging platform has been developed and optimized to scan 1x1cm2 square regions of surgically resected breast tissue specimens with ~150-micron resolution. A color corrected, image-space telecentric scanning design maintained a consistent sampling geometry and uniform spot size across the entire imaging field. Theoretical modeling in ZEMAX allowed estimation of the spot size, which is equal at both the center and extreme positions of the field with ~5% variation across the designed waveband, indicating excellent color correction. The spot sizes at the center and an extreme field position were also measured experimentally using the standard knife-edge technique and were found to be within ~8% of the theoretical predictions. Highly localized sampling offered inherent insensitivity to variations in background absorption allowing direct imaging of local scattering parameters, which was validated using a matrix of varying concentrations of Intralipid and blood in phantoms. Four representative, pathologically distinct lumpectomy tissue specimens were imaged, capturing natural variations in tissue scattering response within a given pathology. Variations as high as 60% were observed in the average reflectance and relative scattering power images, which must be taken into account for robust classification performance. Despite this variation, the preliminary data indicates discernible scatter power contrast between the benign vs malignant groups, but reliable discrimination of pathologies within these groups would require investigation into additional contrast mechanisms.
B Cell Receptor Signaling: Picky About PI3Ks

The B cell receptor (BCR) and the pre-BCR control cell fate at many stages of B cell development, survival, and antigen response. Most of these processes require the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Previous work has pointed to p110delta as the key catalytic isoform of PI3K for many B cell responses. A study of mice with different combinations of PI3K mutations confirms the central role of p110delta in agonist-mediated signaling, while identifying an unexpected function for the p110alpha isoform in tonic signaling by the pre-BCR and mature BCR.
Variable selection for spatial Poisson point processes via a regularization method

Abstract It is often of interest to use regression analysis to study the relationship between occurrence of events in space and spatially-indexed covariates. One model for such regression analysis is the Poisson point process. Here, we develop a method to perform the selection of covariates and the estimation of model parameters simultaneously for this model via a regularization method. We assess the finite-sample properties of our method with a simulation study. In addition, we propose a variant of our method that allows the selection of covariates at multiple pixel resolutions. For illustration, we consider the locations of a tree species, Beilschmiedia pendula , in a study plot at Barro Colorado Island in central Panama. We find that Beilschmiedia pendula occurs in greater abundance at locations with higher elevation and steeper slope. Also, we identify three species to which Beilschmiedia pendula tends to be attracted, two species by which it appears to be repelled, and a species with no apparent relationship.
Abiotic controls on the functional structure of soil food webs

The hypothesis that the trophic structure of soil food webs changes as a result of the abiotic environment was examined by reviewing studies of soil biota. In dry soils with a water potential below −1.5 MPa, most bacteria, protozoans, and many species of nematodes are not active. These taxa persist in the soil in a state of anhydrobiosis. Because soil fungi grow at soil water potentials of −6.0 to −8.0 MPa, soil food webs in dry environments appear to be fungal-based and fungal grazers in dry environments appear to be predominantly fungiphagous mites. There is indirect evidence that some species of fungiphagous mites remain inactive in dry soils in a state of “cryptobiosis”. In habitats where there is insufficient vegetative cover to shade and modify the soil surface, the functional soil food web consists of fungi and a few taxa of soil acari for extended periods of time.
The Intrinsic-Extrinsic Dichotomy: Toward Conceptual Clarity

In this article the authors examine and define the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation as well as intrinsic and extrinsic outcome. They examine these concepts in the context of employee motivation, noting that intrinsically motivated employees attend to their work due to feelings of self-fulfillment where as extrinsically motivated employees go about their jobs while being driven by factors or events whose delivery is dependent on a source outside of the immediate task. The authors note that the debate will surely continue over this subject and its application in social psychology and urge researchers to continue examining organizational behavior.
Nonallelic heterogeneity in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa with incomplete penetrance.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of retinal diseases in which photoreceptor cells throughout the retina degenerate. Although there is considerable genetic heterogeneity (autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked forms exist), there is a possibility that some clinically defined subtypes of the disease may be the result of mutations at the same locus. One possible clinically defined subtype is that of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) with incomplete penetrance. Whereas in most families with ADRP, carriers can be clearly identified because of visual loss, ophthalmological findings, or abnormal electroretinograms (ERGs), in occasional families some obligate carriers are asymptomatic and have normal or nearly normal ERGs even late in life. A recent paper reported the mapping of the diseases locus in one pedigree (designated adRP7) with ADRP with incomplete penetrance to chromosome 7p. To test the idea that ADRP with incomplete penetrance may be genetically homogeneous, we have evaluated whether a different family with incomplete penetrance also has a disease gene linked to the same region. 4 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
Isotopic uric acid in gouty and rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with probenecid and phenylbutazone.

ConclusionNeither phenylbutazone nor probenecid caused a statistically significant uricosuria in 2 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, even though these drugs decreased the pool size of uric acid, increased the turnover rate, and decreased the serum urate level. In 3 gouty patients and 1 rheumatoid arthritis patient with an elevated serum urate concentration the drugs caused statistically significant uricosuria but variable effects on the pool size, turnover rate and serum urate concentration. In 1 patient with rheumatoid arthritis the results were equivocal. In 4 of these 5 cases the uricosuric effect of probenecid was statistically greater than that of phenylbutazone. It is postulated that the uricosuric drugs such as phenylbutazone and probenecid will produce statistically significant uricosuria only in those cases in which increased body stores of uric acid are present. The present studies are based on experimental periods of 1-2 weeks for each regimen and the data do not indicate what happens in the ...
Examination of parameters affecting the 5β-hydroxylation of digitoxigenin by immobilised cells of Daucus carota

Cells of a Daucus carota suspension culture were entrapped in a matrix of calcium alginate. The immobilised cells, incubated in a buffer mixture of sucrose, nitrate, KCl, CaCl2, 2-(N-morpholino)-ethane sulphonic acid at pH 5.5, hydroxylated digitoxigenin. When compared under the same incubation conditions, freely suspended cells biotransformed digitoxigenin at a faster rate. Periplogenin formation was maximal at pH 5.3 and temperatures of 26°–34°C. The hydroxylase activity of the entrapped cells adapted to the presence of 20 mM CaCl2 over a 12 day incubation. The diffusion barrier established on entrapment of the cells could not be overcome by addition of detergents or methanol. Controlled addition of chloroform (at 1/4 and 1/2 saturation) did stimulate hydroxylation of digitoxigenin without adversely affecting cell viability. The rate of hydroxylation of digitoxigenin was linear over an immobilised cell concentration of 0–7 mg dry weight and a digitoxigenin concentration of 0–20 mg/L. Five consecutive batch bioconversions at a rate greater than 60% could be achieved before the biocatalyst was inactivated. The results are discussed in relation to improving the hydroxylation reaction by immobilised D. carota and other reactions performed by immobilised plant cells.
Environmental Effects on Unsymmetric Composite Laminates

In order to take full advantage of the tailorability of composite materials, the response of unsymmetric composite laminates is studied in an integrated analytical/ex perimental program. The laminates tested include a symmetric and an unsymmetric layup, [0 2/452]s and [04/454] I , constructed of the IM7/977-2 graphite epoxy material system pro duced by Fiberite. The test conditions simulated mclude both ambient and hot/wet condi tions in addition to tension and torsion. A quasi three-dimensional finite element program is used to evaluate the stress-strain response of these laminates. These responses are com pared with experimental observations.
Neuropeptide Y receptor agonists: Multiple effects on spontaneous activity in the paraventricular hypothalamus

Abstract In vitro rat hypothalamic slices were used to examine the ability of neuropeptide Y (NPY), and the putative Y1 and Y2 receptor agonists [Pro34]NPY, and [C2]NPY, to modify spontaneous single-neuron discharge in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). NPY and [Pro34]NPY, at high concentrations (1500 nM), decreased discharge rates. At intermediate concentrations (150 nM) these peptides produced multiple effects, including increases, decreases, and biphasic changes. At lower concentrations (0.15–15 nM), they typically increased discharge rates. In contrast, [C2]NPY, at all concentrations (1.5–1500 nM), predominantly increased discharge rates. Thus, these NPY sybtype agonists have multiple effects on discharge rate, which may be due to action on multiple NPY receptor subtypes.
American Roulette — Contaminated Dietary Supplements

In one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, one portly police sergeant has more to worry about than crime. His doctor had been encouraging him for years to lose weight, and like millions of other Americans, he decided to try a weight-loss supplement to help him shed his extra pounds. But instead of losing weight, he lost his job. According to the label, his diet pills, which were imported from Brazil and sold in the United States, contained vitamin E, centella, senna, and cascara, among other “natural” ingredients. Not included on the label was the amphetamine detected . . .
Structure-Function Relationships in OxlT, the Oxalate/Formate Transporter of Oxalobacter formigenes TOPOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TRANSMEMBRANE HELIX 11 AS VISUALIZED BY SITE-DIRECTED FLUORESCENT LABELING

Analysis of hydropathy suggests that in OxlT, the oxalate/formate antiporter of Oxalobacter formigenes, lysine 355 is within transmembrane helix no. 11. To test this idea, we used single-cysteine, histidine-tagged OxlT variants to study the organization of a 30-residue segment (residues 344–373) containing this region. Topology was examined by probing the A345C and A370C proteins with Oregon Green maleimide carboxylic acid, an impermeant and fluorescent thiol-reactive agent. Examination of purified protein showed that only A370C was fluorescent after treating intact cells with the probe, while both proteins were modified in tests with isolated membrane ghosts. In addition, labeling of A370C, but not A345C, was blocked when external cysteines were protected with the impermeant and nonfluorescent agent, methanethiosulfonate ethyltrimethylammonium. These findings confirm that A345 faces the cytoplasm, while A370C faces the periplasm. A similar study focused on 13 single-cysteine variants positioned throughout the target segment. That work revealed a striking discontinuity in reactivity toward Oregon Green maleimide; cysteines within a 10-residue central core (residues 351–360) were not labeled when membranes were probed, but were readily modified after protein denaturation. We suggest this core resides within the lipid bilayer, unavailable to an impermeant reporter. Since this region includes position 355, we also suggest that lysine 355 lies within the OxlT hydrophobic sector, where it may facilitate the binding and translocation of the anionic substrates, oxalate and formate.
Direct reconstruction of PET receptor binding parametric images using a simplified reference tissue model

Molecular imaging using dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) can provide in vivo images of physiologically or biochemically important parameters. Direct reconstruction of parametric images from dynamic PET sinograms is statistically more efficient than the conventional indirect methods, which perform image reconstruction and kinetic modeling in two separate steps. Most existing direct reconstruction methods are derived based on a known blood input function. This paper presents a direct reconstruction algorithm using a simplified reference tissue model, which does not require a blood input function. We have derived a minorization-maximization algorithm to find the penalized maximum likelihood solution. Computer simulations show that the proposed method has better bias-variance tradeoff than the conventional indirect method for estimating parametric images of receptor binding potential using dynamic PET.
Predicting crystalline lens fall caused by accommodation from changes in wavefront error.

Purpose To illustrate and develop a method for estimating crystalline lens decentration as a function of accommodative response using changes in wavefront error and show the method and limitations using previously published data (2004) from 2 iridectomized monkey eyes so that clinicians understand how spherical aberration can induce coma, in particular in intraocular lens surgery. Settings College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, USA. Design Evaluation of diagnostic test or technology. Methods Lens decentration was estimated by displacing downward the wavefront error of the lens with respect to the limiting aperture (7.0 mm) and ocular first surface wavefront error for each accommodative response (0.00 to 11.00 diopters) until measured values of vertical coma matched previously published experimental data (2007). Lens decentration was also calculated using an approximation formula that only included spherical aberration and vertical coma. Results The change in calculated vertical coma was consistent with downward lens decentration. Calculated downward lens decentration peaked at approximately 0.48 mm of vertical decentration in the right eye and approximately 0.31 mm of decentration in the left eye using all Zernike modes through the 7th radial order. Calculated lens decentration using only coma and spherical aberration formulas was peaked at approximately 0.45 mm in the right eye and approximately 0.23 mm in the left eye. Conclusions Lens fall as a function of accommodation was quantified noninvasively using changes in vertical coma driven principally by the accommodation-induced changes in spherical aberration. The newly developed method was valid for a large pupil only. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Fluorescent lighting in wartime britain

Britain's war production and the development of fluorescent lighting in that country have had profound effects on each other. How this modern lighting is aiding Britain's war program and how black-out requirements and war-industry regulations have speeded up the development of fluorescent lighting are explained here by the President of the British Illuminating Engineering Society.
Improving Practice through Scholarship: An Uncommon Record of Achievement.

I write this article from the perspective of a community college research practitioner, an institutional researcher whose daily work is intended primarily to affect policies, procedures and underst...
Dependable software by design.

The article looks at how powerful computer analysis tools are helping software engineers to ensure the reliability of their designs. The author reviews how major software failures have often occurred because of crucial design flaws are discovered too late. Details related to a new generation of software design tools are presented. INSETS: Overview/Software Design Checkers;Debugging Cancer Therapy Machines;Tools for Cheking Software Designs;MORE TO EXPLORE