cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PUBERTAL INCREASE IN IFMA-GH IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN BIOACTIVE GH IN CHILDREN UNTIL LATE STAGES OF PUBERTY. † 501

With advancing puberty, there is a remarkable acceleration of growth in both sexes. To test the hypothesis that pubertal growth may be associated with secretion of biologically more potent GH in addition to a quantitative increase in GH secretion, we measured overnight GH by immunofluorometric assay(IFMA) and GH-bioactivity (Bio-GH) in 42 boys and 21 girls with constitutional delay of growth. Blood samples were obtained every 20 minutes from 20:00 to 08:00h and an equal aliquot of each sample from a patient was pooled for analysis of IFMA-GH, Bio-GH, LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, and IGF-I. Bio-GH was determined by measuring suppression of lipid accumulation in cultured murine 3T3-F442A adipocytes. For comparison, boys and girls were divided into groups according to pubertal stage. Data was analyzed by ANOVA after logarithmic transformation. IFMA-GH and Bio-GH declined in prepubertal boys with a bone age of ≥9 yrs when they were about to start puberty, compared to prepubertal boys with younger bone age. After this decline mean IFMA-GH increased becoming maximal in stage III puberty. Bio-GH did not increase until the very late stages of puberty in both sexes. The discrepancy between IFMA- and Bio-GH suggests that there may be isoform differences in GH secreted at different stages of puberty representing changes in pituitary synthesis or post-secretion modifications (Supported by Genentech Foundation for Growth & Development). Table
Measurement of Nutrition Status in Crohn's Disease Patients Receiving Infliximab Therapy

Aim: There is limited information on the nutrition impact of antitumor necrosis factor-α treatment in adult Crohn's disease (CD). This study was performed to examine the effect of a 6-month course of infliximab on enterocyte function, nutrient status, metabolism, and body composition in these patients. Methods: Seven CD patients were assessed for disease activity, enterocyte function, and body composition prior to, after 6 weeks, and after 6 months of infliximab treatment. Measurements included (1) disease activity: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Harvey Bradshaw Index, and C-reactive protein; (2) enterocyte function: folate, homocysteine, vitamin B12, citrulline, vitamin D,β -carotene, d-xylose absorption; (3) Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index (PINI); and (4) body composition and metabolism: body mass index (BMI), fat and lean body mass, resting energy expenditure (RRE), and respiratory quotient. Results: Most patients had improvement in disease activity with infliximab. PINI decrea...
Convergence of successive approximations to the scalar electrical conductivity of some weakly ionized real gases.

Convergence of Chapman-Enskog approximations to scalar electrical conductivity of some weakly ionized real gases
When is a molecule three dimensional? A task-specific role for imagistic reasoning in advanced chemistry

Imagistic reasoning appears to be a critical strategy for learning and problem solving in the sciences, particularly chemistry; however, little is known about how students use imagistic reasoning on genuine assessment tasks in chemistry. The present study employed a think-aloud protocol to explore when and how students use imagistic reasoning for problem solving in organic chemistry. The analysis suggests that students employ imagistic reasoning preferentially for translating between various molecular representations. On more complex tasks typical of classroom assessments, the students' problem solving appears mostly dependent on the accuracy of self-generated inscriptions rather than the use of imagistic reasoning. The results indicate a variable interplay between imagistic reasoning and diagrammatic reasoning that suggests several pedagogical implications for teaching college chemistry. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed95:310–336, 2011
Early experience, relative plasticity, and social development

Abstract This paper examines the roles of early experience and relative plasticity in the development of social behavior in animals and humans. It is concluded that (1) long-term effects of early experience variables can be found in the animal and human literature; (2) there are age differences in the relative susceptibility to environmental influences during development; and (3) the power of environmental events and the buffering ability of the organism are crucial variables affecting the outcome of organism-environment interactions.
Cognitive moderators of alcohol's effects on anxiety.

Abstract The present study was designed to test the prediction from the attention-allocation model that intoxication in the absence of a pleasant distractor will fail to produce anxiolytic effects. A second prediction, that the sequence of intoxication and exposure to the anxiety-producing situation would influence alcohol's effects, was also tested. Subjects were male social drinkers who received an 0.85 g kg dose of alcohol or a placebo. Conventional statistical analysis of the results indicated an anxiolytic effect of alcohol on heart rate but a problem with this analysis is identified. An alternative interpretation provides no support for an anxiolytic effect. Exposure to the anxiety-producing stimulus prior to intoxication led to greater heart rate reactivity than if it followed intoxication.
Hedgehog pathway responsiveness correlates with the presence of primary cilia on prostate stromal cells

Background Hedgehog (Hh) signaling from the urogenital sinus (UGS) epithelium to the surrounding mesenchyme plays a critical role in regulating ductal formation and growth during prostate development. The primary cilium, a feature of most interphase vertebrate cell types, serves as a required localization domain for Hh signaling transducing proteins.
On the growth behavior of one-dimensional acceleration waves in the linear theory of viscoelasticity

The growth behavior of one-dimensional accelaration waves which propagate in linear viscoelastic materials with time-dependent relaxation functions is examined. Such a time dependence arises either by linearizing the constitutive equation of a simple material about an arbitrary deformation history or by linearizing about a natural state when there is an aging process taking place in the body. Explicit results are obtained for simple types of time dependence and the results are then compared with those which follow in the usual theory of isothermal linear viscoelasticity.
Learning Conditional Random Fields for Stereo

State-of-the-art stereo vision algorithms utilize color changes as important cues for object boundaries. Most methods impose heuristic restrictions or priors on disparities, for example by modulating local smoothness costs with intensity gradients. In this paper we seek to replace such heuristics with explicit probabilistic models of disparities and intensities learned from real images. We have constructed a large number of stereo datasets with ground-truth disparities, and we use a subset of these datasets to learn the parameters of conditional random fields (CRFs). We present experimental results illustrating the potential of our approach for automatically learning the parameters of models with richer structure than standard hand-tuned MRF models.
Racial Differences in the Value of Job Rewards

Using data from 1973 and 1974 national surveys, this study examines differences between black and white workers in the value of job rewards. It was found that black workers were more likely than white workers to prefer extrinsic rewards of high income and job security and less likely to prefer an intrinsic reward of feelings of job accomplishment. These differences persisted after controlling for education, occupation, and income. About half of the original racial effect was found to be due to these three measures of objective social class and about half to race alone. These findings are discussed as they bear on the race-class issue and Maslow's theory of job values. The fit between rewards available to workers and rewards that workers value is a critical matter having both personal and organizational consequences (Coch and French; Simon; Vroom; Whyte; Yuchtman.) Hence it is important to study reward preferences of workers and how they may differ among different groups of workers. It is not unreasonable to expect that black and white workers might differ in the values placed on job rewards. It might be argued from Maslow that any such racial differences in the value of job rewards would be due to the lower socioeconomic status of black workers. On this issue, Maslow would agree with social scientists who argue that racial differences in values are mainly social class differences and that race has little effect independent of class (Banfield; Berger). This view conflicts with others asserting that race has major effects on values, independent of class (Blauner; Hurst). This paper investigates this issue by determining whether black and white workers do have different values for job rewards and then assesses the degree to which such differences are independent of the workers' education, occupation, and income. Maslow's theory would suggest that black workers would place
Adolescent smoking and depression: evidence for self-medication and peer smoking mediation.

Aims The nature of the relationship between adolescent smoking and depression is unclear and the mechanisms that account for the comorbidity have received little investigation. The present study sought to clarify the temporal precedence for smoking and depression and to determine whether these variables are linked indirectly through peer smoking. Participants The sample was composed of 1093 adolescents participating in a longitudinal study of the behavioral predictors of smoking adoption. Design and measurements In this prospective cohort study, smoking, depression, peer smoking and other covariates were measured annually from mid-adolescence (9th grade; age 14) to late adolescence (12th grade, age 18). Findings Parallel processes latent growth curve models supported a bidirectional relationship between adolescent smoking and depression, where higher depression symptoms in mid-adolescence (age 14) predicted adolescent smoking progression from mid- to late adolescence (ages 14–18). A significant indirect effect indicated that higher depression symptoms across time predicted an increase in the number of smoking peers, which in turn predicted smoking progression from mid-adolescence to late adolescence. In addition, smoking progression predicted a deceleration of depression symptoms from mid- to late adolescence. A significant indirect effect indicated that greater smoking at baseline predicted a deceleration in the number of smoking peers across time, which predicted a deceleration in depression symptoms from mid-adolescence to late adolescence. Conclusions The current study provides the first evidence of bidirectional self-medication processes in the relationship between adolescent smoking and depression and highlights peer smoking as one explanation for the comorbidity.
Reconfigurable high-gain stub-loaded monopoles

This paper present two stub-loaded reconfigurable long-wire monopoles that have been successfully designed using a genetic algorithm to meet different performance objectives. One design provides tunable omnidirectional high-gain performance while the other design offers tunable omnidirectional to directional high-gain performance. The high gains for both designs are achieved by utilizing an electrically long wire monopole together with optimized stubs attached at strategic locations along its length. Moreover, the reconfigurable features for the designs are accomplished by placing a switch across one of the stubs in the monopole.
Optimal synthesis of phased array field patterns in the presence of the ribcage

In this paper, hyperthermia treatment of liver tumors using a phased array applicator system is considered. This type of noninvasive surgical application is performed by focusing a high intensity ultrasonic beam on the tumor through the ribcage. The ribcage acts as a strongly scattering inhomogeneity and focusing is achieved by directing the beam through the acoustical window of the intercostal spacings. The feed array is synthesized to efficiently focus the beam to the tumor location and achieve minimal power deposition over the solid rib surfaces. Single and multiple focusing examples with realistic geometrical and physical data are presented to validate the suggested analysis and synthesis approaches.
Factors Relating to a Person's Ability to Find Meaning After a Diagnosis of Cancer

Two hypotheses about factors that would make it easier or more difficult to see one's life as meaningful after a major life stressor were examined in a sample of 79 cancer patients and their spouses. The authors predicted that greater meaning would be associated with positive interpretational styles (optimism and low endorsement of irrational beliefs) and a focus on internal rather than external goals. In addition, self-reports of both prediagnosis and current goals and interpretational styles was obtained. The results supported the hypotheses: greater meaningfulness was associated with optimism, few irrational beliefs, and endorsement of internal goals, even when physical functioning and depression were controlled for in a multiple regression analysis (ρ < .001). Patients reported significant changes regarding irrational beliefs and internal goals subsequent to the diagnosis of cancer. Current beliefs and goals predicted meaningfulness, but reports of prediagnosis beliefs and goals did not. The ability t...
Fluorescence profiles and cooling dynamics of laser-cooled Mg + ions in a linear rf ion trap

Fluorescence line profiles and their implications on the cooling dynamics of the ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{+}$ ions stored in a linear rf trap are studied. The line profile is dictated by the temperature of the ion cloud at different laser detunings. The upper bound of the lowest temperature was estimated for different values of the rf trapping potential amplitude and the buffer gas pressure. A general trend of this ultimate temperature to increase with the rf trapping voltage and buffer gas pressure is expected, with an abrupt change at some critical value corresponding to the transition to and from a strongly correlated liquid or crystal state. While on the one hand this expectation was confirmed when the buffer gas pressure was varied; on the other hand the influence of the amplitude of the trapping voltage on the ultimate temperature shows an interesting new feature of first dipping down before the sharp increase occurs.
Linking optimization and ecological models in a decision support tool for oyster restoration and management

Restoration of ecologically important marine species and habitats is restricted by funding constraints and hindered by lack of information about trade-offs among restoration goals and the effectiveness of alternative restoration strategies. Because ecosystems provide diverse human and ecological benefits, achieving one restoration benefit may take place at the expense of other benefits. This poses challenges when attempting to allocate limited resources to optimally achieve multiple benefits, and when defining measures of restoration success. We present a restoration decision-support tool that links ecosystem prediction and human use in a flexible "optimization" framework that clarifies important restoration trade-offs, makes location-specific recommendations, predicts benefits, and quantifies the associated costs (in the form of lost opportunities). The tool is illustrated by examining restoration options related to the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, which supported an historically important fishery in Chesapeake Bay and provides a range of ecosystem services such as removing seston, enhancing water clarity, and creating benthic habitat. We use an optimization approach to identify the locations where oyster restoration efforts are most likely to maximize one or more benefits such as reduction in seston, increase in light penetration, spawning stock enhancement, and harvest, subject to funding constraints and other limitations. This proof-of-concept Oyster Restoration Optimization model (ORO) incorporates predictions from three-dimensional water quality (nutrients-phytoplankton zooplankton-detritus [NPZD] with oyster filtration) and larval transport models; calculates size- and salinity-dependent growth, mortality, and fecundity of oysters; and includes economic costs of restoration efforts. Model results indicate that restoration of oysters in different regions of the Chesapeake Bay would maximize different suites of benefits due to interactions between the physical characteristics of a system and nonlinear biological processes. For example, restoration locations that maximize harvest are not the same as those that would maximize spawning stock enhancement. Although preliminary, the ORO model demonstrates that our understanding of circulation patterns, single-species population dynamics and their interactions with the ecosystem can be integrated into one quantitative framework that optimizes spending allocations and provides explicit advice along with testable predictions. The ORO model has strengths and constraints as a tool to support restoration efforts and ecosystem approaches to fisheries management.
Host settling behavior, reproductive performance, and effects on plant growth of an exotic cereal aphid, Metopolophium festucae subsp. cerealium (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The cereal aphid Metopolophium festucae subsp. cerealium (Stroyan) is a recent addition to North America, but little is known about this species in its exotic habitat. We surveyed aphid populations for 3 years (2011-2013) to investigate changes in aphid density in the Pacific Northwest United States. We tested aphid host settling preference and fecundity on eight grass species, four native grasses (bluebunch wheatgrass, blue wild rye, Idaho fescue, and rough fescue) and four cereal crops (corn, wheat, barley, and oat), and evaluated the effects of aphid feeding on plant biomass. Four important findings emerged: 1) aphid prevalence in sweep net samples increased from 2011 to 2012, but remained stable from 2012 to 2013; 2) aphids preferentially settled on wheat and avoided corn, but aphids did not discriminate between barley, oat, and native grasses; 3) aphid fecundity was high on wheat and barley, intermediate on oat and blue wild rye, low on Idaho fescue, rough fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass, and aphids did not reproduce at all on corn; and 4) barley, corn, oats, Idaho fescue, and blue wild rye were not susceptible to aphid feeding damage, but wheat, rough fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass were susceptible to aphid feeding damage. Our results suggest that wheat and barley are preferred by M. festucae cerealium, and that aphids reproduce most rapidly on these hosts and cause significant reductions in wheat but not barley growth. Also, M. festucae cerealium appears capable of surviving on native grasses, although only bluebunch wheatgrass and rough fescue were susceptible to aphid feeding damage.
Postural tachycardia syndrome complicating pregnancy.

Objective. To review clinical experience at our institution on postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) complicating pregnancy.Methods. In a retrospective review, we identified nine pregnancies in seve...
PROPERTIES OF SNYDER SPACE

We argue that Snyder's algebra has two distinct representations and they yield a lattice description of space. We also argue that particle dynamics can be defined on such a lattice in a manner which is consistent with Poincare invariance.
Application of domain decomposition methods for numerical modeling of wave phenomena on serial and parallel computer architectures

Domain decomposition has significant potential for analyzing large problems. By partitioning a problem into logical blocks, repetition can be avoided and efficiency can be increased. The most applicable solution technique can be used for each block without regard to the behavior in other blocks. Large and complex structures can be conveniently analyzed piecewise. Domain decomposition is well suited for massively parallel processing, although special consideration is necessary to maximize the efficiency. The technique demonstrates that elementary tasks such as boundary value problems can be solved in new ways that take full advantage of parallelism. The paper explains the basics of the technique, and gives a few examples of its application.
Static Fatigue Behavior of Polycrystalline Beryllia

The delayed failure/static fatigue behavior of a polycrystalline BeO ceramic was examined by measuring the time to failure as a function of the static stress level. Using this technique, curves were generated over a temperature range of 8° to 50°C. The test environment consisted of a fluorocarbon fluid containing small quantities of water. The measured fatigue life was a strong function of both stress and temperature. The data also provided evidence of a fatigue limit which was insensitive to the temperature. These results were consistent with data generated from direct V–KI measurements. The fatigue data were used to examine the applicability of a generalized slow crack growth model relating the subcritical crack velocity to the stress intensity factor. Initially, agreement between the experimental and predicted behavior could be obtained only by assuming that the activation volume for the stress-assisted crack growth reaction was negligible. This result implies that the major stress dependency was associated with the preexponential term in the crack growth equation. However, an alternate and more reasonable description of the experimental data was obtained by assuming that the activation volume exhibited a linear dependence upon the mechanical stress.
Independent component analysis applied to fMRI data: a generative model for validating results

We introduce and apply a synthesis/analysis model for analyzing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data using independent component analysis (ICA). Our model assumes statistically independent spatial sources in the brain. We also assume that the fMRI scanner acquires overdetermined data such that there are more time points than brain sources. We discuss the properties of each of the signals present in the model. The analysis portion of the model includes several candidates for spatial smoothing, ICA algorithm, and data reduction. We use the Kullback-Leibler divergence between the estimated source distributions and the "true" distributions as a measure of the optimality of the final ICA decomposition. Using this model, we generate fMRI-like data and optimize the analysis stage as a function of ICA algorithm, data reduction scheme, and spatial smoothing.
Germ Cell Tumors of Undescended vs. Descended Testes: Population-Based Clinical and Outcomes Data:

Summary Objective Testicular cancer has been associated with undescended testes (UDT) for decades, with a relative risk of testicular cancer in cryptorchidism at 2.75–8. Tumors of UDT are infrequently encountered in clinical practice and no population-based prior analysis has described clinical patterns of care in their case. Methods Information on malignant testicular lesions was retrieved from the population-based Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data for the period 1983–2005. Site codes C62.0 (UDT) were compared with C62.1 (descended testis; DT), using appropriate surgical codes for the era reported. Analysis was made of the seminomatous histology codes (ICD-03 9061–9063) vs. the nonseminomatous germ cell tumor codes (ICD-03 9065–9085). Further analysis was stratified by presenting extent of disease (local, regional, or distant). Results 462 cases of tumors of UDT were documented; 416 (90%) were germ cell tumors (GCT). In this timeframe, 7414 cases of DT GCT were described. UDT lesions were more frequently seminoma (74.7% vs. 60.8%; p χ 2 = 18, p = 0.0001). Similar frequency of RT was noted for localized seminoma, whether UDT or DT, after RadOrch ( p = 0.13), and was rarely delivered for NSGCT. 5-yr observed (5YOS) and relative survival (5YRS) of seminomas did not differ between the DT and UDT cohorts, or between the DT and UDT NSGCT cohorts. Conclusions Our results support recent literature revealing seminomas are more frequent in cryptorchid testes. RT was equally used between localized UDT and DT seminomas. Penetrance of RadOrch is similar in local and regional disease by histology. Survival is equivalent for UDT compared to DT lesions in both seminomatous and NSGCT histologies.
Optimum retiming of large sequential circuits

We present a new, fast algorithm for optimally retiming large sequential circuits under the unit delay model. Our method consists of two main steps: (1) computation of the optimum clock period and (2) computation of a feasible retiming For the optimum clock period. We construct a path graph that has as many vertices as there are flip-flops in the circuit. The path graph also has an additional vertex that corresponds to all primary Inputs and outputs of the circuit. There is an arc from a vertex to another if there is a strictly combinational path between the corresponding flip-flops, primary inputs or outputs. We formulate an integer linear program (ILP) on the path graph to compute the minimum clock period /spl phi//sub opt/ for which the path graph has no critical cycles. An optimum solution to the ILP is determined from the optimum solution of the corresponding linear program (LP) relaxation. We show that /spl phi//sub opt/ is also the optimum clock period for the circuit. After determining the optimum clock period, a feasible retiming for the optimum clock period is obtained using known retiming methods. Experimental results on several large benchmarks and production VLSI circuits show that our method is significantly faster than the best optimal retiming method known to date. Also, optimum retiming results for these benchmark circuits are being presented for the first time.
Determining Fat, Protein, and Lactose in Milk from Cows Fed Formaldehyde Protected Sunflower-Soybean Supplement

Abstract To determine whether feeding cows protected lipid supplement influences reliability of analyses of milk composition, we measured fat, protein, and lactose in milk produced by two groups of six Holstein cows, one fed a conventional hay-concentrate ration and one a ration containing protected sunflower-soybean supplement. Analyses were of 36 samples from each group collected biweekly over 12 wk. The three constituents were measured by an Infrared Milk Analyzer. Reference methods were Babcock test for fat, Udy dye-binding for protein, and a polarimetric method for lactose. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography, and three nitrogen fractions (total, noncasein, and nonprotein) were measured by Technicon Auto Analyzer. The differences, reference method minus infrared, for cows fed the conventional and protected lipid rations, were for fat .09 and .46%, for protein −.02 and −.08%, and for lactose .06 and .23%. Thus, agreement between infrared and reference methods was closer for cows fed conventional rations than for those fed protected lipid supplement. For cows fed the supplement, the low fat by infrared was attributed to an increase in the mean molecular weight of the fatty acids. Changes in fatty acid composition of milkfat when cows are fed protected sunflower-soybean supplement causes errors in estimation of fat by infrared analysis unless the instrument is calibrated specially for the milk.
Does Proximity to Activity-Inducing Facilities Explain Lower Rates of Physical Activity by Low-Income and Minority Populations?:

As in the rest of the nation, low-income and minority populations in New Jersey have higher rates of obesity and lower rates of participation in physical activity. This study examined whether a lower level of geographic proximity to activity-inducing infrastructure and facilities, including bicycling routes and gymnasiums, could be a reason for lower rates of participation in physical activity for New Jersey minority populations. Results of past studies revealed that proximity to activity-inducing facilities was generally associated with greater participation in physical activity for the general population. Some study results showed that low-income and minority populations had a lower level of geographic proximity to such facilities. Other studies indicated that proximity to facilities might not have influenced their participation in physical activity to the same extent as the general population. This study made a statewide assessment of proximity to existing fitness facilities, existing bicycling facilities, and programmed bicycling and pedestrian projects in New Jersey. One-way analysis of variance was used to examine if proximity to activity-inducing facilities was lower for low-income and minority populations. Analysis was carried out at the census block group and municipal levels. The results provided no evidence that low-income and minority populations had a lower level of geographic proximity to activity-inducing facilities. The analysis also showed that programmed bicycling and pedestrian projects were favorably located for these populations. The study concluded that the lower rates of participation of low-income and minority populations in New Jersey were caused by behavioral factors rather than proximity to facilities.
Mechanistic Interpretation of an Observed Fission-Rate Dependence of Low-Temperature Swelling of Irradiated Uranium Silicide Dispersion Fuels

Recent experimental observations on low temperature swelling of irradiated uranium silicide dispersion fuels have indicated that the growth of fission gas bubbles appears to be affected by fission rate. The swelling curve of the material exhibits a distinct knee'' that shifts to higher fission density with increased fission rate due to higher enrichments. Current state-of-the-art models for fission gas behavior do not predict such a dependence. Indirect evidence from various experiments leads the present authors to speculate that a dense network of subgrain boundaries forms at a dose corresponding to the knee'' in the swelling curve, upon which gas bubbles nucleate and then grow at an accelerated rate compared to those in the bulk material. A theoretical formulation is presented wherein the stored energy in the material is concentrated on a network of crystallization'' sites which diminish with dose due to interaction with radiation produced defects (vacancy-impurity pairs). Recrystallization is induced by statistical fluctuations when the energy per site is high enough such that the creation of grain boundary surfaces is offset by the creation of strain free volumes with a resultant net decrease in the free energy of the material. This formulation is shown to provide a reasonable interpretationmore » of the observed phenomena. 11 refs., 7 figs.« less
Advantages of a Givens rotation approach to temporally recursive linear prediction analysis of speech

Some useful features of a temporally recursive Givens rotation method in linear prediction analysis of speech and other signals are considered. Among them are convenient computation of the Itakura distance, windowed and exponentially adaptive estimation, lower rank estimation based on singular value decomposition, and set-membership identification. >
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: single gene disease or complex trait?

This editorial refers to ‘Hypertrophic remodelling in cardiac regulatory myosin light chain ( MYL2 ) founder mutation carriers’[†][1], by G.R.F. Claes et al ., on page 1815. Landmark genetic mapping studies beginning in the 1990s defined hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as an autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by specific mutations in cardiac sarcomere genes.1 Certain mutations in large families were initially described as being more deleterious than others, giving hope that genetic testing would enable predictions of disease severity. However, a more complicated story emerged as extreme locus and phenotypic heterogeneity became evident as the rule rather than the exception in less select populations.2 Indeed, HCM is now recognized as a disease which is primarily caused by a single mutation but then modulated greatly by other factors. In fact, the variability in phenotype attributable to disease modifiers has confounded studies of genotype–phenotype correlations for the primary mutations themselves. Founder mutations offer a distinct advantage in studying disease variability in HCM. Not only is the mutation identical in all subjects, but so also is the surrounding genetic region (haplotype block), which includes the regulatory sequences immediately adjacent to and within the gene. Therefore, differences in disease expression must arise from either other genetic variation or environmental factors. Several previous studies of founder mutations in HCM have shown extreme disease variability, with a range of clinical expression similar to that found in studies of HCM with mixed genotypes. The study by Claes and colleagues adds to this growing evidence in the case of a founder mutation in MYL2 .3 Together, these studies provide robust evidence for the importance of additional genetic and/or environmental factors in … [1]: #fn-2
Energies within the A = 10 isospin quintet

We have used a potential model to compute energies of the lowest $T$ $=$ 2 states in $A=10$ nuclei. For ${}^{10}$N, we obtain ${E}_{p}=1.81$ to 1.94 MeV.
Proposed Approach for Estimating Launch Vehicle Explosive Risk

*† The explosive risk for launch vehicles is relatively small, but a crucial factor for sizing a crewed abort system. This study proposes an assessment process for explosive risk and expected blast yields that can be used with Probabilistic Risk Assessment tools like SAPHIRE. A fault tree for propulsion system explosive risk is developed along with the corresponding explosive yield models for the proposed faults. The Apollo launch system is used as an example to illustrate this type of approach. The proposed explosive risk yield is quantified by a probability density function for one type of fault.
Microstructural Effects On Fatigue-Crack Growth Behavior In γ-TiAl/β-TiNb Intermetallic Composites

Cyclic crack-propagation behavior is examined in a series of γ-TiAl intermetallic alloys reinforced with pancake-shaped, ductile β-TiNb particles as a function of microstructure and specimen orientation. In contrast to results under monotonic loading, TiNb reinforcements are found to be far less effective in impeding crack extension under cyclic loading due to their susceptibility to premature fatigue failure, and consequently to the diminished role of shielding from crack-bridging mechanisms. Modest improvements in fatigue-crack growth resistance are observed in TiAl/TiNb composites compared to monolithic γ-TiAl, provided the particle faces are oriented perpendicular to the crack plane; however, properties are compromised in orientations where the particle edges are stacked normal to the crack plane. Microstructural effects on cyclic crack growth are less prominent in the composites, with crack-growth rates exhibiting a strong dependence on the applied ΔK level; measured exponents for the da/dN-ΔK relationship range between 10 and 20, and are found to decrease with increasing ductile phase content, yet are independent of particle thickness.
Venous Access Device Options

Venous access devices are widely used today for chemotherapy, TPN, antibiotic therapies, and blood products. As a result, a large variety of products with varying uses have been developed and made available. Those involved with venous access should match individual patients needs with the access device whose characteristics best meet those needs.
Administration of estradiol-17beta increases anterior pituitary IGF-I and relative amounts of serum and anterior pituitary IGF-binding proteins in barrows.

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether 1) administration of estradiol-17β (E 2 ) implants to barrows elevates serum concentrations of E 2 to levels similar to those of adult boars and subsequently affects the anterior pituitary gland IGF system and 2) administration of E 2 to barrows increases serum concentrations of E 2 , serum and anterior pituitary concentrations of IGF-I, and relative amounts of serum and anterior pituitary IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP), vs boars and unimplanted barrows. In Exp. 1, 20 crossbred barrows (150 ± 6 d, 103 ± 8 kg) were administered varying number of E 2 implants (0, 2, 3, 4; n = 5/group) on d 1. Blood samples were collected weekly by jugular venipuncture, beginning on d 1. Pigs were killed on d 36 when a blood sample and anterior pituitary were collected. Serum concentrations of E 2 were increased (P 0.05) was detected in serum concentrations of E 2 among pigs with 2, 3, and 4 implants. Orthogonal contrasts identified that three or four E 2 implants were necessary to increase serum concentrations of E 2 to that similar to boars. Serum and anterior pituitary concentrations of IGF-I were increased (P < 0.05) in pigs with 2, 3, and 4 implants vs 0 implants. Relative amounts of anterior pituitary IGFBP-2 and -5 increased (P < 0.05) in response to administration of E 2 . In Exp. 2, three treatment groups were randomly allotted by litter; boars (n = 11), E 2 -implanted barrows (n = 9), and unimplanted barrows (n = 12). A blood sample was taken from all pigs on d 1 and every 14 d thereafter. Implanted pigs received four implants on d 1. Pigs were killed on d 91, when a blood sample and anterior pituitary were collected. Mean serum concentrations of Eg were greater (P < 0.05) in implanted pigs vs boars. Mean serum concentrations of IGF-I (ng/mL) were greater (P < 0.05) in boars (238.7 ± 6.8) than in implanted barrows (170.2 ± 8.9) and unimplanted (150.4 ± 6.7) pigs and tended to be greater (P = 0.08) in implanted vs unimplanted pigs. Mean anterior pituitary concentrations of IGF-I (ng/mg tissue) were greater (P < 0.05) in implanted (773.6 ± 57.0) pigs than boars (251.9 ± 51.6) and unimplanted (185.6 ± 49.4) pigs. Relative amounts of serum IGFBP-2 were greater (P < 0.05) in implanted pigs vs boars. Relative amounts of anterior pituitary IGFBP-2 and -5 were greater (P < 0.05) in boars than in implanted and unimplanted pigs. These data suggest that E 2 may influence components of the porcine IGF system in the serum and anterior pituitary. Other gonadal factors present in boars may additionally affect the serum and anterior pituitary IGF system.
Autotransplantation in multiple myeloma

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell reconstitution is efficacious in the treatment of multiple myeloma. The various preparative regimens, sources of hematopoietic stem cells, and post-transplant immunomodulation are discussed. Tandem autotransplantation following intravenous melphalan chemotherapy has low morbidity and mortality even in patients with refractory disease. The most encouraging results are observed in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy with less prior treatment, lower tumor mass, and sensitive disease.
Controlling Nucleation Density While Simultaneously Promoting Edge Growth Using Oxygen-Assisted Fast Synthesis of Isolated Large-Domain Graphene

We report a two-step chemical vapor deposition growth method for rapid synthesis of isolated large-domain graphene. The key feature of the two-step growth method is to separate nucleation from growth, performing the nucleation in step one with a low carbon feedstock (methane) gas flow rate, and rapid growth in step two with a high flow rate. We find empirically that, even under the high flow rate conditions of step two, the nucleation density on the inside of the copper pocket used for growth is suppressed (preventing merging of domains into full films) until the graphene growing on the outside of the pocket merges into a full film, fully covering the outside. The mechanism for this suppression is believed to be related to oxygen-assisted passivation of nucleation sites, a decreased energetic barrier for edge-attachment growth, and diffusion of carbon through the copper bulk. These conditions enable us to finely tune the local carbon concentration on the inside surface for fast growth and minimum nucleati...
Electrostatic Ion Enrichment in an Ultrathin-Layer Cell with a Critical Dimension between 5 and 20 nm.

Electrostatic interactions play an essential role in many analytical applications including molecular sensing and transport studies using nanopores and separation of charged species. Here, we report the voltammetric quantification of electrostatic ion enrichment in a 5–20 nm thin electrochemical cell. A simple lithographic micro/nanofabrication process was used to create ultrathin-layer cells (UTLCs) with a critical dimension (i.e., cell thickness) as small as 5 nm. The voltammetric response of a UTLC was found to be largely dominated by the electrostatic interaction between charges on the cell walls and the redox species. We show that the ultrasmall cell dimension yielded a 100–300-fold enrichment for cationic redox species. An interesting surface adsorption effect was also demonstrated.
Digital Signal Processor Implementation of a Kalman Filter for Disk Drive Head Positioning Mechanism

A Kalman filter for estimating the state of a disk drive head-positioning mechanism has been implemented on a Texas Instruments TMS320C25 digital signal processor (DSP). The predictive formulation of the Kalman filter is employed to avoid potential difficulties with computational delays. Quantization effects of the filter are measured by comparing the performance of the 16—bit fixed—point DSP filter with a 64—bit floating point filter implemented on a general purpose computer. Results of the implementation show that the Kalman filter uses less than two percent of the computational bandwidth of the DSP at a sample period of 250 μS, leaving more than ninety-eight percent available for executing the control algorithm and other tasks.
In situ distribution of metallic platinum in tumor tissues after intraperitoneal platinum chemotherapy assessed by digital synchrotron-abetted x-ray fluorescence microscopy.

e13067 Background: Hyperthermic intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and catheter-administered intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CAIPEC) are used to treat peritoneal surface-spreading malignancies, including Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma (MPM), to maximize local drug concentrations. Previous HIPEC studies showed tissue penetration of cisplatin ~5mm from the peritoneal surface; biodistribution of CAIPEC has not been reported. Methods: Our protocol for MPM includes initial debulking surgery with HIPEC (41°C over 1 hour, drug is then removed), 6 cycles of CAIPEC (room temperature, indefinite dwell-time), and a second debulking surgery with HIPEC. To compare tissue drug penetrations in HIPEC versus CAIPEC, on an IRB-approved protocol we collected peritoneal tissue from 6 MPM patients receiving HIPEC at initial (n=2; both cisplatin) or second surgery (n=4; 2 cisplatin and 2 oxaliplatin) for digital image localization of in situ Pt by synchrotron-abetted (Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton NY)...
Recent Advances in the Pauson–Khand Reaction

The Pauson–Khand [2+2+1] cycloaddition of alkynes, alkenes, and carbon monoxide has been a vibrant area of research for more than 40 years. This review highlights recent achievements in the Pauson–Khand reaction, particularly in catalytic and asymmetric variants. Discussion of regioselectivity and advances in substrate scope is also presented.
Security Vulnerabilities of Registers in LINUX Hosts:Buffer Overflow and Service Disruption Concerns

Security has become extremely important in the information technology field. Often times the most important resource a company has is the data that it has diligently gathered, the loss or deletion of which could cause the failure of the organization. With the advent of Cloud Computing and the use of shared or Colo (colocation) hardware this has become of even greater concern to organizations. This paper looks at ways in which the LINUX operating system and various software tools can be utilized to shed light on potential vulnerabilities, especially how memory is stored at the base layers of the operating system. The main focus is on the registers, and how certain LINUX based tools such as a debugger can be used to determine where memory resides and how it could potentially be attacked, changed, or deleted. Also, the paper discusses how these various techniques and utilities could be used to provide IT professionals with a better understanding of how these attacks could occur as well as the level of sophistication needed to deal with and prevent them.
Polymer–carbon nanotube conductive nanocomposites for sensing

Abstract: In this chapter, recent studies on carbon nanotube conductive polymer nanocomposites (CPC) for sensing are presented. Starting from basic concepts related to CPC transducers, such as percolation, conduction mechanisms and sensing principles, this chapter successively addresses synthesis, fabrication, characterization and structure/sensing properties of these advanced materials issues. Special attention is given to conductive pathways that structure and provide an understanding of sensing behaviour. Finally, examples are given for the main fields of applications, i.e. temperature, strain, chemical sensing.
Revising Social Movement Theories to the Realities of Non-Violent Resistance for Human Rights and Democracy in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Kenya

In examining non-violent resistance for human rights and democracy in authoritarian regimes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Kenya, through more than 150 interviews by the author and archival research, I found it necessary to revise some of the standard social movement theories to make sense of what happened. For example, in Liberia, the repression under Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor prevented any sustained resistance, one of the hallmarks of most social movements in the West. But significant resistance took place against Doe and Taylor. In Sierra Leone, despite lack of exogenous opportunities commonly associated with social movements in the developed countries, and in Kenya where activists generally lacked the kind of material resources described as essential in social movements in democracies, significant non-violent resistance took place. The study argues that social movement theories in such cases need to be revised to fit the realities on the ground. It also argues for the importance of widening the focus in social movement analysis beyond organizations to include individual activists and those operating with little or no organizational support. This revision helps detect a much wider cast of activists than is normally noted.
Dual-Mode Erbium-YAG Laser Skin Resurfacing

Ablative laser skin resurfacing may give dramatic benefit in skin rejuvenation, although at the cost of significant risk, side effects, and healing time. Two lasers with significantly different physical effects but similar final surgical results are employed: short-pulse CO2 and erbium-YAG (Er:YAG) lasers (Table 139.1). The absorption coefficient of water and tissue at the near infrared wavelength of the Er:YAG laser is 18 times that of the CO2 laser. For this reason, the Er:YAG laser at a short pulse-width is almost purely ablative. The longer pulse duration and greater thermal damage in Table 139.1 for Er:YAG refers to lasers with a long pulse width coagulative mode. Moderate to deep chemical peels and dermabrasion can achieve results comparable to laser skin resurfacing in smoothing the skin and eradicating rhytids, with some similarities in healing. Open image in new window Table 139.1 Comparison of Physical Properties of Er:YAG and CO2 Lasers