Chronic ethanol attenuates centrally-mediated hypotension elicited via alpha-2-adrenergic, but not I1-imidazoline, receptor activation in female rats

Aims—This study dealt with the effect of chronic ethanol administration on hemodynamic responses elicited by α2-adrenergic (α-methyldopa) or I1-imidazoline (rilmenidine) receptor activation in telemetered female rats. Main methods—The effects of α-methyldopa or rilmenidine on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and their variability were investigated in rats that received liquid diet without or with ethanol (5% w/v) for 12 weeks. To evaluate the effect of each drug on cardiovascular autonomic control (BP and HR variability) in the absence or presence of ethanol, three time-domain indices of hemodynamic variability were measured: (i) standard deviation of mean arterial pressure (SDMAP), (ii) standard deviation of beat-to-beat intervals, and (iii) root mean square of successive differences in R-R intervals. Key findings—In liquid diet-fed control rats, i.p. rilmenidine (600 μg/kg) or α-methyldopa (100 mg/kg) reduced BP along with decreases and increases, respectively, in HR. Both drugs had no effect on HR variability but reduced BP variability (SDMAP), suggesting a reduced vasomotor sympathetic tone. Ethanol feeding attenuated reductions in BP and SDMAP evoked by α-methyldopa but not by rilmenidine. Significance—We conclude that chronic ethanol preferentially compromises α2- but not I1- receptor-mediated hypotension in female rats probably via modulation of vasomotor sympathetic activity. These findings highlight the adequacy of rilmenidine use to lower BP in hypertensive alcoholic females

Study of Thyroid Function in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Aggressive Behavior

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a well recognized psychiatric disorder of childhood. Its cause is unknown, but there is evidence of familial predisposition. Symptoms suggestive of the disorder have been reported in patients with generalized resistance to thyroid hormones (GRTH), a disease caused by a mutation in the thyroid receptor beta gene and characterized by reduced responsiveness of peripheral and pituitary tissues to thyroid hormone actions. Aim of the Work: This study was conducted to assess the frequency of thyroid hormone abnormalities in children with ADHD and/or aggressive behavior and to relate these abnormalities to the type of behavioral disorder. Patient and Methods: Thirty cases with behavioral disorders (ADHD and/or aggression) diagnosed by DSM-IV classification were studied in comparison to 10 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Clinical examination and psychiatric evaluation including IQ and psychosocial assessment were done to all patients. Measurement of serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free tetraiodothyronine (fT4) and thyrotropin (TSH) was done to cases and controls. Results: There was a significantly lower IQ (

Left atrial and left atrial appendage functional recovery after cardioversion in patients with recent atrial fibrillation: Serial echocardiographic study

Background: The aim of this study is to point out timing of left atrium and its appendage functional recovery after cardioversion (CV) in recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Fifty patients; 27 within 48-h (group I) and 23 after 48-h (group II), of AF onset, who had successful CV underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), before and im­mediately after CV, then 15, 30 and 90 days later. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed for group II before and for all patients immediately after CV and 1 month later. Mitral peak A velocity and left atrial (LA) reversal (Ar) velocity, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of septal mitral annular velocity (A1) and LA free wall velocity (A3) were recorded. Absence or peak A velocity < 50 cm/s was taken as a cut off value for atrial stunning. Intra-atrial conduction time (IACT) was measured. LA appendage late emptying (LAALE) velocity was measured by TEE-pulsed TDI of LA appendage. Results: Post CV, all group II and 34% of group I experienced stunning. In both groups, peak A, Ar, A1, A3 and LAALE velocities increased (p = 0.000), while IACT decreased (p = 0.000) progressively over time. Partial recovery occurred after 15 and 30 days, while full recovery occurred 30 and 90 days post CV in groups I and II, respectively. IACT1 and IACT2 correlated with LA diameter (r = 0.2778 and r = 0.227, respectively, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Stunning and functional recovery of the LA and its appendage are strongly determined by the duration being in AF. Serial IACT by TDI was a good new parameter for detection of functional recovery of LA and LA appendage

A Statistical View of Learning in the Centipede Game

In this article we evaluate the statistical evidence that a population of students learn about the sub-game perfect Nash equilibrium of the centipede game via repeated play of the game. This is done by formulating a model in which a player's error in assessing the utility of decisions changes as they gain experience with the game. We first estimate parameters in a statistical model where the probabilities of choices of the players are given by a Quantal Response Equilibrium (QRE) (McKelvey and Palfrey, 1995, 1996, 1998), but are allowed to change with repeated play. This model gives a better fit to the data than similar models previously considered. However, substantial correlation of outcomes of games having a common player suggests that a statistical model that captures within-subject correlation is more appropriate. Thus we then estimate parameters in a model which allows for within-player correlation of decisions and rates of learning. Through out the paper we also consider and compare the use of randomization tests and posterior predictive tests in the context of exploratory and confirmatory data analyses

Brain stem adenosine receptors modulate centrally mediated hypotensive responses in conscious rats: A review

Abbreviations: A2A, adenosine subtype A2A receptor; A1, adenosine subtype A1 receptor; ABC, avidin biotin complex; ABD rat, aortic barodenervated rat; α2 AR, alpha 2 adrenergic receptor; αMNE, alpha methyl norepinephrine; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; BP, blood pressure; cAMP, cyclic adenosine monophosphate; CGS21680, 2-[4-[(2-carboxyethyl)phenyl]ethylaminophenyl]ethylamino]-5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine. Selective A2A receptor agonist; CNS, central nervous system; CPA, N6-cyclopentyladenosine. Selective A1 receptor agonist; DAG, diacylglycerol; DPCPX, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine. Selective A1 receptor antagonist; I1, imidazoline subtype 1 receptor; I.C., intracisternal; IP3, Inositol Triphosphate; I.V., intravenous; JNK, C-Jun N-terminal kinase; L-NAME, Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride. Non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor; NOS, nitric oxide synthase; NO, nitric oxide; NTS, nucleus tractus solitarius; PC-PLC, phosphatidyl choline-selective phospholipase C; PC12 cells, pheochromocytoma cells; PD98059, selective extracellular signal regulated kinase inhibitor; ERK1/2, extracellular signal regulated kinase; PDE, phosphodiesterase; PKA, protein kinase A; RVLM, rostral ventrolateral medulla; SAPK, stress activated protein kinase; SCH58261, 5-amino-7-(2-phenylethyl)-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo[4,3-∈]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine. Selective adenosine A2A antagonist; SHR, spontaneously hypertensive rat; SND, sympathetic neuronal discharge; SO, sham operated = conscious normotensive rats; 8-SPT, 8-(p-sulfophenyl)-theophylline. Non-selective adenosine receptor blocker; WKY, Wistar Kyoto ra

STRATEGI BERSAING : BATIK MALANGAN KONVENSIONAL MELALUI DIVERSIFIKASI PRODUK BATIK KOMBINASI PADA UKM KELURAHAN MERJOSARI MALANG

Motif batik Malangan mengharapkan adanya suatu keluhuran dari pemakainya untuk selalu berdiri tegak, berani, bertanggung jawab dengan penuh rasa hormat agar mampu menyatu dengan lingkungan tempat tinggal. Potensi dan peluang usaha pengrajin batik malangan sangat prospektif. Setiap tahun banyak konsumen dari dalam maupun dari luar Kota Malang, terutama sekolah-sekolah dan perkatoran yang sudah menerapkan pemakaian batik, selalu mencari batik malangan sampai ke tempat-tempat produksi batik di Malang. Pada UKM Pengrajin Batik Malangan di Kelurahan Merjosari Malang, teridentifikasi, perlu eksistensi dalam pengembangan usaha. Sementara pengembangan usaha batik saat ini  perlu penerapan diversifikasi produk. Diversifikasi produk batik, faktanya menjadi peluang pasar. Strategi solusi yang harus diimplementasikan adalah basis diversifikasi produk batik kombinasi, dengan inovasi peralatan pencantingan batik kombinasi dan inovasi sarana pendukung yang diperlukan  dalam proses produksi batik  Transformasi teknologi khususnya di bidang perbatikan  sangat dibutuhkan oleh para UKM batik Malangan di Kelurahan Merjosari Malang. Sehingga cara meningkatkan produksi secara efisien, melalui diversifikasi produk dengan mentransformasi teknologi. Strategi tatakelola manajemen, menjadi pendukung utama dalam pengembangan usaha batik konvensional menjadi batik kombinasi. Tatakelola manajemen meliputi Planning, Organizing, Actuating, Controlling (POAC) menjadi fokus implementasi manajemen dalam rangka pengembangan produk batik kombinasi.Motif batik Malangan mengharapkan adanya suatu keluhuran dari pemakainya untuk selalu berdiri tegak, berani, bertanggung jawab dengan penuh rasa hormat agar mampu menyatu dengan lingkungan tempat tinggal. Potensi dan peluang usaha pengrajin batik malangan sangat prospektif. Setiap tahun banyak konsumen dari dalam maupun dari luar Kota Malang, terutama sekolah-sekolah dan perkatoran yang sudah menerapkan pemakaian batik, selalu mencari batik malangan sampai ke tempat-tempat produksi batik di Malang. Pada UKM Pengrajin Batik Malangan di Kelurahan Merjosari Malang, teridentifikasi, perlu eksistensi dalam pengembangan usaha. Sementara pengembangan usaha batik saat ini  perlu penerapan diversifikasi produk. Diversifikasi produk batik, faktanya menjadi peluang pasar. Strategi solusi yang harus diimplementasikan adalah basis diversifikasi produk batik kombinasi, dengan inovasi peralatan pencantingan batik kombinasi dan inovasi sarana pendukung yang diperlukan  dalam proses produksi batik  Transformasi teknologi khususnya di bidang perbatikan  sangat dibutuhkan oleh para UKM batik Malangan di Kelurahan Merjosari Malang. Sehingga cara meningkatkan produksi secara efisien, melalui diversifikasi produk dengan mentransformasi teknologi. Strategi tatakelola manajemen, menjadi pendukung utama dalam pengembangan usaha batik konvensional menjadi batik kombinasi. Tatakelola manajemen meliputi Planning, Organizing, Actuating, Controlling (POAC) menjadi fokus implementasi manajemen dalam rangka pengembangan produk batik kombinasi

Block approximate inverse preconditioners for sparse nonsymmetric linear systems

[EN] In this paper block approximate inverse preconditioners to solve sparse nonsymmetric linear systems with iterative Krylov subspace methods are studied. The computation of the preconditioners involves consecutive updates of variable rank of an initial and nonsingular matrix A0 and the application of the Sherman-MorrisonWoodbury formula to compute an approximate inverse decomposition of the updated matrices. Therefore, they are generalizations of the preconditioner presented in Bru et al. [SIAM J. Sci. Comput., 25 (2003), pp. 701¿715]. The stability of the preconditioners is studied and it is shown that their computation is breakdown-free for H-matrices. To test the performance the results of numerical experiments obtained for a representative set of matrices are presented.Cerdán Soriano, JM.; Faraj El Guelei, T.; Malla Martínez, N.; Marín Mateos-Aparicio, J.; Mas Marí, J. (2010). Block approximate inverse preconditioners for sparse nonsymmetric linear systems. ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS ON NUMERICAL ANALYSIS. 12(37):23-40. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/99451S2340123