cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin B12 deficiency in patients undergoing bariatric surgery: preventive strategies and key recommendations.

Abstract Background Advances in bariatric surgery have brought about a paradigm shift in the management of obesity, with benefits extending beyond weight loss. However, nutritional deficiencies are an inherent problem in the postoperative period and often require lifelong supplementation. Vitamin B 12 , also referred to as cobalamin, is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies affecting this population. This review explores the pathophysiology of cobalamin deficiency in patients undergoing bariatric surgery and provides an overview of the effectiveness of various available vitamin B 12 formulations. Methods To identify the relevant literature, a systematic review of MEDLINE was conducted from the earliest dates through September 2012 for English-language articles describing the prevention and management of vitamin B 12 deficiency in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Results Intramuscular vitamin B 12 continues to be the gold standard of therapy for vitamin B 12 deficiency, especially in symptomatic patients. In select patients with asymptomatic vitamin B 12 deficiency after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), high-dose oral cyanocobalamin should be given a consideration, especially when there are concerns with the adherence to intramuscular therapy or if compliance comes into question. Unlike patients post-RYGB, those undergoing restrictive procedures such as gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy may be maintained postoperatively on a lower-dose daily vitamin B 12 supplementation. Efficacy data of nasal and sublingual routes for maintenance therapy is currently awaited. Conclusion Patients undergoing bariatric surgery must be continuously educated on proper nutrition, the risk of developing significant vitamin B 12 deficiency, and the role of supplements in avoiding catastrophic consequences.
The relationship between continuous improvement and rapid improvement sustainability

While rapid improvement efforts, e.g. Kaizen events, and continuous improvement efforts, i.e. kaizen, remain popular approaches to operational excellence, it is rare that organisations fully sustain change from these initiatives. The impact of both Kaizen events and kaizen may be substantially lower, if not entirely eliminated, after significant time has elapsed from initial implementation of changes. In this paper, we examine how having a continuous improvement culture can support rapid improvement sustainability via an examination of the impact of Kaizen events several months after implementation. Employing a dynamic capabilities perspective and using the institutionalisation of planned change framework, we empirically examine this relationship via a field study of 65 Kaizen events in eight manufacturing organisations. In short, we find that the extent to which work area employees exhibit peer learning, as well as awareness and responsibility both inside and outside of their work area, and the extent to...
Therapeutic potentials of human embryonic stem cells in Parkinson's disease.

The loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra is the pathological hallmark characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The strategy of replacing these degenerating neurons with other cells that produce dopamine has been the main approach in the cell transplantation field for PD research. The isolation, differentiation, and long-term cultivation of human embryonic stem cells and the therapeutic research discovery made in relation to the beneficial properties of neurotrophic and neural growth factors has advanced the transplantation field beyond dopamine-producing cells. The present review addresses recent advances in human embryonic stem cell experimentation in relation to treating PD, as well as cell transplantation techniques in conjunction with alternative therapeutics.
Polyphosphate: a link between platelets, coagulation and inflammation

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is abundant in biological organisms. PolyP is a major component of dense granules of human platelets and is secreted upon platelet activation. Studies from our lab and others have shown that polyP is a potent modulator of the blood clotting cascade, acting as a pro-hemostatic, prothrombotic and proinflammatory agent depending on its polymer size and location. PolyP may represent at least one of the long-sought (patho)physiologic activators of the contact pathway of blood clotting, and its actions may also help to explain previously unexplained abilities of activated platelets to enhance plasma clotting reactions. PolyP may have utility as a hemostatic agent to control bleeding, and conversely, polyP antagonists might have utility as antithrombotic/anti-inflammatory agents with reduced bleeding side effects. The detailed molecular mechanisms by which polyP modulates blood clotting reactions still remain to be elucidated.
Three-dimensional diving behaviors of ringed seals (Phoca hispida)

Dives of five freely diving ringed seals were classified into three-dimensional movement types. Horizontally convoluted dives, defined as dives with angular velocity > 15°/sec, appeared to be foraging or social dives. Simple dives that did not include convoluted movements (angular velocity 0.6, on a scale of 0-1) were presumed to be travel dives. Each three-dimensional dive type was observed with similar frequency in dives with two distinct time-depth profiles: V-shaped profiles in which ascent immediately followed descent, and U-shaped profiles in which >7 sec were spent at depth between descent and ascent. The lack of behavioral differences between dives with distinct time-depth profiles suggested that time-depth profiles are not a reliable means of inferring dive behaviors for ringed seals.
The application of benchmark dose methodology to data from prenatal developmental toxicity studies

Abstract The benchmark dose (BMD) concept was applied to 246 prenatal-developmental toxicity (DT) datasets from government, industry and commercial laboratories. Five modeling approaches were used, 2 generic and 3 specific to DT models. BMDs for both quantal and continuous data were compared with statistically derived no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) to determine similarities. Quantal (Q) endpoints included litter responses (e.g., one or more dead or malformed implants), and QBMDs were calculated using a Q Weibull (QW) model. Two types of continuous (C) data were modeled, the proportion of implants affected per litter, and the change in fetal weight (both mean and distribution); continuous power (CP) and DT models were used to calculate CBMDs. QBMDs for a 5% change in response (QBMD05,) were 6-fold lower, on average, than the corresponding NOAEL. CBMD05s on average were similar to the corresponding NOAELs, and CBMD05s from different models were similar to each other. Including litter size but not threshold improved the fit of the DT models. For fetal weight data, specific cutoff values were used to calculate BMDs that were similar on average to the corresponding NOAELs: (1) changes from the control mean (5% of the mean, 25th percentile of the control distribution, or a decrease of 0.5 standard deviation), and (2) a 5 or 10% decrease in the proportion of fetuses below the 5th or 10th percentile, respectively, of the control distribution. These results support the use of BMDs as providing a more consistent basis for risk assessment than do NOAELs.
Overview of Metagenomics for Marine Biodiversity Research

We are in the midst of the fastest growing revolution in molecular biology, perhaps in all of life science, and it appears to be speeding up. We still know very little about the vast diversity of micro-organisms, their metabolic pathways and microbial activity in natural environments. Modern genomic tools are providing deep access to natural microbial diversity and ecology. Interdisciplinary approaches will be required to fully understand microbial ecology by: (1) analysis of genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes and metabolomes and (2) analysis at various levels of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Data gathered is not only theoretical. It holds the promise of practical applications in the control of infectious diseases, in the production of biotechnology goods and services and in environmental remediation. It is an incredibly exciting time in science for the newer generation of scientists, “loaded” with opportunities. It is an excellent time to develop and apply tools to solve problems of local and global importance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/encuentro.v0i93.914 Encuentro No. 93, 117-125, 2012
Effect of growth hormone on metaphyseal uptake of 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate.

Eight children with short stature and GH deficiency were studied with 99mTc-methylene diphosphate before, during (occasionally), and after 4 months of GH therapy. Using digital images of the femoral shaft and distal metaphysis, the percent change in metaphysis-to-shaft,metaphysis-to-background (muscle), and metaphysis-to-injected dose ratios were calculated and compared to percent change in growth velocity over 4 months. The percent change in metaphysis-to-shaftand metaphysis-to-background ratios showed no significant correlation with percent change in growth velocity. The percent change in metaphysis-to-dose ratio demonstrated a significant correlation with change in growth velocity (r = 0.66; P < 0.05). In addition, five of six patient studies before 4 months (after 1–68 days of GH therapy) demonstrated an increased metaphysis-todose ratio compared to baseline. In conclusion, GH therapy in GH-deficient children appears toincrease the uptake of 99mTcmethylene diphosphonate in the metaphysis, shaft, and m...
Commutative cancellative semigroups with nontrivial homomorphisms into nonnegative real numbers

Abstract Let S be a commutative Cancellative semigroup. Under what condition on S is S nontrivially homomorphic into the nonnegative (positive) real number additive semigroup? The question was answered in the special cases [1, 3]. In this paper the author gives necessary and sufficient conditions in the general case from the various points of view: embeddings, partial orderings, the system of ideals, B -condition and structure semigroups.
Protection from olanzapine-induced metabolic toxicity in mice by acetaminophen and tetrahydroindenoindole.

In mice and in humans, treatment with the second-generation antipsychotic drug olanzapine (OLZ) produces excessive weight gain, adiposity and secondary metabolic complications, including loss of glucose and insulin homeostasis. In mice consuming a high-fat (HF) diet, a similar phenotype develops, which is inhibited by the analgesic acetaminophen (APAP) and by the antioxidant tetrahydroindenoindole (THII). Therefore, we examined the ability of APAP and THII to prevent metabolic changes in mice receiving OLZ. C57BL/6J mice received either a normal diet or a HF diet, and were administered daily dosages of OLZ (3 mg kg−1 body weight), alone or with APAP (30 mg kg−1 body weight) or THII (4.5 mg kg−1 body weight), for 10 weeks. Parameters of body composition and metabolism, including glucose and insulin homeostasis and oxidative stress, were examined. OLZ treatment doubled the HF diet-induced increases in body weight and percent body fat. These increases were partially prevented by both APAP and THII, although food consumption was constant in all groups. The THII protection was associated with an increase in whole body and mitochondrial respiration. OLZ also exacerbated, and both APAP and THII prevented, HF diet-induced loss of glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. As increased body fat promotes insulin resistance by a pathway involving oxidative stress, we evaluated production of reactive oxygen and lipid peroxidation in white adipose tissue (WAT). HF diet caused an increase in lipid peroxidation, NADPH-dependent O2 uptake and H2O2 production, which were further exacerbated by OLZ. APAP, THII and the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium chloride, each abolished oxidative stress in WAT. We conclude that both APAP and THII intervene in the development of obesity and metabolic complications associated with OLZ treatment.
QRP04-3: Architecture, Implementation, and Evaluation of cmpTCP Westwood

In this paper we propose cmpTCP-Westwood (cmpTCPW), which is an extension of a variant of TCP-Westwood and SCTP. The proposed cmpTCPW has been implemented by altering and extending library-based open-source implementation of SCTP. The proposed cmpTCPW manages transmission control parameters of all paths simultaneously; a scheduler concurrently dispatches packets over all the paths from a common transmission queue. However, one virtual retransmission queue is maintained for each path, and the receiver sends acknowledgment for a packet on the same path on which the packet is received. In this paper we describe the proposed architecture and implementation; also, we report empirical evaluations of cmpTCPW. In our network emulation laboratory, two host computers were connected through two independent network emulators. Each network emulator runs on a separate computer, and the network parameters are adjusted independently. Our extensive evaluation shows that cmpTCPW delivers higher throughput than cmpTCP.
Estimating severity of burn in children: Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score versus Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI)

Abstract Objective The purpose of our study is to validate the Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score and compare the accuracy of PRISM predicted outcomes to the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI). We hypothesized that the PRISM score is more accurate in predicting mortality and hospital length of stay than the ABSI in children with severe burns. Methods All children Results A total of 83 patients met criteria and had complete data sets. The mean age (±SEM) was 8.0 ± 0.6 years, mean % TBSA burn 49.9 ± 2.1%, 62.7% were male, and 45.8% had inhalation injury. Hospital LOS was 74.4 ± 7.9 days, with 31.5 ± 4.9 ventilator days. Mean PRISM score ranged from 14.2 to 16.0, with ABSI scores 7.9 to 8.5. Actual overall mortality was 18.1% compared to a PRISM predicted mortality of 19.8 ± 2.5% (p Conclusions Both PRISM and ABSI scores are predictive of mortality in severely burned children. Only ABSI correlates with hospital length of stay and ventilator days, and thus may also be more useful in predicting ICU resource utilization.
Fatigue of polymers

The general nature of fracture in polymers, when subject to alternating loads as distinct from static or steadily increasing loads, is reviewed; and the molecular mechanisms and micromechanics aspects of the fatigue fracture process are discussed. Some attention is given to thermal fatigue, where fracture results primarily from a large specimen temperature rise due to hysteresis heating. However, primary emphasis is devoted to mechanical fatigue, in which fracture is a result of initiation and propagation of a crack, as a result of the periodic nature of the applied load.
Quantitative electroencephalogram examination of effects of risperidone in schizophrenic patients

The objective of this study was twofold: (1) to describe the effects of risperidone on the quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) in schizophrenic patients and (2) to explore the relationships between EEG changes and clinical improvement. The subjects were nine male schizophrenic patients participating in a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial (duration, 9 weeks) aimed to assess the effects of risperidone. The EEG effects of risperidone were compared with those of haloperidol. Nine haloperidol patients were selected from a separate treatment study that had a similar design and selection criteria and used identical EEG methods. We found that risperidone treatment induced widespread changes in interhemispheric power asymmetry. Furthermore, overall clinical improvement was related to two EEG measures: (1) absolute power changes in the beta frequency band and (2) power asymmetry in the theta and delta bands. Both relationships were most expressed in the anterior areas. The first relationship could not be linked to any specific cluster of behavioral symptoms. The second relationship was linked to improvements of affective symptoms and hostility-suspiciousness. The relationships observed in the risperidone group could not be detected in the haloperidol-treated patients. We hypothesized that the first relationship is attributable to an interaction between the serotonergic and dopaminergic system; the second relationship was associated with serotonergic mechanisms.
Light Induced Liquid Crystalline Phases in the Lipid Bilayer

The cell membrane is one the most well known examples of liquid crystalline behavior in living systems and in recent years more detailed attention has been paid to the different phases which may occur in biologically relevant lipid bilayers. In this paper we examine a ternary lipid mixture formed from DOPC, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol. In such mixtures fluorescence illumination has been shown to induce the formation of large, more ordered domains or ‘rafts’. This mechanism is investigated using fluorescence microscopy and we find the formation of various “soft” structures including the newly discovered “disc instability” is induced by illumination of lipid tubules.
Experimental observation of 4D Wigner and Ambiguity distribution functions

We present a technique for measuring the 4D Wigner distribution function and Ambiguity function of 2D signals using a windowed Fourier transform. The method is demonstrated by numerical and experimental results.
Little Rock Lake (Wisconsin): Perspectives on an experimental ecosystem approach to seepage lake acidification

Ecosystem-level experiments are essential in assessing the effects of environmental perturbations like acidification. To date in North America, such experiments have been rare and geographically limited to drainage lakes in south-western Ontario and to streams in the northeastern US. Seepage lakes, which are the dominant hydrologic type in large regions of the US, have received limited attention from many perspectives, including whole-system manipulation. The Little Rock Lake Acidification Project was initiated to expand insights from previous acidification experiments with whole drainage lakes to a seepage lake system. It involves the gradual acidification of a small (18 ha), seepage lake in northcentral Wisconsin. The lake has been divided into a treatment and reference basin using a flexible, inert barrier; and the treatment basin is being acidified in steps of 0.5 pH units/2 yr period from a starting pH of 6.1 to a final pH of 4.6 (roughly the average pH of rain in this region). The goals are to document the biological and chemical changes which occur, to identify the direct and indirect mechanisms which regulate responses, and to expand insights to a class of lakes previously understudied. In this paper, we describe the history and rationale of the project and we discuss in general terms the utility and constraints of whole-ecosystem manipulations.
The role of dose and position on the concentration of residual point defects in as-implanted wafers

Abstract As generated, point defects are subject to a relaxation process which results in an in situ annihilation of part of the generated point defect concentration. The surviving fraction, m, can be determined by comparing the doses required to achieve equal damage deposition for room temperature implants and implants at cryogenic temperatures. It was found that m exhibits a maximum in the implant midrange and decreases continuously with dose as the residual point defect concentration accumulates.
Injectability and tissue compatibility of poly-(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) in the skin of rats: a pilot study.

Background. Filling substances have been used in dermatologic surgery for decades, but an ideal agent has yet to be discovered. Poly-(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) is a hydrogel that has been used in medical settings for more than 50 years, but not as a cutaneous filling agent. Objective. We investigated the intracutaneous injectability and tissue compatibility of this hydrogel in a rat model. Particular attention was paid to ease of injection through small needles, volume retention of the implant, clinical course, and histocompatibility. Methods. The shaved backs of 12 anesthetized Sprague–Dawley rats were injected with the sterilized hydrogel and the rats closely observed. The rats were sacrificed in groups of four at 2, 4, and 12 weeks after implantation. Implant size was measured, volume calculated, and biopsies taken at each time interval. Results. Poly-(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) is easily injected through 30-gauge needles. All rats tolerated the implants well clinically. Histopathology revealed well-circumscribed implants with pseudoencapsulation, neoangiogenesis, and mixed inflammatory cells predominating at the periphery. Volume calculations revealed an average of 33% reduction at 4 weeks and 35% reduction at 12 weeks. Conclusion. Poly-(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) is easy to inject intracutaneously and is well tolerated in the rat model. Short-term volume retention is good. Histopathology suggests a subclinical inflammatory reaction expected with implantation of a synthetic substance into the skin. Additional studies are necessary to investigate the continued persistence of the hydrogel and its long-term effects on surrounding tissue.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments and associated benthos in Lake Erie

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were analyzed in surficial sediments and benthic organisms in southwestern Lake Erie near a large coal fired power plant. Sediment concentrations (530–770 ppb PAH) were relatively homogenous throughout most of the 150 km 2 area, although river and nearshore concentrations reached nearly 4 ppm. Oligochaete worms and chironomid midges were near equilibrium with local sediments except for enhanced concentrations in nearshore midges.
Dispersion of alumina and silica powders in non-aqueous media : mixed-solvent effects

Abstract Colloidal amorphous silica and α-alumina powders were dispersed in organic media (non-aqueous solvents and dispersants) and stabilized by electrostatic, and steric, or electrosteric repulsive forces. The effects of variables such as the physicochemical properties of both solvent media and dispersants, the proportions of mixed solvent media, etc., were studied. The electrostatic contribution to the stabilization was shown to be much greater than expected. The electrostatic, steric, and electrostatic interactions between particles could be tailored by changing the organic-liquid media.
Comparative Elimination of Radiocesium and Radiostrontium by Grasshoppers

Recent entomological investigations have proved the value of radioactive isotopes as research tools in varied studies ranging from physiological problems to insect control (Jenkins 1957). In areas contaminated by radioactive waste products, radioisotopes are providing information on the position and importance of insects in the transfer of materials through communities (Crossley and Howden, unpublished data). In a contaminated radioactive area (White Oak lake bed) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a difference in the relative accumulation of Strontium-90 and Ccsium-137 by insects was found: Insects reached equilibrium concentrations for Cesium-137 which were almost as high as concentrations in the plants, but Strontium-90 concentrations in the insects were nearly an order of magnitude lower than the corresponding plant concentrations. Laboratory studies on the elimination of radioactive isotopes of cesium and strontium by grasshoppers provided an explanation for this difference.
Photonic Crystal Optrode Sensor for Detection of Pb2+ in High Ionic Strength Environments

We developed an optrode sensing device that utilizes a polymerized colloidal array (PCCA) photonic crystal material. This array diffracts light in the visible spectral region due to the periodic spacing of colloidal particles. The PCCA changes diffraction wavelength due to binding of Pb2+ to an 18-crown-6 ether molecular recognition agent. This optrode consists of a probe assembly that contains the PCCA Pb2+ sensing film. An inexpensive, commercial diode array spectrometer and a fiber-optic reflectance probe monitors the wavelength of light back diffracted by the PCCA. Liquid inlet and outlet connections are provided to introduce the sample solution and to exchange out nonbinding ions. In low ionic strength solutions, diffraction wavelength shifts are actuated by the binding of the Pb2+ to the crown ether to immobilize the Pb2+ counterions. In these low ionic strength solutions, a Donnan potential forms to cause an osmotic pressure, which swells the PCCA in proportion to the number density of bound Pb2+. This Donnan potential disappears at high ionic strengths. Thus, no response of the PCCA occurs. Our optrode design allows for the fast removal of nonbound ions from the PCCA by washing with pure water. Since the bound Pb2+ ions have a slow off rate from the crown ether, the bound Pb2+ PCCA diffraction transiently red shifts during washing, directly in proportion to the sample Pb2+ concentration. This transient diffraction red-shift can be used to quantitatively determine Pb2+ concentrations in high ionic strength solutions such as bodily fluids.
Steeped in International Affairs?: The Foreign Policy Views of the Tea Party

The Tea Party is a powerful new force in American domestic politics, but little is known about its supporters' views on foreign affairs. New survey data indicates that supporters of the Tea Party exhibit attitudes on international relations consistent with the Jacksonian tradition in American political thought but not, as some have maintained, isolationist opinions of the Jeffersonian variety. Jacksonians are supporters of a strong defense and a large military presence abroad and are opposed to Wilsonian global idealism. The article operationalizes support for these three different foreign policy traditions by connecting them to previous findings on the structure of American foreign policy. The effect of Tea Party affiliation on foreign policy attitudes is severely weakened, however, once we control for political ideology, particularly economic conservatism. As is the case in domestic politics, Tea Party sympathizers seem to be somewhat ordinary conservatives, not a completely new breed. There is a direct parallel between their domestic attitudes and their foreign policy attitudes. Their lack of support for idealistic policies abroad, their most prominent set of attitudes, is part and parcel of a lack of social solidarity indicated in their more economically libertarian position at home.
Multitrophic functional diversity predicts ecosystem functioning in experimental assemblages of estuarine consumers

The use of functional traits to explain how biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning has attracted intense interest, yet few studies have a priori altered functional diversity, especially in multitrophic communities. Here, we manipulated multivariate functional diversity of estuarine grazers and predators within multiple levels of species richness to test how species richness and functional diversity predicted ecosystem functioning in a multitrophic food web. Community functional diversity was a better predictor than species richness for the majority of ecosystem properties, based on generalized linear mixed-effects models. Combining inferences from eight traits into a single multivariate index increased prediction accuracy of these models relative to any individual trait. Structural equation modeling revealed that functional diversity of both grazers and predators was important in driving final biomass within trophic levels, with stronger effects observed for predators. We also show that different species drove different ecosystem responses, with evidence for both sampling effects and complementarity. Our study extends experimental investigations of functional trait diversity to a multilevel food web, and demonstrates that functional diversity can be more accurate and effective than species richness in predicting community biomass in a food web context.
Against Simple Universal Health-care Identifiers

Medical records are becoming fully computerized; technical, administrative and economic forces are pushing toward standardization on a single identifier, such as the Social Security Number (SSN) to index all records; consequently, the privacy and security of our medical histories will be severely compromised. We argue that there are sensible and effective technological means available to reduce the risks of such compromise, and that it is time to design the characteristics we want of our record-keeping systems rather than to fall into the problems caused by unthinking adoption of an overly simplistic approach.
2D analytical model for the study of NEM relay device scaling

NEM relay is a promising class of device to overcome the power crisis of CMOS circuits. To design these devices and predict their scaling properties, an analytical model highlighting the fundamental physics of the relay operation is highly desired. This work presents a new 2D analytical model for the study of NEM relay scaling. The model retains the physical insights for NEM relays and yet has the simplicity close to the commonly used 1D model. The error as compared to a finite element model is reduced from ∼25% (1D model) to ∼3% (this work) by introducing a ratio R(a) to account for 2D effects in the 1D formulation. Besides the fundamental mechanical and electrical properties, the model also takes into account surface forces in the operation of NEM relay devices. The impact of surface forces on the operation voltage as devices are scaled down is discussed.
The influence of groin sepsis on extraanatomic bypass patency in patients with prosthetic graft infection.

Twenty-seven vascular prosthetic graft infections in 25 patients were managed from 1981 through 1990 using the principles of extraanatomic bypass through uncontaminated fields and removal of the infected prosthesis. This experience included 18 aortic, three femoral-femoral, three femoral-popliteal, two axillofemoral grafts, and one popliteal endarterectomy patch. The predominant organism wasStaphylococcus epidermidis (26%). Mean follow-up was 36 months. There was only one early and one late death, with two late amputations. Extraanatomic bypass grafts were placed in 21 of 25 patients including all 18 infected aortic grafts. Of these 21 patients, 11 (52%) experienced at least one extraanatomic bypass failure within 15 months, resulting directly in two major lower extremity amputations and two graft reinfections. Axillounifemoral bypass had a higher incidence of failure than axillobifemoral bypass (54% versus 29%). More importantly, however, extraanatomic graft failure was also associated with the presence of groin sepsis. The revision rate was 63% when the graft required circuitous tunneling to avoid groin sepsis, in contrast to a revision rate of only 17% when the graft could be anastomosed directly to the common femoral artery. Of extraanatomic bypass grafts that failed once, 63% had multiple failures. Graft removal and extraanatomic revascularization produced excellent overall results when not involving the groin. Late complications occurred more frequently when groin sepsis was present. These results suggest that, to reduce the incidence of late graft failure and amputation, more aggressive early direct reconstruction should be performed in lieu of atypical graft tunneling, especially if the extraanatomic graft has failed once and the causative organism isStaphylococcus epidermidis.
A micromachined sensor array using thin film resonators

This paper describes the design, modeling and implementation of a microsensor array using aluminum nitride thin film resonators. A finite element method, formulated to accommodate the anisotropic and piezoelectric properties of aluminum nitride, is used to model acoustic wave coupling between resonators and to define the mask design. Two arrays on the same aluminum nitride membrane were fabricated using standard semiconductor processing. The measurements were in agreement with the modeling. A multilayer Mason model was applied to investigate the mass loading and viscoelastic effects via hydrogen absorption on the PdNi coated TFR. The preliminary H/sub 2/ sensitivity tests on a TFR hydrogen sensor are also presented.
Networking policy agents: mobile, intelligent, trusted and XML-based

With policy-based networking, it is possible to define network policies based on user and application oriented business/service level objectives and to distribute the corresponding policy decisions/intelligence across the network consistently. One such policy framework is jointly defined, as an evolving industry standard, by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Working Groups (Policy Framework (PF) and Resource Allocation Protocol (RAP)) and the Directory Enabled Networks (DEN) Industry Group. Management and control, in the IETF framework, deploys a centralized client-server approach which has severe drawbacks with regard to scalability, flexibility and performance. The IETF framework does not scale well to support policy-based management of multi-domain networks. Policy rules, in the IETF framework, are static and have fixed semantics making rules difficult to adapt to change. This paper presents a new framework that overcomes these limitations. The paper describes an architecture that deploys trusted, intelligent and mobile agents in an open programmable networking framework. Policies, in the new framework, are extended to be dynamic and can be installed at network as well as at node (device) level. A policy rule is defined by a single event specification, an executable condition function and executable action function. Rules and interactions among agents are defined in XML notations and schemata. The use of XML for policy representation leads to semantically enriched policy components addressing a variety of functional requirements to a policy framework designed for an open communications market. An illustrative real-world example is also presented in the paper.
Immune Enteral Nutrition Can Improve Outcomes in Medical-Surgical Patients with ARDS: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To determine if early continuous enteral feeding of a diet containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), docosahexaenoic acid, and antioxidants in surgical-medical patients with ARDS improves Lung Injury Score (LIS), gas exchange, Multiple Organ Dysfunction (MOD) Score, ICU length of stay, and days on mechanical ventilation. Methods: Prospective randomized 2-center double-blind controlled trial of 17 ARDS patients whom continuously tube-fed the experimental diet (n=9) or an isonitrogenous, isocaloric standard diet (n=8) at a minimum caloric delivery of 90% of basal energy expenditure. Results: In the experimental group, there was a decrease in lung injury score (p < 0.003) and lower ventilation variables (p < 0.001). Patients in the experimental group had a statistically significant decrease in 28-day MOD score (p < 0.05). The length of ICU stay was significantly decreased in the experimental group (12.8 vs. 17.5 days; p = 0.01). The study was underpowered to detect any survival benefits between the two groups. Conclusion: An EPA and GLA supplemented diet contributes to improved gas exchange in addition to decrease LIS, MOD scores and length of ICU stay in patients with ARDS. An EPA+GLA-enriched enteral diet may be an effective tool in the medical management of ARDS.
Developmental validation of Mini-DogFiler for degraded canine DNA.

A B S T R A C T Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are kept as pets in 39% of American households and are, therefore, a significant source of potentially probative biological evidence. As with any biological evidence, degradation can occur as a consequence of environmental exposure causing fracturing of the DNA and a resulting loss of intact template. Degraded human DNA analysis has benefited from the application of primer sets that amplify shorter nuclear sequences for core STR loci (miniSTRs), resulting in improved DNA profiles. This same approach was applied to our core canine STR loci. The 16-locus ‘‘DogFiler’’ panel was redesigned into three panels of miniSTRs for analysis of degraded canine DNA, with all primer pairs producing amplicons below 205 base pairs in length. These new miniSTR marker panels – known as Mini-DogFiler – were validated according to SWGDAM guidelines, and concordance with the original 16locus multiplex was demonstrated through genotyping 1244 samples. The combination of these miniSTRs and a half-volume reaction increased the amplification success of degraded and low copy number canine biological samples resulting in a near three-fold increase in reportable alleles. This assemblage of miniSTRs along with the DogFiler panel and associated allelic ladder are the first nonhuman DNA profiling system to parallel the human forensic paradigm.
Women, Development, and the UN: A Sixty-Year Quest for Equality and Justice

Women, Development, and the UN: A Sixty-Year Quest for Equality and Justice, by Devaki Jain, with a foreword by Amartya Sen. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2005. 248 pp. ISBN-13: 978-0-253-...
Expression of multiple neurotransmitter receptors by sympathetic preganglionic neurons in vitro

Neurons in the CNS generally receive inputs form multiple afferent sources. These afferent systems seldom all use the same neurotransmitter, so most central neurons are required to express multiple neurotransmitter receptors. This work addresses the issue of how multiple neurotransmitter receptors are regulated on the surface of individual neurons. We made whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from identified chick sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) in dissociated cell cultures. The neurons were derived from stage 30-31 (7 d) chick embryos and were studied within the first week in vitro. We found that by 1 week in vitro, most SPNs responded to the application of GABA, glycine, and glutamate. The responses of SPNs to the amino acid neurotransmitters were similar to the responses of other CNS neurons to these 3 substances. SPNs became sensitive to these substances at different times in culture. At 1 d in vitro, most cells already responded to GABA, and about half of the cells also responded to glycine and kainate. In contrast, responses to NMDA and quisqualate were usually not seen until day 3-4 in vitro. Although there was a general trend for the amplitude of the responses of SPNs to each of the neurotransmitters to increase with time in vitro, there was an immense amount of cell-to-cell variability. By measuring the amplitudes of the responses of a series of SPNs to all 3 transmitters, we were able to test whether a common regulatory mechanism governed the level of responsiveness of SPNs to all 3 amino acid transmitters. We found no correlation between cells in the amplitudes of their responses to the 3 transmitters. Both the differences in time course of appearance of responsiveness and the lack of correlation in the amplitude of responses suggest that the multiple receptors on the surface of SPNs in vitro are independently regulated.
Simulations of magnetorheological suspensions in Poiseuille flow

Particle-level simulations are conducted to study magnetorheological fluids in plane Poiseuille flow. The importance of the boundary conditions for the particles at the channel walls is examined by considering two extreme cases: no friction and infinite coefficient of friction. The inclusion of friction produces Bingham fluid behavior, as commonly observed experimentally for MR suspensions. Lamellar structures, similar to those reported for electrorheological fluids in shear flow, are observed in the post-yield region for both particle boundary conditions. The formation of these lamellae is accompanied by an increase in the bulk fluid velocity. The slip boundary condition produces higher fluid velocities and thicker lamellar structures.
Fish Intake, Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Mortality in a Cohort of Postmenopausal Women

Intake of fish or omega-3 fatty acids may decrease risk of total and coronary heart disease death, but evidence from low-risk populations is less convincing. The authors assessed intake by using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline in a cohort of Iowa women aged 55-69 years. Among women initially free of heart disease and cancer (4,653 deaths over 442,965 person-years), there was an inverse age- and energy-adjusted association between total mortality and fish intake, with a relative risk of 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.74, 0.91) for the highest versus lowest quintile. Age- and energy-adjusted associations also were inverse (p for trend < 0.05), although not entirely monotonic, for cardiovascular, coronary heart disease, and cancer mortality. Adjustment for multiple other risk factors attenuated all associations to statistically nonsignificant levels. Estimated marine omega-3 fatty acid intake also was not associated with total or cause-specific mortality. In comparison, plant-derived alpha-linolenic acid was inversely associated with mortality after multivariable adjustment. Intake of neither fish nor marine omega-3 fatty acids was associated with breast cancer incidence. These findings do not argue against recommending fish as part of a healthy diet, as other evidence suggests benefit. Nevertheless, the authors of this 1986-2000 study could not verify that fish and marine omega-3 fatty acid intake had independent health benefits in these postmenopausal women.
The Role of Social Networks in Getting a Job

This article reviews recent research on the effects of social networks on access to job information and getting a job in the United States. Drawing on network ties from friends, family members, acquaintances, employers, or coworkers can improve the job search because individuals gain access to and make use of their network’s social capital. While this job searching strategy can result in a successful job search for some, not all job seekers benefit from reliance on social networks. We spotlight research that documents how reliance on social networks as a means to find work can actually maintain sex and racial/ethnic inequality at work. We discuss research documenting the important role social networks play in the job acquisition process. The last half of this review focuses on several new developments in the literature that promise to further our understanding of social networks’ lasting effects on employment outcomes.
Pilot intervention with adolescents to increase knowledge and consumption of folate-rich foods based on the Health Belief Model

Folate is important in the prevention of birth defects and in the maintenance of general health. Even after mandatory fortification, many people are still not consuming the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 400 mcg folate/day. Consuming a diet rich in naturally high-folate foods, as opposed to supplementation, may offer additional health benefits and promote an overall healthy diet. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that a learner-centred educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) will successfully increase knowledge and consumption of folate-rich foods, while increasing positive beliefs about folate and health in adolescents. A two-group parallel control trial was conducted in two schools in Nebraska. Pre- and post-study questionnaires included a folate-based food frequency questionnaire, a HBM questionnaire and a folate knowledge test. Participants in the intervention group completed a post-study evaluation. The intervention consisted of three 30-min lessons followed by participant creation of podcasts. One podcast was viewed each week for 8 weeks following the lessons. Data were analysed using t-tests to measure simple effects within the intervention and control groups, and analysis of variance to measure within-subject effects between the groups. Folate consumption decreased in both the intervention and control groups, but these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Significant increases (P = 0.000) in folate knowledge occurred in the intervention group. This difference remained significant (P = 0.001) when compared to the control group. Average HBM rankings significantly decreased (P < 0.05) towards ‘strongly agree’ (Likert scale of 1‐6) in the intervention group (P < 0.05) for all constructs except cues to action. However, when compared to the control group, these differences were only significant for self-efficacy and perceived susceptibility. Creating and viewing podcasts may be helpful for the retention of knowledge over time, but did not appear to be an effective cue to action for increased folate-rich foods in this pilot study.
Alcohol consumption and violence among Argentine adolescents.

Objective: This study investigated the association between alcohol and violence among Argentine youth. Methods: Data from the 2007 Argentina Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), a nationally representative survey of middle school students, were examined using age-adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Of the 1,328 participating students aged 13 to 15 years old, 51.9% reported drinking alcohol in the previous month, with higher rates among males (p = 0.04) and older students (p < 0.01). Both male and female drinkers were nearly twice as likely as non-drinkers to report being physically attacked, being in a physical fight, and having thoughts about self-directed violence. Among drinkers, those who reported poor mental health, were victims of bullying, used tobacco or drugs, or skipped school without per- mission were approximately twice as likely as other drinkers to have engaged in violent activities. Conclusion: Public health interventions targeting violence among young adolescents should be developed in combination with alcohol education programs. © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.
A hybrid FE-FMM technique for electromagnetic scattering

The authors apply a version of the fast multipole method (FMM) to reduce the storage and computational requirement of the boundary integral in the finite-element boundary-integral method. By virtue of its O(N/sup 1.5/) operation count, the application of the single-stage FMM results in substantial speedup of the boundary-integral portion of the code, independently of the shape of the boundary-integral contour. They discuss the efficiency of the method and present an application of the technique to electromagnetic scattering from large grooves recessed in a ground plane.
Geiger mode operation of ultraviolet 4H-SiC avalanche photodiodes

We report single photon counting in p-n junction 4H-SiC avalanche photodetectors. At 325 nm, the unity-gain external quantum efficiency was 10% and the single photon detection efficiency was 2.9%. This result represents /spl sim/30% of the maximum attainable detection efficiency.
Raymond pearl, smoking and longevity

SEWALL Wright, in his early years as a scientist, developed an algorithm for calculating inbreeding coefficients, which brought wide attention to one of the most stellar careers of 20th century genetics ([Wright 1922][1]). His first population genetics problem, and its solution, are much less well
Site Dependence of Electronic Structure of Gd Impurities in GaN

Electronic structure calculations are reported for Gd in GaN on Ga as well as on N site and for pairs of Gd on neighboring Ga and N sites, using the full-potential linearized muffin-tin orbital method in the local spin density approximation with Hubbard U corrections (LSDA+U). The energy of formation for the N site is found to be much higher than for the Ga site even after relaxations are included. The Gd N configuration is found to be at best metastable (in ZB). In WZ and in the pair configurations, the Gd is found to move toward an interstitial site leaving a nitrogen vacancy behind. The electronic structure of these structures and their magnetic moments are discussed.