cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knee, Thigh, and Hip Injury Biomechanics

This chapter summarizes research on the injury mechanisms, tolerances, and responses of the whole knee-thigh-hip (KTH) complex and its components to dynamic loading. The focus is on KTH injury to seated adult vehicle occupants and pedestrians involved in road traffic crashes. Injuries from falls, sports, and other activities are not specifically discussed, although much of the injury biomechanical research described is relevant to these activities.
12.16 The Faunal Influence: Geomorphic Form and Process

Zoogeomorphology is the study of the geomorphic effects of animals, ranging from small invertebrates to large vertebrates such as elephants and bison. It was not until the late twentieth century that geomorphologists began examining the geomorphological activities of, and resultant landform features created by, animals. Animals engage in a variety of geomorphic activities including trampling, loading, digging/foraging for food, geophagy, lithophagy, nest building, burrowing, mound building, and damming of streams by beaver. These activities have both direct and indirect geomorphic impacts, as well as impacts on vegetation density, species richness, and distribution that, in turn, also have geomorphic influences. Feral animals and introduced species impact landscapes in much the same way as do free-ranging, native populations. We suggest that the zoogeomorphological effects of animals may be fruitfully examined at ecotones, where animal actions seem particularly notable and measurable.
Semantic structures for one-stage and iterated belief revision

Semantic structures for belief revision and iterated belief revision are proposed. We start with one-stage revision structures that generalize the notion of choice function from rational choice theory. A correspondence between these one-stage structures and AGM belief revision functions is established. We then add branching time and consider more general structures that accommodate iterated revision. AGM temporal belief revision structures are defined and a syntactic axiomatization is provided.
Phonotraumatic Injury in Fitness Instructors: Risk Factors, Diagnoses, and Treatment Methods.

Abstract Summary Fitness instructors are at risk for phonotraumatic injury caused by a combination of occupation-driven environmental and physiologic factors. Objectives This study analyzes phonotraumatic injury in a cohort of fitness instructors to define the spectrum of disease, inform treatment, and make educational recommendations. Study design Retrospective chart review. Methods Fitness instructors seen over a 2-year period comprised the study population. Stroboscopic findings, recommended treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes, including postoperative recurrence (when applicable) were analyzed. Demographic information (gender, age), past medical history, VHI-10 scores, and concurrent relevant vocal demands (performer vs. non-performer) were reviewed. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses with Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to determine statistical significance of various factors in relation to phonotraumatic injury and response to treatment. Cochran-Armitage trend tests were performed to analyze trends in injuries across fitness types in relation to increased vocal demand. Occupational concerns reported by subjects were analyzed descriptively. Results The subject cohort consisted of 24 fitness instructors (20F; 4M) who taught a variety of fitness methods. Thirteen subjects (54.2%) were diagnosed with pseudocysts (five unilateral, eight bilateral), five (20.8%) with bilateral midfold masses, five (20.8%) with polyps (four unilateral, one bilateral), and one (4.2%) with cyst. Fourteen subjects (58.3%) were prescribed medication (oral steroids, reflux medication, and/or allergy medication). All were referred for behavioral management. Ten (41.7%) chose surgical intervention after failure to return to satisfactory function with behavioral management; Four (40%) experienced postoperative lesion recurrence. There were no statistically significant findings in relation to demographic information, past medical history, concurrent relevant vocal demands, or occupational vocal demands with choice for surgery. Trend test analysis found that lesions that are typically more likely to require surgical intervention (eg, polyps) tended to be found more frequently as vocal demand increased. The primary occupational concerns reported by subjects were related to amplification (lack of amplification, inadequate amplification/amplification problems) and scheduling (too many consecutive classes without adequate breaks). Conclusion Fitness instructors are subject to a variety of phonotraumatic vocal fold injuries, nearly half which require surgical treatment. One in four recurs after such intervention. Instructors could benefit greatly from education on vocal health, strategies to improve and/or reduce voice use while in the fitness environment, and to help aid in recognizing early “red flags” for phonotraumatic injury. Occupational factors that place fitness instructors at risk for phonotraumatic injury (scheduling, environment, amplification) may be improved with education directed to studio owners and managers.
MetaPheno: A critical evaluation of deep learning and machine learning in metagenome-based disease prediction

The human microbiome plays a number of critical roles, impacting almost every aspect of human health and well-being. Conditions in the microbiome have been linked to a number of significant diseases. Additionally, revolutions in sequencing technology have led to a rapid increase in publicly-available sequencing data. Consequently, there have been growing efforts to predict disease status from metagenomic sequencing data, with a proliferation of new approaches in the last few years. Some of these efforts have explored utilizing a powerful form of machine learning called deep learning, which has been applied successfully in several biological domains. Here, we review some of these methods and the algorithms that they are based on, with a particular focus on deep learning methods. We also perform a deeper analysis of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity datasets that have eluded improved results, using a variety of machine learning and feature extraction methods. We conclude by offering perspectives on study design considerations that may impact results and future directions the field can take to improve results and offer more valuable conclusions. The scripts and extracted features for the analyses conducted in this paper are available via GitHub:https://github.com/nlapier2/metapheno.
Differences and Disparities in Cardiovascular Medicine Related to Gender, Race, and Ethnicity: The Role of Cardiac CT

Knowledge of demographic differences in physiology, pathology, and therapeutic response is necessary for optimal patient diagnosis and treatment. However, there are demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic differences in healthcare access, disease occurrence, and resultant morbidity/mortality that transcend biology; these differences constitute healthcare and health status disparities. Some differences in healthcare quality are due to clinical appropriateness/need and patient preferences, which may be appropriate, but there is also well-established discrimination as well as differences in the operation of healthcare systems leading to unnecessary, unjust, and avoidable inequities. An understanding of both unavoidable biological differences and avoidable disparities in cardiovascular health and care is necessary to appropriately select patients for cardiac CT, interpret the findings, and guide further management. Differences and disparities, as defined above, will be discussed concurrently.
Immersive, interactive virtual field trips promote science learning

Field learning is considered an essential part of geoscience education, yet there are many practical challenges that limit broad and equitable access to field learning. Virtual field experiences ca...
Characterization of the Rat Gut Microbiota via 16S rRNA Amplicon Library Sequencing

It is becoming increasingly apparent that microbiota have measurable effects on numerous phenotypes in laboratory animals. This "second genome" has often been disregarded or ignored due to its commensal nonpathogenic nature, and the difficulty, expense, and analysis of sequence. Recent advances in sequencing methods and analyses of large datasets have made characterization of microbiota populations routine and have uncovered previously unknown relationships of microbial communities and host biological systems. The largest and most diverse microbial community in the laboratory rat is in the gut, and has been shown to affect the physiology of the whole animal, and genetic disease penetrance. We present here a cost-effective method for the characterization of the rat fecal microbiota through multiplexed 16S ribosomal sequencing and freely available software.
Patent Rights and State Immunity

Can patent holders bring infringement claims for monetary damages against state universities? The Patent Remedy Clarification Act of 1992 indicated that the answer to that question should be yes. Seven years later, however, the Supreme Court rejected that argument, holding that the Patent Clause of the Constitution did not empower Congress to abrogate state sovereign immunity protected by the 11th Amendment. Arguments not yet considered by the courts, however, provide alternative grounds for rejecting state immunity in patent cases. Historical treatment by courts and commentators, including recent Supreme Court opinions, support the conclusion that patent rights exemplify a category of “privileges” that “owe their existence to the Federal government ... its Constitution, or its laws.” As such, they should receive protection under the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the 14th Amendment which empowers Congress to override state immunity. Furthermore, in rejecting Patent Clause authority to abrogate state immunity, courts ignored an alternative argument based upon exclusive national authority to conduct foreign affairs. International treaties provide a framework for patent protection, and U.S. negotiators can only strengthen enforcement of patent rights against government actors from other nations if patent holders have the authority to enforce their claims against state actors within this country. This exercise of foreign affairs power provides an independent basis for congressional abrogation of state immunity.
Controlling Confounding in a Study of Oral Anticoagulants: Comparing Disease Risk Scores Developed Using Different Follow-Up Approaches

Purpose: Little is known about how disease risk score (DRS) development should proceed under different pharmacoepidemiologic follow-up strategies. In an analysis of dabigatran vs. warfarin and risk of major bleeding, we compared the results of DRS adjustment when models were developed under “intention-to-treat” (ITT) and “as-treated” (AT) approaches. Methods: We assessed DRS model discrimination, calibration, and ability to induce prognostic balance via the “dry run analysis”. AT treatment effects stratified on each DRS were compared with each other and with a propensity score (PS) stratified reference estimate. Bootstrap resampling of the historical cohort at 10 percent–90 percent sample size was performed to assess the impact of sample size on DRS estimation. Results: Historically-derived DRS models fit under AT showed greater decrements in discrimination and calibration than those fit under ITT when applied to the concurrent study population. Prognostic balance was approximately equal across DRS models (–6 percent to –7 percent “pseudo-bias” on the hazard ratio scale). Hazard ratios were between 0.76 and 0.78 with all methods of DRS adjustment, while the PS stratified hazard ratio was 0.83. In resampling, AT DRS models showed more overfitting and worse prognostic balance, and led to hazard ratios further from the reference estimate than did ITT DRSs, across sample sizes. Conclusions: In a study of anticoagulant safety, DRSs developed under an AT principle showed signs of overfitting and reduced confounding control. More research is needed to determine if development of DRSs under ITT is a viable solution to overfitting in other settings.
UNMASKING PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION FOLLOWING TRICUSPID VALVE REPLACEMENT

The hemodynamic changes arising in the pulmonary circulation following surgical Tricuspid Valve (TV) replacement in cases of isolated Tricuspid Regurgitation (TR) has not been well described. A 63-year-old man with a history of interstitial lung disease and hepatitis C presented with progressive
Review of Utilization Management of Groundwater at Risk of Salinization

AbstractGroundwater salinization caused by natural and anthropogenic processes can increase the salinity above the concentrations recommended for specific uses or environments. Approximately 16% of...
Conceptualization of the Holobiont Paradigm as It Pertains to Corals

Corals' obligate association with unicellular dinoflagellates, family Symbiodiniaceae form the foundation of coral reefs. For nearly a century, researchers have delved into understanding the coral-algal mutualism from multiple levels of resolution and perspectives, and the questions and scope have evolved with each iteration of new techniques. Advances in genetic technologies not only aided in distinguishing between the multitude of Symbiodiniaceae but also illuminated the existence and diversity of other organisms constituting the coral microbiome. The coral therefore is a meta-organism, often referred to as the coral holobiont. In this review, we address the importance of including a holistic perspective to understanding the coral holobiont. We also discuss the ramifications of how different genotypic combinations of the coral consortium affect the holobiont entity. We highlight the paucity of data on most of the coral microbiome. Using Symbiodiniaceae data, we present evidence that the holobiont properties are not necessarily the sum of its parts. We then discuss the consequences of the holobiont attributes to the fitness of the holobiont and the myriad of organisms that contribute to it. Considering the complexity of host-symbiont genotypic combinations will aid in our understanding of coral resilience, robustness, acclimation, and/or adaptation in the face of environmental change and increasing perturbations.
Cognitive Recovery During Inpatient Rehabilitation Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pediatric Brain Injury Consortium Study.

Objectives To characterize the demographics, clinical course, and predictors of cognitive recovery among children and young adults receiving inpatient rehabilitation following pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design Retrospective observational, multicenter study. Setting Eight acute pediatric inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States with specialized programs for treating patients with TBI. Participants Children and young adults (0-21 years) with TBI (n = 234) receiving inpatient rehabilitation. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Admission and discharge status assessed by the WeeFIM Cognitive Developmental Functional Quotient (DFQ) and Cognitive and Linguistic Scale (CALS). Results Patients admitted to pediatric inpatient rehabilitation are diverse in cognitive functioning. While the majority of patients make improvements, cognitive recovery is constrained for those admitted with the most severe cognitive impairments. Age, time since injury to rehabilitation admission, and admission WeeFIM Cognitive DFQ are significant predictors of cognitive functioning at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Conclusions This work establishes a multicenter Pediatric Brain Injury Consortium and characterized the demographics and clinical course of cognitive recovery during inpatient rehabilitation of pediatric patients with TBI to aid in prospective study design.
Employee perceptions of their work environment, work passion, and work intentions: A replication study using three samples:

This study contributes to the emerging literature on the employee work passion appraisal (EWPA) model, by replicating structural equation modeling across three samples (total n = 4,613). We examine...
POS1366 THE RELATIONSHIP OF MAST CELL ACTIVATION SYNDROME AND HYPERMOBILE EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Background: Patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) often report symptoms of cutaneous flushing, pruritis, vomiting, diarrhea and anaphylactoid responses to environmental, food, and mechanical stimuli. There is a growing body of literature investigating the possible link between disorders of mast cell regulation including mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and connective tissue disorders including hEDS. The evidence for such a relationship, however, remains limited1. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between hEDS and MCAS among hospitalized patients using a nationally representative cohort. Methods: Hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of hEDS or MCAS were identified in the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) using the International Classification of Diseases 10 system (ICD-10). The NIS is an all-payer inpatient database that estimates over 37 million annual U.S. hospitalizations and is maintained by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. The primary outcomes were prevalence of EDS and MCAS among hospitalized patients. Secondary outcomes included cause of admission, mortality, length of stay, and cost of care. Multivariate hierarchical regression analysis was using adjusting for demographics, hospital factors, and comorbid conditions. Results: Among 37,665 patients identified in this study, 35,115 (95.9%) patients had hEDS and 3,630 (9.6%) patients had MCAS. 1080 patients had concomitant diagnosis of hEDS (3.1%) and MCAS (29.8%), of whom 555 (51.4%) were diagnosed in 2018 compared with 100 (9.3%) patients in 2016 (P Conclusion: Nearly 1 in 3 patients diagnosed with MCAS have comorbid diagnosis of hEDS. This association appeared to increase over time with the increasing diagnosis of MCAS. Social determinants of disease such as health insurance status and income appeared to be associated with the identification of the overlap syndrome. These findings merit further investigation into the co-occurrence of these disease entities and development of consistent clinical diagnostic criteria. References: [1]Kohn A, Chang C. The Relationship Between Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2020;58(3):273-297. doi:10.1007/s12016-019-08755-8 Disclosure of Interests: None declared
Electrical study of ZnO film thickness effect on the evolution of interface potential barrier of ZnO/p-Si heterojunction: Contribution to transport phenomena study

Abstract In this work, we have studied the evolution of the potential barrier of ZnO/Si hetero-junction interface and we have experimentally highlighted an interface state defect that controls the conduction of the charge carriers. The samples were elaborated by DC reactive sputtering method, under controlled ambient mixture gas of Ar/O2. The study consists of the effect of the ZnO film thickness on the evolution of the potential barrier at the interface profile. The determination of the defects controlling the conduction is investigated by thermally stimulated current technique. The results showed that the electrical conduction is controlled by defects situated close to the conduction band of ZnO with activation energy of 0.35 eV. However, their density influences considerably both the rectification of n-ZnO/p-Si hetero-junction diode and the transport phenomena through the interface. Effectively, the current-potential-temperature measurements showed that when the thickness varied from 30 to 100 nm, the conduction mechanism at the n-ZnO/p-Si interface changed from tunneling through the potential barrier model to the diffusion over the potential barrier.
'Steep learning curves' to 'Smooth Sailing': A reappraisal of telegenetics amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed medical providers to trial telemedicine on a scale that lacks precedent. In genetic medicine, nearly overnight genetics providers were asked to transition to telemedicine platforms, irrespective of their previous experience with these modalities. This push to telegenetics prompted a reappraisal of the practice, as genetics providers learned firsthand about the feasibility, benefits, and drawbacks of telegenetics and telesupervision, all of which raise questions about the potential incorporation of these platforms beyond the pandemic. Adding to nascent literature on the transition to telegenetics amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we aimed to evaluate provider experiences and preferences with respect to telegenetics through qualitative semi-structured interviews with genetics providers. Nineteen providers from seven institutions participated in a semi-structured interview focused on the rapid shift to telegenetics, the benefits and drawbacks of the practice, experiences supervising students on virtual platforms, and providers' preferences. We employed a qualitative methodology so that providers working across diverse subspecialties could expand upon previously reported benefits and drawbacks. Qualitative data revealed the nuanced benefits of telegenetics which included overcoming geographic, spatial, and temporal barriers to care as well as greater involvement of patients' family members in sessions. In addition, the data indicated drawbacks related to additional tasks such as completing paperwork electronically and facilitating the collection of specimens from patients' homes. Interviews with providers from different subspecialties revealed how telegenetics may be uniquely useful for particular subspecialties, patient populations, or clinics for whom the aforementioned barriers are more significant. Providers reported that telesupervision made the provision of feedback to students more cumbersome and identified a number of methods for enriching the telesupervision experience. In keeping with previous research, most genetics providers appraised telegenetics as a valuable addition to patient care (68%, N = 13) and hoped to offer it as an option beyond the pandemic (63%, N = 12).
Software Development for Edge Computing

In Part 2 of this book we have described the MEC standard, introducing an edge architecture between client and server applications.
Semi-empirical modelling of SiO/sub 2/ chemical-mechanical polishing planarization

Describes process characterization techniques and key structural dependencies of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) planarization. Also presented are a closed-solution model for simple analysis and a differential model for more complex analysis of CMP planarization and its pattern and polishing pad dependencies. The modelling and characterization give insights into and quantify the effects of 'down' area dimensions, 'up' area patterning, and feature step heights. Differentially modelled results predict corner-rounding and, in doing so, suggest a mechanism. >
Carbon Nanotubes for Cancer Therapy

The sections in this article are Introduction Limitations of Current Therapy Options Developing Nanomaterials for Cancer Treatment CNTs: Physical Properties, Manufacture, and Chemical Modifications Hyperthermia for Cancer Treatment Current Ablative Technologies Use of CNTs for Hyperthermia Treatment CNTs for Drug Delivery Localization of CNTs to Malignant Tissues Drug Delivery Using CNTs Imaging Using CNTs CNT-Related Toxicity Summary and Future Perspective Acknowledgments Keywords: carbon nanotube; thermal ablation; drug delivery; cancer therapy; hyperthermia; cancer imaging
Host genotype interaction with cigarette smoke determines modulation of immune response (HUM2P.342)

While the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unknown, both genetic and environmental factors are involved in pathogenesis. Among genetic factors, HLA-DRB1*0401/DQ8 provide the strongest association. Among environmental factors, Cigarette smoking (CS) has been associated with a 2-fold increase in risk for developing seropositive RA; specially individuals carrying DRB1*0401 who smoke cigarettes. It has been hypothesized that the response to Vimentin precedes the onset of RA. To determine the interaction between genetic factors and CS, we generated transgenic mice expressing RA-susceptible DRB1*0401 and DQ8 genes in the absence endogenous class II molecules. To determine how cigarette smoke (CS) interacts with host genetic factors in the induction of RA-associated autoimmunity, we used transgenic mice carrying the RA-susceptible HLA genes DR4 and DQ8, but lacking all endogenous murine class II molecules. Cigarette smoke exposure augmented immune responses to citrullinated synovial antigens, collagen and vimentin. Interestingly, CS exposure suppressed collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DRB1*0401 mice even though innate immune response was enhanced. On the other hand, CS exposure exacerbated CIA in DQ8 mice, which was accompanied by an increased expression of Th17 gene transcripts in lungs. These observations suggest that cigarette smoke promotes antigen-specific autoimmunity that is profoundly influenced by host genetic factor.
Shareholder Rights, Corporate Governance, and Auditor Selection: Evidence from Arthur Andersen

Grounded in agency theory, this study seeks to ascertain whether the severity of agency costs influences auditor selection among the Big Six auditors. Specifically, this article examines the association between the strength of shareholder rights and auditor choice. The evidence shows that firms where shareholder rights are weak have a tendency to select Arthur Andersen vis-a-vis the other Big Six. To the extent that Arthur Andersen represents lower audit quality, weaker shareholder rights are associated with poorer audit quality. This inclination to choose Andersen for firms with weak shareholder rights is not present, however, in regulated firms. I argue that this is because regulatory monitoring substitutes for external auditing and, hence, influences the association between shareholder rights and auditor choice.
Compact Routing in Directed Networks with Stretch Factor of Two

This paper presents a compact routing algorithm with stretch less than 3 for directed networks. Although for stretch less than 3, the lower bound for the total routing information in the network is ?(n2) bits, it is still worth examining to determine the best possible saving in space. The routing algorithm uses header size of 4 log n and provides round-trip stretch factor of 2, while bounding the local space by [n - √n(?1 - 7/4n) - 1/2] log n. These results for stretch less than 3 for directed networks match those for undirected networks.
Nondestructive Evaluation: Theory, Techniques, and Applications

Introduction to NDE, P.J. Shull Liquid Penetrant, F.A. Iddings and P.J. Shull Ultrasound, P.J. Shull and B.R. Tittmann Magnetic Particle, A. Lindgren, P.J. Shull, K. Joseph, and D. Hagemaier Eddy Current, P.J. Shull Acoustic Emission, W.H. Prosser Radiology, H.E. Martz, Jr., C.M. Logan, and P. J. Shull Active Thermography, J.W. M. Spicer and R. Osiander Microwave, A.J. Bahr, R. Zoughi, and N. Qaddoumi Optical Methods, D.D. Duncan, J.L. Champion, K.C. Baldwin, and D.W. Blodgett Index
Parametric Life Cycle Cost (Lcc) as Concept Ranking Criterion

Abstract This paper describes the application of parametric Life Cycle Cost (LCC) as the key evaluation criterion for design concept ranking.
Angiogenesis in Health and Disease: Insights into Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

Angiogenesis, the process that leads to the formation of new blood vessels or neovascularization, continues to be a topic of major scientific and public interest. As knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate neovascularization continues to emerge, there is increasing hope that new discoveries will lead to newer therapies that target angiogenesis as a reliable option for disease therapy. For example, it may be possible to develop strategies that, on the one hand, are designed to limit angiogenesis for the treatment of chronic diseases such as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis and, on the other, to promote angiogenesis in the ischemic heart or diabetic limb. With the emergence of tissue engineering as a discipline, it has become increasingly clear that long-term success in organ and tissue reconstruction will depend on the ability to develop a stable, renewable supply of blood vessels. In this review, I will provide a brief overview of this remarkably versatile biological response and discuss how recent discoveries in the field of angiogenesis have influenced the development of novel therapies, forced a reconsideration of conventional therapies, and revolutionized approaches to organ and tissue reconstruction.
Theoretical treatment of intermediate electrolysis electrochemical detectors

Abstract A simple approach for deriving expressions for the limiting steady-state response of the open tubular electrode, under conditions of intermediate electrolytic yields, is described. This approach couples the principles of laminar fluid dynamics with the theory of the porous electrode reactor. The dependence of the limiting current, I1, on flow rate, Vf, has the form of I1 α Vmf , with m ⩾ 1 3 , depending upon the electrolytic yield. The effects of electroactive species depletion upon the detector response are discussed. Experimental results are incorporated to support the theoretical conclusions. For a tubular electrode (4-cm long) the degree of conversion decreases from 0.21 to 0.03 and m decreases from 0.42 to 0.32 as the flow rate increases from 0.15 to 3.5 ml min-1.
Junk mail in residential homes in the United States: Insights from a sub-urban home in California

Although systematic studies tracking junk mail sent to residential homes are lacking, available reports indicate it is a growing problem in many urban centers worldwide. Junk mail increases the number of trees harvested each year, consumes a substantial amount of energy, causes pollution to air, water and soil and wastes a substantial amount of time sorting, mailing and recycling. Junk mail collected at one residence in the United States for a period of one full year is analyzed to find out the main contributors to this urban problem, what residents should do to reduce or eliminate it. Results indicate that three major businesses are responsible for over 70% of total junk mail sent (n = 1255) including credit card, mortgage and insurance corporations. To encourage environmental sustainability, several strategies that can help businesses reduce junk mail are suggested including new advertising techniques, use of other outlets like billboards, outreach events in social functions and adopting eco-friendly techniques in any junk mail production. Considering the revenue and jobs created from junk mail business, and the absence of government regulation and lack of consensus amongst individuals, environmental groups and businesses on what needs to be done; individuals are urged to explore ways to mitigate the problem and a number of recommendations are given.
Predicting metal retention in a constructed mine drainage wetland

Abstract A computer simulation model was developed to predict metal retention in constructed mine drainage wetlands. The model emphasized the processes of advection, diffusion, and precipitation/sedimentation in both surface and subsurface state variables. The model was calibrated and verified using data from five constructed wetlands in Pennsylvania and Ohio, USA. Simulation of metal retention in a proposed mine drainage wetland in southeastern Ohio was performed using baseline data, collected for 18 months prior to wetland construction as model inputs. Predicted retention ranges from 0 to 93% for aluminum and from 50 to 99% for iron for the proposed wetland, depending on season and whether surface or subsurface flow is used. Diffusion of metals from water to sediments limits metal retention in low pH wetlands while metal precipitation rates from the water column limit metal retention in circumneutral wetlands.
Patterns of neural stem and progenitor cell division may underlie evolutionary cortical expansion

The dramatic evolutionary expansion of the cerebral cortex of Homo sapiens underlies our unique higher cortical functions, and therefore bears on the ultimate issue of what makes us human. Recent insights into developmental events during early proliferative stages of cortical development indicate how neural stem and progenitor cells might interact to produce cortical expansion during development, and could shed light on evolutionary changes in cortical structure.
Eye-Gaze Control of the Computer Interface: Discrimination of Zoom Intent

An analysis methodology and associated experiment were developed to assess whether definable and repeatable signatures of eye-gaze characteristics are evident, preceding a decision to zoom-in, zoom-out, or not to zoom at a computer interface. This user intent discrimination procedure can have broad application in disability aids and telerobotic control. Eye-gaze was collected from 10 subjects in a controlled experiment, requiring zoom decisions. The eye-gaze data were clustered, then fed into a multiple discriminant analysis (MDA) for optimal definition of heuristics separating the zoom-in, zoom-out, and no-zoom conditions. Confusion matrix analyses showed that a number of variable combinations classified at a statistically significant level, but practical significance was more difficult to establish. Composite contour plots demonstrated the regions in parameter space consistently assigned by the MDA to unique zoom conditions. Peak classification occurred at about 1200-1600 msec. Improvements in the metho...
Inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis and of carbohydrate utilization by maple-syrup-urine disease metabolites.

The branched-chain 2-oxo acids which accumulate in maple-syrup-urine disease inhibited the production of acetylcholine and of lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and of CO2. in sliced adult rat brains incubated with [U-14C] glucose. Inhibition of the biosynthetic reactions was proportional to the inhibition of CO2 production, even though the flux of radioactivity into the biosynthetic products was less than 2% of that to CO2. The oxo acids reduced the production of 14CO2, from [U-14C] glucose and from [2-14C]pyruvic acid more than from [1-14C]pyruvic acid in sliced brains. They inhibited the solubilized oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex more than they did the solubilized pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Valine and isoleucine, which also accumulate in maple-syrup-urine disease, inhibited pyruvate kinase from rat brain allosterically. Quantitative comparison of the effects of the disease metabolites on cell-free systems with their effects on fluxes in intact cells indicated that the inhibition of oxoglutarate dehydrogenase appeared to be functionally significant. The residual activities of the other enzymes studied were adequate to support the normal flux of carbohydrates. The oxo acids were effective at concentrations within the range reported to occur in patients with maple-syrup-urine disease. The effects on biosyntheses including that of acetylcholine would be expected to impair brain development and function and could be important in the development of brain disease in the patients. In contrast to the results with metabolites from maple-syrup-urine disease, metabolites which accumulate in phenylketonuria (phenylalanine and 2-oxo-3-phenylpropionic acid) did not inhibit carbohydrate utilization or the biosynthetic reactions studied, under the conditions of these experiments.
Minimally invasive surgical approach for the treatment of gastroparesis.

Background Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder resulting in decreased quality of life. The gastric electrical stimulator (GES) is an alternative to gastrectomy in patients with medically refractory gastroparesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of patients treated with the gastric stimulator versus patients treated with laparoscopic subtotal or total gastrectomy.
A Case of Blaming the Victim: The Dunn Monograph on Bilingual Hispanic Children on the U.S. Mainland

This article challenges Dunn's arguments and the logic used to arrive at them. It is argued here that IQ scores for different groups can be influenced by the way they use vocabulary; that the decline in U.S. mainland Hispanic students' vocabulary scores coincides with the onset of classroom instruction; and that SES is not controlled for in the studies presented by Dunn. Further, genetic components of scores on IQ tests for U.S. -born Hispanics cannot be determined from intelligence tests heavily loaded with a language component, since such tests measure language facility rather than intelligence. Also, Dunn's discussion of the role of heredity and familial factors in academic achievement and intelligence test scores is meaningless when children have not been placed in optimal educational environments. It is argued, contrary to Dunn's position, that native language instruction can result in the elimination of problems discussed by Dunn. Finally, comments on the ethical and moral implications of Dunn's mon...
Green polymer chemistry: Telechelic poly(ethylene glycol)s via enzymatic catalysis

This article reports our discovery that poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can quantitatively be functionalized by transesterification using Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozyme 435) as the catalyst. α-ω telechelic PEG-methacrylates and PEG-acetates were successfully prepared using commercially available PEGs with both narrow and broad molecular weight distribution. 1H and 13C NMR together with MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy verified the expected structures. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3024–3028, 2008
Linearization of discrete-time systems

Abstract We characterize the equivalence of single-input single-output discrete-time nonlinear systems to linear ones, via a state-coordinate change and with or without feedback. Four cases are distinguished by allowing or disallowing feedback as well as by including the output map or not; the interdependence of these problems is analyzed. An important feature that distinguishes these discrete-time problems from the corresponding problem in continuous-time is that the state-coordinate transformation is here directly computable as a higher composition of the system and output maps. Finally, certain connections are made with the continuous-time case.
The in vivo labeling with acetate and palmitate of lung phospholipids from developing and adult rabbits

Abstract The labeling with radiolabeled acetate and palmitate of lung, microsomes isolated from lung, and surfactant phospholipids from adult, 3-day-old, and newborn rabbits was studied. The half-life of phosphatidylcholine from lung and microsomal fractions was shorter when labeled with acetate than when labeled with palmitate. Half-time values similarly measured for phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylethanolamine were not different for the two labels. Acetate and palmitate-labeled phospholipids appeared in the surfactant fraction with similar accumulation curves. The relative specific activities of acetate-labeled phosphatidylcholine from adult, 3-day-old, and newborn rabbits, respectively, were 1.30, 1.86 and 1.77 times those measured for the palmitate label. Surfactant phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine from 3-day-old animals similarly were labeled preferentially with acetate. However, phosphatidylglycerol purified from the surfactant fraction contained equivalent relative amounts of the acetate and palmitate labels in 3-day-old and adult rabbits. These results suggest that the type II pneumocyte may use acetate preferentially for the synthesis of palmitic acid which then is incorporated into surfactant phospholipids.
Geometry of the Jantzen region in Lusztig's conjecture

The Lusztig Conjecture expresses the character of a finite-dimensional irreducible representation of a reductive algebraic group G in prime characteristic as a linear combination of characters of Weyl modules for G. The representations described by the conjecture are in one-to-one correspondence with the (finitely many) alcoves in the intersection of the dominant cone and the so-called Jantzen region. Each alcove has a length, defined to be the number of alcove walls (hyperplanes) separating it from the fundamental alcove (the unique alcove in the dominant cone whose closure contains the origin). This article determines the maximum length of an alcove in the intersection of the dominant cone with the Jantzen region.
Effects of lithium carbonate on serotonin uptake in rat blood platelets.

Abstract 1. Lithium carbonate administration to male rats for 1 to 4 weeks increased the affinity of platelet serotonin (5-HT) uptake (decreased Km) and decreased the rate of 5-HT uptake (Vmax) when the serum lithium levels were 0.5 meq/l to 0.65 meq/l. When the serum levels were increased further to 1 meq/l, Vmax decreased further, without additional change in Km. 2. No effect on the kinetics of 5-HT uptake was observed when serum lithium levels were at 0.4 meq/l or below. 3. Addition of lithium carbonate in vitro (1 meq/l) had no effect on the Km and Vmax of rat platelet 5-HT uptake. 4. The possible mechanism of the inhibitory effect of lithium treatment on platelet 5-HT uptake is discussed.
Depressive Symptomatology and Body Image in Adolescent Girls

Depression is increasingly being recognized as a significant problem among adolescents. With documentation of its prevalence in clinic and non-clinic samples, researchers are beginning to identify ...
Determination and statistical comparisons of Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters.

A method is described for determining and statistically comparing Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters.
Accuracy of Intraocular Lens Calculations in Infants and Children Undergoing Cataract Surgery

Purpose We sought to evaluate the accuracy of intraocular lens calculations in children undergoing cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Methods This was a retrospective review of 101 consecutive cases of pediatric cataract extraction with posterior chamber IOL. Median age at the time of surgery was 4.8 years, and 23 of the children were younger than 2 years of age. Initial IOL calculations were made using either the SRK II or SRK T formulas. Preoperative predictive data were compared with the refractive result obtained at the 2-month postoperative visit. Prediction error was calculated for each patient, and lens calculation errors were back-calculated for each of 4 commonly used IOL calculation formulas, including the SRK II, SRK T, Holladay I, and Hoffer Q. Results The mean prediction error for all patients was 0.30 D. Despite this level of overall accuracy, significant variability did occur with outcomes ranging from −4.06 D to + 3.86 D of the desired spherical equivalent. Mean absolute prediction error was 1.16 D with no significant difference between the SRK II and SRK T formulas. Lens calculation errors predicted by each of the 4 formulas studied demonstrated a high degree of variability with the SRK II being the least variable and the Hoffer Q being the most variable, particularly among the youngest group of children with the axial lengths less than 19 mm. Conclusions The accuracy of commonly used IOL calculation formulas is generally reasonable but highly variable within the pediatric population, Newer theoretic IOL calculation formulas did not outperform older regression models.
Selective regulation of cardiomyocyte gene expression and cardiac morphogenesis by retinoic acid

Early heart development is known to be sensitive to retinoid concentrations; a specific pattern of malformations is observed in both vitamin A-deficiency and retinoid-toxicity states. While the influence of retinoids on early cardiac morphogenesis has been described previously, the effect of retinoids upon cardiomyocyte differentiation and gene expression is largely uncharacterized. We have established an in ovo chick embryo model in which slow-release retinoic acid (RA) induces four distinct cardiac malformations in a dose-dependent fashion. Late primitive streak-stage chick embryos were treated with all-trans-retinoic acid released from anion exchange beads placed on the embryo's left side and then allowed to develop further for 20-24 hr. At low doses (10 and 25 micrograms/ml RA) an abnormal loop structure was observed. At higher doses (50 and 100 micrograms/ml RA) cardia bifida and clustered heart tissue were noted. Situs inversus only occurred after treatment with 100 micrograms/ml RA. RA-treated embryos were subsequently analyzed for appropriate cardiac myocyte differentiation using antibody staining and ELISA analysis to detect sarcomeric myosin heavy chain, tropomyosin, titin, and alpha-actinin protein expression. Alpha-actinin expression was significantly decreased in RA-treated embryos, as compared to DMSO-treated controls. Also, heart contraction rate was depressed after RA exposure. RA exposure did not alter the protein expression levels of sarcomeric myosin heavy chain or tropomyosin. The observed alterations are consistent with suggestions that retinoids may affect both morphogenesis and myofibril formation in the developing heart.
Micro-gas sensor for monitoring anesthetic agents

Abstract A silicon-based SnO2 gas sensor has been fabricated for the monitoring of anesthetic agents commonly used in hospitals. The sensor and its characteristic responses to these agents have been investigated. The response to anesthetic agents, when the temperature is cycled with various temperature-time waveforms, shows that the response curve is repeatable with a definite pattern for each agent. The response with temperature cycling may be used to identify the anesthetic agents being monitored and to improve selectivity.
The monitoring and prediction of solar particle events--an experience report.

The routine monitoring and prediction of solar proton events that may be a hazard to personnel and materials in space are a routine service of the Space Environment Services Center in Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A. The services provided are made available to the space centers in the United States for use in their operations. The real time monitoring consists primarily of Space Environment Monitors on both geosynchronous and polar orbiting weather satellites. The monitoring emphasizes proton fluxes but alpha particles, electrons, and in one case, heavier particles, are included. The predictions are of two types; a general outlook made 1 to 3 days in advance, and specific prediction of event size and probability of occurrence made after a solar flare occurs. The accuracy of the prediction made for solar cycle 21 are assessed.
Reclassification of Thermoproteus neutrophilus Stetter and Zillig 1989 as Pyrobaculum neutrophilum comb. nov. based on phylogenetic analysis.

The hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Thermoproteus neutrophilus V24StaT was originally classified before sequence-based phylogenetic analysis became standard for bacterial taxonomy. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses by various groups have shown that strain V24StaT groups more closely with strains of the genus Pyrobaculum than with those in the genus Thermoproteus . Based on phylogenetic comparison of rRNA gene sequences and ribosomal proteins, we propose that strain V24StaT be reclassified as Pyrobaculum neutrophilum comb. nov., with the type strain V24StaT ( = DSM 2338T = JCM 9278T). An emended description of the genus Pyrobaculum is also presented.