cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ischemic myocardial injury during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

Abstract ECG's and serum levels of SGOT, LDH, and CPK were examined during the immediate postoperative period in 126 patients who had cardiac surgery during cardiopulmonary bypass. None had coronary disease and valve replacement was performed in 97 patients. Miscellaneous procedures not involving the coronary arteries were performed in 29. In surviving patients, ECG signs of acute myocardial infarction appeared in 8 (7 per cent) and changes compatible with acute ischemic injury were seen in 38 (30 per cent). Elevation of SGOT exceeding 90 units occurred in 32 per cent of patients and LDH levels over 900 units occurred in 37 per cent. In patients with ECG evidence of postoperative infarction or ischemia, 70 per cent had abnormal SGOT levels and 70 per cent had abnormal LDH levels. In 40 patients with SGOT levels exceeding 90 units, 80 per cent had ECG evidence of acute infarction or ischemia. In 80 patients without ECG changes, only 10 per cent had SGOT levels exceeding 90 units. CPK levels correlated poorly with ECG evidence of ischemia or infarction. Patients who demonstrated ECG and serum enzyme evidence of ischemic injury or myocardial infarction had longer total perfusion times during surgery (P
An Image Processing Architecture to Exploit I/O Bandwidth on Reconfigurable Computers

FPGA devices in reconfigurable computers (RCs) allow datapath, memory, and processing elements (PEs) to be customized in order to achieve very efficient algorithm implementations. However, the maximum speedup on RCs is bounded by the bandwidth available between muPs and FPGA hardware accelerators. In this paper, an image processing architecture is presented to fully exploit this bandwidth for achieving the maximum possible speedup. This architecture can be used to implement any convolution operation between an image and a kernel, and comprises four fully pipelined components: a line buffer, a data window, an array of PEs and a data concatenating block. Multiple image processing algorithms have been successfully implemented using this architecture, such as digital filters, edge detectors, and image transforms. In all cases, the maximum throughput is upper-bounded by the muP-FPGA I/O bandwidth, regardless of the complexity of the algorithm. This end-to-end throughput has been measured to be 1.2 GB/s on Cray XD1 and 2.1 GB/s on SGI RC100.
Association of nutritional markers with physical and mental health status in prevalent hemodialysis patients from the HEMO study.

Abstract Objective: To determine associations of potentially modifiable nutritional factors with physical and mental health status after adjusting for sociodemographic and comorbid conditions. Design: Cross-sectional multivariable analysis. Setting: Fifteen dialysis centers across the United States participating in the Reduction of Morbidity and Mortality Among Hemodialysis Patients (HEMO) study. Patients: Enrollment of 1,545 prevalent hemodialysis subjects in the HEMO study. Independent (Predictor) Variables: The following nutritional markers were assessed in this analysis: serum albumin, energy intake, protein catabolic rate, serum creatinine, midarm muscle circumference, calf circumference, and smoking status. Smoking status, although not a nutritional factor per se, was also included because it is a modifiable lifestyle factor. Main Outcome Measures: Physical and mental health status were assessed using the medical staff–assessed Karnofsky Index and the patient self-assessed Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbid conditions, serum albumin, serum creatinine, and calf circumference were independently associated with Karnofsky Index scores. Similarly, serum creatinine and calf circumference were also independently associated with the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score of the SF-36. Of the nutritional variables selected, no variables were significantly associated with the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score of the SF-36. Conclusions: Markers of poor nutrition were associated with decreased physical functioning scores, independent of case mix. Measures that improve nutrition may therefore have wide-reaching effects to improve not only morbidity and mortality but also health-related quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.
Fresh and cryopreserved, uncultured adipose tissue-derived stem and regenerative cells ameliorate ischemia–reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a major clinical problem with high mortality and limited causal treatments. The use of cell therapy has been suggested as a potential modality to improve the course and outcome of AKI. Methods. We investigated the possible renoprotection of freshly isolated, uncultured adipose tissue-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) before and after cryopreservation in a rat ischemia–reperfusion (I–R) model of AKI. Results. We demonstrated that ADRC therapy drastically reduced mortality (survival 100% vs. 57%, ADRC vs. controls, respectively) and significantly reduced serum creatinine (sCr on Day 3: 3.03 ± 1.58 vs. 7.37 ± 2.32 mg/dL, ADRC vs. controls, respectively). Histological analysis further validated a significantly reduced intratubular cast formation, ameliorated acute tubular epithelial cell necrosis and mitigated macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, a reduced RNA expression of CXCL2 and IL-6 was found in the ADRC group which could explain the reduced macrophage recruitment. Use of cryopreserved ADRCs resulted in an equally high survival (90% vs. 33% in the control group) and similarly improved renal function (sCr on Day 3: 4.64 ± 2.43 vs. 7.24 ± 1.40 mg/dL in controls). Conclusions. Collectively, these results suggest a potential clinical role for ADRC therapy in patients with AKI. Importantly, cryopreservation of ADRCs could offer an autologous treatment strategy for patients who are at high risk for AKI during planned interventions.
Application of the matrix pencil method for estimating the SEM (singularity expansion method) poles of source-free transient responses from multiple look directions

The matrix pencil method has been utilized for estimating the natural resonances from different transient responses recorded along multiple look directions as a function of time after the incident field has passed the structure. The novelty of this article is that a single estimate for all the poles are done utilizing multiple transient waveforms emanating from the structure along multiple look directions. The SEM poles are independent of the angle at which the transient response is recorded. The only difference between the various waveforms are that the residues at the various poles are of different magnitudes. Some of the residues may even be zero for some of the poles indicating that the contribution from certain SEM poles may not be significant along that look direction. Here all the waveforms are utilized providing a single estimate for the poles without performing an arithmetic mean of the various waveforms.
The 12th meeting of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of North America (DPSG-NA): Introduction and overview

The Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of North America (DPSG-NA) held its 12th meeting April 1-2, 2011 in Washington DC. The meeting, which was co-hosted by the Washington Hospital Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine focused on five broad themes: (i) the prevention of diabetes and its risk factors, such as obesity, in pregnancy; (ii) the appropriate use of pharmacotherapies for managing diabetes in pregnancy; (iii) optimal glycemic control; (iv) the value of nutrition, exercise and limiting weight gain during pregnancy and (v) the diagnosis and consequences of diabetic fetopathy. These proceedings reflect peer-reviewed papers of data presented at the meeting. Time also was allocated to discuss the perceived barriers to using the one-step, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test as the first-line approach to diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus. Responses from a survey of participants on perceived barriers to adopting this method into widespread clinical practice are discussed.
Differential effects of insular and ventromedial prefrontal cortex lesions on risky decision-making

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and insular cortex are implicated in distributed neural circuitry that supports emotional decision-making. Previous studies of patients with vmPFC lesions have focused primarily on decision-making under uncertainty, when outcome probabilities are ambiguous (e.g. the Iowa Gambling Task). It remains unclear whether vmPFC is also necessary for decision-making under risk, when outcome probabilities are explicit. It is not known whether the effect of insular damage is analogous to the effect of vmPFC damage, or whether these regions contribute differentially to choice behaviour. Four groups of participants were compared on the Cambridge Gamble Task, a well-characterized measure of risky decision-making where outcome probabilities are presented explicitly, thus minimizing additional learning and working memory demands. Patients with focal, stable lesions to the vmPFC (n = 20) and the insular cortex (n = 13) were compared against healthy subjects (n = 41) and a group of lesion controls (n = 12) with damage predominantly affecting the dorsal and lateral frontal cortex. The vmPFC and insular cortex patients showed selective and distinctive disruptions of betting behaviour. VmPFC damage was associated with increased betting regardless of the odds of winning, consistent with a role of vmPFC in biasing healthy individuals towards conservative options under risk. In contrast, patients with insular cortex lesions failed to adjust their bets by the odds of winning, consistent with a role of the insular cortex in signalling the probability of aversive outcomes. The insular group attained a lower point score on the task and experienced more ‘bankruptcies’. There were no group differences in probability judgement. These data confirm the necessary role of the vmPFC and insular regions in decision-making under risk. Poor decision-making in clinical populations can arise via multiple routes, with functionally dissociable effects of vmPFC and insular cortex damage.
Utility of immediate exercise treadmill testing in patients taking beta blockers or calcium channel blockers.

echocardiography for diagnosis of viable myocardium. Am J Cardiol 1995;75: 505–507. 8. Margonato A, Ballarotto C, Bonetti F, Cappelletti A, Sciammarella M, Cianflone D, Chierchia SL. Assessment of residual tissue viability by exercise testing in recent myocardial infarction: comparison of the electrocardiogram and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. J Am Coll Cardiol 1992;19:948–952. 9. Margonato A, Chierchia SL, Xuereb RG, Xuereb M, Fragasso G, Cappelletti A, Landoni C, Lucignani G, Fazio F. Specificity and sensitivity of exerciseinduced ST segment elevation for detection of residual viability: comparison with fluorodeoxyglucose and PET. J Am Coll Cardiol 1995;25:1032–1038. 10. Schneider C, Voth E, Baer F, Horst M, Wagner R, Sechtem U. QT dispersion is determined by the extent of viable myocardium in patients with chronic Q-wave myocardial infarction. Circulation 1997;96:3913–3920. 11. Al Mohammad A, Mahy IR, Buckley A, Cargill RI, Norton MY, Welch AE, Walton S. Does the presence of hibernating myocardium in patients with impaired left ventricular contraction affect QT dispersion? Am Heart J 2001;141:944–948. 12. Bertella M, Scalise F, Lanzone A, Eriano G, Valentini R. Exercise standards (letter). Circulation 1995;92:3579–3580. 13. Ellestad MH. Stress Testing Principles and Practice. Philadelphia: FA Davis, 1986 256–259. 14. Lewis P, Nunan T, Dynes A, Maisey M. The use of low-dose intravenous insulin in clinical myocardial F-18 FDG PET scanning. Clin Nucl Med 1996;21:15–18. 15. Dodge HT, Sandler H, Ballew DW, Lord JD Jr. The use of biplane angiocardiography for the measurement of left ventricular volume in man. Am Heart J 1960;60:762–766. 16. Yu PNG, Soffer A. Studies of electrocardiographic changes during exercise (modified double two-step test). Circulation 1952;6:183–192. 17. Elhendy A, Geleijnse A, Salustri A, van Domburg RT, Cornel JH, Arnese M, Roelandt JRTC, Fioretti PM. T wave normalization during dobutamine stress testing in patients with non-Q wave myocardial infarction. A marker of myocardial ischemia? Eur Heart J 1996;17:526–531. 18. Mezlis NE, Parthenakis F, Kanakaraki M, Marketou M, Mavrakis H, Vardas PE. Dobutamine vs exercise-induced ST segment elevation early after Q wave myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J 2000;21:814–822. 19. Marwick TH. ST-segment elevation after myocardial infarction: what does it mean and when is it useful? Am Heart J 1999;137:1002–1003. 20. Bodi V, Sanchis J, Llacer A, Insa L, Chorro FJ, Lopez-Merino V. ST-segment elevation on Q leads at rest and during exercise: relation with myocardial viability and left ventricular remodelling within the first 6 months after infarction. Am Heart J 1999;137:1107–1115.
Impediment profiling for smoking cessation. Preliminary experience.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. Methods: Long and short `impediment profilers' (LIPs and SIPs, respectively) addressing nicotine addiction, depression, anxiety, stress, chemical dependency, weight control, and household smoking were developed and applied in a pilot smoking cessation study to tailor treatment. Results: Quit rate 72 hours after the target quit date was 50%; at 8 and 12 weeks it was 61% and 39%, respectively. The LIP identified fewer impediments than the SIP. Conclusions: Impediment profiling for tailored smoking cessation intervention is associated with high initial quit rates and warrants further study.
Some large‐sample distribution‐free estimators and tests for multivariate partially incomplete data from two populations

The most common instance of multivariate observations is the case of repeated measures over time. The two most widely used methods for the analysis of K repeated measures for two groups are the K degrees of freedom (d.f.) T2 MANOVA F-test and the within-subjects 1 degree of freedom ANOVA F-test. Both require complete samples from normally distributed populations. In this paper, I describe alternative K and 1 d.f. distribution-free procedures which allow for randomly missing observations. These include a large-sample analysis of means, the Wei and Lachin multivariate Wilcoxon test with estimates of the Mann-Whitney parameter, and a multivariate Hodges-Lehmann location shift estimator based on the multivariate U-statistic of Wei and Johnson. Each of these methods provides a distribution-free K-variate estimate of the magnitude of group differences which can be used as the basis for an overall test of group differences. These tests include the K d.f. omnibus T2-like test, 1 d.f. tests of restricted hypotheses, such as the Wei-Lachin multivariate one-sided test of stochastic ordering, and the test of general association based on a minimum variance generalized least squares (GLS) estimate of the average group difference. I then describe covariate stratified-adjusted GLS estimates and tests of group differences. This approach also provides tests of homogeneity (interaction) for within-subjects and between-subjects effects. I illustrate these analyses with an analysis of repeated cholesterol measurements in two groups of patients, stratified by sex. Such analyses provide an overall distribution-free summary estimate and test of the treatment effect obtained by combining the group differences over both time (repeated measures) and strata.
G-Boxes, Bigfoot Genes, and Environmental Response: Characterization of Intragenomic Conserved Noncoding Sequences in Arabidopsis

A tetraploidy left Arabidopsis thaliana with 6358 pairs of homoeologs that, when aligned, generated 14,944 intragenomic conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs). Our previous work assembled these phylogenetic footprints into a database. We show that known transcription factor (TF) binding motifs, including the G-box, are overrepresented in these CNSs. A total of 254 genes spanning long lengths of CNS-rich chromosomes (Bigfoot) dominate this database. Therefore, we made subdatabases: one containing Bigfoot genes and the other containing genes with three to five CNSs (Smallfoot). Bigfoot genes are generally TFs that respond to signals, with their modal CNS positioned 3.1 kb 5′ from the ATG. Smallfoot genes encode components of signal transduction machinery, the cytoskeleton, or involve transcription. We queried each subdatabase with each possible 7-nucleotide sequence. Among hundreds of hits, most were purified from CNSs, and almost all of those significantly enriched in CNSs had no experimental history. The 7-mers in CNSs are not 5′- to 3′-oriented in Bigfoot genes but are often oriented in Smallfoot genes. CNSs with one G-box tend to have two G-boxes. CNSs were shared with the homoeolog only and with no other gene, suggesting that binding site turnover impedes detection. Bigfoot genes may function in adaptation to environmental change.
Compact Routing Schemes for Generalised Chordal Graphs

In this paper, we show how to use the notion of layering-tree introduced in [5], in order to obtain polynomial time constructible routing schemes. We describe efficient routing schemes for two classes of graphs that include the class of chordal graphs. For k-chordal graphs, i.e., graphs containing no induced cycle of length greater than k, the routing scheme uses addresses and local memories of size O(log 2 n) bits per node, and the length of the route between all pairs of vertices never exceeds their distance plus k + 1 (deviation at most k + 1). For tree-length δ graphs, i.e., graphs admitting a tree-decomposition in which the diameter of any bag is at most δ, the routing scheme uses addresses and local memories of size O(δ log 2 n) bits per node, and its deviation is at most 6δ� 2. Observe that for chordal graphs, for which δ = 1 and k = 3, both schemes produce a deviation 4, with addresses and local memories of size O(log 2 n )b its per node.
Enterprise-Oriented Digital Rights Management Mechanism: eDRM

It is impractical to use traditional access control mechanisms to design a digital content access control mechanism for an organization since even a role-based access control mechanism only guarantees that it can be flexibly applied to the determined access policy for various roles in an organization. It cannot allow users to flexibly define various access rights for different digital contents for diverse applications. To make sure these requirements can be satisfied and also combine the hierarchy structure of organization to the access control and thus protect digital content from being illegally duplicated, printed, deleted, noted, modified and stored, in this paper, we apply a digital certificate to record each user's role(s) and the corresponding access rights inherited from the access policies defined by the administration department in the organization.
Deep tillage management for high strength southeastern USA Coastal Plain soils

Southeastern USA production is limited in Acrisols (Paleudults and Kandiudults) because they have high strengths and low water holding capacities. Production systems with crop rotations or deep tillage before planting were compared with less intensive management. Production systems included double-crop wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) that were drilled in 0.19 m-row widths and grown in 15 m wide, 150 m long plots with soils of varying hardpan depths. Treatments included surface tillage (disked or none), deep tillage (paratilled or none), deep tillage with winter fallow and maize (Zea mays L.) in rotation, and disked/deep tillage with an in-row subsoiler where soybean was planted in conventional 0.76 mwide rows. Cone indices were measured near the ends of each plot (120 m apart) to assess soil strength differences among soil types and among treatments. Cone indices were 1.50 MPa higher for non-deep tilled treatments than for deep tilled treatments and 0.44 MPa higher in wheel-track mid rows than in non-wheel-track mid rows. Cone indices were also 0.28 MPa higher for soils with shallower Bt horizons. Cone indices were not significantly different for subsoiled treatments and paratilled treatments. Rainfall was erratic throughout the5-year experiment with dry periodslasting morethan 2weeks at a time and with annual totals ranging from 520 to 1110 mm. Wheat yields were 0.67 Mg ha � 1 greater for deep-tilled soils (subsoiled and paratilled) than for non-deep-tilled soils. Soybean yields were 0.36 Mg ha � 1 greater for paratilled than for subsoiled or non-deep-tilled treatments partly as a result of the more complete disruption of the paratill and partly because paratilled treatments were managed with narrow rows. Yields did not vary significantly among the soil types despite the fact that they had different cone indices. Tillage was a more dominant factor than soil type. For wheat, lower cone indices from tillage led to higher yields. For soybean, management of uniform loosening from deep tillage and narrow rows led to higher yields. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Promoter Bashing, microRNAs, and Knox Genes. New Insights, Regulators, and Targets-of-Regulation in the Establishment of Lateral Organ Polarity in Arabidopsis

The bodies of seed plants are comprised of two classes of organs with contrasting growth and symmetry attributes. Stems and roots are indeterminate organs that exhibit apical growth at apical meristems and radial growth at the vascular cambium, a pattern of growth that results in primarily radially
Behavioral Intervention with Hyperactive Children A Review

This paper reviews behavioral (nonmedical) approaches for the management and treatment of the hyperactive child. A variety of approaches are discussed, including both those interventions which have and have not been systematically evaluated. A critique of the current state of research in this area is offered with suggestions for future investigations.
Wrought Magnesium: A 21st Century Outlook

Magnesium’s properties make it appealing for a wide variety of applications, and significant growth has occurred in the area of die-cast components. However, consumption of gravity-cast and wrought magnesium represents only 1% of total magnesium consumption. This article will outline some of the traditional applications of wrought magnesium and identify technical barriers for broader application, which are currently being addressed by researchers around the world.
Emerging Therapies for Atherosclerosis Prevention and Management

Atherosclerosis is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease involving medium and large arteries, resulting from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. Acute atherosclerotic vascular disease largely results from thrombosis that supervenes on a disrupted atherosclerotic plaque. A healthy lifestyle coupled with management of modifiable risk factors reduces the adverse clinical consequences of atherothrombosis. Reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels using statins and other agents is the primary pharmacologic approach to stabilize atherosclerosis, but a large residual risk burden remains, stimulating the search for additional therapies for atherosclerosis management. This review focuses on new and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting atherosclerosis.
On hypersingular surface integrals in the symmetric Galerkin boundary element method: Application to heat conduction in exponentially graded materials

A symmetric Galerkin formulation and implementation for heat conduction in a three-dimensional functionally graded material is presented. The Green's function of the graded problem, in which the thermal conductivity varies exponentially in one co-ordinate, is used to develop a boundary-only formulation without any domain discretization. The main task is the evaluation of hypersingular and singular integrals, which is carried out using a direct ‘limit to the boundary’ approach. However, due to complexity of the Green's function for graded materials, the usual direct limit procedures have to be modified, incorporating Taylor expansions to obtain expressions that can be integrated analytically. Several test examples are provided to verify the numerical implementation. The results of test calculations are in good agreement with exact solutions and corresponding finite element method simulations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Glucagon antagonists for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes

Insulin and glucagon are the primary agents responsible for ensuring acute and long-term maintenance of glucose levels in the blood. There is strong evidence that excessive glucagon levels contribute to the hyperglycaemia of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) by inappropriately stimulating hepatic glucose output in both fasting and fed states. The blocking of glucagon binding to its receptor was therefore considered a novel approach to reducing plasma glucose levels. Early efforts to prepare glucagon antagonists focused on peptidic analogues of glucagon. More recently, a number of small molecule glucagon antagonists have been reported which were obtained through high-throughput screening (HTS) of small molecule libraries. The historical work involving peptidic antagonists is reviewed first, followed by a review of the more recent developments with non-peptidic antagonists. The first small molecule antagonist from Bayer has just entered clinical trials. It is anticipated that this and future c...
Labor and the Military: Introduction

The military and the working class have intersected in myriad ways, especially in the era of mass conscription. Millions of workers served in, fought in, and died in the armed services. They brought their political and cultural values into armies and their military experiences back into labor movements and working-class communities. Militaries have been large employers of civilians, on bases in home countries and abroad, directly and indirectly, in the vast armament industries. In some countries, like China and Iran, they directly control large parts of the economy, including major industrial establishments. Military employment practices have reflected and shaped civilian-sector labor relations, race relations, and gender roles. Armies have been used to break strikes and have launched coups designed to defeat left-wing and labor movements or, occasionally (as in Portugal and, more recently, Venezuela), to defeat conservative forces. Twenty years after the end of the Cold War, war and militarism remain prominent features of both advanced industrial societies and less developed ones.
Bounds on Cross-sections and Lifetimes for Dark Matter Annihilation and Decay into Charged Leptons from Gamma-ray Observations of Dwarf Galaxies

We provide conservative bounds on the dark matter cross section and lifetime from final state radiation produced by annihilation or decay into charged leptons, either directly or via an intermediate particle {phi}. Our analysis utilizes the experimental gamma-ray flux upper limits from four Milky Way dwarf satellites: HESS observations of Sagittarius and VERITAS observations of Draco, Ursa Minor, and Willman 1. Using 90% confidence level lower limits on the integrals over the dark matter distributions, we find that these constraints are largely unable to rule out dark matter annihilations or decays as an explanation of the PAMELA and ATIC/PPB-BETS excesses. However, if there is an additional Sommerfeld enhancement in dwarfs, which have a velocity dispersion {approx}10 to 20 times lower than that of the local Galactic halo, then the cross sections for dark matter annihilating through {phi}'s required to explain the excesses are very close to the cross-section upper bounds from Willman 1. Dark matter annihilation directly into {tau}'s is also marginally ruled out by Willman 1 as an explanation of the excesses, and the required cross section is only a factor of a few below the upper bound from Draco. Finally, we make predictions for the gamma-ray flux expectedmore » from the dwarf galaxy Segue 1 for the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We find that for a sizeable fraction of the parameter space in which dark matter annihilation into charged leptons explains the PAMELA excess, Fermi has good prospects for detecting a gamma-ray signal from Segue 1 after 1 yr of observation.« less
The Radical Pietism of Count Nicholas Zinzendorf as a Conservative Influence on the Awakener, Gilbert Tennent

Unlike the religious dominance of Puritans in New England and Anglicans in the South, the mid-Atlantic colonies of eighteenth-century America were covered with an assortment of northern European churches and sects. By the 1740s, an overflow of New England Puritans shared New York with an earlier immigrant population of Reformed Dutch and French Huguenots. In the Raritan valley of New Jersey, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians lived alongside enclaves of more Dutch, and coexisted with English Quakers, Swedish and German Lutherans, and a variety of sectarians along the lower Delaware River and in the city of Philadelphia. On the upper Delaware were further German settlements while along the western frontiers of Penn's colony additional Scotch-Irish Calvinists were to be found. Despite the motley appearance of this middle colony's religious demography, most of these Christians shared roots in the resurgence of interest in the "practice of piety" which had increasingly dominated northern European religious thought in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Seeking dynamic spiritual renewal among lay people, this movement had begun in that revival of English Christianity known as Puritanism. But the'search for the practice of piety ultimately moved far beyond its early Puritan
Matrix metalloproteinase-specific inhibition of Ca2+ entry mechanisms of vascular contraction.

Objective Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common disease with as yet unclear cause. Increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in the plasma and aorta are a consistent finding in AAA. Although the role of MMPs in AAA has largely been attributed to degradation of the extracellular matrix proteins, the effects of MMPs on the mechanisms of aortic contraction are unclear. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that MMPs promote aortic dilation by inhibiting the Ca 2+ mobilization mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction. Methods Isometric contraction and 45 Ca 2+ influx were measured in aortic strips isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats treated or not treated with MMP-2 and MMP-9. Results In normal Krebs solution (2.5 mmol/L Ca 2+ ) phenylephrine (10 −5 mol/L) caused contraction of the aortic strips, which was significantly inhibited ( P 2+ -free (2 mmol/L ethylene glycol bis[β-aminoethyl ether]-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid) Krebs solution phenylephrine caused a small contraction that was not inhibited by MMP-2 or MMP-9, which suggests that MMPs do not inhibit Ca 2+ release from the intracellular stores. Membrane depolarization with 96 mmol/L of potassium chloride, which stimulates Ca 2+ entry from the extracellular space, caused a time-dependent and reversible contraction, which was inhibited by MMP-2 and MMP-9. Histologic studies of MMP-treated tissues stained with hematoxylin-eosin or Verhoeff stain for elastin confirmed the absence of degradation of the extracellular matrix. MMP-2 and MMP-9 also caused significant inhibition of 45 Ca 2+ influx induced by phenylephrine and potassium chloride. Conclusions These data suggest that MMP-2 and MMP-9 promote aortic dilation by inhibiting the Ca 2+ entry mechanism of vascular smooth muscle contraction.
Any Degree of Mitral Regurgitation Found during Invasive Ventriculography is Associated with All-Cause Mortality

Background Using a large database of patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for clinical reasons, we evaluated any association between reported degrees of mitral regurgitation (MR) found during ventriculography, and all-cause mortality. Method Using retrospective angiographic data (collected from the years 1993-1997) from 1,771 patients of the VA Long Beach Health Care System with documented ventriculography, we evaluated any association between various degrees of MR and all-cause mortality. We performed uni- and multivariant analysis, adjusting for age and ejection fraction. Results Any degree of MR was associated with all-cause mortality. Total mortality was 20.2% (296/1,465) in patients with no MR versus 32.7% in patients with mild MR (64/196), p < 0.001. Similar to mild MR, any degree of MR was independently associated with all-cause mortality (all MR, 35.1%, [108/306] vs. no MR, 20.2% [296/1,465], p < 0.001). After adjustment for age and comorbidities, any degree of MR remained independently associated with all-cause mortality (multivariate adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; confidence interval, 1.2-2.3; p < 001). Conclusion The presence of any MR documented on invasive ventriculography is associated with increased total mortality independent of age or ejection fraction. Our finding suggests that even mild MR has negative prognostic significance.
CURRENT TRENDS IN IONIZING RADIATION DETECTION

Ionizing radiation is a both a natural and man-made phenomena that plays a major role in contemporary applications. The detection of this radiation has evolved over the past several decades from simple observations to precise measurements in space, time, and energy, even in harsh environmental conditions. Tn this paper, we present a snapshot of the current state-of-the-art in radiation measurement technology, highlighting the major applications and detector developments.
How old is too old? Challenges faced by clinicians concerning age cutoffs for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.

Objective To study how IVF providers view and make decisions concerning age cutoffs and futility (e.g., whether they establish clear cutoffs, and if so, where). Design In-depth interviews of approximately 1 hour. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Interviewees: 27 ART providers (17 physicians, 10 other providers) and 10 patients. Intervention(s) Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s) Attitudes and decisions concerning age cutoffs were assessed. Result(s) Providers face several challenges and dilemmas concerning both the content and the process of decision-making about age cutoffs—what age cutoff to use for potential parents (women both using and not using their own eggs) and potential fathers (whether to consider the father's age, and if so, separately or only with the mother's age); what criteria to use in these decisions (how much to consider and weigh the mother's autonomy vs. the future child's well-being); how to make these decisions (e.g., "gut feelings" or perceptions of public opinion); who makes these decisions (e.g., physicians on their own vs. a formal ethics or Quality Assurance committee); and how to present/frame these issues to patients (e.g., how much to discourage older women). Patients' responses to age limitations vary (e.g., minimizing or feeling exceptions to the risks; or lying about their age). Conclusion(s) These data, the first to explore how providers make decisions about age cutoffs for patients, raise several critical issues. Although the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has addressed several concerns, the present data suggest additional questions and challenges, including inherent uncertainties and ethical conflicts, and have important implications for practice, policy, research, and education.
Layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolyte chains and nanoparticles on nanoporous substrates: molecular dynamics simulations.

We performed molecular dynamics simulations of a multilayered assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolyte chains and nanoparticles on porous substrates with cylindrical pores. The film was constructed by the sequential adsorption of oppositely charged species in a layer-by-layer fashion from dilute solutions. The multilayer assembly proceeds through surface overcharging after the completion of each deposition step. The substrate overcharging fraction fluctuates around 0.5 for nanoparticle–polyelectrolyte systems and around 0.4 for polyelectrolyte–polyelectrolyte systems. The surface coverage increases linearly with the number of deposition steps. The rate of surface coverage increases as a function of the number of deposition step changes when the pore is blocked. The closing of the pore occurs from the pore entrance for nanoparticle–polyelectrolyte systems. In the case of polyelectrolyte–polyelectrolyte systems, the pore plug is formed inside the pore and then spreads toward the pore ends.
On the procedure of quality control to the lead determination in the air of workplace.

[Objective] To establish a qulity control procedure of lead measurement in the air of workplace.[Methods] Establish a procedure of quality control in the whole process of sampling,sample handling,treatment and examining to achieve the accuracy in the determination of lead and its compounds in workplace by atomatic absorbption spectrometry.[Results] With the quality control of sample process,the samping efficiency achieved 98.3%(97.6%～98.6%).The co-efficent of correlation was 0.9999,with a linear range 0.2～100.0μg/mL.The detection limit was 0.082μg/mL.The average value of blank membrane was(0.1104±0.0144)μg/mL,with the determination of quality control samples GBW(E)080211 and GBW(E)080212,the results were (3.3±0.1)μg per-piece [reference(3.1±0.6)μg per-piece] and(16.8±0.9)μg per-piece [reference(17.0±1.5)μg per-piece] respectively,the error was in the permit range.The determination of two curves of high and low showed no significant difference.[Conclusion] This procedure of quality control of lead and its compounds measurement in workplace is practicable.
How to Solve the Problem of the Pipes Subsidence Medium Changed after the Measured Value of Mutation of Jishixia Hydropower Station

Jishixia Hydropower Station changed the medium of the the NSC pipes settlement gauge in November 2011.After that,we found mutations about ±(2~15)cm from most measured values,resulting in a more serious measurement error,and can not truly reflect the actual settlement of the dam.Amount of monitoring data analysis,site inspection and repeated we tested to identify the mutations of the measured values,improved the original row of discharge and changing medium,in order to provide a reference for other similar projects.
Analysis of results of influenza virus surveillance during 2008～2009 in Yantai

Objective:To analyze the data of influenza surveillance from Yantai City during 2008~2009 and understand the influenza epidemic in Yantai,so a scientific basis can be provided for the prevention and treatment of influenza.Methods:The specimens from influenza like illness(ILI) were collected.The Viruses were isolated with MDCK cell and identified with HAI.Results:A total of 62 influenza strains were obtained from 426specimens,and the positive rate was 14.55%.59 of them were identified as subtype A(H1N1),3 of them subtype A(H3N2) and subtype B was not detected.Conclusion:The main type is influenza type A(H1N1) in Yantai City.Subtype A(H3N2) is also detected.
Dual PET and Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging Probes as Tools for Imaging in Oncology.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to summarize advances in PET fluorescence resolution, agent design, and preclinical imaging that make a growing case for clinical PET fluorescence imaging. CONCLUSION. Existing SPECT, PET, fluorescence, and MRI contrast imaging techniques are already deeply integrated into the management of cancer, from initial diagnosis to the observation and management of metastases. Combined positron-emitting fluorescent contrast agents can convey new or substantial benefits that improve on these proven clinical contrast agents.
Development and Characterization of a Novel in vitro Progression Model for UVB-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis

Epidemiological studies suggest ultraviolet B (UVB) component (290-320 nm) of sun light is the most prevalent etiologic factor for skin carcinogenesis--a disease accounting for more than two million new cases each year in the USA alone. Development of UVB-induced skin carcinoma is a multistep and complex process. The molecular events that occur during UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis are poorly understood largely due to the lack of an appropriate cellular model system. Therefore, to make a progress in this area, we have developed an in vitro model for UVB-induced skin cancer using immortalized human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells through repetitive exposure to UVB radiation. We demonstrate that UVB-transformed HaCaT cells gain enhanced proliferation rate, apoptosis-resistance, and colony- and sphere-forming abilities in a progressive manner. Moreover, these cells exhibit increased aggressiveness with enhanced migration and invasive potential and mesenchymal phenotypes. Furthermore, these derived cells are able to form aggressive squamous cell carcinoma upon inoculation into the nude mice, while parental HaCaT cells remain non-tumorigenic. Together, these novel, UVB-transformed progression model cell lines can be very helpful in gaining valuable mechanistic insight into UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis, identification of novel molecular targets of diagnostic and therapeutic significance, and in vitro screening for novel preventive and therapeutic agents.
Is there evidence of anisotropy in the expansion of the universe

Un echantillon ideal pour la recherche d’une eventuelle anisotropie dans l’expansion de Hubble doit couvrir la totalite de la surface du ciel, de plus les magnitudes et les vitesses ne doivent pas etre entachees d’erreurs dependant de la position des objets choisis. Tres peu d’echantillons satisfont ces criteres. Toutefois les echantillons de galaxies Se I, de galaxies E et SO, et d’amas riches mettent en evidence une anisotropie provenant soit d’une vitesse du groupe local ~ 500kms -1 , (V⊙ ~ 600kms -1 ), soit du fait que H varie de 20% d’un point a l’autre du ciel, soit du fait que m ou M o varie de 0.4m. Des explications moins conventionnelles ne semblent pas necessaires. Seul le mouvement du groupe local est compatible avec les donnees de l’echantillon de SC I les plus proches. Compte-tenu du mouvement de l’observateur, l’expansion de Hubble ne presente pas d’anisotropie superieure a 5%. Toutefois, cette interpretation n’est pas compatible avec le rayonnement a 3°K qui impose V⊙ -1 .
Rapid Response Teams: Is it Time to Reframe the Questions of Rapid Response Team Measurement?

Purpose The purpose of this article is to present an overview of rapid response team (RRT) history in the United States, provide a review of prior RRT effectiveness research, and propose the reframing of four new questions of RRT measurement that are designed to better understand RRTs in the context of contemporary nursing practice as well as patient outcomes. Organizing Construct RRTs were adopted in the United States because of their intuitive appeal, and despite a lack of evidence for their effectiveness. Subsequent studies used mortality and cardiac arrest rates to measure whether or not RRTs “work.” Few studies have thoroughly examined the effect of RRTs on nurses and on nursing practice. Methods An extensive literature review provided the background. Suppositions and four critical, unanswered questions arising from the literature are suggested. Findings The results of RRT effectiveness, which have focused on patient-oriented outcomes, have been ambiguous, contradictory, and difficult to interpret. Additionally, they have not taken into account the multiple ways in which these teams have impacted nurses and nursing practice as well as patient outcomes. Conclusions What happens in terms of RRT process and utilization is likely to have a major impact on nurses and nursing care on general medical and surgical wards. What that impact will be depends on what we can learn from measuring with an expanded yardstick, in order to answer the question, “Do RRTs work?” Clinical Relevance Evidence for the benefits of RRTs depends on proper framing of questions relating to their effectiveness, including the multiple ways RRTs contribute to nursing efficacy.
A new method for the analysis of multi-mode surface-wave dispersion: Application to Love-wave propagation in the east Pacific

abstract A new technique is presented for simultaneously measuring the average, regional phase velocity of two or more surface-wave modes, even if they travel with the same group velocity. Many observations are required over paths of varying length with earthquake sources of known focal mechanism. The phase of the signal observed at each station can be predicted if the initial phase of the source and the phase velocity and relative amplitude of each mode is known. The square of the difference between the observed phase and the predicted phase is summed over all paths for a set of trial phase velocities. The trial velocities which give the minimum sum correspond to the average phase velocity of each mode. By applying this technique to Love-wave data from the east Pacific, the dispersion of the first higher Love mode was measured for the first time in an oceanic area. The phase velocity of the fundamental mode was found to increase with increasing age of the sea floor, probably as a result of the cooling of the oceanic lithosphere. The region was found to be anisotropic for Love-wave propagation, with the fastest velocities roughly perpendicular to the ridge. The degree of anisotropy appears to increase with increasing period.