Synchronization in noisy systems and cardiorespiratory interaction

In this article, we restrict ourselves to an understanding of the synchronization phenomenon as an adjustment of rhythms of two weakly interacting self-sustained oscillators. We describe a unified approach to synchronization of noisy and chaotic systems and demonstrate that this approach can be used to address the inverse problem of identification of the presence of weak interaction between natural systems from bivariate data. In this way, we reveal the presence of weak interactions between the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems     

Today's VR

Virtual reality (VR) has advanced since the early 1990s. We review current VR and augmented reality systems and technology, point out new solutions, and suggest ideas for future research     

Stress, adaptation, and nitric oxide

The biological role of nitric oxide (NO) has been studied for more than ten years. Nevertheless, the number of investigations in this field continues to increase. It is now suggested that NO is a previously unrecognized, very important regulator of physiological functions and cell metabolism in the body. Through the application of the methods of molecular biology, more and more data are being accumulated on the regulatory role of NO in the mechanism of gene expression and protein biosynthesis. The data presented in this review show an important role of NO in stress and adaptive responses of organisms and thereby expand existing notions on the biological role of this unique molecule. This review substantiates the idea that the system of NO generation is a newly discovered stress-limiting system. The action of this NO-ergic system is based on the capability of NO to limit key links of the stress reaction and to enhance the potency of endogenous defense systems of the organism. The role of NO is considered at the major stages of adaptation: 1) at the urgent stage related with the stress reaction; 2) at the stage of the transition from urgent to long-term adaptation; and 3) at the stage of long-term adaptation characterized by the formation of stable protective effects. It is demonstrated that pharmacological "imitation" of the activated NO-ergic system by administration of NO donors to the organism provides in many instances an efficient protection against stress damage and enhances the adaptive capacity of the organism.     

A simple method for producing high conductivity copper for low temperature applications

We report here the details and results of a simple technique for treating polycrystalline copper which significantly reduces its low temperature electrical resistivity (and concomitantly the thermal resistivity). For polycrystalline copper, in the best cases one can obtain residual resistance ratios,rrr, defined as

$\text{rrr = R(295}\text{K}\text{)/R(4}\text{K}\text{) ≈ p(295}\text{K}\text{)/p(4}\text{K}\text{)}$

of over 10 000. For copper of electrical quality or better, the room temperature resistivity is completely dominated by the phonon contribution and is independent of the usually small amounts of impurities (less than 30 ppm), thus, the larger the rrr, the better is the copper as a low temperature conductor.     

Telomerase activity and its clinicopathological significance in gastric cancer

In order to assess the role of telomerase in development of malignant gastric cancer, we measured the telomerase activity in gastric cancer tissues and normal tissues obtained from 95 patients by employing recently developed sensitive PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based telomerase assay (telomeric repeat amplification protocol, TRAP). We also investigated how telomerase activity related to other clinicopathological findings including DNA ploidy and K-RAS gene point mutation. The telomerase activity was present in 85 of the 95 gastric cancer tissues, whereas we detected no telomerase activity in any normal tissue. The incidence of telomerase activity in gastric cancer tissues was not correlated to age, sex, tumour stage, histological grade, DNA ploidy or K-RAS mutation. Disease-free or overall survival of patients having tumours with detectable telomerase activity was not significantly different from that of those without telomerase activity. These findings suggest that telomerase may play a key role in the establishment and progression of the gastric cancer and further studies will be needed to elucidate the biological role of telomerase in gastric cancer.     

Assessment of attachment in differentially reared infant monkeys (Macaca radiata): Response to separation and a novel environment.

Observed infants from 2 environments, either low foraging demand or variable foraging demand for their mothers, to assess the developmental consequences of rearing environments for 12 infant bonnet macaques under 2 test conditions after the completion of the differential rearing treatment. One of the test conditions involved introduction of the rearing cohorts to a novel room; this was done in 2 series of 4 1-hr sessions: a series before and a series after completion of the 2nd test condition. The 2nd test condition involved a 20.5-hr removal of each mother from the rearing cohort; this was repeated once a week for 3 wks. Results of the novel room tests effectively differentiated rearing treatments in this study and suggested group differences in attachment security. In contrast, the maternal separations failed to differentiate treatments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health status and quality of life following cardiac transplantation

There is little information regarding the functional status and quality of life of cardiac transplant patients. This investigation is the largest study describing outcome up to 10 years after cardiac transplantation. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 200 cardiac transplant recipients using the Sickness Impact Profile and a supplementary questionnaire. The response rate was 48%. The median duration post-cardiac transplantation was 2.3 years (range, 0.5 to 9.7 years). The median age was 53 years (range, 27.1 to 68.7). In comparison to previously published studies, our sample of cardiac transplant recipients had worse quality of life than normals, similar scores to cardiac arrest survivors and post-myocardial infarction patients, and better quality of life than patients with low back pain. We found that those not working (44%) reported a lower quality of life. Musculoskeletal-neurologic complaints were highly prevalent, with generalized weakness in 54% responding, fatigue in 42%, and low back pain in 37%. Lower quality of life was found in patients reporting a higher number of musculoskeletal-neurological disorders. We conclude that there are specific areas for rehabilitation intervention in patients post-cardiac transplantation, and suggest areas for future research directed towards enhancing quality of life for cardiac transplant recipients.     

Combined characterization of composite tabular silver halide microcrystals by cryo-EFTEM/EELS and cryo-STEM/EDX techniques

The combination of cryo-energy filtering transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM)/electron spectroscopic diffraction (ESD)/electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cryo-energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis in the scanning transmission (STEM) and scanning (SEM) modes was applied for the characterization of composite tabular Ag(Br,I) microcrystals. A low-loss fine structure in EEL spectra between 4 and 26 eV was attributed to excitons and plasmons possibly superimposed with interband transitions and many-electron effects. The contrast tuning under the energy-filtering in the low-loss region was used to image the crystal morphology, defect structure (random dislocations and ?111? stacking faults) and bend and edge contours as well as electron excitations in the microcrystals. Sharp extra reflections at commensurate positions in between the main Bragg reflections and diffuse honeycomb contours in ESD patterns of the microcrystals taken near the [111] zone were assigned to the number of defects in the shell region parallel to the grain edges and polyhedral clusters of interstitial silver cations, respectively. The imaginary part of the energy-loss function, Im (-1/epsilon), and the real and imaginary parts, epsilon1 and epsilon2, of the dielectric permittivity were determined by means of a Kramers-Kronig analysis. An assignment of exciton peaks based on calculations of electronic band structure of silver bromide is proposed. Inner-shell excitation bands of silver halide were detected in line with EDX-analyses. The energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) of the AgM4,5-edge governed by spin-orbital splitting between the 3d3/2- and 3d5/2-states has been evaluated. Combined silver and halide distributions were obtained by a three-window method (EFTEM) and by EDX/STEM including area mapping and line profiling of iodide.