cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calcium Bioavailability from High Oxalate Vegetables: Chinese Vegetables, Sweet Potatoes and Rhubarb

Absorption of calcium from high calcium vegetables endogenously labeled with 45 Ca was studied in premenopausal women using a randomized cross over design. Chinese (C.) vegetables are a major source of calcium, but the bioavailability is unknown and likely affected by the oxalic acid content. Calcium absorption from Chinese vegetables, sweet potatoes, and rhubarb, was compared to milk at the same calcium level for calculation of an absorption index. Calcium absorption generally reflected oxalic acid content. Calcium absorption index (X±SEM) was least for C. spinach (0.257±0.0228) and rhubarb (0.235±0.0233), intermediate for sweet potatoes (0.423 ± 0.0255), and highest for C. mustard greens (1.097 ± 0.0532) and C. cabbage flower leaves (1.097±0.0532).
Pion multiplicities in dynamical models of heavy ion collisions

The effects of different ingredients of time-dependent dynamical simulation models are investigated. The variable of interest is the net ..pi../sup -/ production. I study the Ar+KCl data from E/sub lab/ = 0.36 to 1.808 GeV/nucleon with the momentum-dependent Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck approach. Implications for the determination of the nuclear equation of state are mentioned and limitations of the model are considered.
The Effect of Channel Length on the Residual Circulation in Tidally Dominated Channels

With an analytic model, this paper describes the subtidal circulation in tidally dominated channels of different lengths, with arbitrary lateral depth variations. The focus is on an important parameter associated with the reversal of the exchange flows. This parameter () is defined as the ratio between the channel length and one-quarter of the tidal wavelength, which is determined by water depth and tidal frequency. In this study, a standard bottom drag coefficient, CD 0.0025, is used. For a channel with smaller than 0.6–0.7 (short channels), the exchange flow at the open end has an inward transport in deep water and an outward transport in shallow water. This situation is just the opposite of channels with a value larger than 0.6–0.7 (long channels). For a channel with a value of about 0.35–0.5, the exchange flow at the open end reaches the maximum of a short channel. For a channel with a value of about 0.85–1.0, the exchange flow at the open end reaches the maximum of a long channel, with the inward flux of water occurring over the shoal area and the outward flow in the deep-water area. However, near the closed end of a long channel, the exchange flow appears as that in a short channel—that is, the exchange flow changes direction along the channel from the head to the open end of the channel. For a channel with a value of about 0.6–0.7, the tidally induced subtidal exchange flow at the open end reaches its minimum when there is little flow across the open end and the water residence time reaches its maximum. The mean sea level increases toward the closed end for all values. However, the spatial gradient of the mean sea level in a short channel is much smaller than that of a long channel. The differences between short and long channels are caused by a shift in dynamical balance of momentum or, equivalently, a change in tidal wave characteristics from a progressive wave to a standing wave.
Pseudogaps and quantum critically in underdoped cuprates

We point out that, in a doped Mott insulator, the spin gap (pseudogap) phase can be stabilized by the proximity to an underlying quantum critical point associated with the quantum phase disordering of the superconducting order parameter. In the U(1) gauge theory formulation of the t-J model, the latter can be realized, from the d-wave superconducting state, through the quantum disorder phase transition of the slave boson. We introduce the slave boson-vortex duality formulation and show that the spin gap phase is stable at finite temperatures in the quantum critical and the quantum disordered regimes of the boson. We discuss the implications of this strong coupling theory in the context of the underdoped cuprates.
Haemophilus influenzae Infections in Fresno County, California: A Prospective Study of the Effects of Age, Race, and Contact with a Case on Incidence of Disease

A prospective, population-based study of the incidence of infections with Haemophilus influenzae in Fresno County, California, was conducted. The average annual incidence or meningitis was 5.18 cases per 100,000 population, and of other invasive infections, 3.48 cases per 100,000. Incidence rates were highest in infants, but 13% of infections and five of seven deaths were in adults, primarily in elderly individuals with compromised defenses. Black children four years of age and younger were more susceptible to meningitis due to H. influenzae than were white children (P less than 0.001). In contrast, the increased incidence of haemophilus disease in Hispanic children was primarily a result of invasive infections other than meningitis (P less than 0.03). The secondary attack rate in household contacts less than two years of age was one in 24 during the first 30 days, one in 23 between 31 and 60 days, and 0.25 in 22 per month between three and six months. Age and racial factors may affect susceptibility to different forms of invasive disease due to H. influenzae, and young contacts of a patient are at increased risk of developing illness.
Birdsong and the Image of Evolution

For nearly a quarter of Darwin's Descent of Man (1871), it is the singing bird whose voice presages the development of human aesthetics. But since the 1950s, aesthetics has had a perilous and contested role in the study of birdsong. Modern ornithology's disillusionment with aesthetic knowledge after World War II brought about the removal of musical studies of birdsong, studies which were replaced by work with the sound spectrograph, a tool that changes the elusive sounds of birdsong into a readable graphic image called a spectrogram. This article narrates the terms under which the image, rather than the sound, of birdsong has become a sign of humanity's ability to reason objectively. Drawing examples from the strange evolutionary tales that exist at the juncture of ornithology, music history, illustration, and linguistics, this story suggests how it was that the human ear disappeared in the unbridgeable gap between the sciences and the study of aesthetics so tellingly termed "the humanities."
Traumatic Dentoalveolar and Maxillofacial Injuries in Cats: Overview of diagnosis and management.

Practical relevance:Maxillofacial and traumatic dentoalveolar injuries can cause pain and inflammation, and reduce function of the mouth, impacting a cat’s quality of life. Many traumatically induc...
SDP gaps and UGC-hardness for MAXCUTGAIN

Given a graph with maximum cut of (fractional) size c, the Goemans-Williamson semidefinite programming (SDP) algorithm by M. Goemans and D. Williamson (1995) is guaranteed to find a cut of size .878 middot c. However this guarantee becomes trivial when c is near frac12, since a random cut has expected size frac12. Recently, M. Charikar and K. Worth (2004) (analyzing an algorithm of U. Feige and G. Langberg (2001)) showed that given a graph with maximum cut frac12 + epsiv, one can find a cut of size frac12 + Omega(epsiv/ log(1/epsiv)). The main contribution of our paper is twofold: 1. We give a natural frac12 + epsiv vs. frac12 + O(epsiv/ log(1/epsiv)) SDP gap for MAXCUT in Gaussian space. This shows that the SDP-rounding algorithm of Charikar-Worth is essentially best possible. Further, the "s-linear rounding functions" used in the works of M. Charikar and K. Worth (2004) and U. Freige and M. Langberg (2001) arise as optimizers in our analysis, somewhat confirming a suggestion of U. Freige and M. Langberg (2001). 2. We show how this SDP gap can be translated into a long code test with the same parameters. This implies that beating the Charikar-Worth guarantee with any efficient algorithm is NP-hard, assuming the unique games conjecture (UGC) by S. Khot (2002). We view this result as essentially settling the approximability of MAXCUT, assuming UGC. Building on (1) we show how "randomness reduction" on related SDP gaps for the QUADRATICPROGRAMMING programming problem lets us make the Omega(log(1/epsiv)) gap as large as Omega(log n) for n-vertex graphs. In addition to optimally answering an open question of N. Alen et al. (2006), this technique may prove useful for other SDP gap problems. Finally, illustrating the generality of our technique in (2), we also show how to translate Reeds's SDP gap by J. Reeds (1993) for the Grothendieck Inequality into a UGC-hardness result for computing the par middot parinfin rarr 1 norm of a matrix
Codisterol and other Δ5-sterols in the seeds of Cucurbita maxima

Abstract A substantial amount ( ca 18%) of the sterol found in the seeds of Cucurbita maxima had a Δ-bond and consisted of seven components. They were identified as 25(27)-dehydroporiferasterol, clerosterol, isofucosterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, campesterol and codisterol. The C-24 configuration of each of the sterols was unequivocally established by a 1 H NMR spectral comparison with authentic standards. This is the first time codisterol has been found in a higher plant and also the first time the structures and configurations of the Δ 5 -sterols from a Cucurbitaceae species have been clearly characterized.
Closing comment: Economic trends

A CCORDING TO Meditrends 19911992 of the American Hospital Association, “oncology will overtake cardiology as the dominant medical specialty in the United States and will account for 20% of health care expenditures in the 90s. ” ’ Economic trends are causing changes in oncology practice. The cost of cancer care is influencing the treatment plan selected, the site where treatment is administered, and the supportive care that is administered. Oncology nurses are central to every economic issue surrounding cancer care. They are asked to provide care at the lowest possible cost to the patient, while working to enhance the economic well-being of the health care agency by developing strategies to enhance revenue generation. The economics of chemotherapy administration of past decades provides a foundation for understanding the economic trends of the 1990s. In the 194Os, cancer drugs were administered mostly by trial and error. The drugs that were available had limited and nonspecific efficacy. Generally, the costs associated with treatment were assumed by the patient and family or in the case of charitable cases by the hospital. A milestone in the progress of cancer therapy occurred when the National Cancer Institute initiated a search for new chemotherapeutic agents. A wider variety of anticancer products were introduced and the term “chemotherapy” was adopted to refer to antineoplastic or cancer treatment. Chemotherapy served as the catalyst for the development of oncology nursing as an area of nursing specialization. As research progressed, pharmaceutical companies introduced new drugs and assisted in the design of new treatment plans. Costs associated with
The enzymic deamination and amide cleavage of folic acid

Crude enzyme, prepared from cells of Alcaligenes faecalis which had been cultured in response to xanthopterin, catalyzed the deamination of folic acid and the splitting of the amide bond of folic acid. “Deaminated folic acid,” pteroic acid, and “deaminated pteroic acid” were characterized as enzymic products derived from folic acid. Pteroic acid was deaminated by the enzyme preparation, whereas rhizopterin was not attacked at an appreciable rate.
Food and spirits: religion, gender, and identity in the ‘African’ cuisine of Northeast Brazil

Acaraje is an Afro-Brazilian culinary specialty sold throughout the city of Salvador. Because of its African origins, acaraje is typically used as a sacred food in the meetinghouses or terreiros of Afro-Brazilian religious traditions such as Candomble. The image of the acaraje seller – dressed in a flowing white dress elaborated with lace and beads – selling this so-called ‘food of the gods’ has become one of the most iconic images of Salvador, the capital of Bahia. It is often used to depict the city as rustic, quaint, and – most importantly – Black. However, evangelical churches decry the consumption of acaraje and its use in the terreiro as devil worship and have introduced so-called bolinhos de Jesus or Jesus's acaraje as a Christian alternative. This article explores how questions about Blackness and the African past, competitive religious identity, gender, and ethnicity all converge and intersect within the symbol of the Baiana and the food she sells.
Large-scale alignment of oceanic nitrate and density

[1] By analyzing global data, we find that over large scales, surfaces of constant nitrate are often better aligned with isopycnals than with isobars, particularly below the euphotic zone. This is unexplained by the movement of isopycnal surfaces in response to eddies and internal waves, and is perhaps surprising given that the biological processes that alter nitrate distributions are largely depth dependent. We provide a theoretical framework for understanding the orientation of isonitrate surfaces in relation to isopycnals. In our model, the nitrate distribution results from the balance between depth-dependent biological processes (nitrate uptake and remineralization), and the along-isopycnal homogenization of properties by eddy fluxes (parameterized by eddy diffusivity). Where the along-isopycnal eddy diffusivity is relatively large, nitrate surfaces are better aligned with isopycnals than isobars. We test our theory by estimating the strength of the eddy diffusivity and biological export production from global satellite data sets and comparing their contributions. Indeed, we find that below the euphotic zone, the mean isonitrate surfaces are oriented along isopycnals where the isopycnal eddy diffusivity is large, and deviate where the biological export of organic matter is relatively strong. Comparison of nitrate data from profiling floats in different regions corroborates the hypothesis by showing variations in the nitrate-density relationship from one part of the ocean to another.
Rapid energy estimation of computations on FPGA based soft processors

FPGA based soft processors are an attractive option for implementing embedded applications. As energy efficiency has become a key performance metric, techniques that can quickly and accurately obtain the energy performance of these soft processors are needed. While low-level simulation based on traditional FPGA design flow is too time consuming for obtaining such energy performance, we propose a methodology based on instruction level energy profiling. We first analyze the energy dissipation of various instructions. An energy estimator is built using this information. To illustrate the effectiveness of our approach, the energy performance of several FFT and matrix multiplication software programs running on a state-of-the-art soft processor is evaluated using the estimator. Compared with the results obtained through low-level simulation, an average estimation error of 5.9% is observed in our experiments.
Alloantiserum-induced inhibition of immune response gene product function. I. Cellular distribution of target antigens.

It has been previously shown that alloantisera prepared by reciprocal immunization of strain 2 and strain 13 guinea pigs specifically block the activation of T lymphocytes from immune guinea pigs by antigens, the response to which is controlled by Ir genes. In this report we have examined the effect of absorption of the 13 anti-2 serum with different populations of lymphoid cells. It is unlikely that the inhibitory activity of the anti-2 serum on the proliferation of (2 x 13)F1 lymphocytes to a DNP derivative of a copolymer of L-glutamic and L-lysine (DNP-GL) is due to the presence of antibodies specific for the unique antigenic determinants (idiotypes) of clonally distributed T-lymphocyte receptors. Thus, cells obtained from a normal animal and a DNP-GL immune animal were equivalent in their absorptive capacity. Populations of T lymphocytes were ineffective in absorbing either the cytotoxic or inhibitory activity of the anti-2 serum, while L2C leukemia cells, a malignant B-cell population, were most efficient in absorbing both activities. Thus, the antigen(s) against which the cytotoxic and inhibitory activities are directed are present to a greater extent on B lymphocytes than on T lymphocytes. However, these results do not allow us to definitively determine whether the inhibitory activity of the alloantisera is due to antibodies specific for Ir gene products or antibodies specific for linked antigens in the MHC. We also examined the effect of a number of anti-immunoglobulin reagents which had specificity for the heavy and/or light chains of guinea pig immunoglobulin on the in vitro lymphocyte proliferative response to antigen. Under conditions in which we were able to completely and specifically suppress the response of (2 x 13)F1 lymphocytes to DNP-GL with anti-2 serum, the anti-immunoglobulin reagents were devoid of inhibitory effect on the response of these same F1 cells to DNP-GL, a copolymer of L-glutamic and L-tyrosine (GT), or purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD). These results strongly suggest that conventional serum-type immunoglobulin is not important in antigen recognition by the T cells involved in the DNA synthetic response.
Microbial changes after full-mouth tooth extraction, followed by 2-stage implant placement

Quirynen M, Van Assche N. Microbial changes after full-mouth tooth extraction, followed by 2-stage implant placement. J Clin Peridontol 2011; doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2011.01728.x. Abstract: Background: Recent studies showed that qPCR could detect bacteria related to periodontitis and peri-implantitis in a low concentration after full-mouth tooth extraction. This study monitored the microbiota from tooth extraction, over 9 months of full edentulism, up to 1 year after abutment connection. Material and methods: Ten patients with severe periodontitis were recruited. Six months after tooth extraction, implants were inserted. Three to 6 months later, they were connected to abutments. Plaque samples were collected from the tongue dorsum, saliva, and subgingival area (teeth/implants) before extraction up to 1 year after abutment connection, and analysed via culture, qPCR, and checkerboard technology. Results: A reduction in the total amount of aerobic and anaerobic CFU/ml was observed. The concentration of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia (qPCR and checkerboard) in the saliva and, to a lower extent, on the tongue dorsum reduced. For Prevotella intermedia, changes were negligible and no changes could be detected for Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The pristine subgingival niches were quickly colonized by key pathogens. Their final concentration remained low, while the detection frequencies remained very high over time. Conclusion: Complete edentulation results in a significant reduction of bacteria related to periodontitis and peri-implantitis, with the exception of A. actinomycetemcomitans, which might indicate that key pathogens can survive without pockets.
Observations of cross-channel structure of flow in an energetic tidal channel

[1] Measurements of velocity and density profiles were made to describe the transverse structure of flow in Chacao Channel, Southern Chile (41.75°S), where typical tidal velocities are ∼4 m/s. Current profiles were obtained with a 307.2 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) over 25 repetitions of a cross-channel transect during one semidiurnal tidal cycle. The 2.2 km long transect ran northeast/southwest across the channel. A northern channel (120 m deep) and a southern channel (85 m deep) were separated by Remolinos Rock, a pinnacle that rises to 20 m depth at ∼0.7 km from the southern side. Density measurements to depths of ∼50 m were obtained with a Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) recorder at the north and south ends of each transect repetition. One CTD profile was also taken in the middle of the northern channel. The mean flow exhibited weak vertical structure because of strong vertical mixing. The predominant lateral structure consisted of mean outflow (toward the ocean) in the channels and mean inflow (toward Gulf of Ancud) over the pinnacle and the sides of the channel. This lateral structure pattern was consistent with the mean flow pattern expected from tidal rectification, as robust overtides were generated throughout the transect. The contributions to flow divergence and vorticity by the lateral variations of the lateral flow (∂v/∂y) and by the lateral shears of the along-channel flow (∂u/∂y), respectively, were both of the order of 10−3 s−1. This caused advective and frictional forces (both horizontal and vertical) to be dominant in the across-channel momentum balance, as they were more than twenty times the Coriolis acceleration. The present work then represents one of the few examples reported where lateral friction (proportional to ∂2v/∂y2) appears relevant to the transverse momentum balance.
High pressure polymorphism of cuprous iodide

Abstract The phase diagram of cuprous iodide. Cul. has been determined over the range of pressure from 1 bar to 28 kbar and temperature from 22 to 450°C. Three high pressure polymorphs, h 1 , h 2 and h 3 , were found in agreement with the work of Van Valkenburg [5] and it was established that all of these phases are distinct from the three phases present at 1 bar. the α, β and γ phases. Four triple points were established at the following temperatures and pressures for the listed coexistent phases: ( h 1 − h 2 − h 3 ) 216°C, 9.5 kbar; ( h 1 − h 3 −β) 280° C, 7.2 kbar; (γ− h 1 −β) 338°C, 2.5 kbar; (β− h 3 −α) 380°C. 1.8 kbar. The high pressure transitions at 22°C occur at: (γ− h 1 ), 3.15 kbar; ( h 1 − h 2 ), 4.1 kbar: ( h 2 − h 3 ), 14·5 kbar.
Surgical Management of Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Operations

Although there is still a role for conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement, minimally invasive techniques are increasing in popularity and may benefit the patient with shorter postoperative course, less morbidity, and decreased overall cost. Additionally, transcatheter procedures have recently shown promising results in high-risk patients. This article provides an overview of the development of minimally invasive aortic valve operations, including a brief history of minimally invasive approaches, surgical considerations during minimally invasive aortic valve replacement, and the technical approach to performing a hemisternotomy with aortic valve replacement. In addition, the authors review transcatheter techniques, including aortic valve replacement via a sheath placed in the apex of the left ventricle or through a sheath placed in the femoral vessels. Finally, the exciting results of the PARTNER trial and the effect of these results on the future of aortic valve surgery are discussed.
Cutting edge: primary B lymphocytes preferentially expand allogeneic FoxP3+ CD4 T cells.

Despite the unequivocal role of B lymphocytes as effecter cells in humoral immunity, studies have reported that B cells are tolerogenic. The impact of B cell-mediated tolerance and its underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Using primary B cells as APCs and allogeneic CD4 T cells as responder cells in mixed leukocyte reactions, we find that B cells preferentially expand FoxP3+ over FoxP3− CD4 T cells in the absence of exogenous cytokines. The preferential expansion of Foxp3+ T cells is further enhanced by a partial blockade of class II MHC-TCR interaction but diminished by stimulatory anti-CD28 Ab or at high B to T cell ratios. Gamma irradiation of B cells selectively abrogates their ability to expand isolated CD25+ but not CD25− CD4 T cells; exogenous IL-2 supplement can partially restore this function. B cell-expanded CD25+ T cells express high levels of FoxP3 and are highly inhibitory in an Ag-specific manner.
Instruction set processor specifications (ISPS): The notation and its applications

The Instruction Set Processor Specifications (ISPS) computer description language is an evolutionary step towards the formalization of the digital design process at the higher or behavioral levels. It has been used as a design tool, which covers a wider area of application than any other hardware description language. Thus, besides simulation and synthesis of hardware, software generation program verification, and architecture evaluation and control are among the current applications based on ISPS. The range of current and contemplated application areas are proof of the usefulness of the notation and its extension mechanisms. ISPS supports a wide range of applications, rather than a wide range of design levels. Thus, this paper is divided into two parts. The first part describes the notation, its intended use, and the extension mechanisms which allow multiple applications or areas of research to co-exit and share machine descriptions. The second part describes some of the current applications for ISPS.
Improving early reading comprehension using embodied CAI

An embodied approach to reading comprehension suggests that emerging readers must learn to map words and phrases onto their remembered experiences, but this is made difficult by the necessity of focusing attention on decoding. Having children manipulate toys to correspond to what they are reading overcomes this problem, but introduces its own problem for the classroom, namely having to provide a classroom full of children with manipulative. In this article, we demonstrate that having first- and second-grade children manipulate images of toys on a computer screen benefits their comprehension as much as physical manipulation of the toys. In addition, manipulation on one day facilitates reading in the same domain one week later. These findings encourage the use of manipulation of text-relevant images as an educational technology for enhancing early reading comprehension. The findings also set constraints on theoretical accounts of embodiment while reading.
Analysis of tap-changer dynamics and construction of voltage stability regions

The destabilizing behavior of onload tap changers (OLTC) is an important mechanism responsible for the voltage collapse of interconnected power systems. A nonlinear dynamic model of the OLTC, impedance loads and decoupled reactive power-voltage relations is used to reconstruct the voltage-collapse phenomenon. Trajectories leading to a monotonic fall of bus voltages are obtained from initial conditions outside the stability region of a simple power network. The construction of voltage stability regions is desirable for the prevention of voltage collapse. Based on the proposed M-bus power network model, this research results in (1) a simple criterion for stability of an equilibrium, and (2) a method to obtain a stability region by forming the union of hyperbox subsets of the true region. The theoretical foundations of the proposed method, i.e., characteristics of the equilibria and monotonic behaviour of system trajectories, are thoroughly studied. >
Closed-form expression for the collision probability in the IEEE Ethernet Passive Optical Network registration scheme

We derive a closed-form expression for the message collision probability in the IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) registration scheme. The expression obtained, although based on an approximation, shows a good match with simulation results. We use the results of our analysis to compute the size of the most efficient contention window and the most efficient number of nodes serviced by a given window size.
Dynamic Nanofragmentation of Carbon Nanotubes

We report a new phenomenon of dynamic nanofragmentation of DC plasma grown carbon nanotubes under high-strain-rate conditions. An impacting sphere on vertically aligned multiwall nanotubes caused them to break up into short segments in just 15 microseconds with a relatively uniform length range of ∼100−150 nm. The ends of the fragmented nanotubes often exhibit an irregular oval or hexagonal cross-section. Some of the fragments show a sign of plastic bending near the fracture point. The mechanisms of multiple-breakup of nanotubes may be tentatively attributed to elastic buckling and fracture at the nodes or weak points, sequential fragmentation due to local bending, or contact interaction of crossed nanotubes. The observed cutting of nanotubes may conveniently be utilized for their resizing and end-opening for a variety of applications such as nanocomposite synthesis, nanoscale and large-surface-area reservoirs to store chemical reactants/catalysts, nanocarriers for therapeutic drugs/DNAs/proteins, and various other nanoelectronics and nanomechanics applications.
Meiotic Arrest in Human Oocytes Is Maintained by a Gs Signaling Pathway

In mammalian oocytes, the maintenance of meiotic prophase I arrest prior to the surge of LH that stimulates meiotic maturation depends on a high level of cAMP within the oocyte. In mouse and rat, the cAMP is generated in the oocyte, and this requires the activity of a constitutively active, Gs-linked receptor, GPR3 or GPR12, respectively. To examine if human oocyte meiotic arrest depends on a similar pathway, we used RT-PCR and Western blotting to look at whether human oocytes express the same components for maintaining arrest as rodent oocytes. RNA encoding GPR3, but not GPR12, was expressed. RNA encoding adenylate cyclase type 3, which is the major adenylate cyclase required for maintaining meiotic arrest in the mouse oocyte, was also expressed, as was Galphas protein. To determine if this pathway is functional in the human oocyte, we examined the effect of injecting a function-blocking antibody against Galphas on meiotic resumption. This antibody stimulated meiotic resumption of human oocytes that were maintained at the prophase I stage using a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. These results demonstrate that human oocytes maintain meiotic arrest prior to the LH surge using a signaling pathway similar to that of rodent oocytes.
Impact of major co-morbidities on mortality and complications after gastric bypass.

Abstract Background We hypothesized that major co-morbidities affect survival and complications after gastric bypass. Methods A total of 1465 patients undergoing laparoscopic and open gastric bypass between 1995 and 2002 were studied. Patients with a body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m 2 and major co-morbidities (group 1, n=1045) were compared with patients with a body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m 2 with minor/no co-morbidities (group 2, n=420). Results Group 1 patients were older (43 versus 36 years, P 2 , P P P P P Conclusion Outcomes analysis of obesity surgery requires risk stratification. The very low mortality rates in published studies are likely explained by surgical treatment of low-risk patients with minor co-morbidities, such as those seen in group 2. However, despite the increased perioperative risk, the group 1 patients (with major co-morbidities) demonstrated dramatic resolution of their co-morbid conditions, justifying the decision to go forward with surgery. The data support a radical change in treatment philosophy in which morbidly obese individuals should be offered bariatric surgery before major co-morbid conditions develop as a strategy to decrease the operative risk.
Competitiveness of erect, semierect, and prostrate cowpea genotypes with sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and purslane (Portulaca oleracea)

Abstract The growth habits of the crop and competing weed species are important determinants of crop–weed competition. Three cowpea genotypes with similar vegetative vigor but different growth habit were assessed for their relative competitiveness with two weed species. ‘Iron-Clay’ (IC) grows erect, ‘IT89KD-288’ (288) is semierect, and ‘UCR 779’ (779) is prostrate. Common purslane, a short-statured weed, and common sunflower, a tall species, were planted within the cowpea rows. Cowpea canopy height and width, leaf area, dry weight, and light intensity above and below sunflower and cowpea canopies were measured weekly from 21 d after planting. Sunflower reduced the leaf area, amount of light received, and biomass of all cowpea genotypes. Purslane reduced the leaf area of 779 and the biomass of 288 and 779, but the biomass and leaf area of IC were not affected. The presence of sunflower increased the height of IC and 288, but the presence of purslane decreased the canopy height of 779. IC reduced sunflower ...
The Ontogeny of Bladder Function in the Fetal Calf

AbstractAlthough numerous experimental studies have addressed urinary bladder physiology and pharmacology, little information is available concerning the ontogeny of bladder function. The present in vitro study describes the developmental aspects of bladder compliance, pressure generation and emptying in bovine fetuses from early second trimester to term (280 days). The results can be summarized as follows: 1) bladder compliance increased 3-fold between early second trimester and term; 2) sustained contractile response to bethanechol was present in all bladders; 3) field stimulation produced a submaximal, nonsustained contraction and an active relaxation when the field stimulus was turned off; 4) bladder emptying in response to bethanechol was nearly 100 percent in mid- and late-gestational bladders but was only 50 percent at early gestation; 5) bladder emptying in response to field stimulation was 20 percent to 40 percent for all gestational age groups; 6) field stimulated relaxation was observed only in...
Single-Well Genotyping of Diallelic Sequence Variations by a Two-Color Elisa-Based Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay

Single nucleotide substitutions and unique insertions/deletions are the most common form of DNA sequence variation and disease-causing mutation in the human genome. Because of the biological and medical importance of these variations, a wide array of methods have been developed for their typing. We have applied an approach that combines the amplification of polymorphic regions by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a system for typing diallelic variants using an oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA). In this report, we describe a significant advance in this technology that permits the typing of two alleles in a single microtiter well. By marking each of the allele-specific primers with a unique hapten, i.e. digoxigenin and fluorescein, each OLA reaction can be detected by using hapten specific antibodies that are labeled with different enzyme reporters, alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase. This system permits the detection of the two alleles using a high throughput format that leads to the production of two different colors. We demonstrate the specificity, sensitivity and ease of data interpretation with this system. Furthermore, we show that multiplex PCR/OLA not only increases the throughput of DNA typing but also increases its accuracy in typing diallelic sequence variations using an approach that can be broadly applied for human genome analysis (in evaluating genotype/phenotype links), in typing infectious agents and in forensic analysis.
Emittance Growth Caused by Current Variation in a Beam-Transport Channel

Time variation of space-charge forces in a beam-transport channel will lead to a time-averaged emittance growth of the beam. The Kapchinskii-Vladimirskii (K-V) equations have been used to follow the envelope of a round beam with effective beam current fluctuation i through a transport channel. The area of the ellipse that encloses the varying ellipses at the end has been used as the criterion for emittance growth. Simple formulae give the relation between i, initial emittance ?, allowable fractional emittance growth ??, effective average current I, average beam radius R, and transport length. For example, for a long transport channel a nominally compensated beam must have i <(s??2I0/R2)??, where I0 = 4??0Mc3/e, and s? is the usual relativistic factor. Results for other conditions are presented. A comparison with a numerical calculation from the TRACE code for transport of a 100-keV, 100-mA beam is made.
Olfactory discrimination in rats with hippocampal lesions

No impairment was seen in the acquisition of an olfactory discrimination following large bilateral hippocampal lesions in rats.
Identification of Boolean Mathematical Models

A companion paper in this volume has described the successful application of a mathematical model involving quantized variables to an important, real system, the adrenal.1 The objective of this paper is to consider this class of mathematical models in more detail in order to determine how such modeling problems may be formulated, how the parameters of the model may be identified and in particular, to look at the feasibility of actually carrying out the computations involved for systems of reasonable complexity.
Phosphorus Amendment Efficacy for In Situ Remediation of Soil Lead Depends on the Bioaccessible Method

A validated method is needed to measure reductions of in vitro bioaccessible (IVBA) Pb in urban soil remediated with amendments. This study evaluated the effect of in vitro extraction solution pH and glycine buffer on bioaccessible Pb in P-treated soils. Two Pb-contaminated soils (790-1300 mg Pb kg), one from a garden and one from a city lot in Cleveland, OH, were incubated in a bench scale experiment for 1 yr. Six phosphate amendments, including bone meal, fish bone, poultry litter, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, and triple superphosphate, were added to containers at two application rates. Lead IVBA was assessed using USEPA Method 1340 and three modified versions of this method. Modifications included using solutions with pH 1.5 and 2.5 as well as using solutions with and without 0.4 mol L glycine. Soil amendments were ineffective in reducing IVBA Pb in these soils as measured by pH 1.5 with glycine buffer. The greatest reductions in IVBA Pb, from 5 to 26%, were found using pH 2.5 extractions. Lead mineral results showed several soil amendments promoted Pb phosphate formation, an indicator of remediation success. A significant negative linear relationship between reduction in IVBA Pb and Pb-phosphate formation was found only for pH 2.5 without glycine extraction solution. A modified USEPA Method 1340 without glycine and using pH 2.5 has the potential to predict P soil treatment efficacy and reductions in bioavailable Pb.
Aortic Root Enlargement During Aortic Valve Replacement: Nicks and Manouguian Techniques

Aortic valve replacement can be complicated by a small aortic annulus necessitating the placement of an undersized prosthetic valve. In an effort to avoid prosthesis-patient mismatch, root enlargement techniques have been utilized. Herein is a review of the Manouguian and Nicks techniques for posterior root enlargement.
Setting a Precedent about Precedent: William Richman on Federal Appellate Justice

This paper is a tribute to Professor William Richman's scholarship on appellate practice in honor of his retirement.
Clinical practice guidelines for HIV infection: progress towards making AIDS a primary care disease.

An appraisal of the guidelines released in January by the Agency for Health Care Policy and US Public Health Service.
Combined targeting of costimulatory (OX40) and coinhibitory (CTLA-4) pathways elicits potent effector T cells capable of driving robust antitumor immunity.

Ligation of the TNF receptor family costimulatory molecule OX40 (CD134) with an agonist anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) enhances antitumor immunity by augmenting T-cell differentiation as well as turning off the suppressive activity of the FoxP3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg). In addition, antibody-mediated blockade of the checkpoint inhibitor CTLA-4 releases the “brakes” on T cells to augment tumor immunotherapy. However, monotherapy with these agents has limited therapeutic benefit particularly against poorly immunogenic murine tumors. Therefore, we examined whether the administration of agonist anti-OX40 therapy in the presence of CTLA-4 blockade would enhance tumor immunotherapy. Combined anti-OX40/anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy significantly enhanced tumor regression and the survival of tumor-bearing hosts in a CD4 and CD8 T cell–dependent manner. Mechanistic studies revealed that the combination immunotherapy directed the expansion of effector T-bethigh/Eomeshigh granzyme B+ CD8 T cells. Dual immunotherapy also induced distinct populations of Th1 [interleukin (IL)-2, IFN-γ], and, surprisingly, Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) CD4 T cells exhibiting increased T-bet and Gata-3 expression. Furthermore, IL-4 blockade inhibited the Th2 response, while maintaining the Th1 CD4 and effector CD8 T cells that enhanced tumor-free survival. These data demonstrate that refining the global T-cell response during combination immunotherapy can further enhance the therapeutic efficacy of these agents. Cancer Immunol Res; 2(2); 142–53. ©2013 AACR.
Cohabitation and Prime Ministerial Policymaking Strategies

In Chapter 2, I represented cohabitation as a political situation where the prime minister has a strong interest in pursuing a limited legislative agenda and in enacting as few important laws as possible. This strategy is designed largely to avoid being politically harmed by the president’s constant public criticisms against the governmental actions. I later showed empirically that cohabitation, under certain circumstances, indeed leads to policy paralysis.
Deprenyl in Tourette’s Syndrome and ADHD

The efficacy of deprenyl, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, was evaluated in the treatment of ADHD in 24 children and adolescents with comorbid Tourette’s syndrome (TS) enrolled at the University of Rochester and Baylor College of Medicine.
Innovation Decisions: Using the Gartner Hype Cycle

The 21st century library has already faced an abundance of innovations, and it is not going to end. How is your library going to make decisions about adoption of up and coming innovations? Should you adopt them, and if so, when? Using the Gartner Hype Cycle can help you make informed decisions while managing your organization's tolerance for risk.
Morphology and property investigation of primary particulate matter particles from different sources

Particulate matter (PM) pollution has become a major environmental concern in many developing countries. PM pollution control remains a great challenge owing to the complex sources and evolution processes of PM particles. There are two categories of PM, i.e., primary and secondary PM particles, and the primary PM emissions play a key role in the formation of PM pollution. Knowledge of primary PM particle compositions, sources, and evolution processes is of great importance to the effective control of PM pollution. In order to characterize PM particles effectively, their fundamental properties including the morphology, concentration distribution, surface chemistry, and composition must be systematically investigated. In this study, we collected and analyzed six types of PM10 and PM2.5 particles from different sources using an in situ sampling approach. The concentration distributions of PM particles were analyzed and comparative analysis of the morphologies, distributions, capture mechanisms, and compositions of PM particles was conducted using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. We found that there were significant differences in the structures, morphologies, and capture mechanisms of PM2.5 and PM10 particles. The systematic comparative investigation in this work will benefit the study of evolution processes and the effective control of PM pollution in the future.
Effects of liraglutide on weight, satiation, and gastric functions in obesity: a randomised, placebo-controlled pilot trial.

Summary Background Liraglutide, a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, is approved for treatment of obesity; however, the mechanisms of action of liraglutide are incompletely understood. We compared effects of liraglutide versus placebo on gastric motor functions, satiation, satiety, and weight in obese individuals over 16 weeks. Methods We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial at a single centre (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA). Participants were randomly allocated (1:1) by a computer generated randomisation schedule with no stratification to receive subcutaneous liraglutide (3·0 mg) or placebo, with standardised nutritional and behavioural counselling. Allocation was concealed from participants and study investigators. Otherwise healthy, local residents aged 18–65 years with body-mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m 2 or higher were included. Liraglutide or placebo was escalated by 0·6 mg/day each week for 5 weeks and continued until week 16. The primary outcome was change in gastric emptying (delay relative to baseline) of solids T 1/2 (time taken for half the radiolabelled meal to empty from the stomach), measured at 5 weeks and 16 weeks in all patients who received at least one dose of study drug, with missing data imputed. Secondary outcomes included weight loss at weeks 5 and 16, satiation (volume to fullness and maximum tolerated volume), satiety, and fasting and postprandial gastric volumes at 16 weeks. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02647944, and is closed to new participants. Findings Between Dec 18, 2015, and Sept 1, 2016, 40 adults were enrolled and randomly allocated (19 to the liraglutide group; 21 to the placebo group). Compared with placebo, liraglutide delayed gastric emptying of solids at 5 weeks (median 70 min [IQR 32 to 151] vs 4 min [–21 to 18]; p vs −1 min [–19 to 7]; p=0·025). There was also significantly greater weight loss in the liraglutide group than in the placebo group (at 5 weeks: median 3·7 kg [IQR 2·8 to 4·8] vs 0·6 kg [–0·3 to 1·4], p vs 2·5 kg [0·1 to 4·2], p=0·0009). Satiation, as assessed by maximum tolerated volume at 16 weeks, was lower in the liraglutide group (median 750 mL [IQR 651 to 908]) compared with the placebo group (1126 mL [944–1185]; p=0·054). No significant differences were noted between groups in terms of volume to fullness, satiety, or fasting and postprandial gastric volumes at week 16. Post-hoc analysis showed that the T 1/2 of gastric emptying of solids at 5 weeks correlated with change in weight loss at week 16 with liraglutide (Rs 0·567, p=0·018). Nausea was the most common adverse event in the liraglutide group (12 of 19) compared with placebo (four of 21). Interpretation Effects of liraglutide on weight loss are associated with delay in gastric emptying of solids; measurement of gastric emptying (eg, at 5 weeks of treatment) may be a biomarker of responsiveness and may help to select individuals for prolonged treatment with this class of drug. Funding US National Institutes of Health grant R56-DK67071.