cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective trials on anemia of chronic disease: the Trial to Reduce Cardiovascular Events with Aranesp Therapy (TREAT).

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is emerging as a major public health problem in the United States. Between 1973 and 1999 there was a more than 30-fold increase in the number of patients enrolled in the Medicare funded end-stage renal disease (ESRD) program, from approximately 10,000 to 340,000 [1]. The annual incidence of ESRD has nearly doubled from 48,350 patients (190 per million) in 1991 to 89,252 (317 per million) in 1999. Estimates from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), using the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equation from the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study [2, 3], showed that the prevalence of CKD, defined as a GFR 60 mL/min /1.73 m2, was approximately 8.3 million individuals, or 4.7% [4]. The MDRD Study indicated that 85% of patients with impaired kidney function (GFR 55 mL/min/1.73m2) have progressive losses of kidney function at a rate of 4 mL/min per year [5]. The progressive nature of CKD, and epidemiologic factors that include population aging, increasing prevalence of type II diabetes and hypertension, improved survival of patients on dialysis, and the acceptance of higher risk patients into ESRD programs, explain the ongoing and projected increases in the numbers of patients with ESRD. The increasing incidence and prevalence of ESRD and CKD is a global trend not just confined to the United States [6]. Although incidence rates for the United States and Japan are nearly two-fold higher than those of other industrialized nations, the rates of growth appear to be quite similar, best described by an exponential growth curve at the rate of 7.36% per year [7]. The impact of these numbers must be interpreted from
Use of Segmental Airway Lavage to Obtain Relevant Mediators from the Lungs of Asthmatic and Control Subjects

Studies have demonstrated that increased amounts of histamine in the airways of asthmatic patients are associated with increased airway reactivity. However, using routine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), histamine can be detected in only a portion of asthmatic subjects and a minority of control populations. To obtain relevant mediators from the airways in higher concentrations by avoiding the dilution inherent with a standard BAL, a technique was developed to lavage isolated airway segments of the human lung that employed a double-lumen bronchoscope and a balloon-tipped catheter. Lavage fluid obtained by this method yielded significantly higher concentrations of histamine than that obtained with routine BAL (asthmatic subjects, 2,403 ± 633 pg/ml vs 188 ± 42 pg/ml; rhinitis subjects, 533 ± 187 pg/ml vs 113 ± 53 pg/ml; normal subjects, 174 ± 53 pg/ml vs 11 ± 11 pg/ml). Similar findings were also noted for prostaglandin D 2 (PGD 2 ). Segmental airway lavage also resulted in higher lavage fluid concentrations of LTB 4 than routine BAL. Segmental airway lavage should help in studying the relationship of mast cell degranulation to airways reactivity in both asthmatic and other study populations.
The Law and Economics of Historic Preservation in St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg’s architectural heritage makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Russia. However, as government subsidies continue to dwindle, the city is increasingly dependent upon private sources of financing to restore and preserve the many seriously deteriorated monuments and buildings. This article considers whether the economic and legal environment in St. Petersburg provides sufficient incentives for private investors to undertake historic rehabilitation projects. A pro forma model is used to analyze a developer’s return on investment in new residential construction on the outskirts of the city versus rehabilitation of an historic residential building. The results show that the costs associated with historic preservation are significantly greater than for new construction and for a developer to make a reasonable rate of return on historic preservation the square meter price of residential space would be affordable by only a small segment of the population. Simultaneous changes to multiple legal and economic policies are recommended to encourage additional private investment in historic preservation.
Behavior of Bidirectional Spring Unit in Isolated Floor Systems

To investigate the mechanical behavior of bidirectional spring units used as isolators in a kind of isolated floor system, three types of characterization tests were conducted—from spring components alone to the complete spring unit in its implemented configuration. The test results show that the behavior of the springs and spring units is stable when subjected to cyclic repeated motions, and is not sensitive to the velocity of motion. The hysteretic behavior of the spring units was found to be unconventional, with bilinear and different ascending (loading) and descending (unloading) branches. Based on the experimental behavior, a physical model was developed to replicate the unique behavior of such bidirectional spring units. Good agreement was found from the comparison between the results from the physical model and the corresponding tests. Finally, a sensitivity study, with respect to the model’s four primary defining parameters, shows that this physical model is more sensitive to the sliding friction ...
A theoretical derivation of the nomograms for permanent prostate brachytherapy.

This study calculates the required minimum radioactivity to deliver a prescribed dose of radiation to a target using radioisotopes in permanent prostate brachytherapy. Assuming the radioactivity to be in a continuous form, an integral equation — Fredholm equation of the first kind, can be formulated with the radioactivity density used as the variable. The density distribution to produce a uniform volume dose rate is determined using a quadrature method and the radial profile behaves smoothly from the zero radius, and peaks sharply approaching the volume boundary. The density for Pd-103 is about 1.5 times that of I-125 due to its higher spatial attenuation. A nomogram is the relationship between the total activity per unit dose (A) and the dimension of the volume (d). Expressing the nomogram as A=c×d n U/Gy , then (c,n)= [(0.0098, 2.09) I-125] and [(0.031, 2.25) Pd-103]. Compared with the Memorial nomogram, (c,n)=[(0.011,2.2) I-125] and [(0.036,2.56) Pd-103], or that quoted by AAPM TG64, (c,n)=[(0.014,2.05) I-125] and [(0.056,2.22) Pd-103], our calculation determined an average 33% and 35% decrease for I-125, and 89% and 77% decrease for Pd-103, respectively. Two reasons for the extra total activity found in the Memorial and AAPM nomograms are: (a) An imperfect clinical situation limited by the restraints of implant techniques (e.g., use of templates) associated with the presence of adjacent normal organs, and (b) source discretization into seeds. When radioactivity is clumped as discrete seeds, higher activity is needed because of “wastage” in two aspects: (a) Dose cold-spots at intersource spaces, (b) hot-spots around the sources. Thus in theory, use of lower activity seeds will require less total activity to deliver a prescribed dose. Based on our study, Pd-103 delivers a higher therapeutic ratio and a lower integral dose to the patient compared to I-125.
Effects of chemical sprout inhibitors and storage conditions on internal sprouting in potatoes

It was concluded that internal sprouts do not arise from adventitious buds, but from ordinary buds which show at least some development of external sprouts. Internal sprouts exhibited negative geotropism, and whether the parent tuber or an adjacent tuber was penetrated depended mainly on whether the developing sprout happened to be on the upper or lower part of the tuber. Internal sprouts became more prevalent when external sprouts were rosetted, but could be found to some extent when external sprouts showed little branching. CIPC at dosages sufficient to inhibit most, but not all, external sprouting greatly increased internal sprouting, presumably through the production of rosette sprouts. Higher concentrations of CIPC inhibited all bud growth and hence eliminated both external and internal sprouting. MH reduced, and TCNB had no effect on, internal sprouting.
Food-Habitat Relationship of Sea Ducks on the New Hampshire Coastline

Use of habitat, food preferences, and food availability were studied for seven species of waterfowl (white—winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi), surf scoter (M. perspicillata), common scoter (Oidemia nigra), oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), bufflehead (B. albeola), and red—breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)) on a 34—km section of the New England coastline during 1968—70. The three scoters selectively used areas of sandy substrate and had very similar food habits. The principal foods were the Atlantic razor clam (Siliqua costata) and Arctic wedge clam (Mesodesma arctatum), which were characteristic of, and abundant in, sandy substrate. In contrast to scoters, goldeneye preferred areas of rocky substrate associated with rocky headlands. They fed primarily on amphipods, isopods, crabs, and gastropods, which were commonly found in the Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) covering of the rocky sublittoral areas. Red—breasted mergansers, like goldeneye, also used the rocky areas. They fed primarily on several small fish species that were observed among the Irish moss and crevices of the rocky substrate. Bufflehead had the most restrictive distribution, being confined mostly to estuaries. Bufflehead fed primarily on sand shrimp, which were found only in harbors with soft ooze bottoms. Oldsquaw had the most generalized diet of all the sea ducks. The major food items consisted of bivalves, gastropods, sand shrimp, and isopods, which were found throughout the study area and accounted for the generalized distribution of oldsquaw along the coastline and in the harbors. Sea ducks were concentrated near the mouths of the estuaries, where more abundant food resources particularly bivalves, were found. Although the species vary, the types of foods eaten by sea ducks were similar to those described in other studies. Thus, food availability, coupled with the physical structure of the substratum in the different coastal habitats, is apparently a major determinant in the way that coastal waterfowl selectively use habitat types. The described patterns of habitat usage appear to have implications for other wide geographical areas.
Effects of an unsaturated and saturated lipid on experimental cholesterol atherosis in rabbits.

SummaryAdding fat to the diet of the rabbit which contains cholesterol increased serum cholesterol. The increased serum cholesterol was associated with increased aortic tissue cholesterol. It is proposed that addition of the lipid to the diet increased absorption and retention of cholesterol and this intensified the cholesterol atherosis.
Serum ferritin is a marker of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients

We tested the hypothesis that a high concentration of serum ferritin, a frequently used marker of iron stores in dialysis patients and an acute-phase reactant, may be a marker of morbidity and mortality in these patients. To evaluate the impact of ferritin on morbidity and mortality, we reviewed the 6-month hospitalization rates in our dialysis patients retrospectively and subsequently reviewed the mortality among these patients over a 12-month period of time prospectively. One hundred one adult hemodialysis patients (59 men and 42 women; age, 54 +/- 15 years) who had been on hemodialysis for 38 +/- 27 months were studied. All but 5 patients were on intravenous iron with similar iron administration pattern. In the retrospective cohort, ferritin's correlation coefficients for hospitalization days and frequency (both r = +0.39, P: < 0.001) were higher compared with the albumin correlations for hospitalization days (r = -0.31, P: = 0.001) and frequency (r = -0.28, P: = 0.005) and correlation coefficients remained similarly significant after case-mix adjustment. In the prospective study, the "predeath" value of serum ferritin for 17 deceased patients (891 +/- 476 ng/mL) was higher than both their "initial" value (619 +/- 345 ng/mL, P: = 0.007) and the mean ferritin value of 84 surviving and withdrawing patients (639 +/- 358 ng/mL, P: = 0.001). Although Cox proportional hazard analysis showed a significant odds ratio of death only for serum albumin and not for ferritin, logistic regression analysis using the predeath values confirmed the significant impact of both decreased serum albumin and increased serum ferritin as markers of dialysis mortality. After case-mix adjustment, the relative risks of death for a 500 ng/dL increase in serum ferritin was 2.71 (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 7.02) and for a 0.5 g/dL decrease in serum albumin was 4.48 (95% confidence interval, 1.77 to 11.33). Hence, serum ferritin is a strong predictor of hospitalization in dialysis patients. Although serum albumin is found to be a strong long-term marker of mortality in hemodialysis patients, an increase in serum ferritin appears to be a more reliable short-term marker of death over a 12-month period. Therefore, in the setting of uniform iron administration, a high serum ferritin may be a morbidity risk factor and a recent increase in serum ferritin may carry an increase in the risk of death in these patients.
EFFECT OF METABOLIC INHIBITORS ON NUCLEAR PORE FORMATION DURING THE HELA S3 CELL CYCLE

The effect of various antimetabolites on nuclear pore formation was studied in synchronized HeLa S3 cells. The nuclear size was determined by light microscopy and the pore number per unit area of nuclear surface by the freeze-etching technique and electron microscopy. It was found that the inhibition of DNA replication or ribosomal RNA synthesis has no effect on nuclear size increase or pore formation. However, the inhibition of ATP synthesis effectively stops nuclear pore formation. Cycloheximide blocks nuclear pore formation at the same time during G1 phase of the cell cycle when nuclear size increase is blocked by high concentrations of actinomycin D. This suggests that certain proteins or other factors leading to pore formation and nuclear size increase are transcribed and synthesized at about 3–4 h after mitosis, i.e., about 1–2 h before S phase begins.
Exit and Voice in U.S. Settlement Change

The prescriptions of top-down land use planners and the actions of the people who shape U.S. cities, consumers and developers, are at odds. In spite of various recent pronouncements that the “Smart Growth” movement has begun to reverse suburbanization trends, the opposite appears to be the case. Population data from the 2000 census and employment trend data from the Commerce Department's REIS (Regional Economic Information System) file corroborate the view that the decentralization of people and jobs continues. Falling transportation and communications costs strongly suggest that most people will continue to choose suburban low-density living.
A NEW ADSORPTION ISOTHERM FOR PHOSPHATE IN SOIL

Summary Phosphate adsorption data for 24 soils showed that although the Langmuir equation gave a good fit, there was significant curvature. Of the alternative equations examined, that of Freundlich provided a better description than that of Langmuir in 22 soils, but the best fit, accounting for more than 99·8 per cent of the variation in phosphate adsorption, was given by introducing a square-root term: where y= adsorbed phosphate, c= equilibrium concentration of phosphate in solution, B, A, and D are constants. The phosphate adsorption maximum, obtained from I/B, gave values in the range 325 to 1427 μg P/g soil which were 1·39 to 2·40 times those obtained from the Langmuir equation. The inclusion of a square-root term in the Langmuir equation could be taken to imply that the soil will adsorb a little phosphate firmly, a slightly greater amount of phosphate less firmly, and so on until a limiting value is reached when all the components of the phosphate adsorption system are saturated.
Critical Role for Cryopyrin/Nalp3 in Activation of Caspase-1 in Response to Viral Infection and Double-stranded RNA

Viral infection induces the production of interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-18 in macrophages through the activation of caspase-1, but the mechanism by which host cells sense viruses to induce caspase-1 activation is unknown. In this report, we have identified a signaling pathway leading to caspase-1 activation that is induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and viral infection that is mediated by Cryopyrin/Nalp3. Stimulation of macrophages with dsRNA, viral RNA, or its analog poly(I:C) induced the secretion of IL-1beta and IL-18 in a cryopyrin-dependent manner. Consistently, caspase-1 activation triggered by poly(I:C), dsRNA, and viral RNA was abrogated in macrophages lacking cryopyrin or the adaptor ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-activating and recruitment domain) but proceeded normally in macrophages deficient in Toll-like receptor 3 or 7. We have also shown that infection with Sendai and influenza viruses activates the cryopyrin inflammasome. Finally, cryopyrin was required for IL-1beta production in response to poly(I:C) in vivo. These results identify a mechanism mediated by cryopyrin and ASC that links dsRNA and viral infection to caspase-1 activation resulting in IL-1beta and IL-18 production.
Increase in the actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity of smooth muscle myosin by increasing myosin concentration

The actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity of smooth muscle myosin was measured in 85 mM KCl, 6 mM MgCl2 in the absence of tropomyosin. The activity was dependent on myosin concentration. Vmax increased as myosin concentration was increased, while the Ka (the apparent dissociation constant for actin) remained the same. The extent of filament formation was also correlated with myosin concentration and most of the myosin monomers existed in 10S conformation. These results suggest that myosin concentration influences the actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity by changing the 10S-6S-filaments equilibrium.
Selective deficits in the sense of smell caused by chemical modification of the olfactory epithelium

A chemically selective procedure for covalent modification of Schiff base-forming binding sites in proteins is demonstrated in vitro. In vivo studies show that the same procedure produces a selective anosmia ("odor blindness") when applied to the olfactory epithelia of experimental animals. Surgical experiments confirm that the sense of smell is specifically affected.
A Generalized BCJR Algorithm and Its Use in Iterative Blind Channel Identification

The well-known Bahl-Cocke-Jelinek-Raviv (BCJR) algorithm was generalized to compute joint posterior probabilities of arbitrary sets of symbols given noisy observations of those symbols at the output of an intersymbol interference (ISI) channel. This letter explores using pair-wise joint posterior probabilities produced by generalized BCJR together with expectation maximization for blind identification of the ISI channel impulse response and noise variance. Simulations indicate that the blind algorithm accurately estimates the channel response and noise variance and yields bit error rates comparable to a channel-informed BCJR equalizer.
Impact of perioperative allogeneic and autologous blood transfusion on acute wound infection following total knee and total hip arthroplasty.

Background: Patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty frequently receive blood transfusions. The relationship between transfusion and the risk of infection following total joint arthroplasty is unclear. In this study, we sought to examine the impact of allogeneic and autologous transfusion on the risk of acute infection following total hip and total knee arthroplasty. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of consecutive primary total knee arthroplasties and total hip arthroplasties. Patients who had a reoperation for suspected infection within three months after the arthroplasty were identified. Differences in risk factors were assessed across transfusion groups: no transfusion, autologous only, and allogeneic exposure (allogeneic with or without additional autologous transfusion). Backward-stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to compare reoperations (as outcomes) between cases with and those without allogeneic exposure. Prespecified covariates were body mass index, diabetes, an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of >2, preoperative hematocrit, and total number of units transfused perioperatively. Results: We identified 3352 patients treated with a total hip or knee arthroplasty (1730 total knee arthroplasties and 1622 total hip arthroplasties) for inclusion in the study. Transfusion was given in 1746 cases: 836 of them had allogeneic exposure, and 910 had autologous-only transfusion. There were thirty-two reoperations (0.95%) for suspected infection. Between-group risk-factor differences were observed. The mean age and the rates of diabetes, immunosuppression, ASA scores of >2, and bilateral surgery were highest in the allogeneic group, as were estimated blood loss, surgery duration, and total number of units transfused (p 2 (p = 0.008)—but not allogeneic exposure—were significantly predictive of a reoperation. Conclusions: Perioperative allogeneic transfusion was associated with a higher rate of reoperations for suspected acute infection. However, patients with allogeneic exposure had increased infection risk factors. After adjustment for the total number of units transfused and an ASA score of >2, allogeneic exposure was not significantly predictive of a reoperation for infection. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Inclined Sedimentation for Selective Retention of Viable Hybridomas in a Continuous Suspension Bioreactor

The continuous separation of nonviable hybridoma cells from viable hybridoma cells by using a narrow rectangular channel that is inclined from the vertical has been investigated experimentally. The effectiveness of the settler in selectively retaining viable hybridomas in the bioreactor while permitting the removal of nonviable hybridomas has been shown to depend on the flow rate through the settler. Intermediate flow rates through the settler have been found to provide the highest removal of nonviable hybridomas relative to viable hybridoma retention. At high dilution rates through the chemostat, over 95% of the viable cells could be partitioned to the bottom of the settler while over 50% of the nonviable cells are removed through the top of the settler. This successful separation is due to the significantly larger size of the viable hybridomas than the nonviable ones. A continuous perfusion experiment was performed in which an external inclined settler was used to retain virtually all of the viable hybridomas in the culture, while selectively removing from the culture approximately 20% of the nonviable cells that entered the settler. A stable viable cell concentration of 1.0 x 10(7) cells/mL was achieved, as was an antibody productivity of over 50 micrograms/(mL.day). These represent 3- and 6-fold increases, respectively, over the values obtained from a chemostat culture without cell retention.
Wireless impedance device for electromechanical impedance sensing and low-frequency vibration data acquisition

This paper presents recent developments in an extremely compact, wireless impedance sensor node for combined use with both impedance method and low-frequency vibrational data acquisition. The sensor node, referred to as the WID3 (Wireless Impedance Device) integrates several components, including an impedance chip, a microcontroller for local computing, telemetry for wireless data transmission, multiplexers for managing up to seven piezoelectric transducers per node, energy storage mediums, and several triggering options into one package to truly realize a self-contained wireless active-sensor node for SHM applications. Furthermore, we recently extended the capability of this device by implementing low-frequency A/D and D/A converters so that the same device can measure low-frequency vibration data. The WID3 requires less than 60 mW of power to operate and is designed for the mobile-agent based wireless sensing network. The performance of this miniaturized device is compared to our previous results and its capabilities are demonstrated.
Racemization of isoleucine in calcareous marine sediments: Kinetics and mechanism.

Abstract The kinetics of racemization of isoleucine in a calcareous sediment have been investigated in detail over the temperature range 100°–148°C. These elevated temperature studies are used to evaluate the rate of racemization at lower in situ temperatures. The estimated values are concordant with those determined from the degree of racemization of isoleucine in various well dated, deep-sea cores. The percentage of amino acids in the “free”, “peptide”, and “protein” forms have been determined in three deep-sea sediments of varying ages, and these results are used to infer the mechanism of racemization of isoleucine in calcareous sediments.
An experimental investigation into the effect of process conditions on the mass concentration of cutting fluid mist in turning

Abstract Cutting fluid mists that are generated during machining processes represent a significant waste stream as well as a health hazard to humans. Epidemiological studies have shown a link between worker exposure to cutting fluid mist and an increase in respiratory ailments and several types of cancer, prompting closer scrutiny from several regulatory agencies. In this work, statistically designed experiments were conducted to determine the machining conditions that have the most significant effect on PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration levels of cutting fluid mist during a turning operation. Identification of these significant factors may lead to modifications in the machining process as a solution for minimizing cutting fluid mist, thus eliminating/reducing the need for costly mist control technology such as air filters, enclosures, and fluid additives.
The effect of a shared humorous experience on closeness in initial encounters

Randomly paired same-sex strangers (N = 96) participated in a series of structured interactions systematically manipulated to either create or not create a shared humorous experience. They then completed measures of feelings of closeness to their interaction partner. Consistent with hypotheses derived from personal relationships and humor theories, there was a significant effect of humor on closeness. This effect was significantly partially mediated by self-expansion and distraction from the discomfort of the first encounter, but not by self-disclosure/acceptance. The effect was significantly moderated by trait sense of humor and marginally moderated by anxious attachment style (such that the effect was greater for those high in trait sense of humor and high in anxious attachment). A predicted moderation by avoidant attachment was not significant.
Prostacyclin in Septic Shock

Objective Investigation of the hypothesis that the infusion of 10 ng/kg/min prostacyclin (epoprostenol) (PGI 2 ) improves O 2 uptake in patients with hyperdynamic septic shock. Design Prospective, single cohort design. Setting ICU, university hospital. Patients Fifteen postoperative patients with septic shock. Interventions Infusion of 10 ng/kg/min of PGI2 for 60 min. Measurements Complete hemodynamic profile with O 2 transport-related variables (simultaneous measurements of Vo 2 from the respiratory gases and by cardiovascular Fick) and blood lactate levels before start of the PGI 2 -infusion and 60 min thereafter. Main results Oxygen delivery increased significantly (14 percent) from its already high value, 750±238 to 852±214 ml/min/m 2 . The O 2 extraction ratio remained unchanged. When Vo 2 was measured from the respiratory gases, it was unchanged. When Vo 2 was measured by cardiovascular Fick, it increased slightly (p Conclusions We conclude that in this O 2 challenge test with PGI2 in patients with septic shock, an increase in O 2 delivery was not matched by an increase in Vo 2 . We believe that the adequate conventional support of these patients may have prevented the PGI2 from revealing a "covert" O 2 debt. The PGI2 test did not predict mortality by O 2 supply dependency. The small increase in Vo 2 as calculated indirectly suggests a degree of mathematical coupling of O 2 delivery and uptake.
Neuropathology of mice with targeted disruption of Hexa gene, a model of Tay-Sachs disease

A murine model of Tay-Sachs disease, the prototype of the GM2 gangliosidoses, was produced through the targeted disruption of the Hexa gene encoding the subunit of α-hexosaminidase A. The mice were completely devoid of β-hexosaminidase A activity and accumulated GM2 ganglioside in the CNS in an age-dependent manner. Neurons with membranous cytoplasmic bodies (MCBs), identical to those described in Tay-Sachs disease, were identified in the brain of these mice. The neurons with MCBs were periodic acid-Schiff-positive on frozen sections and immunostained with anti-GM2 ganglioside antibody. However, unlike Tay-Sachs disease in which neurons throughout the brain are affected, the localization of storage neurons in these mice appeared to be limited to certain regions, i.e., cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, mammillary nucleus, etc. Storage neurons were absent in the olfactory bulb, cerebellar cortex and spinal anterior horns. The difference in the distribution of storage neurons suggests a difference of ganglioside metabolism between humans and mice. This model is useful for the study of the pathogenic mechanisms of neuronal storage in Tay-Sachs disease and for the evaluation of therapeutic strategies.
Late Effects of Childhood Leukemia Therapy

As survival rates for children treated for childhood cancers become significantly better, the focus is increasingly on determining the late effects of treatments and the best ways to monitor for them and prevent their occurrence. This review focuses on recent literature discussing the late effects of treatment in patients treated for acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia during childhood. The late effects of therapy for childhood leukemia include secondary malignancy, cardiotoxicity, obesity, endocrine abnormalities, reproductive changes, neurocognitive deficits, and psychosocial effects. As clinicians have become more aware of the late effects of therapy, treatment regimens have been changed to decrease late effects, but patients still require long-term follow-up for their prevention and treatment.
Elementary education majors experience hands-on learning in introductory biology

Faculty members from the University of South Dakota attended the Curriculum Reform Institute offered by the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, WI, during the summer of 2002 to design a course sequ...
PHONETIC APPROXIMATION IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION1

This instrumental study of the phonetic contrast between English /ptk/ and /bdg/ produced by Saudi Arabians reveals that native-language phonetic norms may carry over to production of target-language sounds. Despite the existence of phonetic interference, however, the present cross-sectional study suggests that Saudi learners gradually approximate the phonetic norms of English, at least insofar as several temporal acoustic correlates of stop voicing are concerned. The Saudis' English speech, although not typically Arabic or English in phonetic terms, seems to be the product of a fairly stable interlanguage phonetic system which admits the possibility of phonetic strategies by individual speakers.
Analytic models for nonlinear curve-fitting of forward-rate binding data, with applications to hemoglobin

Abstract The experimental procedure of Perrella et al. (1983, J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4511–4517) can reveal most of the intermediate ligation states of hemoglobin either at equilibrium or in a kinetic reaction. In this paper, a model of stepwise ligand binding, under conditions of negligible reverse reaction, is derived with particular attention to hemoglobin. The model leads to a two-phase procedure. First, the ratios of the forward rates are determined by fitting the model to normalized concentrations vs. saturation. Second (optionally), an auxiliary relation is used to deduce the scale factor for the rates that make the model consistent with time information if such is available. The procedure has been applied to hemoglobin binding of the ligands carbon monoxide (this paper) and ferricyanide (manuscript in preparation).
An analysis of observed attention and activity patterns in preschool children

An activity-attention scale was incorporated into the Pediatric Examination of Educational Readiness to determine whether performance of age-appropriate tasks would elicit or provoke attentional weakness or activity level modulation in a sample of prekindergarten children. Thirty-three (9.8%) of the 338 children met the criteria of weak attention and/or increased activity at one time during the assessment, and 18 (5.3%) met the criteria at two or more times. The "flagged" children were more likely to be boys and to have other developmental findings, lower McCarthy scores, and teacher concerns. Significant fluctuation of attention was noted commonly during the sessions. Furthermore, difficulty in interrater scoring of severity was demonstrated. This study underscores the variability and complexity of attention and activity findings, and confirms the need for direct observation as well as integration of information from all available sources.
A modelling tool for PM10 exposure assessment: an application example

A tool has been developed with the aim of calculating population exposure to PM10 concentrations. It integrates two main modules: a linker to the outputs of a chemistry and transport model (outdoor ambient concentrations) and a timevariable exposure module. The leading concept behind exposure modelling is that time-weighted average exposure can be considered as the sum of the partial exposures determined by both the concentration and the time spent in each so called micro-environment. A run of a CTM (Chemical and Transport Model) over the whole year of 2006 provided the PM10 hourly outdoor concentration field. In the absence of specifically measured data, some input data, such as infiltration parameters and indoor sources concentrations, have been chosen from relevant literature data. This paper reports the main input data used and the results obtained during an application to the domain under study, located in the North of Italy. The results confirm that the population habits and indoor sources contributions are the most critical parameters when assessing exposure.
Master scheduling with incremental capacity allocation and a rolling horizon

Abstract In this paper a new method for master production scheduling (MPS) is presented. The objective of this new method is to minimize schedule instability in the order driven company. In such companies the order arrival process is highly uncertain, and the production of an item is usually scheduled only after an order is received. Further, the customer usually demands a short delivery lead time. The new MPS method combines a rolling schedule approach with an overtime or subcontracting capability, and is labelled as MPS with incremental capacity allocation and a rolling horizon (MPS-IR). Two features distinguish this new approach. First, rather than allocating the entire production capacity of a future period at once, the MPS-IR does so in an incremental fashion over multiple periods. Second, rather than scheduling the entire demand for a future demand at once, the MPS-IR does so in an incremental fashion over multiple periods. In experimental tests the MPS-IR was found to outperform a Gantt chart based scheduler.
Assessing the “Physical Cliff”: Detailed Quantification of Age-Related Differences in Daily Patterns of Physical Activity

Background. In spite of evidence that physical activity has beneficial effects on health and age-related functional decline, there is a scarcity of detailed and accurate information on objectively measured daily activity and patterns of such activity in older adults.
Saving a life but losing the patient

Gregor Samsa awakes to find himself transformed into a gigantic bug. The creature's inchoate flailing leads Gregor's sister to conclude that Gregor is no more, having been replaced by a brute beast lacking any vestige of human understanding. Sadly, real cases of brain injury and disease can lead to psychological metamorphoses so profound that we cannot easily think that the survivor is the person we knew. I argue that there can be cases in which statements like, "It's just not Gregor anymore," are not merely figures of speech. With this in mind, I consider three possible results of saving a biological life: (1) ordinary cases where saving the life will save the person, with strong duties to save the life; (2) cases where the intervention needed to save the life will replace the person, with strong duties not to save the life; (3) cases in which it is indeterminate whether the person will be saved or replaced. How should we think about indeterminate cases? Impersonal ethical considerations miss the point, while standard person-affecting considerations are inapplicable. I suggest turning attention away from survival towards a richer focus on what I call "personal concern." I show how considerations of personal concern, unlike those of self-interest, need not be tied to survival and how this allows personal concern to provide a basis for ethically substantive discussion of cases where saving a life might result in losing the patient.
When should a resection sparing mesial structures be considered for temporal lobe epilepsy

Anteromesial temporal lobectomy (AMTL) is an effective and safe treatment for refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) caused by hippocampal sclerosis (HS). It is possible that modifications to this procedure could offer improved seizure control or a reduction in functional consequences in some patients. Reviewed here is the issue of when it might be appropriate to perform a resection for TLE that spares the mesial structures, particularly the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. This issue is particularly important for dominant hemipshere TLE and for patients without obvious HS, as these are the patients at greatest risk for verbal memory decline following AMTL. Current evidence suggests that mesial structure-sparing resections may be worth consideration for two types of patients: those with temporal lobe foreign tissue lesions outside the mesial structures, and those with temporal lobe hypometabolism on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography but a normal MRI. Patients with dual pathology (i.e., HS plus another epileptogenic lesion) are unlikely to benefit from a resection that spares the mesial temporal lobe. There is little evidence to state whether resections of this kind are worthwhile for cryptogenic TLE, or for mesial TLE with preserved memory function. There is a clear need to move beyond the field's present focus on the hippocampus and investigate new approaches to TLE that may minimize the risks of functional consequences in patients without HS.
Intrinsic Polynomials for Regression on Riemannian Manifolds

We develop a framework for polynomial regression on Riemannian manifolds. Unlike recently developed spline models on Riemannian manifolds, Riemannian polynomials offer the ability to model parametric polynomials of all integer orders, odd and even. An intrinsic adjoint method is employed to compute variations of the matching functional, and polynomial regression is accomplished using a gradient-based optimization scheme. We apply our polynomial regression framework in the context of shape analysis in Kendall shape space as well as in diffeomorphic landmark space. Our algorithm is shown to be particularly convenient in Riemannian manifolds with additional symmetry, such as Lie groups and homogeneous spaces with right or left invariant metrics. As a particularly important example, we also apply polynomial regression to time-series imaging data using a right invariant Sobolev metric on the diffeomorphism group. The results show that Riemannian polynomials provide a practical model for parametric curve regression, while offering increased flexibility over geodesics.
Facet model for photon-flux transmission through rough dielectric interfaces.

When a photon flux is incident upon a rough interface that separates media with different refractive indices, the interface roughness influences the angular distribution of the transmitted flux. For the case of very rough surfaces with slopes of the order of unity, we find that a simple facet model is sufficient to describe the main features of the flux-transmission behavior. We demonstrate the effect observed by Nieto-Vesperinas et al. [Opt. Lett. 15, 1261 (1990)] for plane-wave incidence, that the interface roughness tends to suppress the refractive-index contrast. In addition, for cases in which the incident flux is distributed in angle, we find that the direction of maximum transmitted flux can be predicted from the surface roughness.
Generalizing k-Betweenness Centrality Using Short Paths and a Parallel Multithreaded Implementation

We present a new parallel algorithm that extends and generalizes the traditional graph analysis metric of betweenness centrality to include additional non-shortest paths according to an input parameter k. Betweenness centrality is a useful kernel for analyzing the importance of vertices or edges in a graph and has found uses in social networks, biological networks, and power grids, among others. k-betweenness centrality captures the additional information provided by paths whose length is within k units of the shortest path length. These additional paths provide robustness that is not captured in traditional betweenness centrality computations, and they may become important shortest paths if key edges are missing in the data. We implement our parallel algorithm using lock-free methods on a massively multithreaded Cray XMT. We apply this implementation to a real-world data set of pages on the World Wide Web and show the importance of the additional data incorporated by our algorithm.
Method for calculating coupling length of Ti:LiNbO/sub 3/ waveguide directional couplers

Reports a theory for calculating the coupling length L/sub c/ of Ti:LiNbO/sub 3/ single-mode waveguide directional couplers from process parameters and operating wavelength. Estimates are accurate to within a factor of 2 compared with published experimental results for z-cut y-propagating LiNbO/sub 3/ devices for 0.63 mu m >
Induction versus Popper: substance versus semantics

This article reviews concepts of classical logic and induction, with special attention to the controversies surrounding Popperian claims that induction is impossible and does not exist. I argue that some of the controversy is semantic, and hence Popperian criticisms of induction must be translated carefully into ordinary language to be appreciated by inductively oriented epidemiologists. With this translation, the substance of the debate is not whether induction is possible (it is) or exists (it does), but whether and how we should employ probabilistic reasoning about hypotheses in epidemiological inference.
Pigs Fed Cholesterol Neonatally Have Increased Cerebrum Cholesterol as Young Adults

Sixty-eight female neonatal pigs selected for seven (Experiment 1) or eight (Experiment 2) generations for high (HG) or low (LG) plasma cholesterol were used to test the hypothesis that neonatal dietary cholesterol fed during the first 4 or 8 wk of postnatal life increases the cholesterol content of the cerebrum in young adulthood following free access to a high-fat (15%), high-cholesterol (0.5%) diet from 8 to 20 or 24 wk of age. Pigs were removed from their dams at 1 d of age and given free access to a sow-milk replacer diet containing 9.5% coconut fat and 0 or 0.5 % cholesterol. All pigs (except four HG and four LG pigs in Experiment 2, which were deprived of cholesterol throughout the study) were fed the high-fat, high-cholesterol diet from 8 wk to termination at 20 or 24 wk of age. Cerebrum weight and cholesterol concentration were higher in pigs fed cholesterol neonatally than in those deprived of cholesterol neonatally in both experiments, but weight and cholesterol concentration were unaffected by genetic line. Cholesterol concentrations in longissimus and semitendinosus muscles and in subcutaneous fat were unaffected by diet or genetic line. We conclude that dietary cholesterol deprivation during the first 4 to 8 wk of life in piglets is associated with lower cholesterol concentration and total content in the young adult cerebrum than in pigs supplemented with cholesterol in early life. These data support previous observations and suggest the possibility of a metabolic need for neonatal dietary cholesterol in normal brain development.
Asymptotic fixed point theory and the beer barrel theorem

In Sections 2 and 3 of this paper we refine and generalize theorems of Nussbaum (see [42]) concerning the approximate fixed point index and the fixed point index class. In Section 4 we indicate how these results imply a wide variety of asymptotic fixed point theorems. In Section 5 we prove a generalization of the mod p theorem: if p is a prime number, f belongs to the fixed point index class and f satisfies certain natural hypothesis, then the fixed point index of f p is congruent mod p to the fixed point index of f. In Section 6 we give a counterexample to part of an asymptotic fixed point theorem of A. Tromba [55]. Sections 2, 3, and 4 comprise both new and expository material. Sections 5 and 6 comprise new results.
Effect of composition on the mechanical properties of aluminosilicate and borosilicate glasses

Elastic moduli and fracture toughness were determined for several Glasses in the systems soda--alumina--silica, calcia--alumina--silica, and soda-boric oxide--silica. Results for the aluminosilicates are analyzed in terms of Al/sup 3 +/:Na/sup +/ ratios. The mechanical properties do not show maxima or minima at the Al/sup 3 +/:Na/sup +/ ratio of 1, in contrast to conductivity, helium permeability, and refractive index. The moduli and toughness increase with Al/sup 3 +/:Na/sup +/ ratio, which is consistent with increased coherency of the glass network. glasses which contain B/sub 2/O/sub 3/ instead of Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ have slightly higher moduli but are considerably tougher. The moduli of calcium aluminosilicate glasses are approximately equal to 25% greater than sodium aluminosilicates, whereas the fracture toughnesses are similar.
Electrophysiological versus Image-Based Targeting in the Posteroventral Pallidotomy

Objective: To study the functional accuracy of stereotactic targeting for the posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP), comparing targets chosen on magnetic resonance images (MRI), and fused MRI to computed tomographic (CT) images, with electrophysiologically refined anatomical targetsMethods and Materials: For each of the 10 pallidotomies three sets of targets were collected, beginning with the MRI targets. The second target set was measured on images generated by nonlinear volumetric fusion of MRI images with CT using Image Fusion (Radionics, Inc.). The anatomical target site was then determined electrophysiologically with intraoperative microelectrode recording and macroelectrode stimulation guidanceResults: Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI-CT fused images alone would not have been sufficiently accurate to preclude visual or motor complications in the posteroventral pallidotomy, based on our target located within 1 mm of the optic tract and within 2 mm of the internal capsule. In 2 of the 10 cases of either M...