cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sarcomere length determination using laser diffraction. Effect of beam and fiber diameter

An experimental and theoretical analysis is presented involving the effect of variation in fiber and beam diameter upon the determination of average sarcomere length in isolated single muscle fibers using laser light diffraction. The muscle diffraction phenomenon is simplified by first considering diffraction order position and intensity to be the result of grating and Bragg diffraction. It is the product of the intensity profiles, which results from these types of diffraction, that produces the diffracted order. These simplifying assumptions are then extended to the case of the real muscle. Based on these considerations and the theory that we recently presented, conditions are set forth under which grating information (i.e., sarcomere length) can be maximally expressed to yield accurate average sarcomere length values.
Executive functioning and behavioral impulsivity of young women who binge eat

Objective: To examine the link between binge eating, executive functioning, and behavioral impulsivity. Method: Fifty women who reported engaging in weekly binge eating in the absence of regular compensatory behaviors and 66 women with no history of binge eating completed several self-report questionnaires and a brief neuropsychological battery, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task and Conner's Continuous Performance Task. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that groups did not differ in executive functioning after controlling for depression, anxiety, body mass, general intelligence, and psychotropic medication use. Correlation analyses suggest that individuals who endorse more frequent binge eating might have greater difficulties thinking flexibly or shifting attention. Individuals who binge eats are also more likely to behave impulsively, but only for emotional reasons. Discussion: Although this study is unable to determine whether these cognitive and behavioral factors precede or follow binge-eating episodes, outcomes have implications for treatment and prevention. © 2013 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013)
Study of Ardmore, Oklahoma, storm clouds. I. Convective storm cloud initiation and development based on the remote sensing gravity-wave-induced convection

Abstract Convective instability can be induced by unstable vertical temperature profiles and can be supported by the release of latent heat of water vapour provided by a large quantity of moisture in the air. It can also be released by the presence of gravity waves. Large amplitude gravity waves have been linked to the onset of convective storm systems. In this study, the vertical velocity of convection initiated by gravity waves was investigated. The study of Ardmore, Oklahoma, storms showed that weak convection was initiated by gravity waves having wave periods of 35 min and the convection was enhanced by gravity waves having wave periods of 20 min. Evidence for cloud formation, due to the condensation of water vapour through convection initiated by the gravity waves, was obtained from rapid-scan satellite imagery and radar summaries. In this particular case, the convective motion, initiated and supported by the gravity-wave-induced activity (excluding contributions made by other mechanisms), reached it...
A comparison of two approaches to the Cognitive Differentiation Grid

Abstract The Cognitive Differentiation Grid (CDG), much used as a measure of vocational differentiation, owes its heritage to Personal Construct Theory but represents an important departure from the theory and poses serious limitations to the study of vocational cognitions. This study examined whether a more theoretically consistent version of the CDG would yield results different from the currently used CDG. As hypothesized, it was found that subjects using their own constructs evidenced greater vocational differentiation than those using the CDG. It was also found that males evidenced greater vocational complexity than females. These data were interpreted to suggest that the CDG may be problematic in the study of vocational cognitions. The discussion focuses on the extent to which these data replicate and extend earlier research in cognitive complexity and on implications for career development research and practice.
A hierarchical modeling algorithm for respiration induced tumor motion modeling

This paper presents a hierarchical approach to model tumor motion dynamics for image guided radiation therapy. Respiration induced tumor motion poses a significant challenge for using radiation therapy for tumors in the thorax and abdomen areas of the patients. The continuous motion of the tumor during radiation therapy can degrade the accuracy of radiation delivery and cause adverse effect on the surrounding healthy tissues. The proposed approach uses a two-stage modeling architecture-global modeling followed by local modeling to capture the dynamics of the tumor motion. The key idea of our proposed approach is based on an averaging method, which is able to merge arbitrary local models to a unbiased globally smooth model. Furthermore, the unscented Kalman filter is used to predict the tumor motion based on the identified nonlinear model and making use of respiratory motion observations in real-time. The proposed approach is tested by using numerical and experimental data. Our results show the proposed approach has a potential to achieve long-term tumor motion prediction with a sub-millimeter accuracy.
Strategies to detect and reduce counterfeiting activity

Abstract While at one time counterfeit products were largely restricted to watches, designer apparel, and movies, today counterfeiting is a major problem in such diverse product categories as pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and computer software. There are four distinct types of counterfeits: knockoffs, counterfeits that are reverse engineered from genuine goods, goods produced by outsourced suppliers on “third shifts,” and goods that do not meet a manufacturer's standards but are not properly labeled as seconds or destroyed. The quality of some counterfeits is so good that some major retailers have unknowingly purchased counterfeits. But while there are new forms of counterfeit goods, there are also new strategies for combating counterfeiting. This article describes how to detect and reduce counterfeiting activity, via a plan which consists of four steps: (1) developing early warning signals of counterfeiting; (2) budgeting to monitor, deter, and remove counterfeits; (3) using demand-side strategies to deter counterfeiting; and (4) using supply-side strategies to deter counterfeiting.
Early maternal availability and prefrontal correlates of reward-related memory

Abstract Early emotional experiences affect developing brain systems that subsequently mediate adult learning and memory in rodents. Here we test for similar effects in squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus ) four years after disruptions in early maternal availability. These conditions were previously shown to generate differences in emotional behavior, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal stress physiology, and right ventral medial prefrontal volumes determined in adulthood by magnetic resonance imaging. This report identifies in the same monkeys variability in reward-related memory on tests with a spatial reversal. Adult monkeys that more often selected locations repeatedly rewarded before each reversal had larger right ventral medial prefrontal volumes, but not hippocampal nor dorsolateral prefrontal volumes on the left or right brain side. Differences in performance were also discerned after each spatial reversal. These findings indicate that maternal availability alters developing ventral medial prefrontal brain regions involved in reward-related memory.
Superconducting transition and vortex pinning in Nb films patterned with nanoscale hole arrays

Nb films containing extended arrays of holes with 45-nm diameter and 100-nm spacing have been fabricated using anodized aluminum oxide as substrate. Pronounced matching effects in the magnetization and Little-Parks oscillations of the superconducting critical temperature have been observed in fields up to 9 kOe. Flux pinning in the patterned samples is significantly enhanced as compared to unpatterned reference samples in applied fields exceeding 5 kOe. Matching effects are a dominant contribution to vortex pinning at temperatures as low as 4.2 K due to the extremely small spacing of the holes.
Effect of Maturation and Postnatal Age on the Phagocytic Activity against Capsulated Organisms in Normal Newborns

Effect of Maturation and Postnatal Age on the Phagocytic Activity against Capsulated Organisms in Normal Newborns
Triboluminescence of nitrate crystals

Abstract Triboluminescence (TL) is studied in 22 crystals of common inorganic nitrates. With the exception of Zn(NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O all of the non-centrosymmetric crystals are triboluminescent and all the crystals which do not exhibit TL are centrosymmetric. The TL spectrum of (UO 2 )(NO 3 ) 2 ·6H 2 O crystals shows that the emission originates from both the uranyl ion and from nitrogen. The TL of the other crystals originates from excited states of nitrogen. TL appears concurrently with the sudden force decrease in the fracture region of the force vs compression curve of the crystals. The motion of cracks and thereby the creation of new surfaces is responsible for the excitation of TL. The mechanisms of the TL excitation in piezoelectric and non-piezoelectric crystals are discussed.
5′-Halogenated formycins as inhibitors of 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase: Protection of cells against the growth-inhibitory activity of 5′-halogenated adenosines

Abstract A series of 5′-halogenated formycins, including the chloro-, bromo- and iodo- derivatives, were synthesized. These compounds are competitive inhibitors of 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAPase) with Ki values in the range of 10−7 M, making them the most potent inhibitors of MTAPase reported to date. These compounds protect cells from the growth-inhibitory action of 5′-halogenated adenosines, which must be activated by MTAPase. The syntheses of 5′-halogenated formycin B derivatives, which inhibit purine nucleoside phosphorylase, are also described.
Direct diode pumping of a Cr4+:YAG laser with high-brightness InGaAs laser diodes

A.J. Alcock, K. Hnatovskyand P.Scorah*Institute for Microstructural SciencesNational Research CouncilofCanada1200 MontrealRoad, OttawaOntario, Canada K1A OR6* also Physics Department, Universityof OttawaABSTRACTThe 970 nm radiation generated by a 4 W, 100 m wide, InGaAs laser diode hasbeen used to pump a Cr
The human formyl peptide receptor as model system for constitutively active G-protein-coupled receptors.

Abstract According to the two-state model of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation, GPCRs isomerize from an inactive (R) state to an active (R*) state. In the R* state, GPCRs activate G-proteins. Agonist-independent R/R* isomerization is referred to as constitutive activity and results in an increase in basal G-protein activity, i.e. GDP/GTP exchange. Agonists stabilize the R* state and further increase, whereas inverse agonists stabilize the R state and decrease, basal G-protein activity. Constitutive activity is observed in numerous wild-type GPCRs and disease-causing GPCR mutants with increased constitutive activity. The human formyl peptide receptor (FPR) exists in several isoforms (FPR-26, FPR-98 and FPR-G6) and activates chemotaxis and cytotoxic cell functions of phagocytes through G i -proteins. Studies in HL-60 leukemia cell membranes demonstrated inhibitory effects of Na + and pertussis toxin on basal G i -protein activity, suggesting that the FPR is constitutively active. However, since HL-60 cells express several constitutively active chemoattractant receptors, analysis of constitutive FPR activity was difficult. Sf9 insect cells do not express chemoattractant receptors and G i -proteins and provide a sensitive reconstitution system for FPR/G i -protein coupling. Such expression studies showed that FPR-26 is much more constitutively active than FPR-98 and FPR-G6 as assessed by the relative inhibitory effects of Na + and of the inverse agonist cyclosporin H on basal G i -protein activity. Site-directed mutagenesis studies suggest that the E346A exchange in the C-terminus critically determines dimerization and constitutive activity of FPR. Moreover, N-glycosylation of the N-terminus seems to be important for constitutive FPR activity. Finally, we discuss some future directions of research.
Mercury, selenium, cadmium and organochlorines in eggs of three Hawaiian seabird species

Abstract Eggs of three representative species of seabirds (wedge-tailed shearwater Puffinus pacificus ; red-footed booby Sula sula ; and sooty tern Sterna fuscata ) were collected in 1980 to determined differences in heavy metal, Se, and organochlorine residues among species nesting in the Hawaiian Archipelago and among the four nesting sites sampled (Oahu, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan, and Midway). Hg and Se were present in all eggs analysed, but Cd was not detected. Hg was usually highest in booby eggs, and there was a southeast-to-northeast trend toward higher concetrations in this species; booby eggs from Midway contained the highest mean concentration of Hg (0·36 μg g −1 , wet weight). Se consistently occurred at lowest concentrations in booby eggs. When Se and Hg concentrations were expressed as nanomoles per gram, Se constituted 94–96% of the combined total at each location for shearwater and tern eggs. In booby eggs, the proportion as Se declined significantly ( α = 0·05) from Oahu (93·4%) westward to Midway (85·9%). Although DDT occurred in most of the shearwater eggs from each site, it was not found in booby or tern eggs. DDE occured in all eggs, but mean concentrations did not exceed 0·6 μg g −1 . DDE concentrations were higher in eggs from the two south-eastern nesting sites and were consistently highest in shearwater eggs. PCBs were found in most of the shearwater and booby eggs, but were not detected in tern eggs. Other organochlorines usually occurred more frequently in eggs of shearwaters than in other species. The only exception were α-HCH and HCB, which occurred more frequently in booby eggs. Kepone, heptachlor epoxide, chlordane compounds, and toxaphene were not detected. Differences in residue concentrations seem to reflect differences in diets and seasonal movements of the birds, and perhaps other factors such as atmospheric and oceanic transport of chemicals and physiological differences among the species.
A parallel implementation of an OL-LOGOS sparse direct solver

Data sparse direct solution methods for electromagnetic simulation problems have proven to be useful for a number of situations, both as standalone direct solvers and as general purpose preconditioners for use with iterative solvers. One set of such direct methods is provided by the LOGOS framework, which is based on expanding the underlying system matrix in a basis of local solutions that satisfy global boundary conditions. A particular subset of the LOGOS-based solution methods is referred to as the overlapped, localizing (OL) LOGOS method. This approach to factoring the system matrix is based on expanding the system matrix in a basis of overlapping sources that localize the scattered field to a spatial region that is also covered by the source functions. It has previously been shown that the computational complexity of such factorizations can scale as well as O(N log N) for low to moderate frequencies when used as a direct solver. The OL-LOGOS method has also been shown to provide an effective, O(N log N) general purpose preconditioner when used to factor the near-neighbor matrix obtained from the multilevel fast multipole method algorithm.
Can Intelligence Be Altered Through Cognitive Training

The authors caution that in neglecting to focus on cognitive training, special educaton may be denying the very ideology on which it is built. Evidence is presented that (a) cognitive development is alterable via environmental and instructional influences; (b) cognition in handicapped populations is difficult to ascertain and is therefore being neglected; and (c) current special education treatment interventions and methodologies have in the past occluded research developments in cognitive training. It is also argued that investigations of cognitive approaches to instruction are so characterized by design flaws that no substantive conclusions can be drawn regarding the usefulness of cognitive theory. Finally, social learning theory is suggested as a means of providing special educators with valuable insights regarding the training of cognitive processes.
Enhancing Intrinsic Motivation in Health Promotion and Wellness

Health promotion and wellness specialists have long held this belief: ‘‘If you build a wellness program to help people lead healthier lives, they will come.’’ And why wouldn’t they? Start with completing a health risk assessment (HRA) and possibly biometric screening; the process alone can potentially be lifesaving, alerting people with conditions such as high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes to the significant risk of these conditions. Similarly, the HRA can help identify predisposition to deadly diseases, such as cancer, that require immediate intervention. Who would not want to know the results of such an important assessment? Wellness interventions such as HRAs can build awareness, lead employees towards making better health decisions, and reduce companies’ ever-increasing health care costs. So why aren’t employees participating in large numbers in worksite wellness programs? From our general experience with wellness programs, we’ve seen that offering employees opportunities to improve health is simply not enough to cause them to use it. Despite the significant personal advantages from health promotion and wellness programs, many people still do not actively participate. To build intrinsic motivation for change, we believe that individuals need todiscover their own rewards forhealthybehavior.Employeesmust be supported within an organizational health culture to build their own goals, enhance their own knowledge, and follow through on their own concrete action steps. Through this health culture, employees can develop their own intrinsic values or incentives that help maintain their efforts towards achieving health goals. This article reviews scientific studiesofbehaviorchange thatprovideadeeperunderstandingofhuman motivation. The issues raised address how to design more effective health promotion and wellness programs, and illustrate ways to implement health change programs so that they enhance intrinsic motivation. To help us accomplish this we will be addressing the following topics:
Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis: Unifying features of a heterogeneous disorder

Kaposiform lymphangiomatosis (KLA) is a rare proliferation of abnormal lymphatic vessels often complicated by pleural/pericardial effusions and a consumptive coagulopathy that may lead to life threatening hemorrhage. Establishing the diagnosis is challenging due to the clinical heterogeneity and variable findings in laboratory values, radiographic features, and pathologic characteristics. We report three patients who had slowly progressive symptoms and presented with pleural or pericardial effusions, evidence of a consumptive coagulopathy and anemia. Despite being a rare and challenging diagnosis, KLA should be considered in patients presenting with non-specific indolent symptoms, pleural or pericardial effusions and laboratory evidence of a consumptive coagulopathy.
Reactions to Gender Egalitarian Men: Perceived Feminization Due to Stigma-by-Association

Gender egalitarian men are vital for women’s progress, yet attitudes toward and beliefs about them are underinvestigated. In three experiments, women liked gender egalitarian men more so than men did, but both genders stigmatized them as more feminine, weak, and likely to be gay, compared with control male targets. This was true even when the gender egalitarian was an actual presidential candidate for the American Psychological Association (Experiment 3). We examined whether stigmatization was due to (a) gender egalitarians’ presumed affiliations with women and/or gay men (stigma-by-association); (b) the gay male feminist stereotype; or (c) a threat to men’s gender identity. Results supported stigma-by-association, but only for affiliations with women (not gay men). The gay male feminist stereotype was robust, but did not account for stigmatization, and men’s reactions to male gender egalitarians were independent of their gender identity. Implications of these findings for gender equality are discussed.
Cellular immune responses to cytomegalovirus in renal transplant recipients.

Control of CMV replication depends primarily on anti-CMV T lymphocyte activity. However, the functional T-cell responses to CMV in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients are not well understood. In this study we employed cytokine flowcytometry (CFC) using pooled CMV peptides and viral lysates to detect CMV-specific T-cell responses in 17 healthy controls, 33 stable renal transplant recipients (Tx recipients) and 6 transplant recipients with active CMV infection (CMV(+)). We found that pooled peptides and lysates provide optimal detection of IFNγ production in anti-CMV CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, respectively. In both healthy controls and Tx recipients, CMV-specific T-cell levels strongly correlated with serostatus. Seropositive Tx recipients have significantly higher levels of CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses compared to healthy controls, which may signify an effort to control enhanced viral replication in immunosuppressed Tx recipients. In some individuals, absence of anti-CMV T-cell response may correlate with lack of viral clearance by ganciclovir therapy, even when CMV isolates are not ganciclovir resistant. Thus, monitoring cellular immunity with CFC along with viral load by PCR merits further exploration for identification of patients at the risk of developing CMV disease, tailoring prophylactic and therapeutic decisions and preventing complications.
Discovery of Glucocorticoid Receptor-β in Mice with a Role in Metabolism

Glucocorticoid hormones control diverse physiological processes, including metabolism and immunity, by activating the major glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoform, GRα. However, humans express an alternative isoform, human (h)GRβ, that acts as an inhibitor of hGRα to produce a state of glucocorticoid resistance. Indeed, evidence exists that hGRβ contributes to many diseases and resistance to glucocorticoid hormone therapy. However, rigorous testing of the GRβ contribution has not been possible, because rodents, especially mice, are not thought to express the β-isoform. Here, we report expression of GRβ mRNA and protein in the mouse. The mGRβ isoform arises from a distinct alternative splicing mechanism utilizing intron 8, rather than exon 9 as in humans. The splicing event produces a form of β that is similar in structure and functionality to hGRβ. Mouse (m)GRβ has a degenerate C-terminal region that is the same size as hGRβ. Using a variety of newly developed tools, such as a mGRβ-specific antibody and con...
Delirium After Cardiac Surgery

Delirium is an acute change in cognitive functioning, characterized by inattention and associated with disorganized thinking or altered level of consciousness, which preferentially affects the older patients (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Washington: American Psychiatric Association; 2000). After cardiac surgery, the incidence of delirium has been reported between 2 and 73%, depending on the type and sensitivity of delirium assessment (Delirium in the postoperative cardiac patient: a review. J Card Surg. 2005;20(6):560–7). Patients with delirium after surgery have increased length of stay and increased hospitalization costs. Importantly, these patients are more likely to require assistance upon discharge and are slower to recover function (Delirium in the postoperative cardiac patient: a review. J Card Surg. 2005;20(6):560–7, The cost of delirium in the surgical patient. Psychosomatics. 2001;42(1):68–73, The long-term cognitive and functional outcomes of postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;87(5):1469–74). As a result, delirium represents an undesirable outcome after cardiac surgery. Care improvements such as identifying delirium risk preoperatively (Derivation and validation of a preoperative prediction rule for delirium after cardiac surgery. Circulation. 2009;119(2):229–36); training surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses to screen for delirium (Delirium in mechanically ventilated patients: validity and reliability of the confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU). JAMA. 2001;286(21):2703–10); implementing delirium prevention programs (Reducing delirium after hip fracture: a randomized trial. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2001;49(5):516–22); and developing standardized delirium treatment protocols may reduce the risk of delirium and its associated morbidity.
Synthesis and Evaluation of the Metabolites of AMG 221, a Clinical Candidate for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

All eight of the major active metabolites of (S)-2-((1S,2S,4R)-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ylamino)-5-isopropyl-5-methylthiazol-4(5H)-one (AMG 221, compound 1), an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 that has entered the clinic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, were synthetically prepared and confirmed by comparison with samples generated in liver microsomes. After further profiling, we determined that metabolite 2 was equipotent to 1 on human 11β-HSD1 and had lower in vivo clearance and higher bioavailability in rat and mouse. Compound 2 was advanced into a pharmacodynamic model in mouse where it inhibited adipose 11β-HSD1 activity.
Properties of Corn Masa Processing Byproducts

The production of corn masa-based products in the U.S. has been increasing over the last several years, and as a result, so has the quantity of waste materials generated from this industry. These byproduct materials may have potential for value-added processing and utilization, which are options that hold the promise of economic benefits for masa processors and decreased potential pollution for the environment. Fundamental to any byproduct development, however, is a full characterization of the processing residue, because physical and nutritional properties are necessary for the proper design of processing operations and applications. Vital physical properties include moisture content, water activity, density, yield stress, viscosity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, pH, color, and drying behavior. Requisite nutritional properties include protein, carbohydrate, fat, ash, fiber, vitamin, and mineral contents. Because information concerning masa byproduct materials currently is not readily available, the objective of this study was to fully investigate the existing physical and nutritional properties knowledge base. Through this investigation it was found that masa byproducts appear very suitable for use as livestock feed additives, and because they are high in fiber, they could be well suited for ruminant diets. Additionally, due to substantial calcium content (because of residual lime from the nixtamalization process), there may be potential for use as a calcium source in livestock rations. Before masa residues can be effectively and economically utilized, however, they must be dehydrated, in order to reduce transportation costs, to decrease microbial activity, and to increase shelf life, because under current processing practices, they are very high in moisture.
Glenohumeral Contact Kinematics in Patients After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Background: Knowledge of in vivo glenohumeral joint contact mechanics after total shoulder arthroplasty may provide insight for the improvement of patient function, implant longevity, and surgical technique. The objective of this study was to determine the in vivo glenohumeral joint contact locations in patients after total shoulder arthroplasty. We hypothesized that the glenohumeral joint articular contact would be centered on the glenoid surface because of the ball-in-socket geometric features of the implants. Methods: Dual-plane fluoroscopic images and computer-aided design models were used to quantify patient-specific glenohumeral articular contact in thirteen shoulders following total shoulder arthroplasty. The reconstructed shoulder was imaged at arm positions of 0°, 45°, and 90° of abduction (in the coronal plane) and neutral rotation and at 90° of abduction with maximum internal and external rotation. The patients were individually investigated, and their glenohumeral joint contact centroids were reported with use of contact frequency. Results: In all positions, the glenohumeral joint contact centroids were not found at the center of the glenoid surface but at an average distance (and standard deviation) of 11.0 ± 4.3 mm from the glenoid center. Forty (62%) of the sixty-five total contact occurrences were found on the superior-posterior quadrant of the glenoid surface. The position of 0° of abduction in neutral rotation exhibited the greatest variation of quadrant contact location; however, no contact was found on the superior-anterior quadrant of the glenoid surface in this position. Conclusions: In vivo, glenohumeral joint contact after total shoulder arthroplasty is not centered on the glenoid surface, suggesting that kinematics after shoulder arthroplasty may not be governed by ball-in-socket mechanics as traditionally thought. Although contact locations as a function of arm position vary among patients, the superior-posterior quadrant seems to experience the most articular contact in the shoulder positions tested. Clinical Relevance: The results from this study may serve as benchmark data for future studies aiming to determine optimum contact biomechanics of the glenohumeral joint following primary total shoulder arthroplasty.
Death Following Creatine Kinase-MB Elevation After Coronary Intervention Identification of an Early Risk Period: Importance of Creatine Kinase-MB Level, Completeness of Revascularization, Ventricular Function, and Probable Benefit of Statin Therapy

Background— Creatine kinase (CK)-MB elevation after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been associated with subsequent cardiac death. The patients at risk, the timing of risk, and potential treatment implications are uncertain. Methods and Results— Eight thousand, four hundred nine consecutive non– acute myocardial infarction patients with successful PCI and no emergency surgery or Q-wave myocardial infarction were followed for 38±25 months; 1446 (17.2%) had post-PCI CK-MB above normal on routine ascertainment. Patients were prospectively stratified into those with CK-MB 1 to 5× or CK-MB >5× normal. No patient with CK-MB 1 to 5× normal died during the first week after PCI, and excess risk of early death for patients with CK-MB elevation occurred primarily in the first 3 to 4 months. The actuarial 4-month risk of death was 8.9%, 1.9%, and 1.2% for patients with CK-MB >5×, CK-MB 1 to 5×, and CK-MB ≤1× normal (P<0.001). Death within 4 months was independently correlated with the degree of CK-MB ele...
The influence of species diversity on ecosystem productivity: how, where, and why?

The effect of species diversity on ecosystem productivity is controversial, in large part because field experiments investigating this relationship have been fraught with difficulties. Unfortunately, there are few guidelines to aid researchers who must overcome these difficulties and determine whether global species losses seriously threaten the ecological and economic bases of terrestrial ecosystems. In response, I offer a set of hypotheses that describe how diversity might influence productivity in plant communities based on three well-known mechanisms: complementarity, facilitation, and the sampling effect. Emphasis on these mechanisms reveals the sensitivity of any diversity-productivity relationship to ecological context (i.e., where this relationship should be found); ecological context includes characteristics of the surrounding environment, temporal and spatial scales of observation, and the intensity of human management. In particular, the legitimacy of the sampling effect as a mechanism of productivity enhancement is dependent upon the degree to which stochastic events influence immigration and extinction processes in a given ecosystem. A mechanistic approach also requires that the three mechanisms be separated and quantified in diversity experiments, and I examine the most appropriate analyses for doing so, focusing on the overyielding technique. Finally, I question why productivity per se is a relevant management concern in non-agricultural systems once relationships among diversity, productivity, and the qualities of the surrounding environment are considered.
Detection and differentiation of neutral organic compounds by 19F NMR with a tungsten calix[4]arene imido complex.

Fluorinated tungsten calix[4]arene imido complexes were synthesized and used as receptors to detect and differentiate neutral organic compounds. It was found that the binding of specific neutral organic molecules to the tungsten centers induces an upfield shift of the fluorine atom appended on the arylimido group, the extent of which is highly dependent on electronic and steric properties. We demonstrate that the specific bonding and size-selectivity of calix[4]arene tungsten–imido complex combined with 19F NMR spectroscopy is a powerful new method for the analysis of complex mixtures.
White mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are defective in phytoene synthase

Carotenoids play an integral and essential role in photosynthesis and photoprotection in plants and algae. A collection of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants lacking carotenoids was characterized for pigment and tocopherol (vitamin E) composition, growth phenotypes under different light conditions, and the molecular basis of their mutant phenotype. The carotenoid-less mutants, or "white" mutants, were also deficient in chlorophylls but had approximately twice the tocopherol content of the wild type. White mutants grew in the dark but were unable to survive in the light, even under very low light conditions on acetate-containing medium. Genetic crosses and recombination tests revealed that all individual white mutants in the collection are alleles of a single gene, lts1, and the white phenotype was closely linked to a marker located in the phytoene synthase gene. DNA sequencing of the phytoene synthase gene from each of the mutants revealed nonsense, missense, frameshift, and splice site mutations. Transformation with a wild-type copy of the phytoene synthase gene was able to complement the lts1-210 mutation. Together, these results show that all the white mutants examined in this work are affected in the phytoene synthase gene.
A Case for Meta-Triggers in Wireless Sensor Networks

This work addresses the problem of managing the reactive behavior in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). We consider settings in which the occurrence of a particular event, detected in a state that satisfies a given condition, should fire the execution of an action. We observe that in WSN settings, both the event and condition may pertain to some continuous phenomena that are monitored by distinct groups of nodes and, in addition, their respective detection may impose an extra communication overhead, if a correct executional behavior is desired in terms of firing the action. Towards that end, we propose the concept of a {\it meta trigger},which essentially translates a particular request, so that the communication overhead among the entities participating in its processing is minimized. We discuss a proof-of-concept implementation which demonstrates the benefits of the proposed methodology on an actual small-size network, and we present a detailed simulation-based experimental evaluation in large-scale networks. Our experiments indicate that the meta-triggers can yield substantial savings in the energy (and bandwidth) expenditures of the network, while preserving the intended executional correctness.
BMI: a network abstraction layer for parallel I/O

As high-performance computing increases in popularity and performance, the demand for similarly capable input and output systems rises. Parallel I/O takes advantage of many data server machines to provide linearly scaling performance to parallel applications that access storage over the system area network. The demands placed on the network by a parallel storage system are considerably different than those imposed by message-passing algorithms or data-center operations; and, there are many popular and varied networks in use in modern parallel machines. These considerations lead us to develop a network abstraction layer for parallel I/O which is efficient and thread-safe, provides operations specifically required for I/O processing, and supports multiple networks. The buffered message interface (BMI) has low processor overhead, minimal impact on latency, and can improve throughput for parallel file system workloads by as much as 40% compared to other more generic network abstractions.
Characterizing differences in precipitation regimes of extreme wet and dry years: implications for climate change experiments.

Climate change is intensifying the hydrologic cycle and is expected to increase the frequency of extreme wet and dry years. Beyond precipitation amount, extreme wet and dry years may differ in other ways, such as the number of precipitation events, event size, and the time between events. We assessed 1614 long-term (100 year) precipitation records from around the world to identify key attributes of precipitation regimes, besides amount, that distinguish statistically extreme wet from extreme dry years. In general, in regions where mean annual precipitation (MAP) exceeded 1000 mm, precipitation amounts in extreme wet and dry years differed from average years by ~40% and 30%, respectively. The magnitude of these deviations increased to >60% for dry years and to >150% for wet years in arid regions (MAP 99th percentile of all events); these occurred twice as often in extreme wet years compared to average years. In contrast, these large precipitation events were rare in extreme dry years. Less important for distinguishing extreme wet from dry years were mean event size and frequency, or the number of dry days between events. However, extreme dry years were distinguished from average years by an increase in the number of dry days between events. These precipitation regime attributes consistently differed between extreme wet and dry years across 12 major terrestrial ecoregions from around the world, from deserts to the tropics. Thus, we recommend that climate change experiments and model simulations incorporate these differences in key precipitation regime attributes, as well as amount into treatments. This will allow experiments to more realistically simulate extreme precipitation years and more accurately assess the ecological consequences.
Variation-aware clock network design methodology for ultra-low voltage (ULV) circuits

This paper presents a design methodology for robust and low-energy clock networks for ultra-low voltage (ULV) circuits. We show that both clock slew and skew play important roles in achieving high maximum operating frequency (F max ) and low clock energy in ULV circuits. In addition, clock networks in ULV circuits are highly sensitive to process variations. We propose a variation-aware methodology that controls both clock skew and slew to maximize F max and minimize clock power. Experimental results show that our clock network design method achieves lower energy (more than 20 % savings) at comparable or even higher F max compared with the existing methods.
Compliance With Disposition to Primary Care Physicians and Psychiatrists in Elderly Homebound Mentally Ill Patients

In a naturalistic study, the authors evaluated homebound mentally ill elderly patients as part of a psychiatric outreach team in two rural/semi-urban regions. Of the 80 patients evaluated in the two counties, 15 patients were admitted to nursing homes and were excluded from the analyses of follow-up data. Of the remaining 65 patients, 36 were referred to a primary care physician and 29 to a psychiatrist. The follow-up rate with primary care physicians (75%) was significantly greater than with psychiatrists (41% [ P P
Upper Tract Imaging Surveillance is not Effective in Diagnosing Upper Tract Recurrence in Patients Followed for Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of routine upper tract imaging in patients followed for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer between 2000 and 2006 was conducted. Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated to determine upper tract urothelial carcinoma-free probability for stage Ta and T1 disease. Bladder cancer stage was included as a time dependent covariate. Descriptive statistics were used to report rates of imaging studies used and the efficacy in diagnosing upper tract urothelial carcinoma.Results: Of 935 patients treated and followed for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer 51 were diagnosed with upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Median followup was 5.5 years. The 5-year upper tract urothelial carcinoma-free probability among patients with Ta and T1 disease was 98% and 93%, respectively. The 10-year upper tract urothelial carcinoma-free probability among patients with Ta and T1 disease was 94% and 88%, res...
Next-to-minimal supersymmetric model solution to the fine-tuning problem, precision electroweak constraints, and the largest CERN LEP Higgs event excess

We present an extended study of how the next-to-minimal supersymmetric model easily avoids fine-tuning in electroweak symmetry breaking for a SM-like light Higgs with mass in the vicinity of 100 GeV, as beautifully consistent with precision electroweak data, while escaping LEP constraints due to the dominance of h{yields}aa decays with m{sub a} 30 GeV, and decays primarily to {gamma}{gamma} leading to an h{yields}aa{yields}4{gamma} Higgs signal.
Sequencing of EHR adoption among US hospitals and the impact of meaningful use.

Objective To examine whether there is a common sequence of adoption of electronic health record (EHR) functions among US hospitals, identify differences by hospital type, and assess the impact of meaningful use. Materials and methods Using 2008 American Hospital Association (AHA) Information Technology (IT) Supplement data, we calculate adoption rates of individual EHR functions, along with Loevinger homogeneity (H) coefficients, to assess the sequence of EHR adoption across hospitals. We compare adoption rates and Loevinger H coefficients for hospitals of different types to assess variation in sequencing. We qualitatively assess whether stage 1 meaningful use functions are those adopted early in the sequence. Results There is a common sequence of EHR adoption across hospitals, with moderate-to-strong homogeneity. Patient demographic and ancillary results functions are consistently adopted first, while physician notes, clinical reminders, and guidelines are adopted last. Small hospitals exhibited greater homogeneity than larger hospitals. Rural hospitals and non-teaching hospitals exhibited greater homogeneity than urban and teaching hospitals. EHR functions emphasized in stage 1 meaningful use are spread throughout the scale. Discussion Stronger homogeneity among small, rural, and non-teaching hospitals may be driven by greater reliance on vendors and less variation in the types of care they deliver. Stage 1 meaningful use is likely changing how hospitals sequence EHR adoption—in particular, by moving clinical guidelines and medication computerized provider order entry ahead in sequence. Conclusions While there is a common sequence underlying adoption of EHR functions, the degree of adherence to the sequence varies by key hospital characteristics. Stage 1 meaningful use likely alters the sequence.
Evidence of old carbon used to grow new fine roots in a tropical forest.

Summary • In this study, we explore how a hurricane disturbance influenced carbon allocation for the production of new fine roots.  Before and after a hurricane, we measured the age of carbon (time since fixation from the atmosphere) in fine root structural tissues using natural abundance radiocarbon ( 14 C) measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. Roots were sampled from five seasonally dry tropical forests ranging in age from 6 yr to a mature forest.  Structural carbon in combined live + dead roots picked from soil cores sampled 1 month before the hurricane had mean ages ranging from 4 to 11 yr, whereas live roots alone had ages of 1–2 yr. Structural carbon in new live fine roots produced over a period lasting from 3 wk before the hurricane to 2 months after the event had mean ages of between 2 and 10 yr.  Contrary to expectations, our results showed that plants allocate long-lived storage carbon pools to the production of new fine roots after canopy defoliation and root mortality. The age of the carbon allocated for new roots increased with forest age and forest above-ground biomass, suggesting an adaptation of plants to survive and recover from severe disturbances.
Do trophic cascades affect the storage and flux of atmospheric carbon? An analysis of sea otters and kelp forests

We combine data collected from the past 40 years to estimate the indirect effects of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) on ecosystem carbon (C) production and storage across their North American range, from Vancouver Island to the western edge of Alaska's Aleutian Islands. We find that sea otters, by suppressing sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus spp) populations, allow kelp (Order Laminariales) ecosystems to develop with a net primary productivity (NPP) of 313–900 grams C per square meter per year (g C m−2 yr−1) and biomass density of 101–180 grams C per square meter (g C m−2). In the absence of sea otters, these areas would have an NPP of 25–70 g C m−2 yr−1 and biomass density of 8–14 g C m−2. Over an ecosystem area of approximately 5.1 × 1010 m2, the effect of sea otter predation on living kelp biomass alone represents a 4.4-to 8.7-teragram increase in C storage. At 2012 prices (US$47 per ton of C), this stored C would be valued at US$205 million–$408 million on the European Carbon Exchange. Although questions re...
The Unstructured C-Terminal Tail of the 9-1-1 Clamp Subunit Ddc1 Activates Mec1/ATR via Two Distinct Mechanisms

DNA damage checkpoint pathways operate to prevent cell-cycle progression in response to DNA damage and replication stress. In S. cerevisiae, Mec1-Ddc2 (human ATR-ATRIP) is the principal checkpoint protein kinase. Biochemical studies have identified two factors, the 9-1-1 checkpoint clamp and the Dpb11/TopBP1 replication protein, as potential activators of Mec1/ATR. Here, we show that G1 phase checkpoint activation of Mec1 is achieved by the Ddc1 subunit of 9-1-1, while Dpb11 is dispensable. However, in G2, 9-1-1 activates Mec1 by two distinct mechanisms. One mechanism involves direct activation of Mec1 by Ddc1, while the second proceeds by Dpb11 recruitment mediated through Ddc1 T602 phosphorylation. Two aromatic residues, W352 and W544, localized to two widely separated, conserved motifs of Ddc1, are essential for Mec1 activation in vitro and checkpoint function in G1. Remarkably, small peptides that fuse the two tryptophan-containing motifs together are proficient in activating Mec1.
Marx and McDonaldization: A Tropological Analysis

McDonaldization is usually seen as a ‘tragedy’ as humans become more rationalised in their everyday life, but from the view of Marx’s theory of historical change, I suggest that it might be seen as a ‘comedy’. As the world’s labour force becomes culturally the same it may finally gain an ironic awareness that is required for radical social change, thus, global rationalisation may create the conditions for a ‘global Proletariat’. The comedy of McDonaldization is that its repulsiveness as a way of life may actually lead to the possibility of achieving liberation from the domination of global capitalism.