cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) was developed as a minimally invasive approach to the gold standard Rives-Stoppa repair. The Rives-Stoppa repair revolutionized abdominal wall reconstruction by markedly decreasing hernia recurrence with widely overlapping retromuscular mesh. The first description of laparoscopic ventral herniorrhaphy was published by LeBlanc in 1993. By 1999, there were 40 manuscripts highlighting this advance in hernia repair and several comparative analyses noting reduced hospitalization and a decrease in wound complications and surgical site infection. However, it was not until after 2000 that the technique was popularized with the publication by Heniford, Park, Ramshaw, and Voeller of a large multicenter series of laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs with a low complication rate and hernia recurrence rate of 3.4%. While the landscape of ventral hernia repair has shifted remarkably since that landmark publication due to increasing patient complexity, obesity, and innovative technology, laparoscopic ventral hernia repair continues to play a major role in the care of ventral hernia patients.
Predictors of perioperative morbidity and mortality in open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract Introduction The major advantage of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) over open repair (OAR) is improved perioperative morbidity and mortality. Long term results of the two modalities are comparable. We sought to quantify factors predicting perioperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing OAR. Methods Consecutive non-ruptured OAR were analyzed for patient demographic factors, perioperative variables including blood pressure, temperature, and glucose control, intraoperative factors, and complications including wound, pulmonary, renal and cardiac, and 30-day mortality. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to determine predictors of morbidity and mortality. Results 240 elective open AAA repairs over 10 consecutive years were performed. 46% required suprarenal clamping. At least one complication occurred in 47% and 30-day mortality was 5.4%. By multivariate analysis, independent predictors of morbidity (any complication) were suprarenal clamping (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3.2, p = 0.029), operative time (OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.002–1.008, p = 0.002), and low postoperative temperature (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.3, p = 0.025). Multivariate predictors of 30 day mortality included advanced age (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3, p = 0.002) and operative time (OR 1.007, 95% CI 1.001–1.013, p = 0.024). Glucose control did not predict morbidity or mortality. Conclusions Control of postoperative temperature is a potentially modifiable factor that may reduce morbidity in patients undergoing open AAA repair, thereby minimizing the early advantage of EVAR.
Recall accuracy for the symptoms of a major depressive episode among clinical trial participants

Abstract For patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), approaches to treatment differ for those with a single versus recurrent episodes. Based on studies of community samples, however, accuracy is low for identifying past episodes. Recall accuracy among clinical samples with a well-defined major depressive episode (MDE) has not been examined previously. We evaluated episode recall accuracy in 79 MDD patients in follow-up of the Predictors of Remission in Depression to Individual and Combined Treatments (PReDICT) study at 12- and 24-month time-points after starting treatment. Using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, patients were asked to recall whether they had been experiencing the nine criterion symptoms of an MDE at the time of their intake assessment. Accuracy of recall for the index MDE was high, with 95% of patients at month 12 and 85% at month 24 recalling sufficient symptoms to meet the diagnostic criteria. Recall accuracy for specific symptoms varied considerably, from >90% for dysphoria and anhedonia, to 55% for psychomotor and weight/appetite changes. For the thoughts of death/suicide criterion, patients with erroneous recall were significantly more likely to recall having had the symptom at the intake evaluation (though they had denied it at the time) than vice versa (p
Impacts of Automated Vehicles on Airport Landside Terminal Planning, Design, and Operations:

Income from parking, rental car facilities, and other ground access modes for most commercial airports in the United States is a significant component in revenue. With the emergence of automated ve...
FOSS4G 2018 Conference Highlights

The Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) conference took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August 2018. The theme of “Leave No One Behind” centered the conference on issues of di...
Singing with Gesture: Acoustic and Perceptual Measures of Solo Singers.

Summary The purpose of this investigation was to examine the potential effects of two singer gestures on performances of solo singers (N = 32). Participants sang two songs (“Over the Rainbow” with low, circular arm gesture and “Singin’ in the Rain” with pointing gesture) five times: Baseline (without singer gesture), three iterations of each song paired with a singer gesture, and a post-test (without singer gesture). This investigation measured acoustic (Fo and amplitude) and perceptual (participant perceptual questionnaire) differences of solo singers. Results indicated significant differences in acoustic measures of intonation between baseline and gestural iterations while employing an upward pointing gesture. However, no significant differences in amplitude were found between iterations of the songs sung with and without gestures. The majority of participant perceptions of singing with gesture related to intonation and timbre when using gestures. Results were discussed in terms of singing pedagogy, limitations of the study, and suggestions for further research.
Admissibility of Exculpatory Attorney-Client Communications in Criminal Cases

The attorney-client privilege is designed to protect the confidentiality of communications that clients make to their attorneys for the purpose of facilitating the rendition of professional legal services. In the litigation context, parties almost always assert the attorney-client privilege defensively to prevent an adversary from using against a client what the client has said in confidence to his or her lawyer. This article, however, will examine what might be viewed as an affirmative use of the privilege: the introduction into evidence by a defendant in a criminal case of exculpatory statements he has made in confidence to his attorney. (from introduction)
A billion black anthropocenes or none: by Kathryn Yusoff, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2018, 115 pp., $7.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-5179-0753-2 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-4529-6105-7 (ebook)

In A Billion Black Anthropocenes or None, Kathryn Yusoff rethinks the relationship of humanity to geology, but she goes beyond the popular consideration of how the human has imprinted itself on the...
Designing a radiative antidote to CO2

Previous results indicate that the global hydrological cycle is more sensitive to Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) than is the surface temperature. Thus, it is expected that restoring temperature...
Near Field Radiation from a Monopole Antenna on an Electrically Large Conducting Convex Surface

The extended uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD) solution is used to predict near fields of a monopole antenna on an electrically large perfectly conducting convex surface. The proposed approach is validated with the results of the multilevel fast multipole method (MLFMM) obtained using FEKO commercial electromagnetic simulation software for a monopole antenna on canonical shapes. It will be useful towards prediction of co-site interference between monopole antennas.
Early warm-season mesoscale convective systems dominate soil moisture-precipitation feedback for summer rainfall in central United States.

Land–atmosphere interactions play an important role in summer rainfall in the central United States, where mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) contribute to 30 to 70% of warm-season precipitation. Previous studies of soil moisture–precipitation feedbacks focused on the total precipitation, confounding the distinct roles of rainfall from different convective storm types. Here, we investigate the soil moisture–precipitation feedbacks associated with MCS and non-MCS rainfall and their surface hydrological footprints using a unique combination of these rainfall events in observations and land surface simulations with numerical tracers to quantify soil moisture sourced from MCS and non-MCS rainfall. We find that early warm-season (April to June) MCS rainfall, which is characterized by higher intensity and larger area per storm, produces coherent mesoscale spatial heterogeneity in soil moisture that is important for initiating summer (July) afternoon rainfall dominated by non-MCS events. On the other hand, soil moisture sourced from both early warm-season MCS and non-MCS rainfall contributes to lower-level atmospheric moistening favorable for upscale growth of MCSs at night. However, soil moisture sourced from MCS rainfall contributes to July MCS rainfall with a longer lead time because with higher intensity, MCS rainfall percolates into deeper soil that has a longer memory. Therefore, early warm-season MCS rainfall dominates soil moisture–precipitation feedback. This motivates future studies to examine the contribution of early warm-season MCS rainfall and associated soil moisture anomalies to predictability of summer rainfall in the major agricultural region of the central United States and other continental regions frequented by MCSs.
Integrating the Carboxylate Platform into a Red Seaweed Biorefinery

Macroalgae are an important source of food, fertilizer, hydrocolloids, and healthful bioactive components. Macroalgae are also being considered sources of biofuels, which require minimal demands for arable land, fresh water, or fertilizers. In this study, we explored the possibility of developing a red seaweed biorefinery process to extract carrageenan while producing chemical or biofuel co-products derived from the carrageenan extraction wastes. A common approach to processing organic wastes is to generate biogas; however, in this study, we targeted a potentially higher value option by applying acidogenic digestion to convert extraction wastes to carboxylic acids and derived compounds. Using an open culture of microorganisms, wastes from a carrageenan extraction plant were converted to mixed carboxylic acids, which were then neutralized and thermally decomposed to a variety of ketones. Batch digestions of the wastes were carried out at temperatures of 35 °C and 55 °C. Either calcium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate was used as buffer. A solid–liquid counter-current percolation fermentation was operated in four stages at 35 °C. Digestion produced carboxylic acids ranging in chain length from one to seven carbons. The mesophilic temperature gave higher carboxylic acid yield and longer chain acids, with the highest acid titer reaching 18 g L−1. Thermal decomposition of carboxylate salts produced a mixture of ketones which contained acetone, 3-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, and 4-octanone as major products. These ketones could be sold as chemicals or hydrogenated to form corresponding chain length secondary alcohols which deliver higher energy density than ethanol.
Myth or Reality: The Financial Value of Delaware Incorporation

We examine the financial value of Delaware incorporation using exogenous shocks to the sources of the Delaware premium (or discount) with regard to three aspects of the legal structure governing corporations: statutory corporate laws, judge-made laws, and the court system. Our results are consistent with a causal relationship from Delaware incorporation to firm value, mainly driven by the judge-made laws and the premier court system. Our results also indicate that the Delaware advantage sourced from the statutory laws has shrunk over the years with the federal intervention of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act.
Role of Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer

The pessimism and frustration that exist regarding the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer were well stated by Lewis and Blessing when they observed: “For ovarian cancer seemingly everything works, but practically nothing succeeds.” The despair and cynicism reflected in this statement seems justified when reports appear telling of improved therapeutic approaches but statistical mortality rates showing little trend toward improvement at 5 years. Carcinoma of the ovary remains the leading cause of death due to gynecologic cancer, and the results for 1991 were no better than for the previous two decades. New modalities of therapy are helping patients live longer and hopefully more comfortably, but the 5-year-survival rates have not improved.
Interactions between S and G1 cells: Effects on decay of synchrony

Abstract Chinese hamster ovary cells were synchronized by the mitotic selection technique and followed through 3 cell cycles. The maintenance of the observed high degree of synchrony, which would require a standard deviation in generation times of about 10%, could be partially attributed to the influence that S phase cells have on inducing G1 cells to initiate DNA synthesis. In fact, observations using two populations of synchronous cells revealed that conditioned medium collected from synchronous cells in the process of initiating DNA synthesis and/or the close proximity (within 15–100 μm) of S phase cells to G l cells accelerates (by 1.5 to 2.5 h) the entry of G1 cells into S. Thus, when synchronous cells are plated, the presence of cells entering S first could both shorten the average length of G 1 and sharpen synchrony by reducing the time required for the population of G 1 cells to cross the G 1/S boundary.
Quantitative evaluation of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) drugs for boron delivery and retention at subcellular-scale resolution in human glioblastoma cells with imaging secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of cancer depends on the selective delivery of a sufficient number of boron-10 ((10)B) atoms to individual tumour cells. Cell killing results from the (10)B (n, α)(7) Li neutron capture and fission reactions that occur if a sufficient number of (10)B atoms are localized in the tumour cells. Intranuclear (10)B localization enhances the efficiency of cell killing via damage to the DNA. The net cellular content of (10)B atoms reflects both bound and free pools of boron in individual tumour cells. The assessment of these pools, delivered by a boron delivery agent, currently cannot be made at subcellular-scale resolution by clinically applicable techniques such as positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, a secondary ion mass spectrometry based imaging instrument, a CAMECA IMS 3f ion microscope, capable of 500 nm spatial resolution was employed. Cryogenically prepared cultured human T98G glioblastoma cells were evaluated for boron uptake and retention of two delivery agents. The first, L-p-boronophenylalanine (BPA), has been used clinically for BNCT of high-grade gliomas, recurrent tumours of the head and neck region and melanomas. The second, a boron analogue of an unnatural amino acid, 1-amino-3-borono-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (cis-ABCPC), has been studied in rodent glioma and melanoma models by quantification of boron in the nucleus and cytoplasm of individual tumour cells. The bound and free pools of boron were assessed by exposure of cells to boron-free nutrient medium. Both BPA and cis-ABCPC delivered almost 70% of the pool of boron in the free or loosely bound form to the nucleus and cytoplasm of human glioblastoma cells. This free pool of boron could be easily mobilized out of the cell and was in some sort of equilibrium with extracellular boron. In the case of BPA, the intracellular free pool of boron also was affected by the presence of phenylalanine in the nutrient medium. This suggests that it might be advantageous if patients were placed on a low phenylalanine diet prior to the initiation of BNCT. Since BPA currently is used clinically for BNCT, our observations may have direct relevance to future clinical studies utilizing this agent and provides support for individualized treatment planning regimens rather than the use of fixed BPA infusion protocols.
Using Spatial Econometric Techniques to Estimate Spatial Multipliers: An Assessment of Regional Economic Policy in Yucatán, Mexico

Although the traditional economic base model remains a useful tool for regional analysis, in a multi-region context it fails to account for feedback effects. In addition, since the model is typically applied to individual regions, formal assessment of variation in the magnitude of regional multipliers is rarely considered. These shortcomings may be addressed by using spatial econometric techniques to model the economic base relationship stochastically. In this study, I incorporate spatial effects into the traditional economic base model and find empirical evidence that economic activity in Yucatan, Mexico generates indirect impacts not only locally, but among other locations that are linked economically. These spatial multipliers may be employed to estimate the potential spillover effects of economic activity and analyze the implications of regional economic policy.
Essential Role of Neutrophils in the Initiation and Progression of a Murine Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Neutrophils are prominent participants in the joint inflammation of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but the extent of their role in the inductive phase of joint inflammation is unknown. In the K/B×N mouse RA model, transfer of autoreactive Ig from the K/B×N mouse into mice induces a rapid and profound joint-specific inflammatory response reminiscent of human RA. We observed that after K/B×N serum transfer, the earliest clinical signs of inflammation in the ankle joint correlated with the presence of neutrophils in the synovial regions of recipient mouse ankle joints. In this study, we investigated the role of neutrophils in the early inflammatory response to transferred arthritogenic serum from the K/B×N transgenic mouse. Mice were treated with a neutrophil-depleting mAb before and following transfer of arthritogenic serum and scored for clinical indications of inflammation and severity of swelling in ankle joints and front paws. In the absence of neutrophils, mice were completely resistant to the inflammatory effects of K/B×N serum. Importantly, depletion of neutrophils in diseased recipient mice up to 5 days after serum transfer reversed the inflammatory reaction in the joints. Transfer of serum into mice deficient in the generation of nitrogen or oxygen radicals ( inducible NO synthase 2 or gp91 phox genes, respectively) gave normal inflammatory responses, indicating that neither pathway is essential for disease induction. These studies have identified a critical role for neutrophils in initiating and maintaining inflammatory processes in the joint.
The Future of Inflation Targeting

By the end of the Great Moderation, over two dozen central banks were formal inflation targeters, and others, such as the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Swiss National Bank, behaved essentially as inflation targeters even though they were resistant to identifying themselves as such. However, the past 3 years have seen central banks faced with new challenges, and these have raised questions about the future of inflation targeting as a framework for the conduct of monetary policy. I consider three suggested modifications to this policy framework: incorporating additional goals among a central bank's objectives; raising the average target for inflation; and switching to price level targeting.
Solid-phase N-terminal peptide enrichment study by optimizing trypsin proteolysis on homoarginine-modified proteins by mass spectrometry

RATIONALE Proteolytic cleavages generate active precursor proteins by creating new N-termini in the proteins. A number of strategies have recently been published regarding the enrichment of original or newly formed N-terminal peptides using guanidination of lysine residues and amine-reactive reagents. For effective enrichment of N-terminal peptides, the efficiency of trypsin proteolysis on homoarginine (guanidinated) modified proteins must be understood and simple and versatile solid-phase N-terminal capture strategies should be developed. METHODS We present here a mass spectrometry (MS)-based study to evaluate and optimize the trypsin proteolysis on a guanidinated-modified protein. Trypsin proteolysis was studied using different amounts of trypsin to modified protein ratios. To capture the original N-termini, after guanidination of proteins, original N-termini were acetylated and the proteins were digested with trypsin. The newly formed N-terminal tryptic peptides were captured with a new amine reactive acid-cleavable solid-phase reagent. The original N-terminal peptides were then collected from the supernatant of the solution. RESULTS We demonstrated a detailed study of the efficiency of enzyme trypsin on homoarginine-modified proteins. We observed that the rate of hydrolysis of homoarginine residues compared to their lysine/arginine counterparts were slower but generally cleaved after an overnight digestion period depending on the protein to protease concentration ratios. Selectivity of the solid-phase N-terminal reagent was studied by enrichment of original N-terminal peptides from two standard proteins, ubiquitin and RNaseS. CONCLUSIONS We found enzyme trypsin is active in the guanidinated form of the protein depending on the enzyme to protein concentrations, time and the proximity of arginine residues in the sequence. The novel solid-phase capture reagent also successfully enriched N-terminal peptides from the standard protein mixtures. We believe this trypsin proteolysis study on homoarginine-modified proteins and our simple and versatile solid-phase capture strategy could be very useful for enrichment and sequence determination of proteins N-termini by MS. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adjunctive Use of a Surface-Active Agent in Extracorporeal Circulation

1. A nonionic surfactant, Pluronic F68, was used in prolonged experimental and clinical extracorporeal circulation, and data are presented which support the efficacy of the use of this agent. 2. Hemolysis and fat embolism resulting from prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass with a bubble oxygenator were greatly reduced by use of the surfactant. 3. The surfactant markedly prevented and improved the intravascular "sludging." 4. The surfactant also reduced the fibrin deposition on the filter of the oxygenator. 5. The function of the pump oxygenator was not affected. 6. No adverse physiological effects resulting from the Pluronic were discovered. It may, therefore, have widespread application in extracorporeal circulation.
Application of degree theory in stability of the complementarity problem

In this paper we study the behavior of a solution of the complementarity problem when the problem is perturbed. The basic result is that if the degree of a certain function is nonzero then the problem is stable. We show that several well-known conditions for the existence of a solution to the problem also imply stability of the problem. We also show that in the nondegenerate case there are simple conditions that ensure stability.
Integrated links on land and sea

Abstract The communications system within an offshore oil complex is important for coordinated oil company operations. Reliable voice communications, data circuits and efficient monitoring are the basic functions of an efficient communications system, and are discussed in the article.
Experiments with high volume test automation

We are working with a broad class of testing techniques we collectively call High Volume Test Automation (HVTA). The essence of HVTA techniques is automated execution and evaluation of large numbers of tests, for the purpose of exposing functional errors that are otherwise hard to find. These techniques are not widely used in industry, but we believe they have the potential to help us substantially increase the reliability of software.We propose to find existing industry HVTA projects, write informal case studies of them, create our own tools to implement the technique, and apply our tool in a case study of one or more open source projects.
Grain Alcohol as Renewable Energy and Automotive Fuel

With the high price of petroleum which came about after oil embargo of 1973 there has been a need to find renewable energy sources. Ethanol made from starch or sugar is a renewable fuel. A program for using 10% ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline was begun in Nebraska and has now become a program of national interest. This fuel mixture is called Gasohol. Gasohol has been tested in a 3.3 mio. km program and is shown to provide better fuel economy and less pollution than unleaded gasoline. In large plants using maize as raw material ethanol can be produced profitably at 36 cents/l. The byproduct cattle feed is a high protein material for feeding beef and dairy cattle. The ethanol has a value in Gasohol of at least 45 cents/l. When compared to gasoline, Gasohol saves energy. For each liter of ethanol which is blended with 9 l of unleaded gasoline there is a reduction of at least 1.23 l of crude oil usage compared to using only gasoline. Alkohol aus Getreide als erneuerbare Energie und Treibstoff fur Automobile Im Hinblick auf den hohen Preis fur Mineralol nach dem Olembargo von 1973 ergab sich die Notwendigkeit, erneuerbare Energiequellen zu finden. Ethanol aus Starke oder Zucker ist ein erneuerbarer Treibstoff. In Nebraska wurde mit einem Programm zur Verwendung von 10% Ethanol und 90% ungebleitem Benzin begonnen, das nun zu einem Programm von nationalem Interesse wurde. Das Treibstoff-Gemisch heist Gasohol. Gasohol wurde in einem 3,3-Mio.-km-Programm getestet und zeigte eine bessere Wirtschaftlichkeit und geringere Umweltverschmutzung als ungebleites Benzin. In grosen Werken, die Mais als Rohmaterial verwenden, kann Ethanol gewinnbringend zu 36 cents/l gewonnen werden. Das Nebenprodukt Viehfutter ist ein hochproteinhaltiges Material zum Futtern von Rindern und Milchvieh. Ethanol hat im Gasohol einen Wert von min. 45 cents/l. Im Vergleich zu Benzin spart Gasohol Energie. Fur jeden Liter Ethanol, der mit 9 l ungebleitem Benzin vermischt wird, ist im Vergleich zur Verwendung von ausschlieslich Benzin eine Reduzierung von min. 1,23 l Rohol zu erreichen.
Comments and rejoinder

Barnes and Kelman have reached the conclusion that for properly serving children and you th in residential settings we need fully trained milieu workers who can foster development and modi fy maladaptive behavior. All I can say is, three cheers and thank God that America can be rediscovered every 10 years. We need as many rediscoveries as we can manage to support Barnes and Kelman. The French and Canadians plus a number of other nations have supported this concept in their programs for educateurs for many years. In 1961 a grant to the states of Tennessee and North Carolina and George Peabody College in Nashville helped develop a research and training program for this purpose. The program was headed by Nicholas Hobbs who noted some of the same biases or myths presented by Barnes and Kelman (see Hobbs, 1967). Among these are that the people who work with disturbed children are the key people in any change or lack of change in the children. As Hobbs notes, the concern is with " the functional adequacy of the total ecological system of which the child is a part ." That system is maintained and operated by the child care worker or the educateur, however you wish to call them. There are no treatment teams to be put on or taken off, the status myth disappears and administrators are there to support and enhance the prime workers in the system. The key to helping emotionally disturbed children is to find and train personnel who can find ways of building on a child's ego strengths rather than being discouraged by his pathologies. Such staff must learn to use psychiatric, psychological, and educational knowledge not to dissassemble conflicted and confused minds, but to plan minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, and year by year growth experiences for children. Barnes and Kelman are on target when they say "We can have nothing more than a matrix of professionals until we can clearly perceive a profession-
Accurate measurement of characteristic curves of II-TV digital systems by use of aluminum stepwedge technique.

In order to determine accurately the relative x‐ray intensities transmitted through the different steps of an aluminum stepwedge and incident on an image intensifier (II)–TV digital system, we used a 100‐mm camera which was attached to the II output. The characteristic curves of an II–TV digital system, which relate the output pixel value to the input relative x‐ray intensity, were determined at 65 and 90 kV by the use of the aluminum attenuation curves measured at the two energies. We found that the two curves agreed within the experimental errors; this result indicates that the characteristic curve does not depend on the x‐ray beam quality used. Furthermore, for accurate measurement of the characteristic curve, it is necessary to collimate the x‐ray beams to a narrow width, approximately 0.6×10 cm, so that the effect of veiling glare from the thinner to the thicker parts of the stepwedge is eliminated.
Rapid Measurement of Dialzyer Clearance as a Function of Molecular Weight

: The relationship between solute clearance and molecular weight (MW) is an important performance characteristic of hemodialyzers. Traditionally, this relationship has been determined using a range of solutes of diverse properties that require a variety of analytical procedures. We describe a simple method for obtaining clearance as a function of MW using a homologous series of glucose oligomers, continuous from the monomer to the octamer. Using HPLC, single analyses of the inflow and outflow streams of the dialyzer allow the determination of clearances over a MW range of up to 1314 daltons.
Addition of aerobic exercise to a weight loss program increases BMD, with an associated reduction in inflammation in overweight postmenopausal women.

Increased inflammation and weight loss are associated with a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). Aerobic exercise may minimize the loss of bone and weight loss may contribute to a decrease in cytokines. We tested the hypothesis that aerobic exercise in combination with a weight loss program would decrease circulating concentrations of inflammatory markers, thus mediating changes in BMD. This was a nonrandomized controlled trial. Eighty-six overweight and obese postmenopausal women (50–70 years of age; BMI, 25–40 kg/m2) participated in a weight loss (WL; n = 40) or weight loss plus walking (WL + AEX; n = 46) program. Outcome measures included BMD and bone mineral content of the femoral neck and lumbar spine measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, soluble receptors of IL-6, and TNF-α (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2; receptors in a subset of the population), VO2 max, fat mass, and lean mass. Weight decreased in the WL (p < 0.001) and WL + AEX (p < 0.001) groups. VO2 max increased (p < 0.001) after WL + AEX. There was a 2% increase in femoral neck BMD in the WL + AEX group (p = 0.001), which was significantly different from the WL group. The change in sTNFR1 was significantly associated with the change in femoral neck BMD (p < 0.05). The change in VO2 max was an independent predictor of the change in femoral neck BMD. Our findings suggest that the addition of aerobic exercise is recommended to decrease inflammation and increase BMD during weight loss in overweight postmenopausal women.
Children and adults as intuitive scientists.

The metaphor of children and lay adults as intuitive scientists has gained wide acceptance. Although useful in one sense, pertaining to scientific understanding, in another, pertaining to the process of scientific thinking, the metaphor may be fundamentally misleading. Research is reviewed indicating that processes of scientific thinking differ significantly in children, lay adults, and scientists. Hence, it is the instruments of scientific thinking, not just the products, that undergo "strong restructuring" (Carey, 1986). A framework for conceptualizing development of scientific thinking processes is proposed, centering on progressive differentiation and coordination of theory and evidence. This development is metacognitive, as well as strategic. It requires thinking about theories, rather than merely with them, and thinking about evidence, rather than merely being influenced by it, and, hence, reflects the attainment of control over the interaction of theories and evidence in one's own thinking. The metaphor of the lay adult—or the child—as an intuitive scientist has gained wide acceptance in the last decade. As the scientist explores the environment, constructs models as a basis for understanding it, and revises those models as new evidence is generated, so do lay people endeavor to make sense of their environments by processing data and constructing mental models based on these data. The highly influential volume by Nisbett and Ross (1980) and seminal research by Tversky and Kahneman that is highlighted in the Nisbett and Ross book have done much to promote the metaphor. More recently, it has been promoted as well by the literature on scientific understanding and conceptual change, discussed later, and to an extent by the general theory of induction proposed by Holland, Holyoak, Nisbett, and Thagard (1986), a theory whose principles are intended to apply to all forms of induction from the very simplest forms of concept formation to the thinking of scientists. As the research summarized by Nisbett and Ross documents, the particular inference rules that the intuitive scientist uses to interpret evidence and make inductive inferences are likely to be faulty. The intuitive scientist, for example, makes inferences based on insufficient sample size and overlooks base rates. Nevertheless, the process and goal of this intuitive scientific activity are thought to be analogous in the layperson and the professional scientist. In this article, I have a particular concern with the thinking of children and the ways in which it may or may not resemble that of scientists. I therefore focus on the metaphor of child as scientist, although I consider as well the thinking of lay adults and its resemblance to that of scientists. I explore two quite different senses in which this metaphor might be taken and conclude that, although it may be useful and productive in one sense, the child-as-scientist metaphor in another sense may be fundamentally misleading.
Pituitary and adreno-cortical relationships to liver regeneration and nucleic acids.

We have found (1949) that thyroidectomy in young animals reduces the capacity for liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy; and that administration of desiccated thyroid to both young (2 months old) and older (3 to 5 months old) animals increases the rate of regeneration. We here report experiments on the influence of the pituitary and the adrenals. The results indicate that hypophysectomy depresses liver regeneration, but that there is no evidence of any adrenal effect. Other results will be discussed in the text. methods Inbred rats of the Wistar strain (a few of the Sprague-Dawley) were used. Sex apparently had no influence on the results, and the results include data on both sexes. Partial hepatectomy was performed by removing the left lateral and median lobes. It has been amply established that this removes, for our purpose, with negligible error about 2/3 of the liver.
The National Park Service: DOI or independent status?

Over the course of the last two decades there has been a recurring theme among proponents of the National Park Service mission that politics has undermined the day-to-day goals of the Service. With the increased politization of the Park Service, two recent proposals have called for removal of the NPS from the Department of the Interior and call for it to become an independent body along the lines of other government entities such as the Smithsonian Institution. This article reviews these proposals and suggests that in the long run removal from the Department of the Interior will not solve the problems of the NPS and may well accelerate them.
Biotin supply affects rates of cell proliferation, biotinylation of carboxylases and histones, and expression of the gene encoding the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter in JAr choriocarcinoma cells.

Placental transfer of nutrients and secretion of hormones is essential for normal fetal development. To determine whether biotin supply affects biotin homeostasis, proliferation rates, and progesterone secretion in placenta cells. JAr choriocarcinoma cells were cultured in media containing deficient (25 pmol/L), physiological (250 pmol/L), or pharmacological concentrations (10,000 pmol/L) of biotin for three weeks; markers for biotin homeostasis, proliferation, and hormone secretion were quantified. Biotin concentrations in culture media correlated negatively with expression of the biotin transporter SMVT, as judged by cellular transport rates of biotin, abundance of SMVT protein, and transcriptional activity of SMVT reporter-gene constructs. Notwithstanding this homeostatic mechanism, biotin concentrations in media correlated positively with activities of biotin-dependent propionyl-CoA carboxylase, abundance of biotinylated carboxylases, and with biotinylation of histones. Biotin deficiency was associated with decreased rates of thymidine uptake into JAr cells [pmol thymidine/( 106 cells x 24 h)]: 1.6 ± 0.1 (25 pmol/L biotin) versus 2.3 ± 0.2 (250 pmol/L biotin) versus 3.7 ± 0.4 (10,000 pmol/L biotin), suggesting that cell proliferation depends on biotin. Secretion of progesterone was reduced in biotin-deficient cells; this effect was caused by reduced generation of new cells in deficient media rather than by an immediate effect of biotin on progesterone secretion at the singlecell-level. This study provides evidence that choriocarcinoma cells cannot maintain normal activities of biotin-dependent metabolic pathways if biotin concentrations in culture media are low. It is uncertain whether activities of biotin-dependent pathways in placenta affect fetal development in vivo.
Wavelength dependence of the surface photovoltage in vacuum cleaved CdS

Abstract A report is made of the first spectral response measurements of the surface photovoltage in conducting CdS single crystals cleaved in ultra-high vacuum. The spectra were obtained with a recently developed electron beam technique which is sensitive to periodic changes in the surface potential as small as 1 μV. After cleavage, systematic studies of the response were made as a function of surface treatment including air exposure and electron bombardment. Of particular interest is the structure in the photovoltage response at photon energies less than the bandgap and the variation of this structure with surface treatment. The origin of these spectra is discussed in terms of optical excitation from intrinsic and extrinsic surface states and from impurities occurring within the surface barrier region.
Structure in the Computation of Power-System Nonlinear Dynamical Response

Methods are presented for simulating multimachine power-system dynamical response on the basis of Park's equations including the effects of an arbitrary number of circuits on the rotors of the synchronous machines. These methods allow a direct calculation treatment of effects that are neglected or treated only approximately in many power-system simulation programs, namely, amortisseur damping torques and subtransient saliency.
Use of the SUNY microbeam to investigate effects of mechanical treatment on metal/metal interdiffusion kinetics

Abstract The SUNY Albany rastered microbeam has been used to investigate the effects of mechanical pretreatment on metal/metal interdiffusion kinetics. Gating on different regions of a RBS spectrum can be used to create “diffusion maps” that reveal the lateral dependence of metal/metal interdiffusion. Al/Hf/Al multilayer thin films were prepared and subjected to a mechanical force applied at one point. Interdiffusion kinetics of Al and Hf was then studied by annealing these samples and using the microbeam to measure RBS spectra as a function of distance from the point of mechanical treatment. It is found that the mechanical pretreatment can have a large effect on the Al/Hf/Al interdiffusion.
A simple food chain with a growth inhibiting nutrient

We study the dynamics of a simple food chain consisting of a nutrient, prey and predator, where the nutrient is growth inhibiting at high concentrations. The Michaelis-Menten-Monod form for the nutrient uptake rate is generalized to a nonmonotone uptake rate. It is shown that the positive equilibrium is a global attractor for low initial concentrations of the nutrient, i.e., when there is no inhibition effect. However, the behavior of the system can be initial condition dependent at high initial concentrations of the nutrient; persistence may not occur. Several thresholds are defined in terms of the model parameters which determine the global dynamics of the system.
Emerging Roles of Pericytes in the Regulation of the Neurovascular Unit in Health and Disease

Pericytes of the central nervous system (CNS) are uniquely positioned within a multicellular structure termed the neurovascular unit (NVU) to provide crucial support to blood brain barrier (BBB) formation, maintenance, and stability. Numerous CNS diseases are associated with some aspect of BBB dysfunction. A dysfunction can manifest as one or multiple disruptions to any of the following barriers: physical, metabolic, immunological and transport barrier. A breach in the BBB can notably result in BBB hyper-permeability, endothelial activation and enhanced immune-endothelial interaction. How the BBB is regulated within this integrated unit remains largely unknown, especially as it relates to pericyte-endothelial interaction. We summarize the latest findings on pericyte origin, possible marker expression, and availability within different organ systems. We highlight pericyte-endothelial cell interactions, concentrating on extra- and intra- cellular signaling mechanisms linked to platelet derived growth factor-B, transforming growth factor -β, angiopoietins, Notch, and gap junctions. We discuss the role of pericytes in the NVU under inflammatory insult, focusing on how pericytes may indirectly affect leukocyte CNS infiltration, the direct role of pericyte-mediated basement membrane modifications, and immune responses. We review new findings of pericyte actions in CNS pathologies including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, diabetic retinopathy, and HIV-1 infection. The uncovering of the regulatory role of pericytes on the BBB will provide key insight into how barrier integrity can be re-established during neuroinflammation.
Students' perceptions of academic librarians

Summary Academic librarians, eager to participate in the education of college students, have been researching library anxiety, students' aversion to asking questions, and other problems with interactions between students and library staff for decades. Misconceptions about librarians' professional status, teaching roles, knowledge and expertise, and attitudes toward students are often proposed as causes of dysfunctional interactions and as reasons why some students don't ask questions. It is important for students to know that librarians are willing and able to help, so that they feel free to ask questions that will help them advance their education. This study reports the findings of a survey of 48 undergraduate students regarding their perceptions of academic librarians, and discusses ideas for addressing existing misconceptions.
Bioadhesive microspheres, II. Characterization and evaluation of bioadhesion involving hard, bioerodible polymers and soft tissue

Abstract Several bioerodible polymers and one hydrogel were studied as potential bioadhesive materials. A microbalance-based method was used to measure bioadhesive interactions between individual polymer microspheres and rat intestinal tissue. In addition, surface and bulk properties of these microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. Polyanhydride microspheres composed of copolymers of fumaric and sebacic acid, produced bioadhesive fracture strengths greater than 50 mN/cm2 with rat small intestinal mucosa in vitro. We suggest that bioadhesion in these bioerodible materials is not attributable to chain entanglement, but instead to hydrogen bonding between hydrophilic functional groups (COOH) and mucus glycoproteins. We also believe that continuous degradation of these materials may enhance their bioadhesive properties by changing surface energy, and increasing both carboxylic acid concentration and surface roughness.
The relationship between very-low-density lipoprotein lipid and measures of carbohydrate metabolism in children with different lipoprotein profiles: Bogalusa heart study☆

The relationship of VLDL lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) levels to fasting and postglucose plasma glucose, plasma glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA) levels were examined in four subgroups of children (n = 311, ages 6 to 18 years) from a total biracial population whose earlier beta- or pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol levels (or both) were in the extreme quintiles or quartiles. High beta-lipoprotein cholesterol strata with or without elevated pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol showed significantly high levels of FFA and glucose response (mean, 30 and 60 minutes) to oral glucose load, whereas postglucose insulin responses were markedly higher in the high pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol strata. VLDL triglycerides related closely with fasting plasma glucose levels (r = 0.53 to 0.60, P less than 0.001) and to a lesser extent with postglucose plasma glucose response (r = 0.37 to 0.44, P less than 0.001) in all cases. For insulin and FFA, however, correlations were significant only in certain subgroups. Similar relationships were noted for VLDL cholesterol. Measurements relating to carbohydrate tolerance, age, and race accounted for 35% to 48% of the variability in VLDL lipid values. Surprisingly, fasting plasma glucose showed the highest partial regression coefficient for VLDL lipid in all subgroups except high pre-beta-lipoprotein cholesterol and low beta-lipoprotein cholesterol category, in which age was the major predictor variable. These results demonstrate that subtle abnormalities in the above-mentioned metabolic interrelationships are established early in life.
Optimized atomic radii for quantum dielectric continuum solvation models

Abstract We present an optimized set of atomic radii for H, C, N, O, F, P, S and Cl, which can be used in quantum dielectric continuum calculations. These atomic radii yield differences in hydration energies with experimental data of about 1 kcal/mol for neutral molecules, 2 kcal/mol for cations and 2–5 kcal/mol for anions at the Hartree-Fock, second order Moller-Plesset perturbation, and various non-local density functional theories within the framework of the generalized conductor-like screening model. Almost the same accuracy was also found when these radii were used with the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The accuracy of the recently proposed self-consistent isodensity PCM model is also discussed.