cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydronephrosis in mice exposed to TCDD-contaminated breast milk: identification of the peak period of sensitivity and assessment of potential recovery.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent inducer of hydronephrosis in both fetal and neonatal mice. A critical period of sensitivity to TCDD could not be identified for prenatally induced hydronephrosis since the urinary tract appeared equally sensitive throughout organogenesis. To identify the critical period of susceptibility for development of lactationally induced hydronephrosis in neonatal mice, as well as to characterize the potential for recovery from this renal lesion, dose-response and time-course studies were conducted in the postnatal period. Pregnant C57BL6N mice were allowed natural delivery. In the dose-response phase of this investigation, mothers were administered 0, 3, 6, or 12 μg TCDD/kg once by gavage on Postnatal Day (PND) 1, 4, 8, or 14, and dams and pups were euthanized on PND 26. The kidneys were examined, and hydronephrotic severity was scored. The incidence and severity of hydronephrosis were significantly increased above controls only following treatment on PND 1 or 4, while on PND 8 the increase was marginal and pairwise tests were nonsignificant. Following treatment of dams on PND 1, the hydronephrotic response detected in 26-day-old pups was significantly greater than that for all later exposure days. In the time-course study, dams were given a single oral dose of 0 or 9 μg TCDD/kg on PND 1, and mothers and litters were subsequently euthanized on PND 7, 13, 19, or 26. Both hydronephrotic incidence and severity increased with time to euthanization following treatment on PND 1. Thus with the dosing regimen used in this study, recovery does not appear to occur between PNDs 7 and 26. Sex-related differences were observed, as the hydronephrotic response in males was generally greater than in females. In conclusion, the postnatal window of sensitivity during which TCDD can induce hydronephrosis is very narrow. Nonetheless, the hydronephrotic response induced during this early postnatal time is dramatic. Finally, PND 1 is the peak postnatal period of susceptibility for development of TCDD-induced hydronephrosis.
Engine Yaw Augmentation for Hybrid-Wing-Body Aircraft via Optimal Control Allocation Techniques

Asymmetric engine thrust was implemented in a hybrid-wing-body non-linear simulation to reduce the amount of aerodynamic surface deflection required for yaw stability and control. Hybrid-wing-body aircraft are especially susceptible to yaw surface deflection due to their decreased bare airframe yaw stability resulting from the lack of a large vertical tail aft of the center of gravity. Reduced surface deflection, especially for trim during cruise flight, could reduce the fuel consumption of future aircraft. Designed as an add-on, optimal control allocation techniques were used to create a control law that tracks total thrust and yaw moment commands with an emphasis on not degrading the baseline system. Implementation of engine yaw augmentation is shown and feasibility is demonstrated in simulation with a potential drag reduction of 2 to 4 percent. Future flight tests are planned to demonstrate feasibility in a flight environment.
The paintfill method as a tool for analyzing the three-dimensional structure of the inner ear

The mammalian inner ear is a complex epithelial tube designed to detect sound, angular and linear acceleration, as well as gravity. The major parts of the ear include three orthogonal semicircular canals, a central vestibule, a coiled cochlea, and an endolymphatic duct and sac allowing fluid balance with the cerebrospinal system. Located throughout this tubular system are six separate sensory areas composed of hair cells and support cells that are essential for the transduction of hearing and balance information. Deafness and vestibular dysfunction are extremely common sensory disorders in the human population, with one in every 1000 children born profoundly hearing impaired and many progressive forms diagnosed later in life. Approximately 20-30% of patients with congenital sensorineural hearing loss demonstrate radiographic abnormalities of the inner ear, indicating that malformations of the inner ear make a significant contribution to the high frequency of deafness and balance disorders. Unfortunately, the very complexity that makes the inner ear such an exquisite structure has also made it an extremely difficult organ to tackle for researchers. Here, I describe a histological method involving paintfilling of the inner ear that provides easy analysis of the three-dimensional structure of this complex organ. The paintfill method can be used to quickly assess inner ear morphology and can help identify defects that may cause or contribute to deafness and/or vestibular dysfunction.
The rate and kinetic order of ethanol elimination

The rate and kinetic order of ethanol elimination was evaluated in human volunteers. Part I of the study involved dosing individuals with alcoholic beverages on two separate occasions. Breathalyzer tests were performed at 15-min intervals for a period of 5 h. Attention was focused on values obtained after peak blood ethanol levels had been reached. The second part of the study included having samples drawn from alcoholics at predetermined intervals during recovery from alcoholic intoxication. Blood ethanol concentration data was analyzed for kinetic order and a comparison of ethanol elimination rates of alcoholics and non-alcoholics was made. The predicative capability of estimating a BAC from both the zero and first order theories was also investigated. It was concluded that ethanol elimination is a zero order process. For subjects classified as non-drinkers (consume less than 6 ounces of ethanol/month), the mean ethanol elimination rate as determined in the study was 12 +/- 4 mg/h. For subjects classified as social drinkers (consume more than 6 ounces but less than 30 ounces of ethanol/month), the mean ethanol elimination rate was 15 +/- 4 mg%/h, and for alcoholics, the mean ethanol elimination rate was 30 +/- 9 mg%/h. These results indicate that the rate of ethanol elimination increases with drinking experience.
Initial studies with a brain catalese

Abstract Initial experiments with crude beef brain catalase showed that optimal activity occurred at pH 8.5 in contrast to pH 6.8 for beef liver and red blood cell catalase. Lowest activity occurred at pH 4.6 in all cases. A 200- to 300-fold purification of brain catalase was achieved but produced only a 2 to 3% yield. A comparative pH activity study of purified beef liver, red blood cell and brain catalases confirmed the findings of the crude extracts except that brain catalase was inactivated at pH 4.6. The overall reaction constant for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by brain catalase at pH 8.5 was calculated to be 4.56 × 106 M−1 sec−1. It is felt that this value may increase with further purification of the enzyme. The turnover number calculated for brain catalase was 4.5 million. The iron content of a sample of purified brain catalase was found to be 0.3%. Most known catalases contain between 0.09% and 0.1% iron per molecule of enzyme.
The EBG System of E. coli: Origin and Evolution of a Novel β-Galactosidase for the Metabolism of Lactose

The EBG system of E. coli has served as a model for the evolution of novel functions. This paper reviews the experimental evolution of the catabolism of β-galactoside sugars in strains of E. coli that carry deletions of the classical lacZ β-galactosidase gene. Evolution of the ebgA encoded Ebg β-galactosidase for an expanded substrate range, evolution of the ebgR encoded Ebg repressor for sensitivity to an expanded range of inducers, the amino acid replacements responsible for those changes, and the evolutionary potential of the system are discussed. The EBG system has also served as a model for studying the detailed catalytic consequences of experimental evolution at the physical–chemical level. The analysis of free-energy profiles for the wildtype and all of the various evolved Ebg enzymes has permitted rejection of the Albery–Knowles hypothesis that relates likely changes in free-energy profiles to evolutionary change.
Model-based control design and integration of cyberphysical systems: an adaptive cruise control case study

The systematic design of automotive control applications is a challenging problem due to lack of understanding of the complex and tight interactions that often manifest during the integration of components from the control design phase with the components from software generation and deployment on actual platform/network. In order to address this challenge, we present a systematic methodology and a toolchain using well-defined models to integrate components from various design phases with specific emphasis on restricting the complex interactions that manifest during integration such as timing, deployment, and quantization. We present an experimental platform for the evaluation and testing of the design process. The approach is applied to the development of an adaptive cruise control, and we present experimental results that demonstrate the efficacy of the approach.
Effect of Compliance With a Nurse-Led Intensive Care Unit Checklist on Clinical Outcomes in Mechanically and Nonmechanically Ventilated Patients

Background:Use of checklists brings about improvements in a variety of patient outcomes. Nevertheless, whether compliance with a nurse-led intensive care unit (ICU) checklist produces the same effect is currently unknown.Methods:This is a retrospective analysis of data obtained during the implementation of a quality improvement project consisting of the utilization of a nurse-led ICU checklist. A consecutive series of checklists obtained from patients admitted in our ICU during 7 consecutive months were included. The ICU stay, hospital stay, and ventilator stay were compared between patients whose practitioners completed or did not complete the checklist. Variables were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests for continuous variables and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables. A 2-tailed P < .05 was considered statistically significant.Results:One thousand checklists, corresponding to 346 eligible patients, were collected over 7 months. Mechanical ventilation was used in 203 (59%) patients. Completed ch...
Stage dependence of magnetic susceptibility of intercalated graphite

The orbital magnetic susceptibility of two coupled graphite layers is calculated as a function of temperature and Fermi energy ($\ensuremath{\mu}$). The susceptibility is shown to be diamagnetic at small values of $\ensuremath{\mu}$, and paramagnetic at large values of $\ensuremath{\mu}$, with a paramagnetic peak at $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\cong}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$, where ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{1}$ is the interlayer coupling. These results explain the increase in the susceptibility as a function of stage which has recently been observed in ${\mathrm{KC}}_{12n}$.
III–V FET channel designs for high current densities and thin inversion layers

III–V FETs are being developed for potential application in 0.3–3 THz systems and VLSI. To increase bandwidth, we must increase the drive current I d = qn s v inj W g per unit gate width W g , requiring both high sheet carrier concentrations n s and high injection velocities v inj . Present III–V NFETs restrict control region transport to the single isotropic Γ band minimum. As the gate dielectric is thinned, I d becomes limited by the effective mass m*, and is only increased by using materials with increased m* and hence increased transit times.1 The deep wavefunction also makes Γ -valley transport in low-m*materials unsuitable for g ) FETs. Yet, the L-valleys in many III–V materials2 have very low transverse m t and very high longitudinal mass m 1 . L-valley bound state energies depend upon orientation, and the directions of confinement, growth, and transport can be chosen to selectively populate valleys having low mass in the transport direction3,4. The high perpendicular mass permits placement of multiple quantum wells spaced by a few nm, or population of multiple states of a thicker well spaced by ∼10–100 meV. Using combinations of Γ and L valleys, n s can be increased, m* kept low, and vertical confinement improved, key requirements for g III–V FETs.
Quantitative expression profiling in mouse spinal cord reveals changing relationships among channel and receptor mRNA levels across postnatal maturation

Neural networks ultimately arrive at functional output via interaction of the excitability of individual neurons and their synaptic interactions. We investigated the relationships between voltage-gated ion channel and neurotransmitter receptor mRNA levels in mouse spinal cord at four different postnatal time points (P5, P11, P17, and adult) and three different adult cord levels (cervical, thoracic, and lumbosacral) using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Our analysis and data visualization are novel in that we chose a focal group of voltage-gated channel subunits and transmitter receptor subunits, performed absolute quantitation of mRNA copy number for each gene from a sample, and used multiple correlation analyses and correlation matrices to detect patterns in correlated mRNA levels across all genes of interest. These correlation profiles suggest that postnatal maturation of the spinal cord includes changes among channel and receptor subunits that proceed from widespread co-regulation to more refined and distinct functional relationships.
Farmers' Decisions Regarding Carbon Sequestration: A Metaeconomic View

This article proposes a novel theoretical vision on the motivations behind the usage of conservation tillage technology. The metaeconomic model focuses on the two basic driving factors of individual behavior: the drive for closeness/unity with the environment that is shared with others, and a desire to control the environment while pursuing self-interest. This model integrates a more conventional approach to studying conservation with advances in sociology and psychology and suggests the presence of dual, often conflicting yet joint motives. Both the shared other-interest and the preference for control over outcomes temper the self-interest, as posited in metaeconomic theory. Metaeconomics gives both new theoretical ground and an empirical justification for designing policies that integrate and balance ethical suasion with financial incentives. It also gives a scientific basis for encouraging policy processes and programs directed at helping evolve a new shared other-interest in conservation outcomes with...
DETERMINATION OF SHEAR VISCOSITY OF BOROSILICATE GLASS + SILICA POWDER COMPACTS BY AN OPTICAL SYSTEM

The shear viscosity of borosilicate glass (BSG) + silica powder compacts was determined during isothermal sintering at temperatures between 665 and 715°C. An optical system was used to measure in situ the densification profiles of the compacts in the form of thick films constrained on a rigid substrate and in-plane stresses generated during sintering. The shear viscosity as a function of relative density was calculated from these measurements by using Scherer’s viscous constitutive equations for a porous sintering body. The shear viscosity for samples with silica contents from 0 to 20 vol% generally showed a slow increase with density in the low-density regime followed by a rapid rise after some threshold density that decreased with either increasing silica powder content or decreasing sintering temperature. The dependence of shear viscosity on relative density is consistent with results from sinter-forging experiments. However, results obtained from pure BSG compacts also revealed strong dependence of shear viscosity on temperature and microstructure, which has been all but neglected in previous theoretical studies.
The determination of intrinsic gamma-ray detection efficiencies for cylindrical Geiger-Müller tubes by Monte Carlo methods

Abstract A Monte Carlo treatment for determining the efficiency of dual cathode material, metal-wall G-M tubes for detecting gamma radiation is developed and compared to experimental data. A monoenergetic, parallel, uniform beam of gamma rays incident perpendicular to the central wire is assumed. Only Compton scattering and photoelectric interactions are considered and direct interactions with the filling gas are ignored. Various variance reduction techniques are incorporated. Although the treatment simplifies the details of electron motion and an exact treatment of electron direction from photoelectric interactions at photon energies of interest is not available for inclusion, comparisons of predictions with experimental data for four representative cases indicate quite acceptable accuracy. Calculation time is about 80 s for a range of six gamma-ray energies for any G-M tube.
Fokker-Planck Equation for an Inverse-Square Force

The contribution to the Fokker-Planck equation for the distribution function for gases, due to particle-particle interactions in which the fundamental two-body force obeys an inverse square law, is investigated. The coefficients in the equation, $〈\ensuremath{\Delta}\mathrm{v}〉$ (the average change in velocity in a short time) and $〈\ensuremath{\Delta}\mathrm{v}\ensuremath{\Delta}\mathrm{v}〉$, are obtained in terms of two fundamental integrals which are dependent on the distribution function itself. The transformation of the equation to polar coordinates in a case of axial symmetry is carried out. By expanding the distribution function in Legendre functions of the angle, the equation is cast into the form of an infinite set of one-dimensional coupled nonlinear integro-differential equations. If the distribution function is approximated by a finite series, the resultant Fokker-Planck equations may be treated numerically using a computing machine. Keeping only one or two terms in the series corresponds to the approximations of Chandrasekhar, and Cohen, Spitzer and McRoutly, respectively.
Raman scattering study of electrochemically doped single wall nanotubes

Sheets of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) bundles were studied by Raman scattering spectroscopy when doped electrochemically in an aqueous NaCl solution. At non-resonant conditions, the radial breathing mode (RBM) and tangential displacement modes (TDM) change very little intensity and frequency with electrochemical doping. Resonant Raman scattering for the TDM band, however, show large changes when applying or negative voltages. We conclude that the electronic resonance condition disappears due to larger change of the electronic occupancy with electrochemical doping.
Evaluation of Mechanical Properties and Water Vapor Permeability in Chitosan Biofilms Using Sorbitol and Glycerol

Summary: Chitosan biofilms were prepared with and without plasticizer (glycerol and sorbitol). The physical and mechanical properties of chitosan biofilms with and without plasticizer were evaluated. Chitosan was obtained from shrimp wastes and characterized. The film forming solution (FFS) was obtained through chitosan dissolution and drying. The solution had its pH adjusted to 6.0 and oven dried (40 °C, 24 h) with forced air circulation. Chitosan biofilms without plasticizer showed a tensile strength about 36% higher than biofilms produced with plasticizer. On the other hand, biofilms with plasticizer presented superior values of elongation. The permeability of the water vapor and color presented significant difference (p < 0.05) between all biofilms. Chitosan/plasticizer biofilms showed higher values of water vapor permeability in relation to chitosan biofilms without plasticizer.
A task‐level assessment of job satisfaction

Summary Research on job satisfaction traditionally has gathered data at the level of the overall job. But ajob consists of many distinct tasks-some of which may be enjoyable, complex, and important, and some not. Job satisfaction research so far has not assessed affective or motivational properties of individual tasks; therefore, it is not known how experiences with individual tasks contribute to global job satisfaction. To address that question, a task analysis technique was developed and used to gather detailed descriptions of the time-allocation, importance, autonomy, attention demands, complexity, and enjoyment of each individual task performed by 573 employees on a diverse sample of jobs. The task-level data allowed the examination of relationships between task experiences on the one hand, and both global and facet measures of job satisfaction on the other. Results suggested that task-level measurement assessed different psychological processes than those assessed by traditional global and facet measures. Global and facet measures of job satisfaction were found to be consistent with, but only partially predictable from, individual task properties. Task analysis is a cumbersome process; nevertheless, by complementing traditional, global measurement procedures, task-level assessment may facilitate new research into the nature of job satisfaction.
Prediction of death for extremely low birth weight neonates.

Objective. To compare multiple logistic regression and neural network models in predicting death for extremely low birth weight neonates at 5 time points with cumulative data sets, as follows: scenario A, limited prenatal data; scenario B, scenario A plus additional prenatal data; scenario C, scenario B plus data from the first 5 minutes after birth; scenario D, scenario C plus data from the first 24 hours after birth; scenario E, scenario D plus data from the first 1 week after birth. Methods. Data for all infants with birth weights of 401 to 1000 g who were born between January 1998 and April 2003 in 19 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network centers were used (n = 8608). Twenty-eight variables were selected for analysis (3 for scenario A, 15 for scenario B, 20 for scenario C, 25 for scenario D, and 28 for scenario E) from those collected routinely. Data sets censored for prior death or missing data were created for each scenario and divided randomly into training (70%) and test (30%) data sets. Logistic regression and neural network models for predicting subsequent death were created with training data sets and evaluated with test data sets. The predictive abilities of the models were evaluated with the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curves. Results. The data sets for scenarios A, B, and C were similar, and prediction was best with scenario C (area under the curve: 0.85 for regression; 0.84 for neural networks), compared with scenarios A and B. The logistic regression and neural network models performed similarly well for scenarios A, B, D, and E, but the regression model was superior for scenario C. Conclusions. Prediction of death is limited even with sophisticated statistical methods such as logistic regression and nonlinear modeling techniques such as neural networks. The difficulty of predicting death should be acknowledged in discussions with families and caregivers about decisions regarding initiation or continuation of care.
Loss of insulin-like growth factor II receptor expression promotes growth in cancer by increasing intracellular signaling from both IGF-I and insulin receptors.

The insulin-like growth factor-II receptor (IGF-IIR) is frequently mutated or deleted in some malignant human tumors, suggesting that the IGF-IIR is a tumor suppressor. However, the exact mechanism by which IGF-IIR suppresses growth in tumors has not been definitively established. We demonstrate that IGF-IIR-deficient murine L cells (D9) have higher growth rates than IGF-IIR-positive L cells (Cc2) in response to IGF-II. IGF-II levels are higher in growth-conditioned medium from D9 versus Cc2 cells. Receptor neutralization studies and measurements of insulin receptor substrate 1 phosphorylation confirm that the enhanced growth of D9 cells is due to increased stimulation of the IGF-I and insulin receptors by IGF-II. In contrast, the levels of secreted latent and active transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) are similar for both D9 and Cc2 cells, indicating that the slower growth of Cc2 cells is not due to activation of latent TGF-beta by IGF-IIR and growth inhibition. The results directly demonstrate that down regulation of the IGF-IIR promotes the growth of transformed D9 cells by sustaining IGF-II, which binds to and activates IGF-IR and insulin receptor to increase intracellular growth signals.
Forskolin inhibits protein kinase C-induced mitogen activated protein kinase activity in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts.

We recently demonstrated that stimulation of DNA synthesis in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts involves cross-talk between protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent pathways and activation of possible nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. In the current investigation we examined whether the Raf-1/MAP kinase kinase (MKK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade integrates cross-talk between G protein-coupled second messengers and protein tyrosine phosphorylation in osteoblasts. We investigated the effects on DNA synthesis, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and Raf-1, MKK, and MAPK activities of PKC activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and of cAMP elevation by forskolin (FSK) in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. We found that PMA-stimulated DNA synthesis was associated with increments in tyrosine phosphorylation of p44mapk (ERK1) and p42mapk (ERK2) and activation of Raf-1, MKK, and MAPK in these cells. FSK treatment of osteoblasts, which raised intracellular cAMP levels and inhibited DNA synthesis, blocked PKC-stimulated tyro...
The molecular cloning and characterization of Drosophila melanogaster myosin-IA and myosin-IB.

In this paper we describe the isolation and characterization of myosin-IA and myosin-IB, two distinct class I myosins from Drosophila melanogaster. A polymerase chain reaction based strategy using degenerate primers directed against two highly-conserved regions in the head domain of most myosins resulted in the isolation of these two novel myosins-I in addition to a number of previously identified myosins from three Drosophila cDNA libraries. A ∼3·9 kilobase cDNA clone encoding the putative full-length myosin-IA gene product was isolated from an early embryonic library. Its deduced amino acid sequence predicts a protein of 1011 residues (117,094 Da) with a typical although highly basic myosin head, a neck composed of two IQ motifs, and a unique tail. A ∼3·4 kilobase cDNA clone encoding the putative full-length myosin-IB gene product was isolated from an adult head library. Its deduced amino acid sequence predicts a protein of 1026 residues (117,741 Da) with a canonical head, three IQ motifs constituting the neck, and a distinct tail. Although both are myosins-I form fly, myosin-IA at cytological locus 31D-F and myosin-IB at cytological locus 61F appear to be more similar to their vertebrate homologs than they are to each other. Primary sequence analyses of both the head and tail domains of the known class I myosin illustrate a division of the metazoan myosin-I family into four distinct subclasses with myosin-IA and myosin-IB as members of two of these groups. Just as the sequence comparisons demonstrate a disparity between myosin-IA and myosin-IB, Northern blot analysis of these two unconventional myosins indicates distinct patterns of temporal expression.
Responding to Oppression and Abuse: A Feminist Challenge to Clinical Social Work

This article uses feminist micropractice to show how social workers can connect the personal with the political. It discusses the controversy surrounding clinical social work practice; the disempowering and empowering aspects of micropractice approaches; the political context of micropractice; and the viability of feminist, empowerment-oriented approaches to practice in amanaged care environment.
Double Biochemical Modulation of 5-Fluorouracil by Methotrexate and Folinic Acid for the Treatment of Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Objective: We investigated the double biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by methotrexate (MTX) and folinic acid (FA) for the treatment of 65 patients with advanced colorectal cancer. In particular, we studied the response and toxicity of the regimen.
Pseudo Jordan domains and reflecting Brownian motions

The manifold metric between two points in a planar domain is the minimum of the lengths of piecewiseC1 curves in the domain connecting these two points. We define a bounded simply connected planar region to be a pseudo Jordan domain if its boundary under the manifold metric is topologically homeomorphic to the unit circle. It is shown that reflecting Brownian motionX on a pseudo Jordan domain can be constructed starting at all points except those in a boundary subset of capacity zero.X has the expected Skorokhod decomposition under a condition which is satisfied when ∂G has finite 1-dimensional lower Minkowski content.
A family of spatial interaction models incorporating information flows and choice set constraints applied to U.S. interstate labor flows.

A new family of migration models belonging to the elimination by aspects family is examined with the spatial interaction model shown to be a special case. The models have simple forms; they incorporate information flow processes and choice set constraints; they are free of problems raised by the Luce Choice Axiom; and are capable of generating intransitive flows. Preliminary calibrations using the Continuous Work History Sample [time] series data indicate that the model fits the migration data well while providing estimates of interstate job message flows. The preliminary calculations also indicate that care is needed in assuming that destination [attraction] are independent of origins. (EXCERPT)
Body fat distribution: Associations with socioeconomic status in the Hispanic health and nutrition examination survey.

Three indices derived from principal components analysis of four skinfold measurements were studied in relation to socioeconomic status (SES; income and education) in men and women of the U.S. Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES). The three indices were fatness (PC1), central body fat distribution (PC2), and "centralized obesity" (PC1 + PC2). The well-known inverse relation of fatness (PC1) with SES was demonstrated in women. This relationship tended to be positive in men, but not consistently so within the three Hispanic groups (Puerto Rican, Cuban, Mexican-Americans) studied. A negative association of central body fat distribution (PC2) was also evident in both sexes and in all three groups except in Puerto Rican men, in whom the relationship was no longer significant after age adjustments. The third index combined information on both fatness level and central distribution. It was strongly related to SES in women but not in men.
Dielectric constant and refractive index of lipid bilayers

Abstract In order to elucidate the thickness of lipid bilayers, dielectric constants and refractive indices both for an oriented hydrocarbon assembly in bulk phase and for an oriented hydrocarbon monolayer of infinite extent are calculated on the basis of Kirkwood's theory of dielectric polarization. Dielectric constant is obtained as a function of the distance between the hydrocarbon chains and the thickness of the molecular layer. Dielectric constants of an oriented hydrocarbon assembly in bulk phase parallel and perpendicular to the hydrocarbon chains, ϵ | bulk and ϵ τ bulk , are 2·4879 and 1·7435 (for the interchain distance, a , of 4472 A), and are 2·2709 and 1·5143 (for a = 5·000 A ), respectively. Dielectric constants of an oriented hydrocarbon monolayer, ϵ | layer and ϵ τ layer are 2·6079 and 4·0277 (for a = 4·472 A and the layer thickness h of 60 A), and are 2·2708 and 2·2762 (for a = 5·000 A h = 60 A ), respectively.
Cerebral Hyperthermia and Cardiac Surgery: Consequences and Prevention

Temperature management during cardiac surgery deserves considerable attention because it has broad effects, altering virtually every physiologic process, including oxygen demand, blood flow, cardiac output, and coagulation. Temperature is also important in cardiac surgery because virtually all patients undergo significant temperature change. These changes can be unique in mammalian physiology both with regard to their magnitude and rate of change. Furthermore, cardiac surgical patients may be uniquely vulnerable to the effects of temperature. Because of vascular disease and embolization, many patients are at risk for cerebral ischemia. Additionally, their cardiac, pulmonary, and renal reserve is typically limited; and there is risk for perioperative bleeding. Patient temperature can affect all of these processes and has its greatest effect on those who are physiologically most fragile. An appreciation for temperature management is also compelling because, unlike new technologies, procedures, or drugs; temperature management is simple, practical, applicable to every patient, and can be performed with very little cost. This article will show why cerebral hyperthermia should be avoided in cardiac surgery. Second, it will discuss why it occurs and the management steps that may prevent it. Finally, we will highlight recent discussion of postoperative hyperthermia and speculate as to its origin and relevance.
OIL MIGRATION AND MODIFICATION PROCESSES IN SOLID SEA ICE

ABSTRACT The migration of Prudhoe Bay crude oil and diesel fuel through first year sea ice and the effect of entrained oil on sea ice growth rates were examined. Physical and chemical changes within the oils were examined during and after the entrainment process. Several crude oil and diesel fuel injections beneath solid sea ice were conducted off Prudhoe Bay during the winter of 1979/1980. Oil layers of 2.5, 15, and 30 centimeters (cm) were formed under 15, 30, and approximately 60 cm of sea ice. The sea ice growth under the injected oils was monitored. At the end of the ice growing season the individual oil injection sites were excavated from the ice. Each site was studied to determine the extent of vertical oil migration. The field results are compared to laboratory salt water ice growth experiments with entrained oil layers. The laboratory test results include oil migration as a function of ice temperature and the effect of various oil layer thicknesses upon the ice growth rates. Direct heat flux meas...
Inpatient Nutritional Screening: The Need for a Multi-disciplinary Team Approach. 475

Nutrition screening is an integral part of the evaluation of the pediatric patient. In many institutions, this screening is performed by dietitians who may not have specialized pediatric training. Two pilot surveys analyzed nutritional status using information available in charts at admission to Babies & Children's Hospital. This evaluation was done for a period of one week on two separate occasions, 3 months apart. These patient charts were reviewed for height, weight age, diagnosis, and nutritional status. We subsequently undertook a 6-month Malnutrition Screening Program in which all patients admitted to our institution were screened and treated by a multi-disciplinary team comprised of nurses, nutritionists, and physicians. Nutritional status was based upon the Waterlow Classification.Table
Effectiveness of Problem-Solving Groups: Process and Outcome Criteria:

Multiple measures of both group process and effectiveness of outcome were gathered from 100 problem-solving groups of 526 people. Generally low correlations among the measures of effectiveness of process and those of outcome effectiveness indicate that effectiveness is multidimensional as previously suggested. The relationships between measures of process and effectiveness of outcome supported previous models suggesting general linkages between these two sets of measures. The particular pattern of relationships between process and outcome measures found here was understandable, given the context in which these data were gathered. Thus, the use of multiple measures of both process and effectiveness of outcome in research on small groups is recommended.
Youth, globalisation, and millennial reflection in a Guinean forest town

The last two decades have witnessed a surge in studies of youth culture and social practice. In Africa, as elsewhere, this body of youth-centred research and writing has devoted considerable attention to specific groups within a given country's young population, while largely neglecting others seen to lack either culturally innovative or politically subversive traits. Youths in large cities and young combatants involved in insurgency or counter-insurgency have shared centre stage in studies of youthful Africa. This article argues for broadening the research agenda of African youth studies, calling for increased attention to the interpretive work performed by provincial youths as they try to understand and hopefully alter the future prospects of their communities in the new century. It shows how ideas about the meanings of globalisation and ‘the millennium’, intertwined with experiences of a recent refugee ‘crisis’, are shaping Guinean youths' socio-political reflections and yearnings. In doing so, it stresses just how complicated and cosmopolitan ‘provincial’ life, particularly for young people, has become in Guinea's forest region, as well as the variety and sophistication of the historical ‘materials’ and interpretive schemes through which these youths depict and judge possible local futures.
Vision-based leader-follower formations with limited information

This paper presents a new vision-based leader-follower formation algorithm where the leader's trajectory is unknown to the robots which are following. Formation schemes in straight lines and diagonal formations are introduced which are both stable and observable in the presence of limited views. The algorithms are novel since they only use local image measurements through a pinhole camera to estimate the leader's position. This approach does not require specialized markings nor extensive robot communications. The algorithms are also decentralized. We apply an input-output feedback linearization for system stability and utilize an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for estimation. Simulations illustrate how the proposed formation controls work. Real experiments utilizing multiple miniature robots are also presented and illustrate the challenges associated with noisy images in real-world applications.
Non-Conformance of Male and Female Reports on Pre-Marital Coitus

ample, the mean frequencies per week of pre-marital coitus for males and females respectively in their total sample are 0.7 and 0.1 for the 16-20 age group at one extreme and 0.6 and 0.3 for the 3135 age group at the other; and in the 16-20 age group alone the frequencies are 1.6 and 0.3 for the grade school level and 0.2 and 0.1 for the college level subjects. (p. 78) ** Kinsey and his associates offer nine explanations that seem probable and logical, but are unconfirmed, as they point out. They believe that the major reasons for the variation in responses are, first, the difference in the representativeness of the male and female sample and, second, the probability of more females than males failing to report some of their premarital coitus.
Measurement of intestinal cholesterol absorption by plasma and fecal dual-isotope ratio, mass balance, and lymph fistula methods in the mouse an analysis of direct versus indirect methodologies

The rate of intestinal cholesterol (Ch) absorption is an important criterion for quantitation of Ch homeostasis. However, studies in the literature suggest that percent Ch absorption, measured usually by a fecal dual-isotope ratio method, spans a wide range, from 20% to 90%, in healthy inbred mice on a chow diet. In the present study, we adapted four standard methods, one direct (lymph collection) and three indirect (plasma and fecal dual-isotope ratio, and sterol balance) measurements of Ch absorption and applied them to mice. Our data establish that all methodologies can be valid in mice, with all methods supporting the concept that gallstone-susceptible C57L mice absorb significantly more Ch (37 +/- 5%) than gallstone-resistant AKR mice (24 +/- 4%). We ascertained that sources of error in the literature leading to marked differences in Ch absorption efficiencies between laboratories relate to a number of technical factors, most notably expertise in mouse surgery, complete solubilization and delivery of radioisotopes, appropriate collection periods for plasma and fecal samples, and total extraction of radioisotopes from feces. We find that all methods provide excellent interexperimental agreement, and the ranges obtained challenge previously held beliefs regarding the spread of intestinal Ch absorption efficiencies in mice. The approaches documented herein provide quantifiable methodologies for exploring genetic mechanisms of Ch absorption, and for investigating the assembly and secretion of chylomicrons, as well as intestinal lipoprotein metabolism in mice.
Does Cognitive Status Moderate the Health Effects of Single-Person Room Transfers on Nursing Home Residents?

Purpose This study investigated whether cognitively impaired nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to harmful effects during single-person, intrabuilding room transfers. Design and methods A variation of a pretest-posttest experimental-comparison group design was used. Data on cognitive status, mortality, and seven morbidity outcome measures were abstracted from the Minimum Data Set Plus and were analyzed by means of event history analyses, controlling for covariates as well as baseline status of outcome variables. Results None of the Relocation x Cognitive Status interaction effects were significant at the Bonferroni corrected p value. Implications These findings suggest that cognitive status may not moderate the health effects of single-person room transfers.
Clinical features and outcomes in patients with secondary Ewing sarcoma.

Background Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is rarely diagnosed as a second malignancy. We sought to describe a cohort of patients with secondary EWS and investigate if patient characteristics and survival differ between patients with secondary and primary EWS. Procedure Patients with EWS or peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database from 1973 to 2008 were evaluated based on primary or secondary tumor sequence. Overall survival was estimated by Kaplan–Meier methods and evaluated using the log-rank test. Competing risk analysis was used to describe risk of death due to malignancy rather than other causes. Results Fifty-eight cases of secondary EWS were reported, accounting for 2.1% of all EWS cases. The median latency from primary malignancy to secondary EWS was 64 months (range 1–282 months). 12.1% of patients with secondary EWS received radiation to the site of secondary tumor during therapy for their primary malignancy. Patients with secondary EWS were more likely to have axial tumors (77.4% vs. 62.5%; P = 0.03) and smaller tumors (75.0% vs. 48.2% <8 cm; P = 0.001). Five-year overall survival from diagnosis was inferior for patients with secondary compared to primary EWS (34.3% vs. 52.2%; P = 0.002). However, patients with secondary tumors were less likely than those with primary EWS to die from their malignancy [hazard ratio 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23–0.85]. Conclusions Secondary EWS accounts for a minority of cases of EWS. Tumor size and site and patient survival differ among patients with primary and secondary EWS. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 611–615. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of analysis interval on the multiple exhalation flow technique to partition exhaled nitric oxide

Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is elevated in asthmatics and is a purported marker of airway inflammation. By measuring eNO at multiple flows and applying models of eNO exchange dynamics, the signal can be partitioned into its proximal airway [J' aw NO (nl/sec)] and distal airway/alveolar contributions [CA(NO)(ppb)]. Several studies have demonstrated the potential significance of such an approach in children with asthma. However, techniques to partition eNO are variable, limiting comparisons among studies. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of the analysis interval (time or volume) on eNO plateau concentrations and the estimation of J' aw NO and CA(NO). In 30 children with mild to moderate asthma, spirometry and eNO at multiple flows (50, 100, and 200 ml/sec) were measured. The plateau concentration of eNO at each flow was determined using two different methods of analysis: (1) constant time interval and (2) constant volume interval. For both methods of analysis, a two-compartment model with axial diffusion was used to characterize J' aw NO and CA(NO). At a flow of 200 ml/sec, the time interval analysis predicts values for eNO that are smaller than the volume interval analysis. As a result, there are significant differences in CA(NO) between the methods of analysis (volume > time). When using the multiple flow technique to partition eNO, the method of analysis (constant time vs. constant volume interval) significantly affects the estimation of CA(NO), and thus potentially the assessment and interpretation of distal lung inflammation.
Synthesis of new building blocks: Towards the analogs of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs)☆

Abstract To obtain new analogs of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), synthesis of the building block 14 has been achieved. Building block 14 has been derived from the coupling of the isothiocyanate derivative, 12 with 13 . Isothiocyanate derivative 12 was obtained from S -aspartic acid derivative 5 in a number of steps.
Behavioral models of ASIC VLSI cells

Behavioral models, while more difficult to produce than gate-level models, provide invaluable features during the design verification process. These models exhibit timing and functional accuracy, while providing significantly increased performance and debug features. Techniques to decrease the effort required to produce behavioral models of ASIC VLSI cells are discussed. Behavioral models of ASIC VLSI cells can greatly decrease the time required to verify a design. >
ROCK/NF-κB axis-dependent augmentation of angiotensinogen by angiotensin II in primary-cultured preglomerular vascular smooth muscle cells

In angiotensin II (ANG II)-dependent hypertension, the augmented intrarenal ANG II constricts the renal microvasculature and stimulates Rho kinase (ROCK), which modulates vascular contractile respo...
Finite element simulation of hard magnetoelastic thin films

We are interested in the deformation of a thin magnetoelastic film. This has many possible applications, such as in microfluidic actuators and sensors. In previous articles a finite element method has been used for transient simulation of the deformation of the film, for the special case of soft magnetic material only. In this article the approach is extended to the case of hard (permanent) magnetoelastic materials. The hard magnetic material case involves an additional system of equations for the self-field, and it also results in a non-symmetric Maxwell stress tensor.
Automatic gain control in the echolocation system of dolphins

In bats and technological sonars, the gain of the receiver is progressively increased with time after the transmission of a signal to compensate for acoustic propagation loss. The current understanding of dolphin echolocation indicates that automatic gain control is not a part of their sonar system. In order to test this understanding, we have performed field measurements of free-ranging echolocating dolphins. Here we show that dolphins do possess an automatic gain control mechanism, but that it is implemented in the transmission phase rather than the receiving phase of a sonar cycle. We find that the amplitude of the dolphins' echolocation signals are highly range dependent; this amplitude increases with increasing target range, R, in a 20 log(R) fashion to compensate for propagation loss. If the echolocation target is a fish school with many sound scatterers, the echoes from the school will remain nearly constant with range as the dolphin closes in on it. This characteristic has the same effect as time-varying gain in bats and technological sonar when considered from a sonar system perspective.