cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of glycation adducts on osteocalcin

Osteocalcin is an important extracellular matrix bone protein that contributes to the structural properties of bone through its interactions with hydroxyapatite mineral and with collagen I. This role may be affected by glycation, a labile modification the levels of which has been shown to correlate with bone fragility. Glycation starts with the spontaneous addition of a sugar onto a free amine group on a protein, forming an Amadori product, and then proceeds through several environment-dependent stages resulting in the formation of an advanced glycation end product. Here, we induce the first step of this modification on synthetic osteocalcin, and then use multiple mass spectrometry fragmentation techniques to determine the location of this modification. Collision-induced dissociation resulted in spectra dominated by neutral loss, and was unable to identify Amadori products. Electron-transfer dissociation showed that the Amadori product formed solely on osteocalcin's N-terminus. This suggests that the glycation of osteocalcin is unlikely to interfere with osteocalcin's interaction with hydroxyapatite. Instead, glycation may interfere with its interaction with collagen I or another bone protein, osteopontin. Potentially, the levels of glycated osteocalcin fragments released from bone during bone resorption could be used to assess bone quality, should the N-terminal fragments be targeted.
Between Extraordinary and Marginalized: Negotiating Tensions in Becoming Special Education-Certified Teachers

The field of special education is in flux, with high shortages and attrition and increasing requirements around quality teachers and teaching contexts. In this study, we explore how preservice teac...
The Effects of Presidential Debate Formats on Clash: A Comparative Analysis.

Since the first presidential debate in 1960, scholars and journalists have criticized the debates by arguing that deficient formats have resulted in little clash or “real debate.” This essay examin...
Early Definitive Fracture Fixation is Safely Performed in the Presence of an Open Abdomen in Multiply Injured Patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the safety and feasibility of performing definitive fracture fixation in multiply injured patients in the presence of an open abdomen after laparotomy. DESIGN Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING Level-I academic trauma center. PATIENTS Adult polytrauma patients with the presence of an open abdomen after "damage control" laparotomy and associated major fractures of long bones, acetabulum, pelvis, or spine, requiring surgical repair (n = 81). INTERVENTION Timing of definitive fracture fixation in relation to the timing of abdominal wall closure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Incidence of orthopedic surgical site infections. RESULTS During a 15-year time window from January 1, 2000 until December 31, 2014, we identified a cohort of 294 consecutive polytrauma patients with an open abdomen after laparotomy. Surgical fixation of associated fractures was performed after the index laparotomy in 81 patients. In group 1 (n = 32), fracture fixation occurred significantly sooner despite a concurrent open abdomen, compared with group 2 (n = 49) with abdominal wall closure before fixation (mean 4.4 vs. 11.8 days; P = 0.01). The incidence of orthopaedic surgical site infections requiring a surgical revision was significantly lower in group 1 (3.1%) compared to group 2 (30.6%; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Definitive fracture fixation in the presence of an open abdomen is performed safely and associated with a significant decrease in clinically relevant surgical site infections, compared with delaying fracture fixation until abdominal wall closure. These data suggest that the strategy of imposing a time delay in orthopaedic procedures while awaiting abdominal wall closure is unjustified. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
STUDIES ON BIOLOGICAL OXIDATIONS: XIV. OXIDATIONS BY MICROORGANISMS WHICH DO NOT FERMENT GLUCOSE

There are two methods of approach to the study of the mechanisms of biological oxidations, (1) the isolation of the components of the enzyme system and (2) work with living cells in which the oxidations proceed very simply, without intermediate reactions. The splendid achievements of Warburg and his coworkers on the isolation of some enzyme components have had the usual reaction among scientists interested in the study of biological oxidationsa diligent application of Warburg’s methods and consequent neglect of the second mode of approach. Although the first mode of approach brings forth more satisfactory results, it cannot be denied that the second is more likely to reveal varied mechanisms n the oxidation of a substrate. Bacterial cells are excellent material for this second method, because they may be grown in a very short time, and, in general, the oxidation reactions are not masked by regulating mechanisms such as exist in animal cells. Two problems were the concern of this investigation. (1) Are bacteria which usually do not ferment glucose also unable to oxidize it, and if so, why? (2) Are the oxidations in these bacteria all performed by the same mechanism? An answer to the first problem was considered essential for the proper understanding of the metabolism of glucose; an answer to the second was considered valuable as an indication of the unity or plurality of enzymes oxidizing one particular substrate. The experiments reported in this paper show that glucose is oxidized by a number of bacteria without previous fermentation
Hematologic Changes in Newborns with Neonatal Encephalopathy

Neonatal encephalopathy is a disorder frequently observed by clinicians caring for sick neonates. One of the causes of this disorder is intrapartum hypoxia-ischemia. Caregivers are frequently called on to determine the etiology of neonatal encephalopathy, manage the disorder, and estimate the timing of any associated brain injury. Components of a complete blood cell count may be useful in assessing infants with neonatal encephalopathy. In this review, we discuss the usefulness of these parameters.
Brain injury biomechanics and abusive head trauma

Contemporary biomechanical theory of traumatic brain injury has its foundation in Holbourn's thesis on shear strain and Ommaya's primate experimentation demonstrating the role of rotation in a variety of lesions including subdural hematoma (SDH) and diffuse axonal injury. Empirical human observations have since confirmed, for the most part, the early concepts. Ethical concerns regarding primate research, however, have prompted in vitro models, which in turn has led to challenges with respect to the correlation between in vitro observations and the clinical data. Despite these challenges, medicolegal proceedings may call upon biomechanical engineers to reconstruct complex injury scenarios and offer opinions on the scientific plausibility of clinical disease states, such as SDH, hemorrhagic retinopathy, and cerebral edema, associated with hypothetical or proffered action sequences during the course of an unwitnessed homicide. It is important to note, however, that in vitro models by their nature are low-evidence quality studies that attempt to advance hypotheses but do not address cause and effect. As a whole, biomechanical models, as they pertain specifically to the brain and spine, are mathematically imprecise. Often, endpoints of limited relevance are relied upon (e.g., skull fracture thresholds), which predictably overestimate the in vivo risk of significant injury. Given the increasing role of biomechanical engineering in the interpretation of fatal pediatric head trauma, a heightened awareness of the limitations warranted.
THE PURIFICATION OF MICROSOMAL GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATASE FROM HUMAN LIVER: AIDS TO THE STUDY OF GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE

Publisher Summary Glucose-6-phosphate phosphohydrolase , an enzyme of the microsomal fraction, is a major intermediate in the mobilization of glucose from calf liver cells. A defect in the hydrolytic function of this enzyme is responsible for Glycogen storage disease Type I. This chapter presents a study that was undertaken to purify this membrane-bound enzyme using the techniques of affinity chromatography. Microsomes were prepared from human liver samples obtained at autopsy by the method of Garland and Cori. Wash buffers were supplemented with 0.2% sodium deoxycholate, which disrupted microsomes and increased enzyme activity 10-fold. These microsomes were transferred to a DEAE-Cellulose column . Bound proteins were eluted from this column by a NaCl gradient to 0.5 M. Two elution peaks were resolved. Protein eluted at high salt was found to have high activity representing a purification of approximately 20-fold, while recovering some 10% of the total enzyme activity. Preliminary studies using glucose-6-phosphate covalently linked to a Sepharose 6B column gave an additional measure of purification.
Disorders of Emotional Communication After Stroke

Emotions can be divided into at least three major domains: emotional experiences, emotional memories, and emotional behaviors. Stroke can induce changes in all three of these domains; however, in this chapter we will focus on emotional behaviors and primarily review the disorders of emotional communication that can be induced by stroke. There are several means by which emotions can be classified or categorized, including valence (positive, neutral, negative), arousal (high, moderate, low), and activity (approach, avoid, none) [1]. For example, fear would be an emotion characterized by negative valence, high arousal, and avoidance. Ross et al. [2] also divides emotions into primary (e.g., happy, sad, anger, fear) and social (e.g., embarrassed) categories. In this chapter, deficits of emotional communication will mainly address the primary emotions, which include happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise, and neutrality.
Security in Wireless Mesh Networks

The rapid emergence of wireless electronics such as iPhone and iPad has changed the way people communicate with each other. While wireless service providers continue to expand the capacity of their network infrastructures, one of the key components—wireless mesh network (WMN)—is expected to dominate the wireless interconnection and access networks. With wireless services integrated into our work and home activities, WMN security issues become evident. This chapter provides an extensive coverage on the security challenges, requirements, attacks, and countermeasure mechanisms that are related to wireless mesh networks. The treatment of these subjects is based on both theoretical analysis and practical application. In addition, cuttingedge wireless mesh network research projects and commercial products are discussed to provide technical insights for researchers and practitioners.
Defect Characterization in Composites Using a Thermal Tomography Algorithm

Thermal NDE can be effectively applied for detection of the defects having thermal properties different from the surrounding material. Different image processing procedures help to localize amplitude variations produced by the subsurface defects on thermograms received during the cooling stage after a heat excitation of the subject surface. An application of the thermal tomography method for quantitative defect characterization and defect visualization in composites is studied. The emphasis of the study is the automation of processing of the thermal images.
Eddies and Circulation: Lessons from Oceans and the GFD Lab

This is a discussion of aspects of the energy-dominant eddies/waves of the global ocean emphasizing their finite-amplitude dynamics in the upper levels of the ocean and their reshaping of the deep branches of the general circulation. We rely heavily on observations which, only in the past few years have achieved the status of a global quasi-synoptic observing system, making possible an increasingly complete understanding of the time-dependent oceans. In stratified oceans and atmospheres a significant fraction of the baroclinic energy is captured in mesoscale structures which resist the classic cascades of geostrophic turbulence toward barotropic (depth-independent) states and thence to larger horizontal scale. Eddies both stir the deep ocean, shape its PV field, transfer surface momentum downward to drive large recirculation gyres, and greatly alter the western boundary currents. In effect, eddies redefine the general circulation.
Proceedings of the 2017 Viral Clearance Symposium, Session 1.1: Upstream Mitigation, Part 1-Cell Bank and Bulk Harvest Testing.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are typically produced using mammalian cell lines, which are known to express endogenous retrovirus-like particles (RVLP) and also have the potential to be infected by viruses. This session focused on the detection and measurement of these viruses and RVLP. In the first talk it was demonstrated that Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) can detect, with a similar sensitivity as PCR, viruses in cells without a-priori knowledge of the specific virus and importantly, that a specific NGS approach can decipher whether the signal corresponds to a replicating virus or not. The second talk provided data showing that the PCR assay for detection of ERV genome is an alternative to qTEM for quantification of RVLP. In addition, the potential use of a harvest filter for RVLP retention in a perfusion process was discussed. In the third talk RVLP data from 67 different Pfizer programs spanning different conditions were presented. No single factor that had a significant impact on the level of RVLPs. It was suggested that a "generic" or "worst-case" RVLP value, derived from a well-characterized platform cell culture process, could be used with confidence to determine a conservative retroviral safety margin for platform processes. In the fourth talk, the sensitivity of several cell culture- and PCR-based assays for detection of different MMV strains using several production cells was discussed. It was found that molecular assays were generally superior in breadth of detection with equivalent sensitivity.
Jump into Leadership Using our Knowledge of Design

Leadership development takes preparation and practice. We can rely on our knowledge of instructional design to create the curriculum or steps necessary for our own leadership development.
A Concentric Multiband Patch Antenna for Wireless Coordination in Coherent Distributed Arrays

A multiband patch antenna designed for joint internode coordination and distributed array operation is presented. The antenna has three resonances, one in the L-band (1.880 GHz) enabling distributed array operation, and two in the X-band (9.539 GHz and 10.580 GHz) enabling inter-node coordination. These two frequency bands are addressed by two collocated patch antennas; a slotted patch antenna for the high frequencies surrounded by a larger patch that is used for the lower frequencies. Measured results of the antenna design demonstrate good radiation performance at each resonance.
Cost analysis of robotic sleeve gastrectomy (R-SG) compared with laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (L-SG) in a single academic center: debunking a myth!

Abstract Background Although use of the da Vinci robotic platform in bariatric surgery is gaining momentum, there are financial concerns. Objectives Our retrospective study evaluated the cost of robotically assisted sleeve gastrectomy (R-SG) versus conventional laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (L-SG). Setting Center of Excellence bariatric surgery center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Methods We analyzed consecutive patients who underwent primary R-SG and compared them with L-SG patients. Primary outcomes were overall cost for length of stay, operating time, and supplies. Secondary outcomes were 30-day complications, reoperations, and readmissions. Results We had no adverse events in either group. The overall cost for R-SG and L-SG was not statistically different (mean total cost for R-SG and L-SG was $5308.99 and $4918.88, respectively). Operating time cost was significantly higher for R-SG compared with L-SG ($1340 versus $112 for R-SG and L-SG, respectively). R-SG had a shorter length of stay compared with L-SG (1.4 versus 1.5 d, respectively). Conclusions Our study revealed no difference in cost R-SG and L-SG, with a trend toward shorter length of stay for R-SG over time.
Analysis of geometric ballast plate for laboratory testing of resilient track components

Abstract Under tie pads (UTPs) have become a common solution for railroad networks across the world to improve track quality and reduce maintenance. Despite the benefits of UTPs in heavy-haul applications, there are currently no testing standards pertaining to UTPs in high axle load environments. The current European standard, the EN 16730:2016, recommends the use of a geometric ballast plate (GBP) in place of actual ballast for several tests. The GBP’s lightweight construction and geometric design allows for ease of use and repeatability in laboratory testing. However, GBP and ballast contact with UTPs have not been thoroughly documented within the literature. Therefore, this study aims to compare the relationship between GBP and ballast contact surfaces through a variety of laboratory tests and 3D scanning. Several ballast “blocks” were cast to serve as repeatable ballast specimens for the tests and scans. Top contact surface, pressure distribution characteristics, and geometric properties of the GBP and ballast blocks were compared. Results showed that the GBP generally overestimates the contact characteristics of ballast, resulting in lower pressures, higher contact areas, greater total areas at given depths, and smaller particle spacing than the ballast blocks. Using these results, a more realistic GBP design can be developed. This work will be valuable in establishing more accurate testing methods/support conditions to enable representative, easy, and repeatable laboratory testing of resilient track components.
The Paradox of Delaware's 'Tools at Hand' Doctrine: An Empirical Investigation

Much has been written on the subject of abusive shareholder litigation. The last decade has witnessed at first an increase and then a dramatic spike in such suits, primarily suits filed in connection with mergers and acquisitions. Delaware courts are known for not just their deep experience in corporate law suits but as being doctrinal innovators. One such innovation occurred in Rales v. Blasband, 654 A.2d 927 (Del. 1993), establishing the “tools at hand” doctrine, whereby before considering whether to grant a motion to dismiss the court admonishes the shareholder-plaintiff to resort to shareholder inspection rights accorded by the Delaware General Corporation Law so as to gather facts necessary for the complaint to survive the pretrial motion. On its face, the doctrine reflects a balanced approach to the competing claims that shareholder litigation is necessary to address and discourage managerial misconduct and the belief the suits are vexatious being brought to garner an extortionate settlement. In this paper, we empirically examine how Rales has dramatically changed the composition of suits in which shareholders seek to exercise their inspection rights. We compare the composition, outcomes, and related questions surrounding such suits maintained 1981-1994 with the post-Rales period 2004-2016. We not only find that post-Rales suits entail substantially more suits involving “books and records” requests but in tracing the results of those requests we find that plaintiff suits maintained after using the tools at hand enjoy better outcomes than where no inspection was sought. Our data also supports the belief that such books and records litigation is something of a surrogate for a trial on the underlying claims of wrongdoing. We also find that many instances in which the tools at hand is pursued there is no follow-on shareholder suit. Thus, our data supports the positive social benefits of Delaware’s innovative tools at hand doctrine. Nonetheless, in the concluding section we bring bad news. Increasing qualification of owners – partners, members and stockholders – inspection rights through private ordering described here raises concern that the potential benefits of the tools at hand doctrine will not be fully realized. We also reason that the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision in California State Teachers Ret. Sys. v. Alvarez, 179 A.3d 824 (Del. 2018) likely eviscerates the tools at hand. Alvarez holds that the Delaware litigant’s suits is precluded by an earlier decision by another jurisdiction that a derivative suit initiated by a different shareholder than was prosecuting the Delaware action lacked standing to sue. We reason that Alvarez is a powerful disincentive for Delaware litigants to pursue the tools at hand as the time expended in pursuing that right may enable competing slothful lawyers to take their chances with a less developed complaint in a sister jurisdiction’s courts on the same claim.
Past and possible future influence of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation on the climate responsible for concentration of geopolitical power and wealth in the North Atlantic region

Previous research has shown that nations that controlled global-scale empires over the most recent centuries and presently possess great per-capita wealth are in Earth’s two largest regions of regu...
Preclinical testing of the ketogenic diet in fragile X mice.

Abstract The ketogenic diet is highly effective at attenuating seizures in refractory epilepsy, and accumulating evidence in the literature suggests that it may be beneficial in autism. To our knowledge, no one has studied the ketogenic diet in any fragile X syndrome (FXS) model. FXS is the leading known genetic cause of autism. Herein, we tested the effects of chronic ketogenic diet treatment on seizures, body weight, ketone and glucose levels, diurnal activity levels, learning and memory, and anxiety behaviors in Fmr1KO and littermate control mice as a function of age. The ketogenic diet selectively attenuates seizures in male but not female Fmr1KO mice and differentially affects weight gain and diurnal activity levels dependent on Fmr1 genotype, sex and age.
Observation of Stimulated Emission of Radiation by Relativistic Electrons in a Spatially Periodic Transverse Magnetic Field

Gain has been observed for optical radiation at 10.6 \ensuremath{\mu}m due to stimulated radiation by a relativistic electron beam in a constant spatially periodic transverse magnetic field. A gain of 7% per pass was obtained at an electron current of 70 mA. The experiments indicate the possibility of a new class of tunable high-power free-electron lasers.
Tuning of spin-orbit coupling in metal-free conjugated polymers by structural conformation

Manipulating spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is a key achievement for spin-orbitronic applications since SOC determines spin-diffusion lengths and spin-to-charge conversion efficiencies. While in most organic semiconductors SOC is inherently very weak due to being composed of primarily light elements, the SOC in conjugated polymer systems is also intimately tied to the polymer's structural conformation and thus may be manipulated. Here we report a modification of SOC in conjugated polymers by altering torsion angle between conjugated units. Spin-pumping experiments are performed on three poly(3-alkylthiophene) polymer films with decreasing conjugation lengths and concomitantly increasing torsion angle. The more twisted polymer exhibits a shorter spin-diffusion length and a giant spin-mixing conductance (up to ${10}^{21}\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ ), which is attributed to an increased SOC by structural conformation. This work offers a route for enhancing SOC and spin-injection efficiency in organic materials for spintronic applications.
Design Optimization of Coreless Axial-flux PM Machines with Litz Wire and PCB Stator Windings

Coreless axial-flux permanent-magnet (AFPM) machines may be attractive options for high-speed and high-power-density applications due to the elimination of core losses. In order to make full use of the advantages offered by these machines and avoid excessive eddy current losses in windings, advanced technologies for winding conductors need to be employed to suppress the eddy effect, such as the Litz wire and printed circuit board (PCB). In this paper, the best practices for designing Litz wire/PCB windings are discussed and a brief survey of state of the art PCB winding technology is provided. Three coreless AFPM machines are mainly considered. A design optimization procedure based on the multi-objective differential evolution algorithm and 3-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) is proposed to take into account the ac winding losses of Litz wires and PCB traces in the machine design stage. Selected designs are being prototyped and will be tested with a customized test fixture.
Prioritizing movement to address the frailty phenotype in heart failure

Frailty is a highly prevalent multisystem syndrome in older adults with heart failure (HF) and is associated with poor clinical prognosis and increased complexity of care. While frailty is neither disease nor age specific, it is a clinical manifestation of aging-related processes that reflects a reduced physiological ability to tolerate and recover from stress associated with aging, disease, or therapy. Within this context, physical frailty, which is distinctly oriented to physical functional domains (e.g., muscle weakness, slowness, and low activity), has been recognized as a critical vital sign in older persons with HF. Identification and routine assessment of physical frailty, using objective physical performance measures, may guide the course of patient-centered treatment plans that maximize the likelihood of improving clinical outcomes in older HF patients. Exercise-based rehabilitation is a primary therapy to improve cardiovascular health in patients with HF; however, the limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of exercise tailored to older and frail HF patients underscores the current gaps in management of their care. Interdisciplinary exercise interventions designed with consideration of physical frailty as a therapeutic target may be an important strategy to counteract functional deficits characteristic of frailty and HF, and to improve patient-centered outcomes in this population. The purpose of this current review is to provide a better understanding of physical frailty and its relation to management of care in older patients with HF. Implications of movement-based interventions, including exercise and physical rehabilitation, to prevent or reverse physical frailty and improve clinical outcomes will further be discussed.
Are religious individuals against renewables? Exploring religious beliefs and support for government investment in energy transitions in the United States

Abstract Religious values and beliefs influence many attitudes relating to the environment, suggesting that they are also likely to shape preferences over energy policy. Several years’ responses from the General Social Survey, a large, nationally representative poll of United States adults, confirm that, in this context, the association between greater religiosity and lesser support for pro-environmental policy extends to questions of energy transition: more fervently religious respondents, and those who more fully endorse fundamentalist interpretations of the Christian Bible, are less likely to support government funding of developing alternative energy sources. This result holds even when accounting for respondents’ broader attitudes towards environmental and science policy. The connection between religiosity on attitudes towards energy policy is more robust in some Christian traditions than others: among Catholics, though not Protestants, it appears even when controlling for broader ideological positions.
Methods for Comparative Wood Anatomy Studies

The sliding microtome (sledge) has been the standard instrument for preparation of wood sections, and its use seems likely to continue indefinitely. The sliding microtome is useful because most woods have degrees of hardness suitable for this instrument. Excessively hard woods can be softened by the use of ethylene diamine (Kukachka 1977). The use of hydrofluoric acid for this purpose is disadvantageous because it requires more time than ethylene diamine, and is dangerously corrosive. Ethylene diamine is not without risks, and should be used with care because of its vapors and its strong alkalinity. However, ethylene diamine, used in various dilutions and with the aid of heat (as in paraffin oven) or at room temperature can soften more effectively than hydrofluoric acid in shorter periods of time. As with hydrofluoric acid, treatment with ethylene diamine can result in swelling of certain cell walls, especially if treatment is excessive.
Models for Lexical Knowledge Bases

Computational lexicology is evolving around a particular model of lexical acquisition, based on a transition that involves structuring — or at least restructuring — existing on-line lexical resources (dictionaries and corpora) so that they can be used in the creation of a central repository of lexical data (a lexical knowledge base). We discuss some methodological issues related to this process, with respect to currently held assumptions about the nature of lexical information. We argue that current models of lexical knowledge bases are impoverished. Specifically, they are unable to handle certain types of linguistic generalizations which are an essential component of lexical knowledge. We then sketch, in light of a set of functional requirements for a lexical knowledge base, an improved representational model for this kind of knowledge; review some assumptions underlying extracting information from machine-readable dictionaries; and draw conclusions concerning their proper place in the process of lexicon acquisition.
Lidocaine causes a reversible, concentration-dependent increase in defibrillation energy requirements

To investigate the influence of lidocaine on the energy requirements for internal defibrillation, lidocaine (n = 8) or saline solution (n = 12) was administered by intravenous infusion to 20 pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs, and the likelihood of successful defibrillation was examined at various shock energy levels before and after treatment. After lidocaine administration to a mean steady state concentration of 5.6 ± 2.7 μ/ml, the mean energy required to achieve 50 and 90% success in defibrillation (E50and E90) increased by 61.1 ± 34.1% (mean ± SD, p Lidocaine causes a reversible, concentration-dependent increase in the energy requirements for successful defibrillation; recommendations to administer lidocaine to patients with ventricular fibrillation resistant to defibrillation may need to be reviewed.
Diaphragm acceptability among young women at risk for HIV.

ABSTRACT Objectives. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of acceptability of the diaphragm among young women at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. Methods. A total of 140 young (aged 18–25 years) women who had never used the diaphragm and who were at risk for HIV and other STIs completed questionnaires that included questions about the diaphragm and other sexual and reproductive health topics. These women were participants in a focus group study. Results. The majority of participants perceived that the diaphragm had several characteristics (e.g., is a method they can control, is effective in preventing pregnancy, will not cause side effects, does not decrease sexual pleasure) considered important when selecting a birth control method. However, most were not confident in various aspects of diaphragm use, including their ability to use the method correctly, without breaking the mood, or when sexually excited. In multivariate analyses, intention to u...
Differential Response to Kappa-Opioidergic Agents in Dietary Fat Selection Between Osborne-Mendel and S5B/Pl Rats

We have investigated the central effect of a kappa-opioid agonist and an antagonist on the macronutrient preference in two strains of rat, the Osborne Mendel (OM) and S5B/P1 rats, that have different susceptibility to obesity and differential preference for dietary fat intake. OM rats prefer diets high in fat and are sensitive to diet-induced obesity, whereas S5B/P1 prefer a low fat diet and are resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity. Rats adapted to a two-choice high fat (HF)/low fat (LF) diet were food deprived (20 h) and then infused into the third cerebroventricle with 10 micrograms nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), a selective kappa-antagonist. Nor-BNI preferentially suppressed HF intake, but not LF intake in OM rats, whereas it affected neither diet in S5B rats. Infusion of U50488, a selective kappa-agonist (33 nmol), into the third cerebroventricle in sated rats, potently stimulated the intake of HF only in the OM rats, whereas it induced a significant but moderate stimulation of intake of both HF and LF diets in the S5B/P1 rats. Total energy intake following U50488 was not significantly different between the two strains. These findings suggest that the enhanced sensitivity of the OM rats to kappa-opioid stimulation for dietary fat may contribute to their preference for dietary fat and possibly their increased susceptibility for obesity.
Managing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction: An information management perspective

Abstract The threat towards international security that terrorists, failed or failing states, and rogue regimes pose when in possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is a very significant one. Having accurate and timely intelligence is a must in today's security environment, especially when estimating WMD capabilities. Breakdowns in information management relating to WMD intelligence can be responsible for failures in deterring a WMD attack or may create a false alarm regarding a nation's capabilities, with equally serious consequences. This paper seeks to propose a framework for understanding the informational failures associated with estimating a state's WMD capabilities using an information management model. Estimating a state's nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons capabilities is complicated due to several factors. At every point of the intelligence process that will later transcend to policy and action, there are challenges that affect how information is managed. This article will c...
Innovating via emergent technology and distributed organization: A case of biofuel production in India

Abstract This paper uses complex systems theory to develop a conceptual model that suggests how development can be catalyzed by leveraging innovation in both technology and social organization to solve socioeconomic problems for developing country populations. Emerging technologies, together with new, distributed forms of organization such as multi-actor partnerships between the public sector, the private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), can enhance access to energy, basic services and employment. The model is supported by evidence from a case study of a leading multi-actor partnership in the Indian renewable energy sector, specifically, bio-fuels production and outlines four propositions drawn from the analysis.
Optical pulse propagation through clouds

The cloud impulse response (spatial and temporal) to optical pulse propagation has been measured. Experimental data are reported for the radiance function, pulse stretching, and (the first published) delay time. The results have been confirmed by Monte Carlo modeling. A geometric scattering model is presented explaining the temporal results for the test conditions.
Syntheses and properties of cross‐linked polymers from functionalized triglycerides

A number of functionalized triglycerides were synthesized from glyceryl trioleoate via epoxidation followed by reduction to give glyceryl tris(9-hydroxy)trioleoate (a triol) or hydrolytic ring opening to obtain glyceryl tris(9,10-dihydroxy)trioleoate (a hexaol). A selective monoepoxidation reaction of glyceryl trioleoate was also carried out and the resulting monoepoxide was hydrolyzed to give glyceryl 9,10-dihydroxytrioleoate (a diol). Glyceryl tris(9-hydroxy)trioleoate was brominated followed by displacement with sodium azide and reduction to give glyceryl tris(9-amino)trioleoate (a triamine) and glyceryl tris[9-(N-isopropylamino)]trioleoate. These functionalized triglycerides were crosslinked with 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate. The crosslinked polymers exhibit thermoset characteristics. Thermal analysis results suggest that the polymers are in amorphous states, and their thermal stability was significantly affected by crosslink degree. The crosslinked polymer derived from the diol retained 56% of its weight at 408°C, whereas the polymers derived from the aforementioned hexaol with higher crosslink degree retained only 36% of the original weight. Glass transition temperatures of these polymers range from −1.0°C to 10.2°C. The thermal stable polymer, 12, derived from the aforementioned diol exhibits a linear viscoelastic character and can be used as thermoplastics. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
The Stress Response Decreases Nf-κb Activation in Liver of Endotoxemic Mice

Recent studies suggest that the stress (heat shock) response protects cells and tissues from inflammatory and other noxious insults. The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), normally sequestered in the cytoplasm by its inhibitory protein IkappaB, regulates many genes involved in the inflammatory response to critical illness. Endotoxemia is associated with increased NF-kappaB activity in liver but the effect of the stress response on endotoxin-induced NF-kappaB activation in the liver is not known. We hypothesized that the stress response inhibits NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in liver during endotoxemia. The stress response was induced in mice by hyperthermia (42 degrees C for 3 min) or sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg) and resulted in increased hepatic heat shock protein-72 levels. After induction of the stress response, mice were injected subcutaneously with endotoxin (12.5 mg/kg) or a corresponding volume of sterile saline. NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in the nuclear fraction of liver tissue increased and cytoplasmic IkappaB-alpha levels decreased after endotoxin injection, with a maximal effect seen at 60 min. The endotoxin-induced increase in NF-kappaB DNA binding activity and decrease in IkappaB-alpha levels were inhibited by prior induction of the stress response. In additional experiments, treatment of mice with sodium arsenite after induction of endotoxemia blunted the increase in NF-kappaB activity, indicating a therapeutic potential of sodium arsenite, in addition to its preventive effect. The present results suggest that the protective effects of the stress response in vivo may, at least in part, be due to inhibited NF-kappaB activation.
Toeplitz operators on harmonic Bergman spaces

We study Toeplitz operators on the harmonic Bergman spacebp(B), whereB is the open unit ball inRn(n≥2), for 1<p〈∞. We give characterizations for the Toeplitz operators with positive symbols to be bounded, compact, and in Schatten classes. We also obtain a compactness criteria for the Toeplitz operators with continuous symbols.
Benzotriazolylmethylaminosilanes: Novel azomethine ylide equivalents

Abstract Benzotriazolylmethylaminosilanes, readily accessible from the reaction of benzotriazole, an aldehyde and an (aminomethyl)silane in water at 20°C, are azomethine ylide equivalents which undergo stereospecific cycloadditions with dipolarophiles to give substituted pyrrolidines or 2,5-dihydropyrroles in good yields.
The carpal tunnel syndrome.

ERIPHERAL NERVES may be affected by a variety of injuries. If a peripheral nerve is injured in a specific location as the result of a mechanical irritation by some anatomical phenomenon, the condition is called an entrapment neuropathy. This type of nerve injury has been described by the term neuropraxia’ to characterize absence of action in an otherwise intact nerve. Neuropraxia may be caused by contusion, concussion, traction, or compression. Most peripheral nerves in their anatomic course pass through tough inelastic fibro-osseous tunnels, and are accompanied by tendons and/or blood vessels. These areas are well known and are frequently the landmarks used for local anesthetic nerve blocks. The best known of all these potential entrapment points is the carpal tunnel. Located on the volar aspect of the wrist joint it contains the median nerve. It is at this point in its peripheral course that the median nerve is most frequently injured so that it exhibits the physical symptoms and signs of neuropraxia. Although Paget in 1854 described median nerve compression at the wrist secondary to fracture callus, only in thhe past two decades has compression of the median nerve been appreciated as a distinct clinical entity and aggressively treated.*13 FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY The usual muscular distribution of the median nerve in the hand is to four and one-half muscles. They are: lumbricals I and II (the two most radial lumbricals), the abductor pollicis brevis, the opponens pollicis, and the superficial (main head) of the flexor pollicis brevis. These muscles act in conjunction with the long thumb flexor, thumb extensors, and abductor to produce almost all motions at the thumb metacarpophalangeal and carpometacarpal joints.4 The usual sensory supply of the median nerve is to the volar (palmar) side of the hand. This includes the radial half of the palm, most of the volar skin of the thumb, index, middle fingers, and radial half of the ring finger. Recently considerable attention has been given to the anatomical course of the motor branch of the median nerve which supplies the bulk of the thenar musculature. Its course may be variable both within the carpal tunnel and as it passes terminally to innervate the thenar muscles .5-7 The carpal canal also contains all the long flexor tendons to the fingers and thumb. Occasionally aberrant blood vessels are also present in the canal. All of these structures are covered by the strong transverse carpal ligament (flexor retinaculum) which extends across the concavity of the carpal arch. This ligament is attached medially to the pisiform bone and to the hamulus of the hamate bone; laterally it is attached to the tubercle of the navicular and to the greater multangular. The floor of the carpal tunnel is formed by the central carpal bones.
Neutral evolution on mammalian protein surfaces

Because of their low effective population sizes, natural selection is expected to have reduced effectiveness in organisms such as mammals. By comparing the amino acid substitution rates between mammalian protein surfaces and interiors, it was found that almost a third of the proteins surveyed failed to reject the null hypothesis of neutral substitutions among surface residues. Proteins with such partly neutral evolution nonetheless have no fewer protein interactions than do other proteins. I suggest that natural selection can function to preserve protein interactions without requiring strict conservation of the individual residue contacts that impart those interactions.
Solute-solute transfer in solution excited with nanosecond pulses of 3 MeV electrons☆

Abstract The energy transfer between PPO and M 2 -POPOP in toluene solutions was measured using the nanosecond pulses of 3 MeV electrons from a pulsed Van de Graaff accelerator. The energy transfer rate constant obtained in this experiment, using the Stern-Volmer relationship, was 2.45×10 13 l/mol s.
Biochemical markers of bone turnover in lactating and nonlactating postpartum women

We measured two bone-formation markers, osteocalcin and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and one bone-resorption marker, N-telopeptide, in a longitudinal study in order to describe levels of these markers in lactating and nonlactating women after parturition. This 18-month postpartum period included an initial 6 months in which a 5% short-term bone loss occurred at both spine and femoral neck among breast-feeding women. The second part of the 18-month period was characterized by bone recovery among women who had lost bone. These bone-change characteristics provided an opportunity to evaluate the performance of biochemical markers during both bone loss and recovery and to identify environmental exposures during lactation associated with bone turnover. The eligible population comprised 115 women whose bone-turnover markers were measured at 2 weeks (baseline) and at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 18 months after parturition. Participants reported reproductive characteristics, diet, physical activity, use of medications, and infant-feeding practices at each contact. Women were grouped according to lactation duration: 0-1 months, 2-5 months, and 6 months or more. Women who breast-fed for at least 6 months had significantly different levels of all three bone-turnover markers compared with the levels in bottle-feeding controls, which were indicative of substantially increased bone turnover. Factors that predicted the difference in biochemical markers from baseline to 6-month values by regression analysis were lactation of 2-6 months duration and lactation for 6 months or more. Dietary calcium intake, physical activity level, and body size did not explain the differences in the change from the baseline level to the 6-month level, a period of time that corresponded with bone loss in the lactating women. Factors that predicted the differences in bone-turnover markers between 6 and 18 months (the time of bone-mass recovery) were lactation status and number of months to resumption of menses. By the 18-month observation, there was no difference in the mean values for the measured bone-turnover markers among the three lactation groups. This suggests that menstrual activity, rather than diet or physical activity, is the primary factor in bone-mass recovery after the bone loss of lactation.
Animal models of restricted repetitive behavior in autism

Restricted, repetitive behavior, along with deficits in social reciprocity and communication, is diagnostic of autism. Animal models relevant to this domain generally fall into three classes: repetitive behavior associated with targeted insults to the CNS; repetitive behavior induced by pharmacological agents; and repetitive behavior associated with restricted environments and experience. The extant literature provides potential models of the repetitive behavioral phenotype in autism rather than attempts to model the etiology or pathophysiology of restricted, repetitive behavior, as these are poorly understood. This review focuses on our work with deer mice which exhibit repetitive behaviors associated with environmental restriction. Repetitive behaviors are the most common category of abnormal behavior observed in confined animals and larger, more complex environments substantially reduce the development and expression of such behavior. Studies with this model, including environmental enrichment effects, suggest alterations in cortical-basal ganglia circuitry in the development and expression of repetitive behavior. Considerably more work needs to be done in this area, particularly in modeling the development of aberrant repetitive behavior. As mutant mouse models continue to proliferate, there should be a number of promising genetic models to pursue.
Managing the demand side of a sudden supply shortage: Some policy alternatives when information is costly

Abstract Three alternatives for managing the demand side welfare impact of an unanticipated supply shortage in a crucial commodity are compared under uncertain demand and costly information. A tax handles uncertainty best, but is costly to compute and produces the same high price as laissez faire. A rationing scheme set to match expected consumption levels produced by the tax is also expensive to compute, but it is best among quotas. Arbitrary coupon quotas cum white markets are more easily set, and they achieve ultimate consumption distributions identical, in expected value, to the best quota. There is a distributional cost associated with the coupon market, though, and its size depends upon the size of the error made in setting the initial coupon allocation.