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The objectives of this study were to determine if newborn calves receiving supplemental lactoferrin (LF) had improved IgG uptake and if supplemental LF enhanced intestinal development through estimation of xylose uptake. Twenty-four newborn Holstein bull calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: 0 or 1 g/d of supplemental LF. Calves were fed pooled maternal colostrum from 9 cows in 2 feedings: at birth and 12 h later. Calves consumed in excess of 200 g of IgG. Blood samples were taken before colostrum feeding (0 h) and at 12, 18, and 24 h after birth. Blood samples were analyzed for IgG concentration. On d 2 of life, calves were fed milk replacer with the added LF and 0.5 g/kg of BW xylose to determine if supplemental LF affected intestinal development. Blood was sampled at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after the xylose dose. All calves attained passive transfer and supplemental LF did not affect IgG uptake (P ≥ 0.36) or apparent efficiency of absorption of IgG (P = 0.49). Lactoferrin did not enhance rate of absorption at any time point (P ≥ 0.36). There were no differences in xylose (P = 0.28) or glucose (P = 0.27) area under the curve values in calves supplemented with either 0 or 1 g/d LF. Lactoferrin did not enhance IgG uptake during the first 24 h or intestinal development in calves on the second day of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A basic geometric question is to determine when a given framework is globally rigid in Euclidean space , where G is a finite graph and p is a configuration of points corresponding to the vertices of G. is globally rigid in if for any other configuration q for G such that the edge lengths of are the same as the corresponding edge lengths of , then p is congruent to q. A framework is redundantly rigid, if it is rigid and it remains rigid after the removal of any edge of G. When the configuration p is generic, redundant rigidity and -connectivity are both necessary conditions for global rigidity. Recent results have shown that for and for generic configurations redundant rigidity and 3-connectivity are also sufficient. This gives a good combinatorial characterization in the two-dimensional case that only depends on G and can be checked in polynomial time. It appears that a similar result for is beyond the scope of present techniques and there are examples showing that the above necessary conditions are not always sufficient. However, there is a special class of generic frameworks that have polynomial time algorithms for their generic rigidity (and redundant rigidity) in for any , namely generic body-and-bar frameworks. Such frameworks are constructed from a finite number of rigid bodies that are connected by bars generically placed with respect to each body. We show that a body-and-bar framework is generically globally rigid in , for any , if and only if it is redundantly rigid. As a consequence there is a deterministic polynomial time combinatorial algorithm to determine the generic global rigidity of body-and-bar frameworks in any dimension. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent results have confirmed that the global rigidity of bar-and-joint frameworks on a graph G is a generic property in Euclidean spaces of all dimensions. Although it is not known if there is a deterministic algorithm that runs in polynomial time and space, to decide if a graph is generically globally rigid, there is an algorithm (Gortler et al. in Characterizing generic global rigidity, arXiv:, ) running in polynomial time and space that will decide with no false positives and only has false negatives with low probability. When there is a framework that is infinitesimally rigid with a stress matrix of maximal rank, we describe it as a certificate which guarantees that the graph is generically globally rigid, although this framework, itself, may not be globally rigid. We present a set of examples which clarify a number of aspects of global rigidity. There is a technique which transfers rigidity to one dimension higher: coning. Here we confirm that the cone on a graph is generically globally rigid in ℝ d+1 if and only if the graph is generically globally rigid in ℝ d. As a corollary, we see that a graph is generically globally rigid in the d-dimensional sphere $\mathbb{S}^{d}$ if and only if it is generically globally rigid in ℝ d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Maxwell’s rule from 1864 gives a necessary condition for a framework to be isostatic in 2D or in 3D. Given a framework with point group symmetry, group representation theory is exploited to provide further necessary conditions. This paper shows how, for an isostatic framework, these conditions imply very simply stated restrictions on the numbers of those structural components that are unshifted by the symmetry operations of the framework. In particular, it turns out that an isostatic framework in 2D can belong to one of only six point groups. Some conjectures and initial results are presented that would give sufficient conditions (in both 2D and 3D) for a framework that is realized generically for a given symmetry group to be an isostatic framework. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has experienced widespread use as an analytical tool in the last 3 decades. Researchers today are exploring ways of applying NIRS that expand beyond compositional analyses into process control. Processes such as meat tenderness evaluation, curd cutting, and dough mixing have traditionally been controlled by highly skilled master craftsmen; new NIRS research applications are demonstrating that these complex processes can be monitored and controlled in situ to produce consistent, high quality end products with online NIRS technology. Additionally, researchers also now have the potential ability to develop new nondestructive spectroscopic techniques to probe the underlying molecular evolution of these products during processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chemically vapor deposited Al2O3 coatings, due to their high hardness and chemical inertness, are currently the state of art in the cutting tool industry. The conventional high deposition temperature of about 1050°C for Al2O3 coatings, based on the water–gas shift process, has to a great extend restricted the development of several hybrid coatings, such as TiC/TiN/TiCN/Al2O3. To overcome this limitation, alternate systems to deposit Al2O3 at moderate temperatures have been investigated. Systems using NO–H2, H2O2, NO2–H2 and HCOOH were identified and thermodynamic calculations were performed to evaluate them as potential sources of oxygen donors to form Al2O3 in the moderate temperature range of 700–950°C. Preliminary results have clearly demonstrated that it is possible to grow moderate temperature alumina (using such alternate sources) on the TiC/TiN coated cemented carbide substrates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Serum albumin level has been implicated as a prognostic factor in various cancers, however it has not been studied in early stage prostate cancer. We examine the clinical prognostic value of the readily available pretreatment albumin level as a marker for determining staging and prognosis for men undergoing radical prostatectomy. A retrospective review was performed on 354 patients who underwent a radical prostatectomy at a tertiary facility from 15 April, 1990 until 3 December, 1996 who had a pretreatment serum albumin within 6 months prior to surgery. Albumin levels were analyzed and compared to the values of standard prognostic factors to assess the ability of albumin to predict pathological stage and serological recurrence by PSA level after radical prostatectomy. Albumin level was not of value in predicting serological disease recurrence, but interestingly was an independent prognostic factor in predicting risk of nonorgan-confined disease (T3 or T4). Our data also showed that, as expected, grade and pretreatment PSA levels were independent predictors of pathological stage. Albumin appears to be of clinical utility to augment assessment of pretreatment pathological stage. However, it is not of value in predicting serological disease recurrence following radical prostatectomy. Further study in other cohorts and in using additional analysis such as neural networks is indicated. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2000) 3, 186–190 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the development of the medicalization of dying in Western medicine. What is medicalization; Definition of death; Details on physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in the United States.

Abstract: This paper presents conditions for self-equilibrium and super stability of dihedral ‘star’ tensegrity structures, based on their dihedral symmetry. It is demonstrated that the structures are super stable if and only if they have an odd number of struts, and the struts are as close as possible to each other. Numerical investigations show that their prestress stability is sensitive to the geometry realisation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Although there has been a large research effort associated with individual parts of various algal biofuel production pathways, few studies have tracked changes in product composition throughout an integrated biofuel production process. This study uses microscopy and chromatography to analyze the progression of lipid profile and cell structure of algal cells throughout a research-scale production pathway for biocrude. For the specific processing methods used in this pathway, it is shown that TAG content decreased, while DAG and FFA content increased during processing. The changes in the lipid content corresponded to cell degradation that was observed by SEM and TEM throughout processing. These results demonstrate the dynamic nature of lipid composition in an algal culture used for biofuel production and emphasize the need to monitor changes in lipid profile, as those changes can directly impact biofuel productivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction and Objectives: The efficacy of adjuvant and salvage external beam radiation (AXRT+SXRT) for prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP) has been debated because of the inability to rule out systemic occult metastasis, uncertainty that radiation eradicates residual local disease and the potential of exacerbating impotency and incontinence. To characterize the effectiveness and treatment morbidity a retrospective review was performed.Methods: In all, 38 patients received AXRT and 91 received SXRT. The SXRT group was stratified by PSA level, age, race, pathologic stage, margin status, worst Gleason sum, radiation dose and pelvic field. Complications evaluated were impotence and incontinence. Median follow-up was 60.2 months.Results: The 5-y disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 61.3% for AXRT and 36.3% for SXRT. Multivariate analysis of the SXRT cohort showed Gleason score, pathologic stage and pre-XRT PSA to be predictors of disease recurrence. After XRT 26% had worsened continence.Conclusions: Patients who recur after RP whose pathologic stage is pT2 or pT3c, Gleason score of 8 or higher or pre-XRT PSA is >2.0?ng/dl may have microscopic metastatic disease and a decreased chance of cure with SXRT alone. Continence was further impaired after XRT.Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2004) 7, 170-177. doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4500718 Published online 11 May 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which investigated the distribution of prostate cancer using three-dimensional computer simulation. Assessment of the distribution rate of prostate cancer; Development of an algorithm for tumor detection; Patient characteristics of the three-dimensional computer prostate models.

Urologists routinely use the systematic sextant needle biopsy technique to detect prostate cancer. However, recent evidence suggests that this technique has a significant sampling error and data based upon whole-mounted step-sectioned radical prostatectomy specimens using a three-dimensional computer-assisted prostate biopsy simulator suggests that an increased detection rate is possible using laterally placed biopsies. The simulated 10-core biopsy pattern (traditional sextant biopsy cores and four laterally placed biopsies in the right and left apex and mid portion of the prostate gland) was shown to be superior to the traditional sextant biopsy. The objective of this pilot study was to confirm the higher prostate cancer detection rate obtained using the 10-core biopsy pattern in patients. We reviewed data on 35 consecutive patients with a pathologic diagnosis of prostate cancer biopsied by a single urologist using the 10-core biopsy pattern. The frequency of positive biopsy was determined for each core. Additionally, the sextant and 10-core prostate biopsy patterns were compared with respect to prostate cancer detection rate. Of the 35 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, 54.3%(19/35) were diagnosed by the sextant biopsy only. The 10-core pattern resulted in an additional 45.7%(16/35) of patients being diagnosed solely with the laterally placed biopsies. The laterally placed biopsies had the highest frequency of positive biopsies when compared to the sextant cores. In conclusion, biopsy protocols that use laterally placed biopsies based upon a five region anatomical model are superior to the routinely used sextant prostate biopsy pattern. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2000) 3, 43–46 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine what factors correlated with the failure of the survivors of childhood cancer to acknowledge their diagnosis.Study Design: A follow-up interview with 1928 adults who survived childhood cancer to evaluate the late effects of cancer and its treatment. Cancer was diagnosed in these survivors between 1945 and 1974 before they reached age 20: subjects had to have survived for at least 5 years and to have reached age 21.Results: Fourteen percent of the survivors of malignancies at sites other than the central nervous system said that they had not had cancer. This proportion differed according to the survivors' race, the type of tumor and its treatment, the level of their father's education, the year of diagnosis, and the center where the tumor was diagnosed. Among survivors who knew that they had cancer previously, however, most (81%) correctly identified the type of treatment they had received.Conclusions: Physicians should be aware that a substantial proportion of long-term survivors of childhood cancer may not reveal their past history of cancer and its treatment, and possible clues to the cause of the presenting condition may thus be missed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]