cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tissue Modification of the Lateral Compartment of the Tibio-Femoral Joint Following In Vivo Varus Loading in the Rat

This study describes the first application of a varus loading device (VLD) to the rat hind limb to study the role of sustained altered compressive loading and its relationship to the initiation of degenerative changes to the tibio-femoral joint. The VLD applies decreased compressive load to the lateral compartment and increased compressive load to the medial compartment of the tibio-femoral joint in a controlled manner. Mature rats were randomized into one of three groups: unoperated control, 0% (sham) or 80% body weight (BW). Devices were attached to animal’s leg to deliver altered loads of 0% and 80% BW to the experimental knee for 12 weeks. Compartment-specific material properties of the tibial cartilage and subchondral bone were determined using indentation tests. Articular cartilage, calcified cartilage and subchondral bone thicknesses, articular cartilage cellularity, and degeneration score were determined histologically. Joint tissues were sensitive to 12 weeks of decreased compressive loading in the lateral compartment with articular cartilage thickness decreased in the peripheral region, subchondral bone thickness increased, and cellularity of the midline region decreased in the 80% BW group as compared to the 0% BW group. The medial compartment revealed trends for diminished cellularity and aggregate modulus with increased loading. The rat-VLD model provides a new system to evaluate altered quantified levels of chronic in vivo loading without disruption of the joint capsule while maintaining full use of the knee. These results reveal a greater sensitivity of tissue parameters to decreased loading versus increased loading of 80% BW for 12 weeks in the rat. This model will allow future mechanistic studies that focus on the initiation and progression of degenerative changes with increased exposure in both magnitude and time to altered compressive loads.
Use of a silicon carbide multi-well plate in conjunction with microwave heating for rapid ligand synthesis, formation of palladium complexes, and catalyst screening in a Suzuki coupling

The preparation of a library of bis-imidazolium salts and corresponding palladium complexes is reported. These complexes are screened as catalysts in the Suzuki reaction between 4-bromoanisole and phenylboronic acid. Each step is performed in parallel using a 24-position silicon carbide plate and microwave heating. The plate allows for use of standard glass vials as reaction vessels. The ease and speed of operation show the potential for microwave heating in conjunction with the silicon carbide plate as a tool for catalyst screening.
Optical properties of ZnS/diamond composites

Diamond particles were employed to toughen zinc sulfide--an infrared transparent, but mechanically weak material in its pure state. The optical properties of pure ZnS were preserved in a composite when the diamond particles were well dispersed and, when compared to the wavelength, their sizes were sufficiently small. Careful control of the processing parameters was required to maintain a small grain size and to limit the phase transformation of ZnS to a non-cubic phase at high temperatures. Measurement of the reflectivity of this composite in the region of the lattice vibration spectrum was used to compare the measured electrodynamic properties with those predicted by two different theoretical models that assume different microstructural morphology. Good agreement was found with the Bruggemann model that assumes both components in the composite have the same type of interconnectedness.
Silent versus oral reading comprehension and efficiency

Seventy-four students read passages from an individually administered test of reading comprehension (a subtest from the Test of Dyslexia, a test of reading and related abilities currently in development; McCallum & Bell, 2001), and then answered literal and inferential questions. Students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions; 39 students read the passages silently and 35 read orally, with time recorded for each passage read. Comprehension and time were dependent measures for a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and two follow-up Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA). After controlling for reading ability, results from the MANCOVA showed a significant combined effect ( p .05). On the other hand, with reading ability controlled, silent readers took significantly less time to complete passages compared to those who read orally ( p < .02). In fact, students took 30% longer to read orally than silently, on average. When test directions do not specify either oral or silent reading and error analysis is not a goal, testing will be more efficient via silent responding with no loss of comprehension. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 241–246, 2004.
Passive Wireless Strain Sensors Using Microfabricated Magnetoelastic Beam Elements

This paper describes resonant wireless strain sensors fabricated from magnetoelastic alloys. The transduction mechanism is the $\Delta{\rm E}$ effect—the change in stiffness of magnetoelastic materials with applied strain or magnetic field. This is measured as a shift in the resonant frequency and is detected wirelessly using pick-up coils utilizing the magnetoelastic coupling of these materials. The sensors are fabricated from a 28- $\mu{\rm m}$ -thick foil of Metglas 2826 MB $({\rm Fe}_{40}{\rm Ni}_{\rm 38}{\rm Mo}_{\rm 4}{\rm B}_{18})$ , a ferromagnetic magnetoelastic alloy, using microelectrodischarge machining. Two sensor types are described—single and differential. The single sensor has an active area of 7 $\,\times\,$ 2 ${\rm mm}^{2}$ , excluding the anchors. At 23 $^{\circ}{\rm C}$ , it operates at a resonant frequency of 230.8 kHz and has a sensitivity of $13\times 10^{3}~{\rm ppm}/{\rm mstrain}$ ; the dynamic range is 0.05–1.05 mstrain. The differential sensor includes a strain independent reference resonator of area 2 $\,\times\,$ 0.5 ${\rm mm}^{2}$ in addition to a sensing element of area 2.5 $\,\times\,$ 0.5 ${\rm mm}^{2}$ that is divided into two segments. The sensor resonance is at 266.4 kHz and reference resonance is at 492.75 kHz. The differential sensor provides a dynamic range for 0–1.85 mstrain with a sensitivity of $12.5\times 10^{3}~{\rm ppm}/{\rm mstrain}$ at 23 $^{\circ}{\rm C}$ . The reference resonator of the differential sensor is used to compensate for the temperature dependence of the Young's modulus of Metglas 2826 MB, which is experimentally estimated to be ${-}{\rm 524}~{\rm ppm}/^{\circ}{\rm C}$ . For an increment of 35 $^{\circ}{\rm C}$ , uncompensated sensors exhibit a resonant frequency shift of up to 42% of the dynamic range for the single sensor and 30% of the dynamic range of the differential sensor, underscoring the necessity of temperature compensation. The geometry of both types of sensors can be modified to accommodate a variety of sensitivity and dynamic range requirements. $\hfill{[2013\hbox{-}0330]}$
Unconscious processing of dichoptically masked words.

In three experiments, the subjects' task was to decide whether each of a series of words connoted something good (e.g.,fame, comedy, rescue) or bad(stress, detest, malaria). One-half second before the presentation of each such target word, an evaluatively polarized priming word was presented briefly to the nondominant eye and was masked dichoptically by either the rapidly following (Experiment 1) or simultaneous (Experiments 2 and 3) presentation of a random letter-fragment pattern to the dominant eye. (The effectiveness of the masking procedure was demonstrated by the subjects' inability to discriminate the left vs. right position of a test series of words.) In all experiments, significant masked priming effects were obtained; evaluative decisions to congruent masked prime-target combinations (such as a positive masked prime followed by a positive target) were significantly faster than those to incongruent (e.g., negative prime/positive target) or noncongruent (e.g., neutral prime/positive target) combinations. Also, in two of the three experiments, when subjects were at chance accuracy in discriminating word position, their position judgments were nevertheless significantly influenced by the irrelevant semantic content (LEFT vs. RIGHT) of the masked position-varying words. The series of experiments demonstrated that two very different tasks—speeded judgment of evaluative meaning and nonspeeded judgment of word position—yielded statistically significant and replicable influences of the semantic content of apparently undetectable words. Coupled with previous research by others using the lexical decision task, these findings converge in establishing the reliability of the empirical phenomenon of semantic processing of words that are rendered undetectable bydichoptic pattern masking.
Institutions and intellectual property: The influence of institutional forces on university patenting

Over the past 20 years, the number of patents assigned to universities has increased dramatically. This increase coincided with several policy initiatives, such as the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, designed to foster technology transfer between universities and the private sector. This paper examines the effect of such policies using an institutional framework, designed to illustrate how factors both from inside and outside of academia influence the decision to patent university research. We find passage of the Bayh-Dole Act spurred university patenting, but did not induce additional applied research funding. Thus, Bayh-Dole fostered technology transfer, but did not result in more applied research at universities. © 2005 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Patterns of discourse production among neurological patients with fluent language disorders.

Dissociations between impairments in microlinguistic and macrolinguistic abilities were examined in brain-damaged patients to assess whether these abilities are psychologically and neurologically distinct. The discourse productions of three groups of patients with equally severe fluent language disorders, but varying neuropathology and varying profiles of associated nonlinguistic cognitive impairments, were analyzed. Patients with fluent aphasia secondary to a single left-hemisphere CVA showed the greatest impairment on syntactic and lexical error measures taken to reflect microlinguistic abilities, but normal performance on measures of macrolinguistic organization (i.e., thematic coherence). Patients with probable Alzheimer's Disease were impaired on thematic coherence measures, but not on measures reflecting microlinguistic syntactic and phonological processes. Closed head injury patients whose primary clinical symptom was a fluent language disorder were impaired on both microlinguistic and macrolinguistic measures, which appears to parallel their deficits both in language-specific and in nonspecific, higher-order, diffusely organized cognitive processes.
Evaluation of speech production of the hearing impaired: some benefits of forced-choice testing.

The speech production performance of 16 hearing-impaired subjects (thresholds 82-110 dB HL) was measured using both experienced and inexperienced listeners. Four types of measure were obtained: (a)...
Prediction of visual tracking proficiency on an A-scope presentation from the measured effects of noise and time.

Visual noise and temporal requirements of a compensatory tracking task were varied in order to determine time-on-target proficiency. Nine Ss were each given 32 trials in counterbalanced order, with problems varying as to visual noise and target acceleration. The display consisted of an A-scope with Ss task being to maintain a triangular pulse in the center of a stationary notch by manipulating a velocity controlled handwheel. The results were plotted as a family of curves describing probable success as a function of visual noise and task time allowed. Probability of success became greater as the time requirements became less severe, and when time requirements became more severe, not only did probability of success diminish, but the differential effects of noise became more pronounced. The authors suggested this approach as a method of predicting subsequent tracking behavior.
Aberrant learning in individuals who perform repetitive skilled hand movements: Focal hand dystonia—Part 1

Summary Stressful, repetitive use of the upper limb in work, sports, or musical performance can lead to acute, pain and loss of function. The evidence for tissue mircrotrauma as the underpinnings of this pain is convincing and explains why rest, anti-inflammatory medications, change in movement biomechanics and good ergonomics are usually effective treatment modalities. Unfortunately, some repetitive strain injuries become chronic with degenerative changes found in tendons and muscles, scarring restricting soft tissue and joint mobility and compression of peripheral nerves causing strain and limiting excursion. In other cases, involuntary co-contractions of flexors and extensors lead to painless, uncontrollable, end range twisting movements that interfere with the performance of target tasks. This movement dysfunction is referred to as occupational hand cramps, focal hand dystonia (FHd), golfers yip, keyboarders cramps, or musician's cramps. Research studies report evidence of degradation of the somatosensory, sensorimotor and motor representation of the hand in animals and patients with dystonic hand movements. This aberrant learning requires learning based training to reorganize the brain. In this presentation, the principles of neuroplasticity will be related to the origin, diagnosis, assessment and treatment of FHd grounded on an evidence-based review of the research to support aberrant learning as one etiology for the origin of this disorder and the foundation for a learning based approach to remediate the condition.
Sex steroids in plasma of lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis during spawning in Lake Erie

Lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, were collected from the Western basin of Lake Erie during spawning. Free and conjugated (sulfated and glucuronidated) steroids including testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11-kT), estradiol-17beta (E2) and 17,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20betaP) were measured in the plasma by radioimmunoassay. In males, the progression of spermiation was characterized by a significant decrease in plasma free steroids, whereas the levels of conjugated steroids remained similar and low, except for sulfated and glucuronidated testosterone. Plasma sex steroids did not correlate with the density or the motility of the spermatozoa. In females, the concentration of plasma T was significantly higher in preovulating than in ovulating females. The levels of E2 and 17,20betaP in ovulating lake whitefish exhibited large variations ranging from below detection limit to 0.9 ng ml(-1) and from 0.2 to 13 ng ml(-1), respectively. Analysis of conjugated steroids revealed high levels of glucuronidated and sulfated 17,20betaP and glucuronidated T in females ovulating in December. However, no significant differences in the proportion of the conjugated steroids were observed.
Aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes among clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp. anitratus (Herellea vaginicola): explanation for high-level aminoglycoside resistance.

Abstract Acinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp. anitratus (Herellea vaginicola) is an important cause of nosocomial infection in our hospital where A. calcoaceticus subsp. anitratus is the most frequently isolated gram-negative species resistant to one or more of the aminoglycoside antibiotics. Of 167 strains tested for susceptibility to aminoglycosides, only 6 strains were found that were resistant to ≥128 μg of kanamycin per ml; all others were susceptible to ≤32 μg/ml. Five of these six strains were found to produce aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. Two strains produced a phosphotransferase which mediates resistance to kanamycin and neomycin; three strains produced an acetyltransferase which mediates resistance to kanamycin, tobramycin, and amikacin (minimal inhibitory concentration ≥ 128 μg/ml for each drug). No strain with lower level resistance to kanamycin, tobramycin, or amikacin had enzyme activity. Fourteen strains resistant to gentamicin failed to show significant enzymatic modification of that antibiotic. Although agarose gel electrophoresis of deoxyribonucleic acid preparations from the enzyme-producing strains showed plasmid bands in all, no transfer of aminoglycoside resistance could be achieved, nor was it cured by exposure to novobiocin, ethidium bromide, acridine orange, heat, or prolonged storage. Resistance to mercuric chloride, present in 2 of 60 strains, was lost by 1 strain after exposure to novobiocin, and the loss of resistance was associated with an apparent deletion of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid.
Integrative Genomics: Quantifying Significance of Phenotype-Genotype Relationships from Multiple Sources of High-Throughput Data

Given recent advances in the generation of high-throughput data such as whole genome genetic variation and transcriptome expression, it is critical to come up with novel methods to integrate these heterogeneous datasets and to assess the significance of identified phenotype-genotype relationships. Recent studies show that genome-wide association findings are likely to fall in loci with gene regulatory effects such as expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), demonstrating the utility of such integrative approaches. When genotype and gene expression data are available on the same individuals, we developed methods wherein top phenotype-associated genetic variants are prioritized if they are associated, as eQTLs, with gene expression traits that are themselves associated with the phenotype. Yet there has been no method to determine an overall p-value for the findings that arise specifically from the integrative nature of the approach. We propose a computationally feasible permutation method that accounts for the assimilative nature of the method and the correlation structure among gene expression traits and among genotypes. We apply the method to data from a study of cellular sensitivity to etoposide, one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs. To our knowledge, this study is the first statistically sound quantification of the significance of the genotype-phenotype relationships resulting from applying an integrative approach. This method can be easily extended to cases in which gene expression data are replaced by other molecular phenotypes of interest, e.g., microRNA or proteomic data. This study has important implications for studies seeking to expand on genetic association studies by the use of omics data. Finally, we provide an R code to compute the empirical FDR when p-values for the observed and simulated phenotypes are available.
The effect of diuretic pre-treatment on clinical, morphological and ultrastructural cis-platinum induced nephrotoxicity.

Abstract The clinical, microscopical and ultrastructural effects of cis -platinum induced nephrotoxicity and the effects of pre-treatment with mannitol, furosemide (Lasix) or both diuretics in male Holtzman rats is described. Cis -platinum administered intraperitoneally at doses ranging from 2.5–7.5 mg/kg was associated with dose-dependent BUN and creatinine elevation; however, weight loss, which averaged 13%, was not dose dependent. Mannitol (4 g/kg) administered immediately prior to cis -platinum, or furosemide (2 or 12.5 mg/kg) administered either concomitantly or 30 minutes prior to cis -platinum, had no effect on BUN or creatinine elevations. Varying the route or time of furosemide administration did not alter the severity of nephrotoxicity but higher doses of furosemide were associated with more severe BUN elevation. Light microscopy of renal tissue demonstrated that the principle lesion corresponding to cis-platinum injury consisted of coagulative necrosis of tubular epithelium at the corticomedullary transition zone. Glomeruli showed no observable injury. The electron microscopy confirmed the observations from light microscopy, showing injured proximal tubular cells, with loss of the characteristic nuclear electron density, segregated nucleoli and cytoplasmic degeneration. The basement membrane of the proximal tubule, the distal tubular cells and the glomeruli were perserved. Analogous to the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycoside antibiotics, diuretic treatment of animals receiving cis -platinum aggravates rather than ameliorates nephrotoxicity.
On the relationship between isolated and chondrule olivine grains in the carbonaceous chondrite ALHA77307

The origin of the isolated olivine grains in carbonaceous chondrites was investigated by determining the zoning characteristics and the minor-element compositions of olivines from all the isolated and the chondrule occurrences in the ALHA77307 chondrite. The data obtained strongly suggest that, in ALHA77307, there is a genetic relationship between the isolated olivine grains and the chondrule population. Furthermore, the chondrule olivine compositions and zoning properties are consistent with the view that the isolated olivine grains were derived from chondrules and that most if not all isolated olivine grains formed due to crystallization from a liquid during chondrule formation.
Automated radiotherapy treatment plan integrity verification.

Purpose: In our clinic, physicists spend from 15 to 60 min to verify the physical and dosimetric integrity of radiotherapy plans before presentation to radiation oncology physicians for approval. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a framework to automate as many elements of this quality control (QC) step as possible. Methods: A comprehensive computer application was developed to carry out a majority of these verification tasks in the Philips PINNACLE treatment planning system (TPS). This QC tool functions based on both PINNACLE scripting elements and PERL sub-routines. The core of this technique is the method of dynamic scripting, which involves a PERL programming module that is flexible and powerful for treatment plan data handling. Run-time plan data are collected, saved into temporary files, and analyzed against standard values and predefined logical rules. The results were summarized in a hypertext markup language (HTML) report that is displayed to the user. Results: This tool has been in clinical use for over a year. The occurrence frequency of technical problems, which would cause delays and suboptimal plans, has been reduced since clinical implementation. Conclusions: In addition to drastically reducing the set of human-driven logical comparisons, this QC tool alsomore » accomplished some tasks that are otherwise either quite laborious or impractical for humans to verify, e.g., identifying conflicts amongst IMRT optimization objectives.« less
Visual and Language Processing Deficits in Compensated and Uncompensated College Students with Dyslexia

In seven experiments, we investigated whether compensated and uncompensated adults with dyslexia show different patterns of deficits in magnocellular visual processing and in language processing tasks. In four visual tasks, we failed to find evidence of magnocellular deficits in either group. However, both groups of adults with dyslexia showed deficits in component language skills, and the degree of reading impairment predicted the nature and extent of these deficits. Uncompensated readers showed deficits in orthographic and especially phonological coding and awareness and were slower on rapid naming. Compensated readers showed word and nonword performance below controls but better than the uncompensated readers. The compensated group was not significantly less accurate than controls on phonological awareness, nor significantly worse overall on rapid naming.
Analysis of candidate imprinted genes linked to Dlk1-Gtl2 using a congenic mouse line

The study of genomic imprinting requires the use of DNA sequence polymorphisms between interfertile mouse species or strains. Most commonly, crosses between Mus musculus domesticus and Mus musculus castaneus or Mus spretus animals are used. Difficulties arise in the maintenance of these wild-derived mice in conventional animal facilities, however, and can be overcome by the use of a congenic strain for the region under study. We describe here the generation of a new mouse line, congenic for a region on distal Chromosome (Chr) 12 that encompasses the Dlk1–Gtl2 imprinted domain. We have taken a first step towards demonstrating the utility of these animals by assaying known genes located within the congenic interval for imprinted expression. We show that the two genes located immediately proximal to Dlk1, the Yy1 and Wars genes, are expressed in a biallelic manner. In addition, we have analyzed the Dio3 gene, located distal to Gtl2. This gene displays preferential expression of the paternal allele, with approximately 75% of the total message level originating from the paternal allele and 25% originating from the maternal allele. These data delineate the position of the Wars gene as the proximal boundary of the Dlk1–Gtl2 imprinted domain, and identify Dio3 as another potentially imprinted gene within this domain.
Immunolocalization of ubiquitin in muscle biopsies of patients with inclusion body myositis and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Abstract In 10 10 inclusion body myositis (IBM) patients and 2 2 oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) patients, vacuolated muscle fibers contained darkly stained ubiquitin (Ub)-immunoreactive cytoplasmic inclusions. By electronmicroscopy, Ub-immunoreactive material was strictly localized to the 15–21 nm pathologic cytoplasmic tubulofilaments (CTFs). None of 18 control muscle biopsies contained the Ub-immunoreactive inclusions that are typical for IBM and OPMD. Thus, (a) finding that CTFs are ubiquitinated places their protein in the Ub-mediated turnover pathway and provides their first molecular marker; (b) easy accessibility, as compared to the central nervous system, of muscle tissue containing ubiquitinated inclusions should be advantageous for biochemical and molecular studies and may provide information important to both systems.
Word order variation and tree-adjoining grammar

In many head-final languages such as German, Hindi, Japanese, and Korean, but also in some other languages such as Russian, arguments of a verb can occur in any order. Furthermore, arguments can occur outside of their clause (“long-distance scrambling”). Long-distance scrambling presents a challenge both to linguistic theory and to formal frameworks for linguistic description because it is very unconstrained: in a given sentence, there is no bound on the number of elements that can be scrambled nor on the distance over which each element can scramble. We discuss two formal frameworks related to tree-adjoining grammar. First, we show how scrambling facts from Korean can be handled by nonlocal multicomponent TAG (MC-TAG). Then, we argue that overt vWt-movement in German makes this analysis unattractive, and suggest a new version of MC-TAG, called V-TAG, which can handle both Korean and German word order variation. Interestingly, this new version has more attractive computational properties than nonlocal MC-TAG. We conclude that this formalism is an attractive basis for the development of psycholinguistic processing models and practical parsers alike.
The ties that bind.

Attachment: the nature of the bonds between humans are becoming accessible to scientific investigation.
The long-range proximity effect: Pair echoes

Recent experiments on N′-N-S junctions with high-temperature cuprate superconductors have shown that superconductivity can be induced in the adjacent, normal metal at distances many times greater than the few hundred Angstroms range of the conventional proximity effect. We show that this arises in the particular geometry used in these experiments through the constructive interference of the tails of the de Gennes-Saint-James bound and quasi-bound states of the normal metal N that penetrate into the third metal, N′. This constructive interference results in the re-appearance of a pair amplitude in this metal which is analogous to the “spin echo” of NMR and which we name a “pair echo.”
Cycles of species replacement emerge from locally induced maternal effects on offspring behavior in a passerine bird

An important question in ecology is how mechanistic processes occurring among individuals drive large-scale patterns of community formation and change. Here we show that in two species of bluebirds, cycles of replacement of one by the other emerge as an indirect consequence of maternal influence on offspring behavior in response to local resource availability. Sampling across broad temporal and spatial scales, we found that western bluebirds, the more competitive species, bias the birth order of offspring by sex in a way that influences offspring aggression and dispersal, setting the stage for rapid increases in population density that ultimately result in the replacement of their sister species. Our results provide insight into how predictable community dynamics can occur despite the contingency of local behavioral interactions.
Effects of Static Magnetic Field Exposure on Plasma Element Levels in Rat

The interaction of static magnetic fields (SMFs) with living organisms is a rapidly growing field of investigation. The magnetic fields (MFs) effect observed with radical pair recombination is one of the well-known mechanisms by which MFs interact with biological systems. SMF influenced cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms by affecting antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT). However, there were insufficient reports about the effects of SMF on macro and trace elements in serum, and the results were contradictory until now. In the current study, 12 rats were divided into two groups, namely as control and exposure group (128 mT and 1 h/day during five consecutive days). The macro and trace element concentrations in serum were examined. No significant difference was observed in the sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and selenium (Se) levels in rat compared to control. By contrast, exposure to SMF showed an increase in the zinc (Zn) level and a decrease in iron (Fe) concentration. Under our experimental conditions, SMF exposure cannot affect the plasma levels of macroelements, while it can disrupt Zn and Fe concentrations in rat.
Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty

background . The surgical removal of redundant upper eyelid skin along with the excision of prolapsed anterior orbital fat is one of the most popular elective cosmetic surgical procedures performed today. objective . To provide a brief overview of patient selection and upper eyelid blepharoplasty technique. conclusion . Through careful patient selection and preoperative evaluation in addition to a thorough knowledge of eyelid and orbital anatomy, good outcomes from upper eyelid blepharoplasty can be obtained. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1992;18:1096–1099.
Rheological Behavior of Frozen and Thawed Low-Moisture, Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

Stress relaxation and dynamic profiles of low-moisture, part-skim (LMPS) Mozzarella cheese cylinders refrigerated 14 days (control), frozen and thawed, and stored frozen and refrigerated up to 90 days were compared. Samples were frozen at -30 o C and stored at -20 o C. Thawing and refrigerated storage were at 5 o C. Stress relaxation tests were conducted at 20 o C and dynamic spectrometry at 20 o C and 60 o C. The frozen and thawed Mozzarella cheese tested at 20 o C became harder and more elastic with storage time, while refrigerated stored samples became softer and more elasticoviscous with time. Upon melting, both 90-day-frozen and 90-day-refrigerated cheeses were less elastic and less viscous than 14-day-refrigerated samples
Discretisation of continuous-time dynamic multi-input multi-output systems with non-uniform delays

Input and output time delays in continuous-time (CT) dynamic systems impact such systems differently as their effects are encountered before and after the state dynamics. Given a fixed sampling time, input and output signals in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems may exhibit any combination of the following four cases: no delays, integer-multiple delays, fractional delays and integer-multiple plus fractional delays. A common pitfall in the digital control of delayed systems literature is to only consider the system timing diagram to derive the discrete-time (DT) equivalent model; hence, effectively ‘lump’ the delays across the system as one total delay. DT equivalent models for systems with input delays are radically different than those with output delays. Existing discretisation techniques for delayed systems usually consider the delays to be integer-multiples of the sampling time. This study is intended to serve as a reference for systematically deriving DT equivalent models of MIMO systems exhibiting any combination of the four delay cases. This algorithm is applied towards discretising an MIMO heat exchanger process with non-uniform input and output delays. A significant improvement towards the CT response was noted when applying this algorithm as opposed to rounding the delays to the closest integer-multiple of the sampling time.
Laminated sediments in holomictic Berkshire lakes1

Laminated sediments are common in the profundal sediments of the deeper holomictic lakes in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. The laminae are best developed in lakes subject to prolonged seasonal hypolimnetic anoxia and in one lake are limited to water depths in which seasonal anoxia occurs.
Evolution of Enzymatic Activities in the Enolase Superfamily: Crystal Structure of (D)-Glucarate Dehydratase from Pseudomonas putida†,‡

The structure of (D)-glucarate dehydratase from Pseudomonas putida (GlucD) has been solved at 2.3 A resolution by multiple isomorphous replacement and refined to a final R-factor of 19.0%. The protein crystallizes in the space group I222 with one subunit in the asymmetric unit. The unit cell dimensions are a = 69.6 A, b = 108.8 A, and c = 122.6 A. The crystals were grown using the batch method where the primary precipitant was poly(ethylene glycol) 1000. The structure reveals that GlucD is a tetramer of four identical polypeptides, each containing 451 residues. The structure was determined without a bound substrate or substrate analogue. Three disordered regions are noted: the N-terminus through residue 11, a loop containing residues 99 through 110, and the C-terminus from residue 423. On the basis of primary sequence alignments, we previously concluded that GlucD is a member of the mandelate racemase (MR) subfamily of the enolase superfamily [Babbitt, P. C., Hasson, M. S., Wedekind, J. E., Palmer, D. R. J., Barrett, W. C., Reed, G. J., Rayment, I., Ringe, D., Kenyon, G. L., and Gerlt, J. A. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 16489-16501]. This prediction is now verified, since the overall fold of GlucD is strikingly similar to those of MR, muconate lactonizing enzyme I, and enolase. Also, many of the active site residues of GlucD can be superimposed on those found in the active site of MR. The implications of this structure on the evolution of catalysis in the enolase superfamily are discussed.
Computed tomography of axillary and supraclavicular adenopathy.

The normal cross-sectional anatomy of the axillary and supraclavicular regions is demonstrated. One hundred and sixty chest computed tomography scans were reviewed and criteria for differentiating normal axillary and supraclavicular structures from enlarged lymph nodes established. Axillary structures 14 mm or larger are suggestive of axillary adenopathy. Axillary structures 10–13 mm in size raise the possibility of adenopathy.
The poet, the child and the blackbird: aesthetic reading and spiritual development

This article explores the potential and limitations of Louise Rosenblatt's account of aesthetic reading as a basis for understanding the relationship between literary experience and spiritual development. It does so by examining a particular act of reading involving a poem by Ernst Jandl in the light of Rosenblatt's account of ‘aesthetic reading’ and Kierkegaard's categories of the poet and the child. It is argued that an account of the relationship of spirituality to the reading of literature needs to go beyond the immediate experience of the act of reading and take into account the way that literary meanings are responded to in later living and the way in which attentiveness to textual detail can be rooted in spiritual attitudes.
Vortex models on the fine scales of isotropic turbulence

AIAA, Fluid Dynamics Conference, 27th, New Orleans, LA, June 17-20, 1996 The prospects of vortex models of the fine scales of isotropic turbulence are surveyed. These begin with the seminal attempts by Synge & Lin in the 1940s to calculate the longitudinal velocity correlation using an ensemble of Hill's spherical vortices, and the work by Townsend in 1951 employing Burgers vortices to study dissipation range scales. Recent developments based on Lundgren's work in 1982 on randomly orientated stretched spiral vortex solutions to calculate longitudinal structure functions are described. Consideration of the extent to which the results of the models are consistent with the Karman Howarth equation are also considered. (Author)
Women in the Islamic Republic of Iran

The image of the Iranian woman clad in the traditional chador, pointing her fist in the air or carrying a machine gun, has become one of the hallmarks of the most recent revolution in Iran. But, in spite of the role played by women in toppling the shah's regime, women have lost more from the change of government than has any other group that participated in the revolution. This loss is evident in (1) the abrogation of laws enacted under the previous regime that introduced a measure of equality for women; (2) the dwindling of employment opportunities available to women due to the deteriorating economic situation; (3) the long-term policy of the current government to encourage women to stay at home; and (4) a massive and persistent campaign to convince women that their own welfare and the welfare of society is best preserved if the roles of men and women are kept separate and if contact between the sexes is kept at a minimum. This article will examine some of the effects of the recent revolution on the status of Iranian women, the attitude of the present regime toward the role of women in society, and the reaction of Iranian women to some of these developments.
Effect of surface roughness on lidar overlap function

The lidar overlap function is defined as the fraction of the transmitted beam that is within the receiver field of view. For the case of bistatic oceanographic lidar from the deck of a ship, the overlap function can vary from pulse to pulse under the influence of the rough sea surface. This paper considers the overlap function as a function of depth for a bistatic lidar operating from the deck of a ship. The effect is calculated using a Monte-Carlo approach, with a Pierson–Moskowitz spectrum of surface roughness and optical ray tracing through that surface. The results show that a significant decrease in the overlap can result, even at low wind speeds.
Determining the initial age distribution for an age structured population.

This paper deals with an inverse problem in age‐structured population dynamics; the recovery of an unknown initial age distribution. We attempt to recover this function from overposed data which co...
Boundary-layer observations of warm air modification over Lake Michigan using a tethered balloon

A case of strong warm-air advection over Lake Michigan was studied for changes in the atmospheric boundary-layer induced by interaction with the cold water surface. Wind and temperature data were taken at several levels in the boundary layer from a ship traveling approximately in the downwind direction. The instruments were attached to a tethered balloon.
American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery patient safety committee policy statement on the qualifications of expert witnesses in bariatric surgery medicolegal matters.

The Patient Safety Committee of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) encourages its members to testify in court to promote safe and responsible bariatric surgical care. The widespread availability of expert opinion to both defendants and plaintiffs is critical in meeting the Society’s social responsibility. The expert witness in a medical malpractice suit is of critical importance. The purpose of expert witness testimony in medical malpractice matters is to describe the standards of care relevant to a given case, identify any breaches in those standards, and, if so noted, render an opinion as to whether those breaches were the most likely cause of injury. The expert must be able to distinguish between negligence (substandard medical care that results in harm) and an unfortunate medical outcome (recognized complications as a result of medical uncertainty). Defendants and plaintiffs deserve expert witnesses who demonstrate integrity and expertise in the field for which the opinion is being rendered. Only the courts can determine the eligibility, reliability, and relevance of an expert witness. No organization can interfere with or influence any member’s right to testify or provide an opinion in medicolegal matters. However, the ASMBS can provide guidance for expert witness qualifications in bariatric surgery medicolegal matters. The field of bariatric surgery has evolved substantially in recent decades. Bariatric surgical services are now wide-
Determination of the oxygen content in superconducting and related cuprates using temperature-programmed reduction

The oxygen content and reducibilities of four base metal oxides, six nonconducting cuprates, and three superconducting cuprates were investigated by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) from 30 to 900C. It was shown that the copper, bismuth, and thallium ions of these oxides were reduced to the zero valence state. Thus, TPR is a useful technique for determining the actual oxygen stoichiometry of cuprates. For multiphase Bi{sub 2}CaSr{sub 2}Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8+x} and Tl{sub 2}CaBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 2}O{sub 8+x} superconductors pretreated in air, x was found to be 2 {plus minus} 0.2 and 1 {plus minus} 0.2, respectively. Both values are significantly higher than previously reported. The reduction of superconducting and related cuprates required higher temperatures than CuO, but the reducibility of CuO decreased when it was calcined in air at 940C. The Bi- and Y-based superconducting cuprates exhibited the lowest reducibility among the samples investigated.
Association between perceived insufficient sleep, frequent mental distress, obesity and chronic diseases among US adults, 2009 behavioral risk factor surveillance system

Although evidence suggests that poor sleep is associated with chronic disease, little research has been conducted to assess the relationships between insufficient sleep, frequent mental distress (FMD ≥14 days during the past 30 days), obesity, and chronic disease including diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, asthma, and arthritis. Data from 375,653 US adults aged ≥ 18 years in the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to assess the relationships between insufficient sleep and chronic disease. The relationships were further examined using a multivariate logistic regression model after controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and potential mediators (FMD and obesity). The overall prevalence of insufficient sleep during the past 30 days was 10.4% for all 30 days, 17.0% for 14–29 days, 42.0% for 1–13 days, and 30.6% for zero day. The positive relationships between insufficient sleep and each of the six chronic disease were significant (p < 0.0001) after adjustment for covariates and were modestly attenuated but not fully explained by FMD. The relationships between insufficient sleep and both diabetes and high blood pressure were also modestly attenuated but not fully explained by obesity. Assessment of sleep quantity and quality and additional efforts to encourage optimal sleep and sleep health should be considered in routine medical examinations. Ongoing research designed to test treatments for obesity, mental distress, or various chronic diseases should also consider assessing the impact of these treatments on sleep health.
Enzymes, Embryos, and Ancestors

In the 1950s, cellular regulatory mechanisms were newly recognized; with Arthur Pardee I investigated the initial enzyme of pyrimidine biosynthesis, which he discovered is controlled by feedback inhibition. The protein proved unusual in having separate but interacting sites for substrates and regulators. Howard Schachman and I dissociated the protein into different subunits, one binding regulators and one substrates. The enzyme became an early prime example of allostery. In developmental biology I studied the egg of the frog, Xenopus laevis, characterizing early processes of axis formation. My excellent students and I described cortical rotation, a 30° movement of the egg's cortex over tracks of parallel microtubules anchored to the underlying cytoplasmic core, and we perturbed it to alter Spemann's organizer and effect spectacular phenotypes. The entire sequence of events has been elucidated by others at the molecular level, making Xenopus a prime example of vertebrate axis formation. Marc Kirschner, Christopher Lowe, and I then compared hemichordate (half-chordate) and chordate early development. Despite anatomical-physiological differences, these groups share numerous steps of axis formation, ones that were probably already in use in their pre-Cambrian ancestor. I've thoroughly enjoyed exploring these areas during a 50-year period of great advances in biological sciences by the worldwide research community.
Sequential Activation of a Segmented Ground Pad Reduces Skin Heating During Radiofrequency Tumor Ablation: Optimization via Computational Models

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation has become an accepted treatment modality for unresectable tumors. The need for larger ablation zones has resulted in increased RF generator power. Skin burns due to ground pad heating are increasingly limiting further increases in generator power, and thus, ablation zone size. We investigated a method for reducing ground pad heating in which a commercial ground pad is segmented into multiple ground electrodes, with sequential activation of ground electrode subsets. We created finite-element method computer models of a commercial ground pad (14 times 23 cm) and compared normal operation of a standard pad to sequential activation of a segmented pad (two to five separate ground electrode segments). A constant current of 1 A was applied for 12 min in all simulations. Time periods during sequential activation simulations were adjusted to keep the leading edge temperatures at each ground electrode equal. The maximum temperature using standard activation of the commercial pad was 41.7degC. For sequential activation of a segmented pad, the maximum temperature ranged from 39.3degC (five segments) to 40.9degC (two segments). Sequential activation of a segmented ground pad resulted in lower tissue temperatures. This method may reduce the incidence of ground pad burns and enable the use of higher power generators during RF tumor ablation.