Eighteen novel human genes regionally mapped on chromosome 11

The list of LDL receptor superfamily relatives is still growing. The two most recently discovered family branches are (1) a set of receptors characterized by expression in brain and a very close relationship to the LDL and VLDL receptors, and (2) highly cross-species (man, mouse, rabbit, chicken) conserved complex mosaic receptors which contain structural domains so far not found in the superfamily. At present, we know very little about the physiological function(s) of these molecules. They can be safely assumed, based on the presence of seven, eight or 11 clustered LDL receptor ligand binding repeats, to recognize mammalian apolipoprotein E but, based on the absence of apolipoprotein E in birds, they may exhibit interactions quite different from and/or in addition to typical lipoprotein receptors in vivo.     

ITU-T standardization of audiovisual communication systems in ATMand LAN environments

This paper presents the ITU-T Study Group 15 development of H-series Recommendations that allow interworking between different audiovisual communication terminals manufactured by different equipment providers. The paper focuses on H.310 and H.321 systems for broad-band ATM environments and H.322 and H.323 systems for LAN environments where the quality of service may or may not be guaranteed. The paper first lists the Recommendations developed by the ITU-T for audiovisual communication systems and the network environments in which they may be used. It then describes the design philosophy, the network specific characteristics, and hardware trials for each system. Then it describes the communication control protocol defined in H.245 which is used commonly by different audiovisual communication systems. Finally, the paper discusses interworking scenarios for communication between the different types of terminal on different networks     

Successful treatment of a persistent cutaneous fistula to the seminal tract: imaging with three-dimensional computed tomography

The best position for Centers for Disease Control (Atlanta, GA) light traps, in relation to human-occupied bed nets for trapping of host-seeking Anopheles gambiae Giles and Culex quinquefasciatus Say mosquitoes, was determined in Tanzania. Significantly higher catches were recorded for both species when the trap was positioned at the foot end of the bed, near the top of the net. Parity rates were significantly higher near the top of the net than at the level of the host. Since trap position affects the catch size and the proportion of infectious mosquitoes therein, standardized use of this sampling technique for estimating entomologic inoculation rates (i.e., the number of potentially infectious bites received over a certain period of time) is recommended.     

GaAs MESFET characterization using least squares approximation byrational functions

The authors propose a method of characterizing active devices such as the FET by describing S-parameters with a set of rational functions of angular frequency. The set of rational functions is uniquely determined by only 27 coefficients, while the conventional method using tabulated S-parameters requires eight times the number of sampling points (a typical case might require 404 data points in floating-point notation). This drastically reduces the database size required to give adequate information for circuit design. A method for determining the equivalent circuit is described. Since the equivalent circuit is determined from the set of rational functions, no additional measurements are needed to determine extrinsic elements. In conventional methods, selection of initial values affects the final results. In the present method, reliable initial values are extracted from the rational functions' coefficients. The calculated S-parameters of three GaAs MESFETs having different gate widths agree closely with those measured by wafer-probe     

Effects of fenoterol on inspiratory effort sensation and fatigue during inspiratory threshold loading

We studied the effects of a single dose of fenoterol on the relationship between inspiratory effort sensation (IES) and inspiratory muscle fatigue induced by inspiratory threshold loading in healthy subjects. The magnitude of the threshold was 60% of maximal static inspiratory mouth pressure (PI,mmax) at functional residual capacity, and the duty cycle was 0.5. Subjects continued the threshold loaded breathing until the target mouth pressure could no longer be maintained (endurance time). The intensity of the IES was scored with a modified Borg scale. Either fenoterol (5 mg) or a placebo was given orally 2 h before loading in a randomized double-blind crossover protocol. The endurance time with fenoterol (34.4 +/- 8.6 min) was longer than that with the placebo (22.2 +/- 7.1 min; P < 0.05). The ratio of high- to low-frequency power of the diaphragmatic electromyogram (EMGdi) decreased during loading; the decrease was less with fenoterol (P < 0.05). The EMGdi also decreased with loading; the decrease was greater on fenoterol treatment (P < 0.01). The PI,mmax and maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) were similarly decreased after loading on either treatment. The intensity of the IES rose with time during loading in both groups but was lower with fenoterol than with the placebo (P < 0.05). The ratio of Pdi to integrated activity of the EMGdi increased with fenoterol (P < 0.05). Fenoterol treatment increased both superimposed Pdi twitch and Pdi twitch of relaxed diaphragm and decreased the value of (1-superimposed Pdi twitch/Pdi twitch of relaxed diaphragm). Thus we conclude that in normal subjects fenoterol reduces diaphragmatic fatigue and decreases the motor command to the diaphragm, resulting in a decrease in IES during inspiratory threshold loading and a prolongation of endurance.     

A new empirical large-signal HEMT model

We propose an empirical large-signal model of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The bias-dependent data of small-signal equivalent circuit elements are obtained from S-parameters measured at various bias settings. And C_gs, C_gd, g_m, and g_ds, are described as functions of V_gs and V_ds. We included our large-signal model in a commercially available circuit simulator as a user-defined model and designed a 30/60-GHz frequency doubler. The fabricated doubler's characteristics agreed well with the design calculations     

Individual differences in executive functions are almost entirely genetic in origin.

Recent psychological and neuropsychological research suggests that executive functions--the cognitive control processes that regulate thought and action--are multifaceted and that different types of executive functions are correlated but separable. The present multivariate twin study of 3 executive functions (inhibiting dominant responses, updating working memory representations, and shifting between task sets), measured as latent variables, examined why people vary in these executive control abilities and why these abilities are correlated but separable from a behavioral genetic perspective. Results indicated that executive functions are correlated because they are influenced by a highly heritable (99%) common factor that goes beyond general intelligence or perceptual speed, and they are separable because of additional genetic influences unique to particular executive functions. This combination of general and specific genetic influences places executive functions among the most heritable psychological traits. These results highlight the potential of genetic approaches for uncovering the biological underpinnings of executive functions and suggest a need for examining multiple types of executive functions to distinguish different levels of genetic influences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conceptual level and structural complexity in language.

The Paragraph Completion Method (PCM) of D. E. Hunt et al (1971) has been used to identify conceptual level (CL) as a process of cognitive structuring that produces language behavior on the part of client and counselor. Independently, a Computer-Assisted Language Analysis System (CALAS) has been used to identify structural features of the counselor's and client's language. In an analysis of 39 exemplary protocols contained in a revised manual for the PCM, relations between ratings of CL and linguistic measures yielded by the CALAS were examined. Simple frequency of usage and the structural complexity of the language accounted for much of the variance in CL scores, but a dimension of CL independent of linguistic features also was identified. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)