cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fish, Mercury, Selenium and Cardiovascular Risk: Current Evidence and Unanswered Questions

Controversy has arisen among the public and in the media regarding the health effects of fish intake in adults. Substantial evidence indicates that fish consumption reduces coronary heart disease mortality, the leading cause of death in developed and most developing nations. Conversely, concerns have grown regarding potential effects of exposure to mercury found in some fish. Seafood species are also rich in selenium, an essential trace element that may protect against both cardiovascular disease and toxic effects of mercury. Such protective effects would have direct implications for recommendations regarding optimal selenium intake and for assessing the potential impact of mercury exposure from fish intake in different populations. Because fish consumption appears to have important health benefits in adults, elucidating the relationships between fish intake, mercury and selenium exposure, and health risk is of considerable scientific and public health relevance. The evidence for health effects of fish consumption in adults is reviewed, focusing on the strength and consistency of evidence and relative magnitudes of effects of omega-3 fatty acids, mercury, and selenium. Given the preponderance of evidence, the focus is on cardiovascular effects, but other potential health effects, as well as potential effects of polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins in fish, are also briefly reviewed. The relevant current unanswered questions and directions of further research are summarized.
A two-network thermomechanical model and parametric study of the response of shape memory polymers

Abstract In this work, we develop a three-dimensional continuum two-network model for the thermoelastic response of a shape memory polymer and study the influence of the material parameters on the response characteristics of the model. Rather than an integral type viscoelastic model, the approach here is based on the idea of two inter-penetrating networks, one which is permanent and the other which is transient together with rate equations for the time evolution of the transient network. We find that the activation stress for network breakage and formation of the material controls the gross features of the response of the model, and exhibits a “thermal Bauschinger effect”. A systematic parameter optimization method with different weights given to different features of the response is used to match the material parameters with experimental data. A parametric study is carried out, that varies each of the model material parameters, and observes their effect on design-relevant response characteristics of the model undergoing a thermomechanical cycle. We develop “response charts” for the response characteristics: shape fixity, shape recovery and maximum stress rise during cooling, to give the designer an idea of how the simultaneous variation of two of the most influential material parameters changes a specific response parameter. This study shows that based on this model, among all the material parameters i.e. the glassy and rubbery modulus, thermal expansion and viscosity, as well as the coefficients of the heating and cooling activation stress function, the primary variables that have considerable effect on the response of the material are the rubbery modulus and certain coefficients of the hysteretic activation stress functions. Finally we show validation results for two different shape memory phenomena: unconstrained shape recovery and constrained stress recovery.
ADRENOCORTICAL STEROID METABOLISM IN NEWBORN INFANTS. I. URINARY EXCRETION OF FREE AND CONJUGATED 17-HYDROXYCORTICOSTEROIDS IN NORMAL FULL-TERM INFANTS

ABSTRACT The urinary Porter-Silber chromogens of 27 normal full-term newborn infants were studied after extraction with methylene dichloride before and after hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase. The values for total steroid were generally lower than would be predicted on the basis of small body size alone. The free steroid fraction accounted for a higher percentage of the total steroids than is commonly found in adult man. Unlike the urinary pattern in the adult, unmetabolized cortisol was not the major steroid component of the free fraction. Excretion values showed a trend toward increasing with each day of life. This trend was most evident for the steroids released during incubation with betaglucuronidase. Because of the great variability in steroid excretion and the small size of the sample, no determination of limits for the range of urinary 17- hydroxycorticosteroid excretion nor interpretation of the state of adrenal function in the normal infants studied seemed justified.
Systematic Composition and Analyzability of Dependable Networked Embedded Computing Systems

Techniques for fault detection, reconfiguration, and computation recovery in distributed computing systems have been slowly refined over at least two decades. Both the types and the fault rates of replaceable modules have continuously changed. For example, the logical complexity of the replaceable modules has steadily grown while their physical sizes may have remained unchanged or shrunken. Interests of industry have shifted accordingly. In the work-group server and data server field, basic techniques for maintenance of data integrity were established long time ago and have been slowly refined. Also, use of RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks) controllers has increased and down-times of network switches and routers have been greatly reduced over the past decade. In real-time (RT) computing (RTC) applications, the requirements on fault tolerance have been significantly more severe than those in non-RT data processing environments. Demands for abilities for analysis and validation of the impacts of fault tolerance mechanisms on systems, i.e., overhead during fault-free operation, fault detection latency, and worst-case increases in system response time, have always been there but the technology has been slowly advancing and remains far from the mature state. This is mainly because the technology for designing basic, non-fault-tolerant, RTC application systems yielding analyzable and yet tight response time bounds has not matured yet. Therefore, even though the fault-tolerant computing (FTC) approaches which will not aggravate the response time bound analyzability to any significant extent have been formulated, opportunities for inserting them during RTC application system design have been rare.
Observation of Unintentionally Incorporated Nitrogen-Related Complexes in ZnO and GaN Nanowires

We report the observation of unintentionally incorporated nitrogen-related complexes in ZnO and GaN nanowires grown by the catalytic vapor-phase transport method. In particular, our experimental findings from Raman scattering spectroscopy and mass-selected time-of-flight particle emission measurements suggest the presence of interstitial nitrogen molecules that are formed during the nanowire growth. These results may be relevant for many nanowire systems, emphasizing the necessity of more studies on unintentional impurity incorporations in these nanomaterials.
Non-Linear Brownian Movement of a Generalized Rayleigh Model. II. Extension of the Model to Include `Sticky' Collisions

This paper is a sequel to an earlier one by Alkemade, van Kampen & MacDonald (1963) analyzing the statistical behaviour of a non-linear generalized Rayleigh piston model. In the previous paper, the collisions of the piston with surrounding gas molecules were ideally classical and instantaneous. Under these circumstances the piston may always be said to be loosely coupled to its environment. In the present paper another type of collision is introduced which provides a degree of strong coupling between piston and environment, but which still permits us to analyze the behaviour starting from a master equation and using a Markovian standpoint. The expansion of the master equation and the analysis for both models are carried to one higher order of non-linearity than was done in the previous paper; in particular this enables us to discuss the calculation of the auto-correlation function (and thence the power spectrum) beyond the purely linear approximation. More generally, interesting differences between the behaviour of the two models appear as soon as we proceed beyond the linear approximation. This \`sticky collision', or \`sticky piston', model may also be of some value as a model for a liquid.
Advocate, Hack or Flack: Ethics Questioned for an Environmental Journalist/Blogger and a Coal Public Relations Exec

The Journal of Mass Media Ethics publishes case studies in which scholars and media professionals outline how they would address a particular ethical problem. Cases are drawn from actual experience...
Optic nerve sheath fenestration with a novel wavelength produced by the free electron laser (FEL).

Background and Objective To determine whether 6.45-μm free electron laser (FEL) energy can successfully perform optic nerve sheath fenestration and to compare the acute and chronic cellular responses with this surgery. Study Design/Materials and Methods Optic nerve sheath fenestration was performed in rabbits by using either FEL energy (< 2.5 mJ, 10 Hz, 325-μm spot size) or a knife. The optic nerve integrity and glial response were evaluated histologically acutely or 1 month postoperatively. Results The FEL at low energy effectively cut the optic nerve sheaths with minimal reaction in the underlying nerve. With FEL or knife surgical techniques, a mild astrocytic hypertrophy only adjacent to the fenestration was observed acutely in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) -immunoreacted sections. The chronic healing responses after either technique appeared similar with: (1) a thin fibrous scar at the fenestration site, (2) cells uniformly distributed (hematoxylin and eosin), and (3) up-regulation of GFAP and S100β in astrocytes adjacent to the fenestration site. Conclusion The FEL at low energy performs an optic nerve sheath fenestration in a small space with ease. Both FEL and knife incisions cause a similar rapid glial response near the fenestration site that remains 1 month later. Lasers Surg. Med. 27:191–205, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
HO'OPONOPONO: A CROSS CULTURAL MODEL FOR ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE

Is organization development (OD) culture‐bound to American and Western applied behavioral science or exportable? There is evidence that one concept and set of techniques (called ho'oponopono), which were developed in ancient Hawaii but are still practiced today, have close parallels to OD techniques in conflict management used by pace‐setting American corporations. Ho'oponopono is apparently culturally transferable. Thus OD has been uniquely addressed in a culture far removed from urban‐industrial America and is, with minor adaptations, applicable to contemporary corporations. Perhaps OD‐and certainly at least the ho'oponopono methodology for conflict management—can be made culturally fungible. The paper concludes with an explanation of how this transferability can be made in ho'oponopono.
Double loop locking suture: A technique of tendon repair for early active mobilization Part II: Clinical experience

Tendons repaired by double loop locking sutures show sufficient strength to allow early active mobilization under protective splint. Clinical experience with 51 tendons repaired by this technique resulted in satisfactory functional recovery. Eleven flexors in zone II showed excellent results in 10 and good results in 1 by the Strickland formula. Early active mobilization of repaired tendons with double loop locking sutures seems to enhance their healing by the intrinsic mechanism and reduce extrinsic adhesion formation and stiff joints.
Messy Data, Ordered Questions

ABSTRACT A lively debate was witnessed in 2011 about the role of deductive and interpretive approaches in the production of anthropological knowledge, especially as it relates to archaeology. Scholarly output in archaeology this year reflects this concern. First, there is a trend toward furthering our archaeological imagination—finding new ways of asking questions that link the most empirical of research projects with innovative social theory. Second, there is an embracement of the messiness of archaeological data and the conclusions we can reach from it. By looking at the messiness of archaeological data and the limits of knowledge, archaeology asserts itself as an open frontier for anthropological inquiry. [anthropological archaeology, historical archaeology, environment, identity, power]
Retroperitoneal actinomycosis with intraperitoneal spread stellate pattern on CT

We report a case of pathologically proved actinomycosis that presented unusual computed tomographic (CT) features: a soft-tissue retroperitoneal mass encasing the adjacent ureter resulting in hydronephrosis and spreading into the intraperitoneal space with a stellate pattern. The role of CT in monitoring the response to antibiotic treatment is also discussed.
Equal-opportunity treatment of EBV-PTLD.

In 1994, investigators at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center described the first successful use of donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) to treat Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) after transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) after hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). 1 In this issue of Blood , the group updates their experience in treating PTLD from 1991 to 2009, using DLI, donor-specific, and third-party EBV-specific cytotoxic T cell lines (CTLs). 2
Effects of Si and Ti on the phase stability and swelling behavior of AISI 316 stainless steel

Abstract The swelling behavior of neutron irradiated stainless steels is strongly influenced by solute segregation and precipitation phenomena. The extent to which in-reactor swelling behavior may be simulated by heavy ion irradiation depends upon the extent to which in-reactor phase changes are reproduced; this question is addressed by comparing the precipitation behavior under neutron irradiation with behavior during 4 MeV Ni ion irradiation for AISI 316 stainless steel and a related stainless steel containing additions of titanium and silicon. The results are discussed qualitatively in terms of the effects of damage rate on solute segregation and the effects of displacement cascades on the dissolution of particles. It is shown that the partitioning of elements into various phases during irradiation is not a sufficient condition for the initiation of swelling in stainless steels modified with silicon and titanium. It is also necessary for helium to be generated simultaneously with the breakdown of the matrix into various phases; it is believed that helium trapping at the growing particle-matrix interface is responsible for the observed physical association between voids and precipitates.
Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy: A Review of Biochemical and Microfluidic Applications

Over the years fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has proven to be a useful technique that has been utilized in several fields of study. Although FCS initially suffered from poor signal-to-noise ratios, the incorporation of confocal microscopy has overcome this drawback and transformed FCS into a sensitive technique with high figures of merit. In addition, tandem methods have evolved to include dual-color cross-correlation, total internal reflection fluorescence correlation, and fluorescence lifetime correlation spectroscopy combined with time-correlated single-photon counting. In this review, we discuss several applications of FSC for biochemical, microfluidic, and cellular investigations.
Application of tridiagonalization to the many-body problem

The problem of a single magnetic, Wolff-model impurity in an otherwise ideal metallic host is investigated using the nonperturbative Lanczos method. Convergence is very rapid. The many-body ground-state energy is investigated and comparisons are made with Tomonaga operator theory and other weak-coupling schemes. We believe that this is the first application of tridiagonalization to the many-body problem.
Fed‐batch cultivation of animal cells using different medium design concepts and feeding strategies

In animal cell cultivation, cell density and product concentration are often low due to the accumulation of toxic end-products such as ammonia and lactate and/or the depletion of essential nutrients. A hybridoma cell line (CRL-1606) was cultivated in T-flasks using a newly devised medium feeding strategy. The goals were to decrease ammonia and lactate formation by the design of an initial medium which would provide a starting environment to achieve optimal cell growth. This was followed by using a stoichiometric equation governing animal cell growth and then designing a supplemental medium for feeding strategy used to control the nutritional environment. The relationship between the stoichiometric demands for glutamine and nonessential amino acids was also studied. Through stoichiometric feeding, nutrient concentrations were controlled reasonably well. Consequently, the specific production rate of lactate was decreased by fourfold compared with conventional fed-batch culture and by 26-fold compared with conventional batch culture. The specific production rate of ammonia was decreased by tenfold compared with conventional fed-batch culture and by 50-fold compared with conventional batch culture. Most importantly, total cell density and monoclonal antibody concentration were increased by five- and tenfold respectively, compared with conventional batch culture. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Analysis of metastable operation in D latches

Clocked D-latches commonly form the core of more complex circuits used for synchronization. To account for the unusual output voltage waveforms these components exhibit while in a metastable state, the conventional propagation delay time definition is modified. The critical input timing for which metastable operation occurs is defined, and the mean time between failures (MTBF) of the latch due to metastable operation is derived as a function of this critical input timing. Estimation of the critical input timing is based on a detailed analysis of the initialization and resolving phases of metastable operation in an nMOS D latch. >
Convex Optimizations for Distance Metric Learning and Pattern Classification [Applications Corner]

The goal of machine learning is to build automated systems that can classify and recognize complex patterns in data. The representation of the data plays an important role in determining what types of patterns can be automatically discovered. Many algorithms for machine learning assume that the data are represented as elements in a metric space. The performance of these algorithms can depend sensitively on the manner in which distances are measured. When data are represented as points in a multidimensional vector space, simple Euclidean distances are often used to measure the dissimilarity between different examples. However, such distances often do not yield reliable judgments; in addition, they cannot highlight the distinctive features that play a role in certain types of classification, but not others. Naturally, for different types of clustering, different ways of measuring dissimilarity were needed. In particular, different metrics for computing distances between feature vectors. This paper describes two algorithms for learning such distance metrics based on recent developments in convex optimization.
Transition metal-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of water-soluble dendritic molecular nanocarriers.

Here, we report the first example of transition metal-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of water-soluble dendritic molecular nanocarriers behaving like unimolecular micelles. Using the palladium-α-diimine chain walking catalyst, copolymerization of ethylene and comonomer 3 afforded, in one step, amphiphilic copolymer 1 having a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic shell. A much larger amphiphilic core−shell copolymer 2 was synthesized by a two-step approach: a copolymer having many free hydroxyl groups was first prepared, which was subsequently coupled to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to afford the copolymer 2. Light-scattering, fluorescence, and UV/vis spectroscopic studies with Nile Red in aqueous solution showed unimolecular micellar properties for both copolymers 1 and 2. The dye encapsulation capacity for the core−shell copolymers is nearly proportional to the molecular weight of the hydrophobic core. The unimolecular micellar properties coupled with the good water solubility and biocompatibility of the PEG m...
Rivulet Formation in Surface-Water Flow on an Airfoil in Rain

The location of the onset of rivulet formation in the surface-water flow over a wing with a NACA 4412 airfoil in rainfall rates of 50-160 mm/h is calculated and compared with wind-tunnel experiments. A model is presented in which rivulets form when the surface-tension shear stress between the liquid and the airfoil surface equals the interface shear stress caused by aerodynamic forces on the liquid due to air motion. Surface-tension shear stresses are ohtained from measurements of surface tension and contact angle at the solid-water interface. Aerodynamic shear stresses are calculated by solution of Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations
High prevalence of porcine circovirus viremia in newborn piglets in five clinically normal swine breeding herds in North America

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) can be vertically transmitted resulting in fetal infection with or without clinical signs and lesions. The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of intrauterine PCV2 infection in clinically normal newborn piglets in conventional pork production facilities. Five commercial breeding herds located in the U.S. and Mexico were included in the study. A total of 125 sows and 3-5 neonatal piglets per sow were arbitrarily selected. Blood and colostrum samples were collected from sows. Blood was collected from piglets prior to suckling. All samples were analyzed for the presence of anti-PCV2 IgG antibodies and presence and amount of PCV2 DNA. In addition, PCV2 DNA positive samples were further subtyped into PCV2a and PCV2b. All (125/125) sow colostrum samples and 96.8% (121/125) of the sow serum samples and 21.4% (107/499) of the piglet pre-suckle serum samples were positive for anti-PCV2 IgG antibody. The overall PCV2 DNA prevalence was 47.2% (59/125) in sow serum, 40.8% (51/125) in sow colostrum, and 39.9% (199/499) in pre-suckle piglet serum. In the PCV2 DNA positive samples, PCV2b was detected at a higher frequency (69.5% for sow serum, 84.3% for sow colostrum, and 74.4% for piglet serum) compared to PCV2a (18.6% for sow serum, 9.8% for sow colostrum, and 15.6% for piglet serum). Concurrent PCV2a and PCV2b infection was detected in 11.9% of the sow serum, in 5.9% of the colostrum samples, and in 10.0% of the piglet serum samples. In conclusion, an unexpectedly high prevalence of PCV2 viremia was detected in healthy sows (serum and colostrum) and their pre-suckle piglets in the five breeding herds investigated and PCV2b was more prevalent than PCV2a. This information adds to the knowledge of PCV2 infection in breeding herds.
Left leg paralysis in a renal transplant patient

The postoperative course of renal transplant patients is often complicated by opportunistic infection. Up to 4% of posttransplant infections are caused by Nocardia species. We present an unusual case of a nocardial spinal cord abscess that caused left leg paralysis.
Irreducible Divisors of Lambda-Matrices and Their Applications to Multivariable Control Systems,

A new similarity block transformation is derived to transform state equations of multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems in general coordinates to those of cascade or parallel block canonical forms so that irreducible divisors of the characteristic A-matrix can be determined. Using the obtained complete set of irreducible divisors of the A-matrix, an extended block partial fraction expansion of the matrix fraction description of a MIMO system is developed. Applications of the developed results to the model reduction and the suboptimal block controller design for high order systems are illustrated.
MyD88 Signaling in T Cells Directs IgA-Mediated Control of the Microbiota to Promote Health

Altered commensal communities are associated with human disease. IgA mediates intestinal homeostasis and regulates microbiota composition. Intestinal IgA is produced at high levels as a result of T follicular helper cell (TFH) and B cell interactions in germinal centers. However, the pathways directing host IgA responses toward the microbiota remain unknown. Here, we report that signaling through the innate adaptor MyD88 in gut T cells coordinates germinal center responses, including TFH and IgA+ B cell development. TFH development is deficient in germ-free mice and can be restored by feeding TLR2 agonists that activate T cell-intrinsic MyD88 signaling. Loss of this pathway diminishes high-affinity IgA targeting of the microbiota and fails to control the bacterial community, leading to worsened disease. Our findings identify that T cells converge innate and adaptive immune signals to coordinate IgA against the microbiota, constraining microbial community membership to promote symbiosis.
Carcinogen metabolism genes, red meat and poultry intake, and colorectal cancer risk

Diets high in red meat are established risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). Carcinogenic compounds generated during meat cooking have been implicated as causal agents. We conducted a family-based case-control study to investigate the association between polymorphisms in carcinogen metabolism genes (CYP1A2 -154A>C, CYP1B1 Leu432Val, CYP2E1 -1054C>T, GSTP1 Ile105Val, PTGS2 5UTR -765, EPHX1 Tyr113His, NAT2 Ile114Thr, NAT2 Arg197Gln and NAT2 Gly286Glu) and CRC risk. We tested for gene-environment interactions using case-only analyses (N = 577) and compared statistically significant results to those obtained using case-unaffected sibling comparisons (N = 307 sibships). Our results suggested that CYP1A2 -154A>C might modify the association between intake of red meat cooked using high temperature methods and well done on the inside and CRC risk (case-only interaction OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.19-1.97; p = 0.0008) and the association between intake of red meat heavily browned on the outside and rectal cancer risk (case-only interaction OR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.48-0.86; p = 0.003). We also found that GSTP1 Ile105Val might modify the association between intake of poultry cooked with high temperature methods and CRC risk (p = 0.0035), a finding that was stronger among rectal cancer cases. Our results support a role for heterocyclic amines that form in red meat as a potential explanation for the observed association between diets high in red meat and CRC. Our findings also suggest a possible role for diets high in poultry cooked at high temperatures in CRC risk.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Clinical Presentation and Neuropsychological Outcome

Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) following ruptured intracranial aneurysm affects 28,000 people each year in the United States. Despite advances in surgical treatment and a significant reduction in mortality over the past two decades, SAH remains a devastating disease. Although most survivors are free of physical handicap, a large percentage suffer from significant long-term cognitive and emotional disturbances. These may include deficits in memory, executive function, attention and concentration, psychomotor speed, language, anxiety, and depression. The severity of these deficits is attested to by the fact that over 50% of patients employed full time before SAH do not return to the same level of work. This article presents a review of the clinical presentation of SAH and the significant areas of neurological and cognitive dysfunction that occur after the hemorrhage.
The cell cycle—A cautionary note

Cell-cycle studies, largely conducted unsystematically in undefined conditions for growth in batch synchrony cultures, generally assume a fixed intrinsic pattern of behavior for the cell cycle that ignores the variable phenotypic activity of cells experienced in practice. However, cell-cycle studies conducted systematically in continuous cultures under defined growth conditions reveal a flexibility in cell performance. It is suggested that batch-synchrony studies should be conducted under several different growth conditions to establish the variability of their presently assumed fixed cell-cycle behaviors.
Photoluminescence of CdSe Nanoparticles in the Presence of a Hole Acceptor: n-Butylamine

Addition of butylamine to a solution of colloidal CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) caused a decrease in fluorescence intensity, with no effect on the picosecond bleach recovery of the exciton formation or on the luminescence dynamics. The relative fluorescence quantum yield was found to decrease with increasing butylamine concentration and to level off at high concentrations, but the fluorescence lifetimes were not influenced. The nonlinear concentration dependence of the fluorescence quantum yield did not follow the Stern−Volmer equation. This is in agreement with the observation that the CdSe luminescence lifetime was not affected by the addition of butylamine. A mechanism is proposed in which the emission observed in CdSe is assumed to result from the combination of surface-trapped electrons and holes. n-Butylamine occupies hole sites, thus blocking the recombination process, which results in decreasing the density of luminescent centers. These results will be discussed in terms of the nature of the binding si...
Design and characterization of an entrained flow reactor for the study of biomass pyrolysis chemistry at high heating rates

A laminar entrained flow reactor has been designed for studying the chemistry of fast biomass pyrolysis. This is the first of two papers on the reaction system. Peak heating rates in the reactor ar...
Abnormality of calcium channel inhibitor released from fetal membranes in preterm labor.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that an inhibitor of uterine contractions acting at the level of the dihydropyridine receptor of the uterine L -type uterine calcium channel is released in greater amounts from fetal membranes before term than at term. Study Design: Endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity was generated with standardized 25-cm 2 surface area fetal membrane samples from the following 4 categories of women: preterm in labor, preterm not in labor, term in labor, and term not in labor. The amount of inhibitor in each membrane category was quantified by means of a competitive binding assay. Inhibition of uterine contractions induced by Bay K 8644 (an L -type calcium channel agonist) was used as another test of endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity released from fetal membranes of all 4 groups of patients. Results: Endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity was most variable but present in the greatest amount in fetal membranes of women who were preterm not in labor followed by those in women at term not in labor and at term in labor. Fetal membranes from women in preterm labor had the least amount of measured endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity. Consistent with the competitive binding assay, endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity from fetal membranes from women who were preterm not in labor, at term not in labor, and at term in labor inhibited Bay K 8644–induced uterine contractions. Fetal membranes from women in preterm labor did not inhibit Bay K 8644–induced contractions. Endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity was present in the chorion, the decidua, and the placenta, with little activity in the amnion. Conclusion: The down-regulation of endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity with advancing gestation is consistent with a potential role for this inhibitor in maintaining uterine quiescence and in regulating the transition into labor. One possible cause of idiopathic preterm labor may be an abnormally low amount of endogenous calcium channel inhibitor activity in fetal membranes. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:356-62.)
Broiler Necks Flumed in Recycled Bird Chiller Water

Abstract Fecal coliform levels and salmonellae incidence on necks were the same whether they were flumed in potable or bird chiller water; total aerobic counts were slightly lower for necks flumed in potable water. The majority of necks had a shelf-life of 12—16 days when flumed with either potable or chiller water, and the effluents had about the same microbial quality. BOD and COD in reused bird chiller water was equal to the combined BOD and COD load of chiller water and potable water used for fluming.
Daily Life and Forms of “Communitas” in a Personal Care Home for Elders:

This study examined daily life in a personal care home using anthropological theories of liminality and communitas associated with rites of passage. Purposes of this article are to (1) describe dai...
Ultraviolet resonance Raman enhancement of the carboxylate and guanidinium groups in amino acids

Carboxylate and guanidinium groups of amino acids have been studied by ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy. On near-resonant excitation (192 nm) into the allowed π–π* transition of the carboxylate chromophore, the vibrational spectrum of aspartate displays only one band originating from the COO− symmetric stretching mode, consistent with an A-term enhancement mechanism. The UVRR spectra of the guanidinium ion reveals a complex vibrational pattern, and the bands have been assigned with the aid of a normal coordinate analysis. UV enhancement is observed for both asymmetric (E′) and totally symmetric (A1′) modes, and also for the overtone of the out-of-plane CN3 bending mode, Γ(A2″). The E′ enhancement is suggested to reflect Jahn—Teller splitting in the first allowed electronic transition A2″ E″, whereas the 2Γ(A2″) enhancement requires a lowering of the force constant for out-of-plane bending in the excited state, consistent with its expected tendency toward pyramidalization. Similar enhancement patterns are seen in the UVRR spectra of the guanidinium chromophore in methylguanidinium and arginine, which show, in addition, splittings and intensity redistribution due to the substituents. The excitation profiles of guanidinium and arginine reveal a complex structure that may arise from an excited-state Jahn—Teller effect. The Raman enhancements are too low to permit detection of guanidinium or carboxylate in the UVRR spectra of proteins, even at wavelengths as low as 192 nm.
The Anatomy of Emotions in Family Therapy with Adolescents

Emotions in adolescence can be consideredfrom a variety of viewpoints. Although it is not uncommon to address this topic within nonclinical and clinical populations, examination of emotions in adolescence from a treatment or intervention perspective is more unusual. This article discusses the emotions in adolescence literature from the vantage point of a particular, empirically-testedfamily-based intervention model, multidimensionalfamily therapy. Addressing the contemporary challenge to specify how research can influence practice, the article shows how research-based concepts guideformulation of therapeutic strategy, as well as a therapist's in-session behavior. Transcripts with commentaryfrom afamily therapy sessionfocus on a core emotion-relatedproblem with clinical and mtany nonclinical adolescents and their parents-chronic, stable, quick-to-escalate negative emotional exchanges between an adolescent and parent.
Effect of Trailing Edge Flow Injection on Fan Noise and Aerodynamic Performance

An experimental investigation using trailing edge blowing for reducing fan rotor/guide vane wake interaction noise was completed in the NASA Glenn 9- by 15-foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel. Data were acquired to measure noise, aerodynamic performance, and flow features for a 22" tip diameter fan representative of modern turbofan technology. The fan was designed to use trailing edge blowing to reduce the fan blade wake momentum deficit. The test objective was to quantify noise reductions, measure impacts on fan aerodynamic performance, and document the flow field using hot-film anemometry. Measurements concentrated on approach, cutback, and takeoff rotational speeds as those are the primary conditions of acoustic interest. Data are presented for a 2% (relative to overall fan flow) trailing edge injection rate and show a 2 dB reduction in Overall Sound Power Level (OAPWL) at all fan test speeds. The reduction in broadband noise is nearly constant and is approximately 1.5 dB up to 20 kHz at all fan speeds. Measurements of tone noise show significant variation, as evidenced by reductions of up to 6 dB in the 2 BPF tone at 6700 rpm.: and increases of nearly 2 dB for the 4 BPF tone at approach speed. Aerodynamic performance measurements show the fan with 2 % injection has an overall efficiency that is comparable to the baseline fan and operates, as intended, with nearly the same pressure ratio and mass flow parameters. Hot-film measurements obtained at the approach operating condition indicate that mean blade wake filling in the tip region was not as significant as expected. This suggests that additional acoustic benefits could be realized if the trailing edge blowing could be modified to provide better filling of the wake momentum deficit. Nevertheless, the hot-film measurements indicate that the trailing edge blowing provided significant reductions in blade wake turbulence. Overall, these results indicate that further work may be required to fully understand the proper implementation of injecting flow at/near the trailing edge as a wake filling strategy. However, data do support the notion that noise reductions can be realized not only for tones but perhaps more importantly, also for broadband. Furthermore, the technique can be implemented without adversely effecting overall fan aerodynamic performance.
Retail competition in electricity supply—Survey results in North Carolina

Residential retail competition in electricity supply was introduced in many countries and some US states as part of electricity industry deregulation. Following problems in the electricity market in California in 2000/2001 many US states, including North Carolina, suspended their deregulation agenda. Recent technological advances have made competition more viable, so we ask if NC should reconsider deregulation and retail competition. The welfare benefits will depend on consumers’ willingness to switch suppliers and the potential for value added innovations. In electricity and industries such as pay-tv and telecommunications consumers are ‘sticky’, remaining with their current supplier even though rivals offer savings. Moreover, some analysts question the likelihood of significant welfare improvements from retail competition. We survey residents in two NC counties focusing on: (i) households’ knowledge of and interest in retail competition, (ii) factors that would encourage them to switch suppliers and (iii) the required savings to encourage switching. About 50–65% of respondents would favor retail competition in NC. Demographic variables and experience switching in other industries affect opinions and the savings required to incent switching. We conclude the estimated rate reduction to encourage competitive switching will be hard to achieve in NC as long as rates remain below the national average.
Electrically small tunable split ring resonator antenna

Since its physical implementation in 1999 by Pendry et al. [1], metamaterials which demonstrate negative permittivity and permeability have been raised as an interesting research topic in the microwave society for their unique features. Split ring resonator (SRR) is one of the most popular structures which could introduce negative permeability. Usually, a SRR is composed of two homocentric metallic rings, where each of them has a slot on the ring. The SRR works as an L-C resonance network whose resonance frequency can be determined by [2]
Mid-IR supercontinuum generation in an integrated liquid-core optical fiber filled with CS 2

We report mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in an integrated liquid-core optical fiber filled with carbon disulfide and pumped by a compact mode-locked fiber laser at 1910nm.
Future Directions for the Integrated CSFII-NHANES: What We Eat in America–NHANES

The history of the integration of the dietary data collection from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) is reviewed. The purposes and process of the workshop are presented. The three key topics of the workshop are summarized. The key roles of cosponsors and participants are acknowledged.
Analysis of singular systems using orthogonal functions

The use of orthogonal functions to analyze singular systems is investigated. It is shown that the differential-algebraic system equation may be converted to an algebraic generalized Lyapunov equation that can be solved for the coefficients of x(t) in terms of the orthogonal basis functions. This generalized Lyapunov equation may be considered as a "discrete" equation on the slow subspace of the system, and as a "continuous" equation on its fast subspace. Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique solution are given in terms of the relative spectrum of the system. A generalized Bartels/Stewart algorithm based on the QZ algorithm is presented for its efficient solution. Relations are drawn with the invariant subspaces of the system.
Heuristics for profile-driven method-level speculative parallelization

Thread level speculation (TLS) is an effective technique for extracting parallelism from sequential code. Method calls provide good templates for the boundaries of speculative threads as they often describe independent tasks. However, selecting the most profitable methods to speculate on is difficult as it involves complicated trade-offs between speculation violations, thread overheads, and resource utilization. This paper presents a first analysis of heuristics for automatic selection of speculative threads across method boundaries using a dynamic or profile-driven compiler. We study the potential of three classes of heuristics that involve increasing amounts of profiling information and runtime complexity. Several of the heuristics allow for speculation to start at internal method points, nested speculation, and speculative thread preemption. Using a set of Java benchmarks, we demonstrate that careful thread selection at method boundaries leads to speedups of 1.4 to 1.8 on practical TLS hardware. Single-pass heuristics that filter out less profitable methods using simple speedup estimates lead to the best average performance by consistently providing a good balance between over- and under-speculation. On the other hand, multi-pass heuristics that perform additional filtering by taking into account interactions between nested method calls often lead to significant under-speculation and perform poorly.
A Manifesto on Mobile Computing in Geographic Education

Abstract Mobile, location-aware computing technology is widely available. In this article we sketch out a manifesto on mobile computing in geographic education (MoGeo) for consideration and debate within the geographic community. At the core of our argument is the idea that emerging mobile computing technologies will allow teachers to bring the classroom and pedagogic materials into the field, and that the resulting in situ educational experience will enhance learning by contextualizing the complex and abstract concepts that we teach. We provide a set of key principles that can guide the development of field experiences for students using these new technologies.
A monolithic 2.3-Gb/s 100-mW clock and data recovery circuit in silicon bipolar technology

A monolithic clock and data recovery PLL circuit is implemented in a digital silicon bipolar technology without modification. The only external component used is the loop filter capacitor. A self-aligned data recovery architecture combined with a novel phase-detector design eliminates the need for nonlinear processing and phase shifter stages. This enables a simpler design with low power and reduced dependence on the bit rate. At 2.3 Gb/s, the test chip consumes 100 mW from a -3.6-V supply, excluding the input and output buffers. The worst-case rms jitter of the recovered clock is less than 14 ps with 2/sup 23/-1 pseudorandom bit sequence. >
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate reduces infarct volume after reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

We tested the hypothesis that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, when administered 10 minutes before the end of 2 hours of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion, reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury and infarct volume measured after a 3-day survival period in rats.After 1 hour and 50 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion by the intraluminal suture method, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, 500 mg/kg in group 1 and 350 mg/kg in group 2 (or an equivalent volume of 1.8% saline as placebo in each group), was given intravenously for a period of 15 minutes to fasted adult Sprague-Dawley rats. After 2 hours of ischemia, the suture was withdrawn and the rats allowed to survive for 3 days. The areas of infarction in 10 hematoxylin-eosin-stained coronal sections of the brain were measured and used to calculate infarct volume.In group 1, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate decreased total cerebral hemispheric infarct volume by 43% (from 199.6 +/- 11.2 to 114.2 +/- 35.8 mm3, P < .04; mean +/- SEM). Cerebral cortical and subcortical...
The Outsourcing of House Cleaning and Low Skill Immigrant Workers

This paper explains why the outsourcing of domestic household tasks is more prevalent in some OECD countries than in others by examining the effects of country-level labor market characteristics. This paper uses micro-level data from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP), “Family and Gender Roles III” (2002 module) to carry out a two-level analysis on a sample of 22 countries. The paper examines the effects of both individual- and national level factors that might affect a couple’s decision to outsource house cleaning to someone outside of the family. The paper finds that, in addition to individual level variables such as education and household income, the percentage of low skill immigrants in the country affects the likelihood of outsourcing house cleaning.
A Randomized Study of 2 Dose Levels of Intravenous Clofarabine in the Treatment of Patients With Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Clofarabine is a nucleoside analog with activity in myeloid malignancies. Experience in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is limited. METHODS: The goal of this study was to evaluate the activity and safety of 2 different doses (15 mg/m2 vs 30 mg/m2 daily × 5 days) of intravenous clofarabine in patients with higher-risk MDS. Fifty-eight patients with a median age of 68 years (range, 25-89) including 15 patients (28%) with secondary MDS and 35 patients (60%) who received prior DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors were adaptively randomized between the 2 dose cohorts. RESULTS: The overall response rate (ORR; based on a modification of International Working Group criteria) was 36% including 26% with complete remission (CR) (ORR, 41% at 15 mg/m2 and 29% at 30 mg/m2). Responses were lower in patients who failed DNMT inhibitors (ORR, 17%; CR rate, 14%). The 8-week mortality rate was 19%. Median survival was 7.4 months for all patients, 13.4 months for responders, and 21.7 months for complete responders. Some adverse events, particularly hepatic and renal, were more severe (grade >2) in patients randomized to 30 mg/m2 of clofarabine. Myelosuppression and infectious complications were frequent. CONCLUSIONS: Both the lower and higher doses of clofarabine have comparable clinical activity, but the lower dose appeared less toxic. If these results are confirmed, lower doses of clofarabine, possibly in alternative schedules, should be pursued. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.