cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current management of congenital anterior cranial base encephaloceles.

Abstract Objectives Congenital encephaloceles provide unique diagnostic and reconstructive challenges for the pediatric rhinologist. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate contemporary treatment strategies for congenital encephaloceles focusing on presentation, surgical technique, and outcomes. Methods Multi-institutional retrospective chart review of congenital encephaloceles (2003–2019). Data regarding demographics, presenting symptoms, associated abnormalities, surgical technique, size, location, and complications were collected. Results Fourteen patients with 15 congenital encephaloceles were treated using endoscopic techniques (avg 6.0 years, range 2 months–22 years) with mean follow up of 23 months. The majority presented with nasal obstruction (n = 13); only one child had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. Associated anomalies included nasal deformities, congenital hypopituitarism, and Morning Glory syndrome. Average encephalocele size was 2.44 cm (range 0.5–3.6 cm) with mean skull base defect size of 8.6 x 7.7 mm. Locations included the foramen cecum (n = 9), central sphenoid (n = 3), midline anterior cranial fossa (n = 1), orbital plate of frontal bone (n = 1), and ethmoid roof (n = 1). Because of favorable expansion from encephaloceles, it was unnecessary to postpone surgeries to allow nasal cavity growth. Three individuals had prior operations, including surgeries for “nasal polyp” or “adenoid cyst”. Two patients had post-operative complications (meningitis and CSF leak) effectively treated with no further sequelae. Conclusions In the current study, congenital encephaloceles in children as young as 2 months were successfully repaired using endoscopic techniques. Endoscopic approaches remain a safe and effective intervention for management of these lesions.
Value of the Petromeatal Angle in Predicting Outcome of Translabyrinthine Resection of Vestibular Schwannomas.

Background Factors associated with extent of tumor resection (EOR) and facial nerve outcomes include tumor size, anterior extension of the tumor, patient age, and surgical approach. Objective To check whether preoperative measurement of the petromeatal (PMA), petroclival (PCA), and petrous-petrous (PPA) angles can help in predicting EOR, facial nerve outcome, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak occurrence in patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery via the translabyrinthine approach (TLA). Methods A total of 75 patients were included in this retrospective study. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging constructive interface in steady state and postcontrast T1-weighted sequences through the internal acoustic meatus were used to measure the PMA, PCA, and PPA. Results There was a statistically significant association between tumor size and EOR; every additional cm in tumor size decreases the odds of gross-total (GTR)/near-total (NTR) resection by 524% (P = .0000355). After controlling for tumor size, the logistic models revealed a significant effect of the angles on EOR. For example, in a patient with a 2-cm VS, every additional degree in PMA, PCA, and PPA increases the odds of GTR/NTR by 2.3% (P = .0000571), 4.05% (P = .0000397), and 0.37% (P = .0000438), respectively. After adjusting for tumor size, sex, and age, the effect of PMA on the occurrence of an immediate postoperative facial nerve deficit and CSF leak indicated a trend towards significance (P = .0581 and P = .0568, respectively). Conclusion More obtuse petrous bone angles, namely PMA, PCA, and PPA, are good predictors of GTR or NTR in patients undergoing VS surgery via TLA and may be associated with better facial nerve outcomes and lower CSF leak occurrences.
Ixekizumab Overdose: A Case Report

Biologics, defined as medicinal products derived from living cells, are currently some of the most studied pharmaceutical agents and constitute a large portion of recent therapeutic breakthroughs in clinical trials. Relatively novel to the scientific and medical community, insulin was the first biologic agent to be FDA-approved in the 1980’s.1 Since that time, the development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies by Milstein and Kohler has revolutionized modern medicine, with over 100 products currently on the market for the prevention and treatment of infectious, neoplastic, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.2,3 Despite the remarkable clinical success that monoclonal antibodies have achieved since their development, safety data is still limited due to the relatively short duration of time these products have been available. Specifically, there is a considerable paucity of information regarding inadvertent biologic overdose, with most package inserts simply advising clinicians to monitor their patients for symptoms. Due to complex dosing schedules as well as increasing use of these agents, it is likely that healthcare providers will encounter cases of patients accidentally self-administering larger than recommended doses. It is thus imperative to have more data on maximum tolerated doses in order for clinicians to educate and care for their patients in the case of accidental biologic overdose. We therefore present a case of inadvertent administration of a higher than recommended dose of ixekizumab and review the available literature on biologic overdoses.
A comparison of the metabolomic response of grapevine to infection with ascomycete wood-infecting fungi

Abstract Fungi that cause grapevine trunk diseases, including Diplodia seriata, Eutypa lata, Neofusicoccum parvum, and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, all colonize woody tissues, but lesions develop to different extents. Such variation is thought to correspond to fungal virulence, but it may also reflect host metabolic responses to limit colonization. From the woody stems of potted Vitis vinifera ‘Cabernet-Sauvignon’ in the greenhouse, we measured wood lesions and quantified metabolites at the lesion margins. Amino acids, sugars, phenolics, and terpenoids were quantified by appropriate chromatography techniques. At 3 months post-inoculation (MPI) lesions from P. chlamydospora and N. parvum were larger than those of D. seriata and E. lata. Among all pathogen treatments, compared to controls, lower concentrations of terpenoids at 0.5 MPI were followed at 2 MPI by higher concentrations of some phenolic compounds. Lesion length did not correlate with primary metabolites, but larger lesions did correlate with higher phenolic concentrations and lower terpenoid concentrations.
Multiple signaling pathways are essential for synapse formation induced by synaptic adhesion molecules

Little is known about the cellular signals that organize synapse formation. To explore what signaling pathways may be involved, we employed heterologous synapse formation assays in which a synaptic adhesion molecule expressed in a nonneuronal cell induces pre- or postsynaptic specializations in cocultured neurons. We found that interfering pharmacologically with microtubules or actin filaments impaired heterologous synapse formation, whereas blocking protein synthesis had no effect. Unexpectedly, pharmacological inhibition of c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), protein kinase-A (PKA), or AKT kinases also suppressed heterologous synapse formation, while inhibition of other tested signaling pathways-such as MAP kinases or protein kinase C-did not alter heterologous synapse formation. JNK and PKA inhibitors suppressed formation of both pre- and postsynaptic specializations, whereas AKT inhibitors impaired formation of post- but not presynaptic specializations. To independently test whether heterologous synapse formation depends on AKT signaling, we targeted PTEN, an enzyme that hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and thereby prevents AKT kinase activation, to postsynaptic sites by fusing PTEN to Homer1. Targeting PTEN to postsynaptic specializations impaired heterologous postsynaptic synapse formation induced by presynaptic adhesion molecules, such as neurexins and additionally decreased excitatory synapse function in cultured neurons. Taken together, our results suggest that heterologous synapse formation is driven via a multifaceted and multistage kinase network, with diverse signals organizing pre- and postsynaptic specializations.
Synthesis and Characterization of Fe and Ag Core/Shell Nanoparticles

This paper presents current results of the synthesis and characterization of Ag/Fe and Fe/Ag core/shell nanoparticles, as well as the future applications of these materials. By manipulating the introduction time of Silver Nitrate into a solution of Sodium Borohydride, Trisodium Citrate, and Iron (II) Sulfate we were able to demonstrate the control of the material that forms the core and shell of the nanomaterial. Different introduction times of Silver Nitrate have yielded different material configurations (Ag/Fe vs Fe/Ag - core/shell).
Making the connection: combining habitat suitability and landscape connectivity to understand species distribution in an agricultural landscape

The current biodiversity crisis has intensified the need to predict species responses to landscape modification and has renewed attention on the fundamental question of what influences the dynamics of species distributions. Landscape composition can affect two main components that dictate distributions: habitat suitability and habitat connectivity. Elucidating the relative importance of these factors and associated landscape features can help prioritize management action for species conservation. Our objective was to use species distribution models and network-based landscape connectivity models to understand which landscape factors were most predictive of the distribution of an anuran, Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi), in an agriculturally-dominated landscape. We conducted our study in Ohio, USA, near the edge of the cricket frog’s contracting range. To obtain a current assessment of cricket frog distribution, we surveyed 367 pond and stream locations across three North–South transects. We then tested seven regression models, combining habitat suitability and landscape connectivity metrics, to determine which factors best predicted cricket frog presence. We detected cricket frogs in 24% of surveyed locations and they were more likely to occupy pond sites than stream sites. Cricket frog presence was best predicted by models with habitat suitability and the number of interconnected habitat patches. We found that, while there was high variation in habitat suitability across the study area, landscape connectivity was relatively uniform where we surveyed. Agricultural landscapes around the world are often mosaics of land cover types, which may functionally provide connectivity for some species. In such areas, conservation management should focus on preserving and restoring regions of highly suitable habitat. This focus may be particularly relevant for species that do not appear to be dispersal limited and, therefore, able to maintain metapopulation dynamics.
An unstable pathway to room temperature superconductivity

In PNAS, an international collaboration among groups at the University of Houston and Rice University in the United States and Jilin and Linyi Universities in China reports a discovery that in iron-selenide (FeSe) superconductivity survives up to the four times higher temperature if the sample is pressure quenched (1). In what follows, I will try to explain why (I believe) this is very exciting and eye opening. Kamerlingh Onnes, in 1911, observed that the electric resistivity of mercury vanished below T c = 4.2 K. Subsequently, many other materials were also found to show superconductivity, but for well over six decades, this remained a very low–temperature phenomenon. Why this is so was explained by Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer. Their (“BCS”) theory tied the maximal temperature at which superconductivity can survive in a particular material to its phonon and electron spectra and the electron–phonon interaction. The (simplest version of) BCS expression for that “critical” temperature ( T c ) reads kB T c = 1.13ħ ω D × exp[−1/ N (0) V 0 ], where kB and ħ are the Boltzmann and Planck constants, respectively; ω D is the characteristic (Debye) phonon frequency; N (0) is the electronic density of states at the Fermi level; and V 0 is the electron–phonon coupling potential. Until the mideighties, if one inserted the parameters of any known superconducting material, one would infer that T c < 25 K, in agreement with what was observed experimentally. In principle, the BCS theory encodes a recipe of how to raise T c : increase ω D , N (0), and/or V . In practice, unfortunately, the parameters N (0) and V 0 are hard to change in a given material. One can increase ω D , however, by applying a (high) pressure, and hence, this line … [↵][1]1Email: bozovic{at}bnl.gov. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Reinterventions in Patients with Claudication and Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia.

BACKGROUND Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) present with claudication or chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). CLTI patients have a more advanced stage of atherosclerosis and increased comorbidities compared to claudicants, and are at an elevated risk of major amputation and mortality after lower extremity revascularization (LER). However, the frequency of reinterventions for claudication and CLTI have not been compared. Our hypothesis is that patients with CLTI undergo more frequent reinterventions to prevent major amputation. METHODS A single-center retrospective chart review of consecutive patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization (LER) for PAD in 2013-2015 was performed. Patients were stratified based on indication for revascularization into claudication or CLTI. Patient characteristics, outcomes, and reinterventions were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS There were 826 patients undergoing LER and 44% (N = 361) had CLTI. Patients treated for CLTI were more likely to be smokers (P < 0.001), to have diabetes (P< 0.001), chronic renal insufficiency (P< 0.001), end stage renal disease (P< 0.001), and cardiac disease (P< 0.001). CLTI patients were less likely to be on optimal medical management as reflected by decreased rate of aspirin (P< 0.001), ADP receptor/P2Y12 inhibitors (P< 0.001), and statins (P< 0.001) compared to patients with claudication. Patients with CLTI had significantly higher major amputation (3.7% vs. 0.2%, P< 0.001) and mortality (1.4% vs. 0.2%, P = 0.092) at 30 days. At long-term follow up, patients with CLTI had higher rates of major amputation (15.5% vs. 1.3%, P < 0.001) and mortality (37.1% vs. 18.1%, P < 0.001) compared to patients with claudication. There was a significant difference in mean follow-up time between the 2 cohorts (claudication: 3.7 ± 1.5 years versus CLTI: 2.6 ± 1.8 years, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the ipsilateral reintervention rate between the 2 groups (claudication: 39.6% vs. CLTI: 42.7%, P = 0.37) or the mean number of ipsilateral reinterventions (claudication: 2.0 ± 1.6 vs. CLTI: 2.0 ± 1.7). However, after adjusting for follow-up time, the mean number of reinterventions per year was significantly higher for CLTI patients compared to patients with claudication (1.4 ± 2.2 vs. .6 ± 0.7 intervention per year, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing LER for CLTI undergo more frequent reinterventions over time compared to patients treated for claudication. Research on reinterventions after LER should include reporting of the frequency of reintervention adjusted for the follow up period in addition to the reintervention rate defined as the percentage of patients undergoing reintervention.
Integration of a Blog into an Emergency Medicine Residency Curriculum.

Author: Khadpe, Jay, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn, New York Willis, James, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn, New York Silverberg, Mark A., SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn, New York Grock, Andrew, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn, New York Smith, Teresa, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooklyn, New York
n -cycle swapping for the American community survey

Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) are collected under the authority of Title 13 of the United States Code which guarantees the confidentiality of all survey respondents. To maintain this confidentiality while still being able to release usable data, the U.S. Census Bureau applies several disclosure avoidance methods. For the ACS, data swapping techniques are used to protect records deemed "at risk". Households are identified as at risk if they are unique on attributes selected and predetermined by the confidentiality and survey management staff. After being uniquely identified (or "flagged"), data swapping is used to exchange the geographic information of a flagged household with another flagged household. This study compared the effectiveness of the pair-swapping method currently used with a proposed n-Cycle swapping method. Specifically, the goal was to maintain the same level of disclosure protection while outputting data with less perturbation.
The Polish Banking System: A Case for Bank Consolidation and Foreign Participation

As Poland sits on the brink of European Union membership, it must quickly evolve its banking system into one that is consistent with that of the European community. In order to achieve this objective, Poland’s banks must put aside their Soviet past and begin offering reasonably priced products and services comparable to those offered by their European counterparts. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol12/iss1/13
Comparison of initial cell search algorithms for W-CDMA systems using cyclic and comma free codes

In an asynchronous CDMA system the first step when a mobile station is switched on is to perform code and time synchronization with the base station. This process of achieving synchronization with the base station is called initial cell search. The code and time synchronization in the cell search process is divided into three stages: (1) slot boundary detection, (2) code group and frame boundary identification, and (3) scrambling code identification. This paper proposes an improved cell search design which uses cyclic codes (Improved CSD) and compares it to the 3GPP cell search design using comma free codes (3GPP-comma free CSD) in terms of a) hardware specifications on a Xilinx Virtex-E FPGA and b) acquisition time measures for different probabilities of false alarm rates. Our results indicate that for a AWGN channel model in a high signal-to-noise ratio environment the Improved CSD scheme requires fewer slots in stage 2 than the 3GPP-comma free CSD scheme. The Improved CSD scheme thus achieves faster synchronization with the base station. At the same time the Improved CSD has a lower equivalent gate count as compared to the 3GPP-comma free CSD for the same length sequences used in stage 2. Hence, our findings indicate that the Improved CSD is a better design as compared to the 3GPP-comma free CSD.
Branching ratios of 9C to low lying states in 9B.

We report the first observation of the beta decay of $^{9}\mathrm{C}$ to the ground state and to two low-lying excited states of $^{9}\mathrm{B}$. Branching ratios to these states were measured, and a previously reported branch to a level near 12 MeV was confirmed. The branching ratio to the ${J}^{\ensuremath{\pi}}$${=(3/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ground state is 60\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10 %, and the branching ratios to the narrow ${(5/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ level at 2.36 MeV and to the broad ${1/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ level near 2.9 MeV are 17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6 % and 11\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 %, respectively. Because of the three-body nature of the $^{9}\mathrm{B}$ decay, the $^{9}\mathrm{C}$ ions were implanted in the active volume of silicon detectors, and the total decay energies of the states in $^{9}\mathrm{B}$ were directly measured. We compare these results to shell model calculations, to the analog decay of $^{9}\mathrm{Li}$ to $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, and to the $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$(p,n${)}^{9}$B reaction. The comparison to $^{9}\mathrm{Li}$ decay indicates an asymmetry in the beta-decay matrix elements to the ${(5/2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ level larger than any such asymmetry previously observed.
Isolation rates and toxigenic potential of Clostridium difficile isolates from various patient populations

Stool specimens in various patient populations were examined to determine isolation rates of Clostridium difficile and the frequency with which this organism produces a cytopathic toxin in vitro. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 13 of 45 healthy neonates who had never received antimicrobials and the cytotoxin was detected in 12. With 23 healthy children aged 4 to 24 mo the organism was recovered from 2 children and the cytotoxin was detected in 1. Neither the organism nor the cytotoxin was found in specimens from healthy adults who denied antimicrobial usage during the prior 4 wk. Clostridium difficile was recovered from 12 of 56 adults receiving antimicrobials without diarrhea, but only one specimen yielded the cytotoxin. Both the cytotoxin and the organism were found in stools from most patients with antibiotic-associated colitis. Concentrations of Clostridium difficile, when present, were similar in all patient populations. Broth cultures of 165 isolates of Clostridium difficile showed all strains, but two produced the cytotoxin in vitro. However, the concentration of the toxin was substantially higher with strains recovered from patients with positive toxin assays. These observations indicate that neonates are often asymptomatic carriers of both Clostridium difficile and its cytotoxin. In adults, gastrointestinal symptoms correlated best with results of tissue culture assays and with toxigenic potential of the strains isolated.
3‐Trimethylsilyl‐3‐Buten‐2‐one: A Michael acceptor

3-Trimethylsilyl-3-buten-2-one: A Michael acceptor intermediate: Vinyltrimethylsilane intermediate: (1-Bromoethynl)trimethylsilane intermediate: 3-Trimethylsilyl-3-buten-2-ol product: 3-Trimethylsilyl-3-buten-2-one Keywords: elimination, miscellaneous; Grignard and related reactions; halogenation, bromination; oxidation, CHOH CO; tetrahydrofuran; condenser, Liebig condenser
A Low-Power, Dual-Wavelength Photoplethysmogram (PPG) SoC With Static and Time-Varying Interferer Removal

This paper presents a low-power, reflectance-mode photoplethysmogram (PPG) front end with up to 100 $\mu {\rm A}$ of static interferer current removal and 87 dB attenuation of time-varying interferers. The chip nominally consumes 425 $\mu {\rm W}$ including signal chain circuits, red and IR LED drive power, clocks, digitization and I/O. Measured data shows the noise of the PPG signal to be dominated by the photodiode sensor photon shot noise.
Cellular and humoral inflammatory response after laparoscopic and conventional colorectal resections.

Background: Surgical trauma and anesthesia are known to cause transient postoperative suppression of the immune system. In randomized controlled trials, it has been shown that laparoscopic colorectal resections have short-term benefits not observed with conventional colorectal resections. We hypothesized that these benefits were due to the reduction in surgical trauma, leading to a diminished cytokine response and less depression of cell-mediated immunity after laparoscopy. Methods: In a prospective randomized trial, colorectal cancer patients without evidence of metastatic disease underwent either laparoscopic (n = 20) or conventional (n = 20) tumor resection. Postoperative immune function was assessed by measuring the white blood cell (WBC) count, the CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, the CD4+/CD8+/ratio, and the HLA-DR expression of CD14+ monocytes. In addition, the production of interleukin-6 (IL = 6) and TNF-a were measured after ex vivo stimulation of mononuclear blood cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and compared to the plasma levels of these cytokines. Postoperative mean levels of the immunologic parameters for the two groups were calculated and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Preoperatively, there were no differences between the two groups in terms of patient characteristics or immunologic parameters. Although the postoperative peak concentrations of white blood cells were significant lower in the laparoscopic group than the conventional group (p < 0.05), there were no differences between the two groups in the subpopulation of lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+). HLA-DR expression of CD14+ monocytes was lower in the conventional group on the 4th postoperative day (p < 0.05). The laparoscopic group showed higher values in cytokine production of mononuclear blood cells after LPS stimulation. Postoperative plasma peak concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-a were lower after laparoscopic resection. Conclusion: Postoperative cell-mediated immunity was better preserved after laparoscopic than after conventional colorectal resection. Cellular cytokine production was preserved only in the laparoscopic group, while cytokine plasma levels were significantly higher in the conventional group. These findings may have important implications for the use of laparoscopic colorectal resection, especially in patients with malignant disease.
Decentralized Supply Chains with Competing Retailers Under Demand Uncertainty

In this paper, we investigate the equilibrium behavior of decentralized supply chains with competing retailers under demand uncertainty. We also design contractual arrangements between the parties that allow the decentralized chain to perform as well as a centralized one. We address these questions in the context of two-echelon supply chains with a single supplier servicing a network of (competing) retailers, considering the following general model: Retailers face random demands, the distribution of which may depend only on its own retail price ( noncompeting retailers) or on its own price as well as those of the other retailers ( competing retailers), according to general stochastic demand functions.
Needs assessment activities in school psychology program development

Abstract Needs assessment activities are presented as a basis for gathering information essential to program development, revision, and evaluation. Needs assessment activities include surveys of trends advocated by national authorities and consumers and identification of needs of students and local school systems. These data form the basis for developing program objectives in a sequentially ordered multilevel program.
Gel synthesis of an albite (NaAlSi3O8) glass: An NMR analysis

Abstract We have extended the range and complexity of glasses formed by the combination of metalalkoxides by synthesizing a clear, homogeneous gel of albite (NaAlSi 3 O 8 ) composition and heat-treating it to make a densified glass. Systematic changes in 29 Si, 27 Al, and 23 Na NMR spectra of gels with heat treatment are similar to differences in published spectra of hydrated albite glasses with varying water contents. The 29 Si spectra showed one peak; if Q 3 (OH) species are present in the samples, it is not obvious in the spectra. Analysis of the rate of spin transfer in CPMAS experiments suggests a Si-H distance ~ 15% shorter than that seen in Q 3 (OH) species in silica gel. Both the 27 Al and 23 Na peaks show an increase in quadrupolar broadening with heat treatment of the gel. Two peaks are present in the 23 Na spectra for gels heat-treated to 300 and 500°C, possibly due to sites with different sodium coordination. It is proposed that the differences in spectra can be explained by the differences in volatile content of the samples (including water as either H 2 O or OH − , and organic species such as ethanol). In the fresh gels with high contents of these polar species, the sodium is fully coordinated by polar molecules, with hydrogens bonding to the bridging oxygens. The volatiles are removed with heating, allowing the structure to relax to a point closer to that of an anhydrous albite glass made from a quenched melt.
Associations between eating competence and cardiovascular disease biomarkers.

Abstract Objective Explore the relationship between eating competence (EC) and biomarkers of risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Design Secondary analysis of data collected for a larger, 2-way crossover clinical trial. Setting Outpatient clinical research center. Participants Forty-eight hypercholesterolemic (LDL cholesterol ≥ 110 mg/dL) men (n = 19) and women (n = 29) 21 to 70 years of age. Main Outcome Measures Participant descriptives, cardiovascular disease biomarker levels, and eating competence (EC) determined by the ecSatter Inventory (ecSI). Analysis T tests for differences in eating competence between males and females, analysis of variance for differences in risk between those categorized as EC or not. Associations between EC and baseline biochemical measures, as well as participant characteristics and dietary intake, were assessed by Pearson correlation analyses. Logistic regression estimated relative risk of CVD risk factors from ecSI scores. Results Several significant associations were found between EC total and CVD risk factors. Eating competence was positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol, and inversely associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. High EC participants had significantly lower ratios of total cholesterol: HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides: HDL-cholesterol. Participants who were not eating competent were 5 times more likely to have LDL-cholesterol levels ≥130 mg/dL and 7 times more likely to have triglyceride levels ≥150 mg/dL. Conclusions and Implications Eating competence appears to be a cognitive, affective construct with physiological manifestations, making nutrition education to increase eating competence a medical nutrition therapy.
Distorted shape recognition using attributed grammars and error-correcting techniques☆

Abstract Using attributed grammars, the syntactic method can be applied to describe and recognize picture shapes. The parsing of attributed grammars involves both symbolic and numerical manipulations. A distinguished capability of the syntactic method in pattern recognition is the recognition of partially distorted patterns using error-correcting techniques. In this paper, the error-correcting technique is combined with the primitive-extraction-embedding parser to recognize partially distorted shapes. A modified Earley's parsing algorithm is developed, and the recognition of several distorted airplane shapes is demonstrated.
A Novel Thermal Model for the Lattice Boltzmann Method in Incompressible Limit

A novel lattice Boltzmann thermal model is proposed for studying thermohydrodynamics in incompressible limit. The new model introduces an internal energy density distribution function to simulate the temperature field. The macroscopic density and velocity fields are still simulated using the density distribution function. Compared with the multispeed thermal lattice Boltzmann models, the current scheme is numerically more stable. In addition, the new model can incorporate viscous heat dissipation and compression work done by the pressure, in contrast to the passive-scalar-based thermal lattice Boltzmann models. Numerical simulations of Couette flow with a temperature gradient and Rayleigh?Benard convection agree well with analytical solutions and benchmark data.
The influence of dolichols on fluidity of mouse synaptic plasma membranes.

Abstract Dolichols are isoprenologues which constitute an important component of biological membranes. However, an understanding of the effects of dolichols on the organization and dynamiics of biological membranes has not been forthcoming. The experiments reported here are aimed at understanding the effects of dolichols on the physical properties of mouse brain synaptic plasma membranes. The effect of dolichols incorporated into mouse brain synaptic plasma membranes on fluorescent and electron spin resonance probes sensing the hydrophobic core differed from that of probes reporting closer to the surface of membrane bilayers. Dolichols significantly ( P trans -parinaric acid or 5-doxylstearic acid in synaptic plasma membranes or liposomes derived therefrom. Dolichols can dramatically alter the structure and dynamics of lipid motion in synaptic plasma membranes and these effects are dependent on the location of the probe in the membrane.
Photoluminescence of two thienylpyrrole polymers

Photoluminescence of two thienylpyrrole polymers, one containing three thiophene and one pyrrole rings in the repeat, and the other having four thiophene and one pyrrole rings in the repeat, were studied. The photoluminescence peaks were observed to shift with the change of the excitation frequencies. The shift in the peak position had a nearly linear dependence on the shift in the excitation frequency. This result showed that using different excitation frequencies optical gaps corresponding to different conjugation lengths were accessed, and, thus, the corresponding photoluminescence peaks were observed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 461–464, 1999
The effect of mediation on the retention and strength of previously formed associations

A three-stage chaining paradigm (A-B, B-C, A-C) was used to investigate the effects of mediation on the retention of previously formed associations and the effect of a delay period on mediation and retention. Five conditions, each with 16 S s, were employed. Under all conditions the first two stages of the paradigm were learned at the same time. Following this, the S s learned the test stage and recalled the first stage immediately or 1, 3, 5, or 10 days later. The results indicated a highly significant mediation effect which did not decrease across delay intervals. Recall of the experimental A-B pairs was superior to recall of the control A-B pairs for each condition, although the total number of pairs recalled decreased over time. The results were interpreted as supporting an explanation for mediation based on the occurrence of an implicit response in the test stage.
Energy dependence of quasifree scattering in the 2H(p, pn)p reaction

Abstract We have measured the cross section for the reaction 2 H(p, pn) 1 H at 14, 17, 20 and 23 MeV incident energies. The proton and neutron counter angles were chosen to emphasize the quasifree p-n scattering process. The neutron counter efficiency was measured in order to obtain the absolute differential cross sections. The experimental results agree well with a modified simple impulse approximation, which is discussed.
The relationship of teacher and parent ratings of academically related personality traits to academic performance in elementary age students

Abstract The elementary school years are a critical transition time in the learning process of most children. For most children, these are the years that will make or break their academic progress in school and potentially in a future career. Research with adults has shown that certain personality traits (Conscientiousness and Agreeableness) have a significant impact on job performance criteria. Based on earlier exploratory research (Sneed 1989), this study hypothesizes that certain personality traits (Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience) will have a similar impact on the achievement of elementary-aged children. The goals in this study were three-fold. The first was to attempt to reproduce the predictive personality variables. The second was to compare teacher and parent ratings of personality dimensions, particularly in their potential to form higherorder or broad constructs. The third goal was concerned with external validity and addressed how well the higher-order personality factors predicted two criterion-related measures of academic skills, Academic Achievement and Word Skills, and whether differences in low reading achieving and normal reading achieving students are mediated by individual differences in the higher-order personality rating factors. That is, do teacher and parent assessment of child competence play a mediating role in predicting deficits in academic achievement and reading competence? Structural equation modeling (Joreskog & Sorbom 1988) techniques were used to test these research goals. The results showed that (a) two higher-order factors, Child Competence: Teacher and Child Competence: Parent, explained the relations among five child competence constructs, (b) the higher-order factor Child Competence: Teacher predicted individual differences in the two criterion measures of academic skills, Academic Achievement and Word Skills, and (c) low achieving students showed significant deficits only in the two higher-order factors. The data suggested a moderating role for the personality characteristics represented by the higher-order factors. That is, certain personality dimensions are predicted to have a critical impact on achievement.
Selenium-containing proteins of rat kidney

Rat kidney selenium (Se)-containing proteins were studied by isotopic labeling with [75Se]selenite or [75Se]selenomethionine via three routes: oral, intraperitoneal injection, and incubation of kidney slices with the isotope. The two major Se-containing proteins in kidney were fractionated and partially characterized. 75Se elution profiles from Sephadex G-150 chromatography were similar for each labeling protocol, except for the profile obtained following incubation of slices with [75Se]selenomethionine. Of the two major 75Se-containing proteins, the one eluting at the void volume during Sephadex G-150 fractionation had a subunit of 23,000 Mr. The 75Se-labeled tryptic peptide from this protein and a 75Se-containing tryptic peptide from glutathione peroxidase had the same elution time from an HPLC column. A 75,000 Mr 75Se-containing protein had a 65,000 Mr subunit, and the 75Se-labeled tryptic peptide from this protein eluted from the HPLC column before that of glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase is the most abundant kidney selenoprotein. Injection of animals with 75Se is the method of choice for isotopic labeling of rat kidney Se-containing proteins. Appropriate methods were developed that can be used in future studies of kidney Se-containing proteins.
Simulation of the brittle-ductile transition in silicon single crystals using dislocation mechanics

Abstract A numerical model is developed to characterize the physical process of the brittle-ductile transition (BDT) in Si single crystals. The model considers a symmetric dislocation emission at a crack tip in {110}〈110〉-oriented specimens. The motion of individual dislocations is assumed to be driven by the resolved shear stress and follows an Arrhenius law. Numerical simulations are performed, and the shielding to the crack tip by the emitted dislocations is evaluated. The simulations are terminated either when the crack tip stress intensity reaches the intrinsic fracture toughness (brittle fracture), or when the far field applied stress intensity reaches a critical value significantly higher than the intrinsic toughness (ductile failure). Simulation results show that, when two slip systems are activated simultaneously, a sharp BDT behavior results. The dramatic increase in fracture toughness during the BDT is attributed to the sudden increase in the number of dislocations emitted from the crack tip. The model predictions are consistent with experimental observations. The results also indicate that the number of active slip systems at the crack tip plays an important role in determining the behavior of the BDT. While activation of multiple slip systems gives rise to a sharp transition, a single active slip system will result in a gradual transition. This conclusion may explain some recent experimental observations.
Changes in mesenchymal cell-shape, matrix collagen and tenascin accompany bud formation in the early chick lung.

In the chick, lung branches arise as buds from the center of the pre-existing mesobronchial tube. Budding is known to be controlled by the mesenchyme. We have investigated mesenchymal properties in budding vs non-budding regions of the early chick lung, including sources of mesenchyme, cell shapes and densities, morphology and composition of the basement membrane, and distribution of the ECM components collagen, fibronectin and tenascin. We found that at points of outgrowth — the buds and the distal tip of the mesobronchus — mesenchymal cells adjacent to the lung epithelium are flattened, and the basement membrane is markedly thinned. In these basement membranes collagen is largely absent and tenascin redistributed into amorphous clumps. Of these characteristics only the cell-shape change, which results in the flattened mesenchymal cells at the bud tips, is correlated with initiation of the bud. We suggest that the cell-shape change leads to localized loss of collagen, which promotes emergence of buds, and that tenascin, which is found in the mesenchyme only in the budding region, promotes outgrowth and elongation of the bud.
Elementary excitations in dilute mixtures of 3He in superfluid 4He.

The complex temperature- and concentration-dependent shifts in the phonon-maxon-roton spectrum of $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ found experimentally in $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He mixtures are shown to result from three distinct physical effects: the change in system density caused by the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ atoms; mode-mode coupling between the phonon-roton branch and the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ density-fluctuation excitation branch; and, at T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1 K, scattering of the $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ excitations near the roton minimum against thermally excited $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ quasiparticles. Our calculations employ the previously determined Aldrich-Pines pseudopotentials for liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, and the $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He pseudopotential of Hsu and Pines: our results are sensitive to the assumed form of the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ quasiparticle spectrum, and we show that the Greywall spectrum leads to the best agreement between theory and experiment for the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ dynamic form factor. The Aldrich-Pines pseudopotential approach is thus shown to provide a quantitative account of the neutron scattering experiments on $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He, and a link is established between neutron scattering and specific-heat experiments.
Share the Sky: Concepts and Technologies That Will Shape Future Airspace Use

The airspace challenge for the United States is to protect national sovereignty and ensure the safety and security of those on the ground and in the air, while at the same time ensuring the efficiency of flight, reducing the costs involved, protecting the environment, and protecting the freedom of access to the airspace. Many visions of the future NAS hold a relatively near-term perspective, focusing on existing uses of the airspace and assuming that new uses will make up a small fraction of total use. In the longer term, the skies will be filled with diverse and amazing new air vehicles filling our societal needs. Anticipated new vehicles include autonomous air vehicles acting both independently and in coordinated groups, unpiloted cargo carriers, and large numbers of personal air vehicles and small-scale point-to-point transports. These vehicles will enable new capabilities that have the potential to increase societal mobility, transport freight at lower cost and with lower environmental impact, improve the study of the Earth s atmosphere and ecosystem, and increase societal safety and security by improving or drastically lowering the cost of critical services such as firefighting, emergency medical evacuation, search and rescue, border and neighborhood surveillance, and the inspection of our infrastructure. To ensure that uses of the airspace can continue to grow for the benefit of all, a new paradigm for operations is needed: equitably and safely sharing the airspace. This paper is an examination of such a vision, concentrating on the operations of all types of air vehicles and future uses of the National Airspace. Attributes of a long-term future airspace system are provided, emerging operations technologies are described, and initial steps in research and development are recommended.
Glycolipids modulate glycosyl transfer to endogenous protein acceptors

Abstract Regulation by gangliosides of glycosylation of endogenous membrane glycoproteins is indicated from in vitro studies in which incorporation of radioactive sugars into endogenous protein acceptors was measured and from in vitro studies where transferase activities of membranes were correlated with ganglioside content during hepatic tumorigenesis. Galactosyl transfer from UDP galactose exhibited a complex response pattern and was stimulated by lactosyl ceramide and the ganglioside N -acetylgalactosaminyl-( N -acetylneuraminyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide (G M2 ) but was inhibited by higher gangliosides. Except for N -acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide (G M3 ), which had no effect, inhibition was proportional to ganglioside complexity. Inhibition of glycosylation of the exogenous acceptor, ovomucoid, by ganglioside was slight by comparison. While marked structure-linked latency was observed with the high molecular weight exogenous acceptor, no latency was observed for incorporation into endogenous acceptors suggesting that the membranes were permeable to sugar nucleotides. Membrane disruption with detergents lessened rather than enhanced inhibition by gangliosides. Sialyl transfer from CMPsialic acid, on the other hand, was unaffected or stimulated by gangliosides. Stimulation by galactosyl- N -acetylgalactosaminyl-( N -acetylneuraminyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide (G M1 ) was proportional to concentration and reached 2-fold at 240 μg/mg protein. The results suggest that the ganglioside content of membrane may affect glycosylation of membrane glycoproteins.
Some aspects of radiative transport in the outer layer of a hot gas.

Abstract Consideration is given to the time-dependent equations determining the non-LTE occupation numbers of the lower bound levels of the atoms and ions in the outer layer of a hot, optically thick gas or plasma which contains an arbitrary number of stages of ionization. Various appropriate simplifying approximations are discussed and criteria are given for estimating the highest non-LTE bound level.
Eight-dimensional quantum Hall effect and "octonions"

We construct a generalization of the quantum Hall effect where particles move in an eight-dimensional space under an SO(8) gauge field. The underlying mathematics of this particle liquid is that of the last normed division algebra, the octonions. Two fundamentally different liquids with distinct configuration spaces can be constructed, depending on whether the particles carry spinor or vector SO(8) quantum numbers. One of the liquids lives on a 20-dimensional manifold with an internal component of SO(7) holonomy, whereas the second liquid lives on a 14-dimensional manifold with an internal component of G2 holonomy.