cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of Probiotic Bifidobacteria

The definition of probiotics stipulates sufficient numbers; hence, long-term survival of the strains is essential. The definition also stipulates a health benefit. In order to document this in the appropriate host, for bifidobacteria usually for humans, sufficient viable material is required. Production of good-quality probiotics, including bifidobacteria, is therefore of prime importance already in the early stages of probiotic development. Production of probiotics is more than just growing biomass. In order to be able to guarantee quality, stability, and safety of the product, strain-specific adjustments have to be made. This should be considered early in the development of new probiotic strains. Likewise, the continuously evolving regulatory environment in various countries around the world needs to be taken into consideration early and followed continuously.
The next forum for unraveling FDA off-label marketing rules: State and federal legislatures

In a Guest Editorial, Aaron S. Kesselheim and Michael S. Sinha show how federal and state legislation to allow promotion of drugs for non-approved uses threatens to undermine the FDA's public health mission.
Response to Comment on Gordin et al. Differential Association of Microvascular Attributions With Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Long Duration of Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2018;41:815–822

We thank Dr. Azar and colleagues for their interest in our article (1) on the low prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with long duration of type 1 diabetes without proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) but with diabetic kidney disease. Their results, presented in the accompanying letter (2), showed an association of the severity …
The Urgent Need for Research and Interventions to Address Family-Based Stigma and Discrimination Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth.

Abstract Purpose This scoping study sought to provide an overview of existing interventions, programs and policies that address family-based stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ youth. Methods A keyword search in three online databases identified relevant scientific publications. Because it located a relatively small number of peer-reviewed publications, additional grey literature references were included, identified through consultation with specialists and through anonymous peer-review. Research, policies and interventions were categorized using an adapted ecological framework. Results There is very little peer-reviewed research on interventions to reduce family stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ youth. Most on-going work to improve family environments for LGBTQ youth appears to be currently conducted by city governments and non-governmental organizations. Very few interventions or programs provide any outcome data. Theoretical frameworks and approaches vary widely. Conclusions Given the widely recognized importance of a supportive family environment for a healthy transition to adulthood for LGBTQ youth, there is an urgent need for scientific research on policies and interventions to address stigma and discrimination and create supportive environments within families. Tackling family-based stigma and discrimination will require interventions and policies at each level of the ecological framework, including individual- and interpersonal-level interventions as well as community-level programs and structural-level policymaking.
The Imperative of Soft Skill Development in Preventive Conservation Practice and Training

Cultural heritage is wonderfully diverse and as heritage preservation professionals, it is our duty to address the preventive conservation of all cultural heritages. However, there is no one set of...
2-(4-Methylsulfonylphenyl)pyrimidines as Prospective Radioligands for Imaging Cyclooxygenase-2 with PET—Synthesis, Triage, and Radiolabeling

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid into the prostaglandins, PGG2 and PGH2. Expression of this enzyme increases in inflammation. Therefore, the development of probes for imaging COX-2 with positron emission tomography (PET) has gained interest because they could be useful for the study of inflammation in vivo, and for aiding anti-inflammatory drug development targeting COX-2. Nonetheless, effective PET radioligands are still lacking. We synthesized eleven COX-2 inhibitors based on a 2(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)pyrimidine core from which we selected three as prospective PET radioligands based on desirable factors, such as high inhibitory potency for COX-2, very low inhibitory potency for COX-1, moderate lipophilicity, and amenability to labeling with a positronemitter. These inhibitors, namely 6-methoxy-2-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl-N-(thiophen-2ylmethyl)pyrimidin-4-amine (17), the 6-fluoromethyl analogue (20), and the 6-(2-fluoroethoxy) analogue (27), were labeled in useful yields and with high molar activities by treating the 6-hydroxy analogue (26) with [11C]iodomethane, [18F]2-fluorobromoethane, and [d2-18F]fluorobromomethane, respectively. [11C]17, [18F]20, and [d2-18F]27 were readily purified with HPLC and formulated for intravenous injection. These methods allow these radioligands to be produced for comparative evaluation as PET radioligands for measuring COX-2 in healthy rhesus monkey and for assessing their abilities to detect inflammation.
What you didn't now about GMO : technology

As the world population continues to grow, we must embrace modern technology such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to help us achieve sustainable global development.
Hypothyroidism after craniospinal irradiation with proton or photon therapy in patients with medulloblastoma.

AbstractBackground: Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) often results in endocrine deficiencies in children with medulloblastoma due to irradiation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) or the thyroid gland. CSI with Proton radiation therapy (PRT) has the potential to decrease the risk of hypothyroidism by reduction in radiation dose to these organs. This study compares the risk for hypothyroidism in patients with medulloblastoma treated with Photon radiation therapy (XRT) or PRT. Methods: The records of patients with medulloblastoma diagnosed at a single institution between 1997 and 2014 who received CSI were, retrospectively, reviewed. Ninety-five patients (54 XRT and 41 PRT) who had baseline and yearly follow-up thyroid studies were included. We used interval censored Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios of developing any, primary, and central hypothyroidism. Results: With a median time to last thyroid studies post radiation of 3.8 years in PRT and 9.6 years in XRT, 33/95 (34.7%) patients developed ...
LRRK2 inhibition does not impart protection from α-synuclein pathology and neuron death in non-transgenic mice.

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are one of the most common causes of familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). The most common mutations in the LRRK2 gene induce elevated kinase activity of the LRRK2 protein. Recent studies have also suggested that LRRK2 kinase activity may be elevated in idiopathic PD patients, even in the absence of LRRK2 mutations. LRRK2 is therefore a prime candidate for small molecule kinase inhibitor development. However, it is currently unknown how LRRK2 influences the underlying pathogenesis of PD and how LRRK2 might influence extant pathogenesis. To understand whether LRRK2 inhibition would show some benefit in the absence of LRRK2 mutations, we treated a preclinical mouse model of PD with the potent LRRK2 inhibitor MLi-2. The inhibitor was well-tolerated by mice and dramatically reduced LRRK2 kinase activity. However, LRRK2 inhibition did not reverse motor phenotypes, pathological α-synuclein accumulation or neuron loss. The current study suggests that LRRK2 is not necessary for α-synuclein pathogenesis in this mouse model of PD and that further studies are needed to assess the likely clinical benefit of LRRK2 inhibition in idiopathic PD.
Bridging the transected or contused adult rat spinal cord with Schwann cell and olfactory ensheathing glia transplants.

Publisher Summary This chapter compares new findings from studies of cell transplantation in a rat contusion model with those utilizing a complete transection/cellular bridge paradigm. In both cases, Schwann cells (SCs) support substantial axonal regeneration and myelination in the graft. In neither case, brainstem or cortical axons appear to enter the graft. Studying transplantation in a contusion model is clinically relevant; however, there is the challenge of distinguishing spared and sprouted fibers from fibers that have regenerated. Therefore, the chapter uses a complete transection model to obtain unambiguous results by placing a cellular bridge between the stumps of completely transected adult Fischer rat thoracic spinal cord.
Acute neuropathological consequences of short-term mechanical ventilation in wild-type and Alzheimer’s disease mice

Mechanical ventilation is strongly associated with cognitive decline after critical illness. This finding is particularly evident among older individuals who have pre-existing cognitive impairment, most commonly characterized by varying degrees of cerebral amyloid-β accumulation, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. We sought to test the hypothesis that short-term mechanical ventilation contributes to the neuropathology of cognitive impairment by (i) increasing cerebral amyloid-β accumulation in mice with pre-existing Alzheimer’s disease pathology, (ii) increasing neurologic and systemic inflammation in wild-type mice and mice with pre-existing Alzheimer’s disease pathology, and (iii) increasing hippocampal blood-brain barrier permeability in wild-type mice and mice with pre-existing Alzheimer’s disease pathology. We subjected double transgenic Alzheimer’s disease (APP/PSEN1) and wild-type mice to mechanical ventilation for 4 h and compared to non-mechanically ventilated Alzheimer’s disease model and wild-type mice. Cerebral soluble/insoluble amyloid-β1–40/amyloid-β1–42 and neurological and systemic markers of inflammation were quantified. Hippocampal blood-brain barrier permeability was quantified using a novel methodology that enabled assessment of small and large molecule permeability across the blood-brain barrier. Mechanical ventilation resulted in (i) a significant increase in cerebral soluble amyloid-β1–40 (p = 0.007) and (ii) significant increases in neuroinflammatory cytokines in both wild-type and Alzheimer’s disease mice which, in most cases, were not reflected in the plasma. There were (i) direct correlations between polymorphonuclear cells in the bronchoalveolar fluid and cerebral soluble amyloid-β1–40 (p = 0.0033), and several Alzheimer’s disease-relevant neuroinflammatory biomarkers including cerebral TNF-α and IL-6; (iii) significant decreases in blood-brain barrier permeability in mechanically ventilated Alzheimer’s disease mice and a trend towards increased blood-brain barrier permeability in mechanically ventilated wild-type mice. These results provide the first evidence that short-term mechanical ventilation independently promotes the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease in subjects with and without pre-existing cerebral Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Future studies are needed to further clarify the specific mechanisms by which this occurs and to develop neuroprotective mechanical ventilation strategies that mitigate the risk of cognitive decline after critical illness.
Modeling and simulating SOSA sensor systems

Open System Architecture (OSA) is a buzzword in the commercial and government communities. The attraction of OSAs is their ability to enable interoperability and reduce the cost of procuring sensor systems. The Sensor Open Sensor Architecture (SOSA) Consortium is a consensus based community of government and industry partners working together to develop the next generation of sensors that have well-defined interfaces for software, hardware, and electrical/mechanical components. Having well-defined interfaces brings about system modeling and simulation opportunities that would otherwise not be possible with proprietary designs. This paper intro- duces a system modeling and simulation approach that takes advantage of the open interfaces the SOSA Consortium provides, with the end goal being to design a sensor system in software. This system modeling and simulation approach demonstrates the efficacy of designing future sensor systems using the SOSA Technical Standard by providing design examples for sensor systems and networks of sensor systems. Two different use cases are modeled and analyzed in this paper. The first use case demonstrates how a ground vehicle can transmit science data to a nearby sensor that can then forward the data to a ground station using the SOSA Technical Standard. The second use case demonstrates how a network of sensors can use the SOSA Technical Standard to interoperate and establish communication with one or multiple ground stations. Together, these two use cases provide a solid framework for demonstrating the effectiveness of the SOSA Technical Standard for sensor system applications, whereas, the system modeling and simulation approach demonstrates its ability to enable rapid testing of new designs and algorithms for various components of a sensor.
Performing Bodies: Female Illness in Italian Literature and Cinema (1860–1920): By Catherine Ramsey-Portolano

«Did feigning illness serve as a type of survival skill for women in late nineteenth-century Italy, allowing them to manipulate categorization of themselves as fragile and diseased?» E una delle do...
Neuroanatomical structures supporting lexical diversity, sophistication, and phonological word features during discourse

Deficits in lexical retrieval are commonly observed in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. Successful lexical retrieval is related to lexical diversity, lexical sophistication, and phonological word properties; however, the crucial brain regions supporting these different features are not fully understood. We performed MRI-based lesion symptom mapping in 58 individuals with a chronic left hemisphere stroke to assess how regional damage relates to spoken discourse-extracted measures of lexical diversity, lexical sophistication, and phonological word properties. For discourse transcription and word feature analysis, we used the Computerized Language Analysis (CLAN) program, Stanford Core Natural Language Processing, Irvine Phonotactic Online Dictionary, Lexical Complexity Analyzer, and Gramulator. Lesions involving the left posterior insula and supramarginal gyri and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus were significant predictors of utterances with, on average, lower lexical diversity. Low lexical sophistication was associated with damage to the left pole of the superior temporal gyrus. Production of words with lower phonological complexity (fewer phonemes, higher phonological similarity) was associated with damage to the left supramarginal gyrus. Our findings indicate that discourse-extracted features of lexical retrieval depend on the integrity of specific brain regions involving insular and peri-Sylvian areas. The identified regions provide insight into potentially underlying mechanisms of lexically diverse, sophisticated and phonologically complex words produced during discourse.
Human Actions Support Infant Memory.

ABSTRACTAgents are important for structuring memory in adulthood. However, it is unclear whether this “social memory bias” stems from a reliance on agents in verbal narratives, or whether it reflec...
Hardware Security Primitives for Vehicles

In the last few decades, advances in vehicular technology have necessitated large increases in the number of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) within vehicles. These ECUs are required to communicate with other ECUs in order to achieve full functionality. The communication networks that connect the ECUs have been shown to pose signiﬁcant security risks, as they can be the target for attacks. Establishing security in vehicles against attacks is a complex topic that has generated much interest as a focus of research. In this article, we will highlight current security approaches in terms of hardware modules and physically unclonable functions (PUFs).
Investigation of bed and den site selection by American black bears (Ursus americanus) in a landscape impacted by forest restoration treatments and wildfires

Abstract The combined effects of long-term fire suppression, logging, and overgrazing have negatively impacted many southwestern U.S. forests, resulting in decreased habitat quality for wildlife, and more frequent and severe wildfires. In response, land management agencies are implementing large-scale forest restoration treatments, but data on how wildlife respond to restoration treatments and wildfires are often limited. We investigated bed and den site selection of American black bears (Ursus americanus) using GPS location data and a use/available study design to assess the influence of habitat characteristics, including wildfires, prescribed burns, and thinning treatments on bed and den site selection in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. The most supported models suggested that black bears were more likely to select bed sites with a combination of low horizontal visibility (β = −0.007, SE = 0.002; P = 0.002) and high stand basal area (β = 0.013, SE = 0.005; P = 0.004). The highest-ranking model for den site selection indicated that black bears were more likely to select den sites with low horizontal visibility (β = −0.0102, SE = 0.004; P = 0.006). Black bears used all disturbed sites to varying degrees (45% of study area), although 48% of bed sites were located in undisturbed habitat (55% of study area) while only 11% and 2% of bed sites were located in thinned and prescribed burn sites, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of bed sites were located in previous wildfire locations; however, 67% of these sites were in areas with low burn severity. Thirty-eight percent of den sites were located in previously disturbed habitat, 8 of these sites were burned by wildfires. In order to develop effective management plans for black bears, it is essential to understand responses to landscape-scale habitat disturbances due to wildfires and restoration activities, all of which are becoming more prevalent and widespread across southwestern forests. Accounting for the timing, size, and proximity of future restoration efforts would aid in mitigating potential short-term negative effects on black bears.
Crystal structure of bis-(1-mesityl-1H-imidazole-κN3)di-phenyl-boron tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate.

The solid-state structure of bis­(1-mesityl-1H-imidazole-κN3)di­phenyl­boron tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, C36H38BN4+·CF3SO3− or (Ph2B(MesIm)2OTf), is reported. Bis(1-mesityl-1H-imidazole-κN3)di­phenyl­boron (Ph2B(MesIm)2+) is a bulky ligand that crystallizes in the ortho­rhom­bic space group Pbcn. The asymmetric unit contains one Ph2B(MesIm)2+ cationic ligand and one tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anion that balances the positive charge of the ligand. The tetra­hedral geometry around the boron center is distorted as a result of the steric bulk of the phenyl groups. Weak inter­actions, such as π–π stacking are present in the crystal structure.
A dictionary-based graph-cut algorithm for MRI reconstruction

Purpose Compressive sensing (CS)-based image reconstruction methods have proposed random undersampling schemes that produce incoherent, noise-like aliasing artifacts, which are easier to remove. The denoising process is critically assisted by imposing sparsity-enforcing priors. Sparsity is known to be induced if the prior is in the form of the Lp (0 ≤ p ≤ 1) norm. CS methods generally use a convex relaxation of these priors such as the L1 norm, which may not exploit the full power of CS. An efficient, discrete optimization formulation is proposed, which works not only on arbitrary Lp -norm priors as some non-convex CS methods do, but also on highly non-convex truncated penalty functions, resulting in a specific type of edge-preserving prior. These advanced features make the minimization problem highly non-convex, and thus call for more sophisticated minimization routines. Theory and methods The work combines edge-preserving priors with random undersampling, and solves the resulting optimization using a set of discrete optimization methods called graph cuts. The resulting optimization problem is solved by applying graph cuts iteratively within a dictionary, defined here as an appropriately constructed set of vectors relevant to brain MRI data used here. Results Experimental results with in vivo data are presented. Conclusion The proposed algorithm produces better results than regularized SENSE or standard CS for reconstruction of in vivo data.
Social media as online archives: inserting religious identities within educational spaces in India

In this ethnographic study I demonstrate how students, teachers, and parents use the affordances of social media platforms to insert religious identities within educational spaces, learning experie...
Leveraging Multi-Phase and Fractional-Turn Integrated Planar Transformers for Miniaturization in Data Center Applications

Data center servers represent an important and growing electrical load, and there is strong interest in miniaturizing the supplies that power them. This paper investigates the use of multi-phase and fractional-turn transformers in this application space and finds that they can offer significant miniaturization benefit especially in the 12V/1kW regime where a split-phase fractional turn transformer is estimated to operate with 3.1 times lower loss than a single-phase configuration.
Improving Provider Comfort with Discussing Insurance Changes During Pediatric to Adult Transitions of Care

BACKGROUND Most adolescents in the United States do not receive proper transitions of care (ToC) from the pediatric to the adult medical home. This lack of structured health care transition leads to discontinuity of care, risking more complications at higher costs. In this quality improvement study, we assessed existing gaps in the knowledge of topics relevant to this ToC at UI Health among resident and attending physicians, and provided an education-based intervention. METHODS A primary needs assessment was used to determine which topic, among a list of …
Evaluation of the Acceptability of a Proposed, Instagram-Based, Randomized Controlled Trial for People With Asthma: Survey Study.

Background: Asthma is a chronic lung disease that affects nearly 25 million individuals in the United States. More research is needed into the potential for health care providers to leverage existing social media platforms to improve healthy behaviors and support individuals living with chronic health conditions. Objective: In this study, we assessed the willingness of Instagram users with poorly controlled asthma to participate in a pilot randomized controlled trial that will use Instagram as a means of providing social and informational support. In addition, we explored the potential for adapting the principles of photovoice and digital storytelling to Instagram. Methods: We conducted a survey study of Instagram users aged 18-40 years with poorly controlled asthma in the United States. Results: Over 3 weeks of recruitment, 457 individuals completed the presurvey screener; 347 (75.9%) were excluded and 110 (24.1%) were eligible and agreed to participate in the study. Of the 110 individuals, 82 (74.5%) completed the study survey. The mean age of the respondents was 21 (SD 5.3) years. Among respondents, 56% (46/82) were female, 65% (53/82) were non-Hispanic White, and 72% (59/82) had at least some college education. The majority of respondents (67/82, 82%) indicated that they would be willing to participate in the proposed study. Conclusions: Among young adult Instagram users with asthma, there is substantial interest in participating in a pilot randomized controlled trial that will use Instagram to connect participants with peers and a health coach to share information about self-management of asthma and build social connection.
Find, identify, select…socialize?: Alternative objectives of library catalogs

Throughout history, library catalogs have served various purposes, yet most formal statements of catalog objectives focus on inventory and holdings. As contemporary libraries face questions about the continued relevance of the library catalog, these purposes inspire reexamination. This poster presents a historical review of library catalogs with emphasis on purposes, as well as a review of proposals for alternatives to these extant objectives in order to inform future catalog design and library advocacy.
Selenoprotein W Inhibits the c-Met Oncogene by Regulating Receptor Ubiquitination

Background: Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor (HGFR), or c-Met, is the receptor for Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). HGF-bound c-Met causes the activation of many important downstream pathways leading to cell proliferation, survival, invasion, differentiation, and migration. Selenoprotein W1 (SEPW1) is a selenium (Se) regulated, small thioredoxin-like protein required for cell cycle entry in breast and prostate epithelial cells. Se is an essential micronutrient with an involvement in cancer, but the mechanisms of its action are unclear. Low levels of dietary Se can be a risk factor for many cancers including liver cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which SEPW1 inhibits the invasive properties of hepatocellular carcinoma in HepG2 cells. Results: Silencing SEPW1 caused an increase in total c-Met expression, c-Met located on the plasma membrane, and HGF-induced c-Met phosphorylation in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Consistent with the increase in total c-Met...
Changes in canyon wren vocalizations in advance of the breeding season

Many animals adjust their signaling patterns throughout the year. Birds may use different signals as they increase association with mates and expend more energy in territory defense. Song is typically associated with territorial defense and pair bonding between mates, while calls often relate to maintaining contact between foraging birds. We studied variations in vocal behavior in canyon wrens ( Catherpes mexicanus ) by recording a pair across the midwinter-early spring transition preceding nesting. Recordings were made at the same time weekly for ten weeks. Call rate decreased during this period, contrasting strongly with increasing song production. The occurrence of low frequency vocalizations following songs also increased, which may serve as an aggressive signal in territory defense. Behavior observations coupled with the recording results indicate that canyon wrens alter their vocal communication with the shift into the breeding season. These changes likely correlate with increased need for strong partnership and territorial resources.
Legal and ethical issues in newborn screening.

The development of techniques for newborn screening and for prenatal diagnosis of sickle hemoglobin and other hemoglobinopathies will have a profound effect on public health policy to a greater extent than did mass population testing that was initiated in the early 1970s. The subject of this conference is newborn screening; however, there is an old aphorism: "One cannot do one thing." Accordingly, when newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies is instituted on a large scale, the public policy consequences will extend far beyond newborn screening. We cannot anticipate all of the effects of such a policy, but some aftermaths may be predicted with near certainty. To understand the possible outcomes of a large-scale newborn screening program for sickle cell disease, some prior court and legislative decisions are pertinent. Legislation, court decisions, state and federal genetics programs, and scholars in the social sciences, humanities, law, medicine, and genetics support discoveries in genetics that now facilitate genetic testing, prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion of fetuses with genetic and other disorders, artificial insemination, and in vitro fertilization. Arguments for and against these procedures are reminiscent of debates about the use of the limited tools of the old eugenics to prevent the birth of children who were considered to be physically, mentally, or socially defective. Some examples of these court and legislative decisions follow: the Supreme Court verdict in Munn v Illinois established that the public interest supercedes the private interests of individuals; Buck v Bell, another Supreme Court ruling, upheld the constitutionality of mandatory sterilization.
Estimation of Electric Fields and Currents from Ground-Based Magnetometer Data

Recent advances in numerical algorithms for estimating ionospheric electric fields and currents from groundbased magnetometer data are reviewed and evaluated. Tests of the adequacy of one such algorithm in reproducing large-scale patterns of electrodynamic parameters in the high-latitude ionosphere have yielded generally positive results, at least for some simple cases. Some encouraging advances in producing realistic conductivity models, which are a critical input, are pointed out. When the algorithms are applied to extensive data sets, such as the ones from meridian chain magnetometer networks during the IMS, together with refined conductivity models, unique information on instantaneous electric field and current patterns can be obtained. Examples of electric potentials, ionospheric currents, field-aligned currents, and Joule heating distributions derived from ground magnetic data are presented. Possible directions for future improvements are also pointed out.
Hydroxylysine Glycosides in Human Urine

Hydroxylysyl-galactosyl-glucose (HGG) and hydroxylysyl-galactose (HG) were isolated from normal human urine and shown to be identical with hydroxylysine glycosides (OHLG's) whose structure had been elucidated in other laboratories. We devised a procedure for separating the OHLG's from many other urinary constituents by preliminary fractionation on a column of Sephadex. The OHLG's in the fractions so obtained were then isolated, uncontaminated with other ninhydrin-positive components, in a single pass through an analytical cation-exchange column equipped for splitting the effluent stream. In addition, a procedure was devised for determining as little as 10-9 mol of the OHLG's in 100 µl of filtrate (corresponding to 83.3 µl, of urine) on standard ion-exchange chromatographic amino acid analyzers. In normal adult urine, 1.5, µmol of each glycoside was present per 100 mg of creatinine; the molar ratio of HHG to HG was about 1.1 to 1.2. Each was present in plasma in about 400- to 500-fold smaller concentration than in urine. After surgical fusion of the spine, excretion of OHLG's increased and the ratio of HGG to HG decreased, changes we interpreted as indicating a more rapid bone-collagen turnover consequent to surgical damage.
Punishment Policy in the American States from 1890 to 2008: Convergence, Divergence, Synchronous Change, and Feed‐Forward Effects

This analysis of the patterns of change in the use of incarceration by the American states from 1890 through 2008 focuses on multiple themes particularly relevant to an understanding of policy arenas in which the social constructions of target populations play an important role. Specifically, the study examines whether the states have adopted more similar incarceration levels over time (converged), whether they tend to change in the same direction at the same time (synchronous change), and whether they tend to stay in the same relative positions vis-a-vis one another, such that the historical policy position has long-term implications for later policy positions (“feed-forward” effects). The results indicate that, in spite of a century of social, political, and economic integration, the policy positions of the states have not exhibited a sustained convergence toward a common level of incarceration, but have undergone cycles, with some periods of convergence followed by periods of divergence. Change has generally been synchronous—as states tend to move in the same direction at the same time as if propelled by national forces even though incarceration levels are determined by state and local policy and the use of discretion by criminal justice officials. The results also indicate a profound “feed-forward” effect in that the position of the states vis-a-vis one another historically has substantial predictive power for their position in subsequent years.
Effect of polarity and molecular structure of selected liquids on their heat of compression during high pressure processing

During high-pressure processing (HPP) of food materials, water and fatty food components showed lowest and highest heat of compression (δ) values, respectively. A study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between δ of selected liquids under pressure and their polarity index. The influence of carbon chain length and degree of unsaturation on the δ values was also evaluated. While polar liquids showed a linear trend with the δ, non-polar liquids exhibited a nonlinear relationship. δ values decreased with increasing polarity index (8.8 °C per100 MPa for chloroform to 3 °C per100 MPa for water). Change in carbon chain length (C2 to C4) and degree of saturation (C18:1 to C18:3) of selected fatty acids were found to have an effect on the δ only at elevated pressures. The study would aid in improving our understanding of thermal non-uniformities during HPP.
Thermochemical Properties and Bond Dissociation Enthalpies of 3- to 5-Member Ring Cyclic Ether Hydroperoxides, Alcohols, and Peroxy Radicals: Cyclic Ether Radical + 3O2 Reaction Thermochemistry

The formation of cyclic ethers is a major product in the oxidation of hydrocarbons, and the oxidation of biomass derived alcohols. Cyclic ethers are formed in the initial reactions of alkyl radicals with dioxygen in combustion and precombustion processes that occur at moderate temperatures. They represent a significant part of the oxygenated pollutants found in the exhaust gases of engines. Cyclic ethers can also be formed from atmospheric reactions of olefins. Additionally, cyclic ethers have been linked to the formation of the secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the atmosphere. In combustion and thermal oxidation processes these cyclic ethers will form radicals that react with 3O2 to form peroxy radicals. Density functional theory and higher level ab initio calculations are used to calculate thermochemical properties and bond dissociation enthalpies of 3 to 5 member ring cyclic ethers (oxirane, yC2O, oxetane, yC3O, and oxolane, yC4O), corresponding hydroperoxides, alcohols, hydroperoxy alkyl, and alkyl r...
The permanent wilting percentage as a reference for the measurement of soil moisture

Soil moisture as usually reported as a percentage on a dry-weight basis without reference to some standard or base for comparison is of limited value. Arbitrary definitions of the kinds of water in soil convey only qualitative ideas. It is shown that the permanent wilting percentage is remarkably constant and that in regions of rainless summers this moisture condition is reached year after year in the soil below the surface layer which is affected by surface evaporation. Soil-moisture extraction curves slope downward approximately uniformly until the permanent wilting percentage is reached. Then the curves continue nearly horizontal. The soil moisture is slowly reduced to a minimum which is slightly below the permanent wilting percentage. The permanent wilting percentage is a satisfactory reference point from which the amount of readily available water and also the amount needed to raise the soil to its field capacity may be calculated.
Aspirin does not increase bleeding complications after transbronchial biopsy.

Study objectives The present study was performed to determine whether the risk of bleeding after transbronchial lung biopsy is increased in patients taking aspirin. Design Prospective cohort study. Patients and interventions After excluding patients with other coagulation problems, 1,217 patients who had undergone transbronchial lung biopsy during a prospective 1.5-year study period were included in this study. The use of aspirin was not discontinued before the procedure. Two hundred eighty-five patients (23%) had consumed aspirin within 24 h of the procedure, and most of them (82%) used aspirin on a daily basis. Transbronchial biopsies were performed, and the bleeding incidence was compared between the groups. Results A total of 57 patients (4.7%) experienced procedure-related bleeding. Minor bleeding occurred in 5 of 285 patients (1.8%) taking aspirin and in 27 of 932 control patients (2.9%; not significant). Moderate bleeding was seen in 3 of 285 patients (1.1%) in the aspirin group and in 13 of 932 patients (1.4%) in the control group (not significant). Major bleeding occurred in only 9 patients, 2 of 285 (0.9%) in the aspirin group and 7 of 932 (0.8%) in the control group (not significant). All bleeding was controlled by endoscopic means, and there were no fatalities and no need for blood transfusions. Conclusions We conclude that the risk of severe bleeding after transbronchial lung biopsy is small (ie,
The fragility of freedom : Tocqueville on religion, democracy, and the American future

Joshua Mitchell offers an interpretation of Toqueville as a moral historian, concerned less with history as an objective record of the past than as a disclosure of the trajectory of the human spirit. Though Tocqueville is the dominating figure, Mitchell also examines Augustine, Hobbes, Rousseau, Hegel and Nietzsche. Mitchell argues that Tocqueville's analysis of democracy is ultimately founded in an Augustinian idea of human psychology in which the soul or self alternately seeks withdrawal from the world or restive immersion in it. For a democracy to survive, Tocqueville recognized that its citizens had to navigate successfully between these two extremes of isolation and commitment. Democracy also paradoxically seemed to foster the very qualities - including ambition and envy - that threaten to undermine that fragile freedom which democracy affords. It is only such mediating institutions as the family and religion that can safeguard the continued vitality of democratic life and the health of the "democratic soul". Mitchell examines these institutions within the larger context of Tocqueville's thought, identifying them as a particularly American embodiment of the Christian tradition which continues to both protect the inherent instabilities of democracy and invigorate the conditions of equality.
Cavitation erosion of substrates in disk drive component cleaning: An exploratory study

Abstract The intent in this paper is threefold: to describe the phenomenon of cavitation erosion, and its occurrence and relevance in substrate cleaning using ultrasound in the magnetic data storage device industry; to introduce a novel method, liquid-borne particle counting, that provides a quantitative measure of erosion without the need for direct surface inspection; to establish a fundamental relationship between substrate surface properties, such as surface energy, and its credibility. The paper concludes with recommendations for surface finishes and coatings to minimize surface attrition due to cavitation erosion.
Effects of madelung potentials at surfaces of ZnO on photoemission spectra and work functions

Abstract Madelung potentials have been calculated for sites in and near polar and nonpolar, primitive and reconstructed surfaces of wurtzite ZnO. Surface versus bulk potential differences result in electron binding energy differences which should be observable in photoemission spectra even on nonpolar surfaces. In polar planes, the average site charges in the outermost ion layer are “naturally” reduced relative to charges in the crystal interior, and observable effects should be larger. Results for polar surfaces of singly bonded atoms are indicative of the Madelung potential effects expected for dense layers of chemisorbed species. These potentials are especially sensitive to details of charge transfer. If a crystal has uniform site charges except for the above-mentioned charge reduction on polar surfaces, there exist surface dipoles which would cause considerably greater variation in work function from one crystal face to another than that observed experimentally; this discrepancy is resolved if, in the outermost cation-anion layer, charges are further reduced to three-quarters to one-half the “natural” values.
Salt and water balance in selected crabs of Madagascar.

Abstract 1. 1. Salt and water regulation were studied in Cardisoma carnifex, Sesarma meinerti, Varuna litterata and Coenobita cavipes . 2. 2. The brachyurans, Cardisoma, Sesarma and Varuna show strong osmoregulation in tap water or 150 per cent sea water, the antennary glands being ineffective in the process but able to concentrate magnesium in the urine independently of the magnesium influx from the medium. 3. 3. The anomuran Coenobita was not studied in immersion experiments but was ssown to control its water balance on land by behavioral means. 4. 4. When desiccated, Cardisoma can regain water against an osmotic gradient from sea water dampened sand.
Isolation of polysomes from larval and adult Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract A method has been developed for the isolation of polysomes from adult Drosophila melanogaster . The profiles are not degraded by endogenous nucleases at 4°C, but are sensitive to added ribonuclease A. Cycloheximide added to the preparation does not alter the profile, indicating that chain elongation leading to loss of polysomes is not occurring under these conditions. Resuspension of the polysome pellets in high-salt buffer leads to dissociation of inactive ribosomes which is reversible. The addition of N -ethylmaleiide, cytidine 5′-monophosphoric acid, diethyl sulfate, and polyvinylsulfate does not improve the profiles. The profiles are dependent on added magnesium ion. Polyadenylated RNA was extracted from the polysomes using the guanidinium chloride method and oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography. The RNA was translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free system and the translation products were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Improving sound quality of reciprocating compressor using random PWM

Recently, it has become more common to apply inverter systems to household electrical appliances in order to reduce their power consumption and acoustic noise through low speed operation, and to make their function more comfortable for human beings. For the inverter systems, however, it is highly required to reduce undesirable electromagnetic noise and psychoacoustic noise generated by PWM for variable speed operation. In this paper, the electromagnetic noise for deterministic PWM and random PWM methods applied to reciprocating compressors driven by brushless DC motors was analyzed. It was verified through experiments that applying random PWM reduced the appliance electromagnetic noise and improved the sound quality.
Axioms for consensus functions on undirected phylogenetic trees

Abstract A version of Arrow's impossibility theorem is established for consensus functions on undirected phylogenetic trees.
The efficacy of GMFM-88 and GMFM-66 to detect changes in gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP): a literature review

AbstractAim: The purpose of this study was to review published research on the use of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and (GMFM-66) as outcome measures to determine if these tools detect changes in gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing interventions. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Medline and PubMed to identify studies published from January 2000 through January 2011 that reported the accuracy of GMFM-88 and GMFM-66 to measure changes over time in children with CP undergoing interventions. The keywords used for the search were “GMFM” and “CP”. Two of the authors (M.A. and S.B.) reviewed the titles and abstracts found in the databases. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by using the Critical Review Form-Quantitative Studies. Results: Of 62 papers initially identified, 21 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. These articles consist of three longitudinal studies, six randomized controlled trials, four repeated m...
Sustainable Ground-Water Exploitation

Principles of sustainable ground-water exploitation are presented in this paper. The renewable and inappropriable nature of ground water is examined in light of the process of recharge. An example ...
Period between Completion of Radiation Therapy and Prosthetic Rehabilitation in Edentulous Patients: A Retrospective Study

Purpose: The primary purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the number and types of complications patients had before and after insertion of a removable prosthesis (i.e., denture) following radiation therapy to the head and neck and (2) to investigate whether the time between radiation therapy and denture insertion might contribute to those complications. Materials and Methods: This research evaluated edentulous patients and those who were rendered edentulous as a result of their cancer treatment. After obtaining institutional approval following HIPAA regulations, a total of 349 charts were identified: 152 patients from Houston Veterans Administration Medical Center (HVAMC) and 197 patients from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). A total of 190 patients met the inclusion criteria with data available for review. Results: No significant differences were found in any of the comparisons made, except when comparing complications that occurred after the dentures were inserted and the amount of time it took for prosthetic rehabilitation. The majority of patients had no complications. The patients who received their dentures in 180 days or less had the same number of complications when compared with those patients who received their dentures in 181 to 365 days and those who had to wait longer than a year for prosthetic rehabilitation. Patients with more pre-insertion complications tended to have delayed prosthetic rehabilitation. Those patients who had complications both before and after denture insertion tended to have bilateral dosing of their radiation treatment. Patients who had received radiation therapy were 1.7 times more likely to have post-prosthesis insertion complications. The majority of patients who experienced complications before and after denture insertion had greater than 5000 cGy. Conclusions: The numbers of complications reviewed in this retrospective analysis were considerably fewer than the number expected. There appears to be no difference in the number of pre- and post-insertion complications as a function of the time delay from oral surgical procedure to start of radiation treatment (10 to 21 days vs. 22 days or more).
Animal Cognition, Epistemic Fluency, Social Networks and the Scientific Habit of Mind

This concept paper suggests a new way of thinking about the origin, growth, and spread of a general-purpose "scientific habit of mind" in humans, and discusses how intelligent coaching agents may help. The argument begins with a description of the role of the cognitive cycle in animal thinking. We then examine critical differences between non-human and human cognition, especially in respect to the crucial and yet problematic role of language and linguistic interaction in the "widening spread and deepening hold" of scientific thinking and discourse in human populations. The paper concludes with a vision of a new kind of open, networked learning community inhabited by human learners, human experts, and intelligent agents, and suggests ways of evaluating the development of scientific thinking within these communities using a combination of social network and semantic space analysis.