cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
No influence of high- and low-carbohydrate diet on the oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy.

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to determine the influence of the carbohydrate content of the diet preceding the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in pregnancy on the test results and to evaluate the necessity of the recommended preparatory high-carbohydrate diet. Study design: Thirty-four women from our outpatient clinic were enrolled in this prospective study. After giving informed consent, each women underwent a 90-min lesson (supervised by a dietary assistant) covering the carbohydrate, protein and fat content of different foods. Women were then randomized and in a crossover design started a diet with either a low or a high carbohydrate content. We were aiming at a carbohydrate intake of 40% in the low-carbohydrate week (LCH) and 50% in the high-carbohydrate week (HCH). Compliance was monitored by a detailed food diary which the women kept and which included the weight of the foods they consumed. Results: The actual dietary intakes as calculated from the food diaries showed that the mean caloric intake was 1801 ± 314 kcal in the LCH and 2118 ± 312 kcal in the HCH week ( The number of patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes was two in the LCH and three in the HCH week (not significant). The sum of the OGTT values (fasting, 1 h and 2 h) after the LCH was 18.9 ± 2.1 mmol/l vs. 18.8 ± 2.1 mmol/l after the HCH (P = 0.51). No differences could be found in both groups regarding the fasting, 1-h, or 2-h glucose values. Including patients with a CH difference of at least 5%, 10%, and 15% carbohydrate between the weeks, we still did not observe any differences in the OGTT sum. We also looked at a possible influence of the CH content of the diet on the day before the test and of the last meal before the OGTT results and observed there was none. Conclusion: This is the first study which has observed the influence of the previous day's meal on the test results. We conclude from our results that the carbohydrate percentage of the preparatory diet did not influence the results of an OGTT, even when we increased the difference in carbohydrate intake stepwise up to 15%. This might indicate that a preparatory diet before the OGTT is not necessary for women with normal nutritional behavior.
Analytic processing elicits right ear superiority in monaurally presented speech

Abstract The latency to respond with the right hand to the initial phone of a monaurally presented CVC syllable is shorter when the stimulus is heard in the right ear than when it is heard in the left ear. This shows that superiority of the left hemisphere can be elicited in simple speech tasks with monaural stimulation. However, the latency to recognize the entire syllable is equally short regardless of ear and responding hand. This is consistent with the view that the left hemisphere is dominant only for tasks that require analysis of the internal structure of a stimulus.
A new two-stage sampling design for estimating the maximum average time to flower

A horticulturist was considering the number of days (X) each variety took from planting seeds to reach the stage when the first bud appeared for three local marigold varieties. The data X could be recorded with accuracy of one-half day. The primary interest was to estimate the maximum waiting time between “seeding” and “first budding” among three varieties under consideration. It was thought that a 99% confidence interval with width one day would suffice. The horticulturist felt comfortable to assume a normal distribution for the response variable. He provided positive lower bounds for the variances which forced pilot sample sizes to become unequal. We are not aware of any existing methodology with unequal pilot sample sizes that would readily apply here. Accordingly, a new two-stage sampling design was developed and implemented. The gathered data validated all assumptions made during the course of this investigation. Important exact as well as large-sample properties of the proposed methodology are highlighted (Theorem 1). This methodology is proven to be theoretically superior (Theorem 2) to the existing methodology for large sample sizes provided that the pilot sizes could be “chosen” equal. For the experimental data on hand, the superiority of the new methodology has also been indicated (Section 4.3). The solution to the primary estimation problem ultimately led to a natural and yet nontraditional selection problem involving identification of the “worst” marigold variety. For this selection problem, a practical approach is developed (Section 4.4) for evaluating the associated probability of correctly selecting the worst marigold variety.
The Effect of Neighborhood on Crime and Safety: A Review of the Evidence

There is a growing, multidisciplinary body of evidence on the effects that neighborhoods have on family outcomes. This evidence is important for social workers as we work with clients and communities from a person-in-environment perspective. In this article the authors present findings from a systematic, integrative review of neighborhood effects specifically for crime and safety. Thirty-seven research studies using random samples from urban, U.S. areas between 2002 and 2008 are reviewed. Findings suggest socio-demographic characteristics of neighborhoods and neighborhood processes are both predictive of crime and safety. Further, some neighborhood conditions may affect crime and safety in unexpected ways. Implications for social work practice, neighborhood interventions, and evidence-based practice are discussed.
Quantum computation with linear optics

Ever since Knill, Laflamme and Milburn [Nature (London) 409, 46 (2001)] showed that nondeterministic quantum logic operations could be performed with linear optical elements, additional photons (ancilla) and projective measurements, the idea of linear-optics quantum computation has attracted considerable interest. Our group has recently demonstrated several devices of this kind. We give an overview of recent experimental results, including the quantum parity check, the destructive controlled-NOT, and a cyclical quantum memory. The need for high-efficiency detection of single photons, and for detectors capable of distinguishing photon number will be discussed. Some experimental improvements towards meeting that need will be presented.
Analytical and physical modeling of a free-fall oceanographic vehicle

Abstract Free-fall vehicles have gained widespread acceptance as a means by which small scale fluctuations in ocean characteristics such as the temperature and salinity gradients can be accurately profiled. Although these vehicles are used by a large number of programs doing basic and applied research for the Navy, the dynamic characteristics of their free-fall descent are not well understood. This makes the interpretation of some aspects of the recorded data uncertain. Also, there is no framework to guide the preliminary design of new vehicles to optimize their performance. In this work, a numerical time domain solution of the equations of motion for predicting the fall dynamics of a free-fall vehicle is developed, and a correlation study based on experimental data obtained from physical model wind tunnel tests, limited insitu data, and the analytical model are presented.
Environmentausm in Bulgaria: What colour are the greens?

The environmental movement has played a central role in the recent political changes in Central and Eastern Europe. Kristalina Georgieva discusses the role of the environmental movement in Bulgaria, finding that although environmentalists found prominent positions in post-reform governments, agreement on environmental issues has since been divided across party boundaries as the political climate matures.
β-cell biology in the 21st century

Abstract The NIDDK Workshop: β-Cell Biology in the 21st Century: Engineering a Pathway to Greater Understanding was held at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA from 26 to 28 November 2001.
Nascent Transcription Affected by RNA Polymerase IV in Zea mays

All eukaryotes use three DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RNAPs) to create cellular RNAs from DNA templates. Plants have additional RNAPs related to Pol II, but their evolutionary role(s) remain largely unknown. Zea mays (maize) RNA polymerase D1 (RPD1), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV), is required for normal plant development, paramutation, transcriptional repression of certain transposable elements (TEs), and transcriptional regulation of specific alleles. Here, we define the nascent transcriptomes of rpd1 mutant and wild-type (WT) seedlings using global run-on sequencing (GRO-seq) to identify the broader targets of RPD1-based regulation. Comparisons of WT and rpd1 mutant GRO-seq profiles indicate that Pol IV globally affects transcription at both transcriptional start sites and immediately downstream of polyadenylation addition sites. We found no evidence of divergent transcription from gene promoters as seen in mammalian GRO-seq profiles. Statistical comparisons identify genes and TEs whose transcription is affected by RPD1. Most examples of significant increases in genic antisense transcription appear to be initiated by 3ʹ-proximal long terminal repeat retrotransposons. These results indicate that maize Pol IV specifies Pol II-based transcriptional regulation for specific regions of the maize genome including genes having developmental significance.
PARAMETRIC STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF MEMBRANE TENSION ON SUNSHIELD DYNAMICS

The NGST sunshield is a lightweight, flexible structure consisting of pretensioned membranes supported by deployable booms. The structural dynamic behavior of the sunshield must be well understood in order to predict its influence on observatory performance. A 1/10th scale model of the sunshield has been developed for ground testing to provide data to validate modeling techniques for thin film membrane structures. The validated models can then be used to predict the behaviour of the full scale sunshield. This paper summarizes the most recent tests performed on the 1/10th scale sunshield to study the effect of membrane preload on sunshield dynamics. Topics to be covered include the test setup, procedures, and a summary of results.
Prognostic value of exercise echocardiography in 2,632 patients ≥65 years of age

Abstract OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the prognostic value of exercise echocardiography in the elderly. BACKGROUND Limited data exist regarding the prognostic value of exercise testing in the elderly, a population which may be less able to exercise and is at increased risk of cardiac death. METHODS Follow-up (2.9 ± 1.7 years) was obtained in 2,632 patients ≥65 years who underwent exercise echocardiography. RESULTS There were 1,488 (56%) men and 1,144 (44%) women (age 72 ± 5 years). The rest ejection fraction was 56 ± 9%. Rest wall motion abnormalities were present in 935 patients (36%). The mean work load was 7.7 ± 2.3 metabolic equivalents (METs) for men and 6.5 ± 1.9 METs for women. New or worsening wall motion abnormalities developed with stress in 1,082 patients (41%). Cardiac events included cardiac death in 68 patients and nonfatal myocardial infarction in 80 patients. The addition of the exercise electrocardiogram to the clinical and rest echocardiographic model provided incremental information in predicting both cardiac events (chi-square = 77 to chi-square = 86, p = 0.003) and cardiac death (chi-square = 71 to chi-square = 86, p CONCLUSIONS Exercise echocardiography provides incremental prognostic information in patients ≥65 years of age. The best model included clinical, exercise testing and exercise echocardiographic variables.
Hierarchical clustering of EMD based interest points for road sign detection

Abstract This paper presents an automatic road traffic signs detection and recognition system based on hierarchical clustering of interest points and joint transform correlation. The proposed algorithm consists of the three following stages: interest points detection, clustering of those points and similarity search. At the first stage, good discriminative, rotation and scale invariant interest points are selected from the image edges based on the 1-D empirical mode decomposition (EMD). We propose a two-step unsupervised clustering technique, which is adaptive and based on two criterion. In this context, the detected points are initially clustered based on the stable local features related to the brightness and color, which are extracted using Gabor filter. Then points belonging to each partition are reclustered depending on the dispersion of the points in the initial cluster using position feature. This two-step hierarchical clustering yields the possible candidate road signs or the region of interests (ROIs). Finally, a fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation (JTC) technique is used for matching the unknown signs with the existing known reference road signs stored in the database. The presented framework provides a novel way to detect a road sign from the natural scenes and the results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed technique, which yields a very low false hit rate.
Measurement of heat transfer coefficients by nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract We demonstrate an experimental method for the measurement of heat transfer coefficient for a fluid system by magnetic resonance imaging. In this method, the temporal variation of thermally induced nuclear shielding is monitored and the average heat transfer coefficient is measured as a function of fluid velocity. We examine the cases of natural convection and forced convection at fluid velocity up to 0.8 m s−1. These cases correspond to low dimensionless Biot (Bi) number where the heat transfer is limited by thermal convection. We demonstrate the NMR method for two simple geometries, a cylinder and a sphere, to experimentally determine the heat transfer coefficient (h) in two NMR imaging and spectroscopy systems through measuring three NMR parameters, the chemical shift, magnetization and spin self diffusion coefficient.
Porosity of Microcapsules with Wall Systems Consisting of Whey Proteins and Lactose Measured by Gas Displacement Pycnometry

ABSTRACTPorosity characteristics of anhydrous milkfat-containing,spray-dried microcapsules with wall systems consisting ofmixtures of whey proteins and lactose were investigated bygas displacement technique, using helium and nitrogen asdisplacing gases. Microcapsules exhibited molecular-sievetype porosity. Results indicated that 8–12% of microcapsulevolume was inaccessible to helium. Permeation of nitrogento wall matrices was inversely proportional to lactose con-tent. Pore volume that was inaccessible to nitrogen penetra-tion ranged from 0.128 to 0.263 cm 3 /g for core-free and from0.121 to 0.214 cm 3 /g for core-containing capsules. It was af-fected by wall composition and core load. Results suggestedthat adjusting microcapsule composition could modulate gaspenetration into microcapsules.Key Words: microcapsules, porosity, whey proteins, lac-tose, gas permeation INTRODUCTION P OROSITY CHARACTERISTICS ARE IMPORTANT TO MICROCAPSULE functionality. Wall matrix of microcapsules containing food ingredi-ents is designed to control mass transfer between the core and theenvironment (Rosenberg, 1985; Dziezak, 1988; Jackson and Lee,1991; Arshady, 1993; Shahidi and Han, 1993). This includes control-ling permeation of gases (oxygen) and/or volatiles through the micro-capsule wall. Permeability of wall matrix to oxygen is affected byporosity of the wall matrix and determines the oxidative stability of thecore (Moreau and Rosenberg, 1996, 1998). With volatile core, wallpermeability affects core loss during storage (Rosenberg, 1985).Information about porosity of microencapsulated food ingredientsis limited. Porosity characteristics of gum arabic-based, volatiles-con-taining, spray-dried microcapsules were reported by Rosenberg (1985).Microcapsules exhibited a molecular-sieve type porosity that was af-fected by composition, drying parameters and storage conditions. Theterm “molecular-sieve” type porosity describes porosity of materialswith pores, small enough to exclude or resist permeation of molecules(Karger and Ruthven, 1992). Rosenberg (1985) reported that volatileloss from gum arabic-based microcapsules (during storage) correlatedwell with porosity characteristics. The porosity of whey protein-basedmicrocapsules containing anhydrous milkfat was studied by gas-dis-placement technique. They were reported to exhibit a molecular-sievetype porosity that was affected by wall solids concentration (prior todrying) and core load (Moreau and Rosenberg, 1998). About 10% ofmicrocapsule volume was reported to be inaccessible to He perme-ation and pore volume accessible to N
Leadership for change in the educational wild west of post-Katrina New Orleans

This study examines the perceptions of public school principals in New Orleans, Louisiana during the period of extensive decentralization in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Using the frameworks of systems theory and chaos/complexity theories, iterative interviews with 10 school principals form the core data which examines leaders’ experiences in an increasingly market-oriented urban school system. The following themes emerged during constant comparative analysis: (1) the omnipresence of storm recovery in principals’ lives, (2) the lingering presence of the pre-Katrina school system, and (3) the emerging inequalities of the post-Katrina system. The analysis also identifies several broader system change concepts including: the strange attractor of inequality, differential perturbance, requisite stability, and a need for system leadership to counteract inequality.
Effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid on luteal phase length and oxytocin-induced release of prostaglandin F2α in heifers.

Two experiments were conducted to determine if intrauterine infusion of nordihydroguaiaretic acid, a lipoxygenase pathway inhibitor, would delay luteolysis (Experiment 1) and inhibit oxytocin-induced release of prostaglandin F2 alpha (as measured by the stable prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite, 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2 alpha) in plasma on d 16 (d 0 = estrus) of the estrous cycle (Experiment 2). Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (20 mg) or saline was infused twice daily into the uterus on d 14 to 23 (Experiment 1) or d 14 to 20 (Experiment 2) postestrus, respectively. In Experiment 1 and 2, mean concentration of progesterone was higher and luteolysis was delayed in nordihydroguaiaretic acid-infused heifers compared with saline-infused heifers. In Experiment 2, saline or oxytocin (100 IU, i.v.) was injected into each heifer on d 16 postestrus to stimulate the release of prostaglandin F2 alpha from the uterus. Mean concentration of 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2 alpha increased within 1.5 h postinjection in heifers infused with saline, whereas concentration of 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2 alpha in nordihydroguaiaretic acid-infused heifers did not increase within the same time period. Thus, nordihydroguaiaretic acid may inhibit both the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism and therefore delay luteolysis.
Duplex scan for deep vein thrombosis--defining who needs an examination of the contralateral asymptomatic leg.

Objectives Determine the prevalence and clinical significance of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in the asymptomatic contralateral extremity of patients referred to the vascular laboratory with unilateral symptoms and DVT confirmed by duplex scan. Method From December 2003 to October 2006, a total of 4813 patients were referred to our vascular laboratory for unilateral venous duplex scans. We prospectively studied 239 patients who were found to have acute DVT and had unilateral symptoms. Contralateral examinations were performed and demographic data, including risk factors for DVT, were entered into a computerized database. Results Of the 239 patients, 133 (55.6%) had a major DVT (popliteal vein or above) and 106 (44.4%) had a calf vein DVT. The majority were outpatients (195, 81.6%) and the rest were inpatients (44, 18.4%). The contralateral leg was normal in 192 (80.3%) patients, whereas 47 (19.7%) patients had some evidence of venous thrombosis. These thromboses consisted of acute major DVT (18/47, 38.3%), acute calf vein DVT (14/47, 29.8%), and less clinically significant chronic or superficial thrombus (15/47 (31.9%). All 18 patients with major contralateral DVT had underlying risk factor for thrombosis: active malignancy (12/18), recent surgery (4/18), or trauma (2/18). Patients with asymptomatic contralateral calf vein involvement often had thrombotic risk factors (10/14) but occasionally did not (4/14). Patients with an active malignancy were significantly more likely to have DVT in the asymptomatic leg (18/47, 38.3%) than were patients without cancer (23/192, 12%; both P Conclusions Inpatients have a very high incidence of clinically silent contralateral thrombosis (34%) and should usually undergo bilateral examinations. Patients with active malignancy have a 38% incidence of asymptomatic contralateral clot and should always have a bilateral study. Outpatients with unilateral symptoms and no associated risk factors for thrombosis can safely undergo unilateral examinations and should be adequately treated according to the unilateral findings. Algorithms to select patients for limited studies should include screening data for active malignancy, recent trauma or surgery, pregnancy, hormone therapy, or history of thrombophilia.
Quantum defect values for positive atomic ions

Abstract The asymptotic quantum defects, at the ionization limit, of s, p, d, and f atomic orbitals have been calculated in the Hartree-Slater approximation for all ionization stages of all ions with atomic number Z ⩽ 50.
Yeast Coq5 C-Methyltransferase Is Required for Stability of Other Polypeptides Involved in Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis

Coenzyme Q (Q) functions in the electron transport chain of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The biosynthesis of Q requires a number of steps involving at least eight Coq polypeptides. Coq5p is required for the C-methyltransferase step in Q biosynthesis. In this study we demonstrate that Coq5p is peripherally associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane on the matrix side. Phenotypic characterization of a collection of coq5 mutant yeast strains indicates that while each of the coq5 mutant strains are rescued by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae COQ5 gene, only the coq5-2 and coq5-5 mutants are rescued by expression of Escherichia coli ubiE, a homolog of COQ5. The coq5-2 and coq5-5 mutants contain mutations within or adjacent to conserved methyltransferase motifs that would be expected to disrupt the catalysis of C-methylation. The steady state levels of the Coq5-2 and Coq5-5 mutant polypeptides are not decreased relative to wild type Coq5p. Two other polypeptides required for Q biosynthesis, Coq3p and Coq4p, are detected in the wild type parent and in the coq5-2 and coq5-5 mutants, but are not detected in the coq5-null mutant, or in the coq5-4 or coq5-3 mutants. The effect of the coq5-4 mutation is similar to a null, since it results in a stop codon at position 93. However, the coq5-3 mutation (G304D) is located just four amino acids away from the C terminus. While C-methyltransferase activity is detectable in mitochondria isolated from this mutant, the steady state level of Coq5p is dramatically decreased. These studies show that at least two functions can be attributed to Coq5p; first, it is required to catalyze the C-methyltransferase step in Q biosynthesis and second, it is involved in stabilizing the Coq3 and Coq4 polypeptides required for Q biosynthesis.
Pod-1, a mesoderm-specific basic-helix-loop-helix protein expressed in mesenchymal and glomerular epithelial cells in the developing kidney

Basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are transcriptional regulatory proteins that govern cell fate determination and differentiation in a variety of tissues. We have identified a novel bHLH protein, named Pod-1, that belongs to a recently-described subfamily of bHLH proteins that have essential roles in the embryonic development of mesodermal tissues. In the adult human and mouse, Pod-1 was most highly expressed in the kidney, lung and heart. In developing mouse embryos, Pod-1 was selectively expressed in mesenchymal cells at sites of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in the kidney, lung, intestine and pancreas. Pod-1 was also expressed in visceral glomerular epithelial cells (podocytes) in the kidney, and its expression coincided with the onset of podocyte differentiation. The expression of Pod-1 in embryonic kidney explants was inhibited using antisense oligonucleotides. Inhibition of Pod-1 expression resulted in decreased mesenchymal cell condensation around the ureteric bud and a 40% decrease in ureteric branching. Pod-1 is the first tissue-restricted basic-helix-loop-helix protein that has been identified in the developing kidney where it may play a role in the regulation of morphogenetic events.
Variability in Perisylvian Brain Anatomy in Healthy Adults.

Gray matter volumes of Heschl's gyrus (HG), planum temporale (PT), pars triangularis (PTR), and pars opercularis were measured on MRI in 48 healthy right-handers. There was the expected leftward PT asymmetry in 70.8%, and leftward PTR asymmetry in 64.6% of the sample. When asymmetry patterns within individuals were examined, there was not one typical pattern, rather several typical configurations were found. In addition, some combinations of asymmetry did not exist in our sample suggesting that some perisylvian anatomical configurations may provide a more suitable neural substrate for the development of language than others. There were also sex differences in HG. Men had rightward asymmetry and women demonstrated leftward asymmetry, due to women having smaller right HG, compared to men.
Vitamin E inhibits the release of calcium from a platelet membrane fraction in vitro

Abstract Vitamin E, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, was evaluated for its effects on platelet intracellular calcium flux. These studies used a platelet membrane fraction containing membranes of the dense tubular system which actively sequesters calcium in the presence of ATP and magnesium. After these membrane vesicles have accumulated calcium, the cation can be released by addition of the calcium ionophore A23187. Vitamin E had no effect on uptake of calcium by the membrane vesicles, but showed a concentration dependent inhibition of the release of calcium induced by A23187. In similar or slightly higher concentrations than inhibited calcium release,vitamin E also inhibited platelet aggregation, internal contraction and secretion, but had no effect on prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis and potentiated phospholipase A2 activity. It is suggested that vitamin E acts to inhibit platelet internal contraction and secretion by preventing efflux of calcium from the dense tubular system. The potentiation of phospholipase A2 by vitamin E could be explained by a localized increase of calcium at the site of the phospholipase A2 on the inner side of the dense tubular system membrane proximal to the vitamin E block.
Localization of the glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes by immunofluorescence

Abstract The glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein, a brain specific protein extracted from severely gliosed human tissue, is not species specific; cross-reaction occurs between anti-human GFA protein antibodies and brain extracts of rabbit, guinea pig, rat and dog. Using anti-GFA protein antiserum, astrocytes are selectively stained with the indirect immunofluorescence technique in both normal and pathological (gliosed) brain tissue.
Ultrawideband radar data models and target detection with adaptive rank-order filters

A number of aspects of ultra-wideband radar target detection analysis and algorithm development are addressed. The first portion of the paper describes a bi-modal technique for modeling ultra-wideband radar clutter. This technique was developed based on an analysis of ultra-wideband radar phenomenology. Synthetic image samples that were generated by this modeling process are presented. This sample set is characterized by a number of physical parameters. The second portion of this paper describes an approach to developing a class of filters, known as rank-order filters, for ultra-wideband radar target detection applications. The development of a new rank-order filter denoted as a discontinuity filter is presented. Comparative target detection results are presented as a function of data model parameters. The comparative results include discontinuity filter performance versus the performance of median filtering and CFAR filtering.
Promoting Healthy Choices in Non-Chain Restaurants: Effects of a Simple Cue to Customers

This study tested a novel intervention to influence restaurant customer ordering behavior, with measurements at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months postintervention in four owner-operated restaurants in the Midwest. A sample of 141 to 370 customers was surveyed at each time point. The response rate was 70% to 84% with 59% women, 98% White, and a mean age of 53 years. Table signs listed changes customers might consider, for example, asking for meat broiled instead of fried or requesting smaller portions. Customer surveys measured program reach and effectiveness. Owner interviews measured perceptions of program burden and customer response. Order slips were analyzed for evidence of changes in ordering. Window signs were noticed by 40%, 48%, and 45% of customers at each follow-up, respectively. Table signs were noticed by 67%, 71%, and 69% of customers, respectively. Of those, 34% at each time point stated that the signs influenced their order. Examples of how orders were influenced were elicited. Order slip data not only did not show significant changes but was also found to be an inadequate measure for the intervention. Owners reported no concerns or complaints. This intervention resulted in small but positive behavior changes among a portion of customers. Because of its simplicity and acceptability, it has great potential for dissemination.
Cell image analysis: Algorithms, system and applications

We present several algorithms for cell image analysis including microscopy image restoration, cell event detection and cell tracking in a large population. The algorithms are integrated into an automated system capable of quantifying cell proliferation metrics in vitro in real-time. This offers unique opportunities for biological applications such as efficient cell behavior discovery in response to different cell culturing conditions and adaptive experiment control. We quantitatively evaluated our system's performance on 16 microscopy image sequences with satisfactory accuracy for biologists' need. We have also developed a public website compatible to the system's local user interface, thereby allowing biologists to conveniently check their experiment progress online. The website will serve as a community resource that allows other research groups to upload their cell images for analysis and comparison.
The molecular structure of polyethylene. XII. Intrinsic viscosities of polyethylene solutions

While the intrinsic viscosity of polyethylene solutions is reported in the literature for at least 6 different solvents and 14 different temperatures in 23 combinations, few relations exist for converting from one set of conditions to another. Likewise, intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relations are reported for several sets of conditions and polymer types, in some cases leading to inappropriate comparisons. The following relations are established between the intrinsic viscosities of branched polyethylene in different solvents: where α denotes α-chloronaphthalene at 125°C. d, decahydronaphthalene at 70°C.; t, tetrahydronaphthalene at 125°C.; and x, p-xylene at 85°C. The relations for linear polyethylene are significantly different from those for branched polyethylene, but have not been established in detail. The literature is examined for the appropriateness and reliability of intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relationships for polyethylene. Analysis of the experimental data leads to the following relations for linear polyethylene which are proposed as the most consistent, reliable, and appropriate currently obtainable (in-trinsic viscosities are expressed in deciliters/gram for measurement conditions of decahydronaphthalene at 135°C., within experimental error of those specified in ASTM D 1601–58T). For the number-average molecular weight of fractions of linear polyethylene, [η] = 2.3 × 10−4Mn0.82; for the weight-average molecular weight of whole polymer samples of linear polyethylene, [η] = 2.55 × 10−4Mw0.74; for the weight-average molecular weight of fractions of linear polyethylene, [η] = 3.9 × 10−4Mw0.74
Protein secretion systems in bacterial pathogens

Many bacterial pathogens utilize specialized secretion systems to deliver virulence factors into the extracellular milieu. These exported effectors act to manipulate various processes of targeted cells in order to create a suitable niche for bacterial growth. Currently, seven different types of secretion system have been described, of which Type I–VI are mainly present in Gram-negative bacteria and the newly discovered Type VII system seems exclusive to Gram-positive species. This review summaries our current understanding on the architecture and transport mechanisms of each secretion apparatus. We also discuss recent studies revealing the roles that these secretion systems and their substrates play in microbial pathogenesis.
Analysis of Complete Genomes of Propionibacterium acnes Reveals a Novel Plasmid and Increased Pseudogenes in an Acne Associated Strain

The human skin harbors a diverse community of bacteria, including the Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. P. acnes has historically been linked to the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris, a common skin disease affecting over 80% of all adolescents in the US. To gain insight into potential P. acnes pathogenic mechanisms, we previously sequenced the complete genome of a P. acnes strain HL096PA1 that is highly associated with acne. In this study, we compared its genome to the first published complete genome KPA171202. HL096PA1 harbors a linear plasmid, pIMPLE-HL096PA1. This is the first described P. acnes plasmid. We also observed a five-fold increase of pseudogenes in HL096PA1, several of which encode proteins in carbohydrate transport and metabolism. In addition, our analysis revealed a few island-like genomic regions that are unique to HL096PA1 and a large genomic inversion spanning the ribosomal operons. Together, these findings offer a basis for understanding P. acnes virulent properties, host adaptation mechanisms, and its potential role in acne pathogenesis at the strain level. Furthermore, the plasmid identified in HL096PA1 may potentially provide a new opportunity for P. acnes genetic manipulation and targeted therapy against specific disease-associated strains.
Bowel gangrene from strangulated Petersen's space hernia after gastric bypass.

Abstract Background Patients with internal herniation after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass might present with normal laboratory values, minimal physical examination findings, and nonspecific radiographic results, making early diagnosis difficult and resulting in catastrophic bowel necrosis. Objective Our purpose is to increase awareness so physicians of all specialties caring for these patients have a heightened suspicion and low threshold to obtain early surgical consultation in bypass patients with unexplained abdominal pain. Case Report A 36-year-old female had a delayed presentation of internal herniation 4 years after laparoscopic retrocolic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Initially, she had unremarkable physical examination, laboratory results, and plain x-ray findings, which made diagnosis challenging. During emergent exploratory laparotomy, she was found to have a strangulated Petersen's space hernia with volvulus, necessitating extensive gastric, small bowel, and colonic resection. She was referred for small bowel transplantation and has survived more than 8 years. Conclusions The occurrence of Petersen's hernias has increased with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass due to less postoperative adhesions. Whether days or several years after gastric bypass, patients with intermittent abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting need to be carefully evaluated. These herald signs of internal herniation should prompt early surgical consultation. Pain out of proportion to physical examination often indicates need for urgent surgical intervention. Physicians need to be educated about this potentially life-threatening complication so early diagnosis and treatment can avoid catastrophic bowel gangrene.
E-participation in the era of web 2.0: factors affecting citizens' active e-participation in local governance

The study develops a model of active e-participation and tests it in the context of local governance. By building on and extending the existing literature on citizen participation, technology acceptance model and social networks, the study asserts that citizens' perceptions of the intrinsic and instrumental value of participation, and the strength of their social networks are associated with their active e-participation. Using the 2009 E-Participation Survey data collected from Seoul Metropolitan Government, we found that e-participants actively use e-participation when they perceive a greater intrinsic value of e-participation. By further analyzing Male and Female models separately, we also found that male e-participants who perceive greater instrumental value of e-participation are likely to use e-participation actively. The findings, however, indicate that women who perceived a greater intrinsic value of e-participation and are embedded in weaker offline social networks are likely to actively use e-participation.
MO-D-BRC-02: Clinical Significance of In-Vivo Proton Range Detection and Potential of MRI Scanning After Proton Therapy

Highly conformal radiation therapy has the potential advantage of limiting radiation exposure to normal tissue and improving the therapeutic ratio of radiation therapy. However, with improving technologies, much greater emphasis has been placed on the accuracy of both treatment delivery and localization. Shrinking PTV margins based on our confidence in the perceived accuracy of our treatment delivery runs the risk of geographic miss and subsequent marginal recurrences. Proton therapy is particularly prone to this risk. Range uncertainties exist at the distal edge of the Bragg peak. Also, proton range and depth of penetration is highly dependent on tissue density. Hence, for moving targets with changing densities within the field, like at the lung bases or dome of the liver, there is greater uncertainty in the dose that was actually delivered to the tumor and normal tissue. For these reasons, verification of dose delivered in patients receiving proton therapy is of critical importance. Post‐treatment imaging may be a useful way to verify proton range in‐vivo. Radiation may produce changes in imaging characteristics within organs that may be used to verify that the target has been adequately treated. In this lecture we will review some of the issues that complicate proton planning. Furthermore, we will demonstrate the utility of MRI scanning after proton therapy to document target coverage for both static and dynamic tumor systems. Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss the clinical data regarding marginal misses with highly conformal therapy 2. Demonstrate the complexities of 4‐dimensional proton planning for moving targets, using liver as a model 3. Demonstrate the utility of post‐treatment MRI scanning as validation of the 4D‐proton treatment planning process and delivery for liver, as well as other clinical situations.
Declarative and nondeclarative memory: Multiple brain systems supporting learning and memory

The topic of multiple forms of memory is considered from a biological point of view. Fact-and-event (declarative, explicit) memory is contrasted with a collection of non conscious (non-declarative, implicit) memory abilities including skills and habits, priming, and simple conditioning. Recent evidence is reviewed indicating that declarative and non declarative forms of memory have different operating characteristics and depend on separate brain systems. A brain-systems framework for understanding memory phenomena is developed in light of lesion studies involving rats, monkeys, and humans, as well as recent studies with normal humans using the divided visual field technique, event-related potentials, and positron emission tomography (PET).
Metabolic Regulation and Energy Homeostasis through the Primary Cilium

Obesity and diabetes represent a significant healthcare concern. In contrast to genome-wide association studies that, some exceptions notwithstanding, have offered modest clues about pathomechanism, the dissection of rare disorders in which obesity represents a core feature have highlighted key molecules and structures critical to energy regulation. Here we focus on the primary cilium, an organelle whose roles in energy homeostasis have been underscored by the high incidence of obesity and type II diabetes in patients and mouse mutants with compromised ciliary function. We discuss recent evidence linking ciliary dysfunction to metabolic defects and we explore the contribution of neuronal and nonneuronal cilia to these phenotypes.
Influence of Axle Load, Track Gage, and Wheel Profile on Rail-Vehicle Hunting

Analyses have been conducted on the influence of axle load, track gauge, and wheel contour on the hunting behavior of simplified models of wheelsets for typical freight- and passenger-car suspensions. The capability of the wheel flange to limit hunting oscillations is found to increase with wheel axle load. The use of worn wheel contours or excessively right gauge is found to increase the susceptibility of the wheelset to excessive and unstable hunting oscillations. For freight-car applications, Coulomb friction in the suspension (e.g., constant-contact side bearings) may act to increase the range of speeds over which hunting will not occur and may permit operation at higher speeds for extremely straight track. However, if track irregularities are sufficient to cause a breakout of the friction, drastic hunting oscillations leading to derailment can occur. Regions of stable limit-cycle hunting and unstable operating conditions are defined. Computational algorithms and computer programs for predicting the boundaries of stable, unstable, and limit-cycle behavior for the wheelset and more complex rail-car analytic models, using the describing-function type of anlaysis, are presented and reviewed.
Incarceration of the gravid uterus

Incarceration of the gravid uterus is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. Reported is the case of a gravida 2, para 1 26-year-old woman who presented with lower abdominal pain. The patient was 14 weeks pregnant and presented with a one-day history of abdominal pain and vaginal discharge. Examination revealed a retroflexed uterus with the cervical opening pointing toward the anterior abdominal wall. An ultrasound revealed a uterus incarcerated between the sacral promontory and the pubis. Manual reduction was performed successfully in the emergency department.
Use of glucose, invert sugar and fructose for parenteral feeding of children.

Eighteen children were infused with 10% solutions of glucose, invert sugar and fructose during a period of 6 hours at a rate of infusion of 1.25 gm of sugar per kilogram of body weight per hour. All but two of the children had less glycosuria from intravenous administration of glucose than from the administration of invert sugar or fructose. In 16 children glucose appeared in the urine only during the first 2 or 3 hours of infusion of glucose, but fructose was generally present in the urine during almost all of the 6 hours of infusion of invert sugar or of fructose. Eleven of the eighteen patients had more melituria during the first 2 hours of infusion of glucose than during the first 2 hours of infusion of invert sugar or fructose. This contrasts with the total amount excreted over an 8-hour period. When glucose was administered, total concentration of sugar in the blood obtained during the first 2 hours of infusions were higher than concentrations obtained during infusions of invert sugar and fructose; subsequently, there was often little difference in total concentration of sugar in the blood during infusion of the three hexoses. Determinations of concentrations of sugars in the blood revealed that the renal threshold for glucose was above 175 mg/ 100 ml of blood, while the threshold for fructose was frequently as low as 10 mg/ 100 ml of blood. There was no significant difference in total volumes of urine obtained from each patient at the end of 8-hour collection periods after infusions of the three carbohydrates. The present study suggests that in some children who require intravenous fluid therapy with maximum caloric intake for periods longer than 2 hours glucose is to be preferred to invert sugar or fructose. Whether glucose is the best choice for children after operation or in situations of severe stress remains to be demonstrated.
Endogenous circadian control of the human autonomic nervous system

To determine if an endogenous circadian rhythmicity, independent from sleep/wake cycles, exists in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function, heart rate variability analysis of electrocardiogram R-R intervals was applied to data collected during, a 27-day forced desynchrony protocol. Results during wakefulness indicate that the circadian pacemaker may control both the sympathetic and vagal limbs of the ANS. Vagal tone was maximal during the circadian phase corresponding to the usual sleep episode (although these measurements were made in the absence of sleep) with an acrophase at 4 AM to 5 AM. Sympathoragal balance was minimal between 9 AM and 1 PM: These endogenous circadian rhythms in ANS function may contribute to mortality from cardiovascular disease and nocturnal asthma.
Young children's knowledge about the spatial layout of writing

Children who are knowledgeable about the basic properties of writing when formal literacy instruction begins are better prepared to benefit from that instruction than children who know less about this topic. In the present study, we examined U.S. preschoolers' knowledge about one aspect of writing: its spatial arrangement. Our participants, who had a mean age of 4 years, 2 months and who could not read any words in a list of simple words, were significantly above the level of chance at determining that horizontally arranged strings of letters are more like the writing in books than are letters with vertical, diagonal, or scattered arrangements. Contrary to the theory that children learn about the characteristics of writing that hold true in all writing systems before they learn about the characteristics that are specific to their own writing system, young children did not show a priority for vertical arrangements. The results are more consistent with the hypothesis that preschoolers apply their statistical learning skills to the spatial layout of writing.
Update of ASRP: the Arabidopsis Small RNA Project database

Development of the Arabidopsis Small RNA Project (ASRP) Database, which provides information and tools for the analysis of microRNA, endogenous siRNA and other small RNA-related features, has been driven by the introduction of high-throughput sequencing technology. To accommodate the demands of increased data, numerous improvements and updates have been made to ASRP, including new ways to access data, more efficient algorithms for handling data, and increased integration with community-wide resources. New search and visualization tools have also been developed to improve access to small RNA classes and their targets. ASRP is publicly available through a web interface at http://asrp.cgrb.oregonstate.edu/db/