cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The demographic characterization of women participating in oocyte donation : a review of 300 consecutively performed cycles

Abstract OBJECTIVES: To define the demographic characteristics of women participating as oocyte donors and recipients in a gamete donation program. The study took place in the in vitro fertilization program of the University of Southern California (USC-IVF) and all women who underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for the sole purpose of gamete donation (n = 110), and the recipients of the donated gametes (n = 192) were included. METHODS: Demographic characteristics were tallied for each of the above mentioned groups and reported as means ± S.D. or as percentages as appropriate. Comparisons between recipients were made according to age groups defined by 10-year age intervals. RESULTS: Oocyte donors were most commonly married mothers in their late twenties who were fully employed. The majority (74%) proffered services anonymously. Recipients differed significantly by age group, with younger patients ( 40 years old who were often remarried, likely to have undergone an elective termination of pregnancy, and usually a recipient of extensive infertility care prior to attempts at oocyte donation. CONCLUSIONS: In cases where solicitation of services has not occurred, women donating oocytes may best be described as married, employed, middle class mothers whose primary motivation for participation appears to be altruistic. Significant demographic differences exist between recipients of donated oocytes, which appeared to be age related.
ANALYTICAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF HEMATOLOGIC DISEASES.

Several theoretical analyses and computer studies have been performed related to the differential diagnosis of hematologic diseases. The major portion of the work has involved the development of a differential diagnosis in terms oflikelihoods andlargest likelihood quantities [2]. A nominal scale on which thelikelihood quantities (possible diseases) are listed has been termed theDiagnostic Index.
Polynary silicon arsenic chalcogenide glasses with high softening temperatures

Abstract The introduction of Ag in SiAsTe glasses permits the incorporation of Se, otherwise volatile and/or degradable as a constituent in Si-containing chalcogenide glasses. SiAsAgTeSe glasses exhibit much higher softening ranges and glass transition temperatures than encountered in known chalgogenide systems. A glass Si35As15Ag10Te20Se20 had the viscosity log ν = 13 at about 500°C, as compared to 370°C for the base glass Si35As25Te40, the viscosity of log ν = 9.8 at about 560°C, as compared to 442°C for the base glass. Phase separation occurs in the system SiAsAgTeSe and becomes manifest in two glass transitions indicated by changes in the slopes of the expansion curves and breaks in the softening point-composition relations. The existence and behavior SiAsAgTeSe glasses suggests the possible development of higher Tg i.r. transparencies and higher Tg semiconductor glasses than described so far.
Aortic Valves Shamrock, Bileaflet, and Lucky?

Figure 1. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography short axis view of the aortic valve with the angle of crystal orientation approximately 35°. A, Normal trileaflet aortic valve with commissures at 12-, 5-, and …
Does transitional care prevent older adults from rehospitalization? A review.

The purpose of the authors in this article is to present a review of experimental research assessing whether transitional care is effective in preventing older adults from rehospitalization in the United States. The prevalence of rehospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries is high, but a considerable portion of rehospitalizations could have been prevented and decreased. One strategy which can prevent these unplanned rehospitalizations is transitional care. Older adults age 65 and over, in particular, are considered to be potential beneficiaries of transitional care. Studies examining the effects of transitional care were identified through electronic bibliographic databases and manual searches from inception through April 2011, limited to English language. A total of nine experimental studies meeting the inclusionary criteria were reviewed. Seven of nine studies detected positive effects of transitional care in preventing older adults from rehospitalization, although these effects varied at different f...
A method of immediate clasp repair.

Abstract This article has suggested a method for quick repair of a broken partial denture clasp. It is not intended to replace more conventional techniques but may be useful in special situations where time does not allow the customary laboratory procedures. This 30 minute technique allows the partial denture to be returned to service within a normal office appointment interval.
Three-dimensional analysis of subwavelength diffractive optical elements with the finite-difference time-domain method.

We present a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of subwavelength diffractive optical elements (DOE’s), using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. To this end we develop and apply efficient 3D FDTD methods that exploit DOE properties, such as symmetry. An axisymmetric method is validated experimentally and is used to validate the more general 3D method. Analyses of subwavelength gratings and lenses, both with and without rotational symmetry, are presented in addition to a 2 × 2 subwavelength focusing array generator.
Usage patterns in multi-tenant data centers: a temporal perspective

Data centers, hosted either on-site or by a third party, have become a dominant computing platform. Here, we focus on the usage patterns of in-production data centers that are hosted by a third party and serve several corporate customers. We characterize the data center workload and concentrate especially on the temporal evolution of utilization of basic resource components. We especially focus on the autonomic aspect of this characterization as it can be used to identify how loads across components change in order to identify conditions that can trigger resource reallocation toward better workload management. To this end, we focus on the resource demands of six distinct corporate customers on two specific data centers, highlight the workload diversity across these customers, and especially focus on how resources are used in time scales that range from minutes to days, weeks, and months. This study fills an important gap in our understanding on how data center resources are used and provides helpful insights for the development of autonomous resource management in multi-tenant data centers.
Vacuum polarization in Schwarzschild spacetime

The polarization of the vacuum induced by gravitation is studied for massless fields in the region exterior to the horizon of a Schwarzschild black hole. The renormalized value of $〈{\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{2}(x)〉$ is calculated according to the "covariant point-separation scheme" for each of the Boulware, Hartle-Hawking, and Unruh "vacua." The form of the renormalized expectation value of the stress tensor near the horizon and at infinity is discussed for each of these three states. It is found that the Unruh vacuum best approximates the state that would obtain following the gravitational collapse of a massive body in the sense that the expectation values of physical observables are finite, in a freely falling frame, on the future horizon and that this state is empty near infinity apart from an outgoing flux of a blackbody radiation. The response of an Unruh box is examined further in the light of the results obtained for the stress tensor. Finally it is shown by explicit solution of the linearized Einstein equations that the area of the horizon decreases at the rate expected from the flux at infinity.
Structure and entropy for Toeplitz kernels

Abstract In this paper we study the structure of positive-definite Toeplitz kernels on free semigroups and its implications in noncommutative dilation theory, harmonic analysis on Fock spaces, prediction and interpolation theory for stationary stochastic processes. A parametrization of positive-definite Toeplitz kernels in terms of generalized Schur sequences of contractions leads to a series of applications: explicit minimal Naimark dilations, Cholesky factorizations, Szego type limit theorems, entropy, maximal outer factors, and factorizations for positive-definite Toeplitz kernels. The Kolmogorov-Wiener prediction-error operator associated to any stochastic process having as covariance kernel a positive-definite Toeplitz kernel is calculated in terms of its Schur sequence (resp. maximal outer factor), and a connection with a Szego type infimum problem is established. We solve the Caratheodory interpolation problem for positive-definite Toeplitz kernels, obtain a parametrization of all solutions in terms of Schur sequences, and find the maximal entropy solution. The results of this paper can be used to develop a theory of stochastic n -linear systems.
Chronic captopril administration decreases vasodilator responses in skeletal muscle arterioles.

Abstract Changes in arteriolar reactivity to dilator agonists were assessed in the cremaster muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats fed normal rat chow with captopril (100 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water for 8 weeks and in nontreated controls. The in situ cremaster muscle was prepared, superfused with physiologic salt solution, and arteriolar diameter was measured using television microscopy. Changes in the diameter of distal arterioles in response to topical application of iloprost, forskolin, cholera toxin, acetylcholine, and nitroprusside were measured with a video micrometer. Arteriolar responses to each of the vasodilator agonists used in this study were significantly reduced in the captopril-treated rats, relative to the untreated controls. The maximum dilation of the arterioles, determined during superfusion with Ca2+-free physiologic salt solution containing 10−4 mol/L adenosine, was also reduced in the captopril-treated rats, suggesting structural remodeling of the arteriolar wall. These observations indicate that chronic angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition with captopril leads to significant alterations in arteriolar structure and reactivity, and that angiotensin II may play a protective role in maintaining normal vascular structure and vasodilator reactivity in the microcirculation.
Maximal heat transfer density: Plates with multiple lengths in forced convection

Abstract This paper shows that in a space filled with heat generating parallel plates and laminar forced convection, the heat transfer density can be increased beyond the level known for parallel plates with optimal spacing. The technique consists of inserting in every entrance region new generations of smaller plates, because smaller plates have thin boundary layers that fit in the unused (isothermal) entrance flow. This technique can be repeated several times, and the result is a sequence of multi-scale flow structures that have progressively higher heat transfer densities. The work consists of numerical simulations in a large number of flow configurations, one differing slightly from the next. The complete optimized architecture and performance of structures with one, two and three plate length scales are reported. Diminishing returns are observed as the number of length scales increases. This method can be used to develop multi-scale nonuniform flow structures for heat exchangers and cooled electronic packages.
Acetylcholinesterase neurons in the lateral hypothalamus project to the spinal cord.

Abstract The possibility that cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain project to the spinal cord was investigated utilizing the retrograde transport of bisbenzimide and [3H]choline as well as acetylcholinesterase histochemistry. A striking similarity was observed in the distributions of lateral hypothalamic neurons labeled with bisbenzimide and acetylcholinesterase. Only a small number of these neurons contained both markers, suggesting the possibility of a small cholinergic projection from the lateral hypothalamus to the spinal cord. The use of [3H]choline to test this hypothesis yielded negative results. Thus the present observations indicating that lateral hypothalamic neurons are cholineceptive, are consistent with choline acetylcholinesterase immunohistochemical studies. The potential for basal forebrain cholinergic neurons to influence spinal autonomic activity via the lateral hypothalamus is discussed.
Disease and destiny–mystery and mastery

When early people made their appearance, zoonotic infectious diseases were already waiting, but epidemic diseases did not appear in human history until people began to live in large numbers under conditions of close contact, mainly during the last 10,000 years. Disease has decimated urban populations, conquered armies, and disrupted society. The focus here is on (1) the plague of Athens and the Black Death; (2) smallpox, influenza, and rabies; (3) avian influenza prion diseases, and foot & mouth disease; and (4) emerging and re-emerging diseases. All have veterinary public health associations. In Athens, Greece, in 430 BC, when the Spartans ravaged the countryside, hordes crowded into Athens so that orderly movements, space in which to live, and adequate supplies of food became impossible. Crowding of any population fosters disease transmission; chaos and disorder enhance it all the more. Out of northern Egypt came a terrible plague from across the Mediterranean Sea. The identity of the plague of Athens remains unsure, but the well-considered conclusion is Rift Valley Fever, a mosquito borne, viral zoonosis. The Black Death, also called the Plague, raged in Asia for centuries. In 1347, the Black Death was brought by a ship out of Asia to Sicily. The scenes of devastation were repeated throughout Europe, with 90% or more of the people dying in city after city. Influenza, too, has been a cause of periodic human epidemics, but the great pandemic of influenza occurred in the last months of World War I. In the years of highest occurrence, more than half the world's population became clinically infected. If veterinary public health had been born earlier, it could have led to elucidating the epidemiology of influenza and the plagues of Athens, Europe, and Asia. In turn, smallpox had also caused continual tragedy. In 1796, Edward Jenner began to harvest pustules of cowpox from children or infected cows and inject them into susceptible children. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been eliminated from the world. Rabies, though, still strikes terror. A number of animal diseases, broadly termed emerging and re-emerging diseases, need surveillance because they have the potential to impact human health. From late in 2003 to 2007, the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in poultry infected at least 121 people and caused 62 deaths in four countries. The prion diseases, too, all have very high numbers in concentrated contacts. To control these diseases, veterinary public health is essential, with diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, clinical manifestations, and prevention as primary measures.
Bolometric detection of neutrinos.

Elastic neutrino scattering off electrons in crystalline silicon at 1-10 mK results in measurable temperature changes in macroscopic amounts of material, even for low-energy (less than 0.41-MeV) pp neutrinos from the sun. New detectors for bolometric measurement of low-energy neutrino interactions, including coherent nuclear elastic scattering, are proposed. A new and more sensitive search for oscillations of reactor antineutrinos is practical (about 100 kg of Si), and would lay the groundwork for a more ambitious measurement of the spectrum of pp, Be-7, and B-8 solar neutrinos, and of supernovae anywhere in the Galaxy (about 10 tons of Si).
Balloon photodynamic therapy of esophageal cancer: effect of increasing balloon size

We have found that an esophageal centering balloon improves light delivery to esophageal mucosa during photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, balloon pressure on esophageal mucosa could possibly reduce mucosal blood flow and oxygenation, therefore reducing the photodynamic therapy effect. Studies were performed in the canine esophagus of 10 animals to investigate whether increasing the size of the centering balloon and hence the pressure on esophageal mucosa would alter the tissue effect of PDT. It was concluded that increasing balloon size resulted in reduced tissue damage when mucosal equivalent light dose was administered during photodynamic therapy. Proper sizing of centering balloons will be necessary for balloon PDT of esophageal mucosal dysplasia or cancer.
Chemiluminescent spectra of PbO from reactions of Pb atoms

Abstract Chemiluminescent reactions of lead with N 2 O, O, O 2 , and O 3 have been investigated by studying the spectrum of PbO under a wide variety of reaction conditions. Spectra were found to be very dependent on the oxidant used and the pressure. It was found that addition of active nitrogen greatly increased the PbO emission and also produced strong atomic Pb lines. Many new bands of PbO have been observed and measured in the A 0 + - X 0 + and a 1- X 0 + systems leading to the following molecular constants. AO + : T e = 19862.6 ± 3.0 cm −1 ; ω e = 444.3 ± 1.6 cm −1 ; ω e χ e = 0.54 ± 1.4 cm −1 a1: T e = 16024.9 ± 2.9 cm −1 ; ω e = 481.5 ± 1.4 cm −1 ; ω e χ e = 2.45 ± 1.44 cm −1 XO + : ω e = 720.97 ± 0.72 cm −1 ; ω e χ e = 3.536 ± 0.050 cm −1 An approximate value of B = 0.252 ± 0.010 cm −1 was obtained for the a state.
Lean six sigma at a material recovery facility: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the lean six sigma implementation process and its quantified benefits for the recycling industry. Specifically, the goals of the project were to improve the processes and increase capacity for a government operated material recovery facility (MRF) in Toledo, Ohio, USA.Design/methodology/approach – The six sigma DMAIC methodology was utilized for this study. This included aligning and optimizing processes and the removal of process‐generated defects and errors.Findings – After comparison of the current and future states of the MRF, it is found that by reducing non‐value added activities, productivity was increased by 7.3 percent for paper bales, 12.8 percent for commingled bales and 1.6 percent for old corrugated container (OCC) bales. The project generated over $65,000 in annual savings for the facility.Research limitations/implications – The findings are limited due to the focused nature of the case study and further cost‐benefit analysis can be carried o...
Decoherence and the Copenhagen cut

While it is widely agreed that decoherence will not solve the measurement problem, decoherence has been used to explain the “emergence of classicality” and to eliminate the need for a Copenhagen edict that some systems simply have to be treated as classical via a quantum-classical “cut”. I argue that decoherence still relies on such a cut. Decoherence accounts derive classicality only in virtue of their incompleteness, by omission of part of the entangled system of which the classical-appearing subsystem is a part. I argue that this omission is only justified by implicit classical assumptions that objectify a subsystem and are employed via either a traditional Copenhagen cut or a functionally equivalent imposition of separability on a system in a non-separable state. I argue that decoherence cannot derive classicality without assuming it in some other form, and I provide an analysis of when it is appropriate to make these otherwise implicit classical assumptions by adopting a minimalistic Copenhagen-style approach to measurement. Finally, I argue that, ironically, the conditions for making these assumptions may be better satisfied in standard measurement situations than in cases of environmental monitoring.
Geodetic results from seasat

Abstract The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States has sponsored a program of geodetic investigations based on altimeter data from Seasat. The results obtained include Seasat orbit determination, analysis of the geoidal resolution capability of the altimeter, seamount detection, and.geoidal improvement.
Do tax benefits conferred to Sub-S banks affect their deposit or loan rates?

Abstract Positive economics predicts that Sub-S banks, with no taxes paid at the corporate level, will price their products lower than otherwise identical C corporation banks in a competitive environment. Alternatively, if banks price bundle their products, Sub-S tax benefits might have little (no) effect on product rates. The empirical analysis finds that Sub-S deposit (loan) rates are equal to or lower (higher) than similar C corporation bank rates. Thus, there is little evidence of any tax benefits accruing to Sub-S bank customers. In contrast, tax-exempt credit unions do offer higher deposit rates and lower loan rates than C corporation banks.
Plastic analysis of irregular frames on microcomputers

Abstract Using the kinematic approach with automatic generation of independent mechanisms, an efficient procedure and an interactive Microcomputer BASIC program have been developed for plastic analysis of irregular low-rise unbraced frames. The program can display/plot the frame configuration including the loading, the bending moment diagram, and the failure mechanism. Three examples are presented to show the effectiveness of microcomputers in plastic analysis of irregular unbraced frames.
Is systematic desensitization being misapplied

While observing case presentations of more than a dozen behavior therapists at various stages of experience, the authors noted the inappropriate and almost indiscriminate use of desensitization met...
Characterization of sea ice types using synthetic aperture radar

The results of an investigation into the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery for sea ice-type discrimination are presented. X- and L-band dual-polarization SAR data of Beaufort Sea ice were examined using manual interpretation techniques to determine which channel provides the most information. Quantitative methods for ice-type discrimination also were explored by statistical parameterization of these data. Various statistical tests, both parametric and nonparametric, were applied to evaluate the utility of the parameters for machine interpretation of SAR ice data. The results obtained indicate that, under winter ice conditions, X-nband is superior to L-band for discriminating various ice types. Also, imagery obtained at small incidence angles shows greater tonal variation between ice types than that obtained at larger angles. Of the quantitative measures evaluated, mean and standard deviation appear to be the most valuable. Examination of quantities involving higher order moments indicates that a better understanding of the SAR imaging process is required before these measures can be utilized successfully.
Single pre-exposure to a high dose of zymosan enhances lung defense mechanisms and accelerates the pulmonary clearance of a bacterial pathogen in rats.

The present study examines the effects of pre-exposure to zymosan (a 1 → 3-β -glucan from baker yeast) on lung defense against bacterial infection. Rats received a single dose of zymosan A (0.6, 1.2, or 2.5 mg/kg body weight [bw]) or vehicle control (saline) via intratracheal instillation 3 days prior to intratracheal inoculation with 5 × 105 Listeria monocytogenes. Left lungs were homogenized and cultured to assess bacterial clearance, and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed on the right lungs to monitor lung inflammation and injury. Prior to bacterial infection, zymosan exposure resulted in elevated inflammation and oxidant production in the lungs. Zymosan treatment followed by infection led to an accelerated pulmonary clearance of bacteria when compared to the saline control group in a dose-dependent fashion. In addition, lower levels of injury and inflammation were associated with the enhanced bacteria clearance observed in zymosan-infected rats. Our findings suggest that zymosan exposure may enhance...
ERRATUM: "RECOGNIZING DIFFERENT TYPES OF STOCHASTIC PROCESSES"

We used MATLAB for the simulations and after publishing the paper we found that some bugs in the random number generator of MATLAB cause correlations in the sequence. This effect was an artifact and influenced the results due to the high sensitivity of the bispectra against hidden correlations. To reset the random number generator, the command, rand (‘state’, sum(100*clock)), was used. Each sample was obtained after resetting the generator. We found that the random samples generated in this way can be correlated and produce artifacts when bispectra were used for analysis. In our further investigations, we generated random samples in different ways, using only one random state or different calculation time by changing the calculation order. We found that the new results were different from the published ones and that the bispectrum correlation coefficient method was applicable to only random telegraph signals 2 and 5.
Internet access and capacity planning: Quantifying relationships between usage, capacity, and blocking

The blocking probability is commonly used to evaluate the quality-of-service (QoS) offered by dialup Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Unfortunately, dialup ISPs employ no blocking standards or thresholds. This raises questions as to exactly how providers measure and evaluate QoS with respect to network access and how they make capacity planning decisions. Many ISPs use the User-to-Modem Ratio (UMR) as a surrogate measure for service quality, but there are no well defined direct relationships between the UMR and the blocking probability. In this paper, relationships between the UMR and other well known traffic variables and the blocking probability are quantified, and the usefulness of the UMR as a standalone QoS metric is explored. Blocking probabilities are estimated for a range of UMRs via simulation from a range of demand scenarios developed from observed data. A predictive regression model is introduced to quantify the affects of independent predictor variables on blocking. Results show that the UMR is not a useful standalone QoS metric and traditionally favored UMRs such as 10:1 cannot be associated with ''high quality service'' in a de facto manner.
Metastatic mammary carcinomas with endocrine features: Potential diagnostic pitfalls

Mammary carcinomas with endocrine differentiation (MCED) are an uncommon subtype of breast carcinomas that are morphologically indistinguishable from low-grade endocrine neoplasms arising in other organs. Aspirates of MCED yield relatively monotonous cells with eccentrically placed nuclei containing characteristic "salt and pepper" chromatin. In the breast, these features represent MCED. In extramammary sites, the differential is more extensive, and diagnosing MCED metastases to the lung, a common location for primary and metastatic endocrine tumors, can be a challenging task, with significant clinical implications. Although primary MCED have been described extensively in the cytology literature, secondary pulmonary MCED have not been reported to the best of our knowledge. We report three cases of MCED metastatic to the lung and present the cytological and immunohistochemical features.
Brain and muscle express a unique alternative transcript of alphaII spectrin.

Alternative splicing of pre-mRNA transcripts of α and β spectrin has emerged as an important generator of diversity in this gene family, yet the functional consequences and extent of this diversity...
The 11 kb FGA deletion responsible for congenital afibrinogenaemia is mediated by a short direct repeat in the fibrinogen gene cluster

Congenital afibrinogenaemia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by the complete absence of detectable fibrinogen. We previously identified the first known causative mutations for this disorder in a non-consanguineous Swiss family. The four affected male individuals (two brothers and their first two cousins) were shown to have homozygous deletions of approximately 11 kb of the fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) gene. Haplotype data suggested that the deletions occurred on three distinct ancestral chromosomes, implying that the FGA region of the fibrinogen locus is susceptible to deletion by a common mechanism, but the sequences responsible for the recombination remained to be identified. Here, we report the detailed characterisation of the deletion by nucleotide sequence analysis of all three deletion junctions and comparison with normal sequences. We found that all three deletions were identical to the base-pair and probably resulted from non-homologous (illegitimate) recombination. The centromeric and telomeric deletion junctions featured both a 7 bp direct repeat, AACTTTT, situated in FGA intron 1 and in the FGA-FGB intergenic sequence and a number of inverted repeats which could be involved in the generation of secondary structures. Analysis with closely linked flanking polymorphic markers revealed the existence of at least two haplotypes, further suggesting independent origins of the deletions in this family.
A comparison of two methods to assess nutrient digestibility in pigs

Abstract The noninvasive estimation of nutrient digestibility (DIG) is usually done by total collection (TC) of feces in balance crates or by the indicator method (IM) using an indigestible marker such as chromic oxide (CO). TC is precise but involves much labor. These methods were compared using pigs fed corn–soybean meal diets. In Trial 1, 10 pigs (68.1 kg) were individually housed in metabolism crates for a 5-day (d) TC. The IM phase immediately followed by adding CO to the feed for 2 consecutive d, and collecting a single grab fecal sample. In Trial 2, 24 pigs (66.2 kg) were used and Cr was fed for 7 consecutive d with single samples collected for 5 d starting when the stool color appeared bright green (which usually occurred on d3 after Cr was fed). Samples were composited into 5 final samples (d1, d1 + 2, d1 + 2 + 3, d1 + 2 + 3 + 4, d1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5) labeled D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5, respectively. In Trial 1, DIG values of DM, energy, and N were 2–3 percentage points lower for IM vs TC; DIG of Ca and P was 10–20 percentage points lower for IM. Differences related to dietary treatments were observed for 4 of these nutrients with TC but none of the nutrients with IM. In Trial 2, DIG by IM increased from D1 through D5, coinciding with increasing Cr excretion. For the macronutrients evaluated, all reached their DIG plateaus by D5 and similar values were observed between TC and IM. Dietary treatment differences were observed for Ca and P by TC and were also detected by IM. It is concluded that a multiday sample works better than a single grab sample for IM and that several days of marker observance are required before the marker content stabilizes in feces.
Magnitude and range of the RKKY interaction in SmRh4B4

Abstract The superconductive and magnetic transition temperatures taken together, are shown to provide a unique probe which separately determines both the magnitude and range of the RKKY interaction in the RERh 4 B 4 magnetic superconductors (RE = Er, Sm). Experimentally, an unexpected peak is found in the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature of SmRh 4 b 4 vs. electron mean free path, while for ErRh 4 B 4 the ferromagnetic ordering temperature decreases monotonically. These qualitative features, as well as the quantitative differences between SmRh 4 B 4 and ErRh 4 B 4 , are in excellent agreement with calculations using a mean free path dependent RKKY interaction.
Survival, Condition, Habitat Use, and Predation on Stocked Bonytails (Gila elegans) in the Green River, Colorado and Utah

Abstract The endangered bonytail Gila elegans, a large-bodied, main-stem cyprinid endemic to the Colorado River Basin of the American Southwest, was once widespread and abundant in warm-water-stream reaches. Negative effects of altered flow and temperature regimes downstream of dams, other habitat changes, and establishment of nonnative fishes have reduced populations of native fish throughout the basin, and wild bonytails may be extirpated. Hatchery reared bonytails are stocked in formerly occupied habitat to rebuild depleted populations, but their ecology is poorly understood. In 2002–2007, sampling in the middle Green River from upstream and downstream of stocking locations in Dinosaur National Monument documented survival of bonytails for ≤4 months, but apparently none survived longer. Many fish at large ≤4 months had Lernea or fungal infections, weighed an average of 20% less than fish when released, and had relatively low rates of growth. Post-stocking rates of dispersal downstream (ca. 1 river km/d...
No association of dietary fiber intake with inflammation or arterial stiffness in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Abstract Aim To examine the association of dietary fiber intake with inflammation and arterial stiffness among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the US. Methods Data are from youth ≥ 10 years old with clinically diagnosed T1D for ≥ 3 months and ≥ 1 positive diabetes autoantibody in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. Fiber intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire with measurement error (ME) accounted for by structural sub-models derived using additional 24-h dietary recall data in a calibration sample and the respective exposure-disease model covariates. Markers of inflammation, measured at baseline, included IL-6 ( n = 1405), CRP ( n = 1387), and fibrinogen ( n = 1340); markers of arterial stiffness, measured approximately 19 months post-baseline, were available in a subset of participants and included augmentation index ( n = 180), pulse wave velocity ( n = 184), and brachial distensibility ( n = 177). Results Mean (SD) T1D duration was 47.9 (43.2) months; 12.5% of participants were obese. Mean (SD) ME-adjusted fiber intake was 15 (2.8) g/day. In multivariable analyses, fiber intake was not associated with inflammation or arterial stiffness. Conclusion Among youth with T1D, fiber intake does not meet recommendations and is not associated with measures of systemic inflammation or vascular stiffness. Further research is needed to evaluate whether fiber is associated with these outcomes in older individuals with T1D or among individuals with higher intakes than those observed in the present study.
Structural Basis of Lipid Binding for the Membrane-embedded Tetraacyldisaccharide-1-phosphate 4'-Kinase LpxK.

The membrane-bound tetraacyldisaccharide-1-phosphate 4′-kinase, LpxK, catalyzes the sixth step of the lipid A (Raetz) biosynthetic pathway and is a viable antibiotic target against emerging Gram-negative pathogens. We report the crystal structure of lipid IVA, the LpxK product, bound to the enzyme, providing a rare glimpse into interfacial catalysis and the surface scanning strategy by which many poorly understood lipid modification enzymes operate. Unlike the few previously structurally characterized proteins that bind lipid A or its precursors, LpxK binds almost exclusively to the glucosamine/phosphate moieties of the lipid molecule. Steady-state kinetic analysis of multiple point mutants of the lipid-binding pocket pinpoints critical residues involved in substrate binding, and characterization of N-terminal helix truncation mutants uncovers the role of this substructure as a hydrophobic membrane anchor. These studies make critical contributions to the limited knowledge surrounding membrane-bound enzymes that act upon lipid substrates and provide a structural template for designing small molecule inhibitors targeting this essential kinase.
Women's Health, Poverty and Globalization

Wendy Harcourt maps out some concerns about the impact of globalization on poor women's health. She argues that in a pro-poor health strategy it is crucial to understand the different realities of poor women and men's lives and the complex economic and social factors determining their health and well-being. She focuses on how women's reproductive rights and health groups have responded and propelled forward the potential globalization offers for greater participation of poor women in deciding their own health needs.
Cervical uncinate process: an anatomic study for anterior decompression of the cervical spine

Morphometric evaluation of 54 dry cervical spines from C3 to C7 (a total of 270 cervical vertebrae) was performed to determine the bony boundaries of the uncinate process for resection of the uncinate process for access to posterolateral osteophytes or herniated disks at the time of anterior cervical diskectomy. The uncinate processes were significantly higher (p < 0.01) at the C4 - C6 levels (5.8 ± 1.1 mm to 6.1 ± 1.3 mm) than at the C3 or C7 levels. The distance between the medial and lateral margins of the base of the uncinate process was significantly smaller (p < 0.01) at the C3 level (4.9 ± 0.7 mm) than at the C7 level (6.3 ± 0.7 mm). The anteroposterior diameter of the medial margin of the uncinate process decreased gradually from the C5 (12.5 ± 1.5 mm) to C7 levels (11.6 ± 1.3 mm) (p < 0.05). The inter-uncinate distance widened from the C3 (19.2 ± 1.5 mm) to the C7 (24.6 ± 2.1 mm) levels (p < 0.01). The mid-anteroposterior diameter of vertebral body increased gradually from the C3 (14.7 ± 1.1 mm) to the C7 levels (16.1 ± 1.5 mm) (p < 0.01). The width of the vertebra increased gradually from C3 to C7 (from 19.2 ± 1.8 mm at C3 to 25.6 ± 2.0 mm at C7) (p < 0.01). Knowledge of all the aforementioned data may be helpful during anterolateral cervical uncosectomy or uncoforaminotomy.
The phenotype of spontaneous preterm birth: application of a clinical phenotyping tool

Objective Spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) is a complex condition that is likely a final common pathway with multiple possible causes. We hypothesized that a comprehensive classification system appropriately could group women with similar STPB causes and could provide an explanation, at least in part, for the disparities in SPTB that are associated with race and gestational age at delivery. Study Design This was a planned analysis of a multicenter, prospective study of singleton SPTBs. Women with SPTB at t test and χ 2 test, as appropriate. Results The phenotyping tool was applied to 1025 women with SPTBs who delivered at a mean 30.0 ± 3.2 (SD) weeks' gestation. Of these, 800 women (78%) had ≥2 phenotypes. Only 43 women (4.2%) had no phenotypes. The 281 women with early SPTBs were more likely to have infection/inflammation, decidual hemorrhage, and cervical insufficiency phenotypes (all P ≤ .001). African American women had more maternal stress and cervical insufficiency but less decidual hemorrhage and placental dysfunction compared with white women (all P Conclusion Precise SPTB phenotyping classifies women with SPTBs and identifies specific differences between very early and early SPTB and between African American and white women.
Dimension and entropy computations for L(Fr)

We show that certain finite generating sets of Dykema and Radulescu for L(Fr), the interpolated free group factor, have nondegenerate free Hausdorff r-entropy. It will follow from the computations that the free entropy dimension and free Hausdorff dimension of these sets is r.
Neural networks using a logistics sigmoid function: linear classifier bounds and global nonattainability ∗

Simple examples clearly demonstrate that highly consistent data lead to solution nonattainability, in neural networks utilizing a logistics sigmoid function. Solution attainability requires a high degree of inconsistency. Bounds are obtained on the optimal value of the mean-square error of a one-layer neural network, in terms of the minimum number of misclassifications obtained from three linear classification problems, and conditions are given that imply solution attainability and nonattainability
Confirmatory studies in the prenatal diagnosis of sphingolipidoses.

Extract: Chemical and biochemical variables of the sphingolipids were examined in fetal liver, kidney, and brain using saline-aborted (SA) and hysterotomy-aborted (HA) tissues. Brain sphingolipid hexose (BSH) and ganglioside N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NANA) content were similar in each group (BSH/SA, 4.1–5.0 mg/g dry wt and HA, 3.0–6.7 mg/g dry wt; NANA/SA, 1.1–3.3 mg/g dry wt and HA, 1.3–3.1 mg/g dry wt). The distribution of the major gangliosides was also comparable in each group. Sulfatide levels were lower in the hysterotomy group (0.2–0.4 mg/g dry wt) than in the saline group (0.5–0.9 mg/g dry wt), perhaps reflecting the earlier gestational age of this group. Activities of arylsulfatase A (ARA), β-galactosidase, and hexosaminidase A from each tissue were similar, respectively, in saline-and hysterotomy-aborted fetuses. The ARA activity (liver, 23–67; kidney, 13–21; and brain, 1–42 nmol cleaved/mg protein/hr) was about 10–20% of postnatal levels. Utilizing these control values, amniocentesis-derived diagnoses were confirmed in two fetuses with Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) and in another with Gm1 gangliosidosis type I. The disease-specific ganglioside (Gm2 in TSD and Gm1 in Gm1-gangliosidosis) was significantly elevated in brain from each case (TSD, 5–6 times control values and Gm1-gangliodosis, approximately twice control values). In liver and kidney from the affected fetuses the disease-related enzyme activity of hexosaminidase A in TSD and β-galactosidase in Gm1-ganglactosidase) was less than 10% of control values. In liver, kidney, and brain extracts, cellulose-acetate gel electro-phoresis of the disease-specific enzyme revealed no bands of enzyme activity for hexosaminidase A in Tay-Sachs disease or for the relevant, β-galactosidase isoenzymes in Gm1-gangliosidosis.
CAPSL interface for the NRL Protocol Analyzer

The Common Authentication Protocol Specification Language (CAPSL) is a high-level language for applying formal methods to the security analysis of cryptographic protocols. Its goal is to permit a protocol to be specified once in a form that is usable as an interface to any type of analysis tool or technique, given appropriate translation software. This paper describes the first operational CAPSL translator to the language used by the NRL Protocol Analyzer (NPA), a software tool developed specifically for the analysis of cryptographic protocols.
Favorable infertility outcomes following anti-tubercular treatment prescribed on the sole basis of a positive polymerase chain reaction test for endometrial tuberculosis

background: The endometrial tuberculosis (TB) PCR test is now commonly employed for the diagnosis of female genital TB, a common cause of infertility in India. Although treatment in the absence of demonstrable tubal damage may be of doubtful benefit to fertility, the presence of mycobacterial DNA demonstrated by a positive PCR indicates infection by tubercle bacilli causing sub-clinical or latent disease potentially responsible for future clinical manifestations. This study was undertaken to assess the outcome of infertility management following early anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) based only on a positive endometrial TB-PCR test. methods: This was an intervention study conducted at an IVF center in northern India in 443 infertile women of whom 169 (38.15%) were found to have positive TB-PCR (Group I), while 274 (61.85%) had negative Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-PCR (Group II). Infertile women of ,40 years of age, without any evidence of tubo-peritoneal or endometrial involvement, who underwent endometrial biopsy for the detection of MTB by PCR, were included. All the TB-PCR positive women were administered standard 6-month anti-tubercular chemotherapy. Additional treatment with assisted reproduction techniques was offered in the case of failure of spontaneous pregnancy after completion of ATT. results: There were no statistical differences in the two groups in the overall pregnancy rate, 101 (59.8%) versus 167 (60.9%). In Group I, 48 (92.3%) spontaneous conceptions occurred within the first 12 months, i.e. during the period of ATT administration or within 6 months of treatment completion; in Group II, the occurrence of spontaneous conceptions was distributed more evenly in relation to time, i.e. 36 (53.7%) in ,12 months as compared with 31 (46.3%) after first year (P , 0.001). conclusion: Infertile women without tubal or endometrial damage given early anti-tuberculosis treatment based on a positive endometrial TB-PCR test had an excellent chance of early spontaneous conception.
The metabolic effects of biosynthetic human proinsulin in individuals with type I diabetes.

To assess the significance of deficiency of circulating proinsulin in patients with type I diabetes mellitus, we studied the metabolic effects of biosynthetic human proinsulin in 24 patients.After withdrawing insulin, an infusion of proinsulin to physiological plasma levels did not prevent elevations of plasma glucose or β-hydroxybutyrate. During steady state infusions of insulin and proinsulin, 13.7 times the steady state plasma level of proinsulin compared to insulin was required to maintain euglycemia. This finding indicates that proinsulin is approximately 7.3% as biologically active as insulin on a molar basis in maintaining glucose control. The MCRs of insulin and proinsulin during these steady state infusions were 12.5 ± 2.2 (±SEM) and 2.62 ± 0.33 ml/kg-min, respectively. After maintaining euglycemia overnightwith an infusion of insulin or proinsulin and then acutely stopping these infusions, the rise in plasma glucose after proinsulin was delayed significantly compared to insulin, consistent with ...
Prospective Study of Particulate Air Pollution Exposures, Subclinical Atherosclerosis, and Clinical Cardiovascular Disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air)

The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air) was initiated in 2004 to investigate the relation between individual-level estimates of long-term air pollution exposure and the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). MESA Air builds on a multicenter, community-based US study of CVD, supplementing that study with additional participants, outcome measurements, and state-of-the-art air pollution exposure assessments of fine particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, and black carbon. More than 7,000 participants aged 45-84 years are being followed for over 10 years for the identification and characterization of CVD events, including acute myocardial infarction and other coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and congestive heart failure; cardiac procedures; and mortality. Subcohorts undergo baseline and follow-up measurements of coronary artery calcium using computed tomography and carotid artery intima-medial wall thickness using ultrasonography. This cohort provides vast exposure heterogeneity in ranges currently experienced and permitted in most developed nations, and the air monitoring and modeling methods employed will provide individual estimates of exposure that incorporate residence-specific infiltration characteristics and participant-specific time-activity patterns. The overarching study aim is to understand and reduce uncertainty in health effect estimation regarding long-term exposure to air pollution and CVD.
Measurements of effective pulmonary blood flow in the normal newborn human infant.

Effective pulmonary blood flow was measured in 32 normal infants by an indicator gas technique. To check the accuracy of this technique in the absence of shunts, we obtained 39 pairs of measurements of pulmonary blood flow in anesthetized rabbits by the gas technique and dye dilution. The results showed a high degree of correlation between the two methods of measurement (r = 0.986). Effective pulmonary blood flow was 1.1% less than total pulmonary flow (p Measurements of effective pulmonary blood flow in normal newborn infants increased with age. Before 24 hours of age, mean effective pulmonary flow averaged 138 ml/min/kg or less and gradually rose to a mean value of 166 ml/min/kg (±25.6 SE) at a mean age of 81 hours. It is possible that our measurements of effective pulmonary blood flow before 24 hours of age were falsely low because of the presence of clinically undetectable left-to-right shunts.