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Terrestrial surface water temperature is a key variable affecting water quality and energy balance, and thermodynamics and fluid dynamics are tightly coupled in fluvial and lacustrine systems. Streamflow generally plays a role in the horizontal redistribution of heat, and thermal exchange in lakes predominantly occurs in a vertical direction. However, numerical models simulate the water temperature for uncoupled rivers and lakes, and the linkages between them on a global scale remain unclear. In this study, we proposed an integrated modeling framework: Tightly Coupled framework for Hydrology of Open water Interactions in River–lake network (TCHOIR, read as “tee quire”). The objective is to simulate terrestrial fluvial and thermodynamics as a continuum of mass and energy in solid and liquid phases redistributed among rivers and lakes. TCHOIR uses high-resolution geographical information harmonized over fluvial and lacustrine networks. The results have been validated through comparison with in situ observations and satellite-based data products, and the model sensitivity has been tested with multiple meteorological forcing datasets. It was observed that the “coupled” mode outperformed the “river-only” mode in terms of discharge and temperature downstream of lakes; moreover, it was observed that seasonal and interannual variation in lake water levels and temperature are also more reliable in the “coupled” mode. The inclusion of lakes in the coupled model resulted in an increase in river temperatures during winter at midlatitudes and a decrease in temperatures during summer at high latitudes, which reflects the role of lakes as a form of large heat storage. The river–lake coupling framework presented herein provides a basis for further elucidating the role of terrestrial surface water in Earth's energy cycle.

Background Impella has been increasingly used in patients with cardiogenic shock (CGS). Target values for clinical indices for appropriate management of Impella have not yet been established. Purpose We aimed to elucidate the association between heat rate (HR) during Impella treatment in patients with CGS and clinical outcomes. Methods and results We retrospectively evaluated 62 patients (68±14 years; male 77%) with CGS receiving temporary circulatory support with the Impella between February 1, 2019, and February 31, 2021. The primary end point was 30-day mortality. Clinical characteristics, laboratory and hemodynamic markers at implantation of Impella (baseline), 12, 24 hr after implantation, and removal of Impella were assessed. There were 28 patients with concomitant use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Treatment periods using Impella were 8±6 days. After excluding 11 patients who died during Impella support, the relationship between clinical indicators at each time points and 30-day mortality was evaluated. There were 22 patients (43%) with 30-day mortality. Factors associated with 30-day mortality were: female, ECMO, higher 24-hr lactate level, lower 24-hr cardiac power output, and higher HR at removal. Lower HR of ≤81 bpm at removal was found to most accurately predict lower 30-day mortality (Figure 1). Higher increases in dose of beta-blockers during Impella support and lower absolute doses of norepinephrine at removal were correlated with decreases in HR during Impella support. Conclusions In patients with CGS treated with Impella, lower HR at removal was associated with lower incidence of 30-day mortality. Lowering HR during Impella treatment was recognized as a simple indicator for favorable clinical outcomes in patients with CGS. It was suggested that chronotropic interventions during Impella treatment may be novel therapeutic options in patients with CGS. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1

Anaplasma marginale causes bovine anaplasmosis, a debilitating and potentially fatal tick-borne infection of cattle. Because A. marginale is an obligate intracellular organism, its adhesins that mediate entry into host cells are essential for survival. Here, we demonstrate that A. marginale outer membrane protein A (AmOmpA; AM854) contributes to the invasion of mammalian and tick host cells. AmOmpA exhibits predicted structural homology to OmpA of A. phagocytophilum (ApOmpA), an adhesin that uses key lysine and glycine residues to interact with α2,3-sialylated and α1,3-fucosylated glycan receptors, including 6-sulfo-sialyl Lewis x (6-sulfo-sLe x ). Antisera against AmOmpA or its predicted binding domain inhibits A. marginale infection of host cells. Residues G55 and K58 are contributory, and K59 is essential for recombinant AmOmpA to bind to host cells. Enzymatic removal of α2,3-sialic acid and α1,3-fucose residues from host cell surfaces makes them less supportive of AmOmpA binding. AmOmpA is both an adhesin and an invasin, as coating inert beads with it confers adhesiveness and invasiveness. Recombinant forms of AmOmpA and ApOmpA competitively antagonize A. marginale infection of host cells, but a monoclonal antibody against 6-sulfo-sLe x fails to inhibit AmOmpA adhesion and A. marginale infection. Thus, the two OmpA proteins bind related but structurally distinct receptors. This study provides a detailed understanding of AmOmpA function, identifies its essential residues that can be targeted by blocking antibody to reduce infection, and determines that it binds to one or more α2,3-sialylated and α1,3-fucosylated glycan receptors that are unique from those targeted by ApOmpA.

The assessment of flood risk is important for policy makers to evaluate damage and for disaster preparation. Large population densities and high property concentration make cities more vulnerable to floods and having higher absolute damage per year. A number of major cities in the world suffer from flood inundation damage every year. In Japan, approximately JPY 100 billion in damage occurs annually due to pluvial flood only. The amount of damage was typically large in large cities, but regions with lower population density tended to have more damage per capita. Our statistical approach gives the probability of damage following every daily rainfall event and thereby the annual damage as a function of rainfall, population density, topographical slope, and gross domestic product. Our results for Japan show reasonable agreement with area-averaged annual damage for the period 1993–2009. We report a damage occurrence probability function and a damage cost function for pluvial flood damage, which makes this method flexible for use in future scenarios and also capable of being expanded to different regions.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes the emerging infection, granulocytic anaplasmosis. While electroporation can transform A. phagocytophilum isolated from host cells, no method has been developed to transform it while growing inside the ApV (A. phagocytophilum-occupied vacuole). Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, well-defined tree-branched macromolecules used for gene therapy and nucleic acid delivery into mammalian cells, were recently shown to be effective in transforming Chlamydia spp. actively growing in host cells. We determined if we could adapt a similar system to transform A. phagocytophilum. Incubating fluorescently labeled PAMAM dendrimers with infected host cells resulted in fluorescein-positive ApVs. Incubating infected host cells or host cell-free A. phagocytophilum organisms with dendrimers complexed with pCis GFPuv-SS Himar A7 plasmid, which carries a Himar1 transposon cassette encoding GFPuv and spectinomycin/streptomycin resistance plus the Himar1 transposase itself, resulted in GFP-positive, antibiotic resistant bacteria. Yet, transformation efficiencies were low. The transformed bacterial populations could only be maintained for a few passages, likely due to random Himar1 cassette-mediated disruption of A. phagocytophilum genes required for fitness. Nonetheless, these results provide proof of principle that dendrimers can deliver exogenous DNA into A. phagocytophilum, both inside and outside of host cells.

Hot dip and non-hot dip galvanised steel specimens were immersed in a 9K medium containing Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and the weight change and variation in potential with time measured. After this period, the surfaces of the specimens were observed using a scanning electron microscope and analysed by energy dispersive analysis by X-rays (SEM-EDX). Both specimens showed increased weight changes after immersion in the 9K medium with T. ferrooxidans, but did not show any significant difference in potential in the solution with T. ferrooxidans and that without the microorganisms. However, SEM-EDX analysis of the specimens immersed in the microbially infected solution showed the presence of dark areas that exhibited high concentrations of phosphorous and sulphur. This suggests the existence of biofilm on the specimen surface, which is implicated in microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) of the steel surface.

A cost effective 28nm CMOS Interconnect technology is presented for 28nm node high performance and low power applications. Full entitlement of ultra low-k (ULK) inter-level dielectric is enabled. Copper wiring levels can be combined up to a total of 11 levels. The inter-level dielectric was optimized for low k-value and high strength. The feature profiles were optimized to enable defect-free metallization using conventional tools and processes. High yields and robust reliability were demonstrated.

Describes a method for distinguishing the types of forward objects detected on and alongside the road using a vehicle-mounted scanning laser radar (SLR) and a camera. This method can measure the distance to a preceding vehicle in the same lane as well as to other forward vehicles in adjacent lanes. Objects are detected on the basis of SLR digital signal data and are categorized as vehicles, delineators, and signs based on their motion and positions relative to white lane markers. The motions of detected objects are judged by the relationship between the path of the host vehicle and changes in the positions of the objects. The host vehicle's path is computed using steering maneuver data and the vehicle velocity. White lane markers are detected by an image processing technique. The proposed algorithm has been validated in an experiment conducted with a simulator. Data recorded at a driving speed of more than 40 km/h on Japanese expressways were used in the simulation. The types of objects detected on the road were successfully distinguished as expected.

A simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process was investigated to produce ethanol using two kinds of cellulose carriers that were respectively suitable for immobilization of Aspergillus awamori and Saccharomyces pastorianus. The maximum ethanol concentration attained by the batch operation was 25.5 g l−1. Under suitable conditions, both cellulose carriers with immobilized cells could be reused efficiently for three cycles. The total amount of ethanol production was 66.0 g (per 1 l working volume) after the repeated operation. Ethanol productivity mainly depends on a saccharification process. There is a limit in durability in the repeated batch operation, and it is important to maintain high activity of the fungus in order to produce ethanol efficiently. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 27, 52–57.

The tunneling conductance was measured for a natural-barrier planar tunneling junction of underdoped and overdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. The temperature dependence of the separation between the gap edge peaks suggests that the amplitude of superconducting gap becomes zero at the superconducting critical temperature.

The magnetization and electrical resistivity of a single crystal of (Fe0.98Ru0.02)2P have been measured as a function of temperature from 5 to 300 K and in magnetic fields up to 5.5 T. The compound orders antiferromagnetically at T N =135 K and exhibits field-induced transitions to the ferromagnetic state in both principal directions. At 5 K, the magnetic moment along the c-axis is 2.9 μB/f.u. after the transition. The transitions are accompanied by a giant magnetoresistance effect ( Δ ρ/ρ>25% ), indicating a considerable reconstruction of the Fermi surface.

There have been few studies concerning the electrophysiologic changes associated with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with acute myocardial infarction. We examined the electrophysiologic effects of quinaprilat in dogs during acute myocardial ischemia and following reperfusion.The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 10 min and reperfused for 10 min. Animals received intravenous quinaprilat (3 micrograms/kg per min, quinaprilat group) or saline (control group). We measured the ventricular effective refractory period and intra-myocardial conduction time within the left anterior descending coronary artery region (ischemic region) during myocardial ischemia and following reperfusion, and determined the frequency of ventricular fibrillation.The effective refractory period in the ischemic region decreased during myocardial ischemia and decreased further immediately after reperfusion in the control group. The intra-myocardial conduction time in the ischemic region increased during myocardial ischemia but rapidly shortened after reperfusion in the control group. In the quinaprilat group, however, no significant differences were evident between the ischemic and non-ischemic regions in either the effective refractory period or the intra-myocardial conduction time during myocardial ischemia or following reperfusion. The percentage shortening of the effective refractory period and the percentage prolongation of the intra-myocardial conduction time in the ischemic region were significantly lower in the quinaprilat group than in the control group during myocardial ischemia and following reperfusion. The frequency of ventricular fibrillation during myocardial ischemia and following reperfusion was significantly lower in the quinaprilat group (21%) than in the control group (74%; P0.01).Quinaprilat protects against electrophysiologic abnormalities, and may decrease arrhythmias during acute myocardial ischemia and following reperfusion.

Ac leakage current in the Variable Capacitance Device is discussed. For varying the capacitance, this device utilizes nonlinear characteristics of dielectric. Therefore, the ac leakage current flows from the capacitor to a dc control voltage source when ac capacitor voltage is high. Here, techniques for suppressing ac leakage current are proposed. An example of its application is introduced about ac power supply. Influence of leakage current on distortion in current waveforms is also investigated.

An overview of global hydrological cycles is introduced. The roles of storages and flows in the context of global hydrological cycles and Earth-system science, and interactions among them are discussed, and estimated volumes and fluxes are quantitatively illustrated. Terrestrial, atmospheric, and combined water-balance concepts are described and applications of them are presented. Empirical relationships of energy and water balances are also explained. Current situations of the modeling, the research opportunities, and the gaps of global hydrology are also articulated, shown, and identified.

Balloon digits were found in two neonates with congenital constriction ring syndrome. The affected digits were the right long finger and right great toe. They were surgically treated at the age of 10 and 9 days, respectively. Morphologic improvement was dramatic after surgery. In cases with extensive enlargement, severe cyanosis, redness, and no subsidence of edema within several days after birth, early operative treatment may be necessary to maintain digit viability and prevent autoamputation due to circulatory embarrassment. It can also be helpful to prevent fibrosis of the subcutaneous tissue. Pathologic examination revealed marked proliferation of fibrous tissue and lymphatic vessels.

This paper proposes an improved method to convert a fine-resolution flow direction map into a coarse-resolution river network map for the use in global river routing models. The proposed method attempts to preserve the river network structure of an original fine-resolution map in upscaling procedures, which has not been achieved by previous methods. It is found that the problem in previous methods is mainly due to the traditional way of describing downstream cells of a river network map with a direction toward one of the eight neighboring cells. Instead in the improved method, the downstream cell can be flexibly located onto any cells in the river network map. The improved method is applied to derive global river network maps at various resolutions. It succeeded to preserve the river network structure of the original flow direction map, and consequently realizes automatic construction of river network maps at any resolutions. This enables both higher-resolution approach in global river routing models and inclusion of sub-grid scale topographic features, such as realistic river meanderings and catchment boundaries. Those advantages of the proposed method are expected to enhance ability of global river routing models, providing ways to represent surface water storage and movement such as river discharge and inundated area extent in much finer-scale than ever modeled.

In order to evaluate the protective role of the maternal antibody against mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-I, we followed a total of 780 children born to HTLV-I carrier mothers by investigating the level of anti-HTLV-I antibody transferred in utero, decline of the maternal antibody and seroconversion in post-natal life. The anti-HTLV-I antibody was positively detected within the first 3-6 months of life and declined at 6-12 months after birth in all children. After the maternal antibody declined, seroconversion occurred in some of the children following either breast feeding or bottle feeding. The seroconversion rates of short-term (less than or equal to 6 months) and long-term (greater than or equal to 7 months) breast feeders were 4.4% (4/90 cases) and 14.4% (20/139 cases), and the rate of bottle feeders was 5.7% (9/158 cases). Long-term breast feeding yielded more seroconverters than short-term breast feeding; 14.4% (20/139 cases) vs. 4.4% (4/90 cases), RR = 3.68, p = 0.018. The seroconversion rate of short-term breast feeders was nearly equal to that of bottle feeders; 4.4% (4/90 cases) vs. 5.7% (9/158 cases), RR = 0.770, p = 0.471. When neonatal lymphocytes were cultured with breast milk cells of HTLV-I carrier mothers, the in vitro infection of HTLV-I was inhibited by the addition of HTLV-I-seropositive cord-blood plasma. Our results suggest that the maternal antibody may inhibit HTLV-I infection by short-term breast feeding but not by long-term breast feeding after decline of the maternal antibody.

When 17 macrocyclic lactone antibiotics were examined for their abilities to inhibit gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase, copiamycin A was found to have the strongest and relatively specific activity with IC50s of 15.7 micrograms/ml and greater than 100 micrograms/ml against the hog gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase and the dog kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase, respectively. Furthermore, this antibiotic inhibited the histamine-induced gastric acid secretion in the isolated gastric mucosal membrane of guinea pigs and the gastric ulcer formation in pylorus-ligated rats.

For the first time, we demonstrate standard cell gate density of 3650 KGate/mm2 and SRAM cell of 0.124 mum2 for 32 nm CMOS platform technology. Both advanced single exposure (SE) lithography and gate-first metal gate/high-k (MG/HK) process contribute to reduce total cost per function by 50% from 45 nm technology node, which is unattainable by dual exposure (DE) lithography or double patterning (DP) and poly/SiON gate stack.

This paper proposes highly reliable, low resistance and cost effective Cu interconnect system for 45nm CMOS device and beyond. Overhang formation and Cu line resistance increase by deposition process variation are serious problems for titanium (Ti) barrier metal (BM). Overhang reduction by surface nitridation of Ti BM has been successfully demonstrated. It has been clarified that Cu resistivity increase with Ti BM is due to insufficient Cu grain growth, not reaction between Ti and Cu. Surface nitridation contributes to Cu line resistance reduction by changing grain growth behavior. Moreover, it also improves oxidation endurance of the BM caused by absorbed moisture from porous low-k ILD. It is concluded that surface nitridation of Ti BM is promising approach as Cu barrier metal for 45nm device and beyond to fabricate Cu interconnect with controlled resistance and high reliability.

The method described is based on the least-squares method and gives the maximum-likelihood estimate of the parameters. Its practicality is demonstrated by application to waveguides with three types of refractive index distribution. First, the convergence of the method is shown by computer simulations of a waveguide with an exponential refractive index distribution. Second, a Ti-diffused LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide is considered as an example of a Gaussian refractive index distribution. The computed refractive index distribution agrees with computational results obtained by S. Fouchet et al. (1987). Third, a proton-exchanged LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide is considered as an example of a step refractive index distribution. The computed depth of the waveguide agrees with the measured depth. >

To determine more detailed locations of human P/Q-type (alpha 1A), N-type (alpha 1B), and R-type (alpha 1E) calcium channel genes, we have mapped CACNL1A4 (alpha 1A), CACNL1A5 (alpha 1B), and CACNL1A6 (alpha 1E) loci using a radiation hybrid panel. Locations of these loci are as follows: WI-4669-5.1 cR3000-CACNL1A4-4.1 cR3000-CHLC.GATA27C12 on chromosome 19; D9S158-2.0 cR3000-CACNL1A5-4.3 cR3000-WI-14048 on chromosome 9; D1S215-4.4 cR3000-CACNL1A6-4.5 cR3000-D1S240 on chromosome 1.

A low wavelength chirp of 0.2 nm at -20 dB under 2.4 GHz modulation and a Av-At product of 0.55 which corresponds to an effective /spl alpha/ parameter as small as 0.76 under the gain switching operation were achieved.

A novel pattern searching method using neural networks and correlation is presented. This method combines the quickness and adaptiveness of neural networks with the accuracy of the mathematical correlation approach. Images are divided into small sub-images which are presented to the trained neural network. Sub-images that may contain the pattern or partial pattern are selected by the neural network. The neural network also provides the approximate location of the pattern, therefore the selected sub-images can be adjusted to contain the complete pattern. Desired patterns can be located by measuring the new sub-images' correlation values against the reference models in a small area. Experiments show that this superior method is able to find the desired patterns. Moreover, this method is much faster and more adaptable than traditional pattern searching methods.

Electromigration testing pattern to identify the dominant diffusion path of Copper (Cu) damascene interconnects is proposed. It is confirmed that dominant diffusion path is the interface between Cu and barrier dielectrics using the proposed testing pattern. After identification of the dominant path, the effects of the plasma treatment and barrier dielectric SiC/sub x/N/sub y/ and SiC/sub x/ on the EM performance is investigated. Failure analysis reveals that Cu oxide at the interface of SiC/sub x/ samples with H/sub 2/ plasma treatment accelerates the Cu EM diffusion, resulting in lower activation energy and shorter lifetime. In addition, it is also found that nitrogen at the interface retards Cu diffusion drastically.

Many electro-pneumatic servo systems have strong nonlinear property because of compressible air in cylinders. To control their systems, a neural network(NN) based linearizer with off line learning is proposed. The augmented system which consists of the controlled object and the linearizer is controlled by a linear controller. The point of the learning algorithm of the NN is to estimate from the actual input of the controlled object to the input of the augmented object directly.

It is well known that most industrial processes are multivariate in nature, and yet PID controllers are being widely used in a multiloop framework for the control of such interacting systems. In this paper, a design scheme for a neural net-based controller with a PID structure is proposed for the control of such multivariable systems. The proposed controller consists of a pre-compensator designed with a static gain matrix which compensates for the low-frequency interaction, and PID controllers placed diagonally, whose gains are tuned by a neural network.

Recent simulation results imply that the number of particles in a high intensity synchrotron is limited by the resonance crossing of coherent mode oscillations, not by the incoherent one. In order to verify it, we measured the tune shift of quadrupole mode oscillations in HIMAC at National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) to show the connection with beam loss. In this paper, we discuss signals observed in a coasting beam. We also present the numerical calculation of envelope motion for a bunched beam.

The purpose of this study is to give a design method of a linearlizer by using a neural network (NN) with off-line learning algorithm. This linearlizer works so that the input-output property of the augmented system which consists of the system and the NN may be equivalently equal to that of the linear model. The learning of the NN is performed off-line by using the input and output data of the system. Finally, a numerical simulation is demonstrated to illustrate how to use it in the control problem.

Recently, there have been many papers on skill-based controllers in which human skills are represented by artificial neural networks in the literature. This technique for representing the human skills plays an important role in various industries, for example, in manufacturing systems and process systems. A skill-based PID control scheme is proposed, which represents the skills of human experts as PID gains. This controller is designed using three-layered artificial neural networks. The effectiveness of the proposed skill-based PID control scheme is investigated in an application to a pressure control system. The characteristics of the skill-based PID controller are analysed in the frequency domain.

It is difficult to control nonlinear systems using a PID controller with fixed gains. Many types of PID controllers with variable gains have been proposed based on advanced control techniques. In this paper, an advanced PID controller for nonlinear systems is proposed. Since the nonlinear input/output characteristics can be explained using a set of linear input/output characteristics, we consider that a set of linear system self-tuning PID controllers are used through switching based on signals from the control system. The switching is carried by a neural network based supervisor. This supervisor selects the linearized model which is most accurate for the next step. The effectiveness of this method is investigated through two numerical simulations.

We believe that the simplicity and usefulness of self tuning control systems are the important factors in control performance evaluation. In this paper some self-tuning control systems are studied from the view point of these factors when applying them to a real multivariable plant.

Recently, neural network techniques have been widely used in adaptive and learning control schemes for nonlinear systems. However, generally, it costs a lot of time for learning in the case applied in control systems. Furthermore, the physical meaning of neural networks constructed as a result, is not obvious. In this paper, a design method of intelligent tuning PID controllers is proposed, which has a fusional structure of self-tuning and neural network schemes. This method enables us to understand a physical meaning of the control parameters, and also to adjust PID gains quickly.

We report a 61-year-old man with Parkinson's disease, who had a 3-year history of severe chronic pain with allodynia in the lower extremities prior to motor symptoms. He always had tingling pain around the ankles, and tactile sensation induced severe burning pain expanding to the toes and thighs, so his pain was considered to be allodynia. Pain and motor symptoms were ameliorated by L-dopa therapy and exacerbated by withdrawal of L-dopa. Pain is known to occur in Parkinson's disease, but severe pain rarely occurs. To our knowledge, allodynia, which is usually recognized in causalgia or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, has never been reported in Parkinson's disease. Patients with Parkinson's disease may complain severe causalgia-like pain as an initial symptom.

The characteristics for a twin‐guide (TG) laser modulated by a reverse bias are studied for the first time. The extinction ratio and the wavelength shift are 20 dB with only 1 V bias and −0.4 nm, respectively. Further, the characteristics of a TG modulator itself (that has the same structure as the TG laser) are measured under a driving current lower than the threshold. The possibility of integrating a TG modulator with a tunable twin‐guide (TTG) laser is presented.

In the first instance highly hydrated collagen gels contract to dense and compact gels when populated by fibroblasts. We previously reported the involvement of fibronectin (FN) in an early process of the collagen gel contraction, utilizing a specific monoclonal antibody dubbed A3A5 (MoAb-A3A5) that inhibits the gel contraction. This study was performed to further characterize the role of the epitope for MoAb-A3A5 in the interaction between fibroblasts and collagen fibrils. Although both cellular FN (cFN) and plasma FN (pFN) were reactive with MoAb-A3A5, the FN that actually participates in a process of the gel contraction was shown to be cFN. The gel contraction was significantly accelerated when fibroblasts were pretreated with excess amounts of cFN and was significantly inhibited when the collagen molecules were pretreated with excess cFN. Such effects of the pretreatments were not observed for pFN. The involvement of cFN, but not pFN, in the interaction of fibroblasts with collagen fibrils was additionally shown by the similar inhibitory action of cFN, but not pFN, on the spreading and elongation of fibroblasts on collagen fibrils. The epitope for MoAb-A3A5 was strongly suggested to be a new functional domain responsible for the interactions between fibroblasts and native collagen molecules. This was not the case for those with denatured one, because fibroblasts on collagen fibrils were not stainable with MoAb-A3A5, whereas the interactions on gelatin were stainable. The lack of the reactivity of fibroblasts on collagen fibrils toward MoAb-A3A5 was not a result of the absence of FN on the cell membrane, but seemed to be a steric hindrance to the access of the antibody.

The performance of the left ventricle (LV) during diastole is defined by the pressure-volume relationship. Consequently, noninvasive techniques have been limited in the evaluation of diastolic function by their inability to evaluate intracardiac pressure, particularly LV filling pressure and end-diastolic pressure. Abnormalities of LV diastolic function play a major role in producing the clinical signs and symptoms of heart failure. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transmitral flow (TMF), pulmonary venous flow (PVF) and left atrial appendage flow (LAAF) velocity patterns determined by pulsed Doppler echocardiography are useful parameters for evaluating left atrial (LA) and LV hemodynamic events. However, these variables are influenced by loading conditions, particularly preload. Furthermore, it has become increasingly clear that abnormalities of LV diastolic function, such as relaxation and filling, can be assessed precisely using color Doppler M-mode echocardiography and pulsed tissue Doppler imaging irrespective of preload. This review presents a clinical approach to understanding the hemodynamic abnormalities of the LA and LV in a variety of cardiac diseases using these new modalities. In addition, the limitations of these techniques are discussed.

To evaluate the effect of tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) on right heart flow dynamics, we analyzed tricuspid inflow velocity pattern, jugular venous pulse and color Doppler flow signal of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) before and after surgery in 16 patients who underwent TAP (TAP group). Cardiac rhythm was atrial fibrillation in all patients. Twelve patients with lone atrial fibrillation served as controls (AF group). Patients in the TAP group were studied before and serially after surgery with a mean follow-up period of 2.7 years. TAP was performed according to the modified De Vega technique in all patients. In a comparison of the most recent data in the TAP group and the data in the AF group, the maximum tricuspid inflow velocity was significantly increased, and both the deceleration time of the tricuspid inflow velocity wave and the y-h interval of the jugular venous pulse were significantly prolonged in the TAP group compared to the AF group. Immediately after surgery, in the TAP group, the area of the TR jet was markedly decreased, and the deceleration time of the tricuspid inflow velocity wave was significantly prolonged compared to those before surgery. The area of the TR jet was dramatically decreased and remained small during the follow-up period. Thus, TAP may produce mild tricuspid stenosis but may also confer sustained preventive effects against TR.

To determine more detailed locations of human P/Q-type (alpha 1A), N-type (alpha 1B), and R-type (alpha 1E) calcium channel genes, we have mapped CACNL1A4 (alpha 1A), CACNL1A5 (alpha 1B), and CACNL1A6 (alpha 1E) loci using a radiation hybrid panel. Locations of these loci are as follows: WI-4669-5.1 cR3000-CACNL1A4-4.1 cR3000-CHLC.GATA27C12 on chromosome 19; D9S158-2.0 cR3000-CACNL1A5-4.3 cR3000-WI-14048 on chromosome 9; D1S215-4.4 cR3000-CACNL1A6-4.5 cR3000-D1S240 on chromosome 1.