cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiband terahertz quasi-optical balanced hot-electron mixers based on dual-polarization sinuous antennas

Receivers based on superconducting Hot-Electron Bolometers (HEBs) are widely used for terahertz (THz) sensing owing to their advantages of high sensitivity, low noise, and low LO power requirement. Balanced HEB mixers are superior to single-element ones since the thermal noise and AM noise from the LO injection can be effectively suppressed. Although a 1.3 THz balanced waveguide HEB mixer has been reported, waveguide mixer configurations offer relatively narrow RF bandwidths. We report on the development, fabrication and characterization of a THz quasioptical balanced superconducting HEB mixer utilizing a dual-polarization sinuous antenna that can potentially achieve both multiband operation and ultra-high sensitivity. In the balanced mixer configuration, a lens-coupled four-arm sinuous antenna was designed for operation from 0.2-1.0 THz with a nearly frequency-independent embedding impedance of ~106 Ω. Two identical superconducting niobium HEB devices have been integrated at the antenna feedpoints, connecting each opposing pair of antenna arms to form a balanced mixer configuration. An air-bridge was also fabricated to separate the two mixer branches. The HEB devices were fabricated from 10 nm thick niobium film sputtered on semi-insulating silicon substrates. Each HEB device has dimensions of 80 nm × 240 nm (3 squares) for approaching a resistance of 105 Ω for impedance matching. Mixer properties including antenna radiation patterns, broadband operation and polarization isolation have been characterized. Finally, in order to achieve multiband mixer operation, electronically reconfigurable THz quasi-optical mesh filters are needed. Frequency-tunable antenna elements using Schottky varactor diodes suitable for the above applications have been designed, simulated and demonstrated at Gband (140-220 GHz) showing 50 GHz tuning range.
Enteral Nutrition Support of Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Patients with head and neck cancer are at high risk for malnutrition due to dysphagia from the tumor and treatment. Despite difficulty with oral intake, these patients usually have a normal stomach and lower gastrointestinal tract. Enteral nutrition support via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) administered in the home by the patient helps to prevent weight loss, dehydration, nutrient deficiencies, treatment interruptions, and hospitalizations. It also improves quality of life. Successful management of these patients requires orderly care and follow-up by a multidisciplinary nutrition team.
Thermal Unfolding of β-Lactoglobulin: Characterization of Initial Unfolding Events Responsible for Heat-Induced Aggregation

The critical changes in the conformation of β-lactoglobulin, which expose the buried SH group and initiate sulfhydryl−disulfide interchange reactions leading to polymerization, have been studied. The initiation of sulfhydryl−disulfide interchange reaction in β-lactoglobulin occurs at 60−65 °C. Far-UV circular dichroic studies in the temperature range 25−80 °C revealed that the critical structural changes in β-lactoglobulin at 63 °C involve melting of 18−19% of β-sheet to aperiodic structure. An examination of the known crystallographic structure of β-lactoglobulin revealed that this initial event might involve melting of the E−F−G−H β-strand region of the molecule; this might expose the buried sulfhydryl group as well as one of the disulfide bonds. The reactive monomer initially forms a reactive dimer via sulfhydryl−disulfide interchange reaction with another reactive monomer. When the reactive dimer concentration reaches a critical level, it propagates a polymerization reaction. The rate of disappearance...
Instrument Free Biomolecular Interaction Measurement with DNA Nanoswitches

The quantification of molecular interactions is a cornerstone of almost all aspects of biomedical research, from fundamental cell biology to drug discovery. Yet progress has been impeded by challenges implicit in current approaches: high-cost of equipment and reagents, low throughput of many approaches, and requisite technical expertise. Here we present a new method that solves these challenges, replacing standard equipment with a nanoscale molecular tool. This is accomplished by using DNA origami to place molecules on a strand of DNA effectively creating a “molecular laboratory” that allows us to control both local concentration and binding stoichiometry at a single-molecule level. The binding state of these molecules alters the geometry of the DNA, which can be easily readout using gel electrophoresis. This allows us to make standard binding kinetics measurements in a highly parallel way at low cost. Furthermore these DNA “nanoswitches” provide new capabilities such as the ability to readout the binding state of multi-component systems such as bispecific antibodies or allosteric drugs.
Reduction of ENU-induced transversion mutations by the isoflavone genistein in Escherichia coli

In studies of mutagenesis induced by the carcinogen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) in the bacterium Escherichia coli FX-11, it was observed that G:C to A:T transitions did not require the inducible umuDC gene products, while a portion of the A:T to G:C transitions and all transversion mutations were dependent on a functional umuC gene. This observation suggested that the different base substitutions may result from differential processing of specific DNA adducts produced by ENU. To further understand these processes, we have investigated the effect of the soybean isoflavone genistein on the production of ENU-induced mutations. This compound, in particular, has been shown to exhibit numerous effects including the inhibition of the growth or proliferation of a variety of cancers, inhibition of angiogenesis, inhibition of tyrosine protein kinases and anti-oxidant properties. In our experiments, tyrosine defective (TyrA(-)) E. coli were exposed to ENU and a portion of the ENU-treated cells were exposed to genistein. The results showed a three-fold reduction in the overall mutation frequency when cells were treated with genistein subsequent to ENU-exposure and this anti-mutagenic effect was dependent on the dose of genistein employed. However, only certain types of base substitution mutagenesis were affected. In particular, transversion mutations were reduced an average of about 8.5-fold, while transitions were not greatly affected. In addition, UV-mutagenesis was reduced about three-fold and induction of the SOS response (as monitored with a sulA-lacZ fusion) was decreased. These results suggest that genistein may interfere with expression of the SOS response, including the UmuC-mediated lesion bypass mechanism that is necessary for UV-mutagenesis and the generation of transversions by ENU in E. coli.
Effect of Tempeh on Properties of Hams

Hams made with meat plus tempeh (2% and 3.5%) had lower (P < 0.05) moisture and cooking yield; TBA values were slightly lower than the control after 30 days. Cooking yield of hams decreased with the increased amount of tempeh. Meat plus tempeh (2% and 3.5%) and (P < 0.05) lower Hunter L values and higher Hunter a values than the control. The control had higher shear force and binding strength values than those made with meat plus tempeh. Hams made with meat plus 2% tempeh and meat plus 3.5% tempeh were not significantly different from each other in overall acceptability scores but neither of these treatments was as acceptable as the control.
AMINO ACID LOSSES IN TURNIP GREENS (Brassica rapa L.) DURING HANDLING AND PROCESSING

Turnip green samples were collected at harvesting, unloading dock, post-washing, post-blanching, at can filling and of the canned product. Amino acids were determined at each of the sample points with losses being small during the processing steps. Major losses of lysine (50%) isoleucine (51%) occurred in the canned drained solids. If the canning liquid is added back to the solids, losses of 27% lysine and 35% isoleucine result. Egg ratios of the essential amino acids are given with methionine being the limiting amino acid if the solid and canning liquid are considered as part of the food.
Sustainable markets with short sales

Market objectives can conflict with long-term goals. Behind the conflict is the impatience axiom introduced by T. Koopmans to describe choices over time. The conflict is resolved here by introducing a new concept, sustainable markets. These differ from Arrow-Debreu markets in that traders have sustainable preferences and no bounds on short sales. Sustainable preferences are sensitive to the basic needs of the present without sacrificing the needs of future generations and embody the essence of sustainable development (Chichilnisky 1996a, b). Theorems 1 and 2 show that limited arbitrage is a necessary and sufficient condition describing diversity and ensuring the existence of a sustainable market equilibrium where the invisible hand delivers sustainable as well as efficient solutions (Chichilnisky 1991, 1995; Chichilnisky and Heal 1998). In sustainable markets prices have a new role: they reflect both the value of instantaneous consumption and the value of the long-run future. The latter are suitably ambiguous, they are connected to the independence of the axiom of choice at the foundations of mathematics (Godel 1940).
Spectral Efficient Multihop Relaying Based on Alternate Transmission

A spectral efficient multihop relaying scheme is proposed based on scheduling the source transmission in alternate time slots. Each relay processes its received signal and forwards it in the subsequent time slot. An interference cancellation mechanism is developed to eliminate the interference term at each relay caused by the source alternate-based transmission. The frame error probability and the achievable rate of the proposed scheme are evaluated. It is shown that the individual bit-by-bit detection at the destination performs almost as well as the optimal joint detection, and achieves a data rate that approaches the Shannon channel capacity limit. In addition, the proposed scheme significantly outperforms the conventional orthogonal multihop transmission in terms of the achievable data rate, especially for larger numbers of hops, with slightly inferior frame error rate performance.
The “Who” Matters: Types of Interpersonal Relationships and Avoidance of Political Disagreement

Research consistently finds that we discuss politics most often with our strong ties (i.e., our close, intimate others). As our strong ties tend to be more politically similar to us than not, the conclusion is that everyday political discussions are overwhelmingly characterized by real or perceived political agreement. However, this scenario may paint only a partial portrait of everyday political discussion. Neglected is the distinction between politically similar discussion partners, on the one hand, and similarity of views expressed during conversation, on the other. Although our strong ties may be more politically similar to us than not, they may, paradoxically, be just the people with whom we are likely to express disagreement. Indeed, this study illustrates that although discussion with strong ties increases the probability of agreement, it simultaneously increases the likelihood of discussing disagreement.
Original article: A mathematical model of atmospheric retention of man-made CO2 emissions

Abstract: Rust and Thijsse have previously shown that changes in global annual average temperature anomalies T(t"i) compiled by the Climatic Research Unit vary linearly with atmospheric CO"2 concentrations c(t"i). The c(t"i) can be related to man-made CO"2 emissions F(t"i) by a linear regression model whose solution vector gives the unknown retention fractions @c(t"i) of the F(t"i) in the atmosphere. Gaps in the c(t"i) record make the system underdetermined, but the constraints [email protected][email protected](t"i)@?1 make estimation tractable. The @c(t"i) are estimated by two methods: (1) assuming a finite harmonic expansion for @c(t), and (2) using a constrained least squares algorithm to compute average values of @c(t) on suitably chosen time subintervals. The final result is an estimate of @c(t) with enough accuracy to establish the connection between emissions from fossil fuel use and land use changes and increases in global average annual temperature anomalies.
Magnetic-based NDE of steel in prestressed and post-tensioned concrete bridges

This paper addresses a study, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), that is currently underway at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The objective of the study is to develop an automated non-destructive testing system based on the magnetic flux leakage principle that would allow assessment of the condition of reinforcing and prestressing steels in concrete bridge components. Corrosion or cracking of steel within concrete members will be detected and evaluated. The system will be used as a self clamping and moving sensing device that can be installed on a concrete girder. Data from the sensing device is transmitted via a wireless communication system to data recording/analysis equipment on the ground. The sensing device may also be operated manually to allow inspection of local areas such as the end bearing or cable anchorage locations in cable bridges. Through performing a correlation analysis of recorded data, an assessment of the condition of the member under test is made. Reference data base for the correlation analysis is established through laboratory and field testing with known conditions.
Time dependent spectral analysis of nonstationary time series

Abstract Modeling of nonstationary stochastic time series has found wide applications in speech processing, biomedical signal processing, seismology, and failure detection. Data from these fields have often been modeled as piecewise stationary processes with abrupt changes, and their time-varying spectral features have been studied with the help of spectrograms. A general class of piecewise locally stationary processes is introduced here that allows both abrupt and smooth changes in the spectral characteristics of the nonstationary time series. It is shown that this class of processes behave as approximately piecewise stationary processes and can be used to model various naturally occuring phenomena. An adaptive segmentation method of estimating the time-dependent spectrum is proposed for this class of processes. The segmentation procedure uses binary trees and windowed spectra to nonparametrically and adaptively partition the data into approximately stationary intervals. Results of simulation studies dem...
Glycine betaine accumulation and induction of cold tolerance in strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) plants

Abstract Endogenous glycine betaine levels in the leaves of strawberry ( Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) plants were determined during cold acclimation and in response to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) application. Glycine betaine levels in the leaves increased nearly two-fold after 4 weeks of cold acclimation treatment during which the cold tolerance of leaves increased from −5.8 to −17°C. Exogenous application of ABA (100 μM) to plants triggered glycine betaine accumulation in unhardened plants. It also increased cold tolerance of leaves in both unhardened and cold-hardened plants. Similar to ABA, exogenous glycine betaine was effective in inducing cold tolerance in unhardened and cold-hardening plants. Exogenous application of glycine betaine (2 mM) to unhardened plants increased the cold tolerance of leaves almost two-fold within 72 h of application. In addition, it improved freezing survival and regrowth in whole plants. The results suggest that glycine betaine is involved in inducing cold tolerance both in response to exogenous ABA and during natural cold acclimation of strawberry plants.
A spectrophotometric assay for hydroperoxide lyase

Spectrophotometric assays for hydroperoxide lyase have traditionally measured the loss in absorption at 234 nm due to the disruption of conjugated diene in the fatty acid hydroperoxide. However, that assay does not distinguish between hydroperoxide lyase and hydroperoxide dehydrase activities, both of which cause a loss of conjugation in the substrate hydroperoxide. A new assay has been developed which is specific for hydroperoxide lyase. It is based on the ability of hydroperoxide lyase products, aldehydes and ω-oxoacids, to serve as substrates for yeast alcohol dehydrogenase. Thus, the new hydroperoxide lyase assay is a coupled enzyme assay, which is conducted spectrophotometrically at 340 nm and measures the oxidation of nicotinamide adenenine dinucleotide, reduced form (NADH). In addition to its specificity for hydroperoxide lyase, the coupled assay allows higher concentrations of both fatty acid hydroperoxide substrate and crude enzyme extracts than the assay conducted at 234 nm.
Sputter-Induced Subsurface Segregation in a Cu-Ni Alloy

Measurements of the surface composition of a Cu-Ni alloy using Auger electrons with different average escape depths reveal sputter-induced subsurface compositional changes at elevated temperatures which are larger than those produced directly at the surface by preferential sputtering. The compositional gradients which are produced extend to significantly greater depths than have been considered previously.
Heterogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation of Unprotected Indoles in Water: A Green Solution to a Long-Standing Challenge

An environmentally benign procedure for the hydrogenation of unprotected indoles is described. The hydrogenation reaction is catalyzed by Pt/C and activated by p-toluenesulfonic acid in water as a solvent. The efficacy of the method is illustrated by the hydrogenation of a variety of substituted indoles to their corresponding indolines which were obtained in excellent yields.
Methods for potentiostatic evaluation of heterogeneous kinetic parameters in the presence of an irreversible following chemical reaction

Summary The kinetic domain over which an irreversible following chemical reaction affects the potentiostatic determination of heterogeneous charge-transfer parameters is defined. A procedure which employs correction of the charge-transfer parameter Q=k0(θ−α+θ1−α)/√D by use of a cubic polynomial function generated for a specific k1 value is described. The method yields accurate values of k0 and α for k0 107cm−1 or k0≤10−4 cm s−1, the system can be treated as a totally irreversible charge-transfer. Besides the correction procedure, analytical solutions based upon a steady-state assumption and a series solution were derived and characterized. Provided that k0 5, a kinetic region which complements that of the correction procedure. The study also resulted in a new method of data treatment for the uncomplicated quasi-reversible charge-transfer based upon an iterative leastsquares technique. Within the range 10−3 cm s−1≤k0
Downsizing to resectabilty of a large solid and cystic papillary tumor of the pancreas by single-agent chemotherapy

Solid and cystic pseudopapillary tumor (SCPT) is an uncommon cancer that typically affects young women. Most patients with SCPT have a favorable prognosis provided a complete resection is attained. There are anecdotal reports of the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy for patients with unresectable tumors. We report the case of a 14-year-old female with SCPT who was successfully downsized with gemcitabine before definitive surgical resection.
A Thermal Transport and Non-Equilibrium Deposition Model in AlN Sublimation Growth Process

Sublimation vapor transport method is a widely used technique for production of bulk crystals, such as SiC and AlN. A one-step reaction with two vapor species, i.e. aluminum (Al) vapor and nitrogen (N2 ) gas, is usually assumed for AlN sublimation growth with diffusion-controlled growth mechanism. However, vapor species generation/consumption is determined by surface reactions, which do not depend on the concentration gradient, but on concentration itself. Thus, the flux at the interfaces is controlled not only by the Fick’s law, but by the surface reaction. In this paper, inductively heated AlN sublimation growth process is simulated to predict the heat generation and temperature field in the growth system. The effects of coil position on heat and mass transfer are investigated. A non-equilibrium growth model considering surface reaction on the source/seed surfaces, diffusion within the boundary layers and vapor transport between source and seed is developed to predict the growth rates at different operating conditions. The predicted results are compared with the experimental data and the results from a traditional diffusion model, which assumes thermodynamic equilibrium on the solid/vapor surface/interface and vapor diffusion through bulk gas. The conditions under which the new model will provide the same as the one obtained by the diffusion model are identified.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Solar activity forecast for solar cycle 23

In this paper, we predict the next cycle's activity and improve the timing of solar cycle predictions. Dynamobased solar activity prediction techniques rely upon two properties inherent in the solar cycle: that solar magnetism oscillates between poloidal and toroidal components; and that there is a degree of “magnetic persistence” in dynamos, which in the case of the Sun, results in the dependence of many magnetic related quantities (activity related quantities) upon the amount of magnetism embedded below the Sun's surface. Using the SODA (SOlar Dynamo Amplitude) index as a measure of magnetic persistence, we predict that solar cycle #23 will reach a mean smoothed F10.7 peak of 182±30 solar flux units (sfu) and a mean sunspot number Rz of 138±30. This is particularly intriguing because the “folklore” is that odd cycles are larger than the preceding even cycle. Additionally, by tracking the equatorward march of solar activity, the timing of the cycle can be better estimated. From this, we estimate that the next solar maximum will occur near May, 2000 ±9 months.
The anti-I activity of the Sophora Japonica lectin☆

Abstract The erythroagglutinating activity of the purified lectin from Sophora japonica seeds appears to be related to the presence of the I antigen. It was found that 10–40 times greater concentrations of lectin was needed to agglutinate A or B adult or cord red blood cells which are relatively deficient in the I antigen than required to agglutinate type A or B adult human erythrocytes possessing the I determinant. The relationship of structures other than the A and B immunodominant residues of blood group substance to the ability of the lectin to react with the substance is demonstrated by the similar and relatively strong interaction of untreated and Smith degraded blood group substances with the lectin. The concept that reactivity of blood group antigens with the S. japonica agglutinin depends upon the presence of either the A or B as well as I determinants is supported by the findings that O erythrocytes are not agglutinated by the lectin and that α-galactosidase degradation of blood group substance causes a decrease in reactivity with the lectin. It is proposed that the S. japonica hemagglutinin preferentially reacts with AI and BI cells due to a higher concentration of reactive groupings (sum of non-reducing terminal 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α- D -galactosyl and β- D -galactosyl or α- D -galactosyl residues) on I cells.
The aged in Hispanic groups: a review

This study presents an inventory of social science published reports about the elderly in Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban subnationalities in the United States. A review of this literature indicates that Cuban and Puerto Rican elderly have been disregarded by gerontologists interested in the study of ethnic groups. Available information on service availability and utilization and extended family support, as well as methodological and theoretical problems in this area of investigation, are assessed. The study concludes with a call for greater attention to matters of ethnic population density and ecology for understanding the life experiences of the ethnic elderly.
Factors causing elevated biological oxygen demand in the littoral zone of lake Wingra, Wisconsin

The biological oxygen demand (BOD) of filtered water from Lake Wingra, Wisconsin is significantly higher in the littoral zone than in the pelagial zone. Laboratory experiments indicate that BOD is not influenced by water temperature at the time of sampling or by enrichment with nitrate or ammonia. Rather, enrichment with macrophyte leachate sharply increases BOD, and enrichment with phosphate produces a small but significant increase in BOD. We conclude that high BOD in littoral waters of the lake is an indication of production of labile organic matter in the water by dense beds of the macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum.
Effects of CO2-altered detritus on growth and chemically mediated decisions in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

AbstractWe determined whether chemosensory selection of detritus by crayfish is affected by past experience and is related to the nutritional quality of the food and subsequent growth on that food. These questions were addressed with a long-term growth assay and with short-term behavioral assays of chemotaxis and chemical preference. A 10-mo growth experiment was conducted in which crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were reared under different growth conditions, each consisting of a different diet. Crayfish were fed 1 of 3 types of detritus: leaf litter from Populus tremuloides grown under ambient (AMB)- or elevated (ELEV)-CO2 conditions (which altered the nutritional quality and defensive chemistry of leaf litter) or fish (FISH). Carapace length (CL), mass, molt frequency, and % mortality were recorded. Crayfish reared on the AMB diet had decreased relative growth rate (RGR) and molt frequency and increased % mortality compared to those reared on the ELEV diet, whereas crayfish reared on the FISH diet had hi...
STRUCTURAL RESPONSE AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT BY ENHANCED UNCOUPLED MODAL RESPONSE HISTORY ANALYSIS

The Uncoupled Modal Response History Analysis (UMRHA) method developed by Chopra et al. is modified in this paper to estimate damage to welded moment-resisting connections in a steel frame (MRSF) subjected to earthquake ground motions. The behaviour of these connections is modelled by a moment-rotation relationship that accounts for the cracking of the beam flange-to-column flange groove weld. The behaviour of the frame is approximated by a sequence of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) models for the first three modes to allow for the contribution of higher modes of vibration. The dynamic properties of these SDOF systems are determined by nonlinear static pushover analyses of the building frame. Because of the significant drop in connection strength caused by beam-to-column weld cracking, the pushover procedure uses a changing rather than invariant distribution of horizontal loads, while the structural responses are calculated from shapes that are based on the displaced shape of the frame after damage occur...
Memory energy management for an enterprise decision support system

Energy efficiency is an important factor in designing and configuring enterprise servers. In these servers, memory may consume 40% of the total system power. Different memory configurations (sizes, numbers of ranks, speeds, etc.) can have significant impacts on the performance and energy consumption of enterprise workloads. Many of these workloads, such as decision support systems (DSS), require large amounts of memory. This paper investigates the potential to save energy by making the memory configuration adaptive to workload behavior. We present a case study on how memory configurations affect energy consumption and performance for running DSS. We measure the energy consumption and performance of a commercial enterprise server, and develop a model to describe the conditions when energy can be saved with acceptable performance degradation. Using this model, we identify opportunities to save energy in future enterprise servers.
β-Cryptoxanthin from supplements or carotenoid-enhanced maize maintains liver vitamin A in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) better than or equal to β-carotene supplements.

Maize with enhanced provitamin A carotenoids (biofortified), accomplished through conventional plant breeding, maintains vitamin A (VA) status in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Two studies in gerbils compared the VA value of beta-cryptoxanthin with beta-carotene. Study 1 (n 47)examined oil supplements and study 2 (n 46) used maize with enhanced beta-cryptoxanthin and beta-carotene. After 4 weeks' depletion, seven or six gerbils were killed; remaining gerbils were placed into weight-matched groups of 10. In study 1, daily supplements were cottonseed oil, and 35, 35 or 17.5 nmol VA (retinyl acetate), beta-cryptoxanthin or beta-carotene, respectively, for 3 weeks. In study 2, one group of gerbils was fed a 50% biofortified maize diet which contained 2.9 nmol beta-cryptoxanthin and 3.2 nmol beta-carotene/g feed. Other groups were given equivalent b-carotene or VA supplements based on prior-day intake from the biofortified maize or oil only for 4 weeks. In study 1, liver retinol was higher in the VA (0.74 (SD 0.11) micromol) and beta-cryptoxanthin (0.5 (SD 0.10) micromol) groups than in the beta-carotene (0.49 (SD 0.13) micromol) and control (0.41 (SD 0.16) micromol)groups (P<0.05). In study 2, the VA (1.17 (SD 0.19) micromol) and maize (0.71 (SD 0.18) micromol) groups had higher liver retinol than the control (0.42 (SD 0.16) micromol) group (P<0.05), whereas the beta-carotene (0.57 (SD 0.21) micromol) group did not. Bioconversion factors (i.e. 2.74 microg beta-cryptoxanthin and 2.4 microg beta-carotene equivalents in maize to 1 microg retinol) were lower than the Institute of Medicine values.
Early enteral feeding in very low birth weight infants.

Abstract Background/aim Debate exists about when to initiate enteral feeding (EF) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. This retrospective study compared the effectiveness of an education-based quality improvement project and the relationship of time of the first EF to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or death incidence and parenteral nutrition (PN) days in VLBW infants. Study design/subjects VLBW infants born in 2 epochs were compared for hour of the first feed, PN days, NEC or death incidence, and feeding type. The 2 epochs were temporally divided by a quality improvement initiative to standardize initiation of EF in postnatal hours 6–24. Results 603 VLBW infants were included. Median time of feed initiation decreased from 33 (Epoch 1) to 14 h (Epoch 2) (p Conclusions In a VLBW infant cohort, an education-based process improvement initiative decreased time of EF initiation to a median of 14 h with no associated increase in NEC or death. In fact, results suggest that earlier feeding is associated with decreased NEC or death.
Survival Data From a Phase II, Open-Label Study of Pazopanib or Lapatinib Monotherapy in Patients With Advanced and Recurrent Cervical Cancer

TO THE EDITOR: In the August 1, 2010, issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology, we reported the primary end point of progression-free survival (PFS) along with immature overall survival (OS) data for pazopanib versus lapatinib in patients with metastatic recurrent cervical carcinoma. At the time of publication, we reported a planned interim analysis of OS, performed at the time of the primary PFS analysis. Forty-two percent of patients in the lapatinib group and 61% of patients in the pazopanib group were still alive and were thus censored for the analysis, as shown in Figure 2B of our article. Median OS at this clinical cutoff date was 11.6 weeks longer in the pazopanib arm compared with the lapatinib arm (median OS, 50.7 weeks v 39.1 weeks; hazard ratio, 0.67; 90% CI, 0.46 to 0.99; P .045). The final OS analysis was performed when 62 patients (79.5%) in the lapatinib group and 56 patients (75.7%) in the pazopanib group had died. The median OS was 44.1 weeks for patients who received lapatinib and 49.7 weeks for patients who received pazopanib (hazard ratio, 0.96; 90% CI, 0.71 to 1.30; P .407; Fig 1). Importantly, the study was not powered for OS. This study met its primary end point of demonstrating an improvement in PFS with pazopanib compared with lapatinib. The updated data may be helpful to clinicians designing clinical trials of pazopanib in cervical cancer.
Pulmonary Edema and Elevated Left Atrial Pressure: Four Hours and Beyond

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is caused by the increase in left atrial pressure when the left heart fails. The increased pressure causes rapid fluid accumulation within the lung interstitial spaces. However, over the following days to weeks, additional fluid may accumulate due to the deposition of excess lung connective tissue.
Detection of Early and Delayed Antitumor Effects following Curative Adoptive Chemoimmunotherapy of Established Leukemia

Advanced disseminated leukemia can be successfully eradicated by treatment with a combination of noncurative nonlethal chemotherapy plus adoptively transferred immune cells. The time course of tumor elimination following such therapy was examined by bioassay for tumor of peripheral blood and spleen cells from treated mice. Curative treatment with adoptive chemoimmunotherapy did not immediately eliminate all leukemia. Bioassay of cells from treated mice, rather, demonstrated that, following the initial tumor lysis mediated by the chemotherapy and immune cells, a period of tumor regrowth lasting several weeks preceded ultimate tumor eradication. This transient tumor regrowth detectable by bioassay never became clinically evident in the treated mice. However, immunosuppression of mice two weeks after treatment with adoptive chemoimmunotherapy resulted in recurrence of lethal tumor. The results suggest that tumor elimination following curative adoptive chemoimmunotherapy is biphasic and that the efficacy of therapy may be subject to positive and/or negative influences over a prolonged time period.
The Importance of an Ergonomic Workstation to Practicing Sonographers

Musculoskeletal disorders have been described in a number of professions over the years. They are defined as injuries that are caused by or aggravated by workplace activities, and they account for up to 60% of all workplace illnesses. They are known by different names, such as musculoskeletal disorder, repetitive strain injury, cumulative trauma disorder, and repetitive motion injury. Musculoskeletal disorders have only been identified in sonographers since 1997 but are increasing in incidence. Surveys done among American and Canadian sonographers in 1997 showed an 84% incidence; however, this incidence had increased to 90% by 2008. Understanding the importance of optimal body mechanics and how to maintain neutral postures will enable sonographers to reduce the risk factors associated with their profession. Even with the most advanced equipment, an ergonomic workstation is only as effective as the person using it.
Affect instability in adults with a borderline personality disorder.

This study describes the pattern of affect instability in adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Clinical histories and the Diagnostic Inventory for Borderlines were used to identify 3 groups: 1) BPD (N = 15), 2) Asymptomatic (N = 10), and, 3) Non-BPD, Anorexia Nervosa Clinical Control (N = 4). An experience sampling procedure (Hormuth, 1986) was used to obtain 50 measures of affect over 10 days. The findings showed that BPD subjects experienced higher levels of unpleasant affects and greater short-term fluctuations in unpleasant affects than the asymptomatic subjects. However, BPD and asymptomatic subjects experienced more fluctuations in the pleasant affects than the AN subjects. These findings support the hypothesis that BPD is associated with a unique pattern of affect dysregulation. Copyright © 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company
Autoradiographic Investigation of Tritiated Thymidine Incorporation into Replanted and Transplanted Mouse Mandibular Incisors

Mandibular incisors from young inbred Balb/C mice were extracted and subsequently replanted or isologously transplanted to determine morphologic and cellular kinetic alterations.
Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness and fatness with cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents: the NHANES 1999-2002.

Background:This study aimed to examine combined and independent effects of cardiorespiratory fitness and fatness on cardiovascular risk factors among U.S. adolescents. Methods:Data from adolescents age 12 to 19 years participating in the NHANES 1999 to 2002 were used. Fitness level was determined by submaximal treadmill test and was dichotomized as ‘not fit’ or ‘fit’ according to the FITNESSGRAM. Fatness level was categorized as ‘not fat’ or ‘fat’ based on the CDC BMI growth charts. Gender-specific multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to compare age-, race/ethnicity-, fatness-, and waist circumference-adjusted means of blood pressure, lipids, lipoproteins, C-peptide, insulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Results:A total of 3202 adolescents (1629 boys) were included for data analysis. Among boys, total cholesterol, tri-glycerides, insulin, and CRP mean levels were significantly higher (P < .05) in the ‘not fit’ group than in the ‘fit’ group, after adjustment for fatness level and...
Berlin on the Brink: The Blockade, the Airlift, and the Early Cold War. By Daniel F. Harrington. (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2012. Pp. 432. $40.00.)

The event that first defined Berlin as the focal point of East‐West tension during the Cold War was the Soviet blockade of the three Western zones in 1948–1949. Stalin, for a variety of reasons, cl...
The time course of myocardial glycogenolysis stimulated by glucagon.

Abstract The rate of glycogenolysis was measured using 13 C-NMR in vivo in the rat heart following a glucagon bolus. Glycogen that had just been synthesized during a 50 min infusion of D-[1- 13 C]glucose and insulin was degraded at a rate of 2.5 μmol/min/g wet wt following a 250 μg bolus of glucagon. If a second 50 min infusion of unlabelled glucose followed the D-[- 13 C]glucose, the rate of mobilization of the labelled glycogen following glucagon was slower (0.52 μmol/min/g wet wt), indicating that the labeled glycogen was less accessible to the activated phosphorylase. Glycogen phosphorylase a (GP a ) activity was measured in hearts freeze-clamped at intervals after the glucagon bolus. Activity rose rapidly to 6-fold basal and then returned to basal over 20-30 min (t 1 2 ) decay of phosphorylase activity = 5.1 min). This time course paralleled the exponential fall in heart glycogen which followed glucagon (t 1 2 = 4.3 min). Throughout the post-glucagon period the activity of phosphorylase exceeded the rate of glycogenolysis. These findings suggest that the activity of the phosphorylated form of glycogen phosphorylase (GP a ) is an important but not the sole determinant of glycogen breakdown in the heart after a glucagon bolus.
NK T Cell Precursors Exhibit Differential Cytokine Regulation and Require Itk for Efficient Maturation

NK T cells are a lymphocyte lineage that is selected by CD1d and is characterized by the ability to rapidly secrete large amounts of both IFN-gamma and IL-4 after TCR stimulation. Using reactivity to CD1d tetramers to define presumptive NK T cells, several NK T cell progenitor populations were characterized based upon NK marker expression and CD4 vs CD8 expression. The earliest populations were found to be negative for NK markers and could proliferate to IL-7, while mature NK T cells did not. The NK1.1(-) NK T cell progenitors were capable of up-regulating NK1.1 when transferred in vivo. Upon stimulation, the NK1.1(-) populations secrete IL-4, but little IFN-gamma. As the cells mature and up-regulate NK1.1, they acquire the ability to secrete IFN-gamma. Finally, the Tec family tyrosine kinase Itk is necessary for optimal NK1.1 up-regulation and hence final maturation of NK T cells. The itk(-/-) mice also display a progressive decrease in NK T cells in older animals, suggesting a further role in peripheral maintenance.
Geology and Morphology of Antarctica

Two morphologies must be considered for Antarctica, one the bedrock morphology and the other the glacial morphology which is geologically ephemeral (figs. 2 and 3). The continent has been crisscrossed by oversnow traverse parties and aircraft during and since the International Geophysical Year of 1957–58, so that there is now a reconnaissance knowledge of both morphologies, which have been shown on a map of Antarctica, at a scale of 1 to 5 million with contours at intervals of 500 metres, published by the American Geographical Society in 1962. There is now international agreement that the metric scale will be used in Antarctica and that maps will be oriented so that the Prime Meridian (of Greenwich) is at the top of the map.
Petrography for Archaeological Geology

In the first edition of this textbook, it was asserted that the most common artifactual material of prehistory is lithological—rocks and/or minerals. This is still the case. Stone is, and was, the most durable of all materials available to early humans and, in most environmental settings, the most readily available. Its durability made it desirable for a multitude of tasks as well as helping insure its survival in archaeological sites. For the archaeologist, the survival of ancient human stone tools and artifacts has been both a blessing and a source of unintentional biases in terms of the reconstruction of past cultural behavior. Even with the earliest of human culture surely, there were other implements other than those of stone, but by their durability, the latter have survived, while other materials have long ago perished from the archaeological record.
Redo Carotid Endarterectomy

Redo carotid endarterectomy is typically performed for symptomatic recurrent carotid disease. During the past decade, this has been replaced by carotid stenting. Nevertheless, there may be some limited role for redo carotid endarterectomy. This chapter describes indications, essential steps, variations, and complications of this procedure. It provides a detailed template operative note for the procedure.
Variation in Option Returns: The Importance of Moneyness, Maturity and Skewness

This paper examines the differences in average options returns for a variety of option maturities. A simulation which assumes that the returns in the underlying asset are normally distributed and that options are priced according to Black-Scholes produces average returns which are positive and decreasing in the time to maturity for Call options of all moneyness levels and negative and increasing in the time to maturity for Put options of all moneyness levels. However, a simulation based on actual S&P 500 Index returns, which include a sub-period of high, positively skewed returns ("bull" market) and a sub-period of lower negatively skewed returns ("bear" market), produces some different results. Specifically, short-dated out-the-money (OTM) Calls exhibit negative average returns in the bull market, and Calls of all maturities deliver negative average returns in the bear market. Long-dated Put options deliver positive average returns in the bear market. I conclude with some empirical work on actual option prices, which must be interpreted with caution because of the illiquidity in all but the shortest-dated at-the-money options. The empirical evidence suggests short-dated OTM Calls actually produced positive returns in the bull market because of relative underpricing consistent with the well-known implied volatility skew.
Tamoxifen Action in ER-Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator and is mainly indicated for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women and postsurgery neoadjuvant therapy in ER-positive breast cancers. Interestingly, 5-10% of the ER-negative breast cancers have also shown sensitivity to tamoxifen treatment. The involvement of molecular markers and/or signaling pathways independent of ER signaling has been implicated in tamoxifen sensitivity in the ER-negative subgroup. Studies reveal that variation in the expression of estrogen-related receptor alpha, ER subtype beta, tumor microenvironment, and epigenetics affects tamoxifen sensitivity. This review discusses the background of the research on the action of tamoxifen that may inspire future studies to explore effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ER-negative and triple-negative breast cancers, the latter being an aggressive disease with worse clinical outcome.
Wege zur guten Kommunikation

Wie man zu einer technischen Kommunikationslosung gelangt, bei der das Verhalten von separaten Systemen gekoppelt ist, beschreibt dieser Beitrag. Die dabei notwendigerweise zu berucksichtigen Rahmenbedingungen und die damit verbundenen Entscheidungskriterien werden anhand des Beispiels "Integration von Messdaten ins ERP-System" naher betrachtet. Weiterhin werden die Anforderungen an Kommunikationstechnologien formuliert, um derartige Losungsszenarien geeignet zu unterstutzen.
Enzyme Induced Formation of Monodisperse Hydrogel Nanoparticles Tunable in Size

We report a novel approach to synthesize monodisperse hydrogel nanoparticles that are tunable in size. The distinctive feature of our approach is the use of a multicopper oxidase enzyme, laccase, as both a biocatalyst and template for nanoparticle growth. We utilize the ferroxidase activity of laccase to initiate localized production of iron(III) cations from the oxidation of iron(II) cations. We demonstrate that nanoparticles are formed in a dilute polymer solution of alginate as a result of cross-linking between alginate and enzymatically produced iron(III) cations. Exerting control over the enzymatic reaction allows for nanometer-scale tuning of the hydrogel nanoparticle radii in the range of 30–100 nm. The nanoparticles and their growth kinetics were characterized via dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and UV–vis spectroscopy. This finding opens up a new avenue for the synthesis of tunable nanoscale hydrogel particles for biomedical applications.
Optical and Dynamical Properties of Chemically Synthesized Gold Nanoplates

Single crystal, micrometer-sized nanoplates were formed by reducing Au(III) in the presence of surfactants using a modified polyol protocol. The shapes of the plates range from triangular to hexagonal. The nanoplates have {111} surfaces with an average edge length of 5 ± 2 μm and an average width of 107 ± 30 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal that the plates grow through a re-entrant groove created by twinning. The optical properties of the plates were studied by scattered light and transient absorption experiments. The scattered light measurements show that propagating surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes of the Au nanoplates can be excited when a laser beam is focused at the edge of the nanoplate. We also demonstrate that the direction of propagation of the SPP modes can be controlled through the polarization of the laser beam. The transient absorption traces for single suspended nanoplates show oscillations, which are assigned to thickness vibrations of the plates. The quality factor...