cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sacral Dysmorphism and Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae (LSTV) Review

ABSTRACT Background: Anatomic variation in the relationship between the lumbar spine and sacrum was first described in the literature nearly a century ago and continues to play an important role in spine deformity, low back pain (LBP), and pelvic trauma. This review will focus on the clinical and surgical implications of abnormal lumbosacral anatomy in the context of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) disease, spine deformity, and pelvic trauma. Methods: A PubMed search using the keywords “lumbosacral transitional vertebrae,” “LSTV,” “transitional lumbosacral vertebrae,” “TLSV,” and “sacral dysmorphism” was performed. The articles presented here were evaluated by the authors. Clinical Significance: The prevalence of LSTV varies widely in the literature from 3.9-% to 35.6% in the spine literature, and sacral dysmorphism is described in upwards of 50% of the population in the trauma literature. The relationship between LSTV and LBP is well established. While there is no agreed-on etiology, the source of pain is multifactorial and may be related to abnormal biomechanics and alignment, disc degeneration, and arthritic changes. Surgical Implications: Understanding abnormal lumbosacral anatomy is crucial for preoperative planning of SIJ fusion, spine deformity, and pelvic trauma surgery. LSTV can alter spinopelvic parameters crucial in planning spine deformity correction. Traditional safe zones for sacroiliac screw placement do not apply in the first sacral segment in sacral dysmorphism and risk iatrogenic nerve injury. Conclusions: LSTV and sacral dysmorphism are common anatomic variants found in the general population. Abnormal lumbosacral anatomy plays a significant role in clinical evaluation of LBP and surgical planning in SIJ fusion, spine deformity, and pelvic trauma. Further studies evaluating the influence of abnormal lumbosacral anatomy on LBP and surgical technique would help guide treatment for these patients.
Hemichorea-Hemiballismus as an Unusual Presentation of Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome.

Diabetes mellitus can lead to a diverse array of systemic complications. Poorly managed hyperglycemia can result in serious neurological consequences ranging from peripheral neuropathy to seizures and coma. A rare neurologic disorder seen in acute decompensated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is hemichorea-hemiballismus (HCHB). HCHB is a movement disorder primarily associated with cerebrovascular accidents of infarct or hemorrhagic origin. It is a condition that can occur in a diabetic patient, especially when no other signs or symptoms of hyperglycemia are present. It is urgent to recognize HCHB movement disorder quickly as it may be the only presenting sign of hyperglycemia and can alert medical personnel to a possible hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS). We report an unusual case of HCHB in a patient with HHS, whose only presenting sign was unilateral hyperkinesis, which completely resolved after adequate blood glucose control. Prompt treatment and management of hyperglycemia yields an excellent prognosis in HCHB.
Relationships of hip abductor strength, neuromuscular control, and hip width to femoral length ratio with peak hip adduction angle in healthy female runners.

A large peak hip adduction angle during running is a risk factor for several overuse injuries in women. The purpose of this study was to determine if female runners with a large peak hip adduction ...
Coping with chronic illness: The challenge of patients with renal disease

Abstract Coping with any chronic illness is demanding, but there are many unique features of coping with chronic kidney disease. This chapter reviews the interrelationship between medical and psychiatric factors that influence patient’s adjustment to CKD, dialysis, and transplantation. The role of predisposing risk factors as a vulnerability to the development of negative reactions to medical illness is highlighted. Additionally, there is a review of the value of conceptual models in understanding why a particular patient might respond or behave in certain ways when faced with the stress of a chronic illness. Finally a model highlighting the confluence of pain, mood, sexual difficulty, and sleep dysfunction in patients with CKD is presented.
Optimizing pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations against high inocula of ESBL-producing bacteria.

Objectives Reduced in vitro β-lactam activity against a dense bacterial population is well recognized. It is commonly attributed to the presence of β-lactamase(s) and it is unknown whether the inoculum effect could be diminished by a β-lactamase inhibitor. We evaluated different β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations in suppressing a high inoculum of ESBL-producing bacteria. Methods Three clinical isolates expressing representative ESBLs (CTX-M-15 and SHV-12) were examined. The impact of escalating β-lactamase inhibitor (tazobactam or avibactam) concentrations on β-lactam (piperacillin or ceftazidime) MIC reduction was characterized by an inhibitory sigmoid Emax model. The effect of various dosing regimens of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations was predicted using %T>MICi and selected exposures were experimentally validated in a hollow-fibre infection model over 120 h. The threshold exposure to suppress bacterial regrowth was identified using recursive partitioning. Results A concentration-dependent reduction in β-lactam MIC was observed (r2 ≥0.93). Regrowth could be suppressed in all six experiments using %T>MICi ≥73.6%, but only one out of six experiments below the threshold (P = 0.015). The exposures to suppress regrowth might be attained using the clinical dose of avibactam, but a much higher dose than the standard dose would be needed for tazobactam. Conclusions A dense population of ESBL-producing bacteria could be suppressed by an optimized dosing regimen of selected β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. The reversibility of enzyme inhibition could play an important role in diminishing the inoculum effect. In vivo investigations to validate these findings are warranted.
Novel Routes of Potential Hepatitis C Virus Transmission among People Who Inject Drugs: Secondary Blood Exposures Related to Injection Drug Use.

Background: The US is in the midst of a national Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) epidemic that appears to be driven by new cases among people who inject drugs (PWID). While HCV transmission among PWID is b...
A review of topical vitamin C derivatives and their efficacy

Vitamin C is a popular ingredient in over-the-counter cosmeceuticals due to its many biological functions in maintaining and improving skin health by treating UV damage, improving discoloration, and boosting collagen production. Several chemically modified derivatives of vitamin C have been developed in an attempt to increase the stability, percutaneous absorption, and overall activity of this ingredient in topical formulations. The goal of this review is to evaluate the differences between vitamin C derivatives that have been designed for cosmeceutical use and their efficacy.
Incarceration and Health

In this essay, I start by briefly discussing the foundational research in this area, which, similar to the study of the consequences of mass imprisonment more broadly, is mostly new. Indeed, all of the foundational research in this field (with the exception of The Prison Community and The Society of Captives), which considered the mental and physical health of current and former inmates, as well as their mortality risks, was conducted only in the past 25 years. In general, this research finds that (i) the imprisonment period appears to have negative effects on mental health but some paradoxical benefits for physical health and mortality and (ii) former inmates have more health problems and higher mortality risk than a comparison group in the free population. After reviewing this literature, I then review some new research in this area, which shows how incarceration shapes (i) the mental health of current and former inmates, (ii) the health of women connected to current and former inmates, and (iii) the health of the children of current and former inmates. This new research is unique not just because of the breadth of outcomes it considers but also because it uses much more rigorous methods to tease out causal relationships (especially for mental health). I close by discussing directions for research, focusing especially on overcoming obstacles to causal inference, considering effects on inequality, and further returning to the roots of this field, which focused on the acute effects of incarceration on the mental health of inmates. Keywords: incarceration; health; health disparities; mass imprisonment; the prison boom
Group Power: Discourses of Consumer Power and Surveillance in Group Buying Websites

This paper explores the tension between consumer power and surveillance through an analysis of group buying websites. These websites celebrate the power of the consumer generated through bulk purchases. Underlying the rhetoric about the autonomous consumer, however, is the systematic practice of buying, selling and reflecting consumer information. Through an examination of available promotional materials, websites and privacy policies, as well as interviews with representatives from group coupon companies, this article outlines a number of concerns surrounding the ways that digital surveillance techniques are being used, and have the potential to be used, to define consumer interests. The article argues that such practices are particularly problematic when they are couched in the rhetoric of consumer freedom and power. The article concludes by suggesting emerging industry trends, including industry consolidation and geolocation technology, which raise additional questions about how companies shape consumer behavior.
Linear IC SPICE macromodel developed from measured transistor parameters

A transistor-level model in a subcircuit definition is presented for the L161 micropower comparator. This macromodel is suitable for use with present-day circuit simulators such as PSPICE and SPICE-2G6. Wherever possible, measured transistor parameter values are used to replace default values in the models. Limitations of the macromodel are discussed, and a comparison of model performance with data sheet values is presented. >
A look back: what we now know about the causes of the US mortgage crisis

This article reviews what we know about the causes of the US mortgage crisis, almost a decade after the crisis began. The paper summarizes the key forces that led to the crisis or, in some cases, to the development of a fundamentally fragile mortgage market, whose vulnerability helped enable the crisis. While some factors, such as federal policies pre-empting state consumer protection laws, were near-term spurs to higher levels of subprime lending, others – such as the migration of lending activity from savings and loans to less regulated mortgage companies – led to the development of a mortgage market that was more risk-loving, less regulated, and more prone to cataclysmic failure.
Insulin-mediated and glucose-mediated glucose uptake following hemipancreatectomy in healthy human donors.

Healthy humans undergoing hemipancreatectomy for the purpose of donation to a family member with IDDM have previously been demonstrated to maintain serum glucose values equal to matched control subjects during short-term glucose infusion despite significant decrements in glucose- and arginine-induced insulin secretion. In order to determine whether humans compensate for hemipancreatectomy by increasing insulin- or glucose-mediated glucose uptake, we measured glucose turnover and insulin sensitivity by three protocols. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake was measured during sequential infusions of insulin at rates of 0.25, 1.0, and 10.0 mU·kg−1·min−1 in 12 donor subjects and 12 matched control subjects maintained at euglycaemia. Both groups displayed similar increases in rates of glucose disappearance and similar decreases in rates of hepatic glucose production. Glucose-mediated uptake was calculated as the difference between the rates of glucose disappearance measured during a hyperglycaemic clamp and a euglycaemic clamp performed at identical rates of insulin infusion and was also found to be similar in both donor subjects and control subjects. Both groups also had indistinguishable measures of insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness as determined by the minimal model technique. Therefore, donor subjects appear to compensate for diminished insulin secretion following hemipancreatectomy by an unidentified mechanism since neither insulin- nor glucose-mediated glucose uptake are increased.
Syllable based keyword search: Transducing syllable lattices to word lattices

This paper presents a weighted finite state transducer (WFST) based syllable decoding and transduction framework for keyword search (KWS). Acoustic context dependent phone models are trained from word forced alignments. Then syllable decoding is done with lattices generated using a syllable lexicon and language model (LM). To process out-of-vocabulary (OOV) keywords, pronunciations are produced using a grapheme-to-syllable (G2S) system. A syllable to word lexical transducer containing both in-vocabulary (IV) and OOV keywords is then constructed and composed with a keyword-boosted LM transducer. The composed transducer is then used to transduce syllable lattices to word lattices for final KWS. We show that our method can effectively perform KWS on both IV and OOV keywords, and yields up to 0.03 Actual Term-Weighted Value (ATWV) improvement over searching keywords directly in subword lattices. Word Error Rates (WER) and KWS results are reported for three different languages.
ULTRAVIOLET BEHAVIOR OF THE INTEGRABLE OFF-CRITICAL NON-UNITARY SERIES M3/q

We discuss the ultraviolet behavior of the non-unitary M3/q (q = 5, 7) minimal models perturbed by the operator ϕ13. The Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz is used to compute the central charge and the next higher order corrections in the high temperature expansion of the finite volume ground state energy. The results are in perfect agreement with perturbative calculations. Generalizations of these results are commented on.
Vertical Wind Shear Influences on Tropical Cyclone Formation and Intensification during TCM-92 and TCM-93

Abstract Vertical wind shears between 200 and 850 mb are calculated from operational analyses and special interactive analyses for Tropical Storm Steve during the Tropical Cyclone Motion (TCM-93) field experiment and for Typhoon Omar at the end of the TCM-92 experiment. The operational Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) analyses have strong 200-mb winds crossing over the intensifying storms, which leads to vertical wind shears exceeding the 12.5 m s−1 threshold value believed to prevent tropical cyclone intensification. Interactive analyses are produced with the multiquadric interpolation technique that blends composited cloud-drift winds and aircraft reports between 1800 and 0000 UTC and between 0600 and 1200 UTC, sets of synthetic observations to represent missing or mislocated tropical circulations, and the FNMOC analyses that are used as a first-guess field. These interactive analyses indicate that the high winds at 200 mb associated with low-latitude circulations such as mons...
Suppression of somatotrophs in growth hormone injected rats.

The response of somatotrophs to large doses of purified bovine growth hormone was examined in uninephrectomized rats drinking 1% sodium chloride in an attempt to prolong the action of the hormone. Growth hormone produced a triphasic response in the ultrastructure of somatotrophs. Uninephrectomy and salt alone induced no changes in somatotrophs as compared to unoperated animals consuming tap water. In the first phase (3 days) the cross sectional area of the cell increased, the size of the largest granule per cell as well as the number of granules per cell increased significantly. All these parameters then reached control level after 7 days of injections during a second phase. Suppression of somatotrophs by exogenous growth hormone was evident by 16 days (third phase) when the area of the cell, the size of the largest secretory granule as well as the number of granules per cell all decreased significantly. Somatotrophs apparently did not react to suppression by a lysosomal mechanism inasmuch as no increase in the number of lysosome-derived structures was seen even at 16 days.
Putting OSX in an open access lab: (or "The Joy of X")

This paper discusses the challenges of putting Apple Macintosh OSX into open access and computer lab environments.
Interpreting recent temperature trends in California

Regional-scale climate change and associated societal impacts result from large-scale “forcing” (perturbing) agents, such as well-mixed greenhouse gases, and from land-use changes and other, more local phenomena. In order to predict future climate and societal impacts, it is essential to understand these forcings and the climate responses to them. California serves as a good example of the complex effects of multiple climate forcings. The state's natural climate is diverse, highly variable, and strongly influenced by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. Humans are perturbing this complex climate system through urbanization, irrigation, and the emission of multiple types of aerosols and greenhouse gases. Despite better-than-average observational coverage, scientists are only beginning to understand the manifestations of these forcings in California's temperature record.
A brief history of the anteroposterior open-mouth radiograph.

Abstract Objective To describe the origins of the anteroposterior (AP) open-mouth radiograph. Methods Searches in PubMed, standard radiography texts, and telephone interviews. Results The AP open-mouth radiograph has a long history of use in the chiropractic and medical professions. The view is taken to assess the upper cervical vertebrae (C1 and C2), and some chiropractors include assessment of the atlantooccipital articulation by using the AP open-mouth radiograph procedure. One text cited a 1910 background reference for this view, but further investigation revealed an earlier edition of the 1910 publication, which gave a description of how to take an AP open-mouth radiograph. The first documentation that this view had been taken was found in a 1919 chiropractic text. Chiropractors appear to have been the first to include an atlantooccipital biomechanical analysis with the AP open-mouth radiograph. Conclusion The origins of the AP open-mouth radiograph date back to the early 1900s. A medical doctor in Germany appears to have been the first to describe the procedure for this radiographic view. By the 1930s, chiropractors were including the occiput in the view's analysis, along with the traditional application of C1 and C2 assessment.
Slow Neutron Velocity Spectrometer Studies. V. Re, Ta, Ru, Cr, Ga

New developments in the analysis of data near resonance levels are described. These allow more accurate values of the level constants to be determined from the measured areas above transmission curves and are more general in their applications. The effect of Doppler broadening is also taken into consideration. Transmission data on Re, Ta, Ru, Cr, and Ga are presented. The thermal region of Re is well matched by the relation $\ensuremath{\sigma}=5.0+15.8{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$. Resonances are found in Re at 2.18, 4.40, 5.92, 7.18, 11.3, 13.1, 17.7, and 21.1 ev. The strong level at 2.18 ev has been studied by the technique of using two samples of different thickness, giving ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{0}=5700$ barns and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=0.090$ ev. The method of curve fitting was also applied to the transmission dip of the thick sample at 2.18 ev and confirms the values of ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{0}$ and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ from the area method. Curve fitting was also used on the 4.40-ev level. New data for Ta in the region above 5 ev are presented. Some transmission dips thought previously to be due to one level have now been resolved into two levels. There are levels at 6.11, 10.2, 13.7, 20.0, 24.0, 35.1, and 38.2 ev. The thermal region of Ru is well matched by the relation $\ensuremath{\sigma}=6.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.39{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$. Resonance levels are observed at 9.8, 15.2, 24.1, and 40.9 ev. The thermal region of Cr is well matched by the relation $\ensuremath{\sigma}=3.8+0.7{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$. A resonance level is observed at 3800 ev. The nuclear cross section of Ga is given by $\ensuremath{\sigma}=7.3+0.35{E}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$ below 5 ev. In addition interference effects occur in the thermal region. Levels were found at 102 ev and 310 ev, with indications of levels at higher energies.
Investigation of structure and phase transformations in silicon implanted with 12C+ at room temperature

Abstract The methods of Auger-electron spectroscopy and of X-ray diffraction are applied to an investigation of C+ ion implanted silicon layers. The ion energies are 40, 25, 17, 10, 6 and 3 keV for creation of a linearly decreasing profile of carbon in silicon or only 40 keV to obtain a concentration distribution which is approximately Gaussian. The microstructure and the phase composition of the implanted layers are studied experimentally to determine the dependence upon annealing temperature. The mechanism for creation of complicated multilayer structures during annealing is shown graphically. Formation of SiC crystallites begins at the sample middle layer and spreads to the surface layer and substrate as the annealing temperature increases. Crystallization of silicon amorphized by implantation begins both near the substrate and the sample surface and propagates to the middle of the layer with the Gaussian carbon distribution while in the layer with the linear distribution the crystallization comes about from the sample interior to its surface. After annealing at 1250°C, nearly 35% of the total volume of polycrystalline Si passes to c-Si from the substrate side for the samples with the Gaussian distribution and 45–50% for the samples with the linear distribution of carbon, respectively.
Identification of an incommensurate FeAl2 overlayer on FeAl(110) using X-ray diffraction and reflectivity

Abstract FeAl, like NiAl, crystallizes in the CsCl structure. Consequently, the bulk (110) planes contain equal amounts of Fe and Al distributed as interlocking rectangles. Unlike the NiAl(110) surface, which retains the (1 × 1) in-plane symmetry of the bulk, FeAl(110) reconstructs to form an ordered, incommensurate overlayer. The reconstructed layer is discerned from x-ray diffraction rods at half-order positions along the [110¯] direction, and displaced ± 0.2905 from integer positions along the [001] direction. Peak widths reveal excellent long-range order. Specular reflectivity measurements above and below the Fe Kα edge can be reproduced using a model containing a single reconstructed overlayer with an Fe:Al ratio of 1:2, consistent with FeAl2.
Interhemispheric intracranial pressure gradients in nonhuman primate stroke.

BACKGROUND Although the development of significant interhemispheric intracranial pressure (ICP) gradients in the setting of unilateral stroke remains controversial, no study to date has investigated the existence of these gradients in a controlled, reproducible, clinically relevant model. Therefore, we used a primate model of reperfused hemispheric stroke to better characterize the development of these gradients. METHODS Bilateral intraparenchymal ICP was continuously monitored in 7 adult male baboons subjected to left hemisphere reperfused stroke. Interhemispheric ICP gradients were calculated for each baboon and plotted over time. Infarct volume was determined using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at sacrifice. RESULTS A bimodal distribution of interhemispheric ICP gradients was observed in animals with >20% infarct volume (22.1% ± 0.9; range 21–23%) versus ≤ 15% infarct volume (6.6% ± 2.7; range 1–15%). In animals with >20% infarct volume, interhemispheric gradients developed early and persisted throughout the monitoring period. At 12 hours postreperfusion, animals with large infarcts demonstrated a mean pressure gradient of 13.8 ± 4.3 mm Hg, compared to a mean gradient of −2.6 ± 1.1 mm Hg for animals with ≤15% infarct volume. The difference in pressure gradients was statistically significant at all time points from 4 to 12 hours postreperfusion (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that, in nonhuman primates, infarcts of a size approaching 20% of the hemisphere may be associated with significant ICP gradients. With these larger infarcts, ipsilateral monitoring is required if regional cerebral perfusion pressure is to be accurately assessed.
Dietary Fish Oil Influence on Lesion Regression in the Porcine Model of Atherosclerosis

Abstract We examined the influence of dietary fish oil on lesion regression in a porcine model of atherogenesis. Thirty-two female Yucatan miniature pigs were fed an atherogenic diet for 8 months. A no-regression group (n=8) was killed to determine the extent of atherosclerosis at 8 months. Three regression groups were switched to normal minipig chow supplemented with either MaxEPA fish oil (FO group, n=8), a control oil with the ratio of polyunsaturated to monounsaturated to saturated fatty acid matched to that of the fish oil (CO group, n=8), or no oil supplement (NO group, n=8) for a further 4 months. Plasma cholesterol levels reached between 15 and 20 mmol/L during the atherogenic phase and returned to normal (2 mmol/L) within 2 months of the beginning of the regression diet. Compared with the NO group, fish oil supplementation during the regression phase caused a decrease in VLDL and HDL cholesterol and an increase in LDL cholesterol. Similarly, the control oil also caused a decrease in VLDL choleste...
A NEW TEACHING PARADIGM: THE INFORMATION/ CONTROL/BUFFER PORTFOLIO

A new teaching paradigm, called the information/control/buffer (I/C/B) portfolio is described. The I/C/B portfolio has proven itself effective in introducing students to what managing operations is all about: using information, control, and buffers to manage the production of products and services. Even more important, the I/C/B viewpoint motivates students to think creatively about designing and developing new management systems. The I/C/B portfolio also provides a link between operations management, technology management, and information system management.
Use of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) to distinguish between nematodes of pathogenic significance

The availability of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) would be useful for studying the extent of diversity among morpholgically indistinguishable populations of filarial parasites. Such polymorphisms may be useful in correlating various physiological and clinical differences with parasite heterogeneity. In order to identify such RFLPs, we isolated DNA from microfilaria of 6 filarial species (Acanthocheilonema viteae, Brugia malayi, Brugia pahangi, Dirofilaria immitis, Litomosoides carinii and Setaria digitatum), digested the DNA with several restriction endonucleases, prepared Southern blots and probed with 32P-labelled DSA probes. The patterns of fragments generated using two restriction endonucleases, Mbo I and Taq I, in combination with two probes, rDNA from the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and pBM103, an anonymous DNA probe from B. malayi, unequivocally distinguish between all 6 of the species. To ensure that the differences we observed between the species represent true interspecies variation rather than fortuitous individual variations we analysed DNA from several individual B. malayi and B. pahangi worms. The individual B. malayi worms demonstrated restriction profiles that were invariant, as did the individual B. pahangi worms, demonstrating that the differences we observed were true interspecies variations.
Wing trajectory control for flapping-wing microrobots using combined repetitive and minimum-variance adaptive methods

We discuss the design and implementation of a combined repetitive and minimum-variance adaptive control strategy for generating a-priori-specified desired periodic flapping trajectories of a flying microrobot's wings. With this method and using a static force sensing experimental setup, relevant information about the forces produced by the wings' flapping can be gathered. In turn, this information can be used for designing real-time controllers capable of enforcing desired trajectories on microrobotic insects in vertical flight and hovering.
Microenzymic method for the quantitative analysis of acetyl groups in proteins and peptides

Abstract A micro method for the determination of acetyl groups in proteins and peptides is described. The procedure involves acid hydrolysis, extraction of the liberated acetic acid from the hydrolyzate with tert -butyl ethyl ether, extraction of the acetic acid from the tert -butyl ethyl ether into Tris buffer, and assay by enzymic means. The procedure requires only 0.10 to 0.90 μmole of protein or an equivalent quantity of acetate. Application of the method to simulated hydrolyzates, known acetylated proteins, and several proteins which have not previously been studied is described.
Clinical Assessment of the 1/3 Radius Using a New Desktop Ultrasonic Bone Densitometer

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the capability of a novel ultrasound device to clinically estimate bone mineral density (BMD) at the 1/3 radius. The device rests on a desktop and is portable, and permits real-time evaluation of the radial BMD. The device measures two net time delay (NTD) parameters, NTD DW and NTD CW . NTD DW is defined as the difference between the transit time of an ultrasound pulse to travel through soft-tissue, cortex and medullary cavity, and the transit time through soft tissue only of equal overall distance. NTD CW is defined as the difference between the transit time of an ultrasound pulse to travel through soft-tissue and cortex only, and the transit time through soft tissue only again of equal overall distance. The square root of the product of these two parameters is a measure of the radial BMD at the 1/3 location as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A clinical IRB-approved study measured ultrasonically 60 adults at the 1/3 radius. BMD was also measured at the same anatomic site and time using DXA. A linear regression using NTD produced a linear correlation coefficient of 0.93 ( p in vitro studies. In conclusion, although X-ray methods are effective in bone mass assessment, osteoporosis remains one of the largest undiagnosed and under-diagnosed diseases in the world today. The research described here should enable significant expansion of diagnosis and monitoring of osteoporosis through a desktop device that ultrasonically assesses bone mass at the 1/3 radius.
Tepid water for everyone? the future OLUC, catalogers, and outsourcing

As we move into 1994, it seems opportune to reflect on the OLUC and what it might become in the next few years. We are at the beginning of an interesting era for cataloging because of two factors: technology and finances. That is, technology is expanding while finanaces are dwindling. We might be at the beginning of a cycle of decisions leading us to utilize a superior technology that will give patrons access to a mediocre bank of information. This is similar to having wonderful plumbing in a building but an inadequate water supply. There would be beautiful fixtures throughout that building, stupendous service on those fixtures, fountains everywhere, innovative nozzles and spigots and basins, but out of each faucet would come the exact same thing: tepid water – a product that almost never meets anyone′s needs. Is that really service? More to the point, is that what we want to deliver: tepid water for everyone?
Quasiparticle description of wave propagation and reflection in inhomogeneous media

Quasiparticle description of wave propagation and reflection from a transversely and/or longitudinally inhomogenous medium have been investigated. For a transversely inhomogeneous medium the first order quasiparticle method for wave propagation in the parabolic approximation has been extended to wide angle propagation and displays very good accuracy in the parameter range where dielectric and beam widths are of the order or larger than a wavelength. Rapid transverse variation is treated by an integrodifferential equation including higher order perturbations. Wave reflection from longitudinally as well as transversely inhomogeneous media is described in terms of quasiparticle reflection. Quasiparticle reflection probabilities, determined from the medium profile as a function of position and momentum, are introduced for separable media, i.e., \epsilon(x, z) = \epsilon_{x}(x) + \epsilon_{z}(z) , to explain wave coupling of incident and reflected waves. Within the quasiparticle theory the interpretation of quasiparticle reflection is self-consistently derived from the wave equations and the definition of a quasiparticle distribution function. The interpretation is applicable for relatively small longitudinal scales and includes the case of a mismatched open dielectric waveguide junction.
Nearcritical and supercritical ethanol as a benign solvent: polarity and hydrogen-bonding

Abstract Nearcritical (NC) and supercritical (SC) ethanol may offer novel media for both chemical reactions and separations as a replacement for environmentally undesirable organic solvents. We investigated the dipolarity/polarizability, hydrogen-bond donating acidity and accepting basicity in terms of Kamlet–Taft solvatochromism parameters π ∗ , α and β in saturated liquid ethanol from 25 to 225 °C and in gaseous and SC ethanol at 250 °C as a function of pressure. Reichardt’s E T (30) scale was determined for ethanol under the same conditions. NC and SC ethanol has a wide range of solvent strength, which can be readily and continuously tuned by temperature and pressure. Liquid ethanol becomes nearly nonpolar as the temperature increases towards its critical point. The dipolarity/polarizability for SC ethanol ranges from gas-like to nonpolar liquid-like with increasing pressure. On the other hand, ethanol maintains significant hydrogen-bond donating acidity even under the supercritical conditions at 250 °C and at pressures up to 18.7 MPa. The hydrogen-bond accepting basicity, however, is considerably weakened at elevated temperatures. These well-established solvent parameters greatly improve our understanding of hot compressible ethanol, and allow us to explore the feasibility of using it in a variety of benign processes.
A finitely extensible bead-spring chain model for dilute polymer solutions

Abstract The FENE-P dumbbell, that is, the finitely extensible non-linear elastic dumbbell with the Peterlin approximation, has been used extensively to describe the rheological behavior of dilute polymer solutions. The model is, however, severely limited, since it cannot describe the broad distribution of relaxation times that real polymer molecules possess. Hence, it is important to extend the model to a chain of finitely extensible springs. The FENE-P chain, however, has not been as widely used, presumably because of the large number of coupled equations that must be solved simultaneously in order to calculate the stress tensor. We present here a new model, the FENE-PM chain, as an alternative to the FENE-P chain. The stress tensor for the FENE-PM chain is calculated from a much smaller set of equations than the FENE-P and at the same time yields nearly the same results for the material properties in shear and elongational flow as the FENE-P. The reduced number of equations greatly expedites calculations for longer chains.
A thermomechanical cohesive zone model for bridged delamination cracks

Abstract The coupled thermomechanical numerical analysis of composite laminates with bridged delamination cracks loaded by a temperature gradient is described. The numerical approach presented is based on the framework of a cohesive zone model. A traction–separation law is presented which accounts for breakdown of the micromechanisms responsible for load transfer across bridged delamination cracks. The load transfer behavior is coupled to heat conduction across the bridged delamination crack. The coupled crack–bridging model is implemented into a finite element framework as a thermomechanical cohesive zone model (CZM). The fundamental response of the thermomechanical CZM is described. Subsequently, bridged delamination cracks of fixed lengths are studied. Values of the crack tip energy release rate and of the crack heat flux are computed to characterize the loading of the structure. Specimen geometries are considered that lead to crack opening through bending deformation and buckling delamination. The influence of critical mechanical and thermal parameters of the bridging zone on the thermomechanical delamination behavior is discussed. Bridging fibers not only contribute to crack conductance, but by keeping the crack opening small they allow heat flux across the delamination crack to be sustained longer, and thereby contribute to reduced levels of thermal stresses. The micro-mechanism based cohesive zone model allows the assessment of the effectiveness of the individual mechanisms contributing to the thermomechanical crack bridging embedded into the structural analysis.
Molecular Dynamics Study of a Polymeric Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate the properties of an atomic model of an aromatic polyamide reverse osmosis membrane. The monomers forming the polymeric membrane are cross-linked progressively on the basis of a heuristic distance criterion during MD simulations until the system interconnectivity reaches completion. Equilibrium MD simulations of the hydrated membrane are then used to determine the density and diffusivity of water within the membrane. Given a 3 MPa pressure differential and a 0.125 μm width membrane, the simulated water flux is calculated to be 1.4 × 10−6 m/s, which is in fair agreement with an experimental flux measurement of 7.7 × 10−6 m/s.
Intrapartum to postpartum changes in colloid osmotic pressure

Abstract A study was undertaken to determine the effect of route of delivery on plasma colloid osmotic pressure. Plasma colloid osmotic pressure was measured on admission to the hospital and 8 to 24 hours post partum in 72 patients at term with uncomplicated prenatal histories. Thirty-six patients underwent uncomplicated vaginal deliveries (local anesthesia, 18; conduction anesthesia, 18) and 36 patients had cesarean sections (conduction anesthesia, 18; general anesthesia, 18). The mean (±SD) intrapartum colloid osmotic pressure of the overall group was 21.0 ± 2.1 mm Hg, and it declined significantly (p
BASE WAVELET SELECTION FOR BEARING VIBRATION SIGNAL ANALYSIS

A critical issue to ensuring the effectiveness of wavelet transform in machine condition monitoring and health diagnosis is the choice of the most suited base wavelet for signal decomposition and feature extraction. This paper addresses this issue by introducing a quantitative measure to select an appropriate base wavelet for analyzing vibration signals measured on rotary mechanical systems. Specifically, the measure based on energy-to-Shannon entropy ratio has been investigated. Both the simulated Gaussian-modulated sinusoidal signal and an actual ball bearing vibration signal have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed measure on base wavelet selection. Experimental results demonstrate that the wavelet selected using the developed measure is better suited than other wavelets in diagnosing structural defects in the bearing. The method developed provides systematic guidance in wavelet selection.
The origin, identification, and cytogenetic behavior of tomato monosomics

The missing chromosomal elements were cytologically identified in a primary monosomic (haplo-11) and 18 tertiary monosomics (lacking interchanged chromosomes) induced by radiation in the tomato. For the tertiary monosomics all interchanges occurred in the centromeres, and, as with single arms deficiencies in the same materials, deficiencies are tolerated for only 15 of the 24 arms of the complement. Non-homologous pairing was frequently observed in the univalent pachytene chromosomes. The monosomic condition was not transmitted to any of the 11,981 progeny of ten tested monosomics. Reproductive fertility and gross morphology were also studied.
Local Union Leadership Orientation and Union Democracy

Cette ktude pr6sente une alternative au concept du systPme de dew partis pour le maintient d' un ordre democratique dans les organizations dites volontaires. On a presuppose que, en l'absence de conflit institutionalise les orientations de role de militants qui se dedient des roles de leaders determinent le caractere politique de l'organization. On a choisi les delegues Aune convention constitutionelle des United Auto Workers (Syndicat des Travailleurs de 1'Automobile). On a suppose que les facteurs qui conditionnent un ordre democratique sont (i) l'orientation des valeurs des delbgues, (ii) l'evaluation du syndicat comme organization d6mocratique par les delegukes (iii)la perception par les dhgues du comportement politique des membres et de l'attitude de ceux-ci envers le direction du syndicat. Les resultats suggerent qu' il y a chez ces degues un fort attachement aux valeurs democratiques. En plus, l'evaluation du syndicat par les delegubs et leur perception de l'attitude et du comportement des membres sont des influences determinantes qui renforcent leur attachement B un syst6me democratique de direction.
Optical conductivity in alloys: Optical effective mass☆

Abstract A generalized Kubo formula for the optical conductivity and the associated optical mass in alloys is derived for off-diagonal randomness and analyzed in the dilute limit. A possible resolution for the decrease in the optical mass upon alloying observed in certain dilute alloys is suggested.
Slow Dancing with Skeletons: Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Abstract The Spokane Indian characters in Sherman Alexie's short story collection The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven wage daily battle against small humiliations and perennial hurts. Situated on a reservation where the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) houses, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) trucks, and commodity foods continually mirror paternalism and dependency, and where “tribal ties” and a cohesive “sense of community” (74) have waned, Alexie's characters confront the dilemma of how to be “real Indians,” of how to find “their true names, their adult names” (20), of how to find a warrior dignity and courage when it is “too late to be warriors in the old way” (63), of how to ameliorate what Adrian C. Louis has termed “the ghost-pain of history” (35)—that haunting sense of personal and cultural loss that generates a paralyzing sense of ineffectuality. They struggle to cope with passivity, cynicism, and despair to find healing for the pain that turns into self-pity and the a...
Characterization of ellipticine binding to native calf thymus DNA

Abstract The binding of [ 14 C]ellipticine to native calf thymus DNA was studied using equilibrium dialysis. A Scatchard plot revealed the presence of high- and low-affinity binding sites in DNA, the former having a K of 4.0 × 10 7 M −1 and an n (saturation limiting of binding) of 0.078 (1 mol ellipticine/13 mol of DNA nucleotides). The forces involved in stabilizing the high-affinity binding, which has been equated with intercalative binding, were due to a combination of hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Difference spectra of ellipticine in the presence of the polydeoxynucleotides, poly d(A-T) or poly d(G-C), showed that there was no base specificity involved in the high-affinity binding. Ellipticine binding to the low-affinity sites, which has been equated with surface binding, was due primarily to the participation of electrostatic interactions of ellipticine with the anionic phosphate groups on the double helical surface of DNA.
Individual commitment to risky and conservative choices as a determinant of shifts in group decisions1

Summary The consistently positive relationship between initial riskiness and perceived influence obtained in past work led us to speculate that (1) the deliberative effort involved in making a choice increases with its riskiness, as a result (2) individuals who select a risky course of action will be more committed to their choice than conservative individuals, and (3) the former will be more influential in group decisions. The following support was obtained for these conjectures When individuals had to select a reaction time interval to beat, those who were risky, that is, who selected a short interval, were more confident in having chosen wisely, were less likely to feel they might change their choice given the opportunity, and took longer to make their choice than those who were conservative, that is, who selected a long interval The first two of these measures were assumed to reflect commitment to the choice, and the third was taken as a rough indication of the amount of effort involved in choosing A group decision was also made regarding the reaction time interval It tended to be riskier than that preferred by the average individual prior to the decision if the riskiest member was more committed and/or expended more effort in choosing than his partners, on the other hand, it tended to be more conservative than the average prior preference if the most conservative member was more committed and or expended more effort
Taking an entrepreneurial education resource inventory: an exploratory case study

This paper reviews and evaluates the process of taking an entrepreneurial education resource inventory in a rural community wanting to create a more 'entrepreneurial community'. An exploratory case study sample inventory was conducted in a local community and is reported here, along with evaluations and discussion. The challenges of implementing the required change system are presented along with implications for managerial practice, domestically and internationally, as well as for future research.
Effect on Reproductive Performance of Turkey Breeders of Nutrient Restriction During the Development Period

Abstract In two experiments with Large White turkey breeder hens, weight gains, in a “holding” period before the egg laying session, were restricted by limited-feeding or by diluted diets. Weights at sexual maturity were reduced 750 g. in one experiment and 1400 g. in the second experiment. In the first experiment, production rate was increased and mortality was decreased significantly by limited feeding. These criteria were not significantly affected in Experiment 2, and other reproductive criteria were not significantly affected by growing-period diets in either experiment. Protein concentration of laying diets (12, 14, 16%) did not cause significant differences in any reproductive criterion.