cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STRENGTH OF GLASS FIBERS

Abstract Present understanding of strength of bare glass fibers is reviewed. Key experimental results on the strengths of E-glass and silica fibers are examined to identify factors which control the strength and fatigue in glass fibers. The strength of pristine fibers can be classified (a) as intrinsic or extrinsic, and (b) as inert or fatigue. For improved fiber reliability and production efficiencies, one is primarily interested in extrinsic fatigue strength. On the other hand, for basic understanding of strength in terms of the structure of glass, one is interested in the intrinsic inert strength and its variation with composition. While much work has been done in the past, fundamental questions remain unanswered about both the extrinsic and the intrinsic strengths. For the extrinsic strengths, the important questions pertain to the identity of the flaws and the role of crack nucleation around inclusions. The difficulty in studying large extrinsic flaws lies in the fact that they occur very infrequently (one flaw in hundreds of kilometers of fiber!). For the intrinsic strengths, the key questions are (a) what determines the intrinsic strength of a fiber? and (b) why do pristine flawless fibers exhibit fatigue which is qualitatively (and to a significant extent quantitatively) similar to that in non-pristine fibers?.
Transcriptional Repression by the CtBP Corepressor in Drosophila

Transcriptional repression is essential for patterning gene expression in the early Drosophila embryo. Biochemical and genetic studies on Drosophila C-terminal binding protein (dCtBP) have provided solid evidence that dCtBP acts as a corepressor for several transcriptional repressors. Similarly to mammalian CtBPs, dCtBP interacts with a short peptide motif, PxDLS, or related motifs. It appears that dCtBP is essential for short-range transcriptional repression in the early embryo. In contrast, it has been recendy reported that dCtBP participates in Polycomb-mediated long-range repression. In this chapter, we will review how the dCtBP corepressor functions, from the biochemical, developmental, and genetic point of views.
MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA OF INFANCY. RESPONSE TO VITAMIN B12

I N A comprehensive study, Zuelzer and Ogden’ characterized the megaloblastic anemia of infancy in which the bone marrow presents the essential diagnostic findings of Ehrlich’s megaloblastosis and giant metamyelocytosis. In the first few months of life, spontaneously, or after some nutritional digestive disorder, severe anemia supervenes. Morphologically, the anemia is sometimes hyperchromic and macrocytic, but normochromic patterns are common. White cells are not invariably abnormal, but considerable thrombocytopeniaand leukopenia may occur. Crude liverextract’ and folic acid�3 arecurative; occasionally, spontaneous improvement is seen.’
Localized Fairness in Recommender Systems

Recent research in fairness in machine learning has identified situations in which biases in input data can cause harmful or unwanted effects. Researchers in the areas of personalization and recommendation have begun to study similar types of bias. What these lines of research share is a fixed representation of the protected groups relative to which bias must be monitored. However, in some real-world application contexts, such groups cannot be defined apriori, but must be derived from the data itself. Furthermore, as we show, it may be insufficient in such cases to examine global system properties to identify protected groups. Thus, we demonstrate that fairness may be local, and the identification of protected groups only possible through consideration of local conditions.
John Rawls: Envisioning Democracy. 1953-58.

This is a draft chapter from a forthcoming intellectual biography of John Rawls. This draft chapter covers Rawls's years at Cornell University from 1953-1958 and the gestation of the first (quite incomplete and underdeveloped) expression of justice as fairness in 1958. It situates Rawls's work relative to the work of other philosophers and to the social sciences and reviews key themes developed in his teaching during the period.
The impact of nausea on post-operative outcomes in bariatric surgery patients

The evaluation and treatment of post-operative nausea in bariatric surgery patients has not been standardized. In this patient population, nausea can have a significant impact on quality outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of nausea on post-operative outcomes in bariatric surgery patients. A retrospective chart review was conducted of adult patients who underwent a primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) between 2014 and 2017 at a single institution. Patients with post-operative nausea were identified. Post-operative nausea was defined as patients who had nausea that was documented by multiple providers, and which interfered with their oral intake. Demographic variables were identified for patients with and without documented nausea. Univariate analyses were performed to determine the impact of post-operative nausea on patients’ length of stay, readmissions, reoperations, and overall complications. There were 449 primary bariatric surgery patients in the study period, 197 (43.9%) LRYGB and 252 (56.1%) LSG. Of these patients, 160 (35.6%) had documented post-operative nausea. Demographic factors that contributed to post-operative nausea included African-American race and undergoing a LSG (p = 0.004 and p = 0.01, respectively). Patients who underwent a LSG had a 2.0 times increased risk of post-operative nausea compared to LRYGB (p = 0.01). Patients with documented nausea had a statistically significant increased length of stay (2.4 ± 1.9 days vs. 1.6 ± 1.0 days; p ≤ 0.01). Documented nausea patients had an increased incidence of Emergency Department visits within 30 days post-operatively (p = 0.02). Post-operative nausea was more likely in patients who underwent a sleeve gastrectomy. Gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients with documented nausea had an increased length of stay and Emergency Department visits. These results highlight the need for a metric to more accurately measure post-operative nausea, as well as a standardized anti-emetic treatment pathway to improve quality outcomes.
Inside the “Butcher’s Shop”: Women’s Great War Writing and Surgical Meat

Female non-combatants witnessed some of the most acute bodily horrors of the First World War when they worked as ambulance drivers and Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses in the medical corps to preserve the shapely human body from its formless other. Women’s Great War writing navigates the ambiguous and uncertain ontological borders of the human through the alimentary as an experience that traverses physiology, sociality, and aesthetics. Their memoirs and fiction insist upon the status of the wounded body as meat—“German sausage”, “dead mutton”, and “ragout of mouton”. Such testimony repeatedly presents us with the ugliness, the unsightly and repellent qualities of the matter of our own meatness, of fleshy substance that eschews translation into a thing of beauty or cultural value. The unflinching, graphic language of women’s Great War writing pulls us down into the immediacy of the stuff on the operating table and refuses us the security of ethical distance or aesthetic abstraction.
A Spiderweb‐Like Metal–Organic Framework Multifunctional Foam

Processing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into hierarchical macroscopic materials can greatly extend their practical applications. However, current strategies suffer from severe aggregation of MOFs and limited tuning of the hierarchical porous network. Now, a strategy is presented that can simultaneously tune the MOF loading, composition, spatial distribution, and confinement within various bio-originated macroscopic supports, as well as control the accessibility, robustness, and formability of the support itself. This method enables the good dispersion of individual MOF nanoparticles on a spiderweb-like network within each macrovoid even at high loadings (up to 86 wt %), ensuring the foam pores are highly accessible for excellent adsorption and catalytic capacity. Additionally, this approach allows the direct pre-incorporation of other functional components into the framework. This strategy provides precise control over the properties of both the hierarchical support and MOF.
Multielectron, Cation and Anion Redox in Lithium-Rich Iron Sulfide Cathodes.

Conventional Li-ion cathodes store charge by reversible intercalation of Li coupled to metal cation redox. There has been increasing interest in new materials capable of accommodating more than one...
The Second Law of Quantum Complexity

I’m not sure why complexity theorists never remarked on the similarity of quantum complexity and classical entropy, or the existence of a second law of complexity.
Study the Fatigue Life Prediction of Polymer Matrix-Composite Under Varying Stresses

This study aimed to investigate the defects and techniques of predicting the fatigue life of Nano-polymeric composites structures. This paper provides to studied the fatigue life prediction of polymer matrix reinforced by nano-particles (Nano-ZrO2). The fatigue stress ratio is R= -1. All Samples are usually manufacturing and divided from the mass of polymeric nano-ZrO2composites. The major property of nano-polmeric composite is depending on the dispersion process of nano ZrO2 in the resin. Specimen surface preparations play an important function in fatigue life. The polymer matrix contain nano-Zirconia will be decrease the brittle fracture of matrix enhance the roughness of the composite surface and the maximum fatigue stress, fatigue life under vayring loads. Better fatigue life was done when nano–materials reach to 3% from the total volume of specimen.
The paradoxical in vivo activity of β-lactams against metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales is not restricted to carbapenems.

Background Using murine models of infection, we previously reported the potent in vivo activity of carbapenems against MBL-producing Enterobacterales despite the observed resistance in vitro. In the current study, we examined the in vivo activity of a cefepime human-simulated regimen against MBL-producing Enterobacterales in a murine thigh infection model. Methods A population of clinical isolates and isogenic engineered MBL-producing Enterobacterales transformants expressing MBLs but no detectable cefepime-hydrolysing serine β-lactamases were utilized. KPC-producing isolates were included as positive controls. Cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem MICs were determined using broth microdilution in conventional CAMHB and EDTA-supplemented (zinc-limited) broth. In vivo efficacy of a cefepime human-simulated regimen (2 g q8h as a 2 h infusion) was determined in the neutropenic murine thigh infection model against the test strains. Efficacy was measured as the change in log10 cfu/thigh at 24 h compared with 0 h controls. Results MBL-producing Enterobacterales strains were found to be cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem non-susceptible in conventional broth. Supplementation with EDTA at a concentration of 300 mg/L resulted in multi-fold reduction in the MICs and restoration of susceptibility. In accordance with the MICs generated in zinc-limited broth, administration of a cefepime human-simulated regimen was associated with substantial bacterial reductions among mice infected with MBL-producing Enterobacterales. Absence of MIC reduction in zinc-limited broth and lack of efficacy among mice infected with KPC-producing isolates were observed. Conclusions For MBL-producing Enterobacterales, susceptibility testing with Mueller-Hinton broth, a zinc-rich testing medium, is flawed since it does not recapitulate the host environment, in which zinc concentrations are low.
Small Intestine Varices in Cirrhosis at a High-Volume Liver Transplant Center: A Retrospective Database Study and Literature Review.

Introduction Esophageal varices are a well-characterized sequela of portal hypertension; however, less is known about varices arising in ectopic locations. We aimed to describe bleeding small intestine varices (SIV) in patients with cirrhosis and compare characteristics and outcomes to published case reports. Methods We performed an institutional chart review using billing codes and natural language processing between 2008 and 2019. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with cirrhosis and SIV verified by endoscopy, video capsule, or imaging. Patients with noncirrhotic portal hypertension and stomal varices were excluded. We examined demographic and clinical factors, characteristics of SIV, bleeding, intervention, and outcomes in our series and collated data from published cases identified during a literature review. Results We identified 71 patients with cirrhosis and SIV (18 bled). The literature search yielded 76 cases with bleeding SIV. Our series and published cases were matched for age, sex, liver disease etiology, and SIV location. Length of stay and transfusion requirements were similar. Aggregate initial treatments (number, hemostasis rate) included medical (n = 7, 57%), endoscopic (n = 48, 56%), interventional radiology (n = 31, 77%), and surgery (n = 8, 87%). Hospital and overall mortality rates were higher in our series (22% and 38%) compared with the published cases (5.3% and 18.4%), respectively (P = 0.02 and P = 0.07). Discussion A quarter of patients with cirrhosis and SIV experience bleeding, with high transfusion requirements, frequent need for secondary interventions, and high mortality. These findings highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach and second-line therapeutic modalities in the timely management of bleeding SIV in cirrhosis.
Yvonne Orji’s Docuseries, First Gen: First-Generational Narratives and the Impact on Audiences’ Community Cultural Wealth

The following chapter, applying community cultural wealth, examines first-generation Nigerian actress, comedienne, and producer Yvonne Orji’s YouTube docuseries, First Gen (2015–current). Utilizing qualitative discourse analysis, findings reveal that first-generation American immigrants’ experiences encourage and cultivate various forms of cultural capital, including aspiration and social capital, among immigrants and non-immigrant audiences. The narratives presented, and the subsequent audience comments, offer critique of intercultural differences including the tension often experienced by immigrants, managing familial and cultural expectations and Eurocentric practices, the media’s role in promoting assimilation, and the work of reimagining what constitutes an American identity.
A (Dynamic) Investigation of Stereotypes, Belief-Updating, and Behavior

Many decisions – such as what educational or career path to pursue – are dynamic in nature, with individuals receiving feedback at one point in time and making decisions later. Using a controlled experiment, with two sessions one week apart, we analyze the dynamic effects of feedback on beliefs about own performance and decision-making across two different domains (verbal skills and math). We find significant gender gaps in beliefs and choices before feedback: men are more optimistic about their performance and more willing to compete than women in both domains, but the gaps are significantly larger in math. Feedback significantly shifts individuals' beliefs and choices. Despite this, we see substantial persistence of gender gaps over time. This is particularly true among the set of individuals who receive negative feedback. We find that, holding fixed performance and decisions before feedback, women update their beliefs and choices more negatively than men do after bad news. Our results highlight the challenges involved in overcoming gender gaps in dynamic settings. Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Diagnosing Mental Deficiency

Although this chapter is entitled “Diagnosing Mental Deficiency,” the word “Deficiency” is not in current practice in the United States, principally because of its misleading and pejorative implications. In the past, mental deficiency signified moral defect, pervasive deficiencies or defects which were irreversible, biologically fixed and the basis of prediction of future functioning. The basic assumption of deficiency as an unchanging condition is no longer a current notion. “Once a defective, always a defective” was like the old Hindu caste system that kept the individual rooted in a bleak, narrow groove with no prospects, no hope of escape, no expectation of change and/ or a happier, more satisfying state.
A Practical System for Pulsed Laser Array Generation of Ultrasound

Past investigators have predicted and, in limited cases, demonstrated the potential utility of using temporally and spatially modulated laser array sources as a more efficient means than a single laser point source for the generation of ultrasound in materials. In an effort to develop a more practical and flexible laser array source, a new laser system has been designed and implemented. The system uses a single Nd:YAG pulsed laser and an optical system in which the beam path passes repetitively through a White cell cavity being sampled by a custom beamsplitter after each pass. Up to ten spatially separated light beams exit from the system each time a single laser pulse is introduced into the system. Time separation between the distinct beams can be adjusted over a range from 28 ns to 170 ns, corresponding to a pulse repetition rate from 6 Mhz to 36 Mhz. Since individual control of the beam paths is possible, one has the flexibility to implement either a single element, temporally modulated array, or a multi-element, “phased” array. From a single point, a multiple spike narrowband acoustic signal is generated permitting greater detection sensitivity than can be obtained with broadband detection of a single spike. Alternatively, multi-element arrays can be used to can be used to increase the acoustic signal amplitude by superposition of the signals from each individual element, once again enhancing detection sensitivity.
Another complete local search method for SAT

Local search algorithms are one of the effective methods for solving hard combinatorial problems. However, a serious problem of this approach is that the search often traps at local optima. At AAAI 2004, Fang and Ruml proposed a novel approach which makes local optima disappeared. The basic idea is that, at each local optimal point during the search, the value of the objective function (a local gradient function) at that point is changed by adding some information into the database. Once no more local optima exist, the local search can always find a global optimal. In this paper, along the same approach of Fang and Ruml, we propose a different objective function based on an ordering of propositional variables. Based on this ordering, ordered resolution is performed at each local optimal point and the resolvent is added into the database. This resolvent always increases the value of the objective function so that the local optimal point disappears after a finite number of steps. Preliminary experimental results show that our method and Fang and Ruml’s method have better performances in different areas.
Psychology and Catholicism: From out of the depths: Carl Jung's challenges and Catholic replies

We could reappraise Jung's life-long effort to reinterpret, not so much science, philosophy, society, or even psychiatry, but theology. James Hillman (1975, p. 228) Forty years ago, one could speak confidently about ours being a secularizing age: the more science and technology progressed, the more religion receded (Cox, 1965). Carl G. Jung could write about “modern man in search of a soul” (1933) because secularization meant that religious symbols, rituals, and beliefs lost their meaning for an ever increasing number. There were for the first time in history entire nations, especially the Soviet Union, dedicated to atheism. The Positivist dream was being fulfilled. But it has not happened that secularization simply progressed. The public sphere became increasingly areligious, but this remains highly contested ground. If much of Western Europe seems contentedly secular, in the United States, as in many nations in the east and the south, intense religious ferment explodes on the cultural and political stages. Religious and spiritual issues, once on the fringe of mainstream psychology, as represented by the American Psychological Association, have come front and center. Even biomedicine, that bulwark of secularized views of the body and illness, acknowledges more readily the spiritual and religious dimensions of medicine and their usefulness in preserving health and fighting illness. One cannot speak of desecularization, however, for secularization proceeds apace.
Location-based event search in social texts

A tremendous amount of information is being shared everyday on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. Often times these social media texts include information that are valuable to others, such as activities (e.g., art fairs, jazz festivals, and gatherings), natural disaster occurrences (e.g., tornadoes, earthquakes), or incidents (e.g., traffic jams). However, current search on social media data is mostly keyword or hashtag based. The keyword based search method does not allow efficient search of events. In order to detect, scan, and search location based events from social media, users and social texts need to be effectively geotagged. Based on geotagged users and texts, effective and efficient algorithms need to be developed to integrate key word and spatial search to allow event query. This position paper summarize the current work, challenges, and research needs in location-event search in social texts.
Chapter 11 Analysis and design of membrane permeators for gas separation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses analysis and design of membrane permeators for gas separation. As membrane gas separation technology matures, the need to understand the performance of membrane separators in a process configuration becomes increasingly important. The separation characteristics of permeators will directly affect the process economics. The capability of performance analysis and prediction is, therefore, an essential part of the technology development. The performance analysis also aids directly in designing membrane modules for a given separation requirement. Furthermore, membrane separations are often used in hybrid processes, i.e., as processes in conjunction with other separation processes, or other unit operations. Analysis and design of membrane permeators are, therefore, essential tools even in the preliminary process design stage. The actual mechanism of gas transport and separation can also vary. Different postulated mechanisms are solution—diffusion, facilitation, Knudsen diffusion, surface diffusion and molecular sieving.
Small Telescopes in the New Millennium

As we enter the new millennium, astronomers have or will soon have over fifteen 8-meter class telescopes to work with. However, there is likely to remain a need for small telescopes, especially specialized telescopes that can be optimized for and dedicated to specific task. These can be well justified scientifically for projects ranging from solar system studies to cosmology. Small telescopes also are the heart and soul of teaching and public outreach programs. One thing is changing, however, and that is the definition of “small.”
LOGISTICS AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: AN INTERORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE

The coordination of activities within supply chains using information technology can be described as taking place using two broad types of mechanisms, both of which use intermediaries to carry out logistics activities. These are electronic hierarchies, consisting of legally separate firms that share a close relationship within a supply chain, and electronic markets characterized by short-term linkages that result from individual transactions. A key influence of information technology on logistics is the emergence of separate but linked intermediaries for handling physical goods and the information associated with those goods.
Renal electrolyte circadian rhythms - Independence from feeding and activity patterns

The interrelationships between urinary electrolyte circadian rhythms and rhythms of feeding, drinking and activity were studied in six conscious chair-acclimatized squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) kept in temperature-controlled isolation chambers on a light-dark (LD) 12:12 h cycle. With lights on (600 lx) from 0800 to 2000 h and off (less than 1 lx) from 2000 to 0800 h, renal potassium excretion in monkeys fed ad libitum fell to a daily minimum of 64 +/- 6 mueq/h at 0500 h and rose to a maximum of 274 +/- 13 mueq/h at 1700 h. Sodium excretion fell to a minimum of 13 +/- 2 mueq/h at 1000 h and rose to a maximum of 43 +/- 6 mueq/h at 2100 h, while water excretion fell to a minimum of 869 +/- 63 mul/h at 0500 h and rose to a maximum of 2,307 +/- 222 mul/h at 1700 h. Feeding, drinking, and activity occurred only during the lights-on period. Independence of the urinary rhythms from diurnal variations in feeding, drinking, and activity was established a) by depriving monkeys of food, b) by depriving monkeys of water, and c) by training monkeys to perform a 2-hourly schedule of feeding, drinking, and activity throughout day and night. None of these three regimens resulted in major reductions of the amplitude, or changes in the phase of the circadian rhythms of urinary electrolyte or water excretion. These findings indicate that the circadian rhythms of urinary potassium, sodium, and water excretion are controlled by mechanisms that are not passively dependent on the behavioral patterns of feeding, drinking, and activity.
Rewarming Rate During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated With Release of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein.

Background Rewarming from hypothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may compromise cerebral oxygen balance, potentially resulting in cerebral ischemia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether CPB rewarming rate is associated with cerebral ischemia assessed by the release of the brain injury biomarker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Methods Blood samples were collected from 152 patients after anesthesia induction and after CPB for the measurement of plasma GFAP levels. Nasal temperatures were recorded every 15 min. A multivariate estimation model for postoperative plasma GFAP level was determined that included the baseline GFAP levels, rewarming rate, CPB duration, and patient age. Results The mean rewarming rate during CPB was 0.21° ± 0.11°C/min; the maximal temperature was 36.5° ± 1.0°C (range, 33.1°C to 38.0°C). Plasma GFAP levels increased after compared with before CPB (median, 0.022 ng/mL versus 0.035 ng/mL; p Conclusions Rewarming rate during CPB was correlated with evidence of brain cellular injury documented with plasma GFAP levels. Modifying current practices of patient rewarming might provide a strategy to reduce the frequency of neurologic complications after cardiac surgery.
Race-based rejection sensitivity partially accounts for the relationship between racial discrimination and distressing attenuated positive psychotic symptoms

Aim Self-reported experiences of racial discrimination have been associated with a continuum of psychotic experiences in racial and ethnic minority populations; however, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are not yet clear. Race-based rejection sensitivity (RS-race) has been associated with thought intrusions about being the target of racial discrimination; therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether RS-race accounts for the relationship between racial discrimination and psychotic-like experiences in racial and ethnic minority populations. Methods A sample of 644 young adults from a US urban, predominantly immigrant, and racial and ethnic minority population was administered a self-report inventory of psychosis risk (i.e. Prodromal Questionnaire (PQ) ), providing a dimensional assessment of the total number of attenuated positive psychotic symptoms experienced as distressing (APPS-distress). Participants also completed the Experiences of Discrimination Questionnaire and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire-Race. Results Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that RS-race and racial discrimination were both significantly related to higher levels of APPS-distress. Bootstrapping analyses of indirect effects indicated that RS-race partially accounted for the relationship between racial discrimination and APPS-distress. Conclusion Although the cross-sectional nature of the data limits conclusions about causal inference, our findings do suggest that racial discrimination and RS-race may both be important for understanding risk for distress in the psychotic spectrum among racial and ethnic minority young adults. Some individuals who report racial discrimination may be more vulnerable to APPS-distress in part because they are anxiously anticipating being racially slighted, and this should be explored further in prospective clinical high-risk studies.
Affinity Chromatography: A Review of Clinical Applications

Affinity chromatography is a type of liquid chromatography that makes use of biological-like interactions for the separation and specific analysis of sample components. This review describes the basic principles of affinity chromatography and examines its use in the testing of clinical samples, with an emphasis on HPLC-based methods. Some traditional applications of this approach include the use of boronate, lectin, protein A or protein G, and immunoaffinity supports for the direct quantification of solutes. Newer techniques that use antibody-based columns for on- or off-line sample extraction are examined in detail, as are methods that use affinity chromatography in combination with other analytical methods, such as reversed-phase liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and capillary electrophoresis. Indirect analyte detection methods are also described in which immunoaffinity chromatography is used to perform flow-based immunoassays. Other applications that are reviewed include affinity-based chiral separations and the use of affinity chromatography for the study of drug or hormone interactions with binding proteins. Some areas of possible future developments are then considered, such as tandem affinity methods and the use of synthetic dyes, immobilized metal ions, molecular imprints, or aptamers as affinity ligands for clinical analytes.
Recessive inheritance of a relative fat pattern.

We defined a relative-fat-pattern index (RFPI) as the ratio of subscapular skinfold thickness to the sum of subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses and computed RFPI for 774 adults (age greater than or equal to 25 years) in 59 pedigrees ascertained through cases of cardiovascular disease. Likelihood analysis of RFPI supported recessive inheritance of an allele with a frequency of 46%, which elevated mean RFPI from .412 to .533 when homozygous. The analysis apportioned the variance in RFPI as 42.3% due to the major locus, 9.5% due to polygenic inheritance, and 48.2% due to random environmental effects. Homozygotes for the recessive allele tended to have small suprailiac skinfold thicknesses rather than large subscapular skinfold thicknesses. Homozygotes were more frequent in younger than in older cases of obesity, coronary heart disease, essential hypertension, and diabetes mellitus; the increase was significant for all but diabetes.
Imaging and Anatomy for Cochlear Implants

At a minimum, successful cochlear implantation requires that electrical impulses be delivered to a surviving spiral ganglion cell population, and that these impulses be transmitted to a functioning auditory cortex by an existent neural connection. Accordingly, imaging the auditory pathway of the implant candidate is necessary to screen for morphologic conditions that will preclude or complicate the implantation process. In addition to radiography, increasing resolution of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging technology has provided the clinician with more detailed information about the integrity of the auditory pathway.
Characteristics of monozygotic male and female twins discordant for overweight: a descriptive study.

Objectives BMI is highly heritable. Yet, trends in obesity highlight environmental influences on body weight. Monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for overweight offer a unique opportunity to examine these factors.
Interface-mediated suppression of radiation damage in GaN

Interfaces are often sinks for radiation-generated defects and could either promote defect recombination or cause detrimental disorder accumulation. Here, we study (0 0 0 1) GaN irradiated with 500 keV Xe ions at room temperature. Results show that, when point defects are generated within ∼50 nm from the surface, they experience efficient recombination without any measurable increase in the rate of surface amorphization. Our findings provide clear experimental evidence of efficient suppression of radiation damage by an interface in a non-metallic material.
Ginkgo as a Green Reducing Agent for Gold Nanoparticles and Nanoplatelets

ABSTRACT Ginkgo leaf tea has been used as a reducing agent for gold nanoparticles and nanoplatelets. Synthesis is performed via direct heating and microwave heating. Anisotropic nanoplatelet formation is diminished in favor of isotropic nanoparticle formation as the reaction temperature is increased via direct heating. When microwave mediation is used, the extinction spectra indicate less difference among the sols, suggesting athermal effects. Molecular weight filtration studies of the ginkgo tea and the microwave-mediated heating results indicate that the reducing agent in the ginkgo leaf tea is a large molecule, like a protein, rather than a small molecule, like a simple sugar.
Instrumented bicycle pedals for dynamic measurement of propulsive cycling loads

A system was developed for measuring and analyzing the forces placed on a bicycle pedal during operation of a stationary ergometer. Forces are measured in the plane parallel to the ergometer in directions normal and tangential to the surface of the pedals, encompassing the plane of propulsive forces. The pedals are designed to be structurally and functionally equivalent to standard clipless pedals. The stock pedal spindle and bearing assembly was replaced with a new spindle that was instrumented with two Wheatstone bridges of foil strain gauges. The bearings were relocated to the crank-arm/pedal-spindle interface. The original pedal body was then pinned to the new spindle. Additionally, the pedals were instrumented with optical encoders to measure the pedal angle relative to the crank arm. An optical encoder was also mounted near the bottom bracket to measure crank-arm angle. Signals were transmitted via a cable tethered to the cyclist’s leg from the pedals to an instrumented chassis, where the strain gauge signals were conditioned and the digital optical encoder signals converted to analogue signals. From the instrumented chassis, seven signals are ready for standard analogue data collection. Data collected from this new system has proved to be both comparable with previously published literature and accurate when compared with expected power output values.
Moving the strategic plan off the shelf and into action at the University of Wisconsin‐Madison

The author describes practical steps for infusing the strategic plan throughout the organization. These steps have carried the University of Wisconsin-Madison effectively through two cycles of reaccreditation and planning.
Bartonellosis: A Cause of Severe Anemia in Splenectomized Dogs.

SummaryAfter splenectomy had been performed on a dog severe anemia developed and stained smears of the blood revealed organisms that had the morphologic characteristics of Bartonella canis. The dis...
Immunogenic properties of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae administered separately and in combination to lactating cows.

Summary Composite bacterins of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae, or either bacterin alone, were administered systemically to groups of lactating cows. The response to each bacterin was unaffected by the simultaneous administration of the antigens when assessed by comparing the antibody levels in milk by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was no evidence of cross reactivity of the antigens studied, nor immunopotentiation by either bacteria.
The proopiomelanocortin system.

POMC (31,000 MW) is localized to the pituitary, brain, skin, and other peripheral sites. The particular enzyme profile present within a cell dictates the nature of the hormonal ligand (melanocortin) synthesized and secreted: melanotropic peptides (alpha-MSH beta-lipotropin, lambda-MSH), corticotropin (ACTH), several endorphins (e.g., met-enkephalin). These POMC-derived peptides mediate their actions through typical seven-spanning membrane receptors (MCRs; MCR1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). A specific melanocortin acting on a specific MCR regulates a particular biological response; for example, alpha-MSH on MCR1 increases melanogenesis within melanocytes, ACTH on MCR2 increases cortisol production within adrenal zona fasciculata cells. Within the brain melanocortins regulate satiety (MCR4) and erectile activity (MCR?). MCRs have been localized by melanocortin macromolecular probes, for example, fluorescent to human epidermal melanocytes and also to keratinocytes, suggesting that systemic melanocortins or localized POMC products might regulate these integumental cellular elements in synchrony to enhance skin pigmentation and/or immunological responses. Superpotent, prolonged acting melanotropic peptides have been synthesized and their application in clinical medicine has been demonstrated. MCR antagonists have been used to discover and further delineate other roles of melanocortin ligands. For example, melanocortin-induced satiety can be antagonized by a melanocortin antagonist. Defects in melanocortin ligand biosynthesis, secretion, and melanocortin receptor function can lead to a diverse number of pathological states.
A mechanism for magmatic accretion under spreading centres

The most active volcanic zone on Earth occurs along the global mid-ocean ridge system where the lithosphere is pulled apart and new oceanic crust is created at rates between 10 and 200 km Myr−1. This volcanism is segmented, and is concentrated along the axial valleys and highs of slow- and fast-spreading ridges respectively, with transform fault zones separating, and generally offsetting, each active ridge segment. Volcanic activity may be nearly absent at the ridge transform intersection where a slow-spreading ridge is offset, and greatly reduced where a fast-spreading ridge is offset, implying thinner crust in these regions1. The source of magmas erupted along ocean ridges is the underlying mantle, which undergoes decompression melting when rising to fill the gap between the spreading plates. The resulting magma aggregates in the upper mantle and ascends to the crust due to its low density compared with the parent mantle rock. The melt is believed to pool in crustal magma chambers—whence it periodically erupts to the surface. Typically, the formation, ascent and aggregation of magmas along the mid-ocean ridges is regarded two-dimensionally and modelled in a section through the crust and mantle across the strike of the ridges (see ref. 2). Here, however, we consider the problem with a three-dimensional model for which we provide supporting geological evidence, in which the magmas rise as a result of a gravitational instability (modified Rayleigh–Taylor) in the underlying partial melt zone.
A prospective, randomized trial of Unna's boot versus Duoderm CGF hydroactive dressing plus compression in the management of venous leg ulcers

Leg ulcers caused by chronic venous insufficiency plague an estimated 500,000 Americans, but there have been few improvements in conservative treatment in this century, and Unna's boot continues to be a mainstay of therapy. A recent report suggests that Duoderm CGF dressing provides greater patient comfort and enhanced compliance, but Duoderm alone (without compression) resulted in slower healing compared with Unna's boot. We enrolled 30 patients (30 ulcers) in a clinical trial to compare Duoderm CGF plus compression (Coban wrap) to Unna's boot. No significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to age, sex, initial ulcer area, ulcer duration, or extent of venous insufficiency by duplex scan. Eight of 16 ulcers (50%) in the Duoderm group healed completely versus 6 of 14 ulcers (43%) in the Unna's boot group (p = 0.18). Healing rates (square centimeters per week) correlated significantly with initial ulcer area and initial ulcer perimeter for both groups but best correlated with initial ulcer perimeter (r = 0.88 with Duoderm, p less than 0.0001; r = 0.80 with Unna's boot, p less than 0.002). After adjusting for differences in initial ulcer perimeter, healing rates were significantly faster for patients on Duoderm than patients on Unna's boot during the first 4 weeks of therapy (0.384 +/- 0.059 cm2/wk/cm perimeter for Duoderm versus 0.135 +/- 0.043 cm2/wk/cm perimeter for Unna's boot; p = 0.002). At 12 weeks patients on Duoderm again appeared to heal faster than those on Unna's boot, although the result did not reach statistical significance (0.049 +/- 0.007 cm2/wk/cm perimeter for Duoderm versus 0.020 +/- 0.017 for Unna's boot, p = 0.11).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Beam extraction from the University of Illinois sector-focussed cyclotron

S>Protons have been extracted in the energy range 5 to 15 Mev from the University of IIlinois spiral ridge cyclotron. A new extraction system has been constructed consisting of a primary electrostatic deflector capable of maintaining a voltage of 100 kv, a secondary quadrupole deflector which radially focusses a beam by electrostatic and magnetic means, and a third electrostatic steering deflector. Four quadrant coils are required for proper delivery of the internal beam into the deflection system. Except near 15 Mev, where the thickness of the primary deflector septum limits the extractlon efficiency, approximately 5% of the internal beam can be focussed into a spot approximately 1 cm/sup 2/ in area in the experimental area 25 ft from the cyclotron. The external beam has an energy spread of approximately 100 kev; a divergence of plus or minus 0.002 radians horizontally and a divergence of plus or minus 0.003 radians vertically when no external focussing elements are present. Beam currents of 200 mu A at an extraction radius of 47 cm have been routinely utilized. (auth)
Interferometers as probes of Planckian quantum geometry

A theory of position of massive bodies is proposed that results in an observable quantum behavior of geometry at the Planck scale, ${t}_{P}$. Departures from classical world lines in flat spacetime are described by Planckian noncommuting operators for position in different directions, as defined by interactions with null waves. The resulting evolution of position wave functions in two dimensions displays a new kind of directionally coherent quantum noise of transverse position. The amplitude of the effect in physical units is predicted with no parameters, by equating the number of degrees of freedom of position wave functions on a 2D space-like surface with the entropy density of a black hole event horizon of the same area. In a region of size $L$, the effect resembles spatially and directionally coherent random transverse shear deformations on time scale $\ensuremath{\approx}L/c$ with typical amplitude $\ensuremath{\approx}\sqrt{c{t}_{P}L}$. This quantum-geometrical ``holographic noise'' in position is not describable as fluctuations of a quantized metric, or as any kind of fluctuation, dispersion or propagation effect in quantum fields. In a Michelson interferometer the effect appears as noise that resembles a random Planckian walk of the beam splitter for durations up to the light-crossing time. Signal spectra and correlation functions in interferometers are derived, and predicted to be comparable with the sensitivities of current and planned experiments. It is proposed that nearly colocated Michelson interferometers of laboratory scale, cross-correlated at high frequency, can test the Planckian noise prediction with current technology.
Oxides of nitrogen in combustion. Premixed flame

Abstract Measurements were made of theresidual quantity of the oxides of nitrogen in samples taken as a function of the spatial position in a cylindrical combustor. The influence of mixture ratio and of rate of flow of the reactants for a premixed, natural gas-air flame was studied. In addition the apparent temperature and mole fraction of carbon dioxide, oxygen and carbon monoxide were determined as a function of spatial position in the combustor. It was found that the local perturbation of pressure encountered in the combustion was one of the principal factors in increasing the residual quantities of oxides of nitrogen in the products of reaction. The results are presented in graphical and tabular form.
“We Don't Complain About Little Things”: Views of Veterans and Military Family Members on Health Care Gaps and Needs

This qualitative investigation examined the views of veterans and military family members on the needs and gaps they perceive in health and mental health care provision. Four focus groups ( N = 33) were conducted (two with male veterans, one with female veterans, and one with military family members). Ten themes emerged regarding highly valued and unsatisfactory aspects of care received from providers and health care systems; four topic areas for training providers were also identified. Findings suggest it is critical that health care providers and systems master the military/veteran cultural competence necessary to work effectively with veterans and military family members.
The “Leaky Needs” of School-Aged Mothers: An Examination of U.S. Programs and Policies

ABSTRACTWhat do school-aged mothers need in order to become independent? What curricula are best for young women who are secondary school students and also single mothers? The pursuit of answers to these questions leads to an examination of U.S. programs for school-aged mothers, which are located within the politics of the New Right and the battles for public resources. According to feminist theorist Nancy Fraser (1989), public policy battles begin with the interpretation of needs and the establishment of relations between a defined need and specific resources required to meet it. If a need is contained within the domestic or economic sphere, where women's needs have historically been located, then public resources can be legitimately denied or severely limited. Fraser's framework of needs interpretation is used to examine school-based programs for young mothers. In general, U.S. programs define the needs of young mothers as narrow and short term, that is, as prenatal needs. However, radically different n...
Plants, symbiosis and parasites: a calcium signalling connection

A unique family of protein kinases has evolved with regulatory domains containing sequences that are related to Ca(2+)-binding EF-hands. In this family, the archetypal Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) have been found in plants and some protists, including the malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Recent genetic evidence has revealed isoform-specific functions for a CDPK that is essential for Plasmodium berghei gametogenesis, and for a related chimeric Ca(2+) and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) that is essential to the formation of symbiotic nitrogen-fixing nodules in plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the analysis of 42 isoforms of CDPK and related kinases is expected to delineate Ca(2+) signalling pathways in all aspects of plant biology.