cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergy of nature and nurture in the development of childhood obesity

Epidemiological studies suggest that maternal undernutrition, obesity and diabetes during gestation and lactation can all produce obesity in human offspring. Animal models provide a means of assessing the independent consequences of altering the pre- vs postnatal environments on a variety of metabolic, physiological and neuroendocrine functions, which lead to the development of offspring obesity, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. During the gestational period, maternal malnutrition, obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and psychological and pharmacological stressors can all promote offspring obesity. Normal postnatal nutrition can sometimes reduce the adverse effect of some of these prenatal factors, but may also exacerbate the development of obesity and diabetes in offspring of dams that are malnourished during gestation. The genetic background of the individual is also an important determinant of outcome when the perinatal environment is perturbed. Individuals with an obesity-prone genotype are more likely to be adversely affected by factors such as maternal obesity and high-fat diets. Many perinatal manipulations are associated with reorganization of the central neural pathways which regulate food intake, energy expenditure and storage in ways that enhance the development of obesity and diabetes in offspring. Both leptin and insulin have strong neurotrophic properties so that an excess or an absence of either of them during the perinatal period may underlie some of these adverse developmental changes. As perinatal manipulations can permanently and adversely alter the systems that regulate energy homeostasis, it behooves us to gain a better understanding of the factors during this period that promote the development of offspring obesity as a means of stemming the tide of the emerging worldwide obesity epidemic.
Use of an Infrared Camera for Accurate Determination of the Temperature of Polymer Filaments

An infrared (IR) camera was used to measure the temperature of polymer filaments held in a stream of hot air. Filament diameters of 0.1−4 mm were tested. The air stream velocity and temperature fields were independently measured with a Pitot tube and a thermocouple. Under certain conditions, the air temperatures determined by the thermocouple closely approximate the temperatures of the polymer filaments. These air-temperature measurements were compared to the temperature readings given by the IR camera. This procedure allowed the development of calibration curves for the infrared camera. The calibration curves were found to depend on (a) the diameter of the filament and (b) the image size of the filament upon the pixel array in the IR camera. These calibration curves can be used with the IR camera to allow online measurement of fiber temperature during melt spinning, melt blowing, and other fiber production processes.
An Approach to Adjusting Analysts' Consensus Forecasts for Selection Bias*

Many recent empirical studies have concluded that analysts' earnings forecasts are optimistic on average. In this paper, we attempt to undo the effect of one potential source of optimistic bias in analysts' earnings forecasts. Assuming forecasts come from a truncated normal distribution, we estimate the “true” population mean using maximum likelihood. We find that our estimates of earnings are more accurate and less biased than standard measures of sample mean and median. However, we do not find a closer relationship between excess market returns and forecast errors from our maximum likelihood estimate than from the sample mean. This may suggest that the market does not fully incorporate analysts' incentives in generating expectations about future earnings.
Incretin-Related Drug Therapy in Heart Failure

The new pharmacological classes of GLP-1 agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors are now widely used in diabetes and have been postulated as beneficial in heart failure. These proposed benefits arise from the inter-related pathophysiologies of diabetes and heart failure (diabetes increases the risk of heart failure, and heart failure can induce insulin resistance) and also in light of the dysfunctional myocardial energetics seen in heart failure. The normal heart utilizes predominantly fatty acids for energy production, but there is some evidence to suggest that increased myocardial glucose uptake may be beneficial for the failing heart. Thus, GLP-1 agonists, which stimulate glucose-dependent insulin release and enhance myocardial glucose uptake, have become a focus of investigation in both animal models and humans with heart failure. Limited pilot data for GLP-1 agonists shows potential improvements in systolic function, hemodynamics, and quality of life, forming the basis for current phase II trials.
Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness map

Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT) allows for in-vivo video-rate investigation of biomedical tissue depth structure with the purpose of non-invasive optical diagnostics. In ophthalmic applications, it has been suggested that Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) can be used for diagnosis of glaucoma by measuring the thickness of the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNLF). We present here an automated method for determining the RNFL thickness map from a 3-D dataset. Boundary detection has been studied since the early days of computer vision and image processing, and different approaches have been proposed. The procedure described here is based on edge detection using a deformable spline (snake) algorithm. As the snake seeks to minimize its overall energy, its shape will converge on the image contour, the boundaries of the nerve fiber layer. In general, the snake is not allowed to travel too much, and therefore, proper initialization is required. The snake parameters, elasticity, rigidity, viscosity, and external force weight are set to allow the snake to follow the boundary for a large number of retinal topographies. The RNFL thickness map is combined with an integrated reflectance map of the retina and retinal cross-sectional images (OCT movie), to provide the ophthalmologist with a familiar image for interpreting the OCT data. The video-rate capabilities of our SDOCT system allow for mapping the true retinal topography since the motion artifacts are significantly reduced as compared to slower time-domain systems.
Incidence of increased creatine kinase and its effect on kidney function in hand assisted laparoscopic kidney donors and their recipients.

Purpose: Rhabdomyolysis is a rare cause of acute renal failure following laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. The incidence of rhabdomyolysis is not well known and to our knowledge the amount of creatine kinase elevation resulting in renal damage is unknown. We evaluated the incidence of increased creatine kinase, risk factors for increased creatine kinase and its effect on renal function in a series of patients undergoing hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: Serum creatine kinase was prospectively measured in 74 consecutive patients who underwent hand assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. These values were measured daily beginning in the recovery room. Demographic and laboratory data, and surgical parameters were analyzed to determine predictors of increased creatine kinase.Results: Eight of 74 patients (10.8%) had a creatine kinase of 2,500 IU/l or greater and 17 (23%) had a creatine kinase of 1,000 IU/l or greater. Factors associated with a creatine kinase of 2,500 IU/l or ...
Baryons as solitons in the effective Lagrangian of spontaneously broken chiral symmetry.

I present the calculation of the effective Lagrangian from the \ensuremath{\sigma} quark model based on some reasonable assumptions of the spontaneously broken chiral symmetry, the large-${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ limit, and the nature of the effective action expansion. In addition to the Skyrme Lagrangian with a unique coupling constant e=\ensuremath{\pi}[2(3/${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{c}}$${)]}^{1/2}$ and the Wess-Zumino term, it contains an extra new term (${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{c}}$/96${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{2}$) Tr (${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\partial}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}$${\mathrm{L}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}$${)}^{2}$ which must be treated as a perturbative correction. This new term is responsible for the correct pion form factor corresponding to ${\mathrm{m}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}^{2}$=8${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{2}$${\mathrm{f}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{2}$(3/${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ ). This model can be used to describe the rich low-energy dynamics of baryons and mesons with the unique mass scale ${\mathrm{f}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}$.
Isoconversional Analysis of Calorimetric Data on Nonisothermal Crystallization of a Polymer Melt

The activation energy, E, of nonisothermal crystallization of polymer melts has been frequently evaluated by the Kissinger equation with positive rates of temperature variation, β. It is demonstrated that reversing the sign for β is a mathematically invalid procedure that generally invalidates the Kissinger method. As an alternative we propose the advanced isoconversional method that can be used for evaluating the effective activation energy of nonisothermal crystallization of the polymer melts. The application of this method to calorimetric data on crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) yields an activation energy that increases with the extent of crystallization from −270 to +20 kJ mol-1. It is demonstrated that this variation is consistent with data on isothermal crystallization of the PET melts and can be interpreted in terms of the accepted crystallization models.
Some general principles of landscape and regional ecology

A dozen general principles of landscape and regional ecology are delineated to stimulate their evaluation, refinement, and usage. Brief background material and a few references provide entrees into the subjects. The principles are presented in four groups: landscapes and regions; patches and corridors; mosaics; and applications. Most appear useful in solving a wide range of environmental and societal land-use issues.
Benztropine-induced release of dopamine from brain in vivo ☆

Abstract The addition of brief pulses of 10 −5 m benztropine to cerebrospinal fluid perfusing the cat cerebroventricular system increased the efflux of [ 3 H]-dopamine from the brain. The anticholinergic properties of benztropine do not appear to be involved in this response because similar additions of 10 −4 M atropine or scopolamine failed to markedly alter the efflux of [ 3 H]-dopamine. Acute electrolytic lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway blocked the efflux of [ 3 H]-dopamine produced by 10 −5 m benztropine. These results suggest that the “releasing action” of benztropine is dependent upon the activity of neurones in the nigrostriatal pathway and are consistent with the proposal that benztropine blocks the reuptake of neurogenically released dopamine.
Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Mediterranean population: relation with nutritional and other factors.

Summary Background and Aim Hyperhomocysteinemia is a major and independent risk factor for atherothrombotic vascular disease. It may be promoted by genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies of the vitamin cofactors required for homocysteine metabolism, and other modifiable factors. This cross-sectional study investigated the effect of dietary habits and lifestyle on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Mediterranean population. Methods and results A total of 126 diabetic and 76 healthy subjects were interviewed using a food-frequency questionnaire. Information consisted of dietary and smoking habits, coffee and alcohol consumption and physical activity recording, during the month prior to enrolment. Measurements included blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), plasma tHcy, folate, vitamin B12, lipids, HbA 1c , creatinine, uric acid, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Plasma tHcy levels were not different between diabetic and control subjects (11.49±3.68 vs 12.67±3.79 μmol/l respectively, P =0.40). Diabetic subjects had significantly higher plasma folate levels and consumed more fish, fruit and vegetables, in comparison with controls. Controls consumed more red meat, coffee, and alcohol. Multivariate analysis in diabetic subjects, after controlling for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, duration of diabetes, GFR, plasma uric acid levels, and the amount of the weekly consumption of fruit and vegetables, demonstrated that age, GFR and the weekly amount of fruit and vegetable consumption were independently associated with plasma tHcy concentrations [regression coefficient (B)=0.11, SE (B)=0.03, P =0.001, B=−0.07, SE (B)=0.01, P P =0.04, respectively]. The weekly amount of coffee, alcohol and red meat consumption, and physical activity level were not related with plasma tHcy levels in either study group. Conclusions 1) Plasma tHcy levels were not different in the diabetic group as compared to the control group. 2) In patients with type 2 diabetes age, GFR and the consumption of fruit and vegetables were strong and independent determinants of plasma tHcy levels.
Improving CAD performance by seamless insertion of pulmonary nodules in chest CT exams

The availability of large medical image datasets is critical in training and testing of computer aided diagnosis (CAD) systems. However, collection of data and establishment of ground truth for medical images are both costly and difficult. To address this problem, we have developed an image composition tool that allows users to modify or supplement existing datasets by seamlessly inserting a clinical lesion extracted from a source image into a different location on a target image. In this study we focus on the application of this tool to the training of a CAD system designed to detect pulmonary nodules in chest CT. To compare the performance of a CAD system without and with the use of our image composition tool, we trained the system on two sets of data. The first training set was obtained from original CT cases, while the second set consisted of the first set plus nodules in the first set inserted into new locations. We then compared the performance of the two CAD systems in differentiating nodules from normal areas by testing each trained system against a fixed dataset containing natural nodules, and using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) as the figure of merit. The performance of the system trained with the augmented dataset was found to be significantly better than that trained with the original dataset under several training scenarios.
Replication of hepatic DNA in rats treated with dimethylnitrosamine.

Summary Replication of DNA containing unrepaired lesions such as depurinated sites, single-strand breaks or methylated bases such as O -6 and N -7 methylguanine was studied in the rat liver. Rat liver DNA was damaged by administering 10 μg dimethyl-nitrosamine (DMN)/g body wt. i.p. 4 h prior to partial hepatectomy. The analysis of DNA on alkaline sucrose gradient revealed considerable damage to the parental strand at the time of and 48 h subsequent to partial hepatectomy. During this time interval, the synthesis of new strands was studied using labeled thymidine. In the control liver, radioactivity in DNA appeared as small fragments at 15 and 30 min following the administration of labeled thymidine which became bigger within 4 h. In the carcinogen-treated livers, the newly made DNA remained as small fragments for longer periods of time. Sometime between 4 and 24 h these became bigger in size than the parental damaged template DNA. Thus, with a delay, the newly made strands became eventually bigger, in spite of the fact that the parental template DNA strand was damaged. Such replication of DNA with unrepaired lesions (miscoding and/or non-coding) offers a mechanism by which the original damage to DNA caused by the carcinogen can be permanently imprinted on the newly made cell, a phenomenon that could account for the initiation of carcinogenesis under certain circumstances.
Ethanol inhibits LPS-induced signaling and modulates cytokine production in peritoneal macrophages in vivo in a model for binge drinking.

Background Previous reports indicate that ethanol, in a binge drinking model in mice, inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vivo. However, the inhibition of signaling through TLR4 has not been investigated in this experimental model in vivo. Considering evidence that signaling can be very different in vitro and in vivo, the present study was conducted to determine if effects of ethanol on TLR4 signaling reported for cells in culture or cells removed from ethanol treated mice and stimulated in culture also occur when ethanol treatment and TLR4 activation occur in vivo.
Time-aware prefetching for on-demand video services in a residential service gateway

With the recent advances in network technology, the number of high-speed networked homes increases rapidly and the enhanced services such as on-demand video services become feasible in terms of market maturity. Another trend is that storage systems become network-accessible. One of the leading network-attached storage systems is the Fiber Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL). As a residential service gateway, the FC-AL-based servers can stably provide high quality video (e.g., DVD quality MPEG-2 stream) with thousands of clients between external service providers and local clients. In addition, in densely populated areas such as New York City, they can be much more cost efficient. Using our end-to-end simulation experiments to combine all the components, we have observed that FC-AL-based streaming servers perform better than SCSI-based systems, but there is still room for performance improvement. We are motivated by the fact that, unlike in SCSI-based systems, all the disks in FC-AL-based severs utilize only a small portion of their caches to a similar degree due to FC-AL fairness arbitration algorithm. Thus, we propose an effective prefetching scheme to improve the performance by further utilizing the disk cache. We show how the proposed scheme can determine the maximum number of prefetched blocks depending on the disk block and cache size. It is also shown how to find the optimal number of blocks transmitted to the FC-AL from the disk cache per FC-AL arbitration. In addition, we describe the cache replacement policy to take full advantage of the sequential access pattern of video files, and explain how to support multiple loops. By analysis and simulation experiments, we show that our prefetching scheme is not able to only increase the total number of concurrent streams significantly by reducing the disk seek time, but it can also further utilize the FC-AL by reducing the overhead of arbitration.
Carotid angioplasty and stenting versus carotid endarterectomy: randomized trial in a community hospital.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine whether carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is equivalent to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis >70% by a randomized, controlled trial in a community hospital. BACKGROUND Carotid angioplasty and stenting has been suggested to be as effective as CEA for treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. METHODS A total of 104 patients presenting with cerebrovascular ischemia ipsilateral to carotid stenosis were selected randomly for CEA or carotid stenting and followed for two years. RESULTS Stenosis decreased to an average of 5% after CAS. The patency of the reconstructed artery remained satisfactory regardless of the technique as determined by sequential ultrasound. One death occurred in the CEA group (1/51); one transient ischemic attack occurred in the CAS group (1/53); no individual sustained a stroke. The perception of procedurally related pain/discomfort was similar. Hospital stay was similar, although the CAS group tended to be discharged earlier (mean = 1.8 days vs. 2.7 days). Complications associated with CAS prolonged hospitalization when compared with those sustaining a CEA-related complication (mean = 5.6 days vs. 3.8 days). Return to full activity was achieved within one week by 80% of the CAS group and 67% of the patients receiving CEA. Hospital charges were slightly higher for CAS. CONCLUSIONS Carotid stenting is equivalent to CEA in reducing carotid stenosis without increased risk for major complications of death/stroke. Because of shortened hospitalization and convalescence, CAS challenges CEA as the preferred treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis if a reduction in costs can be achieved.
A method for analysis of DNA by annealing on a DNA cellulose column

The use of the DNA cellulose column for the characterization of DNA strands complementary to those found in the minute DNA phages is described. The method is superior in yield and sensitivity to the standard membrane filter technique, and offers the potential for both qualitative analysis and larger scale isolation in these systems.
Fisheries recruitment and the North Atlantic Oscillation

There is a considerable interest in identifying the effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) on fisheries. This note presents some empirical results on the relationship between the NAO and recruitment of fisheries in the Northeast Arctic. The results are a sober reminder of the fleeting nature of time series correlations.
Intervention in the Context of Development: Pathways Toward New Treatments

Neuropsychiatric disorders vary substantially in age of onset but are best understood within the context of neurodevelopment. Here, we review opportunities for intervention at critical points in developmental trajectories. We begin by discussing potential opportunities to prevent neuropsychiatric disorders. Once symptoms begin to emerge, a number of interventions have been studied either before a diagnosis can be made or shortly after diagnosis. Although some of these interventions are helpful, few are based upon an understanding of pathophysiology, and most ameliorate rather than resolve symptoms. As such, in the next portion of the review, we turn our discussion to genetic syndromes that are rare phenocopies of common diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder or schizophrenia. Cellular or animal models of these syndromes point to specific regulatory or signaling pathways. As examples, findings from the mouse models of Fragile X and Rett syndromes point to potential treatments now being tested in randomized clinical trials. Paralleling oncology, we can hope that our treatments will move from nonspecific, like chemotherapies thrown at a wide range of tumor types, to specific, like the protein kinase inhibitors that target molecularly defined tumors. Some of these targeted treatments later show benefit for a broader, yet specific, array of cancers. We can hope that medications developed within rare neurodevelopmental syndromes will similarly help subgroups of patients with disruptions in overlapping signaling pathways. The insights gleaned from treatment development in rare phenocopy syndromes may also teach us how to test treatments based upon emerging common genetic or environmental risk factors.
Analysis for Tire Mold Design

Abstract An analysis is presented for determining tire deformation due to shrinkage. The analysis uses composite theory and the finite element technique in modeling the material properties and the structural behavior. The constant strain toroidal shell element developed by Wilson for small displacement and isotropic properties is modified for orthotropic properties which depend on the element location. Temperature history and the buildup of shrink forces during cure are determined experimentally. The shrink forces are represented by a set of equivalent loads applied at the nodes. Good correlation is obtained between calculated and experimental displacements. The analysis is applied in relating the mold shape to the final shape of the tire.
Quantitative Physical Assessment of Organic Materials Used in Sports Turf Rootzone Mixes

Peats and other organic materials are commonly used in sports turf rootzone mixes, yet few quantitative guidelines exist for selecting appropriate materials and incorporation rates. This study was conducted to assess the relative merits of organic sources and to identify a physical measure to assess the role of organic materials in rootzones. Five organic materials with organic contents ranging from 96 to 40 by weight and fiber contents ranging from 54 to 70% by weight were mixed with a mason sand at rates of 10, 20, and 30 by volume (...)
Journal Prices, Book Acquisitions, and Sustainable College Library Collections

Library collections are economically sustainable only if the rate of increase in costs is no greater than the rate of increase in the library acquisitions budget. Because book prices increase at a much lower rate than journal prices, undergraduate libraries can achieve economic sustainability through a renewed emphasis on books rather than journals. Book-centered collections are consistent with the goals of many undergraduate colleges, and books rather than journals may provide the best teaching resources even in those fields that rely heavily on journals for the communication of original research results.
An XML schema representation for the communication design of electronic negotiations

Abstract Support for negotiations in electronic markets is an important issue in today's e-commerce research. However, only few efforts address the design of electronic negotiations e.g., the sequence of actions or obligations of the negotiating parties. An explicit negotiation design can also address the ontology problem of electronic negotiations: how to ensure that the negotiating parties have the same understanding regarding the issues that are subject to the negotiation. This paper proposes a communication design for electronic negotiations that specifies the common syntax and semantics for the representation of the issues of a negotiation, and suggests XML Schema as the run-time format and validation mechanism for this communication design.
The analysis and partial synthesis of truss structures via theorem proving

A use of theorem proving for the analysis and partial synthesis of truss structures is presented. The behavior of a truss structure is modeled as the set union of the behavior of its constituent components where the behavior of each component is modeled by a set of constraints. This component/constraint model is formally represented by a set of axioms using predicate logic. The axioms are then used toanalyze and partiallysynthesize truss structures via theorem proving.
Conspecifics as cues: A mechanism for habitat selection in the Panamanian grass anole (Anolis auratus)

In an experimental choice situation, individuals of both sexes of the lizard Anolis auratus choose to associate with a conspecific individual regardless of its sex. Further, individuals of both sexes associate with an individual of A. tropidogaster, a related species. Given the choice between the two species, they choose their own. Given the choice between a conspecific and a small patch of natural habitat, they do not choose one or the other consistently. These experiments indicate that conspecific association does not function just as a mate selection mechanism as has been previously proposed. The initial association may, in addition, serve a habitat selection function. Conspecifics can thus be seen as cues indicating the presence of suitable habitat as well as being important biological factors in themselves.
Modeling the impact of HIV on the spread of tuberculosis in the United States

Tuberculosis (TB) was thought to be safely in decline in the United States in the mid-1980s because the number of cases had dropped by 74% between 1953 and 1985. An increase in TB cases was reported, however, in 1986, and an upward trend in TB incidence has continued. The turnaround in TB is well correlated with the rise of the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) epidemic. The purpose of this work is to investigate, through the use of mathematical models, the magnitude and duration of the effect that the HIV epidemic may have on TB. Models are developed which reflect the transmission dynamics of both TB and HIV, and the relative merits of these models are discussed. The models are then linked together to form a model for the combined spread of both diseases. A numerical study is performed to investigate the influence of certain key parameters. The effect that HIV will have on the general population is found to be dependent on the contact structure between the general population and the HIV risk groups, as well as a possible shift in the dynamics associated with TB transmission.
A limits-oriented approach to evolutionary ecology

Evolutionary ecology focuses on optimal traits to provide a mechanistic understanding of ecological patterns. For some issues, however, It might be a mismatch to marry optimality and ecology. Given that many ecological questions involve limits (to species distributions and abundances; to species diversity), it might be useful to focus on `limiting traits' rather than optimal traits; that is, to understand ecological limits it might be useful to identify the things that organisms do poorly, and to study constraints on the evolution of these limiting traits. While a limiting-traits approach has a long history in ecology, relatively few studies have fully applied the approach, and some ecological issues have only recently been examined from this view.
Fat embolus in femur fractures: a comparison of two reaming systems.

Abstract Objective To measure the amount of fat presented to the right heart during reaming and nail placement using two different reamer systems. Design Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Setting University-based Level I Trauma Center. Patients 20 patients with femur fractures. Intervention Patients with femur fractures were treated with intramedullary nailing using either reamer-irrigator-aspirator or a conventional reamer. Main Outcome Measure four-chamber trans-esophageal echocardiogram was used to quantify the amount of fat presented to the right atrium. Results There were 2 female and 18 male patients enrolled, 10 in each group. There was no significant difference (p=0.10) between reaming systems on the opening reamer, which was expected since both trial limbs used the same opening reamer. However, during the first pass of the reamer, the RIA showed a nearly-significant decrease in the volume of fat in the right atrium (p=0.06). During passage of the nail, there was a significant difference with Group B having less fat embolus than Group A (p=0.01). The power of this study is 0.81. The mean ISS was not significantly different between the two groups, nor was the sex, age or race. There was one death from cardiac complications in a patient who showed no fat during any phase of the procedure. This patient had significant mitral and aortic regurgitation pre-operatively. There was one patient with clinical fat embolism syndrome and one patient with a nonunion. Conclusions There is a statistically significant difference in the amount of fat presented to the lungs using a RIA versus conventional reamer.
Methodologies for preparation of synthetic block copolypeptides: materials with future promise in drug delivery.

Abstract This article summarizes recent developments in the synthesis of copolypeptides, focusing on the realization of living polymerizations that allow preparation of materials with excellent attributes for drug delivery. Traditional methods used to polymerize α-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) are described, and limitations in the utility of these systems for the preparation of polypeptides are discussed. A system utilizing transition metal catalysis for polypeptide synthesis is described that allows preparation of materials that begin to rival biologically produced counterparts in terms of complexity and purity. Overall, new developments in NCA and β-lactam polymerizations hold tremendous promise now that block copolypeptides of controlled dimensions (molecular weight, sequence, composition, and molecular weight distribution) can be prepared. Such well-defined polymers should greatly assist in the development of new drug carriers with increased function.
Heat transfer to two-phase slug flows under reduced-gravity conditions

New hydrodynamic and heat transfer measurements are presented for two-phase slug flows in a reduced gravity environment. Air and two liquids, water and 50% aqueous glycerine were used to obtain a range of liquid Reynolds numbers from 1000 to 20,000 in a 25.4 mm i.d. tube. The measurements include void fraction, pressure gradient, and heat transfer coefficient. The enhancement of the heat transfer coefficient over single-phase liquid flow increases with increasing void fraction and is somewhat larger for the 50% glycerine solution than for water. Based on a comparison to normal-gravity correlations, the heat transfer coefficients are smaller at reduced-gravity than at normal-gravity under the same flow conditions. This can be explained by smaller liquid-phase turbulence levels in the absence of buoyancy-induced slip between the gas and liquid.
Lead phosphate minerals: solubility and dissolution by model and natural ligands.

Due to their relatively low solubility, lead-phosphate minerals may control Pb solution levels at a low value in natural environments. We report the solubility of Pb from two lead-orthophosphate mineral suspensions (β-Pb9(PO4)6 and PbHPO4) after aging for 3 years. Lead (Pb2+) activity in the aged suspensions was compared to the activity calculated using the Ksp values of various Pb−PO4 minerals reported in the literature. We also determine the time-dependent dissolution of the aged lead-phosphate minerals by organic and inorganic ligands containing S-functional groups (cysteine, methionine, and thiosulfate) and by a soil extracted humic acid. We find the activity of Pb2+ in the aged lead-phosphate suspensions to be 1−2 orders of magnitude higher than predicted by the Ksp values reported in the literature. Disagreement between measured and Ksp-calculated activities has been reported in other investiga tions of Pb−PO4 minerals; we compiled some of the data and present them together with our results. Further...
Fat embolism syndrome in a child with muscular dystrophy

Fat embolism syndrome is a relatively common complication of orthopedic trauma. Once thought to be rare in children, it probably occurs with a similar frequency as in adults, but is often subclinical. Clinically apparent fat embolism syndrome may exhibit neurologic, pulmonary, and cutaneous manifestations. It often resolves without sequelae if it is recognized promptly and supportive treatment is provided. We present a pediatric case of fat embolism syndrome and review the literature on its diagnosis and management in children.
Crystallization of Poly(ε-caprolactone) under Nanoparticle Confinement

Solid-state 13C-NMR spectroscopy has been used to characterize the conformation of the hydrophobic poly(e-caprolactone) core of a nanoparticle having a cross-linked hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid)/polyacrylamide shell. The amphiphilic nanoparticles were synthesized from the diblock copolymer, poly(e-caprolactone)121-b-poly(acrylic acid)165 by self-assembly into polymer micelles, followed by cross-linking via condensation reactions between the carboxylic acid groups of the hydrophilic shell and the amine groups of 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine). NMR Experiments performed at −30° on nanoparticles rapidly quenched from 60° show that the core is largely noncrystalline and locally disordered. Heating to 25° results in some crystallization, although far less than that observed for bulk poly(e-caprolactone) homopolymer. Storage at −30° results in further crystallization and conversion of most rubbery, mobile regions into more rigid, locally ordered amorphous domains. The absence of dipolar coupling between natural-abundance 13C in the poly(e-caprolactone) core of the nanoparticle, and 15N labels dispersed throughout the cross-linked shell show that the interface between core and shell is sharp. The dipolar coupling measurements were accomplished by 13C{15N} rotational-echo double resonance.
Low weight double layer coded CDMA as a novel physical layer for OneWire bus communication in sensor networks

Wired-CDMA uses a wired NOR bus and is attractive for interconnecting sensors. This paper extends previous work on a single-wire Wired-CDMA bus. It introduces new concepts for such busses, namely, low-weight codes, unary messages called Atoms, and double-layered time-distanced unary coding. The result is a non-TDMA, distributed, digital single wire bus protocol that allows sensors to communicate with each other simultaneously and asynchronously without requiring a master node. At a minimum, the enhancements double the capacity in terms of the number of the nodes on the bus for a fixed error rate, and improve by four times the data rate compared to the previous scheme.
A microroentgenographic investigation of demineralized enamel, comparing natural and artificial lesions.

Abstract 1. 1. The microroentgenographic appearance of initial carious lesions occurring as white spots has been described. 2. 2. Artificially produced lesions were also investigated by a microroentgenographic technique and confirmed several of the findings on natural lesions. 3. 3. Saliva-glucose incubation for periods of eight to thirteen days at 37° C. confirmed the resistance of the surface layer and the greater solubility of the subsurface enamel. 4. 4. Acid-etched areas produced by exposure of sound enamel to 1 M lactate buffer at a pH of 3.7 to 5.1 simulated a later stage of natural demineralization. The palisade structure observed implied an inward invasion of acid affecting the interprismatic material more than the prisms. The “stepped” character of the floor of these areas emphasized the different solubility of the incremental layer.
A Note on Origen, in Ev. Joannis XIX.5

In Origen's discussion of the part played by the Logos in the creation of the world, In Ev. Joannis xix.5 (PG xiv. 568 b–c), there occurs a long sentence which is not altogether clear, chiefly because of the uncertainty of the punctuation. The text, as given by the four modern editors, Lommatzsch, Migne, Preuschen and Brooke, who agree throughout except in the two instances to be noted, is as follows (with punctuation after the biblical quotation omitted):
Using a mechanistic model to evaluate the effect of soil pH on phosphorus uptake.

The objective of this research was to show how a mechanistic uptake model that accurately predicts phosphorus (P) uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) in a pot experiment may be used to evaluate the reasons for the differences in P availability observed when soil pH is varied. The model predicts P uptake by integrating soil P supply by mass flow and diffusion; size, shape and growth rate of roots; and P uptake kinetics of the root. The P supply parameters of the model that may be affected by soil pH are Pli, initial P concentration in the soil solution; b, the buffer power of P in the soil, Psi, for Pli, and De, effective diffusion coefficient. The effect of these changes on P uptake was predicted with the model by using measured values of the three soil supply parameters and of size, shape, and growth rate of roots and keeping the other parameters at values characteristic of maize. Values for three soil supply parameters can be calculated from measurements of Pli, Psi, and θ, volumetric water content. The predictions of the model closely agreed with observed uptake when form of P present at the higher pH’s was accounted for. There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.94) between Pli and observed P uptake and a significant negative correlation (−0.93) between Psi and observed P uptake. The use of the model demonstrated the significance of P form and the importance of Pli in P uptake. It also showed importance of root growth rate.
Jamming graphs: A local approach to global mechanical rigidity

We revisit the concept of minimal rigidity as applied to frictionless, repulsive soft sphere packings in two dimensions with the introduction of the jamming graph. Minimal rigidity is a purely combinatorial property encoded via Laman's theorem in two dimensions. It constrains the global, average coordination number of the graph, for example. However, minimal rigidity does not address the geometry of local mechanical stability. The jamming graph contains both properties of global mechanical stability at the onset of jamming and local mechanical stability. We demonstrate how jamming graphs can be constructed using local moves via the Henneberg construction such that these graphs fall under the jurisdiction of correlated percolation. We then probe how jamming graphs destabilize, or become unjammed, by deleting a bond and computing the resulting rigid cluster distribution. We also study how the system restabilizes with the addition of new contacts and how a jamming graph with extra (redundant) contacts destabilizes. The latter endeavor allows us to probe a disk packing in the rigid phase and uncover a potentially new diverging length scale associated with the random deletion of contacts as compared to the study of cut-out (or frozen-in) subsystems.
Recognising the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening: an opportunity to target improvement

Recognising the benefits and harms of breast cancer screening: an opportunity to target improvement
Measurement of 1-μm diam beams

Measurements of beams of ~1 μm in diameter are presented. Three approaches, one using a Ronchi ruling, the other two based on knife-edge scan techniques are compared experimentally. Effects of Ronchi ruling accuracy and nonconstant scan velocity are discussed. Included are results of theoretical studies on the effect of imperfect scanning edges and non-Gaussian beam profiles on measurement results.
On choosing measurements for invariant pattern recognition

Abstract Achieving system invariance to complex pattern transformations is a frequently occurring problem in pattern recognition. Quite often it is difficult to find measurements or their processing operators that are invariant to the transformation under question; thus averaging over the transform domain is the only solution. This paper presents computationally simple criteria for evaluating measurements, based on their average performance. An algorithm for comparing the effectiveness of different such measurements is also proposed.
It's a mod mod tRNA world.

Postsynthetic modifications are widespread in genetic regulation. Trm9-mediated modification of the anticodon wobble base of specific tRNAs modulates expression of DNA damage response mRNAs in which cognate codons are unusually overrepresented. Thus, modification-dependent tRNA decoding activity is keyed to codon use in a genetic program.
The Architecture of Global Environmental Governance: Bringing Science to Bear on Policy

This article draws on the findings of the international research project on the Institutional Dimensions of Global Environmental Change to evaluate current proposals for reforming organizational arrangements that address environmental protection and especially calls for strengthening the UN Environment Programme or creating a UN Environment Organization. The first section explores pitfalls arising when policy-makers focus on form before sorting out functional matters. The next section examines institutional challenges confronting efforts to create effective environmental governance systems. The final section broadens the scope to address issues extending beyond environmental protection in a world of nation states. The goal is not to throw cold water on specific proposals of those who advocate organizational reform. Rather, the article argues that form should follow function in this realm as in others. By itself, organizational reform cannot achieve environmental protection, much less the broader goal of s...
Financial Planning and Investor Communications at GE (With a Look at Why We Ended Earnings Guidance)

In this edited version of a talk given at a conference of accounting academics and corporate practitioners, the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of General Electric describes the company's internal budgeting and financial planning process, and how the information generated by this process is communicated to investors. The company's business model—the common thread running through all its different businesses—is to make large investments in technology that make possible the firm's equipment sales, which in turn provide the basis for a profitable long-term services business. The main role of the company's internal analysis and planning process is to help management allocate capital in a way that produces long-run growth in revenues and earnings but, most important, a competitive return on investor capital. Another major aim of the company's planning process is to help management identify and manage major risks that could interfere with management's ability to carry out its strategic investments and goals. The company's focus on risk management is both reflected in, and facilitated by, a forecasting process that puts less emphasis on the accuracy of “point estimates” and pays greater attention to the range and distribution of possible outcomes. “What we really care about,” as the author says, “is the quality of the thinking and the dialogue among our managers that takes place around the forecasting process.” And it is the output of these internal processes, and “the quality of the thinking and dialogue” behind it, that are “the essence of what the company is trying to communicate to analysts and investors.” Instead of holding up quarterly earnings targets—a practice the company ended in 2008—management's communications with investors are intended to create “a continuous flow of information and feedback about the ongoing performance, investment opportunities, and risks confronting the firm.” In the author's words, “Ending the firm's longstanding practice of holding up earnings target s to the Street, and then trying to meet them, helped us rid ourselves of needless pressures and burdens… that can get in the way of managing for long-run growth and profitability.”
Color and Bind Strength of Restructured Pork Chops: Effect of Calcium Carbonate and Sodium Alginate Concentration

The effects of calcium carbonate concentration (0.00-0.26%) and sodium alginate concentration (0.0-1.4%) on the amount of discoloration and the raw- and cooked bind-strength of restructured pork chops were investigated. Alginate slightly increased and calcium carbonate decreased the amount of discoloration in the restructured chops. The beneficial effect calcium carbonate had on discoloration did not appear to be due to increased pH. Restructured chops prepared with alginate were more discolored (P<0.05) than restructured chops prepared with salt and phosphate. The optimum concentration of calcium carbonate and alginate required for minimum discoloration and maximum raw-and cooked bind-strength was 0.13% and 0.7%, respectively.
Phosphatidylserine-mediated delivery of cholesterol to macrophages: a novel experimental method for the generation of foam cells.

Abstract P388D1 macrophages were incubated for 24 h with cholesterol-phosphatidylserine liposomes (50 μg cholesterol /ml) and the content of cellular cholesteryl esters increased to approx. 200 μg/mg cell protein. Similar results were not observed with cholesterol-phosphatidylcholine liposomes. These results demonstrate that specific phospholipidcholesterol liposomes can be utilized for the experimental production of macrophage cholesterol-rich foam cells.