cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ULTIMATE pH EXPLAINS VARIATION IN PORK QUALITY TRAITS

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between pH and fresh pork quality. Pigs (n = 988) were harvested at one plant on 6 days over a 2-month period. Loin pH was recorded at 45 min, and 3 and 24 h postmortem. Loins (n = 840) were classified based on ultimate pH into four categories: low (≤5.44), low/normal (5.45–5.74), high/normal (5.75–6.04) and high (≥6.05). A majority of loins (53.3%) were classified as low/normal, while only 1.3% were classified as low. It was confirmed that 24 h pH was the best predictor of key meat quality traits because 45 min and 3 h pH accounted for less than 5% of the total variation in quality traits. The pH at 24 h postmortem is the best predictor of quality of the three time points tested in this population, because it accounted for over 10% of the variation in several quality attributes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Ultimate pH is becoming more widely used in industry applications to segregate carcasses prior to fabrication. The pH has been linked to several important attributes of pork quality, including water-holding capacity, tenderness and color. While it has been suggested that the pH measured at earlier time points postmortem can be used to predict pork quality, the results of this study suggest that the pH at 24 h postmortem is the best predictor of these characteristics. The addition of 45 min or 3 h pH is of little predictive value for meat quality characteristics in this population. While 24 h pH accounts for some variability in pork quality attributes, more work is still needed to determine factors impacting the quality of pork.
Arcuate and interlobular phlebitis in renal allografts

Abstract Intimal arteritis in the renal allograft has a well-documented adverse effect on graft outcome. In contrast, venulitis is currently considered an innocuous finding, based largely on observations of thin-walled intermediary venules. Arcuate and interlobular veins have not been studied specifically. These veins have well-developed muscular walls, and inflammation at this level (phlebitis) could significantly alter renal hemodynamics. We studied the clinicopathologic correlates of arcuate and interlobular phlebitis in 31 renal allograft biopsy specimens. Phlebitis was seen in conjunction with borderline changes suggestive of acute cellular rejection (13 cases), or acute rejection Banff grade 1A (7 cases), Banff grade 1B (6 cases), Banff grade 2A (4 cases), and Banff grade 2B (1 case). Clinical follow-up (average 323 ± 460 days) showed no adverse effects of phlebitis as judged by temporal changes in serum creatinine and the grade of chronic allograft nephropathy in follow-up biopsies. Thus it appears that arcuate and interlobular phlebitis in allograft biopsy specimens does not add prognostic information beyond that provided by conventional Banff criteria. However, this lesion frequently coexists with changes suggestive or diagnostic of acute cellular rejection, and intimal arteritis may be seen concurrently in up to 16% of cases. H UM P ATHOL 32:1388-1391. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Effect of Fiber Cross-Section Shape on the Elastic Response of Composite Materials:

A laminate analogy is developed for predicting the elastic constants and stresses in a unidirectional composite containing continuous fibers with rectangular pack ing geometry. Although fiber cross...
THERMAL METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT OF CEREBRAL PERFUSION

A new thermal system using constant heating power for continuous measurement of cerebral perfusion is presented. It is designed and implemented for optimal perfusion sensitivity and dynamic response based on heat-transfer analysis of perfused brain tissue with thermistors on the cortical surface. Two matched thermistors are used, one to serve as a perfusion sensor and the other to compensate for the base-line temperature changes. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement system, lock-in amplifiers are used to minimise long-term drift and low-frequency noise. Errors in the measurement caused by electrical and thermal fluctuations are tested and analysed. In vitro tests show that the measurement accuracy of temperature change is better than 10−3°C, and the temperature resolution is even greater. In vivo evaluation confirms that the system is responsive to cerebral perfusion changes associated with sudden changes in mean arterial blood pressure caused by bolus injection of norepinephrine, blood withdrawal and blood infusion. The dynamic response of the system is sufficient to detect the autoregulatory perfusion changes in response to arterial blood pressure alteration and the oscillations of cerebral blood flow.
Comparative experiments with MAPS on different parameterization schemes for surface moisture flux and boundary-layer processes

Abstract This study compares several formulations parameterizing the surface moisture flux and boundary-layer processes using the θ-σ hybrid-b model of the Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System (MAPS) within both 1D and 3D frameworks. A modified formula for computing the surface moisture flux is proposed based on the assumption that the layer below the lowest model computational level can be represented by three “physical” layers, of which the bottom one is the molecular layer. This three-layer aerodynamic (3LAD) scheme is compared with two-layer aerodynamic (2LAD) as well as flux matching and Penman-Monteith potential evapotranspiration (PM) schemes. Both a 10-day forecast period (3D) and case simulations demonstrate that the 3LAD scheme gives the best prediction in latent heat flux from the ground and mixing ratio in the atmosphere. The moisture flux produced by the 2LAD scheme is too large, especially over warm and moist surfaces. The mean 12-h forecast rms errors in relative humidity at the surface...
A Risk Analysis of Risk Analysis

Probabilistic risk or decision analysis is the most rigourous approach to engineering solutions to fiddicult diecision making problems involvingt uncertainty. A large body of theory and applications has been developed for probabilistic risk analysis, and it is commonly taught at universities. So why isin't probablilistic risk analysis used more often in practice? Perhaps it is rational, in some circumstances, not fo use probabilistic rrisk analysis or not to rely entirely on its use. Author Contact Information: Jay R. Lund jrlund@ucdavis.edu
Cytokine induction in fetal rat brains and brain injury in neonatal rats after maternal lipopolysaccharide administration

Cytokine Induction in Fetal Rat Brains and Brain Injury in Neonatal Rats after Maternal Lipopolysaccharide Administration
Safety Concerns and Multidisciplinary Management of the Dysphagic Patient

The interdisciplinary health care team is responsible for providing medical care based on a patient-centered model while maintaining professional and ethical standards. However, an emerging body of research suggests that ineffective and inappropriate care, or fatal errors, arise from the lack of productive communication between patients, families, and medical caregivers. This has prompted the evolution of a new health care discipline, patient safety, which became increasingly prominent in the 1990s. The purpose of this article is to bridge the gap between the discipline of patient safety and its relationship to the diagnosis of dysphagia.
Foldons as independently folding units of proteins

Abstract Independently folding units of proteins, foldons, have been identified by maxima in a scan of the ratio of an energetic stability gap to the energy variance of that segment's molten globule states, reflecting the requirement of minimal frustration. Foldon boundaries, unlike structural domains, depend on the sequence of the protein. Therefore, domains defined by purely structural criteria and the foldons of a given protein may differ in size and structure. The predicted foldons have been compared to the exons and structural modules. Statistical analysis indicates a strong correlation between the energetically determined foldons and Go's geometrically defined structural modules. There is only a weak correlation of foldons to exons.
X-ray intensity calculation in alkali-metal graphite intercalation compounds: Discommensuration-domain model

X-ray intensity calculations of the high-stage (\ensuremath{\ge}2) alkali-metal graphite intercalation compounds are presented on the basis of the discommensuration-domain model in which the basic alkali structure is a registered (\ensuremath{\surd}7 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}7 )R${19.11}^{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$ lattice with large hexagonal domains and regular phase slips. The observed x-ray diffraction patterns exhibit pronounced features: (1) an unusual intensity variation around the graphite (100) peak and (2) a universal curve relating rotation angle to the wave vector of the fundamental mass-density wave in the alkali-metal layer. Through model calculations, these features are found to give direct evidence for the discommensuration-domain model.
The effects of acute stress on ethanol absorption in LS and SS mice

Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that naive long-sleep (LS) mice absorb ethanol faster than short-sleep (SS) mice when administered 6.0 g/kg ethanol intragastrically (IG). We also demonstrated that the removal of the adrenal glands results in decreased absorption in both lines of mouse. The present study was designed to assess whether acute short-term elevations of corticosterone produced by exposure to a mild stressor could also alter ethanol absorption in LS and SS mice. Because a difference in ethanol absorption rates was observed in LS mice as a function of time of day, all stress experiments were performed in the morning. CCS elevation was induced by exposure to an elevated plus-maze for 45 min. LS mice demonstrated greater CCS release in response to this stressor than SS mice. This exposure to a mild stressor produced an increase in ethanol absorption in both lines of mice receiving a 6.0 g/kg intragastric dose of ethanol. Although this effect of stress on ethanol absorption could be prevented by adrenalectomy in SS mice, adrenalectomy alone did not completely block these effects of stress on ethanol absorption in LS mice. Dexamethasome treatment at the time of adrenalectomy was required to block the effects of stress on ethanol absorption in LS mice. These results suggest that exposure to mild stressors may alter ethanol pharmacokinetic parameters but that genetic factors may play a role in this response via regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Simple vertices of maximal minor polytopes

Themaximal minor polytope ?m, n is the Newton polytope of the product of all maximal minors of anm×n matrix of indeterminates. The family of polytopes {?m, n} interpolates between the symmetric transportation polytope (form=n?1) and the permutohedron (form=2). Both transportation polytope and the permutohedron aresimple polytopes but in general ?m, n is not simple. The main result of this paper is an explicit construction of a class of simple vertices of ?m, n for generalm andn. We call themvertices of diagonal type. For every such vertexv we explicitly describe all the edges and facets of ?m, n which containv. Simple vertices of ?m, n have an interesting algebro-geometric application: they correspond tononsingular extreme toric degenerations of the determinantal variety ofm×n matrices not of full rank.
Representations of ℂ, biharmonic vector fields, and the equilibrium equation of planar elasticity

The equilibrium equation for an elastic body subjected to surface forces asserts the linear dependence of the Laplacian and the gradient of the divergence of the vector field which gives the displacement at each point. James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) was the first to point out that the component functions of such a field are biharmonic, i.e., their Laplacians are harmonic functions. Using only algebraic tools familiar to advanced undergraduates we show that the usual complex variable representation of two-variable biharmonic functions falls naturally out of a power series construction based on matrix representations of ℂ. Under the assumption of linear stress and strain components, this construction is then used to describe the solutions to the planar equilibrium equation in terms of the geometry of the Moebius plane.
Clinical impact of timely reporting of IgM for West Nile Virus

Abstract Background: In 2002 diagnostic testing for West Nile Virus (WNV) infection was not ideal because commercial products were unavailable. Although testing was performed without charge by public health (PH), testing is not intended to be used for patient management and generally results are not available in a timely or reliable manner. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the clinical impact of having WNV serology available by a diagnostic laboratory within a few days of sample collection. Study design: An IgM immunoassay (FT, from F ocus T echnologies) was performed August 13, 2003 to October 31, 2003 Monday, Wednesday and Friday in our hospital's virology laboratory with split sample testing at PH. All results (positive and negative) were called to physicians. Results and conclusions: Turn-around time for the FT assay was within 0–3 days; for PH, it was ∼8 days. Of 95 samples, 6 were positive and 89 negative. For the FT negative samples, all were concordant with PH, but four FT positive samples (three sera and one cerebrospinal fluid) were discrepant. After resolution of the discrepancies, the FT test had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99%. Physicians reacted positively to having results faster. Fifty-eight percent of the results had clinical impact, 22% had undetermined impact, 13% were patient requests, and 4% had no impact. Concluding, the FT assay is 100% sensitive and 99% specific and in 58% there was clinical impact for WNV reporting in a timely manner.
BORON CONTENTS AND ISOTOPIC COMPOSITIONS IN PORE WATERS : A NEW APPROACH TO DETERMINE TEMPERATURE INDUCED ARTIFACTS : GEOCHEMICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract A comprehensive experimental study, utilizing a rocking autoclave hydrothermal apparatus with isotope tracers, was applied to evaluate the temperature of squeezing artifacts on B contents and isotopic compositions in pore waters. The partition coefficient (KD) was determined at temperatures from 25 ° to 350 °C, at 800 bars, and this information was applied to reconstruct pore water B and δ11B in ODP drill sites, where pH, T, and porosity are known. The partition coefficient of B is a function of temperature, pH, and sediment mineralogy. The solution pH exerts a dominant control at low temperatures; however, KD decreases to a value of essentially zero (compared to that of KD = ~ 3.5 at 25 °C) at high temperatures indicating no adsorption. Two empirical equations were derived to represent most of the available experimental results. For pelagic clay rich sediments, a KD = −3.84 − 0.020T + 0.88pH (R = 0.84; 1σ = 0.25) is established. For sediments that have experienced progressive metamorphism, a KD = −1.38 − 0.008T + 0.59pH (R = 0.81; 1σ = 0.37) can be applied. Similarly the effect on pore water δ11B can be corrected if the fractionation factors at different temperatures are assumed. The corrected B and δ11B in ODP Sites 671, 672, and 808 indicate significant mobilization of bulk B in sediment (exchangeable + lattice bound) at depth, especially near the decollement zone or other potential flow conduits. Tectonically expelled fluids from mud diapirs of Barbados Ridge Complex, hot springs of Rumsey Hills, California, and mud pot waters of the Salton Sea geothermal field, are enriched in B (up to 20 mM) with lower δ11B, supporting the argument of B mobilization as a result of fluid expulsion in accretionary prisms.
Do Secular Trends in Skeletal Maturity Occur Equally in Both Sexes

Background Skeletal maturity assessment provides information on a child’s physical development and expectations based on chronological age. Given recently recognized trends for earlier maturity in a variety of systems, most notably puberty, examination of sex-specific secular trends in skeletal maturation is important. For the orthopaedist, recent trends and changes in developmental timing can affect clinical management (eg, treatment timing) if they are currently based on outdated sources.
The Fc Fragment Mediates the Uptake of Immunoglobulin G from the Midgut to Hemolymph in the Ixodid Tick Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract The phenomenon of immunoglobulin uptake from the midgut into the hemolymph has been observed in both argasid and ixodid ticks, but the mechanism of the uptake is not known. Using capillary feeding of adult Amblyomma americanum (L.) female ticks, we investigated the role of immunoglobulin G Fc and Fab fragments in the uptake process. Intact IgG and fragments labeled with 125I were introduced alone or as a mixture with a 10-fold molar excess of unlabeled compounds into ticks, and then the concentration of the compounds after 3 and 6 h of continuous feeding was assessed in the hemolymph. Our results showed that the uptake of Fc fragments was ≈4 times higher than Fab fragments at 6 h of the feeding and that Fc but not Fab fragments competed with uptake of intact IgG. Glycosylation of the immunoglobulins did not seem to be required for uptake. There was not a statistically significant difference between the uptake of untreated IgG and IgG treated either with periodate or N-glycanase, and untreated Fc ...
Can we "hedge" against the development of antiviral resistance among pandemic influenza viruses?

David K. Shay and Benjamin Ridenhour discuss a modeling study predicting that stockpiling a secondary antiviral for use early in a flu pandemic can forestall resistance to the primary stockpiled drug.
Intercountry adoption of Latin American children: the importance of early bilingual/bicultural services.

Because of major worldwide demographic changes, many Latin American children are frequently adopted in the U.S. This article presents an overview of the historical and contemporary circumstances and controversies surrounding intercountry adoptions (ICAs), and a review of possible risk factors for later child or adolescent maladjustment. Although a number of follow-up studies indicate a 70-80% positive outcome, some ICAs end in painful family-child disruptions. There is, therefore, a growing need for bilingual/bicultural mental health services to improve the initial adjustment process and to facilitate a positive long-term outcome. These services are especially needed when the child is older at arrival and the adopting family lives in a mostly homogeneous community. Suggested prearrival, arrival, and follow-up interventions with the family, the child, and the school are described. A case illustration of the interventions offered to a U.S. family and their recently adopted Latin American child is provided.
Stereochemistry of sterol biosynthesis: interrelationship of the terminal methyl groups in squalene, the C-1,1′ methyls in squalene 2,3-oxide, and the C-30,31 methyls in lanosterol

The trans-terminal methyls of squalene derive from C-2 of mevalonic acid, and the conversion of squalene in turn into squalene 2,3-oxide and lanosterol occurs without interchange of isopropylidene methyls, so that C-2 of mevalonic acid provides the 4α-methyl group of lanosterol.
Nonequilibrium Critical Dynamics of a Three Species Monomer-Monomer Model.

We study a three species monomer-monomer catalytic surface reaction model with a reactive steady state bordered by three equivalent unreactive phases where the surface is saturated with one species. The transition from the reactive to a saturated phase shows directed percolation critical behavior. Each pair of these reactive-saturated phase boundaries joins at a bicritical point where the universal behavior is in the even branching annihilating random walk class. We find the crossover exponent from bicritical to critical behavior and a new exponent associated with the bicritical interface dynamics.
Scaling effect on specific contact resistivity in nano-scale metal-semiconductor contacts

Progressive downscaling has allowed semiconductor industries to continuing improve the performance of integrated circuits (ICs) [1]. The downscaling adversely affects the performance of interconnects. Specifically, the resistivity of metal interconnects and metal-semiconductor contacts increases due to downscaling. The metal-semiconductor contact resistance is becoming a performance limiting factor as it takes larger fraction of the total on-state resistance [2]. Hence, the contact resistance must be reduced to meet ITRS performance requirements of future technology nodes. As metal-semiconductor interface shrinks simultaneously as device shrinks, it becomes questionable if the resistivity still can meet the ITRS requirements when it reaches to the certain scaling limit (sub-10nm). Specific contact resistivity (ρC) is one of important factors affecting total contact resistance, and it is determined by important factors such as metal-semiconductor Schottky barrier height and semiconductor doping. This work investigates the effects of contact geometry, Schottky barrier height, and doping concentration on the specific contact resistivity.
Valley splitting in Si inversion layers

Abstract Recent theoretical work suggests that when one consideres the effect of lineshape broadening, only a small valley splitting is needed to explain the observation of degeneracies other than that predicted by the effective mass theory. We argue that this simple picture is not universally correct and an additional valley splitting mechanism has to be invoked.
Survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest of noncritically ill patients. A prospective study.

Background The rising healthcare costs and the ethical and economic implications of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have generated interest in defining criteria to predict the appropriateness of CPR in specific patients. Age has been proposed as one such a criterion. Methods As part of a quality assurance program, all instances of CPR (code-500) at our VA Medical Center were prospectively studied over a period of 45 months. Only events in noncritical care hospital areas were included in this analysis. The CPR data were prospectively collected, and follow-up of initial survivors was continued until the end of the study period or until a patient died. Results Of a total of 422 code-500 events, 387 (92 percent) met our study definition of cardiorespiratory arrest, and 255 of these occurred in a noncritical care area and were included in the study. Our immediate survival was 52 percent (n=132), survival after intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 22 percent (n=55), survival to hospital discharge was 11 percent (n=28), and 4 percent of the patients (n=10) were alive at the end of follow-up (mean, 22 months). None of the patients discharged alive had a significant new neurologic deficit, and all but one returned to their preadmission environment. The post-CPR hospital charges for each of the surviving patients was estimated at $63,000. Age, the admitting diagnosis, and main comorbidity did not predict long-term survival. The post-CPR Apache II score correlated with a patient surviving the ICU stay, but did not correlate with long-term survival either. Conclusions Age alone is not a valid criterion to decide whether a patient is a suitable candidate for CPR, and the principal diagnosis and main comorbidity at the time of admission do not appear to predict long-term survival either. Whether in-hospital CPR in noncritical care areas is cost-effective is an issue that society at large must eventually decide.
Creep of a beta phase-containing TiAl alloy

Abstract The creep properties of a powder-metallurgy Ti–46.5Al–2Cr–2Nb–0.8Mo–0.2W–0.2Si (at%) alloy containing beta phase were investigated. Tensile creep experiments were performed in air at 705, 760 and 815°C at stresses ranging from 35 to 414 MPa. Stress exponent and activation energy were both measured. Data indicated that the creep of the alloy can be divided into two regimes, depending upon the applied stress. Microstructures before and after deformation were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Efforts were made to correlate creep properties with microstructures. Possible deformation mechanisms in the two creep regimes were discussed. The creep resistance of the present alloy was also compared with other alloys without beta phase. It is concluded that the presence of beta phase reduces the creep resistance of TiAl.
Low Dielectric Constant Laminates Containing Microspheres

As electronic devices become faster, the effective dielectric constant of the circuit packaging connecting them becomes more important. The dielectric constant of standard epoxy/glass laminates can be significantly reduced by the addition of hollow glass microspheres. However the addition of such microspheres usually results in the degradation of other physical, electrical and mechanical properties which are prerequisites for materials to be used in commercial circuit packaging. By carefully optimizing the formulation many of these undesirable effects can be avoided. These topics and others pertaining to the development and testing of a microsphere laminate are discussed.
Natural antibodies and the host immune responses to xenografts.

: Natural antibodies are present in the serum of individuals in the absence of known antigenic stimulation. These antibodies are primarily IgM, polyreactive, and encoded by immunoglobulin V genes in germline configuration. Natural antibodies are produced by B-1 lymphocytes, cells that form the primary cell of the fetal and newborn B cell repertoire and may represent the basic foundation upon which the adult repertoire of B cell antibodies is based. Natural antibodies react with a variety of endogenous and exogenous antigens, including xenoantigens expressed by tissues between unrelated species. These antibodies are capable of causing the immediate rejection of grafts exchanged across species barriers. One of the central issues related to our understanding of the immunopathologic mechanisms responsible for rejection of xenografts is whether pre-formed natural antibodies and new antibodies induced following xenotransplantation are produced by the same pathways of B cell antibody production. We have established in studies conducted in rodents and humans that the initial phases of antibody production xenogeneic tissues involves the use of a restricted population of Ig germline genes to encode xenoantibody binding. As the humoral xenoantibody response matures, the same closely-related groups of Ig V genes are used to encode antibody binding and there is evidence for an isotype switch to IgG antibody production and the appearance of somatic mutations consistent with antigen-driven affinity maturation. Our findings in both rodent and human studies form the basis for our proposal that the xenograft response reflects the use of B cell natural antibody repertoires originally intended to provide protection against infection. The host humoral response is inadvertently recruited to mount antibody responses against foreign grafts because they display carbohydrate antigens that are shared by common environmental microbes. This model of xenoantibody responses is being tested in our laboratory through the analysis of the binding of xenoantibodies in their original non-mutated configuration, and the examination of the effect of specific point mutations and gene shuffling have on xenoantibody binding activity. Establishment of the relationships between Ig structural changes and subsequent changes in binding affinity should provide important insights into the role that natural antibodies and the cells that produce them play in the evolution of the host’s humoral responses to xenografts.
Genetic and behavioral determinants of waist-hip ratio and waist circumference in women twins.

ROSE, KATHRYN M, BETH NEWMAN, ELIZABETH J. MAYER-DAVIS, JOSEPH V. SELBY. Genetic and behavioral determinants of waist-hip ratio and waist circumference in women twins. Obes Res. 1998;6:383–392. Objectives: This study examines genetic and behavioral determinants of waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference among women twins. Research Methods and Procedures: Six hundred eighty participants from the second examination of the Kaiser-Permanente Women Twins Study (1989 to 1990) were included. Women ranged in age from 31 to 90 years, and included 59% monozygotic and 41% dizygotic twins. Heritabilities of WHR and waist circumference were estimated (range = 0 to 1) using three different statistical methods. Linear regression models that adjusted for the lack of independence within twin pairs were used to assess associations between behavioral variables, WHR, and waist circumference. Results: Age and body mass index-adjusted heritability estimates ranged from 0.36 to 0.61 for WHR and 0.72 to 0.82 for waist circumference. When considered individually, after adjusting for age and body mass index, all behavioral characteristics, except calorie-adjusted fat intake, were significantly (p<0.10) associated with waist circumference and WHR. Greater central adiposity was associated with lower education, higher alcohol consumption, lower physical activity, current cigarette smoking, higher parity, and postmenopausal status without hormone replacement therapy. In multivariate models, these associations persisted, except neither educational attainment nor alcohol intake was significantly associated with waist circumference. In longitudinal analyses, both measures were positively associated with current or recent-past smoking; infrequent or inconsistent physical activity; and long-term, daily consumption of alcohol. Discussion: These cross-sectional and longitudinal associations are consistent with genetic and behavioral predictors of waist circumference and WHR. Whereas the evidence for genetic influences is stronger for waist circumference, both body fat measures may be similarly influenced by the behavioral factors considered.
Protein reorientation and bound water molecules measured by 1H magnetic spin-lattice relaxation.

The water-proton spin-lattice relaxation rate constant, 1/T1, was measured as a function of magnetic field strength for several dilute protein solutions. By separating the intermolecular contributions from the intramolecular contributions to the water-proton spin-lattice relaxation, the number of water molecules that bind to the protein for a time long compared with the rotational correlation time may be measured. We find a good correlation between the number of long-lived water molecules and the predictions based on available free volume in the proteins studied. The rotational correlation times of these proteins are larger than predicted by the Stokes-Einstein-Debye (SED) model for a sphere reorienting in a viscous liquid. The discrepancy between experiment and theory is usually attributed to hydration effects increasing the effective radius of the particle. However, the average lifetime of water molecules at the protein interface is far too short to justify such a picture. We suggest that surface roughness may be responsible for the retardation of rotational mobility and find that the SED model provides a reasonable representation of experiment if the radius assumed for the reorienting particle is the arithmetic mean of the crystallographic packing radius and the radius deduced from the effective surface area of the protein.
Developing and Scaling Personality Measures: Thurstone Was Right—But So Far, Likert Was Not Wrong

FREDERICK L. OSWALDRice UniversityKRAIG L. SCHELLAngelo State UniversityAlthough we are in agreement with Dras-gow, Chernyshenko, and Stark (2010) onthe appropriateness of considering idealpoint models in psychological testing, wefocus on a number of questions that needto be addressed before concluding that thetheoretical appeal of the ideal point modeltranslates into a consistent empirical advan-tage to organizations that use personalitytests.Ideal Point Models AddComplexityTo date, the dominance model has dom-inated the thinking of test developers.In particular, both the dominance modeland Rensis Likert together have createda prescription for constructing personal-ity test items worded at the extremesof the trait continuum. For instance, theitems ‘‘I am always neat and tidy’’ and‘‘I am considered a very messy person’’are two items reﬂecting high and low lev-els of order, respectively. When items are
Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in mice.

Objective To investigate the effect of liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin, an experimental blood substitute, on the function of the mononuclear phagocytic system in normovolemic mic, in ex vivo murine splenocytes and in a transformed murine monocytic cell line, RAW 264.7. Design Prospective, randomized trial. Setting Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, and the Thomas Jefferson University. Subjects Female Balb/c mice (n = 27). Interventions Mice were injected into the tail vein with liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin or liposome vehicle and were killed at varying time points for blood sampling and splenocyte isolation and culture. Measurements and main results Injection of liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin in mice (2.2 of lipid/kg and 0.56 g of hemoglobin/kg, n = 9) did not increase serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha concentrations at 2, 8, 15, and 24 hrs after administration. In the ex vivo procedure, lipopolysaccharide (1 microgram/mL)-induced TNF-alpha production by splenocytes from mice injected with liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin was attenuated at 2 and 4 hrs (73%, p = .002 at 2 hrs), compared with TNF-alpha production by splenocytes from sham animals challenged with the same concentration of lipopolysaccharide. In the in vitro procedure, simultaneous exposure of liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (0.88 to 8.8 mg/mL) and lipopolysaccharide (0.125 to 1 microgram/mL) to the murine-derived, peritoneal monocytic RAW 264.7 cell line showed significantly reduced TNF-alpha peptide, but not messenger RNA, 1 to 4 hrs after exposure as compared with cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide alone. This effect correlated with the rapid phagocytosis (1 hr to 4 hrs) of liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin by RAW 264.7 cells. Phagocytic activity in RAW 264.7 cells exposed to both liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin and lipopolysaccharide showed reduced uptake compared with uptake of liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin. The liposome-induced reduction in TNF-alpha peptide production elicited by lipopolysaccharide was countered by extending the time period to an overnight delay between liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin exposure and lipopolysaccharide challenge. Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin incubated with lipopolysaccharide in vitro, and subsequently washed to remove free lipopolysaccharide, stimulated TNF-alpha expressed by RAW 264.7 cells. Incubation with liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin alone did not evoke TNF-alpha production in these cells. Conclusions These data suggest that liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin modulates the response of the mononuclear phagocyte system to endotoxin, possibly through binding of lipopolysaccharide, presentation to macrophages with subsequent phagocytosis, and modulation of cytokine response by a posttranscriptional mechanism. This effect is attenuated by extending the period between exposure to liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin and endotoxin. The clinical relevance of these findings awaits further investigation.
VARIATIONAL APPROACH TO THE FESHBACH EQUATIONS FOR SCATTERING.

A variational method is constructed for the Feshbach equations for scattering. An example is carried out on the $S$-wave electron-hydrogen system. It is shown that fast convergence of the phase shift can be obtained throughout the energy range of interest including the resonance region. No anomalous singularities have been encountered.
Measuring explained variation in linear mixed effects models.

We generalize the well-known R2 measure for linear regression to linear mixed effects models. Our work was motivated by a cluster-randomized study conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, to compare two different versions of informed consent document. We quantify the variation in the response that is explained by the covariates under the linear mixed model, and study three types of measures to estimate such quantities. The first type of measures make direct use of the estimated variances; the second type of measures use residual sums of squares in analogy to the linear regression; the third type of measures are based on the Kullback–Leibler information gain. All the measures can be easily obtained from software programs that fit linear mixed models. We study the performance of the measures through Monte Carlo simulations, and illustrate the usefulness of the measures on data sets. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photovoltaics Using In Situ Resource Utilization for HEDS

One of the most important elements of a human planetary base is power production. Lunar data make it clear that several types of solar-to-electric converters can be manufactured on the Moon. Materials research and processing demonstrations are suggested that can be carried out on Earth, the Space Transportation System (STS), the International Space Station (ISS), and on the Moon to advance the in situ production of solar-to-electric power systems on the Moon. Many of the technologies will be applicable to Mars, the silicate moons, and asteroids.
Comments on ‘‘Burning of baryon-rich quark-gluon plasmas’’

We discuss some of the properties of deflagration and detonation solutions for the hadronization process which are mentioned in the article ''Burning of baryon-rich quark-gluon plasmas'' which was recently published in Physical Review D. These properties include the hadronization velocities and thermodynamic-stability conditions of the two types of solutions and the signals for hadronization through detonation.
Challenges in single-polarization fibers (Invited Paper)

We have demonstrated high power, linearly polarized output from an all-fiber laser using an integrated polarizing fiber. In this paper, we will detail the design, fabrication and operation of the single polarization fiber as well as the fiber laser experiments.
Infrastructure Assessment: Decision Making During a Crisis

Engineers are being challenged to make critical decisions in response to crisis situations occurring around the globe on a seemingly daily basis. The nature of these crises varies widely and can include military missions as well as humanitarian operations in response to hurricanes, tsunamis, fires, and earthquakes. With thousands of lives hanging in the balance, timely and successful responses to these emergencies often depend on the optimal use of the existing horizontal infrastructure, such as roads, airfields, and railroads, in the affected area. Engineers must provide solutions quickly on the basis of limited data, particularly for unanticipated emergency situations. For military operations, options and alternatives are imperative to the success of a mission. This paper describes an analytical approach to the management of uncertainty because of limited data that provides a solution based on seasonal variability in material strengths, spatial variability in material strengths, and spatial variability in pavement layer thicknesses. An example scenario for an airfield is presented to illustrate techniques for analysis of the structural capacity of pavements of marginal quality and quantification of the uncertainty of the results.
Accurate laser light-scattering measurements of capillary waves

Abstract Absolute, accurate, and high-resolution laser light-scattering measurements of capillary waves of water and n-dodecane were successfully performed at three wavenumbers. The wavenumbers were directly measured using a new reference grating technique to within ±0.2%. Our results show that the capillary wavemotion follows hydrodynamic theory using standard bulk property values within the experimental inaccuracies which are ±0.3 and ±3% in frequency and damping, respectively. Specifically, clean water exhibits no measurable anomalous surface properties which contradicts the previously unchallenged findings of D. Byrne and J. C. Earnshaw (J. Colloid Interface Sci. 74, 467 (1980)).
Vimentin filaments in spreading, randomly locomoting, and f-met-leu-phe-treated neutrophils

Human neutrophils contain intermediate filaments of the vimentin type. A cytoskeletal preparation, produced by high-salt and Triton X-100 extraction of human neutrophils, reveals a major band at 57000 Mr that comigrates with 3T3 cell vimentin on one-dimensional gels. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of whole neutrophils illustrates the presence of vimentin but not desminor keratin-filament subunits. The presence of vimentin in neutrophils is also shown by its specific staining with avian vimentin antiserum by two-dimensional gel immunoautoradiography. Indirect immunofluorescence studies show that vimentin antiserum labels an area on one side of the nucleus in spreading neutrophils. This bright area appears as a loose knot of vimentin filaments; a few filaments may radiate from the knot. In contrast to spreading neutrophils, those undergoing random locomotion contain a fine network of filaments that are located in the cytoplasm between the nucleus and the trailing end of the cell. Similarly, in chemoattractant-treated neutrophils, vimentin filaments are bundled in the uropod. Transmission electron microscopy of human neutrophil monolayers confirms the intracellular distribution of intermediate filaments as shown by immunofluorescence in spreading and randomly locomoting cells.
Noise to signal: A microtremor study at liquefaction sites in the New Madrid Seismic Zone

Understanding how sedimentary basins respond to seismic-wave energy generated by large earthquake events is a significant concern for seismic-hazard estimation. This study explores the use of microtremors, or ambient noise, for evaluating strong-motion site effects. The study focuses on the Mississippi Embayment in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, where widespread liquefaction and ground failure occurred during the 1811–1812 earthquake sequence. Spectral analyses of microtremor data at sites representing different environments of deposition (and sedimentary facies), different embayment thicknesses, and varying liquefaction susceptibility show correlations between (1) calculated vulnerability indices and evidence of liquefaction, (2) sediment thickness and fundamental resonant frequency, and (3) subsurface stratigraphic boundaries and observed peaks in horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios. Results of the study suggest that the microtremor method could be helpful in identifying those areas most vulnerable to ...
Corrigendum to “American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline update on the use of pharmacologic interventions including tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibition for breast cancer risk reduction” [Gynecol. Oncol. 115 (2009) 132–134]

Corrigendum to “American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline update on the use of pharmacologic interventions including tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibition for breast cancer risk reduction” [Gynecol. Oncol. 115 (2009) 132–134] Kala Visvanathan , Scott M. Lippman , Patricia Hurley , Sarah Temin c a Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA b The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA c American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA, USA
Detection of occult liver metastases during EUS for staging of malignancies.

Abstract Background EUS is commonly used in the staging of GI, thoracic, and other malignancies. Studies suggest EUS can detect occult liver metastases, but the frequency with which this occurs is unknown. Methods Records were reviewed for all patients seen during a 3-year period who underwent EUS of the upper-GI tract for staging of known or suspected malignancy. Patients were included if there was histopathologic evidence of malignancy, they had undergone noninvasive liver imaging within 6 weeks of EUS, and liver surveillance was specifically mentioned in the report of the EUS procedure. Results A total of 222 patients were included. Liver lesions were seen in 27 patients, 17 of whom had an abnormal noninvasive liver imaging test. EUS-guided FNA of the liver was performed in 21 patients and was diagnostic of malignancy in 15 (6.8%), 5 of whom (2.3%) had normal noninvasive imaging. In 6 patients, the EUS-guided FNA result was benign. EUS missed liver lesions in 4 patients known to have abnormalities by other imaging modalities. Conclusions EUS can detect occult liver metastases in patients in whom noninvasive hepatic imaging studies are normal, although the frequency at which such lesions are detected is low. Liver surveillance during EUS is worthwhile for patients in whom there is another indication for the procedure; but, at present, EUS should not replace traditional imaging modalities.
Multiple robot path coordination using artificial potential fields

A technique for coordinating the paths of multiple robots in the presence of obstacles is presented. To accomplish this, the robots are prioritized. A path that avoids only the stationary obstacles is planned for the highest-priority robot. A trajectory for the next-lowest priority robot is planned so that it avoids both the stationary obstacles and the higher-priority robot, which is treated as a moving obstacle. This process is continued until trajectories for all of the robots have been planned. The planning is accomplished by first mapping the real space of the robots into configuration-space-time. Potential fields are applied around the c-space-time obstacles and are used to modify the path of the robot. The advantage of using artificial potential fields is that they offer a relatively fast and efficient way to solve for safe trajectories around both stationary and moving obstacles. In the method used to perform path planning, a trial path through the c-span-time is chosen and then modified under the influence of the potential fields until an appropriate path is found. >
Character kernels and degree ratios in finite groups

Abstract Let K = ker ( χ ) be the kernel of an irreducible character χ of a finite group G, and let S be the largest solvable normal subgroup of K. We show that if the degree of χ is large compared to the degrees of other irreducible characters of G, or if the kernel K is small compared to the kernels of other irreducible characters of G, then the Fitting height of S is small. Also, we show that the derived length of a nonabelian solvable group is bounded by a logarithmic function of the ratio b / c , where b is the largest irreducible character degree of G and c is the smallest nonlinear irreducible character degree. Finally, using the classification of simple groups, we show that certain kernels of irreducible characters of large degree must be solvable.
Platinum-induced space-group transformation in crystals of the platelet glycoprotein Ibα N-terminal domain

The interaction between platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ibα and von Willebrand factor (VWF) is essential for thrombus formation, leading to the arrest of bleeding. The N-terminal domain of GP Ibα, which contains the binding sites for VWF and α-thrombin, crystallized in the tetragonal space group P43 with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. When the crystals were treated with platinum, the crystals changed their symmetry from tetragonal to monoclinic P21 with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure of the monoclinic form was solved using two-wavelength platinum anomalous dispersion data. The tetragonal crystal structure was subsequently solved using molecular-replacement tech­niques using the monoclinic structure as the search model and was refined with 1.7 A resolution data.