BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A method of identifying retinal vascular microaneurysms (MAs) in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS SS-OCT images were acquired in 17 eyes with NPDR using prototype SS-OCT device and fluorescein angiography (FA) images were obtained simultaneously. MAs identified on SS-OCT slabs ...

Mastoparan-7 (Mas-7), an analogue of the peptide mastoparan, which is derived from wasp venom, is a direct activator of Pertussis toxin- (PTX-) sensitive G proteins. Mas-7 produces several biological effects in different cell types; however, little is known about how Mas-7 influences mature hippocampal neurons. We examined the specific role of Mas-7 in the development of dendritic spines, the s...

A number of concerns in multi-agent systems (MAS) have a broadly-scoped impact on the system architectural decomposition, which in turn hinder the design of modular MAS architectures. These concerns inherently crosscut the boundaries of several architecture elements, such as components, connectors, and their interfaces. Typical examples of crosscutting concerns in MAS architecture include learn...

Background and Purpose—Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of stroke with a known preventive treatment. We compared poststroke recurrence and survival in Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) with atrial fibrillation in a population-based study. Methods—Using surveillance methods from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project, cases of ischemic stroke/transient ...

It has been recognized that nasal airway resistance (NAR) is elevated in patients with OSA. However, little is known regarding the influence of nasal resistance on mandibular advancement splint (MAS) treatment outcome in OSA patient. We hypothesized that nasal resistance differs between MAS responders and nonresponders and therefore may influence treatment outcome. Thirty-eight patients with kn...

Mas codes for a G protein-coupled receptor that is implicated in angiotensin-(1-7) signaling. We studied the cardiovascular phenotype of Mas-deficient mice backcrossed onto the FVB/N genetic background using telemetry and found that they exhibit higher blood pressures compared with controls. These Mas(-/-) mice also had impaired endothelial function, decreased NO production, and lower endotheli...

Short-circuit current (Isc) across the posterior midgut of day 2 fifth-instar tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta) is inhibited by Manduca allatotropin (Mas-AT) and two Manduca FLRFamides (F7G and F7D). Another FLRFamide, F10, and the related molluscan tetrapeptide FMRFamide elicited only a modest inhibition of Isc. Mas-AT, F7G and F7D inhibited the Isc in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal inhibiti...

Research on agent-oriented software engineering (AOSE) methodologies and multi-agent system (MAS) infrastructures has developed in the last years along two opposite paths: while AOSE methodologies have essentially undergone a top-down evolution pushed by contributions from heterogeneous fields like human sciences, MAS infrastructures have mostly followed a bottom-up path growing from existing a...

Objective. To compare the effect of two intraoral devices (titratable oral appliance-Klearway (KW) and mandibular advancement splint (MAS)) in mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Method and Materials. The study group was comprised of twenty-four adult volunteer patients with OSA. Twelve subjects were fitted with a titratable oral appliance (group KW) protruding the mandibl...

In a reactive multi-agent system (MAS), the link between the collective behaviour and the behaviours of the individuals who make up this system is difficult to set up. So to reach a particular behaviour is also difficult. We support the concept of driving the behaviour of a MAS by a control approach. In order to obtain this control, we act on the MAS by using information about its global behavi...