cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pilot study of seafood consumption and exposure to mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic among infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)

This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted to assess environmental exposures to toxic elements through seafood consumption, among infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Twenty-five women and 15 men completed a questionnaire, and provided biologic specimens for quantification of Hg, Pb, Cd, and As using ICP-MS. Consumption of 'mollusks' and 'shellfish' are associated with increased blood Hg. Other seafood consumption predicts blood Pb, and urine Cd and As. Though limited by small numbers and the cross-sectional design, these results suggest that consumption of specific seafood items increases exposure to toxic elements in couples undergoing IVF.
The Economic Pursuit of Quality

This is a style and usage guide to explain the approach, methods, and rules to follow when creating multimedia and PowerPoint presentations. Filled with graphics, charts, and easy-to-follow instructions.
Equality in Obstetrical Care: Racial/Ethnic Variation in Group B Streptococcus Screening

The objective of this article is to determine whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in screening for group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization among pregnant women. A retrospective cohort study of deliveries at a single institution was conducted. The primary outcome was the availability of GBS culture data at the time of delivery; the primary predictor was maternal race/ethnicity. Analyses were stratified by the time periods before and after the CDC recommendations for universal screening for GBS. Among 16,333 deliveries, 60.4% of the population was screened for GBS but screening rates varied markedly by year of delivery. Black women had a lower odds of having available GBS data (AOR 0.81 [0.69, 0.95]) but this disparity was limited to the period of time before universal screening was recommended. Prior to the recommendation for universal screening for GBS, racial/ethnic disparities existed in rates of screening among pregnant women delivering at term. These differences were reduced after 2002, suggesting that uniform policies regarding obstetrical care may be effective in eliminating disparities in obstetrical care and outcomes.
The role of imaging informatics in clinical translational research: perspectives and challenges from a US academic institution

Nearly in all clinical medicine specialties, medical images and other multi-media related data are generated and need to be distributed to points of decision. Recently, the electronic patient record (ePR) with image distribution system is gradually taking over as the method for distribution of multi-media content to the clinical environment. New challenges are accompanying its spread into other clinical fields. Particularly important are the modeling and analysis of workflow of the affected clinical disciplines as well as interface and integration issues with the image-connected electronic patient record. Although the awareness of these issues is increasing rapidly, equally important is the recognition in the professional community that more rigorous scientific methods are needed to handle the clinical system development and deployment. Furthermore, medical imaging informatics is not only based on many existing concepts, theories, terminology, and methodology derived from health informatics, but also deals with different types of data including multi-dimensional medical images, graphics, waveforms, graphics and text which are focused on the cellular, tissue, and organ systems. Accordingly, medical imaging informatics requires new concepts and new tool sets to handle these types of data. This presentation aims to first introduce the basic concepts of Medical Imaging Informatics infrastructure in both research and clinical environments including PACS, RIS, HIS, ePR, standards, databases, and system integration. This will be followed with discussions of new frontier areas of research in medical imaging informatics with some examples of clinical applications in Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, and Neuro-Rehabilitation.
Traumatic aneurysm complicating EC-IC bypass: successful surgical clipping.

Abstract A patient with an aneurysm developing at the site of an extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass is described. After the aneurysm was observed enlarging over a course of three months, it was clipped, preserving the anastomosis. The patient has done well postoperatively, and to our knowledge this is the first report of such an occurrence.
TIME-OPTIMAL CONTROL FOR A MODEL OF BACTERIAL GROWTH,

A time-optimal control problem is solved for Monod's model of bacterial growth in continuous culture. The solution is obtained using Green's theorem and has a simple feedback form.
Intestinal Microbes, Diet, and Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal cancer, and a significant health care problem globally. Dietary factors, for example high meat consumption and deficiency of fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and folate, are well-recognized to be associated with a risk of developing CRC. Colonic microbiota, by living in a mutual relationship and participating in key metabolic functions that compliment host physiology, is crucially important in the maintenance of our health. A state of imbalance in host–microbe homeostasis, termed dysbiosis, is associated with several diseases, including CRC. Epidemiological studies have revealed strong associations between diet, microbiota, and CRC. Substantial in-vitro and in-vivo evidence suggests that the dynamic composition and diversity of colonic microbiota are affected by alteration of the diet, and that the balance between the beneficial and detrimental microbial metabolites is of crucial importance in mediation of the dietary risk factors of colonic carcinogenesis. A better understanding of complex diet–microbiota–CRC relationships can help us understand how diet affects the risk of CRC and will provide a more scientific approach to the development of novel strategies to prevent CRC.
13C-NMR of Ribosyl ApApA, ApApG and ApUpG

The chemical shifts as well as the 13C-31P coupling constants of the carbon-13 nuclei in single-stranded ApApA, ApApG, and ApUpG are sensitive to sequence and temperature. ApApA and ApApG have similar properties with large shielding (up to 1.7 ppm) of many of the base carbons upon decreasing the temperature from 70 degrees C to 11 degrees C; the base carbons have smaller shielding changes in ApUpG. Large shielding and deshielding effects are observed for the 1', 3', 4' and 5'-carbons over this temperature range. Analysis of the 13C-31P couplings measured at the 4' ribose carbons show that the population of the anti rotamer about O5'-C5' varies from 98 to 75%, and is higher in ApApA and ApApG than in ApUpG. The CCOP coupling data at 2' and 4' is consistent with a blend of the -antiperiplanar/-synclinal nonclassical rotamers about the C3'-O3' bond, varying from 89/11% in ApApG to 55/45% in ApUpG. The coupling and chemical shift data support the thesis that ApUpG is stacked much less than the other two molecules. The stacked forms of all three trinucleotides is most easily interpreted by a standard A-RNA model. It is not necessary to invoke the "bulged base" hypothesis [Lee, C.-H. and Tinoco, Jr., I. (1981) Biophysical Chemistry 1, 283-294; Lankhorst, P.P., Wille, G., van Boom., J.H., Altona, C., and Haasnoot, C.A.G. (1983) Nucleic Acids Research 11, 2839-2856] to explain the contrast in 13C spectroscopic properties of ApUpG in comparison to ApApG and ApApA.
A Lesson on Homophobia and Teasing

Abstract Homophobia and gay-related teasing are already present among young children. This lesson introduces the term “prejudice” and places the concept of homophobia within the context of bullying and teasing with which 8–11 year olds are already familiar. The lesson builds empathy as children think about and discuss how they have felt when they have been teased or called a name and how they think people in gay or lesbian families would feel. The lesson celebrates the lives of gay and lesbian people as it celebrates diversity among all people and families. Children are encouraged to think about the diversity within their own lives and to think about how all people have pride about who they are and who is in their families.
Collective Intentionality and the Social Sciences

In everyday discourse and in the context of social scientific research we often attribute intentional states to groups. Contemporary approaches to group intentionality have either dismissed these attributions as metaphorical or provided an analysis of our attributions in terms of the intentional states of individuals in the group. Insection1, the author argues that these approaches are problematic. In sections 2 and 3, the author defends the view that certain groups are literally intentional agents. In section 4, the author argues that there are significant reasons for social scientists and philosophers of social science to acknowledge the adequacy of macro-level explanations that involve the attribution of intentional states to groups. In section 5, the author considers and responds to some criticisms of the thesis she defends.
Magnetic and Electromagnetic Induction Studies at Archaeological Sites in Southwestern Jordan

In support of ongoing archaeological excavations in southwestern Jordan, a number of geophysical studies have been performed in this region. The work reported was executed in three different years and, in the first year, electromagnetic induction, magnetometry, and ground penetrating radar studies were performed at three sites in the region known to have buried stone walls. While integrated geophysical methods were planned, this first field experience revealed that electromagnetic induction provided, by far, the most useful results and this became the mainstay of subsequent geophysical investigations. To date, five large sites and numerous smaller sites have been surveyed ranging in dates of occupation from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic to the Iron Age. Results from three of the larger sites are reported here. These sites are sufficiently large that they cannot be completely excavated in a single field season and the results of the geophysics are used to identify the most interesting areas at a particular sit...
Mechanism of the solution oxidation of rofecoxib under alkaline conditions.

The rapid oxidation of rofecoxib under alkaline conditions has been previously reported. The oxidation was reported to involve γ-lactone ring opening to an alcohol, which further oxidized to a dicarboxyclic acid. The oxidation was suspected to be mediated by peroxy radicals. This work further investigates the mechanism of oxidation under the alkaline solution conditions. The pH dependence of the oxidation reaction was determined in 50% acetonitrile/50% aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 9–12). The oxidation reaction products were also examined at early timepoints (from 40 s to several minutes) with only 5% water content. The evolution of hydrogen peroxide by the oxidation reaction was quantitatively followed by reaction with triphenylphosphine (TPP) and high-pressure liquid chromatography determination of the resultant triphenylphosphine oxideformed. Rofecoxib was exposed to the alkaline pH conditions in the presence of formaldehyde, and the primary reaction product was isolated and characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and proton 1D, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), gradient heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (gHMBC), and carbon 1D nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Transient reaction products were examined for hydroperoxide groups by reaction with TPP. The oxidation reaction occurs only near pH 11 and above. In the presence of excess formaldehyde, oxidation products are no longer observed but a new product is observed in which two formaldehyde molecules have added to the methylene carbon atom of the γ-lactone ring. The evolution of hydrogen peroxide corresponds quantitatively to the molar amount of the (minor) aldehyde oxidation product formed. It is demonstrated that the rofecoxib anhydride species is actually the primary product of the oxidation reaction. The existence of a transient hydroperoxide species is shown by reaction with TPP and concomitant conversion to a previously identified alcohol. The oxidation of rofecoxib under these high pH conditions is mediated by rofecoxib enolate ion formation. The enolate ion reacts with either formaldehyde or dissolved oxygen at the C5 position. In the case of oxygen, a transient hydroperoxide species is formed. The major and minor products of the oxidation derive from competitive routes of decomposition of this hydroperoxide. The major route involves a second enolate ion formation, which decomposes with heterolytic cleavage of the RO–OH bond to give the rofeocoxib anhydride and hydroxide ion. The anhydride is rapidly hydrolyzed under the alkaline conditions to give the observed rofecoxib dicarboxylate product. The minor hydroxy-furanone product is formed from hydroxide ion attack on the hydroperoxide intermediate.
Melatonin reduces mortality from Aleutian disease in mink (Mustela vison)

Aleutian disease (AD) results from a persistent parvoviral infection that results in marked hypergammaglobulinemia and immune complex mediated lesions of the kidney, liver, lungs and, arteries. Melatonin protected both a wild type or demi strain and a demi/dark crossed strain of mink from AD. The biogenic amine also afforded protection against other non-diagnosed diseases naturally found on mink farms when it was available from a subcutaneously-placed reservoir. Some genetic strains of mink apparently differed in the resistance of mink to the virus and in the protective ability of melatonin. The demi strain was the most resistant followed by pastels, mahogany, darks, and those strains with the double recessive Aleutian gene. The protective action of melatonin appeared to result from melatonin's ability to scavenge free radicals, but it could also be due to the induction of antioxidant enzymes or to the modulation of immunity. Melatonin also protected mink against distemper.
Functional Characterization of Autoreactive T-cells in Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis 199

Functional Characterization of Autoreactive T-cells in Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis 199
The Crash of Valujet Flight 592: A Case Study in State-Corporate Crime

Abstract On May 11, 1996, ValuJet flight 592 crashed in the Florida Everglades killing all 105 passengers and five crew members. The technical cause of the crash was a fire that erupted after one or more oxygen generators exploded in a cargo compartment. Governmental investigations have indicated that both ValuJet and SabreTech (an airline maintenance company) failed to comply with a host of regulations concerning the presentation, storage, and transportation of hazardous materials by air. More generally, however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been found to be negligent in its oversight of airlines by not adequately monitoring the general safety of commercial aircraft as well as by its refusal to institute safeguards and guidelines that would have protected passengers and crews from crashes like that of flight 592. This paper follows the tradition of state-corporate crime theorizing and research by identifying the organizational and structural forces that contributed to the ValuJet crash. ...
In utero alcohol heightens juvenile reactivity

The behavioral teratogenicity of ethanol was studied in a laboratory model of the fetal alcohol syndrome. Pregnant rats were placed in one of three groups: Ethanol (4 g ethanol/kg intubated twice daily; Purina Chow ad lib.); Sucrose (7 g sucrose/kg intubated instead of ethanol; Untreated (no intubations; Purina Chow ad lib.). Ethanol offspring did not differ from either control group in neonatal body weight or developmental measures. On Day 35, 2 female offspring per litter were tested for reactivity to acoustic startle stimuli. Activity was measured during the pre-stimulus foreperiod and during inter-stimulus intervals. Ethanol pups displayed heightened startle reactivity in the absence of hyperactivity or disrupted habituation. These data indicate that ethanol in utero produces hyperrectivity in the absence of morphological, body weight or developmental abberations.
Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus infection of the femoral vein of newborn mice

Abstract The EMC virus was found to infect and injure the femoral veins of newborn mice. EMC viral crystals were found in the adventitial fibroblasts of these veins. In view of the extensive damage observed in the extremely small amount of tissue examined electron microscopically, the extent of the viral phlebitis must have been considerable. The relationship of these findings to the pathogenesis of thrombophlebitis in man provokes interesting speculations.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) Acutely Increases Expression of a Novel Messenger RNA in Human Lymphoblasts

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) Acutely Increases Expression of a Novel Messenger RNA in Human Lymphoblasts
The end of hegemony

This study challenges the notion that the United States is a declining hegemon, or that the Western regime is in peril. Comparisons of economic output, trade, and power statistics indicate that the United States continues to hold a more favorable position than previous hegemons did at comparable periods in the trajectory of their rule in relation to both its allies and opponents. Most important, indicators of power (unlike economic indicators) suggest the power distribution in the world order has varied little since World War II and continues to insure American dominance. The preception of a withering American hegemony is a trendy but inaccurate assessment of our time.
The Endoplasmic Reticulum Takes Center Stage in Cell Cycle Regulation

Cell cycle progression is controlled by the action of cyclins and their partners, the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Although many of the cyclin/CDK targets are in the nucleus, some cyclins spend part of their time in the cytoplasm. Until recently, it was not clear what happens to these cyclins while they are in the cytoplasm; now, two different cyclins have been found to be associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. The question is why.
Interrelationships among Music Aptitude, IQ, and Auditory Conservation.

The main purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among music aptitude, IQ, and auditory conservation. The study was a modified replication of an earlier study done by the author (1979). The sample was comprised of 41 children with a mean age of 6.6 years, in San Antonio, Texas. Four tests were used in the study: Primary Measures of Music Audiation (Gordon, 1979), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (Wechsler, 1974), and two criterion measures: Auditory Conservation Test and Visual Conservation Test. An alpha level of .05 was used to determine significance. Data revealed that auditory conservation is not significantly related to visual conservation (r = − .0347) and that auditory conservation is significantly related to music aptitude, to IQ, and the interaction of music aptitude and IQ. Multiple regression analyses, which included the variables of music aptitude, IQ, music aptitude-IQ interaction, and the predicted variable of auditory conservation, produced a significant F valu...
Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided cholangiopancreatography and rendezvous techniques

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided cholangiopancreatography (EUCP) has become an alternative to percutaneous drainage or surgery in patients with obstructive jaundice or pancreatic obstruction after failed conventional ERCP. The different techniques of biliary and pancreatic drainage are described and the literature is reviewed. Due to the technical complexity associated with this procedure, it should be reserved for endoscopists at tertiary care centers with advanced training in both EUS and ERCP.
Perspective Canada as a social report

This paper reviews the first attempt at social reporting in Canada, Perspective Canada, contrasting it with social reports from other nations, in particular the United States' publication, Social Indicators, 1973. Some future directions and structure for Perspective Canada are suggested, and the paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of the bold use of model building in the analysis of social indicators data, and the innovative use of graphical methods for social reporting.
A compact inflow control device for simulating flight fan noise

Inflow control device (ICD's) of various shapes and sizes have been used to simulate inflight fan tone noise during ground static tests. A small, simple inexpensive ICD design was optimized from previous design and fabrication techniques. This compact two-fan-diameter ICD exhibits satisfactory acoustic performance characteristics without causing noise attenuation or redirection. In addition, it generates no important new noise sources. Design and construction details of the compact ICD are discussed and acoustic performance test results are presented.
Developing Future Engineers: Case Study on the Incorporation of Sustainable Design in an Undergraduate Civil Engineering Curriculum

AbstractTo better prepare students to tackle the challenges of real-world problems, the authors developed a strategic approach to incorporate sustainable-design principles in the undergraduate curriculum to set a foundation of sustainability on which students could build throughout their academic careers. The plan through the four-year undergraduate curriculum involves creating an awareness of sustainable design in a required freshman introduction-to-design course and describing the science of sustainability and how students can apply sustainability principles in a new required sophomore-level course. The students are then prepared to consider sustainability in their civil engineering technical design courses during the third-year curriculum. In their fourth year, students apply sustainability principles in developing and evaluating design solutions during their senior capstone design course. Assessment of student learning showed improvement in students’ abilities to comprehend principles of sustainable d...
USE OF DIFFERENT I181-LABELLED ANTIBODY ELUATES IN THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SHIGELLA AND VIBRIO ANTISERA

The results presented indicate that blocking curves of decreased slope are obtained with the Talmage test when the labelled antibody eluate contains a portion of antibody which is not represented in the unknown serum. The blocking curves of late antisera had steeper slopes than those of early antisera when tested against labelled antibody eluates prepared from late antisera. This situation was reversed when labelled eluates from early antisera were used in the Talmage test. The findings were interpreted to indicate that early antisera did not have a full complement of antibodies, directed against all surface antigens of the bacterial cell.
Developmental Regulation of Hepatitis B Virus Biosynthesis by Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α

The host cellular factors that promote persistent viral infections in vivo are, in general, poorly understood. Utilizing the hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mouse model of chronic infection, we demonstrate that the nuclear receptor, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α, NR2A1), is essential for viral biosynthesis in the liver. The dependency of HBV transcription on HNF4α links viral biosynthesis and persistence to a developmentally regulated transcription factor essential for host viability.
The Influence of Competing Identity Primes on Political Preferences

In our increasingly diverse society, most Americans identify with more than one group. These multiple identities often align with conflicting policy choices, such as when a Democratic parent may support increased social services spending from a partisan perspective but may also worry about the increasing national debt as a parent. Given the significance of identity, political elites often work to prime identities that will win over the most supporters. A large literature documents the substantial role such identity priming can play in shaping preferences, but virtually no work considers the reality that identity primes often compete with one another. That is, different groups simultaneously prime different identities that align with their interests. In this article, I explore what makes one identity prime more effective than another. I do so by offering a theory of what types of rhetoric makes for a stronger identity prime (relative to other types of rhetoric). I test my expectations with a unique survey ...
Lateral inhibition for center-surround reorganization of the frequency map of bat auditory cortex

Repetitive acoustic stimulation, auditory fear conditioning, and focal electric stimulation of the auditory cortex (AC) each evoke the reorganization of the central auditory system. Our current study of the big brown bat indicates that focal electric stimulation of the AC evokes center-surround reorganization of the frequency map of the AC. In the center, the neuron's best frequencies (BFs), together with their frequency-tuning curves, shift toward the BFs of electrically stimulated cortical neurons (centripetal BF shifts). In the surround, BFs shift away from the stimulated cortical BF (centrifugal BF shifts). Centripetal BF shifts are much larger than centrifugal BF shifts. An antagonist (bicuculline methiodide) of inhibitory synaptic transmitter receptors changes centrifugal BF shifts into centripetal BF shifts, whereas its agonist (muscimol) changes centripetal BF shifts into centrifugal BF shifts. This reorganization of the AC thus depends on a balance between facilitation and inhibition evoked by focal cortical electric stimulation. Unlike neurons in the AC of the big brown bat, neurons in the Doppler-shifted constant-frequency (DSCF) area of the AC of the mustached bat are highly specialized for fine-frequency analysis and show almost exclusively centrifugal BF shifts for focal electric stimulation of the DSCF area. Our current data indicate that in the highly specialized area, lateral inhibition is strong compared with the less-specialized area and that the specialized and nonspecialized areas both share the same inhibitory mechanism for centrifugal BF shifts.
Post-2000 evolutionary paths for common-user tactical networks

Examines alternatives for common-user tactical networks that are possible in the post-2000 time frame. Architectures examined are based on variations of narrowband-ISDN and broadband-ISDN, but which use new 4.8 kbps and 800 bps speech algorithms. The practical realities of implementing such new architectures, given the restraints of today's budget environment, are also explored. The paper first examines the pressures for change in tactical communications and possible evolutionary responses to the pressures. Issues that must be resolved in order to proceed to new tactical systems by the post-2000 timeframe are identified. >
Despite apparent morphologic and immunophenotypic heterogeneity, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is consistently composed of cells along a morphologic continuum of small lymphocytes, plasmacytoid lymphocytes, and plasma cells

We studied the clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic features of 26 Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) cases, each with an IgM spike of ≥3.0 g/dL. The neoplastic cells were consistently composed of a spectrum of small lymphocytes, plasmacytoid lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Bone marrow (BM) involvement ranged from 10% to 90%, showed four histologic patterns (nodular [75%], interstitial [75%], paratrabecular [42%], and diffuse [4%]), two histologic subtypes (lymphoplasmacytic [87%] and lymphoplasmacytoid [13%]), and several cytologic variants (monocytoid [n = 2], signet-ring cell [n = 2], and hairy cell leukemia-like [n = 1]). By flow cytometry (FC), all cases expressed monoclonal surface immunoglobulin, CD19, and CD20. Most cases (58%) lacked expression of CD5, CD10, and CD23. However, variants such as CD5+CD10−CD23− (n = 3), CD5+CD10−CD23+ (n = 1), and CD5−CD10+CD23+/− (n = 2) were seen. At last follow-up, 18 of 26 patients were alive (median survival, 94 months). Causes of death included WM (n = 1), large cell lymphoma (n = 1), acute myeloid leukemia (likely therapy-related [n =2]), and nonhematologic/unknown. When individual WM cases are compared, apparent morphologic diversity is suggested. However, every WM case is comprised of cells along a morphologic continuum from small lymphocytes to plasma cells, delineating a uniform, consistent pathology. As WM shows immunophenotypic heterogeneity, morphology must be the cornerstone of the diagnosis. Semin Oncol 30:182-186. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PREPARATION AND ELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF MONOLAYER TUNGSTEN OXIDE ON SILICA PARTICLES

Abstract Monolayer tungsten oxide on silica particles was prepared by a controlled hydrolysis technique. The material displays a bandgap which is 0.3 eV higher in energy than that for bulk WO 3 . The quasi-Fermi level for electrons, in this material, as determined by electrochemical measurements, is 170 mV more negative for SiO 2 /WO 3 than that for particulate WO 3 .
Synthesis and characterization of an electroactive surface that releases γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

We report the synthesis and characterization of a new electroactive surface capable of releasing the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) upon reduction. The GABA was anchored to an alkanethiol via electrochemically active quinone (abbreviation, TM-GABA). The quinone unit, upon reduction to the hydroquinone, cyclizes to release GABA into solution. The half-life is 99 s. The self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of TM-GABA on gold was prepared and characterized with several surface sensitive techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) explored the SAM formation of TM-GABA on Au surfaces. Cyclic voltammograms showed the ability to electrochemically control the quinone unit at the distal end of the chain. GABA was selectively released upon electrochemical reduction at a potential of -700 mV. The functional GABA terminal group was detected by surface plasmon resonance measurements of anti-GABA antibody binding.
Comparison of Müller Total Hip Replacement with and without Trochanteric Osteotomy: Kinesiologic Measurements of 82 Cases 2 Years After Surgery

Function of 37 patients with osteotomy of the greater trochanter during total hip replacement (41 hips) is compared to function of 38 patients (41 hips) without osteotomy. Subjective assessments and cane force measurements were slightly more favorable in the group without osteotomy. Objective measurements of hip motion, hip abductor and adductor muscle strength, weight distribution during standing, and multiple components of free-speed and fast walking showed no statistically significant differences between performance of the groups with and without osteotomy before surgery or 6 months or 2 years after. This suggests that osteotomy provides no functional advantages to the patient beyond those obtained in total hip replacements without osteotomy.
Gallium and Gallium Compounds

Gallium is a scarce but not a rare element. It is found most commonly in association with its immediate neighbors in the Periodic Table, ie, zinc, germanium, and aluminum. The concentration of gallium in the earth’s crust, 10–20 g/t (10–20 ppm), is comparable to that of lead and arsenic. There is an abundance of aluminum ores and alumina plants, and less importantly to gallium production zinc ores and plants; these are the main sources of gallium. The physical properties of gallium, especially its thermal properties, are exceptional. It is easily supercooled. In accordance with its normal potential, gallium is chemically similar to zinc and is somewhat less reactive than aluminum. A minor amount of gallium is extracted as a by-product from the zinc industry. The significant amount of primary gallium is recovered from the alumina industry. The main source is the sodium aluminate liquor from Bayer-process plants that produce large quantities of alumina. A large part of the wastes from the gallium arsenide industry is recovered for both economical and environmental reasons. Several processes are effective and are being used to recover both the gallium either as a metal, a salt, or a hydroxide for recycling, and the arsenic in some form for recycling or disposal. Gallium either comes from mining sources or is recycled from scrap. Gallium has complete miscibility in the liquid state with aluminum, indium, tin, and zinc. No compounds are formed. Numerous intermetallic gallium–transition element compounds have been reported. The toxicity of metallic gallium or gallium salts is very low. Gallium is used in the production of electronics and magnets, in medicine, as a petroleum industry catalyst, and in the solar reactions experiment. Keywords: gallium; gallium compounds; extraction; bayer liquid; purification; recycling; alloys; intermetallic compounds; chalcogenides; solar neutrino; epitaxial technology; integrated circuits; magnets; medical use; catalysts
Synthesis of [13C]-isotopomers of indole and tryptophan for use in the analysis of indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis

The direct conversion of indole to indole-3-acetic acid without tryptophan as an intermediate has previously been shown to occur in vivo, as well as in vitro, with seedlings of plants. In order to facilitate the purification of the enzymes that carry out the enzymatic synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid from labeled indole, it was necessary to develop an assay that had both high sensitivity and analytical precision. To obtain the required analytical resolution and to allow definitive product identification, [13C6]indole was synthesized for use in GC-MS assays of the enzymatic conversion. Plants have been shown to be able to synthesize indole-3-acetic acid either directly from indole as well as by degradation of tryptophan. Thus, in order to allow the biochemical discrimination between these processes, the synthesized [13C6]indole was used as a starting material for a novel enzymatic synthesis of [13C]isotopomers of L-tryptophan labeled at specific positions. Together, these isotope labeled indolic compounds offer powerful new approaches to understanding and differentiating routes of indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis in vitro and in vivo. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A centurial history of technological change and learning curves for pulverized coal-fired utility boilers

Recent study of the history of technological change has provided better understanding of the driving forces for technological innovation, as well as quantitative estimates of historical rates of technical change. Although such results are widely used in long-term energy models to estimate future costs over time periods of up to a century, most studies of technological learning for major energy technologies are based on historical trends over time periods not longer than 20–30 years (often because of data limitations). Relatively few studies quantify longer-term (century-scale) trends. This study helps fill that gap by reviewing the history of pulverized-coal (PC) power plants, with a specific focus on the technological progress of PC boiler technology over the last century. Historical data for U.S. plants are used to develop long-term experience curves for the overall thermal efficiency of PC power plants, as well as the capital cost of PC boilers and non-fuel operating and maintenance (O&M) costs of PC plants. Despite a technology plateau experienced by PC power plants two decades ago, recent developments indicate that such plants will continue to improve and remain a competitive and important part of power generation technology portfolios.
ON PREDICTABILITY OF PARTICLE CLUSTERS IN A STOCHASTIC FLOW

In many physical applications it is important to predict particle trajectories in a turbulent flow using a numerical model of the flow. One of the major reasons for a poor prediction is the limited resolution in space. We discuss the problem of predictability limits in the framework of a stochastic flow modeling inertial particles in turbulence. Two stochastic flows called the "model" and "true" are considered. The "model" flow is the "true" flow smoothed in space. The principal measure of discrepancy of the flows is the distance between the centers of mass of two initially identical particle clusters driven by the "true" and "model" flows respectively. The predictability limit is defined as a moment when this distance exceeds the space correlation scale of the true flow. The main result is a simple formula relating the predictability limit with the smoothing scale. This relation is well supported by stochastic simulations and could be a helpful tool in planning experiments in numerical models of turbulent flows. Also the difference between particle scattering in the "true" and "model" flows is studied.
Gravidity, obesity, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes among Pima Indian women

Abstract purpose: To evaluate the relationships among gravidity, obesity, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Pima Indian women. subjects and methods: Pima Indian women ( n = 2,779) participating in a longitudinal epidemiologic study of diabetes were evaluated in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. results: The prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes was higher among women who had never been pregnant than among those who had been pregnant (age- and obesity-adjusted odds ratio=2.0; 95% confidence interval=1.5 to 2.7). Controlled for age and obesity, nondiabetic women who had never been pregnant had significantly higher fasting plasma glucose concentrations by 2% ( P = 0.004), higher fasting serum insulin concentrations by 8% ( P = 0.09), and higher 2-hour serum insulin concentrations by 10% ( P = 0.07) than nondiabetic women who had been pregnant. Among 1,025 women observed for an average of 8 years, those who had not been pregnant by the baseline examination were at significantly higher risk for developing non-insulin-dependent diabetes before the age of 40 years (incidence rate ratio=1.5; 95% confidence interval=1.2 to 2.1), but that difference could be accounted for by a higher degree of obesity. conclusions: We hypothesize that Pima Indian women who have a high risk for non-insulin-dependent diabetes develop obesity and hyperinsulinemia at an early age, and that may be responsible for decreased fertility because of associated changes in sex hormones.
PERSISTENCE OF DESERTIFIED ECOSYSTEMS: EXPLANATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS *

Studies of rainfall partitioning by shrubs, responses of shrub-dominated ecosystems to herbicide treatment, and experiments using drought and supplemental rainfall were conducted to test the hypothesis that the shrub-dominated ecosystems that have replaced desert grasslands are resistant and resilient to disturbance. Between 16 and 25% of the intercepted rainfall is channelized to deep soil storage by stemflow and root channelization. Stemflow water is nutrient enriched and contributes to the "islands of fertility" that develop under desert shrubs. Drought and rainfall augmentation experiments during the growing season after 5 consecutive years of summer drought found that (1) growth of creosotebushes, Larrea tridentata, was not significantly affected, (2) perennial grasses and forbs disappeared on droughted plots, (3) nitrogen mineralization increased in the short term, and (4) densities and biomass of spring annual plants increased on the droughted plots. Doubling summer rainfall for 5 consecutive years had less-significant effects. Coppice dunes treated with herbicide in 1979 to kill mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) had the same frequency of occurrence of the shrub as the untreated dunes when remeasured in 1993. These data indicate that the shrub-dominated ecosystems persist because they are resistant and resilient to climatic and anthropogenic stresses.
ACEi/ARB for systolic heart failure: closing the quality gap with a sustainable intervention at an academic medical center.

BACKGROUND: National guidelines recommend angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensinogen receptor blocker (ARB) therapy for patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), including those with symptomatic heart failure (HF). However, guideline adherence has not been optimal. The goal of this quality improvement project is to devise and implement a sustainable care-delivery model in a 920-bed academic hospital center that would improve ACEi/ARB adherence before hospital discharge. METHODS: The Model of intervention is: (1) a computer-based daily screening program; (2) inpatient pharmacist e-flag message; and (3) alerts for inpatient care teams. Its operating algorithm: If eligible adult HF/LVSD inpatients are not on ACEi or ARB nor documentation of contraindications, a flag alert is generated; deficiency is confirmed by a pharmacist and conveyed to the patient-care teams; if alert is acted on and care brought into adherence, the screening program would not re-flag the same patients the succeeding day; if not, the patients would be re-flagged daily until reaching adherence. We compared ACEi/ARB adherence before, during, and after the intervention. RESULTS: Baseline performance (percentage of eligible HF/LVSD patients receiving ACEi/ARB) was 87.5%. After implementation of the Model the ACEi/ARB adherence rate at the time of hospital discharge rose to 96.7% (P < 0.002) and was sustained for 21 months without needing additional personnel. CONCLUSIONS: A carefully designed, computer-based care-delivery model is highly efficient and sustainable for enhancing ACEi/ARB adherence. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Optimized sink mobility for energy and delay efficient data collection in FWSNs

Network fragmentation is a potential problem in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) due to many reasons like, node failures or environmental conditions (obstacles) that prevent connected deployments. One approach to cope with this problem is to have a mobile sink node (MS) patrol the network field and collect the data from all the fragments across the network. In this paper, we use a dynamic programming (DP) approach to determine the mobility trajectory of the MS within each fragment such that the energy consumption at the sensor nodes within the fragment is minimized. Moreover, we study the problem of finding the shortest route (cycle) that the MS should take in its journey between fragments in order to reduce a fragment's inter-visit time. For this purpose, we propose an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulation to find the optimal route. As finding the optimal route is NP-hard, we also propose a heuristic approach to find a near optimal solution.
Watching the Watchers: Automatically Inferring TV Content From Outdoor Light Effusions

The flickering lights of content playing on TV screens in our living rooms are an all too familiar sight at night --- and one that many of us have paid little attention to with regards to the amount of information these diffusions may leak to an inquisitive outsider. In this paper, we introduce an attack that exploits the emanations of changes in light (e.g., as seen through the windows and recorded over 70 meters away) to reveal the programs we watch. Our empirical results show that the attack is surprisingly robust to a variety of noise signals that occur in real-world situations, and moreover, can successfully identify the content being watched among a reference library of tens of thousands of videos within several seconds. The robustness and efficiency of the attack can be attributed to the use of novel feature sets and an elegant online algorithm for performing index-based matches.
Reduce simultaneous switching jitter in number, spatial, time, and frequency dimensions

This paper analyzes high-speed interface simultaneous switching jitter (SSJ) and mathematically describes methods for reducing SSJ in number, spatial, time, and frequency dimensions. Quantitative relationships between SSJ and its major sources — SSO crosstalk, driver PDN SSN, and pre-driver PDN SSN — are discussed. Firmware and hardware methods for SSJ reduction on die, on package, and on PCB from system co-design point of view are described. The effectiveness of SSJ reduction through data encoding is proved mathematically. New concepts, such as effective density of simultaneous switching bits, two-stage selective fixed-length encoding, three-path PDN co-design, are introduced for SSJ reduction in different dimensions. A new PDN design method based on noise to jitter transfer function and jitter sensitivity profiles is described as well. Concepts and methods are validated through system level simulations and measurements.
National Ignition Facility end-to-end beamline optical model

The optical model of a National Ignition Facility beamline will be described and illustrated. The complexity of the optical design will be evident. The benefits of having an End-to-End optical model will be presented.
Low-energy Li 7 ( t , α ) He 6 cross sections

The thick target yield of the reaction $^{7}\mathrm{Li}(t, \ensuremath{\alpha})$ has been measured to the ground and first excited states of $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ for bombarding energies between 70 and 110 keV. These yields are used to deduce the reaction cross sections and astrophysical $S$ factors at intermediate values of energy. The zero energy $S$ factor $S(0)$ for $^{7}\mathrm{Li}(t, \ensuremath{\alpha})^{6}\mathrm{He}^{*}(1.81)$ is 14\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.5 MeVb. Applications of the measured values of the cross section for this reaction to the diagnostics of high temperature tritium plasmas are discussed. Efforts to detect alphas from induced reactions on other light targets $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, $^{10}\mathrm{B}$, and $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ are discussed.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{7}\mathrm{Li}(t, \ensuremath{\alpha})^{6}\mathrm{He}$, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}(t, \ensuremath{\alpha})^{8}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{11}\mathrm{B}(t, \ensuremath{\alpha})^{10}\mathrm{Be}$; ${E}_{t}=70\ensuremath{-}110$ keV, $\ensuremath{\theta}=150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$. Measured thick target yields. Deduced $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta}, E)$, $S(\ensuremath{\theta}, E)$.
Spectral bounds for independent cascade model with sensitive edges

This paper studies independent cascade models where influence propagates from seed-nodes along edges with independent probabilities. Upper-bounds for the expected number of influenced nodes were previously proposed using the spectral norm of a Hazard matrix. However, these bounds turn out loose in many cases, in particular with respect to sensitive edges such as bottlenecks, seed adjacent, and high probability edges. This paper proposes a similar bound that improves in such cases by handling sensitives edges more carefully.
Coexisting Liquid Phases Underlie Nucleolar Subcompartments

The nucleolus and other ribonucleoprotein (RNP) bodies are membrane-less organelles that appear to assemble through phase separation of their molecular components. However, many such RNP bodies contain internal subcompartments, and the mechanism of their formation remains unclear. Here, we combine in vivo and in vitro studies, together with computational modeling, to show that subcompartments within the nucleolus represent distinct, coexisting liquid phases. Consistent with their in vivo immiscibility, purified nucleolar proteins phase separate into droplets containing distinct non-coalescing phases that are remarkably similar to nucleoli in vivo. This layered droplet organization is caused by differences in the biophysical properties of the phases-particularly droplet surface tension-which arises from sequence-encoded features of their macromolecular components. These results suggest that phase separation can give rise to multilayered liquids that may facilitate sequential RNA processing reactions in a variety of RNP bodies. PAPERCLIP.