cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practical issues on the projection of polyhedral sets

Projection of polyhedral sets is a fundamental operation in both geometry and symbolic computation. In most cases, however, it is not practically feasible to generate projections as the size of the output can be exponential in the size of the input. Even when the size of the output is manageable, we still face two serious problems: overwhelming redundancy and degeneracy. Here, we address these problems from a practical point of view. We discuss three algorithms based on algebraic and geometric techniques and we compare their performance in order to assess the feasibility of these approaches.
Mental status and functional health 4 days following relocation to a nursing home.

Nurses frequently note changes in the health status of the aged following admission to a nursing home. The purpose of this study was to determine the stability of mental status and functional health over a 4-day period immediately following relocation from hospital to nursing home. Participants (N = 55) over the age of 60 were chosen sequentially as admitted to a 120-bed, long-term care facility for rehabilitation or convalescence, and interviewed on Day 1 and Day 4 following admission. Level of consciousness, attention/concentration, orientation, memory, and higher cognitive function were evaluated by the Mental Status Examination, and six activities of daily living were evaluated by the Scaled Outcome Criteria. A matched pairs t-test (p less than .05) demonstrated no significant differences in mean scores between Day 1 and Day 4. Results indicated that these short-term residents were stable in their mental status and functional health during the immediate period following relocation. Additional study is needed, with evaluation of the environment and its effect on participants' and expectation for length of stay.
Fatigue behavior and design of aluminum structures

Basic aspects of the fatigue behavior of aluminum components and structures are discussed, beginning with an examination of material coupons and progressing to full-scale structural systems. Several recently published design specifications are considered in the light of the experimental developments of the last 12 years. Discrepancies among provisions are used to focus on areas requiring further research and design rule development. Location of the constant amplitude fatigue limits (CAFLs) for various joint details and experimental study of fatigue behavior under variable load spectra are among items requiring additional study. Near term enhancements to fatigue design provisions include friction grip bolted connections as an alternative to bearing joints. Results of tests and data analysis on aluminum friction connections from EUREKA 269 are summarized. Potential analytical methods that might be considered for incorporation into specifications are discussed.
Effects of Glucose Concentration on Redox Status in Rat Primary Cortical Neurons under Hypoxia

Reduced supply of glucose involves in many pathological conditions such as stroke and contributes to ischemic injuries. In contrast, hyperglycemia has also been regarded as an important factor in causing and exaggerating stroke damage. Although the molecular mechanism(s) of imbalanced glucose-induced cellular injuries under low oxygen conditions are not clear, oxidative stress has been implicated in both hypo- and hypeglycemic damage. Redox status is critical for the regulation of cellular signaling and cell survival. The effects of glucose levels on redox status are not well understood in neurons under hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of glucose concentration on the redox status of rat primary neurons under hypoxia. The cellular redox status was determined from GSH/GSSG ratios, and oxidation of 2,3-dichlorofluorscein diacetate was used to assess levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We found that glucose levels were critical in regulating redox state in these neurons under hypoxia. The results showed that under hypoxic conditions: (1) there was an optimal glucose concentration (25mM) at which neurons maintained a reducing environment and showed the lowest levels of ROS and cell death; (2) in the concentration range of 0-25mM, the presence of glucose increased cellular GSH/GSSG ratio and reduced ROS and cell death; and (3) over-supply of glucose (25-100mM) elevated ROS levels, produced an oxidizing environment, and increased cell death. These results suggest that cellular redox status regulated by glucose may play an important role in glucose-mediated cellular responses in hypoxia.
Carotenoid pigments in the stalked barnacle Pollicipes polymerus

1. 1. Six carotenoid pigments, β-carotene, a dihydroxy carotenoid, possibly isozeaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, an astaxanthin ester and astaxanthin, were isolated from the bodies and stalk fluid of Pollicipes polymerus, although the proportions differed in each case. 2. 2. Similar extracts of the different developmental stages of the ovigerous lamellae showed the presence of five of these six carotenoids (the isozeaxanthin-like pigment could not be detected). 3. 3. A decrease in the amount of astaxanthin ester and lutein and the apparent simultaneous increase of free astaxanthin during the maturation of the nauplii was observed. 4. 4. Astaxanthin was found to be protein-bound (possibly to a lipoprotein) in the stalk fluid and ovigerous lamellae but not in the bodies. 5. 5. The presence of protein-bound astaxanthin in the lamellae appears to decrease with maturation. 6. 6. The possible function of the astaxanthin-protein complex which is stored in the stalk fluid is discussed.
V-uniform ergodicity for state-dependent single class queueing networks

We consider single class queueing networks with state-dependent arrival and service rates. Under the uniform (in state) stability condition, it is shown that the queue length process is V-uniformly ergodic; that is, it has a transition probability kernel which converges to its limit geometrically quickly in the V-norm sense. Among several asymptotic properties of V-uniformly ergodic processes, we present a Strassen-type functional law of the iterated logarithm result.
Analysis of a gene region required for dihydrogen oxidation in Azotobacter vinelandii

The putative products of six Azotobacter vinelandii chromosomal open reading frames (ORFs) were suggested to be involved in dihydrogen (H2) metabolism [Chen and Mortenson (1992) Biochim Biophys Acta 1131, 199–202]. A promoterless lacZ-containing cassette was used to disrupt the ORFs. Qualitative analysis revealed that the lacZ genes were expressed only in those mutants where the directions of the inserted lacZ were identical to those of the ORFs, showing that the six ORFs were transcribed as predicted. Unlike wildtype (w.t.), none of the mutants could perform dioxygen (O2)-dependent H2-oxidation, even though Western immunoanalyses showed that the hydrogenase large subunit was present although in amounts less than in w.t. Only one of the mutants (a hypB mutant), grown in nickel-enriched media, showed meaningful restoration of the H2-oxidizing ability. From the above observations it is concluded that (a) the six-ORF region is transcriptionally active and involved in H2-oxidation, (b) the product of hypB is needed for nickel activation of hydrogenase, and (c) the six ORFs (genes) belong to two or more operons. Possible roles of the gene products for the assembly, modification, and processing of hydrogenase from its apoproteins and metal centers are discussed.
The usefulness for psychoeducational evaluation of preassessment screening for sensory-motor and perceptual encoding deficits

Information-processing theory and research suggest that a careful examination of the input levels of processing is an essential prerequisite to the accurate assessment of higher levels of cognition. This paper describes a preassessment screening procedure to evaluate sensory-motor and perceptual encoding processes of children referred for psychoeducational assessment. In addition, an investigation of the diagnostic utility of the screening procedure is presented. Assessment procedures and outcomes for 18 children screened for encoding deficits were compared with those of a comparison group of 23 children whose psychoeducational evaluation at the same clinic did not include the screening procedure. Results demonstrate the potential usefulness of preassessment screening for encoding deficits to inform and supplement traditional psychometric measures of intellectual functioning.
Working with Abused Older Women from a Feminist Perspective

SUMMARY Domestic violence in older families is often referred to not as family violence but as elder abuse. This chapter will begin by discussing how perceptions of this type of violence impact informal and formal interventions. The prevalence and etiology of domestic violence are described, along with how the joint forces of ageism and sexism affect older female victims. National, state, and local efforts to prevent and remediate the abuse of older women are also covered. In conclusion, the author presents implications for working with groups and individual abused older women from a feminist perspective.
An open clinical trial of fluvoxamine treatment of psychogenic excoriation

The purpose of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of fluvoxamine in the treatment of psychogenic (neurotic) skin excoriation. Fourteen subjects with psychogenic excoriation were given fluvoxamine in a 12-week, open-label trial after completion of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. All subjects met DSM-IV criteria for at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder, with mood disorder the most common. Most subjects' excoriation had features of an impulse control disorder. Both completers (N = 7) and the entire group had significant improvement on the modified Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale but no improvement on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. In the self-report data, the seven completers had significant reduction in behaviors involving the skin (e.g., scratching, picking, gouging, or squeezing) and in global assessment of symptoms. Endpoint analysis of all 14 subjects' self-report data demonstrated significant improvement in the presence of skin sensations, skin appearance and lesions, behaviors involving the skin, control over skin behavior, and global assessment. The results of this preliminary open trial suggest that fluvoxamine may be effective in reducing psychogenic excoriation, and this effect seems to be independent of mood. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Determining job complexity in an engineer to order environment for due date estimation using a proposed framework

The engineer to order (ETO) environment is a common operating strategy found in industry today. ETO is a growing strategy as customers are increasingly demanding personalized solutions. In ETO, the engineering process is the largest controllable consumer of lead-time consuming one half of the total. A critical process is to determine engineering complexity for purposes of flow time prediction. One distinguishing factor of ETO is that each product is the culmination of a unique design prepared for a particular customer order. The only information available is limited to that which has been gathered during the quoting stage. Hence, the question becomes how does one determine the job difficulty in a complex transactional process when the job has not even been designed yet? This paper presents the results of a study that was conducted in conjunction with multiple ETO firms to identify factors which drive complexity in the engineering environment. One important application of these complexity factors is as a p...
Effects of sample treatment on chromatographic analysis of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae)

Abstract Gas—liquid chromatographic and high-performance liquid chromatographic analyses on the effects of leaf treatment as well as the conditions for cannabinoid extraction were examined in two clones of Cannabis sativa L. Cannabinoid extracts of dried leaves, when analyzed by gas—liquid chromatography, showed no significant quantitative or qualitative differences regardless of drying procedure or temperature and duration of extraction investigated. Comparable high-performance liquid chromatographic analyses, however, indicated that while extraction temperature did not influence the cannabinoid profile, drying conditions had a significant effect. High ratios of acid to neutral forms were derived only from extracts of leaves dried at 37°C as compared to 60°C. Fresh, non-dried leaf material also yielded high ratios of acid to neutral forms, but the duration of extraction was found to affect cannabinoid yield significantly. Longer extractions of fresh leaves resulted in lower amounts of cannabinoids extracted. This study determined optimal procedures for analyzing fresh plant materials.
Gravitational modulation of particle clustering: A new class of gravitationally induced quantum interference

A gravitational potential difference between the two components of a split fermion or boson beam in a particle interferometer modulates the cross-correlation in particle fluctuations and the variance in difference counts of the two output beams received at two detectors. The gravitational potential difference also modulates the conditional probability that a fermion will be received at a single detector given that one has been registered at an earlier time. The proposed effects are particle analogues of the optical Hanbury Brown-Twiss experiments; they represent a new kind of intrinsically nonrelativistic gravitationally induced quantum interference different in concept and in observational procedure from that of the Colella-Werner-Overhauser experiment. The effects should be observable with field-emission electron beams and slow neutron beams.
A Simplified Model for Determining Interfacial Position in Convergent Microchannel Flows

Previous experimental and computational studies have indicated that interfaces formed in steady, converging microchannel flows with similar liquids tend to be planar in nature under a variety of conditions relevant to micro-scale flows, including MEMS/microfluidic devices and even microcirculatory blood flows. Assuming a planar interface, we have developed an analytical framework to predict the fully developed interfacial location downstream of convergence of identical microchannels. Results have been obtained for microchannels having rectangular, elliptical/circular and triangular cross-sections as a function of the inlet flow ratio. Two-dimensional results have also been obtained for fluids having unequal viscosities
Intravenous alimentation in pediatric patients.

t ' r h e te rm "hypera l lmenta t ion" has been used to describe the technique that, in this review, will be referred to as " in t ravenous a l lmenta t lon" or "paren te ra l nu t r i t ion ." Literally, "hypera l imen ta t lon" can be construed to mean overfeeding, i.e., provision of nutrients in excess oI the usual oral requirement ; in addition, i t carries the connotation that patients receiving nutrients by this technique should show deposition of fat , if not of lean tissue, a t rates which are supernormal. Theoretically this may be the ease; in practice, however, a t tempts are made to provide only those amounts of nutrients which approximate a normal oral intake. sparse, especially with respect to the physiologic and metabolic responses of the patient. This review is an effort to consolidate and evaluate the currently available information dealing with the use of parenteral nutrition in pediatric patients. Most of the material to be discussed has been published; however, some unpublished observations made by us, as well as by others, will be included. The review initially attempts to depict the metabolic state during fasting, thus dramatizing the need for parenteral nutrition, especially in the infant. A description of intravenous alimentation as it is being practiced will then be presented along with a summary of the results obtained and the nature and frequency of complications that can be expected from such a technique. Last, a description of how the authors think the technique should be used will be presented.
Derivation of structural influence coefficients for plane-mirror optical systems

Movement of an optical element from its nominal mounting position can result in shifts in the pointing direction and image orientation of an optical system. This movement can be either static (due to mounting misalignment), or dynamic (due to structural vibration). The structural influence coefficients map the translational and rotational motions of lenses, mirrors, prisms, and detectors to changes in line-of-sight direction and image orientation. Influence coefficients are used by the structural dynamicist to predict image jitter from structural finite-element models and by the mechanical designer to tolerance the element-support structure. A method for calculating the influence coefficients for plane-mirror systems is presented. The method includes a working definition of an influence coefficient, a general process for coefficient extraction, and an algorithmic approach to numerical calculations. The method described allows ready calculation of influence coefficients without tedious ray- trace perturbations or dedicated optical analysis software.
GSG1, a yeast gene required for sporulation

We have identified a gene, GSG1 (general sporulation gene 1), required for sporulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Diploids homozygous for a disruption of GSG1 fail to sporulate. The gene has an open reading frame of 2094 bp, encoding a polypeptide with an expected size of 77 kDa. GSG1 is expressed mitotically in both a and α haploids, and both mitotically and meiotically in diploids. The message level of GSG1 increases approximately two-fold after 4–6 h of sporulation. gsg1 mutants enter pre-meiotic DNA synthesis later than wild-type diploids. Mutant diploids are not rescued by spo13. These results suggest that GSG1 has a role late in meiosis following DNA replication. The sequence reported here has the GenBank Accession Number U26674.
Variant N=1 supersymmetric non-Abelian Proca–Stueckelberg formalism in four dimensions

Abstract We present a new (variant) formulation of N = 1 supersymmetric compensator mechanism for an arbitrary non-Abelian group in four dimensions. We call this ‘variant supersymmetric non-Abelian Proca–Stueckelberg formalism’. Our field content is economical, consisting only of the two multiplets: (i) A non-Abelian vector multiplet ( A μ I , λ I , C μ ν ρ I ) and (ii) a compensator tensor multiplet ( B μ ν I , χ I , φ I ) . The index I is for the adjoint representation of a non-Abelian gauge group. The C μ ν ρ I is originally an auxiliary field Hodge-dual to the conventional auxiliary field D I . The φ I and B μ ν I are compensator fields absorbed respectively into the longitudinal components of A μ I and C μ ν ρ I which become massive. After the absorption, C μ ν ρ I becomes no longer auxiliary, but starts propagating as a massive scalar field. We fix all non-trivial cubic interactions in the total Lagrangian, and quadratic interactions in all field equations. The superpartner fermion χ I acquires a Dirac mass shared with the gaugino λ I . As an independent confirmation, we give the superspace reformulation of the component results.
A follow-up comparison of study participants and refusers within a rural elderly population.

Background Survey rates are known to decline with age. Survey results can be affected by response bias if nonresponders are more, or less, likely than participants to suffer from the condition being studied. For instance, it is possible that older adults with dementia would be less likely to participate in a study of dementing disorders. Methods A random sample of a rural U.S. population aged 65+ years yielded 1,422 participants and 912 refusers in addition to others who were ineligible, inaccessible, or untestable. Participants and refusers were compared on age, sex, 5-year mortality, and causes of death suggestive of dementia as listed on death certificates. Results Compared to participants, refusers were significantly older and more likely to be women, with mortality similar to that of participants at approximately 5-year follow-up. Death certificate data revealed no significant differences in reported causes of death indicating or suggesting dementia. Conclusions In this population, those who refused to participate in a dementia survey were not more likely to be ill or demented than those who did participate.
Cell-biological assessment of human glucokinase mutants causing maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY-2) or glucokinase-linked hyperinsulinaemia (GK-HI)

Mutations in the glucokinase (GK) gene cause type-2 maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY-2) and GK-linked hyperinsulinaemia (GK-HI). Recombinant adenoviruses expressing the human wild-type islet GK or one of four mutant forms of GK, (the MODY-2 mutants E70K, E300K and V203A and the GK-HI mutant V455M) were transduced into glucose-responsive insulin-secreting beta-HC9 cells and tested functionally in order to initiate the first analysis in vivo of recombinant wild-type and mutant human islet GK. Kinetic analysis of wild-type human GK showed that the glucose S(0. 5) and Hill coefficient were similar to previously published data in vitro (S(0.5) is the glucose level at the half-maximal rate). E70K had half the glucose affinity of wild-type, but similar enzyme activity. V203A demonstrated decreased catalytic activity and an 8-fold increase in glucose S(0.5) when compared with wild-type human islet GK. E300K had a glucose S(0.5) similar to wild-type but a 10-fold reduction in enzyme activity. E300K mRNA levels were comparable with wild-type GK mRNA levels, but Western-blot analyses demonstrated markedly reduced levels of immunologically detectable protein, consistent with an instability mutation. V455M was just as active as wild-type GK, but with a markedly reduced S(0.5). The effects of the different GK mutants on glucose-stimulated insulin release support the kinetic and expression data. These experiments show the utility of a combined genetic, biochemical and cell-biological approach to the quantification of functional and structural changes of human GK that result from MODY-2 and GK-HI mutations.
Competition and cooperative practices in Sino-Japanese energy and environmental relations: towards an energy security ‘risk community’?

Abstract This article reexamines the conventional wisdom that characterizes Sino-Japanese energy relations as predominantly competitive, but views Sino-Japanese environmental relations as essentially cooperative. Using sociological theories of risk, it is argued that Sino-Japanese cooperation is more likely in both the energy and environmental areas when common risks are perceived and relative gains are minimized. Despite their many conflicting strategic, political, and economic interests, as energy importers who are vulnerable to supply interruptions in the Middle East and competitors for global energy supplies, China and Japan share common risks to their energy security. Consequently, there actually may be increasing opportunities for China and Japan to address their common concerns through bilateral and multilateral cooperative practices, such as common positions on pricing or energy conservation initiatives. Although one would expect China and Japan to highlight their mutual interests in tackling envi...
Ingestion of low concentrations of sucrose or hydrochloric acid solutions accelerates mortality in rats with cholestatic liver disease

Mortality rates were monitored in bile duct ligated (BDL) rats which were consuming flavor solutions in addition to water and chow. Following ligation of the common bile duct, animals were offered a single concentration of a flavor solution (200 mM NaCl; 400 mM sucrose; 100 mM urea; 5 mM HCl) in addition to water. During three weeks postligation, mortality rates were compared between groups of ligated animals consuming either one of the taste solutions or consuming only water. Within the first five days postligation, mortality was 70% in ligated animals drinking HCl and 50% in animals consuming sucrose, compared to 30% for urea, 10% for sodium chloride and 0% in animals drinking only water. Total mortality of ligated rats consuming HCl or sucrose solutions was significantly increased compared to animals consuming only water. The results suggest that consumption of low concentrations of sucrose or HCl solutions during the initial stages of liver disease in BDL rats may drastically accelerate their mortality rate.
Ambient isotopic approximations for surface reconstruction and interval solids

Given a nonsingular compact 2-manifold F without boundary, we present methods for establishing a family of surfaces which can approximate F so that each approximant is ambient isotopic to F. The current state of the art in surface reconstruction is that both theory and practice are limited to generating a piecewise linear (PL) approximation. The methods presented here offer broader theoretical guidance for a rich class of ambient isotopic approximations. They are also used to establish sufficient conditions for an interval solid to be ambient isotopic to the solid it is approximating.The methods are based on global theoretical considerations and are compared to existing local methods. Practical implications of these methods are also presented. For the global case, a differential surface analysis is performed to find a positive number ρ so that the offsets Fo(± ρ) of F at distances ± ρ are nonsingular. In doing so, a normal tubular neighborhood, F(ρ), of F is constructed. Then, each approximant of F lies inside F(ρ). Comparisons between these global and local constraints are given.
Adult Talk in the Inclusive Classroom and the Socially Competent Behavior of Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Difficulty with social competence is a core deficit of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to examine the link between adult talk and the socially competent behavior displayed by preschoolers with ASD concurrently and over time. A modified version of Kontos’s Teacher Talk classification was used to code videos of 73 children with ASD (ages 3–5) in inclusive classrooms (n = 33). Supporting peer relation and positive social contact forms of adult talk were concurrently associated with children’s socially competent behavior. In comparison, higher amounts of supporting object play talk positively affected children’s social competence over time (i.e., 1 school year), and more behavior management talk was related to worsening social competence as perceived by teachers. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
On the problem of ambiguities in maximum likelihood identification

This contribution derives new large-sample properties of the result of Maximum-Likelihood identification of a discrete-time process, characterized by an unknown, rational input-transfer function G and an unknown, rational noise-transfer function F. The purpose is to develop some means to detect possible false results of such an identification, caused by unknowingly violating prerequisites for the identification, e.g. by incorrect model structure or order, or having reached a local maximum in the search. Also, the effect of linear feedback and the identifiability in closed loop are discussed. Results are applied to artificially generated data and to plant data-collected in closed loop from the drying process in paper making.
Determining rates of change in data envelopment analysis

This paper presents a general method for determining rates of change of outputs with respect to inputs along efficient facets of the Pareto-optimal frontier common to several empirical production possibility sets in Data Envelopment Analysis. As a prerequisite step, a theoretical analysis is provided for identifying the efficient facets. Non-negativity of these rates of change are discussed via ‘cone direction’ developments in both the input and output spaces.
MEASURING CHILDREN: ONE REFERENCE FOR ALL

Growth standards developed in industrialised countries are appropriate for measuring child growth in developing countries. From data collected among privileged groups of children in developing countries, we have concluded that child growth is mainly influenced by socioeconomic status and not by race or by ethnicity. Height, weight, and age data were collected from 2366 children aged 6-59 months in Egypt, Togo, and Haiti. These children were chosen from private day-care centres, paediatricians' offices, and families of military and Government officials. These data were compared with the NCHS/CDC reference population, which is representative of healthy U.S. children. Distributions of weight-for-height and height-for-age values for the privileged group and the reference population were nearly identical. The 5th, 50th, and 95th centiles height-for-age of the privileged group did not differ greatly from the reference population. The privileged group, however, was heavier than the reference population at heights greater than 100 cm for the 50th and 95th centiles. Overweight appears to be a greater problem in those privileged groups than in the reference population. Since growth in privileged children in these developing countries and in the U.S. children is similar, we feel that use of the NCHS/CDC reference is justified for measuring nutrition status of preschool children in developing countries.
Exploring the Importance of Business Clockspeed as a Moderator for Determinants of Supplier Network Performance

As the importance of supplier networks becomes increasingly recognized as a vital factor to company performance, researchers and practitioners alike are focusing their attention on this subject. The study's main objective is to test the specific hypotheses that effective use of Information Technology (IT) and the depth of company relationships with suppliers are directly related to Supplier Network (SN) performance, and that industry clockspeed moderates these relationships. A convenience sample of 135 manufacturing organizations was used to empirically test these hypotheses. Our results indicate that clockspeed does moderate the relationship between IT use effectiveness and supplier network performance. The same is true in the case of supplier relations depth, and hence, managers are encouraged to pay attention to the items comprising network performance as a determinant of supplier network performance.
Field-flow fractionation of macromolecules

Abstract Field-flow fractionation (FFF) is a versatile family of techniques, applicable to macromolecules, colloids, and cell-sized particles. This paper focuses specifically on the applicability of FFF to macromolecules. Following a brief description of the principles of FFF, the characteristics of FFF that bear on its efficacy in separating macromolecules are summarized. The basis of selectivity is established. The general applicability of FFF to macromolecules is then surveyed. For this purpose macromolecular substances are divided into four classes, distinguished by a molecular weight cutoff of 106 and by aqueous versus organic solubility. The capabilities of different FFF subtechniques in fractionating these classes of macromolecules is then discussed.
Effects of blend and processing method on the nutritional quality of weaning foods made from select cereals and legumes

ABSTRACT Weaning blends, formulated in a 60% cereal to 40% legume combination using teff, pearl millet, cowpea, and peanut, were evaluated for changes in nutritional quality due to the effects of blend and processing method. Four blends were prepared by each of four traditional processing methods: control (unprocessed), roasting, germination, and natural fermentation. The main effect of blend formulation proved to be the stronger determinant of nutrient density, while processing method produced the strongest effect on weaning food viscosity. Germinated blends yielded viscosity measurements significantly below those resulting from other processing methods. Germination of ingredients increased nutrient density and in vitro protein digestibility, while roasting and fermentation produced little change from the control product. Complementation of cereal flours with peanut yielded weaning foods with a significantly (P < 0.01) higher nutrient density, increased in vitro protein digestibility and lower viscosity ...
Radiographic absorptiometry method in measurement of localized alveolar bone density changes.

Abstract Objective. The objective of this study was to measure the accuracy and precision of a radiographic absorptiometry method by using an occlusal density reference wedge in quantification of localized alveolar bone density changes. Study design. Twenty-two volunteer subjects had baseline and follow-up radiographs taken of mandibular premolar-molar regions with an occlusal density reference wedge in both films and added bone chips in the baseline films. The absolute bone equivalent densities were calculated in the areas that contained bone chips from the baseline and follow-up radiographs. The differences in densities described the masses of the added bone chips that were then compared with the true masses by using regression analysis. Results. The correlation between the estimated and true bone-chip masses ranged from R = 0.82 to 0.94, depending on the background bone density. There was an average 22% overestimation of the mass of the bone chips when they were in low-density background, and up to 69% overestimation when in high-density background. The precision error of the method, which was calculated from duplicate bone density measurements of non-changing areas in both films, was 4.5%. Conclusions. The accuracy of the intraoral radiographic absorptiometry method is low when used for absolute quantification of bone density. However, the precision of the method is good and the correlation is linear, indicating that the method can be used for serial assessment of bone density changes at individual sites. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2000;89:375-81)
Adrenalectomy of the Calf and Its Effects on Various Blood Constituents

Summary Surgical adrenalectomy was successfully performed in calves without suturing the wall of the vena cava, by using a special forceps to facilitate removal of the gland. Maintenance of adrenalectomized calves was possible under controlled conditions, with the intramuscular injection of 25mg. cortisone acetate or 5mg. prednisone plus 5mg. desoxycorticosterone acetate per 100lb. body weight, daily or every other day. Calves were also maintained in an apparently normal state without steroid therapy by the free-choice feeding of salt, which was consumed at a rate about four times that of the normal calf. The outward symptoms of adrenal deficiency, manifested during the period when no therapy was given, began with lethargy and weakness in the legs. This was followed by anorexia, extreme apathy, a completely prostrate position, and extreme depression and arrhythmia of the heart beat shortly before death ensued. Loose, foul-smelling feces and a rapid, labored respiration were sometimes observed. The calves survived about six to seven days following withdrawal of maintenance therapy. In three adrenal-deficient calves there was a decrease in the serum Na:K ratio, a decrease in serum chlorides, and an increase in serum potassium, all of which were highly significant (P less than 0.01). In two of the three animals there was a reduction in serum sodium, total neutrophils, and mature neutrophils, and an increase in RBC and eosinophils. The influence of adrenalectomy on serum calcium, blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, and neutrophil levels varied considerably between calves. No significant differences were found in WBC, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels following adrenalectomy. One calf was found to have an adrenal remnant which prevented it from succumbing completely to the effects of adrenalectomy.
Low-dimensional behavior and symmetry breaking of stochastic systems near criticality-can these effects be observed in space and in the laboratory?

It is demonstrated that nonlinear stochastic systems near criticality (including self-organized criticality) will generally exhibit low-dimensional behavior. A connection is given between the fractal dimensions of finite-dimensional chaotic systems and the anomalous dimensions in stochastic systems near criticality. The effect of additional random noise on stochastic systems will be delineated in terms of the crossover phenomenon between competing criticalities. The possibility of observing such effects in space (such as the onset of substorms) and in the laboratory (such as stochastic particle heating in 'noisy' magnetic fields) is discussed. >
Saltmarsh Boundary Modulates Dispersal of Mangrove Propagules: Implications for Mangrove Migration with Sea-Level Rise

Few studies have empirically examined the suite of mechanisms that underlie the distributional shifts displayed by organisms in response to changing climatic condition. Mangrove forests are expected to move inland as sea-level rises, encroaching on saltmarsh plants inhabiting higher elevations. Mangrove propagules are transported by tidal waters and propagule dispersal is likely modified upon encountering the mangrove-saltmarsh ecotone, the implications of which are poorly known. Here, using an experimental approach, we record landward and seaward dispersal and subsequent establishment of mangrove propagules that encounter biotic boundaries composed of two types of saltmarsh taxa: succulents and grasses. Our findings revealed that propagules emplaced within saltmarsh vegetation immediately landward of the extant mangrove fringe boundary frequently dispersed in the seaward direction. However, propagules moved seaward less frequently and over shorter distances upon encountering boundaries composed of saltmarsh grasses versus succulents. We uniquely confirmed that the small subset of propagules dispersing landward displayed proportionately higher establishment success than those transported seaward. Although impacts of ecotones on plant dispersal have rarely been investigated in situ, our experimental results indicate that the interplay between tidal transport and physical attributes of saltmarsh vegetation influence boundary permeability to propagules, thereby directing the initial phase of shifting mangrove distributions. The incorporation of tidal inundation information and detailed data on landscape features, such as the structure of saltmarsh vegetation at mangrove boundaries, should improve the accuracy of models that are being developed to forecast mangrove distributional shifts in response to sea-level rise.
The effect of inactivation of calcium channels by intracellular Ca2+ ions in the bursting pancreatic beta-cells.

Based on recently determined ionic channel properties, a simple theoretical model for the burst activity of the pancreatic β-cell is formulated in this paper. The model contains an inward voltage-activated Ca2+ current which is inactivated by intracellular calcium ions and an outward K+ current that is activated by the membrane potential. The probability of opening of the channel gates is represented by Boltzmann equations. Our model is applicable in a regime where an ATP-blockable K+ channel is inhibited. In this regime, glucose is treated as an activator for the rate of efflux of intracellular Ca2+ ions, and hence its effect is equated tok Ca, the efflux rate constant. In addition, intracellular H+ ion, which is a byproduct of the glycolytic metabolic process, is treated as a competitive inhibitor for Ca2+ ion. Since H+ is a competitive inhibitor (according to our assumption), its effect is equated to the strength of the Cai dissociation constantK h. In the model, a Ca2+ binding site is assumed to exist in the inner membrane of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channel. The model predicts that a spike and burst electrical pattern can be generated by varyingk ca and that a given pattern may produce different levels of intracellular Ca2+ depending onK h. In other words, it predicts that levels of [Ca2+]i can be separated from the electrical activity by controlling the concentration of glucose and pH appropriately. This may account for the experimental observation of Lebrun et al. (1985) that insulin secretion is not correlated to the burst of electrical activity.
Mitochondrial health - essential information for nurses

One of the most important organelles in the body is the mitochondria. It is crucial for generating energy and producing freeradicals. Mitochondrial health is essential to the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, cellular or molecularmechanisms such as mitochondrial dysfunction are not adequately addressed in the current essentials of the AmericanAssociation of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for all nursing programs. Thus, mitochondrial function content should beincorporated into all nursing curricula that are practice-based. In this article, we will review the anatomy and physiology ofthe mitochondria (i.e., coenzyme Q10), and the need to include mitochondrial health as a concept in nursing. We willpresent various diseases/conditions that are affected by mitochondrial dysfunction such as coronary artery disease,diabetes, and aging. In the future, with the expanding advances in the biological sciences, nurses need to learn more aboutcellular function particularly the mitochondria. Consequently, there should be a new emphasis on mitochondrial health bynurses in education and practice.
The mediating effect of group development on satisfaction in a virtual and mixed-mode environment

This study explores the mediating effect of two aspects of group development (workgroup cohesion and conflict management) on five aspects of satisfaction (solution satisfaction, solution confidence, interaction process satisfaction, perceived decision quality, and level of teamwork). The independent variable, interaction mode, has two treatments: mixed-mode, a combination of face-to-face (FtF) and computer-mediated communication (CMC), and pure CMC (no FtF interaction). Members of mixed-mode groups rated their groups higher in terms of cohesiveness, the ability to manage conflict, and all aspects of satisfaction. Members of more highly developed groups rated themselves higher on all satisfaction variables compared to members of lesser-developed groups. Findings indicate that workgroup cohesion mediated all satisfaction variables, while conflict management mediated all satisfaction variables except for solution confidence.
Opportunism in Multilateral Vertical Contracting: Nondiscrimination, Exclusivity, and Uniformity: Comment

An input supplier selling to competing downstream firms would benefit from publicly committing at the outset to all contracts. Efficient commitment, however, would require complete contracts. The authors study instead bilateral contracting, without commitment regarding others' terms. Each firm then fears that the supplier might opportunistically renegotiate another's contract to increase bilateral profit at the firm's expense. The authors show that nondiscrimination clauses generally cannot curb such third-party opportunism, even with symmetric firms. To reassure firms, crude forms of commitment may be adopted. This could explain the pervasiveness of exclusivity arrangements and the striking uniformity and intertemporal rigidity of franchise contracts. Copyright 1994 by American Economic Association.
Depletion of brain glutathione in preweanling mice by L-buthionine sulfoximine.

: Previous studies indicated that DL-buthionine sulfoximine (dl-BSO), an agent that inhibits the biosynthesis of GSH in liver and other peripheral organs, fails to suppress levels of GSH in the CNS. In the current study, preweanling mice responded to repeated injections of l-BSO with marked declines (79.6–86.5%) of GSH content in brain and spinal cord. In adult mice, the same treatment schedule produced only modest declines (17.8–29.2%) of GSH content in brain and a 55.9% decline in spinal cord. Pretreatment of preweanling mice with L-BSO represents a tool for studying the role of GSH in the CNS.
Robustness Synthesis for Discrete-time Systems with Structured Uncertainty

Necessary and sufficient conditions for stability and performance robustness of discrete-time systems are provided in terms of the spectral radius of a certain nonnegative matrix. The conditions are easily computable and provide a simple method to do synthesis of robust controllers via an iteration scheme which utilizes the properties of the spectral radius.
PHEX 3′-UTR c.*231A>G Near The Polyadenylation Signal Is a Relatively Common, Mild, American Mutation That Masquerades as Sporadic or X-Linked Recessive Hypophosphatemic Rickets

Heritable forms of hypophosphatemic rickets (HR) include X-linked dominant (XLH), autosomal recessive, and autosomal dominant HR (from deactivating mutations in PHEX, DMP1 or ENPP1, and activating mutations in FGF23, respectively). Over 30 years, we have cared for 284 children with HR. For those 72 deemed sporadic XLH, we preliminarily reported mutation analysis for 30 subjects. Eleven had PHEX mutations. However, the remaining 19 lacked readily identifiable defects in PHEX, DMP1, or FGF23. In 2008, a novel single-base change near the polyadenylation (pA) signal in the 3′-UTR of PHEX was identified in XLH by other investigators. This c.*231A > G mutation is 3-bp upstream of the putative pA signal (AATAAA) in PHEX. Accordingly, we investigated whether this 3′-UTR defect accounted for HR in any of these 19 sporadic XLH patients. PCR amplification and sequencing of their 3′-UTR region showed the c.*231A > G mutation in four unrelated boys. Then, among an additional 22 of our 72 “sporadic” XLH patients, one boy and one girl were found to have the 3′-UTR defect, totaling six patients. Among these 52 sporadic XLH patients with PHEX analysis, 36 were girls and 16 were boys; ie, a ∼2:1 gender ratio consistent with XLH. However, finding five boys and only one girl with this 3′-UTR mutation presented an unexplained gender bias (p = 0.02). Haplotyping for the five boys, all reportedly unrelated, showed a common core haplotype suggesting a founder. Five of their six mothers had been studied clinically and biochemically (three radiologically). Remarkably, the seemingly unaffected mothers of four of these boys carried the 3′-UTR mutation. These healthy women had normal height, straight limbs, lacked the radiographic presentation of XLH, and showed normal or slight decreases in fasting serum Pi levels and/or TmP/GFR. Hence, PHEX c.*231A > G can masquerade as sporadic or X-linked recessive HR. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.