cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modern graduate student mentors: Evidence-based best practices and special considerations for mentoring undergraduates in ecology and evolution

This article serves as a short 'best practices' aimed at graduate students for advising undergraduates, specifically within the disciplines of ecology and evolution. It offers documented research on undergraduate research experiences, and the most effective mentoring strategies for success across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, as well as practical methods for how to enact these strategies. Most importantly, this work serves particularly to highlight issues undergraduates may encounter in conducting research specifically in ecology and evolution, and what graduate student mentors can do to help students overcome these challenges.
Spin-dependent structure functions for the proton and neutron

Abstract We present a phenomenological model for the spin-dependent structure functions g1(x) of the proton and neutron. The model is an extension of the one proposed by Carlitz and Kaur. We use improved unpolarized structure functions and include effects due to the mass difference between up and down quark and due to the mass difference between spin 1 2 and 3 2 baryons. Our results for the proton agree with the data.
Vibrational characteristics of composite panels with cutouts

A method is presented for analyzing the free damped vibration characteristics of plates, cylinders, and cylindrical panels made of fiber reinforced, organic matrix composites. A computer code is described that can be used to calculate the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping factors of plates, cylinders, and cylindrical panels with free, clamped, or simply supported edges and with or without circular cutouts. Tests also were performed measuring the damping factors of Fiberite T300/934 graphite-epoxy unidirectional composite and the natural frequencies and mode shapes of rectangular plates made of this material. Plates with [Og], [(457 — 45h]s, and [(0/90>2]s layups were tested. Measurements were made with "solid" plates and with plates containing centrally located circular cutouts. The measured and calculated natural frequencies and damping factors were compared. The data and the numerical results were found to be in good agreement. As an illustrative example, the natural frequencies, damping factors, and mode shapes also were calculated for a semicircular cylindrical panel made of Fiberite T300/934 graphite-epoxy unidirectional tape.
Towards Grid Modernization through Enhanced Communications and Computing: Novel Performance Index and Information Structure for Monitoring Voltage Problems

In this paper we observe that recent voltage problems, including August 2003 blackout, are often caused by the lack of adequate and timely information. We study the type of information essential to avoiding such problems in the future. The needed information concerns (a) choice of a performance index characterizing problems of interest; (b) information structure necessary to monitor the performance index with acceptable accuracy; and, (c) the interdependence between (a) and (b). We propose a novel performance index and corresponding information structure. This information structure requires very little or no communications between decomposed subsystems. Illustrations of proposed concepts in multi control area systems are presented. These findings form a basis for grid modernization through communications and computing for improved voltage support in multi control area system.
High-throughput characterization of early oxidation across AlxFeyNi1−x−y composition space

Abstract Improving our fundamental understanding of the oxidation of multicomponent alumina-forming alloys is crucial to their ongoing development. In this work, high-throughput methods were developed to study oxidation of AlxFeyNi1−x−y alloys in dry air at 427 °C using composition spread alloy films as combinatorial libraries (x = 0 → 1, y = 0 → [1−x]). The results divide the AlxFeyNi1−x−y composition space into four regions of phenomenologically distinct oxidation behaviour. The boundary defining the critical Al concentration, N Al ∗ (x, y), for establishment of a passivating Al2O3 scale was determined across the entire continuous AlxFeyNi1−x−y composition space.
Power-efficient, reliable microprocessor architectures: modeling and design methods

Next generation system designs are challenged by multiple "walls": among them, the inter-related impediments offered by power dissipation limits and reliability are particularly difficult ones that all current chip/system design teams are grappling with. In this paper, we first describe the attendant challenges in integrated (multi-dimensional) pre-silicon modeling and the solution approaches being pursued. Later, we focus on leading edge solutions for power, thermal and failure-rate mitigation that have been proposed in our R&D work over the past decade.
Role of curli and plant cultivation conditions on Escherichia coli O157:H7 internalization into spinach grown on hydroponics and in soil

Contamination of fresh produce could represent a public health concern because no terminal kill step is applied during harvest or at the processing facility to kill pathogens. In addition, once contaminated, pathogens may internalize into produce and be protected from disinfectants during the postharvest processing step. The objective of the current study was to determine the potential internalization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 into spinach roots and subsequent transfer to the edible parts. Because curli are involved in biofilm formation, we investigated whether their presence influence the internalization of E. coli O157:H7 into spinach. Further, the effect of the spinach cultivar on E. coli O157:H7 internalization was evaluated. Spinach plants were grown in contaminated soil as well as hydroponically to prevent mechanical wounding of the roots and inadvertent transfer of pathogens from the contamination source to the non-exposed plant surfaces. Results showed that E. coli O157:H7 could internalize into hydroponically grown intact spinach plants through the root system and move to the stem and leaf level. The incidence of internalization was significantly higher in hydroponically grown plants when roots were exposed to 7 log CFU/mL compared to those exposed to 5 log CFU/mL. The effect of cultivar on E. coli O157:H7 internalization was not significant (P>0.05) for the analyzed spinach varieties, internalization incidences showing almost equal distribution between Space and Waitiki, 49.06% and 50.94% respectively. Wounding of the root system in hydroponically grown spinach increased the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 internalization and translocation to the edible portions of the plant. Experimental contamination of the plants grown in soil resulted in a greater number of internalization events then in those grown hydroponically, suggesting that E. coli O157:H7 internalization is dependent on root damage, which is more likely to occur when plants are grown in soil. Curli expression by E. coli O157:H7 had no significant effect on its root uptake by spinach plants.
Approximation by structured lower rank matrices

We consider two general procedures for constructing the nearest approximation of a given matrix by one with any lower rank and any linear structure. Nearness can be measured in any matrix norm. Structured low rank matrices arise in various applications, including image enhancement and model reduction. In practice, the empirical data collected in the matrix often either do not maintain the specified structure or do not induce the desirable rank.It is an important task to search for the nearest structured lower rank approximation of a given matrix. The techniques developed in this paper can easily be implemented for numerical computation. In particular, it is shown that the computations can be approached using efficient optimization packages. The special case of Toeplitz structure using the Frobenius matrix norm is discussed in detail to illustrate the ideas, and numerical test are reported. The procedures developed herein can be generalized to consider a much broader range of approximation problems.
General approach to, and perspectives on clinical research in, older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

Most patients aged ≥55 to 60 years who are treated for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receive a combination of an anthracycline plus cytarabine (ara-C). A principal thesis of this chapter is that such therapy is unsatisfactory for the great majority of such patients. In particular, the ≥15% risk of death in the month following the start of treatment is difficult to justify given median survivals of less than 1 year in the patients who do not die early. Thus, investigational therapy should be recommended for most, if not all, older patients. In patients for whom such therapy is not feasible, low-dose ara-C is a reasonable alternative except for patients with de novo disease and a normal karyotype, who might benefit more from an anthracycline + ara-C combination, and patients with either a poor performance status, abnormal organ function, or age ≥80, for whom supportive/palliative care only is recommended. Distinctions are made between investigational therapies likely associated with lower and higher risks of treatment-related mortality (TRM). The former are preferable initial treatment in patients aged 70 and above, or with abnormal cytogenetics. Three topics are discussed that are likely to be relevant to future clinical research in older patients: the possibility of delaying therapy to gain information about prognosis with initial induction therapy, the clinical value of responses less than conventional complete remission (CR), and the possibility of looking for larger differences between treatments in randomized clinical trials
The importance of mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms in melancholia

We examined the clinical, genetic and prognostic significance of mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms in a sample of melancholic patients with and without such features, and a control group of schizophrenic patients. We found no differences between the two depressive groups for any of the important variables studied, but marked differences for both groups in comparison with the schizophrenic sample. Mood-incongruent psychotic symptoms do not appear to identify a unique sub-population of melancholia.
A Method to Constrain the Configuration of the Subsurface Structure in 3-D Gravity Inversion

A three-dimensional inversion technique is developed to investigate the structure of the oceanic crust, using high quality offshore bathymetry, gravity and seismic data. The gravity signatures associated with variations in the thickness of the oceanic crust are isolated from the observed free-air anomaly by subtracting the gravitational effects of seafloor topography and the upper mantle thermal structure, downward continued to the mean depth of the crust/mantle interface and converted onto the relief on that surface. The thickness of the oceanic crust is then calculated by subtracting sea water depth from the depth of the gravity-inferred crust/mantle interface. Seismic refraction data was introduced directly as a constraint in the construction of the initial model for the configuration of the crust/mantle interface and the iterative process of the 3-D joint inversion to reduce the ambiguity in gravity interpretation. This technique can be easily applied to the offshore areas to interpret bathymetry, gravity and seismic data that have been routinely collected for the purpose of geophysical exploration. Compared to the unconstrained gravity inversion, this technique can predict a 3-D crustal model that fits better both gravity and seismic observation data of the study area.
Development of ductile long-range ordered alloys for fusion reactor systems

Abstract A series of iron-base long-range ordered (LRO) alloys with compositions (Fe,Ni,Co) 3 V are being developed for fusion reactor applications. The alloys form a cubic ordered structure similar to AuCu 3 below their critical ordering temperature. The alloys in the ordered state are ductile, with tensile elongation in excess of 35% at room temperature. Tensile tests of the ordered alloys at elevated temperatures indicate an unusually attractive mechanical behavior. Their strength, Instead of decreasing as with conventional alloys, increases with temperature because of ordering. As a result, the ordered alloys. are much stronger than type 316 stainless steel, particularly at elevated temperatures. The ordered alloys also exhibit excellent creep strength; their creep rate is lower than that of type 316 stainless steel by 3 orders of magnitude at 650°C. A combination of excellent strength and adequate ductility makes the ironbase LRO alloys uniquely attractive for high-temperature structural applications.
The Synthesis of L-aminosugar and the studies of L-pyranoses on the ring III of pyranmycins.

The synthesis of a novel class of aminoglycoside, pyranmycin, and a convenient method for the preparation of 6-amino-l-idopyranosides were reported. One of the members in the reported pyranmycin families, TC010, has prominent activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus megaterium. We also discovered that the 4C1 chair conformation on ring III of pyranmycin is essential for the antibacterial activity.
A general approach to physical realization of unambiguous quantum-state discrimination

We present a general scheme to realize the POVMs for the unambiguous discrimination of quantum states. For any set of pure states it enables us to set up a feasible linear optical circuit to perform their optimal discrimination, if they are prepared as single-photon states. An example of unknown states discrimination is discussed as the illustration of the general scheme.
Seasonality of Child Homicide

Objective To determine whether there is seasonal variation (by season and month of year) in homicides among young children. Study design Homicide deaths in children ≤5 years (n = 797), as identified in death certificates from 5 states (Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington), were analyzed for a seasonality effect in the years 1999–2006. Season and month of calendar year were used as categorical variables. A χ 2 goodness of fit test was used to compare observed and expected proportions of homicides for the entire population. Stratified analyses of children dying before age 2 years and those dying between 2 and 5 years of age were also conducted. Results The occurrence of homicide was proportional to the time interval in each category ( P = .05). For the total population, there was no statistically significant variation between the expected and observed percentage of homicides by either season or month of calendar year ( P = .46 and P = .74, respectively). For the stratified analyses, there was no statistically significant variation between expected and observed percentages of homicides by either season or month of calendar year for either population. Conclusion There is no seasonality to child homicides by month of year or season of year among young children in the examined population.
Applying HST lessons learned to JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a 6.5 meter cryogenic observatory planned to launch in 2013. The observatory includes a three mirror anastigmat telescope with a deployed 18 segment primary mirror. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), JWST will be difficult to service and therefore the development team needs to be highly confident the telescope will work after launch. Consequently, it is imperative that the team building JWST apply the lessons learned from the HST program so as to avoid repeating mistakes that led to a major optical error in HST. The purpose of this paper is to summarize what the JWST program is doing to apply the lessons learned from HST. It includes a summary of how the HST optical error was made, the lessons learned there from, and how the JWST program is applying these lessons to avoid the mistakes of the past and ensure correct JWST optical performance.
A case of multiple pulmonary infarctions occurring in an ambulant male, and associated with rectal lesions.

SUMMARY An unusual case of multiple pulmonary infarctions occurring in a presumably well, ambulant and active young male has been presented. Clinically it was striking that the embolic disease occurred in association with an unusual inflammatory process involving the hemorrhoidal veins which may have been due to the virus of lymphopathia venereum. It is recognized that this, association may be coincidental, but it is suggested that the hemorrhoidal veins may have been the source of these emboli since no other was demonstrated. The hypothesis presented above merits consideration, and it is hoped that in some small measure this report will stimulate clinical, pathological and experimental investigation of the rectal circulation in relation to pulmonary embolism.
Parental support for policy measures and school-based efforts to address weight-based victimization of overweight youth.

Parental support for policy measures and school-based efforts to address weight-based victimization of overweight youth
Normative Influences in Donation Decisions

ABSTRACT The author examines the role of social and personal moral norms within a charitable giving decision process. Social and moral norms are posited both to directly and indirectly influence charitable-giving decisions. The study confirms the presence of idealistic and egotistic dimensions of moral norms within a charitable-request environment. Post-charitable contribution guilt was also found to be present in both donors and nondonors for markedly irregular charitable-giving encounters, with nondonors experiencing significantly higher guilt. The study explores the theoretical and practical implications of these findings for nonprofit marketers.
How Clinicians Learn to Integrate Hypnotic Tactics and Strategies into Psychotherapeutic Interventions

Therapeutic suggestions administered within a hypnotic context can improve the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions in dealing with a wide range of clinical problems. Hamburg (2006) illustrates how he overcame both theoretical barriers and tactical issues in treating two clients who presented with fear of dying. His account calls attention to the need to help clinicians make the transition from introductory hypnosis training programs to actually applying hypnotic tactics and strategies in the clinical context. The development of clinical and experimental hypnosis and behavior therapy have influenced each other more profoundly than has generally been acknowledged. Theoretical barriers to the use of hypnosis in behavioral therapies are more apparent than real.
Theory of multichromophoric coherent resonance energy transfer: A polaronic quantum master equation approach

The approach of second order time local quantum master equation in the polaron picture, which has been employed for a theory of coherent resonance energy transfer, is extended for general multichromophore systems. Explicit expressions for all the kernel and inhomogeneous terms are derived, which can be calculated by any standard numerical procedure. The theory is then applied to a model of donor-bridge-acceptor system moderately coupled to bosonic bath. The results are compared with those based on the theory of Forster's resonance energy transfer. It is shown that coherently coupled multichromophores can speed up the transfer of energy substantially and in a way insensitive to the disorder.
Security programming using Python: man-in-the-middle attacks

Many security concepts become more clear to students when operationalized in the context of a programming language. Unfortunately, many programming systems and development environments are complex and not easily learned or used. Python is a simple programming language system with extensive library support for programming in general and security programming in particular. This paper describes using Portable Python to teach security concepts in the context of man-in-the-middle attacks.
A psychotic gynemimetic: I just had a pregnant thought.

Nomothetic and idiographic content analytic approaches to the Rorschach are used in complementary fashion to explore the psychotic personality structure and primitive interpersonal modes in a 37-year-old biologically normal male, who was a gynemimetic, that is, a transvestite who aspired to have the genetalia of a woman. The Rorschach was riddled with psychotic verbalizations and imagery suggesting inadequate differentiation from the original symbiosis, inadequate symbiosis anxiety, and significant separation anxiety — a constellation culminating in the transsexual fantasy of fusion with the mother.
Continuing anemia prevention strategies are needed throughout early childhood in low-income preschool children.

Objective To assess anemia incidence and persistence in low-income preschool children in the United States. Study design Using 2000 to 2004 data from Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System, we constructed 4 cohorts. Children in each cohort had a baseline hemoglobin measurement at either age 12 ± 2 months (n = 583,149), 18 ± 2 months (n = 399,223), 24 ± 2 months (n = 382,605), or 36 ± 2 months (n = 300,817) and a follow-up hemoglobin measurement 12 ± 2 months later, when they were approximately 24, 30, 36, or 48 months old. Defining anemia as a hemoglobin level Results Anemia incidence declined with age. Persistence remained approximately 30%. In each cohort, 70% of follow-up anemia cases were incident. Compared with white children, black children had greater odds of incident anemia at each follow-up age (odds ratio [OR], 1.84-2.09), while Native American children had lower odds at 36 and 48 months of age (OR, 0.68, 0.65). Both Asian and black children had greater odds of persistent anemia than white children at each age (OR, 1.73-2.60). Conclusions Most follow-up anemia in each cohort was incident, underscoring the importance of anemia prevention throughout early childhood in this population. Investigation of the causes of anemia is warranted.
Isolation and Characterization of Soluble Boron Complexes in Higher Plants (The Mechanism of Phloem Mobility of Boron)

Boron (B) polyol complexes have been isolated and characterized from the phloem sap of celery (Apium graveolens L.) and the extrafloral nectar of peach (Prunus persica L.). In celery the direct analysis of untreated phloem sap by matrix-assisted laser desorption-Fourier transform mass spectrometry, with verification by high-performance liquid chromagraphy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, revealed that B is present in the phloem as the mannitol-B-mannitol complex. Molecular modeling further predicted that this complex is present in the 3,4 3',4' bis-mannitol configuration. In the extrafloral nectar of peach, B was present as a mixture of sorbitol-B-sorbitol, fructose-B-fructose, or sorbitol-B-fructose. To our knowledge, these findings represent the first successful isolation and characterization of soluble B complexes from higher plants and provide a mechanistic explanation for the observed phloem B mobility in these species.
Biliary complications following liver transplantation in the model for end-stage liver disease era: Effect of donor, recipient, and technical factors

Biliary complications remain a significant problem following liver transplantation in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) era. We hypothesized that donor, recipient, and technical variables may differentially affect anastomotic biliary complications in MELD era liver transplants. We reviewed 256 deceased donor liver transplants after the institution of MELD at our center and evaluated these variables' association with anastomotic biliary complications. The bile leak rate was 18%, and the stricture rate was 23%. Univariate analysis revealed that recipient age, MELD, donor age, and warm ischemia were risk factors for leak, whereas a Roux limb or stent was protective. A bile leak was a risk factor for anastomotic stricture, whereas use of histidine tryptophan ketoglutarate (HTK) versus University of Wisconsin (UW) solution was protective. Additionally, use of a transcystic tube/stent was also protective. Multivariate analysis showed that warm ischemia was the only independent risk factor for a leak, whereas development of a leak was the only independent risk factor for a stricture. HTK versus UW use and transcystic tube/stent use were the only independent protective factors against stricture. Use of an internal stent trended in the multivariate analysis toward being protective against leaks and strictures, but this was not quite statistically significant. This represents one of the first MELD era studies of deceased donor liver transplants evaluating factors affecting the incidence of anastomotic bile leaks and strictures. Donor, recipient, and technical factors appear to differentially affect the incidence of anastomotic biliary complications, with warm ischemia, use of HTK, and use of a stent emerging as the most important variables.
Towards efficient shared memory communications in MPJ express

The need to increase performance while conserving energy lead to the emergence of multi-core processors. These processors provide a feasible option to improve performance of software applications by increasing the number of cores, instead of relying on increased clock speed of a single core. The uptake of multi-core processors by hardware vendors present variety of challenges to the software community. In this context, it is important that messaging libraries based on the Message Passing Interface (MPI) standard support efficient inter-core communication. Typically processing cores of today's commercial multi-core processors share the main memory. As a result, it is vital to develop devices to exploit this. MPJ Express is our implementation of the MPI-like Java bindings. The software has mainly supported communication with two devices; the first is based on Java New I/O (NIO) and the second is based on Myrinet. In this paper, we present two shared memory implementations meant for providing efficient communication of multi-core and SMP clusters. The first implementation is pure Java and uses Java threads to exploit multiple cores. Each Java thread represents anMPI level OS process and communication between these threads is achieved using shared data structures. The second implementation is based on the System V (SysV) IPC API. Our goal is to achieve better communication performance than already existing devices based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Myrinet on SMP and multi-core platforms. Another design goal is that existing parallel applications must not be modified for this purpose, thus relieving application developers from extra efforts of porting their applications to such modern clusters. We have benchmarked our implementations and report that threads-based device performs the best on an Intel quad-core Xeon cluster.
Dissolution of the metal sensitizers Ni, Be, Cr in artificial sweat to improve estimates of dermal bioaccessibility

Dermal exposure to sensitizing metals is a serious occupational and public health problem. The usual approach to dermal exposure assessment is to process samples by chemical methods that use reactants to digest the metal particles and quantify the mass. In the case of dermal exposure assessment, these reactants are not representative of the skin surface film liquids and hence, may overestimate bioaccessibility. We hypothesize that the amount and form of sensitizer on a sample that leaches in a biological fluid, as can be estimated using artificial sweat, may be a more relevant metric for assessing health risks. Beryllium metal (Be), nickel metal (Ni), and chromium carbide (Cr3C2) particles were characterized and masses of sensitizing ions were measured using established reactant-assisted digestion procedures and extraction in artificial sweat under physiologically relevant conditions. Chromium ions released into artificial sweat were speciated to understand valence states. The ratios of the fraction of metal dissolved in artificial sweat relative to that dissolved by chemical-specific reactants were 1/2 (Be), 1/108 (Ni), and 1/2500 (Cr). The divalent Be and Ni cations were stable in artificial sweat over time (did not precipitate) whereas hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] ions decayed over time. Further analysis using speciated isotope dilution mass spectrometry revealed that the decay of Cr(VI) was accompanied by the formation of Cr(III) in the sweat model. Use of reactant-assisted analytical chemistry to quantify amounts of metal sensitizers on samples could overestimate biologically relevant exposure. In addition to mass, the valence state also influences penetration through the outer stratum corneum of the skin and is an important consideration when assessing exposure to complex sensitizers such as Cr which have multiple valence states with differing penetration efficiencies.
Protein kinase A anchoring to the myometrial plasma membrane is required for cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate regulation of phosphatidylinositide turnover

The importance of the localization of protein kinase A (PKA) to the plasma membrane for cAMP-mediated inhibition of phosphatidylinositide turnover was tested in an immortalized pregnant human myometrial (PHM1–41) cell line, and the putative A kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) involved was identified. Preincubation in PHM1–41 cells with chlorophenylthio-cAMP (CPT-cAMP), forskolin, or relaxin inhibited the ability of oxytocin to stimulate phosphatidylinositide turnover. The addition of a peptide that specifically disrupts interactions of PKA RII subunits with AKAPs (S-Ht31) reversed the effects of these agents, whereas a control peptide was ineffective. The pharmacology of S-Ht31 on this particular membrane event was further characterized. A 10-min incubation with S-Ht31 at a concentration of 1 μm completely reversed the inhibitory effect of relaxin on phosphatidylinositide turnover. S-Ht31 inhibited cAMP-stimulated PKA activity in PHM1–41 cell plasma membranes and decreased the concentration of PKA. Overlay ...
Performance evaluation of an encountered based multicast scheme for disruption tolerant networks

Some ad hoc network scenarios are characterized by frequent partitions and intermittent connectivity. Hence, existing adhoc routing schemes which assume the existence of end-to-end paths do not work in such challenging networks. Disruption tolerant networking (DTN) technology has been designed for such challenging network environments. Several unicast and multicast routing schemes have been designed for DTNs. However, the existing multicast routing schemes assume a route discovery process that is similar to the existing adhoc network routing approach, and hence will not work well in very sparse network scenarios. Thus, in this paper, we explore an encounter-based multicast routing (EBMR) scheme for DTNs. Our scheme uses fewer hops for message delivery. We present an analytical framework for estimating the delivery performance of the EBMR scheme, and present some analytical and simulation results to show that the EBMR scheme can achieve higher delivery ratio while maintaining high data transmission efficiency compared to other multicast strategies.
Effects of Obesity on Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Objectives To examine physiologic and psychological outcomes associated with maternal obesity in pregnancy and patterns of pregnancy weight gain. To identify effective interventions for maternal obesity. Data sources and study selection Search of obesity and pregnancy research conducted over the past 10 years using CIHAHL, Medline ERIC, and PyscInfo databases. Studies including the following keywords were included in the review: obesity, weight gain, body image, pregnancy weight gain, pregnancy obesity complications, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Articles were included based on scientific merit and research outcomes. Data synthesis and conclusions Maternal obesity is a serious condition that significantly impacts not only mothers' health but also the health and future of their children. It is paramount that all levels of health care providers be aware of consequences of obesity and be knowledgeable of effective interventions. No effective long-term interventions have been demonstrated to prevent or control obesity during pregnancy. The paucity of published results of pregnancy and postpartum interventions to address weight gain in pregnancy suggests the need for more community and individualized based intervention studies, especially focusing on long-term effects.
Retinal safety of the irradiation delivered to light-adjustable intraocular lenses evaluated in a rabbit model.

Purpose To evaluate the safety to the retina of a light-delivery device used to irradiate a light-adjustable intraocular lens (IOL) after implantation in a rabbit model. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Methods In this study, rabbits had phacoemulsification with implantation of an ultraviolet (UV)-filtering light-adjustable IOL (study IOL) in 1 eye and a custom-made silicone IOL without a UV filter (control IOL) in the opposite eye. The study IOLs were irradiated at 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 times the expected maximum UV irradiation doses and the control IOLs, at 0.3, 0.6, 1.0, and 2.0 times. One week after irradiation, slitlamp and fundus (indirect ophthalmoscopy) examinations were performed. The rabbits were then humanely killed and their eyes enucleated and processed for histopathology. Results The 16 eyes with the study IOL (with UV filter) showed no signs of corneal, anterior segment, or retinal toxicity on histopathologic evaluation. The 16 eyes with the control IOL (no UV filter) also showed no signs of corneal or anterior segment toxicity; however, 3 eyes receiving the higher radiation doses had focal areas of retinal damage consistent with laser burn. Conclusion Pigmented rabbit eyes with a light-adjustable IOL with a UV filter showed no signs of retina toxicity after near-UV light exposure up to 5 times the expected maximum treatment dosage. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes.
Hi, thanks, and goodbye: More routine information*

This study examines children's acquisition of three politeness routines: hi, thanks, and goodbye. Twenty-two children, eleven boys and eleven girls, and their parents participated. At the end of a parent-child play session, an assistant entered the playroom with a gift to elicit routines from the children. Spontaneous production of the three routines was low, with thank you the most infrequent. Parents actively prompted their children to produce routines, however, and children usually complied. Further, parents themselves used the routines, with more mothers than fathers saying thank you and goodbye to the assistant. Results were discussed in relation to the role of parents in linguistic socialization and to the importance of routines in social interaction. (Routines; politeness formulas; linguistic socialization; parental teaching; mother-father differences; sex role socialization)
Oscillation damped movement of suspended objects

Transportation of objects using overhead cranes or manipulators can induce pendulum motion of the object. Residual oscillation from transportation typically must be damped or allowed to decay before the next process can take place. By properly programming the acceleration of the transporting device (e.g. crane) an oscillation damped transport and swing-free stop is obtainable. The authors review the theory associated with oscillation-damped trajectories for simply suspended objects and describe a particular implementation using a CIMCORP XR 6100 gantry robot. >
International Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Two Hospitals in Miami, Florida

A total of 202 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) single-patient isolates recovered between January and June 1998 in two hospitals in Miami, Florida, were characterized by a combination of several molecular typing techniques: multilocus sequence typing, spaA typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and determination of the structure of the SCCmec element. The overwhelming majority of the isolates-187 of 202, or 93%-belonged to one of three internationally spread epidemic clones which were identified on the basis of their multilocus sequence type (ST) as E-MRSA-16 (ST36), the New York clone V (ST8), and the New York/Japan clone (ST5; SCCmec II) and its single- and double-locus variants. The rest of the isolates (15 of 202, or 7%) were more genetically diverse and were each recovered from a few patients only. Of the 23 MRSA strains isolated from confirmed human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients, as many as 17 (or 70%) belonged to a single ST8 clone carrying SCCmec type IV. The data provide further evidence for the conclusion of earlier studies that most MRSA disease in hospitals is caused by relatively few pandemic clones.
Setting the Response Time Threshold Parameter to Differentiate Solution Behavior From Rapid-Guessing Behavior

This study compared four methods for setting item response time thresholds to differentiate rapid-guessing behavior from solution behavior. Thresholds were either (a) common for all test items, (b) based on item surface features such as the amount of reading required, (c) based on visually inspecting response time frequency distributions, or (d) statistically estimated using a two-state mixture model. The thresholds were compared using the criteria proposed by Wise and Kong to establish the reliability and validity of response time effort scores, which were generated on the basis of the specified threshold values. The four methods yielded very similar results, indicating that response time effort is not very sensitive to the particular threshold identification method used. Recommendations are given regarding use of the various methods.
Micromachined Planar Triggered Spark Gap Switch

High voltage switches capable of operating at high speeds with high current levels are used in a variety of applications in commercial and government systems. This paper discusses the fabrication and characterization of a novel micromachined planar triggered spark gap switch. The switch provides a low cost alternative to conventional triggered spark gap switches. The structure is designed for direct integration into the strip-line geometries used in a conventional capacitive discharge unit. The geometry of the device was selected to minimize parasitic impedances associated with conventional firing circuits.
“Cassette” In Situ Enzymatic Screening Identifies Complementary Chiral Scaffolds for Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution Across a Range of Epoxides†

0.12 for a dehydrogenase reporting enzyme in a 500mLaqueousvolume),allowingonetogetinformationoncatalystperformance at relatively early conversions/short reactiontimes. Catalysts may be screened in parallel in a standardspectrophotometerwithamulticellchangerwithouttheneedtodrawaliquotsorworkupthereaction.Moreover,theneedto install a chromophore (adding steps and potentiallyalteringsubstratereactivity)isobviated.Herein, we describe a new pair of reporting enzymes(Scheme1) that are capable of differentiating the 1,2-hexanediol antipodes (Lactobacillus kefir alcohol dehydro-genase (LKADH): highly Sselective k
Raloxifene for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer

Raloxifene is a member of a family of drugs known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Raloxifene is currently approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. SERMs hold the potential to treat and prevent breast cancer, osteoporosis and coronary heart disease. Ongoing clinical trials are in place to address the role of raloxifene and SERMs in each of these areas. We review the pharmacology, clinical utility, safety and tolerability of raloxifene and speculate on what the future holds for SERMs and their use in breast cancer.
Runaway Pacemakers in Ventricular Fibrillation

Arunaway pacemaker is a malfunctioning pacemaker that paces the heart at rapid rates. A report from Australia 30 years ago1 described a patient with runaway pacemaker that paced the ventricles at 280 bpm. The patient survived only because one of the coauthors alertly cut the pacemaker wires to disconnect the high-frequency focal source from the myocardium. In this issue of Circulation , Thomas et al2 report that they occasionally detected sustained high-frequency sources during ventricular fibrillation (VF) in sheep with myocardial infarction (MI). Specifically, in 3 of 12 hearts, they detected periodic high-frequency activations at 1.3% of the intramural electrodes sampled. The authors propose that these findings support the hypothesis3 that a relatively stable periodic source (“mother rotor”), with fibrillatory conduction block occurring in the remainder of the ventricle, may be the mechanism of VF in this model. This mother rotor mechanism of fibrillation contrasts with the multiple wavelet mechanism, in which all rotors are unstable and wavebreak is the engine driving fibrillation. Both mechanisms of fibrillation have been documented in various settings,4 but controversy exists over which is the most common in and clinically relevant to diseased human hearts. This issue has therapeutic implications because it has been suggested that ablation of the mother rotor may be a strategy to abolish VF. At the same time, ablation of the mother rotor may just allow the next-fastest daughter rotor to take its place because fibrillatory wavebreaks act as niduses for new rotors. In any case, however, to even test this intriguing therapeutic strategy, it is first necessary to identify the location of the mother rotor, which has been elusive to date, especially in large animals.5 The findings of the present study, in a large-animal diseased heart model, are therefore significant. They also raise important questions. …
Reproductive function of mares given daily injections of prostaglandin F2α beginning at day 42 of pregnancy

Mares at Day 42 of pregnancy received daily intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 5 mg of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) until the beginning of the first (Group I, n=3) or second estrous cycle (Group II, n=2). All mares aborted 3 to 4 d after the first injection; they displayed estrus 2 to 6 d after this injection. As determined by palpation per rectum and serum progesterone levels, each estrus was accompanied by an ovulation. Endometrial cups did not regress after PGF2alpha treatment since serum samples from the mares contained pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) for at least 30 d after first injection, as determined by mare immunopregnancy test. After the first estrus, two of three mares in Group I displayed a prolonged diestrus (>25 d). In contrast, the first estrous cycle was short (8 to 12 d) for mares in Group II. Serum progesterone levels in the first 6 d postovulation were lower (P<0.05) for Group II than for Group I, indicating that formation of the corpus luteum was impaired by daily injections of PGF2. Results indicate that 1) daily injections of PGF2alpha can induce abortion in mares at Day 42 of pregnancy, 2) abortion is followed by estrus and ovulation, 3) the endometrial cups do not regress as a result of this treatment, and 4) daily injections of PGF2 can impair early corpus luteum development.
Activation parameters for ring reversal in cyclopentamethylenedimethylsilane

Abstract Using variable temperature PMR spectroscopy and total PMR line shape analysis, the activation parameters for chair-chair interconversion in cyclopentamethylenedimethylsilane (E a = 6·1 + 0·3 kcal/mole. Δ G ‡ = 5·5 + 0·1 kcal/mole at 111°K. Δ S ‡ = 3·5 + 2·5 eu) were determined indicating a dramatic Δ H ‡ = 5·9 + 0·3 kcal/mole reduction in the potential barrier to ring reversal as compared to cyclohexane and a host of 6-membered heterocycles.
Holocene Vertical Displacement on the Central Segments of the Wasatch Fault Zone, Utah

Compiled per-event vertical-displacement observations from 17 paleoseismic sites along the six central segments of the Wasatch fault zone (WFZ) highlight possible biases and trends in displacement along the fault. The displacement data are consistent with a model of characteristic-type slip, but anomalous and variable displacements indicate that significant natural variability in displacement occurs. When combined into a composite distribution of displacement, 79% of the data fit within a displacement envelope that shows displacement decreasing in a half-ellipse shape from 1.4–3.5 m near the segment centers to 0.6–2.5 m near the ends. Additionally, displacements normalized by the distance from the segment centers to ends decrease from means of 2.0–3.0 m near the segment centers to 1.3–1.9 m near the ends, consistent with characteristic-type slip termination. Although several paleoseismic sites exhibit repeated, similar displacements, the data are sparse and both low-valued (0.5–0.8 m) and high-valued (4.2–4.7 m) outliers suggest complex strain release, possibly resulting from segment interaction and/or noncharacteristic events. Although a global, normal-fault-type surface-rupture-length (SRL) average-displacement regression underpredicts observed WFZ displacements, the largest displacements per segment correspond well with a SRL maximum-displacement regression. This correlation, as well as moderate variability in SRL- and displacement-based moment magnitude, suggests that the anomalous displacements represent the intrinsic variability in characteristic displacement per segment. Thus, minor variations to the characteristic slip model to account for exceptional upper- and lower-bound displacements, e.g., a hybrid characteristic-variable slip model, may be appropriate for the WFZ. Additional paleoseismic data are necessary to address data gaps and biases, to facilitate more robust tests of earthquake-slip models, and to reduce uncertainty in SRL, displacement, and magnitude.
DIVERGENT FAS-133 AND IAS-39 INTEREST RATE RISK HEDGE EFFECTIVENESS: PROBLEM AND REMEDIES

Generally, it is presumed that an interest rate swap hedge of fixed income assets and liabilities will be 100% effective. Specifically, SFAS-133.68 actualizes this effectiveness through its short-cut method (SCM) interest rate risk hedge specification. We show that this presumption is false. This negative finding leads to a severe IAS-39 implementation problem because IAS-39 explicitly precludes the SCM. Furthermore, this problem has major implications for bank (and insurance) capital requirements. We specify a series of remedies for this problem. We believe that the best remedy falls in the fine print of IAS-39.F.5.5 guidance. In this guidance, a "theoretical swap" hedge effectiveness method, (B), effectively, provides FAS-133 SCM treatment for analogous IAS-39 interest rate risk hedges.