cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Goat milk in human nutrition

Goat milk and its products of yoghurt, cheese and powder have three-fold significance in human nutrition: (1) feeding more starving and malnourished people in the developing world than from cow milk; (2) treating people afflicted with cow milk allergies and gastro-intestinal disorders, which is a significant segment in many populations of developed countries; and (3) filling the gastronomic needs of connoisseur consumers, which is a growing market share in many developed countries. Concerning (1), very much improvement in milk yield and lactation length of dairy goats, especially in developing countries must be accomplished through better education/extension, feeding and genetics. Concerning (2), little unbiased medical research to provide evidence and promotional facts has been conducted, but is very much needed to reduce discrimination against goats and substantiate the many anecdotal experiences about the medical benefits from goat milk consumption, which abound in trade publications and the popular press. Goats have many unique differences in anatomy, physiology and product biochemistry from sheep and cattle, which supports the contention of many unique qualities of dairy goat products for human nutrition. Concerning (3), a few countries like France have pioneered a very well-organized industry of goat milk production, processing, marketing, promotion and research, which has created a strong consumer clientele like in no other country, but deserves very much to be copied for the general benefit to human nutrition and goat milk producers. The physiological and biochemical facts of the unique qualities of goat milk are just barely known and little exploited, especially not the high levels in goat milk of short and medium chain fatty acids, which have recognized medical values for many disorders and diseases of people. The new concept of tailor making foods to better fit human needs has not been applied to goat milk and its products so far, otherwise the enrichment of short and medium chain fatty acids in goat butter, and their greater concentration compared to cow butter, could have become a valued consumer item. Also revisions to human dietary recommendations towards admitting the health benefits of some essential fats supports the idea of promoting goat butter. While goat yoghurt, goat cheeses and goat milk powder are widely appreciated around the world, goat butter is not produced anywhere commercially in significant volume.
Fluid and Electrolyte Management of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Recent advances in medical knowledge and technology have markedly improved the survival rates of very low birth weight infants. Optimizing the neuro-developmental outcomes of these survivors has become an important priority in neonatal care, which includes appropriate management for achieving fluid and electrolyte balance. This review focuses on the principles of providing maintenance fluid to these infants, including careful assessment to avoid excessive fluid administration that may increase the risk of such neonatal morbidities as necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The review also describes the principles of fluid and electrolyte management of infants with BPD, which includes the strategy of providing adequate nutrition to promote normal growth.
Effects of feed plots on fecal egg counts of white-tailed deer

Abstract Effects of feed plots on concentrations of gastrointestinal nematode eggs (eggs per g; EPG) in feces of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) were studied on six properties in East Feliciana Parish, LA, USA, from February 1989–January 1990. EPG levels were weakly related to deer densities ( r =0.11, P P = 0.02), months ( P P P > 0.05) and higher than during fall or spring. EPG levels during spring were lower than during any other season ( P P >- 0.34) or month ( P >- 0.18), or with relative deer density serving as a covariable ( P =0.52). The presence of feed plots did not affect gastrointestinal parasite burdens of deer as reflected by fecal egg counts on properties in this study. The establishment of feed plots will not necessarily lead to increased gastrointestinal parasite burdens in deer concentrating to forage on those sites.
Focal points in coordinated divergence

Abstract We explore situations of coordinated divergence, wherein some people coordinate on a shared cultural practice that diverges from the practice of others. Previous literature on individual drives for uniqueness or difference cannot explain coordinated divergence because it leads to a prediction of idiosyncratic differentiation. Using Schelling’s original coordination games as a starting point, we provide experimental evidence that people can effectively solve problems of coordinated divergence [Schelling, T. C. (1960). The strategy of conflict. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press]. We also discuss why coordinated divergence often takes the form of choosing opposites (long hair/short hair, red/blue, etc.).
Chronic ethanol reduces nicotine-induced dopamine release in PC12 cells.

Background: There is a high correlation between alcohol and nicotine use; that is, alcohol use is associated with high levels of smoking. One important aspect of nicotine addiction appears to be the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on dopaminergic neurons projecting from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens. The release of dopamine from these neurons is thought to mediate, at least in part, the reward of nicotine consumption. If chronic alcohol consumption affects the amount of dopamine released in response to nicotine, it could contribute to the high level of smoking seen in alcoholics. Methods: We have used an in vitro model system to study the effects of chronic ethanol exposure on acute nicotine-induced dopamine release and the withdrawal from ethanol. A pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cells) was exposed to ethanol for periods of 3 to 96 hr, followed by a 5 min exposure to nicotine. Dopamine released in response to nicotinic stimulation was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results: Exposure of PC12 cells to chronic ethanol resulted in a time- and dose-dependent inhibition of nicotine-induced dopamine release. A moderate dose of ethanol (50 mM) resulted in a significant reduction in as little as 3 hr. The cells demonstrated a form of cross-tolerance in that they showed diminished response to nicotine even though they had never been exposed to nicotine. After ethanol was withdrawn from the cells after a chronic exposure (96 hr), dopamine release slowly returned to normal levels but demonstrated a significant period of “overshoot” or hyperresponsiveness between 24 and 48 hr after withdrawal. Conclusions: These results show that chronic ethanol exposure decreases nicotine-induced dopamine release and demonstrate a period of hyperresponsiveness during withdrawal from ethanol. These studies suggest potential interactions between chronic ethanol and nicotine that may provide insight into such phenomena as cross-tolerance and increased use of nicotine by alcoholics.
Environmentally induced analgesia: ontogeny of a nonopioid system.

Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to 90 sec of hind paw shock activates an endogenous pain control system that involves cholinergic sites. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the development of function of this nonopioid analgesic system. Research on the ontogeny of the cholinergic system suggests that this receptor system exhibits an extended period of postnatal development, with various neurochemical indexes reaching maturity between 30 to 50 days of age. Results revealed that exposure to hind paw shock produced very low levels of analgesia in 10- and 28-day-old rats. The analgesic response was more evident in 2-month-old rats, but the degree of hind paw schock-induced analgesia was not at its maximum until 3 months of age. Systemic injection of naltrexone had no effect on the degree of analgesia induced by hind paw shock, while a systemic injection of scopolamine significantly attenuated the analgesia displayed by the 28-day-old and 2- and 3-month-old rats. Thus, the neurochemical indexes of cholinergic development overestimated the degree of functional maturity of the endogenous analgesia system activated by hind paw shock.
A dependence of quarkonium production in proton-nucleus collisions.

A phenomenological model based on information from quarkonium decays is developed to describe quarkonium production in hadron-hadron collisions. The model predictions compare well with the existing proton-induced UPSILON-production data. Since the gluon-fusion process in general is the dominant production mechanism, quarkonium production in nuclei offers the opportunity to probe modification of the gluon distribution of a nucleon in the nuclear environment. We predict the possible A dependence of quarkonium production in proton-nucleus collisions using three models which successfully describe the observed A dependence in deep-inelastic lepton scattering. Our results suggest the possibility of differentiating these models by use of the A dependence of quarkonium production in proton-nucleus collisions.
FIELD INVESTIGATION OF WAVE DISSIPATION OVER SALT MARSH VEGETATION DURING TROPICAL CYCLONE

Wave data were measured along a 28 m transect using 3 pressure transducers over a 2-day period during a tropical storm. The tropical storm force winds produced waves up to 0.4 m high (zero-moment) that propagated over vegetation of Spartina alterniflora submerged under a surge of over 1 m above the marsh floor. Measured wave heights, energy losses between gages and spectral energy dissipation models of rigid vegetation were utilized to estimate wave height decay rates, integral and frequency-dependent bulk drag coefficients, and frequency distribution of energy dissipation induced by the vegetation. Measurements showed that incident waves attenuated exponentially over the vegetation. The exponential wave height decay rate decreased as Reynolds number increased. The swell was observed to decay at a slower rate than the wind sea regardless of the wave height. The linear spatial wave height reduction rate increased from 1.5% to 4% /m as incident wave height decreased. The bulk drag coefficient estimated from the field measurement decreased with increasing Reynolds and Keulegan-Carpenter numbers. The energy dissipation varied across the frequency scales with the largest magnitude observed near the spectral peaks, above which the dissipation gradually decreased. The wave energy dissipation did not linearly follow the incident energy, and the degree of non-linearity varied with the frequency. For a given spectrum, the frequency-distributed drag coefficient increased gradually up to the peak frequency and remained approximately at a stable value at the higher frequencies. This spectral variation was parameterized by introducing a frequency-dependent velocity attenuation parameter inside the canopy. The spectral drag coefficient is shown to predict the distribution of energy dissipation with more accuracy than the integral coefficients, which results in a more accurate prediction of the mean wave period and spectral width of a wave field with vegetation.
The spindle checkpoint of Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to separable microtubule-dependent events

Abstract The spindle checkpoint regulates microtubule-based chromosome segregation and helps to maintain genomic stability [1,2]. Mutational inactivation of spindle checkpoint genes has been implicated in the progression of several types of human cancer. Recent evidence from budding yeast suggests that the spindle checkpoint is complex. Order-of-function experiments have defined two separable pathways within the checkpoint. One pathway, defined by MAD2 , controls the metaphase-to-anaphase transition and the other, defined by BUB2 , controls the exit from mitosis [3–6]. The relationships between the separate branches of the checkpoint, and especially the events that trigger the pathways, have not been defined. We localized a Bub2p–GFP fusion protein to the cytoplasmic side of the spindle pole body and used a kar9 mutant to show that cells with misoriented spindles are arrested in anaphase of mitosis. We used a kar9 bub2 double mutant to show that the arrest is BUB2 dependent. We conclude that the separate pathways of the spindle checkpoint respond to different classes of microtubules. The MAD2 branch of the pathway responds to kinetochore microtubule interactions and the BUB2 branch of the pathway operates within the cytoplasm, responding to spindle misorientation.
Structural Studies on the Activation and Substrate Binding of a Conditionally Disordered Acid-Activated Chaperone

HdeA is a 9.7kDa chaperone that is inactive at neutral pH but becomes activated and disordered by shifts to low pH. The chaperone is required for bacterial pathogens to resist the acid-mediated protein aggregation that would otherwise occur in the human gut. We sought to identify which of HdeA's acid-titratable residues were the key players in its activation. Using constant pH molecular dynamics calculations and site-specific mutagenesis, we identified several residues involved in HdeA activation and have isolated variants that are destabilized and constitutively active at even neutral pH. These mutants help us to understand how pH-driven changes in HdeA flexibility drive activation.One of the pressing problems in chaperone biology is how chaperones interact with a multitude of client proteins to facilitate their folding. HdeA's size and accessibility to NMR also makes it ideal for monitoring the structural changes that take place in this chaperone upon activation and upon client binding. Our predicted NMR structure of HdeA at neutral pH is a folded protein and very similar the crystal structures previously solved for the HdeA dimer. Upon shift to low pH however, HdeA simultaneously becomes active as a chaperone and acquires a largely disordered conformation. We have obtained structural information that gives us insights into HdeA's activation process and client binding. The use of small NMR accessible client proteins raises the exciting possibility of monitoring the structural changes that take place within the client upon interaction with the chaperone and in doing so gaining insight into the fundamental question of what chaperones do to their clients to facilitate folding.
Robust quantification of polymerase chain reactions using global fitting.

Background Quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) are used to monitor relative changes in very small amounts of DNA. One drawback to qPCR is reproducibility: measuring the same sample multiple times can yield data that is so noisy that important differences can be dismissed. Numerous analytical methods have been employed that can extract the relative template abundance between samples. However, each method is sensitive to baseline assignment and to the unique shape profiles of individual reactions, which gives rise to increased variance stemming from the analytical procedure itself.
Control of Expression of Insulin Resistance and Hyperglycemia by Different Genetic Factors in Diabetic C57BL/6J Mice

The inheritance of the tendency to develop diet-induced non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes was analyzed in crosses between diabetes-prone C57BL/6J (BL/6) mice and diabetes-resistant A/J mice. The effects of a diabetogenic diet on blood glucose and insulin levels, insulin sensitivity, and weight were evaluated in F 1 and both (BL/6 × A/J) F 1 × BL/6 and (BL/6 × A/J) F 1 × A/J backcross mice. These results suggest that diet-induced hyperglycemia is largely determined by a recessive gene and diet-induced insulin resistance by a dominant gene. Analyses of both backcrosses indicated that insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels were unrelated, suggesting that they are controlled by different genetic factors. This conclusion was supported by data from nine recombinant inbred BXA strains in which no correlation was observed between these variables. Furthermore, insulin sensitivity and body weight correlated differently in the two backcross groups, suggesting that insulin resistance is not simply a function of obesity. The number of genes that predominantly influence diabetic traits was estimated by comparing the variance observed in (BL/6 × A/J) F 1 × BL/6 backcross mice with that observed in parental mice. The data suggest that relatively few genes predominantly affect the diabetic phenotype in this murine model.
Aldosterone antagonism or synthase inhibition reduces end-organ damage induced by treatment with angiotensin and high salt

In the setting of high salt intake, aldosterone stimulates fibrosis in the heart, great vessels, and kidney of rats. We used uninephrectomized rats treated with angiotensin II and placed on a high salt diet to exaggerate renal fibrosis. We then tested whether mineralocorticoid receptor blockade by spironolactone or aldosterone synthase inhibition by FAD286 have similar effects on end-organ damage and gene expression. Individually, both drugs prevented the hypertensive response to uninephrectomy and high salt intake but not when angiotensin II was administered. Following 4 weeks of treatment with FAD286, plasma aldosterone was reduced, whereas spironolactone increased aldosterone at 8 weeks of treatment. Angiotensin II and high salt treatment caused albuminuria, azotemia, renovascular hypertrophy, glomerular injury, increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and osteopontin mRNA expression, as well as tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the kidney. Both drugs prevented these renal effects and attenuated cardiac and aortic medial hypertrophy while reducing osteopontin and transforming growth factor-β mRNA expression in the aorta. The two drugs also reduced cardiac interstitial fibrosis but had no effect on that of the perivascular region. Although spironolactone enhanced angiotensin II and salt-stimulated PAI-1 mRNA expression in aorta and heart, spironolactone and FAD286 prevented renal PAI-1 mRNA protein expression. Our study shows that mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism and aldosterone synthase inhibition similarly decrease hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis of the kidney and heart caused by angiotensin II and high salt.
Papilledema due to a permanent catheter for renal dialysis and an arteriovenous fistula: a "two hit" hypothesis.

Abstract:Elevated intracranial pressure in patients with chronic renal failure has several potential causes. Its rare occurrence secondary to the hemodynamic effects of hemodialysis is described and the findings support a multifactorial etiology (“two hits”).
Balloon Valvuloplasty of Critical Pulmonary Valve Stenosis in a Premature Neonate

Balloon dilatation of critical pulmonary valve stenosis in neonates with a weight of less than 2.5 kg is associated with specific problems, including temperature loss during the procedure, venous access, and problems related to the small size of the cardiac structures. We report our experience with balloon valvuloplasty in a premature newborn weighing 1.22 kg. Venous access was gained with a 4 French sheath, and balloon dilatation was performed with a 3.5 French 7-mm balloon catheter. Temperature loss of the baby was avoided by puncturing the femoral vein prior to the procedure on a neonatal open care system, wrapping the child in cotton, and covering the extremities with aluminium foil. The good result in our patient demonstrates that balloon valvuloplasty is a therapeutic option for treatment of critical pulmonary stenosis in premature infants.
The Geology of Chile.Teresa Moreno and Wes Gibbons, Editors. 424 Pp. Geological Society of London. 2007. Hardcover. ISBN 1-86239-219-6. Hardcover Price Members, £42.50. Other Societies, £51.00, Nonmembers, £85.00. Paperback Price Members, £27.50. Other Societies, £27.50, Nonmembers, £35.00.

More than 70 authors contributed to this English language volume, which handles the very broad geologic settings of Chile in able fashion, with approximately one-half of the text dedicated to the tectonostratigraphic and chronologic development of a country more than 4,000-km long, yet no more than about 200-km wide. Beginning with discussions of Chilean basement complexes and tectonostratigraphy, this book provides a very good general understanding of the geologic setting of the western margin of South America and gives a background on which essentially all other discussions of Chilean geology follow. The Andean orogen is highlighted by substantial detail and recent investigations concerning Andean magmatism (chapter 4). The authors subdivide Chile’s Andean magmatism into four distinct segments, in addition to Quaternary volcanism (chapter 5). The treatment of both the tectonic and geographic differences in Chilean magmatic activity gives readers an excellent …
Claiming Kabale: racial thought and urban governance in Uganda

Abstract As Uganda's postcolonial leaders Milton Obote and Idi Amin sought to pin down Asians as legal and discursive subjects between 1969 and 1972, they invoked a contested administrative, political and social history to promote Africanisation initiatives. Traders targeted by the 1969 Trade Licensing Act in small towns such as Kabale reshaped malleable racial and legal categories in local administrative struggles over the control of urban space that did not map neatly onto policy-makers’ visions. Nevertheless, the perceived decisiveness of Milton Obote's legislation and of Idi Amin's subsequent expulsion decrees has obscured from subsequent narratives the messy politics of Uganda's urban spaces. This article draws attention to the opportunities and limits of legal claim-making at the intersection of racial thought and urban governmentality during the Trade Licensing Act's uneven implementation.
Theoretical Compton profile anisotropies in molecules and solids. VII. Zero point Compton profile anisotropies and bond polarities in alkali halide diatomic molecules

A correlation between bond polarities and zero point Compton profile anisotropies is shown for alkali halide molecules. The correlation derives from the fact that both quantities are determined by molecular binding and antibinding forces and are thus functionally related to nuclear charge ratios.
Characterization of mammalian translocase of inner mitochondrial membrane (Tim44) isolated from diabetic newborn mouse kidney

Mammalian translocase of mitochondrial inner membrane (mTim44) was isolated during representational difference analysis of cDNA from diabetic mouse kidney. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse kidney cDNA was prepared and subtracted by normal mouse kidney cDNA. By using one of the isolated cDNA fragments as a screening probe, full-length cDNA of mTim44 was isolated from λZAP kidney cDNA library. At the nucleotide level, mTim44 did not exhibit significant homology with any known genes; however, at the amino acid level, it had 50% similarity and 29% identity with yeast Tim44. C-terminal FLAG epitope-tagged mTim44 fusion protein was transiently expressed in COS7 cells. By using anti-FLAG epitope M2 monoclonal antibody, mTim44 was found to have its subcellular localization associated with mitochondria. By immunoelectron microscopy, mTim44 was seen in the paracrystalline structures within the mitochondria, as well as in their cristae. Mitochondrial import assay of in vitro translated mTim44 indicated that its precursor product (≈50 kDa) was imported and proteolytically processed to a mature ≈44-kDa protein, and its translocation was inner membrane potential (ΔΨ)-dependent. Imported mTim44 was protected from protease digestion in which outer membranes were selectively permeabilized with digitonin. The mature form of mTim44 could be recovered in the supernatant of sonicated mitochondrial membrane fraction treated with 0.1 M Na2CO3, pH 11.5. The data indicate that mTim44 is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, one of the members of the mammalian TIM complex and up-regulated in hyperglycemic states.
A table-oriented interface for reliability modeling of fault-tolerant architectures

The Table-Oriented Translator to the ASSIST Language (TOTAL) computer program, a spreadsheet interface for a reliability analysis tool set under development at NASA Langley, is described. This program is designed to capture the failure characteristics of a fault-tolerant architecture and to automatically generate a corresponding reliability model. The level of information required is appropriate for system designers with little or no background in the details of reliability calculations. The system description process and model generation algorithms are presented. >
The PPP-family protein phosphatases PrpA and PrpB of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium possess distinct biochemical properties.

of this class, Mn 2 had the highest affinity and stimulated the greatest activity. The apparent Ka of PrpA for Mn 2 of 65 M was comparable to that for other bacterial phosphatases, but PrpB had a much higher affinity for Mn 2 (1.3 M). The pH optima were pH 6.5 for PrpA and pH 8 for PrpB, while the optimal temperatures were 45 to 55°C for PrpA and 30 to 37°C for PrpB. Each phosphatase could hydrolyze phosphorylated serine, threonine, or tyrosine residues, but their relative specific activities varied with the specific substrate tested. These differences suggest that each phosphatase is used by serovar Typhimurium under different growth or environmental conditions such as temperature or acidity.
A propensity-matched study of the association of physical function and outcomes in geriatric heart failure.

Most heart failure (HF) patients are older adults. However, the association of functional status and outcomes in ambulatory older adults with chronic HF has not been well studied. Of the 7788 Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) trial participants, 4036 were ≥65 years. Of these, 1369 (34%) had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III–IV symptoms. We calculated propensity scores for NYHA III–IV symptoms for all 4036 patients using a non-parsimonious logistic regression model. We used propensity scores to match 1010 (74% of 1369) NYHA III–IV patients with 1010 of NYHA I–II patients. Kaplan-Meier and matched Cox proportion hazard analyses were used to estimate associations of NYHA class III–IV with mortality and hospitalizations. Patients had a mean age of 73 years, 31% were female, and 11% were nonwhites. All-cause mortality occurred in 394 (rate, 1385/10000 person-years) NYHA I–II and 452 (rate, 1654/10000 person-years) NYHA III–IV patients, respectively, during 2967 and 2733 years of follow up (hazard ratio {HR}, 1.28; 95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.09–1.50; P=0.002). NYHA III–IV class was associated with increased cardiovascular (HR, 1.25, 95% CI, 1.04–1.49, P=0.016) and HF mortality (HR, 1.51, 95% CI, 1.16–1.97, P=0.002). NYHA III–IV class was not significantly associated with hospitalizations due to all causes (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.96–1.25; P=0.165), cardiovascular causes (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.96–1.29; P=0.150), or worsening HF (HR, 1.09, 95% CI, 0.92–1.30; P=0.330). Baseline NYHA functional class was associated with mortality but not with hospitalization in ambulatory older adults with chronic HF.
Adaptive multiresolution modulation for multimedia traffic in dynamic wireless environment

Modern day wireless systems requires the ability to support multitude of services with different reliability requirements. Challenges of achieving reliable multimedia services include limited battery resources at mobile nodes, coupled with hostile propagation environments. We believe that adaptive signaling techniques can be designed to take advantage of differences in the quality of service (QoS) requirements among different types of multimedia traffic besides improving spectral efficiency. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that it is essential to have a readily invertible equation for different multiresolution modulation types in order to automatically execute an Adaptive Multiresolution Modulation (AMM) scheme. Exponential approximation was used for generating invertible expression for asymmetrical quadrature amplitude modulation. We also generated the curve fitting approximations for the average BER probability and individual BER for 4-PSK, 8-PSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM by using the complementary error function approximation. In this article, we demonstrate the efficacy of the complimentary error function approximation as a better curve fitting approximation in comparison to exponential approximation. We also illustrated the benefits that can be gained from using the adaptive multiresolution modulation.
An Ant Based Approach for Generating Procedural Animations

In this paper we introduce an ant-based algorithm on continuous domains used to create procedural animations. We focus our approach on finding movement sequences that satisfy both the physical constraints as well as animator requirements. The proposed method is very flexible and can be easily adapted to different situations and characters’ morphologies. Our simulations show that the proposed technique is able to produce physically accurate procedural animations.
Validation of the Mayo Dysphagia Questionnaire

While multiple instruments characterize upper gastrointestinal symptoms, a validated instrument devoted to the measurement of a spectrum of esophageal dysphagia attributes is not available. Therefore, we constructed and validated the Mayo Dysphagia Questionnaire (MDQ). The 27 items of the MDQ underwent content validity, feasibility, concurrent validity, reproducibility, internal consistency, and construct validity testing. To assess content validity, five esophageal subspecialty gastroenterologists reviewed the items to ensure inclusion of pertinent domains. Feasibility testing was done with eight outpatients who refined problematic items. To assess concurrent validity, 70 patient responses on the MDQ were compared to responses gathered in a structured patient-physician interview. A separate group of 70 outpatients completed the MDQ twice to assess the reproducibility of each item. A total of 148 patients participated in the validation process (78 [53%] men; mean age 62). On average, the MDQ took 6 minutes to complete. A single item (odynophagia) tested poorly with a kappa value of <0.4. Otherwise, the majority of concurrent validity kappa values were in the good to excellent range with a mean of 0.63 (95% CI 0.22-0.89). The majority of reproducibility kappa values were also in the good to excellent range with a median kappa value of 0.76 (interquartile range: 0.67-0.81). Cronbach's alpha values were excellent in the range of 0.86-0.88. Spearman rank correlation coefficients to assess construct validity were also excellent in the range of 0.87-0.98. Thus, the MDQ is a concise instrument that demonstrates overall excellent concurrent validity, reproducibility, internal consistency, and construct validity for the features of esophageal dysphagia.
SciMiner: Web-based literature mining tool for target identification and functional enrichment analysis

Summary:SciMiner is a web-based literature mining and functional analysis tool that identifies genes and proteins using a context specific analysis of MEDLINE abstracts and full texts. SciMiner accepts a free text query (PubMed Entrez search) or a list of PubMed identifiers as input. SciMiner uses both regular expression patterns and dictionaries of gene symbols and names compiled from multiple sources. Ambiguous acronyms are resolved by a scoring scheme based on the co-occurrence of acronyms and corresponding description terms, which incorporates optional user-defined filters. Functional enrichment analyses are used to identify highly relevant targets (genes and proteins), GO (Gene Ontology) terms, MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms, pathways and protein–protein interaction networks by comparing identified targets from one search result with those from other searches or to the full HGNC [HUGO (Human Genome Organization) Gene Nomenclature Committee] gene set. The performance of gene/protein name identification was evaluated using the BioCreAtIvE (Critical Assessment of Information Extraction systems in Biology) version 2 (Year 2006) Gene Normalization Task as a gold standard. SciMiner achieved 87.1% recall, 71.3% precision and 75.8% F-measure. SciMiner's literature mining performance coupled with functional enrichment analyses provides an efficient platform for retrieval and summary of rich biological information from corpora of users' interests. Availability: http://jdrf.neurology.med.umich.edu/SciMiner/. A server version of the SciMiner is also available for download and enables users to utilize their institution's journal subscriptions. Contact: ude.hcimu@ruhuj Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Cortisol Metabolism in the Baboon During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

The metabolism of iv-administered 14C-cortisol (F) by pregnant baboons (107, 124 and 150 days gestation) was compared with that previously reported for nonpregnant animals and with that of animals examined 6–18 h after spontaneous vaginal delivery (178 ± 4 days). Unconjugated, glucuronoside (β-glucuronidase) and sulfate (H2SO4-ethyl acetate) fractions were extracted with ethyl acetate from urine containing more than 80% of injected 14C. Metabolites of interest were isolated by paper partition chromatography and purified by crystallization and derivative formation. Compared with nonpregnant animals, the following changes (P < 0.05) were observed in pregnancy: (1) an increase in the percent urinary 14C in the unconjugated fraction and a decrease in the proportion of 14C appearing in the glucuronoside fraction; (2) an increase in excretion of metabolites more polar than the cortols; (3) a decrease in excretion of metabolites less polar than cortisone in the glucuronoside fraction; (4) an increase in unconjug...
The new face of ovarian cancer modeling: better prospects for detection and treatment.

Ovariancancerhasadisproportionatelyhighmortalityratebecausepatientstypicallypresentwithlatestage metastatic disease. The vast majority of these deaths are from high-grade serous carcinoma. Recent studies indicate that many of these tumors arise from the fallopian tube and subsequently metastasize to the ovary. This may explain why such tumors have not been detected at early stage as detection efforts have been focused purely on the ovary. In keeping with this leap in understanding otheradvancessuchasthedevelopmentofex-vivomodelsandimmortalization ofhumanfallopiantube epithelial cells, and the use of integrated genomic analyses to identify hundreds of novel candidate oncogenes and tumor suppressors potentially involved in tumorigenesis now engender hope that we can begin to truly define the differences in pathogenesis between fallopian tube and ovarian-derived tumors. In doing so, we can hopefully improve early detection, treatment, and outcome.
Integrating Mixed-Reality Remote Experiments Into Virtual Learning Environments Using Interchangeable Components

This paper presents a proposal to integrate mixed-reality remote experiments into virtual learning environments (VLEs) using the concept of interchangeable components, which can represent either real or virtual devices or software in industrial automation systems. Combinations of real and virtual technical plants and automation systems are used in different learning scenarios for teaching control and automation concepts. Configurations of interchangeable components can be dynamically created via a VLE by configuring database parameters. The proposed system includes a remote Web interface that follows a thin client strategy and is designed to be compatible with Web browsers, including basic Java support. As the architecture that supports the integration of virtual and real components is located on the server side, remote students/users are only concerned with the experiment and do not need to be aware of the system that provides this integration and flexibility. In the current version, interchangeable components are integrated via an Object Linking and Embedding for Process Control interface, which is a widely adopted standard in the control and automation area. The proposed approach also provides practical and theoretical support for experiments within a collaborative virtual environment. This paper includes a description of four experiments developed using the proposed environment and concepts.
Consequences of Human Lakeshore Development on Emergent and Floating-Leaf Vegetation Abundance

Abstract Vegetation abundance along undeveloped and developed shorelines of Minnesota lakes was compared to test the hypothesis that development has not altered the abundance of emergent and floating-leaf vegetation. Aerial photographs of clear-water lakes dominated by centrarchids and walleyes Stizostedion vitreum were analyzed for vegetation. Vegetative coverage was estimated in 12 randomly selected 935-m2 digitized photograph plots for both developed and undeveloped shorelines of 44 lakes representing a gradient of development. Vegetative cover in littoral areas adjacent to developed shores was less abundant than along undeveloped shorelines. On average, there was a 66% reduction in vegetation coverage with development. The estimated loss of emergent and floating-leaf coverage from human development for all Minnesota's clear-water centrarchid–walleye lakes was 20–28%. Significant correlations were detected between occurrence of emergent and floating-leaf plant species and relative biomass and mean size...
Participation for What? A Policy-motivated Approach to Political Activism

Normatively and intuitively, we conceive of political participation as an integral component of democratic policymaking. However, research on participation generally does not include policy considerations as part of individuals’ decisions to engage in activism. I offer an opportunity model of participation that begins to study how policy goals shape individual participation and how aggregate participation shapes policymaking. The central argument is that individuals’ policy goals allow them to recognize those moments when it is most efficient and/or effective to take action. Examining black participation from 1980 to 1994, I show that black Americans are more likely to participate when they face external threats, are embedded in social networks, and have greater access to policymakers. Most importantly, the recognition of these opportunities varies according to individuals’ resources. This research moves beyond the discussion of who participates to address the equally fundamental question: participation for what?
Brain tissue reaction to permselective polymer capsules.

The brain tissue reaction to permselective polymer capsules implanted in rats was evaluated for 1 to 54 weeks. The polymer capsules were well tolerated in all animals and no recognizable neurological or behavioral deficits were associated with the implants. Necrosis at the brain/polymer interface, as assessed with Nissl stain, was not observed. Foreign body giant cells were consistently absent. Immunocytochemically identified reactive neuroglial cells showed a remarkably low-grade tissue response to the synthetic material be yond the first 2 weeks of observation. Immunolabeled cortical neurons revealed conserved columnar arrays around the implants. Transmission electron microscopy showed a minimal degree of collagen deposition compared to implants in peripheral sites, and normal synapses within a few micrometers from the brain/polymer interface, supporting the prospect of biocompatible, immunoisolated xenografts in the central nervous system.
Navigating the Institutional Logics of Markets: Implications for Strategic Brand Management.

Adopting an institutional theoretic framework, this article examines the evolution and competitive dynamics of markets composed of multiple practices, beliefs, and rule systems. The 30-year historical analysis of the U.S. yoga market illustrates the coexistence of spirituality, medical, fitness, and commercial logics. Using data gathered through archival sources, netnography, in-depth interviews, and participant observations, the authors link shifting emphases on institutional logics and their sustenance to institutional entrepreneurs' accumulation and transmission of cultural capital, strategies to legitimize plural logics, distinct branding practices, and contestations among the pervading logics. The study offers a managerial framework for managing conflicting demands of logics, conveying brand legitimacy, and creating a coherent brand identity in plural logic markets; in addition, it develops a theoretical account of links between institutional logics, competitive dynamics, and market evolution.
A comparison of laparoscopic, hand-assist and open sigmoid resection in the treatment of diverticular disease.

Abstract Background Laparoscopic colorectal surgery (LAP) has become more prevalent as evidence of its safety and benefits become apparent. However, in difficult cases, hand-assisted instrumentation has facilitated LAP. We examined the impact of hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) on the treatment of sigmoid diverticular disease. Methods This is a retrospective study using a prospectively maintained database from January 1, 2000 through November 30, 2005. Patients were divided into 3 groups: open (n = 110), LAP (n = 17), and HALS (n = 98). Data include operative time, length of stay, surgical method, conversion rate, and reasons for conversion. Results Surgeries started as LAP were completed in that fashion 59% of the time, with 23% being converted to open and 18% converted to HALS (total 41%). HALS cases showed a 6% conversion rate to open surgery (OS). Duration of surgery and length of stay were similar between LAP and HALS. Conclusions HALS should be considered the optimal approach for surgery for diverticular disease.
Goodpasture syndrome involving overlap with Wegener's granulomatosis and anti-glomerular basement membrane disease

A 68-year-old Caucasian woman presented to the hospital with nodular pulmonary infiltrates and acute renal failure. Wegener's granulomatosis was initially considered to be most likely because of the presence of increased serum levels of c-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA). A consultation through the Internet after a renal biopsy demonstrated crescentic, necrotizing glomerulonephritis and linear deposits of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement C3, typical of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease. Hemodialysis was instituted; however, the patient suddenly developed a massive cerebral hemorrhage and died before full therapy could take effect. Postmortem analysis of the patient's sera revealed high titers of IgG against the alpha 3 NC1 domain of type IV collagen. Serologic evidence of both p-ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies are becoming more frequently recognized in the setting of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The patient reported here had the unusual combination of c-ANCA antibodies with anti-GBM disease, and this association raises complex questions regarding the pathogenesis of this type of renal injury.
Generalized Bloch's theorem for viscous metamaterials: Dispersion and effective properties based on frequencies and wavenumbers that are simultaneously complex

It is common for dispersion curves of damped periodic materials to be based on real frequencies as a function of complex wavenumbers or, conversely, real wavenumbers as a function of complex frequencies. The former condition corresponds to harmonic wave motion where a driving frequency is prescribed and where attenuation due to dissipation takes place only in space alongside spatial attenuation due to Bragg scattering. The latter condition, on the other hand, relates to free wave motion admitting attenuation due to energy loss only in time while spatial attenuation due to Bragg scattering also takes place. Here, we develop an algorithm for 1D systems that provides dispersion curves for damped free wave motion based on frequencies and wavenumbers that are permitted to be simultaneously complex. This represents a generalized application of Bloch's theorem and produces a dispersion band structure that fully describes all attenuation mechanisms, in space and in time. The algorithm is applied to a viscously damped mass-in-mass metamaterial exhibiting local resonance. A frequency-dependent effective mass for this damped infinite chain is also obtained.
Effects of Plyometrics Performed During Warm-up on 20 and 40 Meter Sprint Performance

BACKGROUND Postactivation potentiation in the form of a plyometric during warm-ups have been shown to improve performance in some speed/power events. This study aimed to determine if a plyometric during warm up can increase sprint performance in a 20 and 40 m sprint. METHODS In this study we measured sprint times of 10 male track and field athletes over distances of 20 and 40 m after warm-ups with and without a plyometric exercise. The subjects performed the sprints at the same time on 2 different days, once with the experimental treatment, a plyometric exercise in the form of a plate jump, and once without. Plate jumps were chosen as the plyometric treatment because they do not require special equipment or facilities. The plate used for the plate jumps had a mass of 11.2 kilograms, which was between 12.8-16.6% of each athlete's body mass. RESULTS Statistical analysis showed a decrease in sprint time when a plyometric was performed during the warm-up for both 20 (t-test P<0.05) and 40 m sprints (t-test P<0.01). The effect sizes of the improvement for both the 20 and 40 m sprints were d=0.459 and d=0.405, respectively, which is considered a small to medium effect. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that including a plyometric exercise during warm-ups can improve sprint performance in collegiate aged male sprinters during short sprints.
Home Advantage: Does it Exist in Women's Sports

This study examined whether the home advantage exists in women's sports. The percentages of games won at home and away were compared for three varsity women's sports at the University of Southern M...
A study of significance of racial and athletic identification on educational perceptions among African American male college athletes

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to analyze the racial and athletic identities of African American male college athletes to determine how the identities might impact the athletic and educational potential and performance of this specific group of college athletes. The study revealed that participants who responded negatively to a poor athletic performance were more likely to have lower levels of academic self-concept. In contrast, college athletes who highly identified with their racial group were more likely to have higher levels of academic self-concept. Overall, the findings reveal the intricacies and complexities of being an African American college student and athlete at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in the US. As such, the article details the implications of the findings as they relate to African American culture, American sports culture, and higher education realities.
Contrasting electrogenerated chemiluminescence for a dissolved and surface-attached carbazole thiophene cyanoacrylate dye.

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of a carbazole thiophene cyanoacrylate dye ((2-cyano-3-[5‴-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-3′,3″,3‴,4-tetra-n-hexyl-[2,2′,5′,2″,5″,2‴]-quarter-thiophenyl-5yl]acrylate) = MK-2) has been investigated in solution, where the maximum ECL wavelength occurs at 640 nm, and in a thin film on an ITO surface, where the ECL is substantially red-shifted to 730 nm. The ECL intensity for the solution annihilation reaction is relatively weak, whereas a much higher ECL intensity is measured with oxalate as a co-reactant. This result is attributed to the two Nernstian reversible oxidation waves of the thiophene moiety of MK-2, whereas the reduction is stabilized by the unblocked carbazole and cyanoacrylate groups.