cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response to "COVID-19 in SOT versus non-SOT".

Abstract We thank Drs Allam, Fisher, and Schlauch for their thoughtful comments,1 and we would like to offer the following responses While 45 may be a small number, this does represent the number of SOT recipients with COVID-19 admitted to our health system through the end of August 2020, as recorded in the Johns Hopkins CROWN Registry The large number of non-SOT patients (2427) in the registry provided an opportunity to make comparisons of interest
Home Snack Environments in the United States: Latent Class Analysis Findings From a Home Food Environment Survey:

Snacking occasions have increased in frequency and energy density in recent decades, with considerable implications for diet. Studies have linked presence of foods in the home with intake of those ...
Influence of Immunologic Hyperstimulation on Murine Viral Leukemogenesis

Mice inoculated with Rauscher leukemogenic virus, following a series of weekly injections of complete Freund’s adjuvant in combination with virus-unrelated antigens, showed increased survivals and delayed appearances of circulating nucleated erythrocytes characteristic of the leukemia. Virus-neutralizing serum antibody was not observed to be produced as a result of this hyperimmunization. The retardation of leukemogenesis was attributed to a transient diminution of numbers of host target cells available to viral infection as a consequence of their prior commitment along immunologic pathways.
Continued Attachment to Parents: Its Relationship To Affect Regulation and Perceived Stress among College Students.

The factor pattern of parental attachment measures was examined as well as the relationship of the resultant oblique factors to emotional functioning and perceived stress.
A Singular Perturbation Analysis of High Frequency Filter Design

This paper concerns the control design of systems with lightly damped high frequency oscillatory modes. Systems exhibiting these lightly damped modes include turbine-generators and large flexible structures. Frequently the dynamics of these high frequency modes are not known very accurately. As a result, the design objective is to improve the slow dynamics without destabilising the high frequency modes. From a classical frequency domain design viewpoint, this is in part a filtering problem requiring some kind of high frequency filters. In this paper we use the singular perturbation method to systematically develop a two-time-scale method to design these high frequency filters and provides guidelines on what kind of high frequency filters to be used. In addition, the method provides an asymptotic error analysis. The design is illustrated with an example representative of a power system model with a two-mass turbine-generator model.
Annealing of Fine Powders: Initial Shapes and Grain Boundary Motion

This paper describes the evolution of shapes of powder particles during the first stage of sintering, assuming initial spherical shapes. Although this model has been proposed in 1949, it is solved exactly for the first time in the present paper. Several paradigmatic cases are considered, e.g. pure surface transport and pure grain boundary and volume transport, as well as the extensions of the original model to mixed transport. The influence of grain boundary tension forces on the shape of the sinter is also investigated. The new results differ substantially from earlier approximate ones for both small and large neck sizes. Based on these results we propose a new, experimentally testable mechanism for grain boundary annealing in second and third stage sinters.
Abstract 20356: Comparison of CABG versus PCI Outcomes in Diabetic, Mutivessel Coronary Artery Disease Patients With and Without Acute Coronary Syndromes

Purpose: The FREEDOM trial demonstrated that coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) results in better survival free of death, myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke than percutaneous intervention with drug eluting stents (PCI) in patients with diabetes (DM) and multivessel coronary disease (mCAD). We examined whether this was the case for subgroups presenting with and without an acute coronary syndromes (ACS). In some series, patients with non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI) ACS at the time of CABG experienced excess cardiovascular events when compare to PCI. Methods: Kaplan-Meier estimates used to compare post-CABG and post-PCI survivals. Comparisons were adjusted for baseline imbalances between ACS and non-ACS cohorts using Cox proportional-hazards regression. Results: When compared to non-ACS, ACS subjects were more likely to have a history of prior MI and be current smokers and had worse long-term survival (HR=1.26, p=0.04). CABG was superior to PCI (Fig 1, Table1) for both groups (with and without adjusting f...
A Zooplankton-N:P-Ratio Indicator for Lakes

We develop the conceptual and empirical basis for a multi-level ecosystem indicator for lakes. The ratio of total N to total P in lake water is influenced or regulated by a variety of ecosystem processes operating at several organizational levels and spatial scales: atmospheric, terrestrial watershed, lake water, and aquatic community. The character of the pelagic zooplankton assemblage is shown to be well correlated with lake water N:P ratio, with species assemblages arrayed along the N:P gradient in accordance with resource supply theory. Features of specific zooplankton assemblages or deviations from expected assemblages can provide information useful for lake managers, such as the efficiency of pollutant transfer and biomagnification of toxins, loss of cool-water refuge areas, degree of zooplanktivory and food web simplification related to changes in fisheries, and assemblage changes due to anthropogenic acidification. Evaluation of the influence of watershed land use, forest cover and vegetation type, atmospheric deposition, and basin hydrology on the supply of N and P to lake ecosystems provides a means to couple changes in the terrestrial environment to potential changes in aquatic ecosystems. Deviations of lake water N:P values from expected values based on analysis of watershed and lake basin characteristics, including values inferred from appropriate diatom microfossil deposits, can provide an independent validation and baseline reference for assessing the extent and type of disturbance. Therefore, the N:P ratio of lake water can serve as a potentially useful and inexpensively obtained proxy measure for assessing changes or shifts in the biological and nutrient status of lakes.
Design and fabrication of nanomagnetic majority logic gate based on spin hall assisted switching

In recent years, spin-orbit torques induced by charge current in heavy metal/magnetic structures have attracted wide attention among researchers. Since the experimental demonstration of spin-orbit torques due to the spin Hall effect (SHE) being able to manipulate the magnetization direction in an in-plane MTJ structure[1], it has been heavily explored for applications in memory and logic. It provides a potential low power alternative to other techniques such as spin transfer torque or electric field control for magnetization reversal. Recently, it has been shown that the spin Hall effect can provide a clocking mechanism for logic applications where the spin Hall effect is used to change the magnetization of a perpendicularly magnetized device along the hard axis (in the plane of the film)[2]. In [2], a series of three nanomagets are spaced closely together so they interact through dipole interactions. Each nanomagnet serves as a logic bit. An additional nearby magnet is used as the input. However, due to the dipole interactions, only logic states of 101 or 010 can be obtained. For logic applications, it would be beneficial to be able to individually control the states of the individual bits to obtain a full range of logic functions.
Integrating Spiritual Direction into Psychotherapy: Ethical Issues and Guidelines:

Integrating spirituality and religion into clinical practice or psychotherapy has become a significant area of interest in the mental health field today. The present article focuses more specifical...
Backpropagation: theory, architectures, and applications

Contents: D.E. Rumelhart, R. Durbin, R. Golden, Y. Chauvin, Backpropagation: The Basic Theory. A. Waibel, T. Hanazawa, G. Hinton, K. Shikano, K.J. Lang, Phoneme Recognition Using Time-Delay Neural Networks. C. Schley, Y. Chauvin, V. Henkle, Automated Aircraft Flare and Touchdown Control Using Neural Networks. F.J. Pineda, Recurrent Backpropagation Networks. M.C. Mozer, A Focused Backpropagation Algorithm for Temporal Pattern Recognition. D.H. Nguyen, B. Widrow, Nonlinear Control with Neural Networks. M.I. Jordan, D.E. Rumelhart, Forward Models: Supervised Learning with a Distal Teacher. S.J. Hanson, Backpropagation: Some Comments and Variations. A. Cleeremans, D. Servan-Schreiber, J.L. McClelland, Graded State Machines: The Representation of Temporal Contingencies in Feedback Networks. S. Becker, G.E. Hinton, Spatial Coherence as an Internal Teacher for a Neural Network. J.R. Bachrach, M.C. Mozer, Connectionist Modeling and Control of Finite State Systems Given Partial State Information. P. Baldi, Y. Chauvin, K. Hornik, Backpropagation and Unsupervised Learning in Linear Networks. R.J. Williams, D. Zipser, Gradient-Based Learning Algorithms for Recurrent Networks and Their Computational Complexity. P. Baldi, Y. Chauvin, When Neural Networks Play Sherlock Homes. P. Baldi, Gradient Descent Learning Algorithms: A Unified Perspective.
Catabolism of Host-Derived Compounds During Extracellular Bacterial Infections

Efficient catabolism of host-derived compounds is essential for bacterial survival and virulence. While these links in intracellular bacteria are well studied, such studies in extracellular bacteria lag behind, mostly for technical reasons. The field has identified important metabolic pathways, but the mechanisms by which they impact infection and in particular, establishing the importance of a compound's catabolism versus alternate metabolic roles has been difficult. In this review we will examine evidence for catabolism during extracellular bacterial infections in animals and known or potential roles in virulence. In the process, we point out key gaps in the field that will require new or newly adapted techniques. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 217–223, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Direct Design of Handling Qualities by "Mu - Synthesis"

The direct design of a cascade control law to satisfy Handling Qualities required in aircraft is shown by three examples. The control law design tool Mu-Synthesis is used to obtain Robust Stability and Robust Performance. Robust Stability is achieved in the presence of parametric uncertainty in the aerodynamic forces. Robust Performance is achieved for frequency-weighted error derived from an ideal model. The specified "handling quality" requirements are the linear portion extracted from the "Low-Order Equivalent Systems" requirements. Comparison step responses between the controlled system and the ideal system are shown. Control law order reduction is performed and evaluated.
Structural Correlation between Esterase and Protease Activities of Trypsin

It is tentatively concluded from ultraviolet and x-ray studies that the two tryptic activities are mediated by overlapping "enzymatic sites." Crucial to this conclusion were studies of the factors which can modify the measured inactivation rates. The data are interpreted in the light of postulated mechanisms of inactivation.
Anxiogenic effects of a β-carboline on tonic immobility and open field behavior in chickens (Gallus gallus)

Abstract Tonic immobility (TI) is an innate form of active motor inhibition displayed by many species in response to restraint. It is strongly influenced by manipulations that affect fear, and is thought to be the last in a series of responses to attack by a predator. The suggestion that GABA systems may be involved in TI was investigated by assessing the effects of the α-GABA A inverse agonist β-CCM ( β -carboline-3-carboxylic acid- N -methylamide), which is thought to have anxiogenic properties, on the immobility response and open field behavior in chickens ( Gallus gallus ). Birds given β-CCM displayed longer durations of TI than those given control injections. Although there was a tendency towards increased susceptibility in the groups given the drug, it was not significant. In the open field test, the drug reduced activity and vocalization relative to control levels. The results are discussed in terms of the involvement of GABA systems in TI and related behaviors, and the suggestion that α-GABA A inverse agonists are anxiogenic agents.
The Association between Glaucomatous and Other Causes of Optic Neuropathy and Sleep Apnea

Purpose To determine whether an association exists between sleep apnea and open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), papilledema, or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and whether treatment with continuous positive airway pressure affects the development of these conditions. Design Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. Methods Billing records for beneficiaries 40 years of age and older enrolled in a large United States managed care network from 2001 through 2007 were reviewed. Incidence of open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, NAION, papilledema, and IIH were determined for the beneficiaries and were stratified by sleep apnea status. Cox regression analyses determined the hazard of each of these conditions developing among individuals with and without sleep apnea, with adjustment for sociodemographic, ocular, and medical conditions. Results Among the 2 259 061 individuals in the study, 156 336 (6.9%) had 1 or more sleep apnea diagnoses. The hazard of open-angle glaucoma was no different among persons with sleep apnea either treated (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82 to 1.18) or untreated with continuous positive airway pressure (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.05) and individuals without sleep apnea. Similar findings were observed when assessing the hazard of normal-tension glaucoma developing ( P > .05 for both comparisons). A significantly increased hazard of NAION developing (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.33) and IIH (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.65 to 2.49) was observed among individuals with sleep apnea who were not receiving continuous positive airway pressure therapy as compared with individuals without sleep apnea, although similar increased risks could not be demonstrated among continuous positive airway pressure-treated sleep apnea patients for these conditions ( P > .05 for both comparisons). Conclusions Patients with untreated sleep apnea are at increased risk for IIH and NAION. Clinicians should consider appropriate screening for these conditions in sleep apnea patients.
Effects of Dietary Lipid Supplements on Subadult Sunshine Bass

Abstract Dietary essential fatty acid supplements fed to subadult sunshine bass Morone chrysops ♀ × M. saxatilis ♂ were evaluated for 6 months with four experimental semipurified diets that were formulated with different ratios of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA): 0:0 for diet 1 (control), 1:1 for diet 2, 1:2 for diet 3, and 2:1 for diet 4. A commercially available trout grower diet known to support sunshine bass growth was compared as an industry standard. Fish were fed each diet in triplicate, with 25 fish/replicate. Weight was measured every 6 weeks. With the exception of the final weighing, at which fish fed the trout grower diet were larger, there was no significant difference in the weights of the fish from all the diet trials. Fish fed diets supplemented with highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) showed a decline in tissue concentrations of n-3 HUFA over the study period, except in diet 4 (high EPA in diet, elevated EPA body levels) and diets 2, 3, and 4 (high DHA in diet, e...
Antepartum surveillance in diabetic pregnancies: Predictors of fetal distress in labor

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate an antepartum testing program based on twice-weekly nonstress testing and amniotic fluid evaluation in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus and to weight the test components in the prediction of fetal distress requiring cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: During the 4-year period of 1987 through 1990, 2134 women with pregnancies complicated by diabetes underwent antepartum testing. Of these 1501 women (class A 1 , n = 505; A 2 -diet, n = 305; A 2 -insulin, n = 580; B, n = 71; C to D, n = 29; R to F, n = 11) were delivered within 4 days of their last test. Categoric analysis of data was performed according to diabetic class, fetal heart rate results, and the presence of decreased, normal, or increased amniotic fluid assessment. A univariate logistical regression was first conducted with cesarean delivery for fetal distress as outcome variable by use of the following variables: fetal weight and sex, diabetic class, gestational age at delivery, presence of additional indications for antepartum testing, largest vertical pocket, amniotic fluid index (summation of the four quadrants of the largest vertical pocket), nonstress test reactivity (two accelerations of ≥ 15 beats/min of 15 seconds' duration), presence of decelerations (≥ 15 beats/min for 15 seconds) during the nonstress test, and the interactions of the nonstress test with deceleration, largest vertical pocket, and amniotic fluid index. Multivariate analysis was then applied to predict the best model. RESULTS: No stillbirths occurred within 4 days of the last antepartum test. However, the corrected stillbirth rate of the entire tested population was 1.4 per 1000. Eighty-five women required cesarean delivery for fetal distress. The factors most predictive of cesarean delivery for fetal distress ( p CONCLUSION: An antepartum fetal surveillance program using twice-weekly nonstress test and fluid index assessment in pregnancies complicated by diabetes was successful in preventing stillbirth. The absence of fetal heart rate reactivity and the presence of decelerations were predictive of the diagnosis of fetal distress in labor requiring cesarean delivery. Ultrasonographic assessment of amniotic fluid volume was not a significant predictor of fetal distress in labor in the diabetic pregnancy.
Orofacial musculature imbalance and associated symptoms.

The syndrome of orofacial musculature imbalance is discussed in relation to specific symptoms, etiology, detrimental concomitants, and therapy. Perusal of the literature indicates that this syndrom...
Task-based dialog management using an agenda

Dialog management addresses two specific problems: (1) providing a coherent overall structure to interaction that extends beyond the single turn, (2) correctly managing mixed-initiative interaction. We propose a dialog management architecture based on the following elements: handlers that manage interaction focussed on tightly coupled sets of information, a product that reflects mutually agreed-upon information and an agenda that orders the topics relevant to task completion.
The influence of a blood meal on copulation in Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Observations of the sexual behavior of laboratory colonies of Aedes triseriatus (Say), a common, tree-hole-breeding mosquito in North America east of the Rocky Mountains, gave the impression that females with a blood meal would copulate more readily than those which had not had blood. It was observed also that blood-fed females averaged 55 sec in the copulating position, whereas the average for non-blood-fed females was 25 sec. (Wright et al. 1966). Thus, males would copulate with both blood-fed and non-blood-fed females, but the incidence of copulations with blood-fed females appeared to be higher. To determine the influence, if any, of the blood meal in relation to copulation, an investigation was undertaken to study the level of insemination in populations of blood-fed and non-blood-fed females of this mosquito.
Exploring Boundaries in Governance: Intergovernmental Boundary Agreements

edge of American cities has spawned a debate over the proper allocation of power to and between local units of gov ernment. At issue is determining the optimal method for reducing the fiscal, social, and environmental disparities found in today's metropolis. In recent years, a contrast has been drawn between solutions involving formal hierarchical structures (a "government" mod el) and those that link organizations horizon tally through cooperation, eschewing govern ment entities with jurisdiction over an entire metropolitan area (a "governance" model). The rules concerning municipal boundary expansion play a central role in this larger de bate. For example, Rusk (1999; 2003) argues that state laws should enable aggressive annex ation ("elastic" boundaries) and governmental consolidation ("big boxes" rather than "little boxes") to allow central cities to better regulate land use and redistribute tax resources. The
Single Molecule Dynamics Studied by Polarization Modulation.

We observed and made unambiguous distinctions between abrupt photophysical events of single molecules: a rotational jump of a single dipole, a transition to a dark state (reversible and irreversible photobleaching), and a spectral jump. The study was performed in the far field by modulating the excitation polarization and monitoring the fluorescence in time. This technique also allowed us to measure the in-plane dipole orientation of stationary single molecular dipoles with subdegree accuracy and to resolve desorption and readsorption of fluorophores from and onto a glass surface. In one case, clear evidence was obtained for rapid rotation of the dipole after a desorption process. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Do women prefer women's work?

A new methodology is implemented to determine whether job characteristics can explain why women are concentrated in low-paying, female-dominated occupations. Extensive information on jobs and labour market histories are collected from the 1982 National Longitudinal Survey, Youth Cohort, for women and men characterized by substantial labour market attachment. Significant differences in nonpecuniary job characteristics between the male and female samples are found to exist. Nevertheless, we find no evidence that women differentially favour those job characteristics commonly associated with ‘women's work’.
Phonons in disordered solids. II. Thermodynamic properties

Abstract For model disordered crystals we show that Debye theory yields the correct low-temperature specific heat if the measured low-frequency speed of sound is used in the calculation of the T 3 term. This contrasts with the anomalous leading T term and other anomalies of amorphous or glassy materials, sugesting that thermodynamic properties might be useful in distinguishing a disordered-crystal phase from the amorphous or glassy phase. Our results make it plausible that below a threshold amount of disorder all thermodynamic properties are basically those of an elastic crystalline phase, while above this threshold value, they belong to a distinct phase, dependent on nonlinearities for its stability.
Students' progression of understanding the matter concept from elementary to high school

Using the US national sample from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Rasch modeling method, this study identified the conceptual progression sequence of various matter concept aspects, and compared students' latent abilities against the sequence. We found that the four matter aspects, i.e. conservation, physical properties and change, chemical properties and change, and structure and composition, are interrelated. Although they differ in overall difficulty with an increased difficulty from conservation to physical properties and change to chemical properties and change and to structure and composition, the difference among them is not statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Elementary school students (3rd and 4th grades) have an average latent ability below the average difficulty of items on the conservation aspect; 7th graders' average latent ability is above the average difficulty level of the conservation and physical properties and change aspects; 8th and 12th grade students' average latent ability is above the average difficulty level of all the aspects except for structure and composition; and 12th grade science specialization students' average latent ability is above the average difficulty level of all the four aspects. We proposed a dynamic overlapping wave model of matter concept development to make sense the above-identified progression patterns. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed89:433–450, 2005
Preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen predicts outcomes in node-negative colon cancer patients: a multivariate analysis of 572 patients

Abstract Background: Although prospective trials have demonstrated that postoperative chemotherapy for nodepositive colon cancer patients provides survival benefit, no improvement in survival has been documented for node-negative colon cancer patients. There are, however, a subset of node-negative patients that go on to die of their disease. We hypothesize that this subset of node-negative patients may benefit from postoperative chemotherapy. We analyzed a large cohort of nodenegative colon cancer patients from a single institution to determine prognostic factors that predict which patients with node-negative colon cancer might experience recurrence and can benefit from postoperative chemotherapy. Study Design: A review of the prospective database for colorectal cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1985 and 1993 identified 572 patients who underwent curative resection for nodenegative colon cancer (T 1,2,3,4 N 0 M 0 ). Demographic, serum, and pathologic factors were analyzed for prognostic significance. Survival was calculated by the method of Kaplan-Meier and compared by log rank test. Multivariate analysis was calculated by the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Median follow-up was 35 months. Factors predictive of survival by univariate analysis include tumor stage, overall stage, and preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) elevation. By multivariate analysis, overall stage and preoperative serum CEA level predicted survival. Conclusions: Routine histologic and demographic factors do not predict outcome in node-negative colon cancer patients. Preoperative CEA and overall stage predict survival by multivariate analysis. Preoperative CEA elevation in node-negative patients identifies a group of patients that has a poor prognosis and defines a subset of patients who may benefit from postoperative chemotherapy.
A 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity is associated with phage Ø29 DNA polymerase

Bacteriophage O29 produces its own DNA polymerase which is encoded by gene 2 [Watabe, K. and Ito, J. (1983) Nucleic Acid Res. 11, 8333]. This O29 DNA polymerase has been purified by phospho-cellulose, DEAE-cellulose, double-stranded DNA cellulose chromatography and glycerol gradient centrifugation. An exonuclease activity associated with the DNA polymerase was found through all the steps of the purification. This nuclease preferably degrades single-stranded DNA from the 3′ to the 5′ terminus direction, suggesting that the enzyme plays a role for proof-reading during DNA replication. While DNA polymerase activity isolated from cells infected with temperature sensitive mutant of gene 2 is thermolabile, the nuclease activity is not significantly reduced at the restictive temperature.
Modeling of particle compressibility and ignition from shock focusing

Two-phase shock-driven reacting flow simulations are conducted to determine the post-detonation shock-focusing ignition and burning of aluminum particle mixtures. A model for aluminum particles that accounts for material compressibility from shock heating and expansion is presented. The Lagrangian description of the particles is incorporated into an Eulerian description of the gas phase resulting in a fully compressible, two-way coupled simulation. Simulations are conducted of an isolated explosive located near a corner to promote ignition of the particles from shock focusing. Parametric studies are conducted to determine the effects of equivalence ratio, particle size, and charge placement, on the post-detonation pressure and impulse. Results highlight the importance of the timing and position of the shock focusing event relative to the local mixture equivalence ratio that results in an optimal equivalence ratio which maximizes impulse for the geometry considered.
Simultaneous measurement of insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and the disposition index in conscious unhandled mice

Of the parameters that determine glucose disposal and progression to diabetes in humans: first-phase insulin secretion, glucose effectiveness (Sg), insulin sensitivity (Si), and the disposition index (DI), only Si can be reliably measured in conscious mice. To determine the importance of the other parameters in murine glucose homeostasis in lean and obese states, we developed the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) for use in unhandled mice. We validated the conscious FSIVGTT against the euglycemic clamp for measuring Si in lean and obese mice. Insulin-resistant mice had increased first-phase insulin secretion, decreased Sg, and a reduced DI, qualitatively similar to humans. Intriguingly, although insulin secretion explained most of the variation in glucose disposal in lean mice, Sg and the DI more strongly predicted glucose disposal in obese mice. DI curves identified individual diet-induced obese (DIO) mice as having compensated or decompensated insulin secretion. Conscious FSIVGTT opens the door to apply mouse genetics to the determinants of in vivo insulin secretion, Sg, and DI, and further validates the mouse as a model of metabolic disease.
A Methodology for the Comprehensive Assessment of International Procurement Costs

As the economy becomes more globalized and competitive, firms are manufacturing goods in a wider variety of locations. This may be to reduce costs by moving to a low cost country or to place production closer to potential customers. What is often lacking in these decisions is a holistic assessment of the costs associated with production location decisions. Too often the assessment is focused only on a limited set of cost factors (e.g., direct manufacturing and shipping) and does not take into account the dynamic nature of some costs. To address these limitations a comprehensive cost model to assess the cost of procuring goods from alternative locations is presented. A methodology is detailed for monetizing the numerous costs associated with international procurement. An illustrative case study analyzing the procurement of goods from two locations in Mexico and one in the US is detailed. Results of the case show that the non-direct manufacturing costs associated with procurement (e.g., inventory holding costs and shipping) can be greater than direct manufacturing costs. The effects of fuel and labor cost sensitively on the alternative locations is also detailed.
Be Careful What You Ask For: Structuration Theory and Work/Life Accommodation

An analysis of 96 employee requests for accommodation revealed the rules and resources that govern the negotiation of work/life issues in organizations. Using Giddens' structuration theory, the authors identified six rules and three resources commonly employed in seeking assistance in achieving work/life balance and identified ways that these rules and resources reproduce and challenge the system. Implications for managers, employees, and researchers are discussed.
The Biomechanical and Clinical Significance of the Lumbar Erector Spinae Flexion-Relaxation Phenomenon: A Review of Literature

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the biomedical literature to ascertain the biomechanical and clinical significance of the lumbar erector spinae flexion-relaxation phenomenon (FRP). Data Sources: Index Medicus via PubMed, the Noble Science Library’s e-journal archives, and the Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy Index System databases were searched using the same search terms. Discussion: The presence of the FRP during trunk flexion represents myoelectric silence consistent with increased load sharing of the posterior discoligamentous passive structures. Passive contributions from erector spinae stretching during the flexion posture and active contributions from other muscles (quadratus lumborum and deep erector spinae among others) further assist in load sharing in the trunk flexion posture. A number of studies have shown differences in the FRP between patients with chronic low back pain and healthy individuals, and the reliability of the assessment. Persistent activation of the lumbar erector spinae musculature among patients with back pain may represent the body’s attempt to stabilize injured or diseased spinal structures via reflexogenic ligamentomuscular activation thereby protecting them from further injury and avoiding pain. Conclusions: The myoelectric silencing of the erector spinae muscles in the trunk flexion posture is indicative of increased load sharing on passive structures, which tissues have been found to fail under excessive loading conditions and shown to be a source of low back pain. The studies that show differences in the presence of the FRP among patients and control subjects are encouraging for this type of clinical assessment and suggest that assessment of the FRP is a valuable objective clinical tool to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with low back pain. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2005;28:623-631) Key Indexing Terms: Biomechanics; Electromyography; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Flexion-Relaxation Phenomenon; Trunk Flexion
Water and alanine: from puddles(32) to ponds(49).

The solvation of alanine is investigated, with a focus on adding a sufficient number of discrete water molecules to determine the first solvation shell for both the nonionized (N) and zwitterionic (Z) forms to converge the enthalpy of solvation and the enthalpy difference for the two forms of alanine. Monte Carlo sampling was employed using the generalized effective fragment potential (EFP) method to determine the global minimum of both conformers, with the number of EFP water molecules ranging from 32−49. A subset of sampled geometries were optimized with second-order perturbation theory (MP2) using the 6-31++G(d,p) basis set. Single point energies were calculated at these geometries using the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The predicted 298.15 K enthalpy of solvation ranges for MP2/6-31++G(d,p) and MP2+PCM//MP2/6-31++G(d,p) are 10.0−13.2 kcal/mol and 10.1−12.6 kcal/mol, respectively.
Neutral linear amphiphilic homopolymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

A novel neutral amphiphilic monomer bearing tri(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether as the hydrophilic part and a decyl group as the hydrophobic part was successfully synthesized and its structure was confirmed by NMR. The monomer was readily polymerized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) resulting in control over the molecular weight and a narrow dispersity. As a result of the contrasting solubilities of the two side chains, the amphiphilic homopolymers readily self-assembled in a variety of solvents, forming micelles in polar environments and reverse micelles in non-polar environments. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy as 0.12 mg mL−1 in hexanes solution and 0.002 mg mL−1 in aqueous solution. The average diameter of the self-assembled aggregates in aqueous solution was calculated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) to be ∼180 nm and this aggregate size was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Chronic hepatitis B in asymptomatic homosexual men with antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus.

Excerpt The discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (formerly known as HTLV-III/LAV) as the causative agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has led to the commercial availabi...
Citizen Advisory Boards: Autonomy and Effectiveness:

The research question addressed in this paper is whether the amount of independence or autonomy that citizen advisory boards develop has an impact on their effectiveness. The independence of boards...
Dynamical Criterion for a Marginally Unstable, Quasi-linear Behavior in a Two-Layer Model

A two-layer quasi-geostrophic flow forced by meridional variations in heating can be in regimes ranging from radiative equilibrium to forced geostrophic turbulence. Between these extremes is a regime where the time-mean (zonal) flow is marginally unstable. Using scaling arguments, it is concluded that such a marginally unstable state should occur when a certain parameter, measuring the strength of wave-wave interactions relative to the beta effect and advection by the thermal wind, is small. Numerical simulations support this proposal. A transition from the marginally unstable regime to a more nonlinear regime is then examined through numerical simulations with different radiative forcings. It is found that transition is not caused by secondary instability of waves in the marginally unstable regime. Instead, the time-mean flow can support a number of marginally unstable normal modes. These normal modes interact with each other, and if they are of sufficient amplitude, the flow enters a more nonlinear regime.
Carbonic anhydrase in guinea pig skeletal muscle mitochondria

The presence of carbonic anhydrase activity was demonstrated in guinea pig skeletal muscle mitochondria purified by Percoll gradient centrifugation such that contamination by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was less than 5%. Assay of purified heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles for carbonic anhydrase activity showed these to have somewhat less activity than the mitochondria, so that any contribution by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles to mitochondrial activity would be negligible. In agreement with this observation, rabbit skeletal muscle mitochondria prepared by the Percoll method had no detectable activity. Assay of the guinea pig muscle mitochondrial enzyme activity in the presence of Triton X-100 showed a sixfold greater activity than in its absence, indicating a matrix location for the carbonic anhydrase. The enzyme is highly sensitive to the sulfonamide inhibitor ethoxzolamide, with Ki = 8.7 nM. The activation energy obtained from the rate constant for CO2 hydration, kenz with units (mg/ml)-1 s-1, over the range 4 to 37 degrees C was 12.8 kcal/mol. These properties are those expected for a carbonic anhydrase of the CA II class of isozymes, rather than for CA I, CA III, and the liver mitochondrial enzyme CA V.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Polymerization of a Neutral Tantalacarborane Sandwich Complex Derived from a Pentaanionic Exo-Polyhedrally Linked Bis(C2B10-carborane) Ligand

Tetramethyldisilazane-bridged closo-carborane compounds, [(closo-1-R-1,2-C2B10H10)Me2Si]2NH (R = Me (1), Ph (2)), and their tantalum complexes, [(closo-2-R-2,3-C2B10H10)Me2Si]2N]Ta(V) (R = Me (3), Ph (4)), have been prepared and characterized. Compounds 3 and 4 were found to be active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene in the presence of the cocatalyst MAO to produce two morphologically different polyethylenes with high molecular weight.
Vaginal administration of estradiol: effects of dose, preparation and timing on plasma estradiol levels.

AbstractContext The use of systemic estrogens for the treatment of menopausal symptoms has declined by approximately 80% following the initial publication of the Women's Health Initiative in 2002. Current attention focuses on vaginal estrogen as a local therapeutic means to achieve control of symptoms due to vulvovaginal atrophy without increasing plasma estradiol levels. A key issue is whether or not vaginally administered estrogens are absorbed and produce systemic effects.Evidence acquisition Medline and PubMed were searched for relevant English-language articles using pertinent key words. The bibliographies of the pertinent articles were then read to identify further relevant articles.Evidence synthesis Several confounding factors influenced the data analysis including: (1) estradiol assay sensitivity and specificity; (2) acute versus chronic absorption; (3) delivery systems, doses, timing, and formulation; and (4) effect of atrophic versus mature vaginal mucosa on absorption. Each preparation was ass...
Stem-End Defect in Chipping Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) as Influenced by Mild Environmental Stresses

Global consumption of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) continues to shift from fresh potatoes to value-added processed food products such as potato chips. One serious tuber quality defect of chipping potatoes is stem-end chip defect, which results in chips with dark-colored vasculature and adjacent tissues at the tuber stem end after frying. In this study, treatments of moderate water deficit for 14 days, alone or in combination with moderate daytime heat stress at 30 °C, as well as varied chemical maturity of tubers at harvest were imposed in controlled-environment greenhouses. Only temperature stress for 14 days in 1 of 2 years significantly changed the occurrence of stem-end chip defects. Water deficit for 14 days and chemical maturity of tubers harvested at four time points from early tuber bulking to after vine senescence did not have significant impacts on defect incidence or severity. Biochemical analyses showed that more severe defects with larger areas of dark color on the stem end of chips were associated with increased amounts of tuber stem-end glucose and increased stem-end acid invertase activity. We conclude that moderate environmental stresses and maturity of tubers at harvest are not sufficient to consistently cause stem-end chip defect.
Generation of dc Magnetic Fields by Rectifying Nonlinear Whistlers

A magnetic loop antenna, immersed in a laboratory plasma, excites whistlers whose wave magnetic field exceeds the ambient dc field and forms magnetic null points. The propagation becomes amplitude and polarity dependent. A time-average dc magnetic field is generated with an applied ac magnetic field of zero mean.
Substrate cardioplegia during hypothermic arrest in the alloxan diabetic dog.

Abstract In an experimental study, 26 mongrel dogs were treated with alloxan (50 mg per kilogram) to induce fasting hyperglycemia and diabetes. The animals were randomly subdivided into two groups, one of which received 100 mg of propranolol in divided doses for two weeks. The animals underwent sternotomy and were placed on total cardiopulmonary bypass. After aortic cross-clamping, each animal received 10 ml per kilogram of cardioplegic solution. Two different solutions were used, a standard hyperkalemic solution and a high-energy glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) substrate. Baseline studies were made on the four groups of diabetic animals. Animals given potassium cardioplegia but no propranolol showed statistically significant decreases in cardiac index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and minute left ventricular stroke work index after bypass. In contrast, animals given GIK cardioplegia but no propranolol showed no changes in any of these measurements. Animals administered propranolol and potassium cardioplegia experienced decrease in mean arterial pressure from 77.5 ± 14.1 mm Hg before bypass to 57.5 ± 17.8 mm Hg after bypass. A similar reduction occurred in animals given propranolol and GIK cardioplegia. However, in this group, the cardiac index increased from 1.78 ± 0.38 L/min/m 2 before bypass to 2.96 ± 0.73 L/min/m 2 after bypass ( p
ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN BINDING PROTEINS : IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSMEMBRANE PASSAGE AND SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION

Abstract Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is an oncofetal protein classified in a super-family together with albumin and Vitamin-D binding (Gc) protein which present as globular proteins comprised of three domains. Several subdomain regions on AFP have been previously proposed to serve as dimerization interfaces for nuclear receptors or perhaps other co-factors/inhibitors. The cellular uptake and internalization of AFP together with its subcellular compartmentalization is now well documented in a variety of cell types. A myriad of reports have emerged which have detected, identified, and characterized various binding proteins associated with AFP in different cellular compartments. However, the literature is devoid of any attempts to summarize, categorize, and relate these proteins to the various physiological activities attributed to this fetal protein. It is conceivable that AFP could interact and/or bind cytoplasmic chaperone proteins that normally escort nuclear factors or transcription co-factors through the cytoplasm toward organelle interfaces. A dual concept proposing binding or escort proteins for AFP together with subdomain dimerization interfaces on the AFP molecule can be reconciled into a composite hypothesis to formulate a rationale for the growth regulating properties ascribed to AFP during the last decade. Thus, AFP might serve as a modulator/ modifier of various cell growth regulatory pathways during embryonic and fetal development in vertebrates.
Model and Analysis of the Output Characteristics of Photovoltaic Module

The model based on matlab S-function of the photovoltaic module describes the relationship between temperature and light intensity of the output characteristics of PV module from the UI and PU curves; This paper further analyzes and discusses the mechanism of hot spot phenomenon of the PV modules and gives reasonable solutions for different situations.
The Tetrahymena thermophila genome sequence: 3. Completing macronuclear chromosome sequence scaffolds and ordering and aligning them along the micronuclear genome

In Ciliates, the diploid, mitotic, genetically silent micronucleus (MIC) is the cell's germline, while the macronucleus (MAC) is the exclusive site of gene expression. During (postzygotic) MAC differentiation in T. thermophila, several hundred chromosomes are generated by site specific fragmentation of the five germline-derived chromosomes at highly conserved chromosome breakage sites. Telomeres are added to every newly generated end, and chromosomes are amplified to ∼45 N. The Tetrahymena thermophila macronuclear genome was recently whole-genome-shotgun sequenced to nine-fold redundancy at TIGR. The sequence (publicly available at http://www.tigr.org/tdb/e2k1/ttg/) is assembled into contigs (contiguous segments of overlapping sequence reads) linked into scaffolds. Here, we report here the completion of the assembly of many scaffold ends by linking them to their corresponding telomere, using diverse bioinformatic or experimental approaches. 120 chromosomes are now assembled from telomere to telomere and 125 additional scaffolds are telomere capped at one end. The 120 complete scaffolds encompass ∼45% of the ∼105-Mb assembly, suggesting a total of ∼290 MAC chromosomes. By using paired sequence tags flanking chromosome breakage sites, we are linking unambiguously ordered and oriented MAC chromosome DNA sequence into MIC genome assemblies. Supported by NIH grant RR02931. Preliminary sequence data were obtained from The Institute for Genomic Research website.
Drift-corrected calibration in glow discharge optical emission spectrometry

The effects of drifting instrument sensitivity in glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) on instrument calibration were investigated. It was found that for some analytical applications, the rate of drift may be fast relative to the time needed to calibrate the instrument. The results indicate that if this is the case, the validity of calibration may be compromised, introducing analytical bias. A new drift correction method recently published elsewhere was shown to eliminate any drift-induced calibration difficulties and the associated potential for analytical error. This is important, because drift correction methods that have been traditionally used in OES for decades are not applicable to this particular type of drift. Therefore, the new drift correction method should enhance the utility of GD-OES for important applications, such as quality control and quality assurance in industry.