cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dietary Protein and Protein-Rich Food in Relation to Severely Depressed Mood: A 10 Year Follow-up of a National Cohort

High-protein diets are advocated to facilitate weight loss, and improve cardiovascular risk factors, but data on psychiatric effects are lacking. We analyzed data from 1947 men and 2909 women aged 25-74 years when examined in 1971-1975 as the baseline of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Follow-Up Study. The amounts of macronutrients were obtained from a 24-hour recall, and frequencies of eating protein-rich foods were estimated using a 3-month food frequency questionnaire. Severely depressed mood (SDM) was defined as Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score ≥ 22 or taking anti-depression medication after an average of 10.6 years of follow-up. A significant gender difference was observed in the prevalence of SDM and its association with protein intake. The weighted prevalence of SDM was 11.45 (SE = 0.96) % and 17.45(1.05) % respectively among men and women. Among men, the relative risk (RRs) of SDM were 1.00, 0.46 (95% CI = 0.22-0.99) and 0.38 (0.16-0.92) respectively for the lowest, middle and highest third protein intake (p for trend=0.0347). Among women, the RRs were 1.00, 1.93 (1.23-3.08) and 2.47 (1.24-4.90) respectively with lowest, middle and the highest third intakes (p for trend = 0.0023). These estimates were adjusted for cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, socioeconomic status at baseline, and the history of cancer, stroke, heart attack and diabetes assessed at follow-up interview. The authors concluded that increased intake of protein demonstrated a protective effect among men but a deleterious effect among women.
Effects of lidocaine-induced inactivation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the central or the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala on the opponent-process actions of self-administered cocaine in rats

Rationale In addition to its rewarding actions, cocaine has profound negative effects that are unmasked as the rewarding impact of the drug fades. While much is known about the neurobiology of cocaine reward, the mechanisms underlying the negative actions of the drug remain unclear.
Isomeric amphetamines — A problem for urinalysis?

Abstract Alkyl amphetamine isomers (amphetamine, 1-phenyl-2-butylamine (PBA), methamphetamine, N -methyl-PBA, N,N -dimethylamphetamine, N -ethylamphetamine, N -ethyl-PBA and N,N -diethylamphetamine) were purchased or synthesized and tested by immunoassay and GC MS for their detectability in urine. Some cross reactivity was observed with PBA, N -methyl-PBA N -ethylamphetamine, and N -ethyl-PBA when analyzed using a series of commercial amphetamine and methamphetamine immunoassays. Chromatographic co-elution problems were observed for the underivatized isomeric group N,N -dimethylamphetamine, N -ethylamphetamine, and N -methyl-PBA under GC MS conditions used; and their GC MS spectra were quite similar. Of the potential derivatives, pentafluoropropionyl (PFP) anhydride and heptafluorobutyryl (HFB) anhydride provided adequate separation and easily distinguishable spectra using the electron-impact GC MS conditions specified.
A Comparison of Plantar Pressure in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using Different Hosiery

Abnormally high plantar pressure has been associated with the development of foot ulcers in populations with diabetes. Improved foot care includes the use of hosiery (socks) as well appropriate footwear. In this study, the Parotec System, an in-shoe plantar pressure measurement device, was used to measure the plantar pressure of the forefoot of 21 participants. All patients were diagnosed with diabetes and were assessed while wearing a combination of either a diabetic sock,a dress sock, or no sock and the participant's own shoe or slipper. There were no statistically significant differences between combinations of socks and footwear.
Empirical research on local government sustainability efforts in the USA: gaps in the current literature

Local governments play a vital role in fostering sustainable development. In recent years, several municipalities in the USA have launched sustainability initiatives, adding to the worldwide movement to create a more sustainable future. This article synthesises the existing literature on local government sustainability with the goal of identifying the range of knowledge and ideas as it currently exists in the field and to suggest theoretical and empirical directions for future research that will better improve our understanding. The article finds that: (1) despite a consensus in the sustainable development literature that equity, economy and environment need to be simultaneously addressed in any effort toward sustainable development, equity has been neglected in empirical research of what communities are doing to promote local sustainability; (2) research has been restricted to municipalities with well-documented sustainability plans and policies, thereby limiting our theoretical understanding of sustaina...
Attenuation of coda waves in southern Tibet

The alternation characteristics of the crust in the southernmost Tibetan plateau are determined from analysis of S-wave coda recorded at a temporary broadband station deployed during the 1994 INDEPTH-II experiment. A method for determining Qc is developed which utilizes the coda spectrogram observed at a single station. The average S-wave coda quality factor for this continent-continent collision zone is Qc(f) = (160 ± 69) (f/ f0)1.11±0.19, 1 < (f/f0) < 4, where f0 = 1Hz. The results are consistent with other measurements of Qc(f) in continental collisional environments which typically exhibit low values of Qc(f) at 1 Hz and a strong dependence on frequency. In particular, the attenuation characteristics obtained for the Arabian-Eurasian continental collisional boundary in western Turkey are quite similar to the results reported here for the southern Tibetan plateau.
Role of the natriuretic peptides in the cardiorenal and humoral actions of omapatrilat: insights from experimental heart failure.

Vasopeptidase (VP) inhibitors are novel molecules that coinhibit neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP), which degrades natriuretic peptides and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). We review the biology of the natriuretic peptide system and a recent study of the role for the natriuretic peptide system in the mechanism of action of omapatrilat (the most clinically advanced VP inhibitor). This study compared the cardiorenal and humoral actions of omapatrilat with those of ACE inhibition. The actions of omapatrilat were further defined in the presence and absence of a natriuretic peptide receptor antagonist. This investigation provided insight into a unique new pharmacologic agent that has beneficial renal actions in experimental mild heart failure that exceed those seen with ACE inhibition alone and that are linked to the natriuretic peptide system.
Nephrogenic calcific arteriopathy.

Introduction Vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is extremely common and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality among these patients. The pathogenesis is complex and involves multiple factors, including elevated calcium x phosphorus product as well as deficiencies in circulating or locally produced inhibitors of calcification, parathyroid hormone, hyperlipidemia and inflammation. Similarly, valvular heart calcifications as well as myocardial and pulmonary calcifications of fatal consequences can also occur, presumably related to the same pathogenetic factors (Figures 1, 2). Other forms of extraskeletal tissue calcification of nonfatal consequences but leading to incapacity can also develop in CKD patients (Figure 3). These complications may be prevented by awareness and early intervention directed towards correcting some of the aforementioned participating mechanisms.
Higher expression of induced defenses in teosintes (Zea spp.) is correlated with greater resistance to fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Selection for plant traits important for agriculture can come at a high cost to plant defenses. While selecting for increased growth rate and yield, domestication and subsequent breeding may lead to weakened defenses and greater susceptibility of plants to herbivores. We tested whether expression of defense genes differed among maize, Zea mays ssp. mays L. (Poaceae), and its wild relatives Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Iltis & Doebley and Zea diploperennis Iltis et al. We used two populations of Z. mays ssp. parviglumis: one expected to express high levels of an herbivore resistance gene, wound-inducible protein (wip1), and another expected to have low expression of wip1. To test whether maize and wild Zea differed in induction of defenses against Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we quantified expression of several genes involved in plant defense: wip1, maize protease inhibitor (mpi), pathogenesis-related protein (PR-1), and chitinase. Moreover, we compared growth, development, and survival of caterpillars on maize and wild Zea plants. We found that maize expressed low levels of all but one of the genes when attacked by caterpillars, whereas the wild relatives of maize expressed induced defense genes at high levels. Expression of wip1, in particular, was much greater in the Z. mays ssp. parviglumis population that we expected to naturally express high levels of wip1, with expression levels 29-fold higher than in herbivore-free plants. Elevated expression of defenses in wild plants was correlated with higher resistance to caterpillars. Larvae were 15–20% smaller on wild Zea compared with maize, developed 20% slower, and only 22% of them survived to pupation on Z. mays ssp. parviglumis with high levels of wip1. Our results suggest that domestication has inadvertently reduced the resistance of maize, and it is likely that expression of wip1 and other genes associated with defenses play an important role in this reduction in resistance.
Wafer-scale process for fabricating arrays of nanopore devices

Nanopore-based single-molecule analysis is a subject of strong scientific and technological interest. Recently, solid state nanopores have been demonstrated to possess advantages over biological (e.g., protein) pores due to the relative ease of tuning the pore dimensions, pore geometry, and surface chemistry. Previously demonstrated methods have been confined to the production of single nanopore devices for fundamental studies. Most of these techniques (e.g., electron microscope beams and focused ion beams) are limited in scalability, automation, and reproducibility. We demostrate a wafer-scale method for reproducibly fabricating large arrays of solid state nanopores. The method couples high-resolution electron-beam lithography and atomic layer deposition (ALD). Arrays of nanopores (825 per wafer) are successfully fabricated across 4-in. wafers with tunable pore sizes. The nanopores are fabricated in 16- to 50-nm thin silicon nitride. ALD of aluminum oxide is used to tune the nanopore size. By careful optimization of the processing steps, a device survival rate of up to 96% is achieved on a wafer with 50-nm thin silicon nitride films. Our results facilitate an important step in the development of large-scale nanopore arrays for practical applications such as biosensing.
The effect of acute and chronic renal failure on theophylline clearance

Theophylline total body clearance was measured in 29 anuric, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with acute or chronic renal failure during a continuous intravenous infusion. They were divided into two groups depending on the absence (group 1, N = 16) or presence (group 2, N = 13) of congestive heart failure and compared to normal renal function control patients with similar disease states. All study and control patients smoked cigarettes. The theophylline mean total body clearance values (+/- S.D.) for group 1 were 68.0 +/- 14.5, 64.5 +/- 12.9, and 62.6 +/- 17.3 ml/kg.hr for acute renal failure patients, uremic chronic renal failure patients, and control patients, respectively. For group 2, the corresponding values were 25.6 +/- 5.1, 28.6 +/- 8.7, and 27.4 +/- 12.9 ml/kg.hr. There was no significant difference between study and control patients in either group 1 or group 2 (P greater than 0.05, one-way analysis of variance). Since total body clearance determines the steady-state concentration of a drug after repeated administration, theophylline doses do not need to be reduced in acute renal failure or uremia patients.
Electron-electron scattering cross section including polarization correlations

Abstract Electron-electron scattering cross sections are calculated, including the dependence on the helicities of both incoming and outgoing particles.
Influence of advancing season on dietary composition, intake, site of digestion, and microbial efficiency in beef steers grazing season-long or twice-over rotation native range pastures in western North Dakota.

Eight ruminally and duodenally cannulated beef steers (374 ± 11 kg) were used to evaluate effects of advancing season and grazing treatment (season-long; SL or twice-over rotation; TOR) on dietary composition (Exp. 1 and 2), intake, site and extent of digestion, and microbial efficiency (Exp. 2) of native range. In Exp. 1, six 11-d sample collections were conducted from early June to mid-November 2000 and 2001. In vitro OM disappearance decreased (P ≤ 0.04) for both years and both treatments with advancing season. Dietary N declined (P ≤ 0.07), whereas fiber content increased (P 0.12) between treatment and decreased (P 0.54) between treatment and across season. These data suggest that mixed-grass range forage consumed by cattle after late September is deficient in N, particularly degradable intake protein, and that forage intake may be insufficient to support adequate performance in lactating cows independent of grazing management strategies evaluated. Knowledge of diet quality and forage intake should aid producers in meeting the nutritional needs of livestock grazing these forages.
A comparison of van't Hoff and calorimetric heats of binding to DNA using an ethidium selective electrode

Abstract A liquid membrane electrode selective for ethidium ion was used to measure free ethidium in mixtures with calf thymus DNA. Electrode response was unaffected by variation in ionic strength from 1 m m to 0.5 m , and was not degraded over the temperature range studied. DNA-ethidium binding isotherms obtained with the electrode at 17.4, 25.4, 30.1, and 40.6 °C were fitted to a single class of excluded sites model for \ gn ranging from 0.01 to 0.16. van't Hoff analysis of these data yielded Δ H = −8300 cal/mol ethidium bound (in 0.5 m KCl, 10 m m Tris buffer, pH 10, 1 m m EDTA). Direct calorimetric measurements of the heat of complex formation led to a value of −7600 cal/mol at 25 °C in the same medium; the two results were not significantly different at the 95% confidence level. The agreement supports the validity of the ethidium selective electrode, and illustrates its utility in the study of ligand binding to nucleic acids and related materials.
Development of an Artificial Oral Environment for the Testing of Dental Restoratives: Bi-axial Force and Movement Control

The integration of two closed mechanical loops was used to produce a force-movement cycle, using servo-hydraulics. Several of the parameters were of interest in clinically-simulated laboratory studies. The system represented the first phase in developing an artificial oral environment.
Modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission by endogenous glutamate acting on presynaptic group ii mglurs in rat substantia nigra compacta

Excitatory synaptic inputs from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) have been proposed to underlie burst firing of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopamine (DA) neurons in Parkinson's disease. Given the potential importance of the STN-SNc synapse in health and disease, our goal was to study how transmission at this synapse is regulated. We tested the hypothesis that neurotransmission at STN-SNc synapses is tonically inhibited by endogenous glutamate acting on presynaptic group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). By using whole-cell recording techniques in brain slices, we examined the effect of LY341495, a mGluR antagonist that is most potent at group II mGluRs, on excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) that either were evoked in SNc DA neurons by stimulation of the STN or were spontaneously occurred in the presence of tetrodotoxin (miniature EPSCs; mEPSCs). LY341495 increased the evoked EPSC amplitude and mEPSC frequency without changing mEPSC amplitude. In contrast, the group III mGluR antagonist UBP1112 failed to increase the evoked EPSC amplitude. An elevation of extracellular glutamate concentration by a glutamate transporter inhibitor, TBOA, suppressed the evoked EPSCs. LY341495, but not UBP1112, partially reversed the TBOA action. The modulations of EPSCs by TBOA and LY341495 were associated with changes in paired-pulse facilitation ratio. Furthermore, TBOA decreased mEPSC frequency, which was partially reversed by LY341495, without affecting mEPSC amplitude. The results indicate that presynaptic group II mGluRs at STN-SNc synapses appear to be partially activated by a basal level of extracellular glutamate and able to sense the change in extracellular glutamate concentration, subsequently modulating synaptic glutamate release.
Classroom parties in US elementary schools: the potential for policies to reduce student exposure to sugary foods and beverages.

Abstract Objective To examine associations among school, district, and state policies regarding classroom birthday and holiday parties. Design School-level policies assessed by survey during the 2009–2011 school years, with collection of corresponding district policies and state laws. Setting United States public elementary schools. Participants Surveys from 1,204 schools (response rate, 60.9%). Variables Measured Prevalence of school-wide restrictions on sugary items served during parties. Predictor variables included district policy and state law. Analysis Multivariate logistic regressions to examine associations between school-level restrictions (outcome) and district policies and state laws, controlling for demographics and school year. Results Approximately one half of schools discouraged or prohibited sugary items during parties, or did not allow parties. Schools with a district policy and state law were 2.5 times more likely to restrict sweet items at parties than were schools with no corresponding policy or law. School-level limits were more common where policy and law addressed specific nutritional aspects of foods and beverages served in classroom parties (odds ratios, > 2.0; P Conclusions and Implications Prohibitions on sugary party fare were uncommon at all levels. Even though most policies were framed as recommendations rather than requirements, policy and law were associated with increased school-level restrictions, which demonstrates the value of policy.
Cervical myelopathy history and physical examination

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy can be elusive in its diagnosis. Careful attention to detail in the history and physical examination of patients is required. The clinical presentation of a myelopathic patient involves gait changes, various combinations of upper and lower motor neuron signs and symptoms in the upper and lower extremities, bowel and bladder disturbances, classic abnormalities in hand function, hyperreflexia, and the presence of abnormal reflexes. Axial neck pain and radiculopathy may be superimposed. The differential diagnosis must consider pathological states that mimic cervical spondylotic myelopathy. A high degree of suspicion is often required for accurate diagnosis of this disorder.
Closing the loop on assessment in a School of Business

The assessment process adopted by a School of Business that incorporates assessment of mission performance, student orientation, and service quality is described. The process incorporates identification of strengths and weaknesses, setting objectives to correct the weaknesses, planning to achieve the objectives, implementation and execution of the plans, and finally 'closing the loop' through follow-up.
Semantic video classification with insufficient labeled samples

To support more effective video retrieval at semantic level, we introduce a novel framework to achieve semantic video classification. This novel framework includes: (a) A semantic-senstive video content representation framework via principal video shots to enhance the quality of features (i.e., the ability of the selected low-level multimodal perceptual features to discriminate among various semantic video concepts); (b) A semantic video concept interpretation framework via flexible mixture model to bridge the semantic gap between the semantic video concepts and the low-level multimodal perceptual features; (c) A novel concept learning technique to integrate unlabeled samples with labeled samples for more accurate classifier training. Experimental results on semantic medical video classification are also presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed framework.
Nebulized lidocaine in the treatment of severe asthma in children: a pilot study

Background Glucocorticoids have been used to treat asthma since the 1950s; however, their adverse systemic effects have limited their duration of use and dosage. Unfortunately, many patients with severe asthma often require oral glucocorticoids in addition to inhaled glucocorticoids. Alternatives to glucocorticoids have been sought with mixed success. Recently, lidocaine has been added to the list of potent glucocorticoid sparing agents for the treatment of severe asthma. Objective We report the first group of pediatric patients with severe asthma treated with nebulized lidocaine. Methods The study was performed in an open manner with 6 severely asthmatic patients followed in the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Section, Mayo Clinic. The only intervention was the institution of nebulized lidocaine (0.8 mg/kg/dose to 2.5 mg/kg/dose tid to qid). The average daily steroid requirement was followed during the administration of the nebulized lidocaine. Results During a mean of 11.2 months of therapy (range 7 to 16 months) 5 of the 6 patients completely discontinued their oral glucocorticoids within an average time of 3.4 months (range 1 to 7 months). Conclusions After further study, lidocaine may prove to be the first non-toxic, steroid alternative to patients with severe steroid-dependent asthma.
Effect of mild renal dysfunction (s-crea 1.2–2.2 mg/dl) on presentation characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes of on-pump cardiac surgery patients

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to evaluate differences in patient presentation and short- and long-term outcomes between patients dichotomized by the level of preoperative s-creatinine (s-crea) without renal failure and to use EuroSCORE (ES) risk stratification for validating differences and for predictive purposes. METHODS A thousand consecutive cardiac surgery patients from January 1999 through May 2000 were analyzed. Patients with off-pump surgery or s-crea >200 micromol/l (>2.2 mg/dl) were excluded leaving 885 patients for analysis. Group 1 (n=703) had s-crea 0.5-1.2 mg/dl and Group 2 (n=182) had elevated s-crea 1.3-2.2 mg/dl but no renal insufficiency. RESULTS Group 2 patients were older (P 2.25 mg/dl or >200 micromol/l) developed in 38/4.5% patients in Group 1 and in 41/22.5% patients in Group 2 (P<0.0001), OR=5.08. Follow-up all-cause mortality was higher in Group 2: 68/37.4% vs. 167/23.8% (P<0.0001), OR=1.91. Both ES definitions predicted hospital mortality, LOS, ICU, PORF and long-term mortality well, while increased s-crea predicted PORF and long-term mortality in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Mild increase in s-crea is a marker for patients with increased cardiac risk factors and the risk for poor outcomes. Both ES definitions are highly predictive of the outcomes.
Adhesion and moisture barrier characteristics of roller-cast polydimethylsiloxane encapsulants for implantable microsystems

Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a highly attractive polymer to encapsulate implantable micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) due to its biocompatibility, simplicity in processing, and low Young's Modulus. However, conventional deposition processes introduce defects that prevent the use of PDMS as a long term packaging material. In order to address these issues, we have developed a novel roller-casting process for depositing PDMS. This paper presents the findings of a study to simultaneously investigate the adhesion properties and moisture barrier characteristics of roller-cast, multilayered PDMS encapsulants subjected to testing in saline at 85oC.
Mapping of the Functional Boundaries and Secondary Structure of the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Rem-responsive Element

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a complex retrovirus that encodes at least three regulatory and accessory proteins, including Rem. Rem is required for nuclear export of unspliced viral RNA and efficient expression of viral proteins. Our previous data indicated that sequences at the envelope-3′ long terminal repeat junction are required for proper export of viral RNA. To further map the Rem-responsive element (RmRE), reporter vectors containing various portions of the viral envelope gene and the 3′ long terminal repeat were tested in the presence and absence of Rem in transient transfection assays. A 476-bp fragment that spans the envelope-long terminal repeat junction had activity equivalent to the entire 3′-end of the mouse mammary tumor virus genome, but further deletions at the 5′- or 3′-ends reduced Rem responsiveness. RNase structure mapping of the full-length RmRE and a 3′-truncation suggested multiple domains with local base pairing and intervening single-stranded segments. A secondary structure model constrained by these data is reminiscent of the RNA response elements of other complex retroviruses, with numerous local stem-loops and long-range base pairs near the 5′- and 3′-boundaries, and differs substantially from an earlier model generated without experimental constraints. Covariation analysis provides limited support for basic features of our model. Reporter assays in human and mouse cell lines revealed similar boundaries, suggesting that the RmRE does not require cell type-specific proteins to form a functional structure.
From the Editors' Desk: Innovation and Improvement

Legislation passes or fails. Prospects for health care reform wax and wane. Government initiatives (on patient safety, disparities, and now comparative effectiveness) come and, just as surely, go. In the meantime, this nation’s 50,000 general internists struggle to provide high quality care to their patients. Many succeed. But large national studies from RAND and elsewhere tell a different story. Delivering the right care, to the right patient, at the right time, every time, remains, in the aggregate, an elusive goal.
Antileishmanial drug development: exploitation of parasite heme dependency.

Abstract A rational approach in the search for new antiparasitic drugs is the exploitation of biochemical differences between the parasite and its mammalian host. One specific example in the case of Leishmania relates to the biosynthesis of heme, a critical prosthetic group for proteins involved in metabolism and electron transport. Like all Trypanosomatids, Leishmania parasites require heme or pre-formed porphyrins for survival because they lack several key enzymes in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Considering their specific nutritional requirements, we speculated that they would be particularly sensitive to the effects of heme-complexing xanthones. In this report, we document the antileishmanial activity of selected nitrogenated xanthones and correlate drug potency with heme affinity. In vitro tests demonstrated that 3,6-bis-ω-diethylaminoamyloxyxanthone, C5, was at least 100 times more active than pentamidine against intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana . Our findings provide practical guidance for optimizing the antileishmanial activity of the xanthone pharmacophore to better exploit parasite heme salvage processes.
A converse for the wideband relay channel with physically degraded broadcast

We investigate the multipath fading relay channel in the limit of a large bandwidth, and in the non-coherent setting, where the channel state is unknown to all terminals, including the relay and the destination. We derive a lower bound on the capacity by proposing and analyzing a peaky frequency binning scheme. The achievable rate obtained coincides with the block-Markov lower bound on the capacity of the wideband frequency-division Gaussian relay channel. When the broadcast channel is physically degraded, this achievable rate meets the cut-set upper-bound, and thus reaches the capacity of the noncoherent wideband multipath fading relay channel. In this case, a hypergraph model of the multipath fading relay channel is proposed, and the relaying scheme of concern is shown to reach its min-cut. Even if the source treats the broadcast channel as physically degraded when it is stochastically degraded, the achievable hypergraph bound is the min-cut.
Techno-economic analysis of solid oxide fuel cell-based combined heat and power systems for biogas utilization at wastewater treatment facilities

Abstract This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of biogas-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems for combined heat and power (CHP) applications in wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs). SOFC-CHP systems ranging from 300 kWe to 6 MWe in electric power capacity are explored in terms of their performance and life cycle costs. Representative biogas feedstock is established from compositional data for a large wastewater reclamation facility in Denver, Colorado. A steady-state SOFC-CHP system model is developed with Aspen Plus for the integration with small (640 kW LHV ), medium (2.97 MW LHV ) and large (11.92 MW LHV ) biogas sources. The proposed SOFC system concept includes anode gas recirculation, a biogas pretreatment system, and a waste heat recovery unit. The system offers a net electrical efficiency of 51.6% LHV and a net CHP efficiency of 87.5% LHV. The effect of operating parameters on system efficiency is investigated with a parametric study. The economic performance is evaluated with the levelized costs of electricity (COE) and heat (COH). The results are compared with the COE from reciprocating engine, gas turbine, microturbine, molten carbonate fuel cell technologies, and grid electricity prices. The influence of economic parameters and stack operating parameters on the levelized COE is also presented.
A Class of Lattices with Möbius Function ź 1, 0

We study the class of lattices generated by a family of intervals in a linear order. The results are used to derive several new methods for computing the Mobius function of the lattice of integer partitions, ordered by majorization.
MULTICENTER PATIENT SELF-REPORTING QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPOTENCE, INCONTINENCE AND STRICTURE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

Purpose: We determined the incidence of patient self-reported post-prostatectomy incontinence, impotence, bladder neck contracture and/or urethral stricture, sexual function satisfaction, quality of life and willingness to undergo treatment again in a large multicenter group of men who underwent radical prostatectomy. We also determined whether the morbidities of sexual function satisfaction, quality of life and bladder neck contracture and/or urethral stricture are predictable from demographic and postoperative prostate cancer factors. Materials and Methods: A self-reporting questionnaire was completed and returned by 1,069 of 1,396 eligible patients (77%) who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1962 and 1997. Of the respondents 868 (85.7%) underwent surgery after 1990 and in all prostatectomy had been done a minimum of 6 months previously. Questionnaire results were independently analyzed by a third party for morbidity tabulation and the association of patient reported satisfaction. Results: The patient self-reported incidence of any degree of post-prostatectomy incontinence, impotence and bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture was 65.6%, 88.4% and 20.5%, respectively. The incidence of incontinence requiring protection was 33% and only 2.8% of respondents had persistent bladder neck contracture or urethral stricture. Although incontinence and impotence significantly affected self-reported sexual function satisfaction, quality of life and willingness to undergo treatment again (p = 0.001), 77.5% of patients would elect surgery again. This finding remained true even after adjusting for demographic variables, and the time between surgery and the survey by multiple logistic regression. Conclusions: Although radical prostatectomy morbidity is common and affects self-reported overall quality of life, most patients would elect the same treatment again. Impotence and post-prostatectomy incontinence were significantly associated with sexual function satisfaction, quality of life and willingness to undergo treatment again. Bladder neck contracture and/or urethral stricture was associated with willingness to undergo treatment again after adjusting for demographic variables and time from surgery to the survey.
Predicting the linear optical response of J -aggregate microcavity exciton-polariton devices

We demonstrate that linear dispersion theory accurately predicts the linear optical response of strongly coupled microcavity exciton-polariton devices containing thin films of $J$ aggregates of the cyanine dye [5,6-dichloro-2-[3-[5,6-dichloro-1-ethyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)-2(3H)-benzimidazolidene]-1-propenyl]-1-ethyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl) benzimidazolium hydroxide, inner salt, sodium salt] (TDBC) when a spectrally resolved complex index of refraction derived by model-free quasi-Kramers-Kronig regression is used for the $J$-aggregate thin film. We show that the Rabi splitting can be finely tuned through the $J$-aggregate film thickness, and we estimate that the minimum linewidth of lower branch exciton polaritons at room temperature in TDBC $J$-aggregate-based structures is 8.4 meV.
Sex differences in the play behavior of yearling yellow-bellied marmots

Play in yearling yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) was studied under non-manipulative field conditions in the Upper East River Valley of Colorado. The behavior patterns constituting play were described and illustrated and 12 specific hypotheses related to sex differences were tested. The results of these tests were used to evaluate the adaptive significance of play by comparing two major functional hypotheses: motor training and social cohesion.
Traditional fisherfolk and no-take protected areas: The Peixe Lagoon National Park dilemma

Abstract This study challenges the ‘National Park’ as the appropriate management model for the Peixe Lagoon area in southern Brazil through an investigation of local fisherfolk livelihoods and traditional ecological knowledge. We argue that top-down management policies implemented through a non-participatory process, which have resulted in conflict between government officials and fisherfolk, disregarded the fisherfolk’s cultural practices and particular knowledge, thereby violating their rights as traditional people. Multiple suggestions are provided to achieve environmental conservation schemes without compromising the local traditional fishing livelihoods.
Should the use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy be increasing as it is

Recent studies have shown a dramatic increase in the use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). The choice of surgical procedure is primarily influenced by the recommendations of physicians and surgeons. As smaller breast cancers are detected by improved breast screening, and larger breast cancers are reduced in size by neo-adjuvant chemo- and endocrine therapy, breast conservation therapy (BCT) has been applicable to more women. No one would advocate CPM with the breast primary was to be treated by BCT. This makes the more than doubling of the rate of CPM even harder to understand. The ability to better define inherited breast cancer risk by genetic analysis of BRCA1 or 2 mutations does identify a group of patients at greatly increased lifetime risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC). This segment of the population does not account for the sharp increase in CPM. It appears that many physicians and surgeons believe the risk of contralateral breast cancer to be sufficiently high to justify advising CPM. This risk is often overestimated by both healthcare providers and patients. The case for additional surgery should involve considerations of risk versus benefit, mortality being the principal patient concern and morbidity secondary. Yet there is some morbidity in adding a second mastectomy, and no evidence of mortality benefit. Invasive lobular carcinoma is considered by some physicians to represent an increased risk of contralateral cancer, but that has not proved to be correct. Women with lobular carcinoma in situ or atypical ductal hyperplasia found at the time of their cancer diagnosis are sometimes advised to consider CPM. Treatment with tamoxifen has shown a 50-75% reduction in risk from these tissue findings. Chemotherapy for the primary breast cancer also lowers contralateral risk by about 20%. Symmetry is another reason some have recommended CPM. Reduction can be performed rather than mastectomy, if required. The use of skin-sparing mastectomy has greatly reduced the incidence of any surgery needed for symmetry on the contralateral breast. MRI used to "stage the breast" can raise questions by noting small foci of enhancement in the contralateral breast. Some women elect CPM rather than biopsy or further imaging of the contralateral breast. The case can be made that CPM should be on the decline. Its increase raises questions of the awareness of breast oncologists, medical and surgical, of the true risk data.
Pulmonary Abnormalities in Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome: A Histologic, Ultrastructural, and Immunocytochemical Study

Klippel-Trenaunay (KT) syndrome is a rare, sporadic, congenital vascular disease of unknown etiology. We describe pulmonary findings in an 18-year-old male patient followed up since birth with the KT syndrome. The patient developed pleural and pericardial serous effusions that led to an open lung biopsy. Previous pulmonary findings have been limited to thromboembolic phenomena and pulmonary vein varicosities. On the other hand, reports of lymphatic hyperplasia, aplasia, and hypoplasia in KT have been limited to the extremities. For the first time, we describe lymphatic involvement of the lung in KT. The plexiform hyperplasia of the lymphatic channels with smooth muscle hyperplasia leading to lymphatic obstruction, pleural and pericardial effusions are new findings. The lymphatic nature of the plexiform channels was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Von Willebrand factor and QD-END/10 monoclonal antibodies either did not react or reacted poorly with lymphatic endothelium, features used to distinguish lymphatic and venous endothelium. Ultrastructurally, the absence of basement membrane continuity further substantiated the lymphatic nature of the channels. From our findings, the lymphatic abnormality in the syndrome appears to be more generalized than previously thought. This entity should be distinguished from lymphangioleiomyomatosis to which it bears a superficial morphologic appearance.
Structural Characterization of Metabolites of the X-ray Contrast Agent Iopromide in Activated Sludge Using Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

Identification of degradation products of environmental contaminants is a challenging task because not only are they present in very low concentrations but they are also mixed with complex matrixes that interfere with detection. This work illustrates a simple approach using ion trap mass spectrometry combined with H/D-exchange experiments to elucidate the structures of iopromide metabolites formed during biodegradation in activated sludge. Iopromide is an X-ray contrast agent that has been detected frequently in effluents of wastewater treatment plants and in surface waters due to its persistence and high usage. Three metabolites produced by oxidation of the primary alcohols (forming carboxylates) on the side chains of iopromide were identified in a batch reactor with mixed liquor from a conventional activated sludge. Derivatization of the carboxylic acid to form a methyl ester and interpretation of the MS2 data of this derivative aided in the confirmation of the identities of these metabolites. Furthermo...
Information architectures: methods and practice

Abstract The concept of an information architecture is explored as a fundamental building block underlying the development of effective information systems. An information architecture is a personnel-, organization- and technology-independent profile of the major information categories used within an enterprise. The profile shows how the information categories relate to business processes and how the information categories must be interconnected to facilitate support for decision makers. Much of the material presented is based on the results of work with a panel of experts. The panel was made up of senior IS executives who have developed, implemented and maintained global/corporate information architectures. The paper describes what an information architecture is, why it is important and how it fits into the overall IS planning process. Methodologies for building such an architecture are discussed. The problems involved in developing, implementing and maintaining an information architecture and the benefits that can accrue are discussed citing several case examples. Finally, prescriptive recommendations based on the experience of members of the panel are offered.
Atypical Hypoplastic Left Ventricular Syndrome in a Calf

An 8-day-old male Angus calf was presented to the University of Illinois, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Urbana, IL, for lethargy, weakness, and poor suckle reflex. Clinical evaluation revealed a strong left-sided heart murmur and a split S2 sound. The calf died within 48 hours. Necropsy revealed a combination of the following cardiac defects: left ventricular hypoplasia, high ventricular septal defect, left auricular atresia with mitral valve aplasia, patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus, and pulmonary trunk atresia. Mild suppurative pneumonia with pulmonary edema and congestion were also present. This combination of defects appears to be similar to the hypoplastic left heart syndrome in humans and is reported here for the first time in cattle.
Examining Quality Improvement Programs: The Case of Minnesota Hospitals

Objective. To determine if there is a hierarchy of improvement program adoption by hospitals and outline that hierarchy. Data Sources. Primary data were collected in the spring of 2007 via e-survey from 210 individuals representing 109 Minnesota hospitals. Secondary data from 2006 were assembled from the Leapfrog database. Study Design. As part of a larger survey, respondents were given a list of improvement programs and asked to identify those programs that are used in their hospital. Data Collection/Data Extraction. Rasch Model Analysis was used to assess whether a unidimensional construct exists that defines a hospital's ability to implement performance improvement programs. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of the Rasch ability scores with Leapfrog Safe Practices Scores to validate the research findings. Principal Findings. The results of the study show that hospitals have widely varying abilities in implementing improvement programs. In addition, improvement programs present differing levels of difficulty for hospitals trying to implement them. Our findings also indicate that the ability to adopt improvement programs is important to the overall performance of hospitals. Conclusions. There is a hierarchy of improvement programs in the health care context. A hospital's ability to successfully adopt improvement programs is a function of its existing capabilities. As a hospital's capability increases, the ability to successfully implement higher level programs also increases.
Activation of plasminogen by human plasma kallikrein.

Abstract Purified human plasma kallikrein converts human plasminogen to plasmin. When plasminogen is present in excess, the yield of plasmin is proportional to the concentration of kallikrein with a molar ratio of the plasmin to kallikrein of 1.20. Addition of increasing amounts of plasminogen results in a maximum yield of plasmin equivalent to 1.19 moles/mole kallikrein. These data suggest the formation of a stoichiometric equimolar complex of plasmin and kallikrein in the course of the activation of plasminogen by kallikrein. Hageman factor activation of fibrinolysis appears to be mediated by kallikrein-catalyzed formation of plasmin from plasminogen.
Breathing modes and induced resonant melting of the double helix

Abstract Breathing modes are found in double helical DNA which can induce melting by excessive stretching of H-bonds. Energy for such melting may be supplied by splitting of nucleoside triphosphate bonds.
The application of ultrasonic ranging and group technology concepts to robot material handling tasks

Abstract An Automatic Part Transfer System (APTS) which consists of a robot equipped with a lowcost sensing device and a versatile gripper is described. The purpose of the system is to be able to transfer randomly-placed parts from a conveyor to a machine tool table or packaging container with a minimum amount of robot program and gripper tooling changes. Ultrasonic pulse-echo ranging is used to determine the location, orientation, size, and overall shape of the object to be handled. Parts are grouped according to dimensional characteristics which dictate how they are to be handled by the gripper. A Pseudo Phase-Change (PPC) gripper is used to handle a variety of part shapes.
Optimizing CMOS technology for maximum performance

Since power dissipation is becoming a dominant limitation on the continued improvement of CMOS technology, technologists must understand the best way to design transistors in the presence of power constraints. The primary objective is to obtain as much performance as possible for a fixed amount of power, and it is chip performance, not device performance, that matters. In order to investigate this regime, we have captured in simplified models the basic elements for determining chip performance, including intrinsic transistor characteristics, circuit delay, tolerance issues, basic microprocessor composition, and power dissipation and heat removal considerations. These models have been assembled in a processor-level technology-optimization program to study the characteristics of optimal technology across many generations of CMOS. The results that are presented elucidate the limits of future CMOS technology improvements, the optimal energy consumption conditions, and the relative benefits of various proposed technology enhancements, including high-k gate insulators, metal gates, high-mobility semiconductors, improved heat removal, and the use of multiple layers of circuitry.
A generalized binomial distribution

A new generalization of the binomial distribution is introduced that allows dependence between trials, nonconstant probabilities of success from trial to trial, and which contains the usual binomial distribution as a special case. Along with the number of trials and an initial probability of ‘success’, an additional parameter that controls the degree of correlation between trials is introduced. The resulting class of distributions includes the binomial, unirnodal distributions, and bimodal distributions. Formulas for the moments, mean, and variance of this distribution are given along with a method for fitting the distribution to sample data.
Engineering Our Food: Possible Risks verses Reward

Abstract Recently there has been a push to put a ban on genetically Modified foods because many people believe that they are harmful to the health of the public but on the other hand with the world's population continuing to grow and many countries lacking enough food to support their populations. The balancing of possible risk verses benefits is critical because of the great quantities of food that Genetically Engineered Food can provide compared to unmodified foods, but with possible risk factors.