Block of potassium currents in guinea pig ventricular myocytes and lengthening of cardiac repolarization in man by the histamine H1 receptor antagonist diphenhydramine

Treatment with second generation histamine H1 receptor antagonists has been associated with lengthening of the Q-T interval and proarrhythmia. Similarly, lengthening of the Q-T interval has been reported in patients after overdosing with diphenhydramine (DPH), a first generation agent. Therefore, our study was designed 1) to assess effects of DPH on cardiac repolarization and 2) to characterize effects of the drug on major voltage-dependent cardiac K+ currents. First, we noticed that oral administration of DPH at usual dosages to healthy volunteers or to patients (prior to angioplasty) was associated with prolongation of the Q-Tc interval. Although this effect was modest in most individuals, Q-Tc was increased more than 20 ms in 7 of 20 patients. Second, we noticed that exposure of isolated guinea pig hearts to DPH 10(-5) M caused a lengthening of monophasic action potential duration. This effect was potentiated by the combined perfusion of other K+ channel blockers such as indapamide. Finally, experiments performed with the patch-clamp technique demonstrated unequivocal block of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier (IKr) by DPH; however, IC50 determined for block of IKr (3 x 10(-5) M) is approximately 40-fold greater than plasma concentrations of the drug measured at usual dosages (7 x 10(-7) M). Consequently, in agreement with the long-term clinical use of the drug, prolongation of cardiac repolarization should be minimal in most patients at usual dosages but may be observed with overdosing. Nevertheless, caution remains since excessive lengthening of cardiac repolarization may occur after administration of DPH with other drugs due to 1) concomitant block of other ionic currents or 2) pharmacokinetic interactions leading to toxic concentrations of DPH.     

Determination of Polyphenols,Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Capacity in Colored Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

ABSTRACT: Dry legumes are staple and potentially functional food, being a good source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. The objective of this study was to determine the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and their relation with antioxidant capacity in 17 chickpea lines having colored seed coats (black, red, brown, green, rubiginous, gray, yellow, cream, or beige). The seed coat usually contains more than 95% of these compounds. In this study, both TPC and TFC varied significantly among different lines and were highly correlated to antioxidant activity. Colored seeds contained up to 13-, 11-, and 31-fold more TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity, respectively, than cream- and beige-color seeds. Thus, colored chickpea could be a potentially functional food in addition to its traditional role of providing dietary proteins and dietary fibers.     

The crossover of perceived health between spouses.

The current study examined the crossover of perceived health between spouses and the mediating roles of self-esteem and undermining in this process. Data were collected from a sample of 2,108 couples from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring survey. Using structural equation modeling, the authors tested a crossover model that incorporated three mechanisms: bidirectional crossover of perceived health between spouses, common stressors (income), and indirect mediated effects (social undermining). The model showed an acceptable fit to the data and provided support for all three-crossover mechanisms. Furthermore, self-esteem mediated the relationship between economic hardship and perceived health. The authors discuss theoretical aspects of the crossover of perceived health and implications of our findings for the design of preventive interventions to help family members cope more effectively with economic hardship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Estimating the Uncertainty in the Location of Image Points in 3D Recognition from Match Sets of Different Sizes

Efficient and robust model-based recognition systems need to be able to estimate reliably and quickly the possible locations of other model features in the image when a match of several model points to image points is given. Errors in the sensed data lead to uncertainty in the computed pose of the object, which in turn lead to uncertainty in these positions. We present an efficient and accurate method for estimating these uncertainty regions. Our basic method deals with an initial match of three points. With a small additional computational cost it can be used to compute the uncertainty regions of the projections of many model points using the same match triplet. The basic method is then extended employing statistical methods to estimate uncertainty regions when given initial matches of any size. This is the major practical contribution of the paper because when the number of points in the match increases, the size of the uncertainty region decreases dramatically, which helps to discriminate much better between correct and incorrect matches in model-based recognition algorithms.     

Time course of word identification and semantic integration in spoken language.

The minimum duration signal necessary to identify a set of spoken words was established by the gating technique; most words could be identified before their acoustic offset. Gated words were used as congruous and incongruous sentence completions, and isolation points established in the gating experiment were compared with the time course of semantic integration evident in event-related brain potentials. Differential N400 responses to contextually appropriate and inappropriate words were observed about 200 ms before the isolation point. Semantic processing was evident before the acoustic signal was sufficient to identify the words uniquely. Results indicate that semantic integration can begin to operate with only partial, incomplete information about word identity. Influences of semantic constraint, word frequency, and rate of presentation are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Atomic Structure and Electrical Properties of In(Te) Nanocontacts on CdZnTe(110) by Scanning Probe Microscopy

Understanding complex correlations between the macroscopic device performance (largely dependent on the character of the metal–semiconductor contact) and the metallurgy of contact formation on the atomic level in cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) radiation detectors remains a formidable challenge. In this work, an effort towards bridging that macro–nano knowledge gap is made by conducting a series of controlled experiments aimed at correlating electrical properties of the In contact to n‐type CdZnTe(110) surface with the step‐by‐step process of contact formation. This can only be achieved by using high spatial resolution techniques, capable of conducting highly localized measurements on the nano‐ and sub‐nanoscale, such as scanning probe microscopy. Scanning tunneling microscopy is used in situ to monitor the behavior of various In atom coverages on an atomically flat and ordered CdZnTe surface under well‐controlled molecular beam epitaxial conditions in ultra‐high vacuum. Electrical derivatives of atomic force microscopy are used to measure the electrical contact properties, such as contact potential difference and spreading resistance in torsion resonance tunneling mode. It is concluded that In atoms preferentially reacted with Te atomic‐rows already at room temperature, forming nanometric patches of indium–telluride Schottky‐type contacts. The methods developed in this study, in terms of both nanocontact fabrication and characterization (especially in terms of electrical properties) should benefit basic and applied research of any metal–semiconductor system.     

The production of literacy in the Israeli culture industry

Zionist education is a manifestation of the efficiency of the violence of colonising education which for a century was targeted at internal (Jewish) communities, their memories and interests, as well as at the identity, memories, narratives and fortunes of external rivals. The current change in the stance of the Hebrew language reflects social, cultural and political transformations, which determine the end of Zionism. The paper presents a critical reconstruction of new literacies in Israel. The production of the new literacies does not reflect enhancement of reflective competence or the empowering of emancipatory sensitivity and responsibility. On the contrary, it serves and reflects the logic of the market, and its changing needs within the framework of a post-modern culture industry. The possibility of a non-repressive literacy is addressed within the framework of a counter-education, which does not disregard the new possibilities and limitations set by the post-modern reality.     

Topology-based tracking strategies for personal communication networks

This paper explores tracking strategies for mobile users in personal communication networks which are based on thetopology of the cells. We introduce the notion oftopology-based strategies in a very general form. In particular, the known paging areas, overlapping paging areas, reporting centers, and distance-based strategies are covered by this notion. We then compare two topology-based strategies with the time-based strategy on the line and mesh cell topology.