why an indoor bunny? by dana m. krempels, ph. d. every year, thousands of " easter bunnies " are taken home, played with for a few hours and then dumped in a hutch to be forgotten for most of the rest of their lives. not all hutch bunnies get proper care, and many of those " easter bunnies " die before they reach the age of one year. here are some ways you can avoid the health problems so often seen in bunnies forced to live outdoors in florida or other areas where summer temperatures are very high. size of the cage a rabbit needs at least four hours per day of running time inside the house or in a fenced yard, supervised by a human to prevent attack by predators. our house rabbits are often never caged, but if you find it necessary to keep your rabbit confined while you are away, then be sure the cage is at least 3 ' x 4 ' on the floor dimensions, and at least 2 ' high, so the rabbit can comfortably stand on her haunches to look around. large breeds ( more than 6 lbs. ) need an even larger hutch to be comfortable and healthy. dealing with the heat here in miami where the summer weather often means 95 + ( farenheit ) and 95 % + humidity, rabbits in outdoor hutches die in droves. the domestic rabbit is the same species as the european rabbit ; it is not related to our wild rabbits. domestic rabbits are not physiologically equipped to handle temperatures any higher than about 78 degrees farenheit. when it gets hotter than that, the bunny * must * be brought indoors where there is air conditioning. placing a fan near the bunny will not help. since rabbits cannot sweat, they cannot benefit from the evaporation cooling that humans enjoy when the wind blows on their sweat. if the rabbit absolutely * cannot * come indoors, you must place the hutch in a very shaded area where the sun * never * shines directly on the bunny. even a half hour in the direct florida sun can be fatal. when the temperature rises above 78 degrees farenheit, place a plastic milk jug filled with frozen water ( keep a few of these in the freezer and rotate them into the cage ) in the hutch so that the bunny can rest against it to keep cool, and also be able to get away from it if he feels cool enough. the danger of predators most people don ' t realize that there is * no such thing * as a hutch that is


that the bunny can rest against it to keep cool, and also be able to get away from it if he feels cool enough. the danger of predators most people don ' t realize that there is * no such thing * as a hutch that is safe from predators. no matter how sturdy the cage may be, a tenacious raccoon can grab an exposed toe and proceed to chew off a foot or leg of the rabbit trapped inside. sometimes, even the * sight * of a predator can stress a rabbit so badly that she dies of a heart attack, since she knows she has no where to run or escape. it is thus vitally important to keep the bunny indoors, safe from predators, * especially at night * when most predators are active. general health and psychological well - being the sad truth is that rabbits living outdoors simply can ' t be constantly monitored for the small changes in behavior that can signal health problems. being prey items, rabbits tend to hide their symptoms until they are very sick, indeed. if they live indoors with you, you can monitor them very well, and because you become familiar with their behavior patterns, you will notice if they are the slightest bit " off. " even not eating for one day or hunching quietly in an unusual resting place can signify that something is terribly wrong with your rabbit. if this happens, do not wait for the condition to get worse. if a rabbit does not eat for 24 hours, it should be considered an emergency, and you should get her to your rabbit - experienced veterinarian immediately. we receive far too many messages from people who write to ask why they found their hutch bunny dead, for no apparent reason. they want to know what happened, and how they can prevent this in the future. unfortunately, if the bunny was living alone in an outdoor hutch, the owner usually has no idea of what symptoms of illness the bunny was showing prior to death. without this information, we cannot even begin to guess at the multitude of possible causes of death. this would be far less likely to happen if the bunny were living indoors with the family. the signs of illness could be detected before the problem became an emergency. leaving a bunny alone in a hutch ( or even inside ) is not necessarily cruel in the sense that a hutch bunny is in physical discomfort. however, having lived with rabbits indoors for over 15 years now, i can say with certainty that most of them crave social interaction and affection from their humans. they are, by nature, very social


january 16 is the 16th day of the year in the gregorian calendar. there are 349 days remaining ( 350 in leap years ). - 27 bc - octavian caesar given the title augustus by the roman senate. - 929 - emir abd - ar - rahman iii of cordoba declares himself caliph, thereby establishing the caliphate of cordoba. - 1362 - a great storm tide in the north sea destroys the german island of strand and the city of rungholt. - 1412 - medici family made official bankers of the papacy. - 1456 - painter filippo lippi elopes with lucrezia buti, a young nun from the convent of saint margherita. - 1492 - the first grammar of a modern language, in spanish, is presented to queen isabella. - 1547 - ivan the terrible becomes tsar of russia. - 1556 - philip ii becomes king of spain. - 1572 - the duke of norfolk is tried for treason for his part in the ridolfi plot to restore catholicism in england. - 1581 - english parliament outlaws roman catholicism. - 1605 - the first edition of el ingenioso hidalgo don quijote de la mancha ( book one of don quixote ) by miguel de cervantes was published in madrid. - 1761 - british capture pondicherry, india from the french. - 1777 - vermont declares its independence from new york. - 1780 - american revolution : battle of cape st. vincent. - 1795 - french occupy utrecht, netherlands. - 1809 - peninsular war : the british defeat the french at the battle of la coruna. - 1847 - john c. fremont is appointed governor of the new california territory. - 1883 - the pendleton civil service reform act, establishing the united states civil service, is passed. - 1900 - the united states senate accepts the anglo - german treaty of 1899 in which the united kingdom renounced its claims to the samoan islands. - 1909 - ernest shackleton ' s expedition finds the magnetic south pole. - 1917 - german foreign secretary arthur zimmermann sends the zimmermann telegram to mexico, proposing a german - mexican alliance against the united states - 1919 - temperance movement : the 18th amendment, authorizing prohibition, was passed by the congress of the united states. it went into effect one year later, on january 16th, 1920. - 1938 - benny goodman plays carnegie hall. - 1945 - adolf hitler moves into his underground bunker, the so - called fuhrerbunker. - 1956 - president gamal abdal nasser of egypt vows


later, on january 16th, 1920. - 1938 - benny goodman plays carnegie hall. - 1945 - adolf hitler moves into his underground bunker, the so - called fuhrerbunker. - 1956 - president gamal abdal nasser of egypt vows to reconquer palestine. - 1957 - the cavern club opens in liverpool. - 1961 - mickey mantle becomes the highest paid baseball player by signing a $ 75, 000 contract. - 1964 - the first musical version of hello, dolly! opens at new york city ' s st. james theatre. - 1966 - the metropolitan opera house opens at lincoln center in new york city. - 1969 - czech student jan palach commits suicide by self - immolation in prague, in protest against the soviets ' crushing of the prague spring the year before. - 1970 - buckminster fuller receives the gold medal award from the american institute of architects. - 1970 - curt flood files suit, stating that major league baseball had violated the american anti - trust laws. - 1977 - the marx brothers were inducted into the motion picture hall of fame. - 1979 - the shah of iran flees iran with his family and relocates to egypt. - 1986 - herbert w. armstrong, the founder of the worldwide church of god ( the church of god in philadelphia era ) died. - 1988 - sports commentator jimmy ' the greek ' snyder is fired by cbs a day after publicly stating that african americans had been bred to produce stronger offspring during slavery. - 1991 - us serial killer aileen wuornos confesses to the murders of six men. - 1992 - el salvador officials and rebel leaders sign the chapultepec peace accords in mexico city that ends a 12 - year civil war that claimed at least 75, 000. - 1997 - ennis cosby, the only son of actor bill cosby, is killed by a gunman while changing a flat tire in los angeles, california. - 1998 - nasa announces that john glenn will return to space when space shuttle discovery blasts off in october 1998. - 2000 - in sacramento, california a commercial truck carrying evaporated milk is driven into the state capitol building killing the driver. - 2001 - congolese president laurent - desire kabila is assassinated by one of his own bodyguards. - 2002 - a student shoots 6 people at the appalachian school of law. three of those shot die. - 2002 - john ashcroft announces that so - called " american taliban " john walker lindh would be tried in the united states. - 2002 - the un security council unanimously establishes


people at the appalachian school of law. three of those shot die. - 2002 - john ashcroft announces that so - called " american taliban " john walker lindh would be tried in the united states. - 2002 - the un security council unanimously establishes an arms embargo and the freezing of assets of osama bin laden, al - qaida, and the remaining members of the taliban. - 2003 - space shuttle columbia takes off for mission sts - 107 which will be its final one. columbia disintegrates 16 days later on re - entry. - 2004 - goatse. cx is shut down by the christmas island registry - 2005 - adriana iliescu gives birth at age 66 and becomes the oldest woman in the world to do so. - 1245 - edmund crouchback, 1st earl of lancaster ( d. 1296 ) - 1821 - john c. breckenridge, kentucky senator 1861 - 1861, confederate general ( d. 1875 ) - 1838 - franz brentano, german philosopher and psychologist ( d. 1917 ) - 1874 - robert w. service, poet ( d. 1958 ) - 1881 - sir arthur percy morris fleming, radio pioneer - 1886 - john hamilton, american actor ( d. 1958 ) - 1898 - margaret booth, film editor ( d. 2002 ) - 1901 - frank zamboni, inventor ( d. 1988 ) - 1901 - fulgencio batista, cuban leader ( d. 1973 ) - 1902 - eric liddell, scottish runner ( d. 1945 ) - 1907 - paul nitze, american government official ( d. 2004 ) - 1908 - ethel merman, american actress, singer ( d. 1984 ) - 1910 - dizzy dean, baseball hall of famer ( d. 1974 ) - 1912 - franz tumler, austrian narrator ( d. 1998 ) - 1917 - buddy lester, american actor ( d. 2002 ) - 1918 - stirling silliphant, writer, producer ( d. 1996 ) - 1921 - francesco scavullo, photographer ( d. 2004 ) - 1922 - ernesto bonino, italian singer - 1924 - katy jurado, actress ( d. 2002 ) - 1928 - william kennedy, author - 1931 - johannes rau, president of germany - 1932 - dian fossey, zoologist ( d. 1985 ) - 1934 - marilyn horne, american mezzo - soprano - 1935 - udo lattek, football coach - 1935 - a. j. foyt, automobile racer - 1943 - brian ferney


fed - batch and perfusion culture are the two dominant modes of operation for mammalian - cell - culture based processes, especially for the production of glycosylated proteins required in large amounts. this article provides an economic comparison for the production of a typical glycosylated protein using the fed - batch, concentrated fed - batch ( cfb ), and concentrated perfusion ( cp ) technologies. the cfb and cp processes are based on the atf system, a platform technology developed by refine technology for biologics production. the market for protein - derived products has grown significantly in the past decade and continues to accelerate at a rapid rate. as more recombinant therapeutic proteins enter development and get through the approval phase, more efficient large - scale production of such proteins is necessary to meet the surging demand. fed - batch and perfusion culture are the two dominant modes of operation for mammalian - cell - culture based processes, especially for the production of glycosylated proteins required in large amounts. 1 challenges in the industry ( such as competitive products for the same indication or desired cost reductions ) are forcing many to explore new production options. in fed - batch culture, there is a gradual addition of a fresh volume of selected nutrients during the growth – culture cycle to improve productivity and growth. the culture is subsequently harvested and the product recovered. fed - batch culture has been an attractive choice for large - scale production due to its operational simplicity and familiarity as a carryover process from fermentation. however, fed - batch mode of operation typically also involves high start - up costs, resulting from the need for larger bioreactor plant capacity. in perfusion culture, a continuous supply of fresh media is fed into the bioreactor while growth - inhibitory by - products are constantly removed. the increasing interest in the use of perfusion culture can be attributed to the higher product output from a reduced reactor size ( hence, simplifying operation, cleaning, and sterilization ). the cell densities achieved in perfusion culture ( 30 – 100 x 106 cells / ml ) are typically higher than for fed - batch modes ( 5 – 25 x 106 cells / ml ). 2 the principal aspect of perfusion operation, which is different from fed - batch, is the added requirement of a cell - retention device. cell - retention systems add a level of complexity to the process, requiring management, control, and maintenance for successful operation. perfusion bioreactors can suffer operational difficulties such as malfunction or failure of the


requirement of a cell - retention device. cell - retention systems add a level of complexity to the process, requiring management, control, and maintenance for successful operation. perfusion bioreactors can suffer operational difficulties such as malfunction or failure of the cell - separation device, which can lead to shortening of the production run, leading further, to increased operating costs. this has previously limited their attractiveness. in recent years, a platform technology has been developed for biologics production — the atf system, introduced by refine technology ( pine brook, nj ). used in the alternating tangential flow mode, it is a low shear filtration system that inhibits filter - membrane fouling. this external cell - separation system is able to maintain continuous culture for extended periods of time and offers the capability of rapid filter change without compromising the culture run. 3 the atf system allows increased volumetric productivity and reduced bioreactor size. concentrated fed - batch and concentrated perfusion are two production techniques based on the atf system, which simultaneously nourishes the culture and concentrates the product within the bioreactor. these manufacturing methods permit great increases in cell and product concentrations as compared with fed - batch and perfusion. for example, in the concentrated fed - batch production platform, one of refine technology ' s pharmaceutical clients has reported a protein product titer of 17 g / l with an unoptimized chinese hamster ovary ( cho ) cell process. 4 higher titers are expected as process optimization continues. in the concentrated fed - batch operation, ultra - high cell densities of ( 70 – 200 ) x 106 cells / ml have been achieved ; similarly, extremely high cell densities in the region of ( 70 – 100 ) x 106 cells / ml have been achieved in systems using the concentrated perfusion mode. the system scales on a linear basis from 1 l to greater than 1, 000 l and can be used with traditional or disposable bioreactors and with all cell types including anchorage - dependent lines. table 1 indicates the working volume sizes for each atf system in the scale - up process. the figures in the table are provided as guidelines. actual capacity and vessel size depend on process table 1. guideline working volume sizes for each atf system this article compares the economic feasibility of a typical glycosylated protein manufactured using three production techniques — fed - batch ( fb ), concentrated fed - batch ( cfb ), and concentrated perfusion ( cp ). the


research on the nature, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity and diabetes the purpose of this study is to determine whether the level of foxa2 expression in fat tissue is a biomarker of insulin resistance. to test this hypothesis, we will perform euglycemic - hyperinsulinemic clamps in normal and obese human subjects to calculate insulin sensitivity, and see if insulin sensitivity correlates with the foxa2 expression in subcutaneous fat. the investigators at rockefeller university hospital are engaged in research on the nature, diagnosis and treatment of obesity and diabetes. the investigators are trying to find out why insulin, a blood sugar lowering hormone that is released by the pancreas following a meal, does not work effectively in individuals with obesity or type 2 diabetes. the investigators have recently discovered a protein in fat cells of obese mice that helps fat cells to take up and break down sugar from the blood. this protein ( called foxa2 ) also prevents the generation of more fat cells. foxa2 is only present in obese mice, but absent from fat stores of lean animals. insulin can stimulate the production of foxa2 in fat cells. furthermore, the levels of foxa2 protein correlate with the degree of blood insulin levels. in this study, we are would like to determine whether foxa2 is also produced in fat cells of humans, and if its level correlates with the degree of obesity and insulin resistance. observational model : cohort, time perspective : prospective rockefeller university hospital results ( where available ) - source : http : / / clinicaltrials. gov / show / nct00229268 - information obtained from clinicaltrials. gov on july 15, 2010 medical and biotech [ mesh ] definitions a syndrome with excessively high insulin levels in the blood. it may cause hypoglycemia. etiology of hyperinsulinism varies, including hypersecretion of a beta cell tumor ( insulinoma ) ; autoantibodies against insulin ( insulin antibodies ) ; defective insulin receptor ( insulin resistance ) ; or overuse of exogenous insulin or hypoglycemic agents. diminished effectiveness of insulin in lowering blood sugar levels : requiring the use of 200 units or more of insulin per day to prevent hyperglycemia or ketosis. it can be caused by the presence of insulin antibodies or the abnormalities in insulin receptors ( receptor, insulin ) on target cell surfaces. it is often associated with obesity ; diabetic ketoacidosis ;


hyperglycemia or ketosis. it can be caused by the presence of insulin antibodies or the abnormalities in insulin receptors ( receptor, insulin ) on target cell surfaces. it is often associated with obesity ; diabetic ketoacidosis ; infection ; and certain rare conditions. ( from stedman, 25th ed ) thiazoles with two keto oxygens. members are insulin - sensitizing agents which overcome insulin resistance by activation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma ( ppar - gamma ). rare autosomal recessive syndrome of extreme insulin resistance due to mutations in the binding domain of insulin receptor. clinical features include severe intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction, characteristic dysmorphic facies ; hirsutism ; virilization ; multiple endocrine abnormalities, and early death. diabetes mellitus induced by pregnancy but resolved at the end of pregnancy. it does not include previously diagnosed diabetics who become pregnant ( pregnancy in diabetics ). gestational diabetes usually develops in late pregnancy when insulin antagonistic hormones peaks leading to insulin resistance ; glucose intolerance ; and hyperglycemia. a prospective double - blinded, placebo controlled, randomized trial comparing a single dose of vitamin d ( colecalciferol ) 300. 00ui to placebo on patients with insulin resistance. primary ou... the literature suggests that there may be an association between hepatitis c and type 2 diabetes mellitus independent of the presence of cirrhosis, the likely mechanism for which is insuli... patients with type 2 diabetes and severe insulin resistance with very large insulin requirements who have failed all previous insulin regimens using nonconcentrated forms of insulin ( u100... this research is to investigate the nutritional supplement chromium picolinate. a large number of people use chromium picolinate from health food stores to improve the function of the hor... we believe that diet induced obesity leads to activation of the ikk / nf - kb inflamatory pathway and that chronic inflammation leads to insulin resistance and diabetes. in rodents, salicylate... insufficient insulin secretion and insulin resistance are hallmarks of diabetes. recent studies indicate that insulin plays an important role in maintaining the glomerular filtration barrier. mima et... the main goal of this review is to provide more specific targets for prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and associated atherosclerosis. modern technologies


the amino - acid sequence ( or primary structure ) of a protein predisposes it towards its native conformation or conformations. it will fold spontaneously during or after synthesis. while these macromolecules may be regarded as " folding themselves ", the mechanism depends equally on the characteristics of the cytosol, including the nature of the primary solvent ( water or lipid ), macromolecular crowding, the concentration of salts, the temperature, and molecular chaperones. subscribe in a reader most folded proteins have a hydrophobic core in which side chain packing stabilizes the folded state, and charged or polar side chains on the solvent - exposed surface where they interact with surrounding water molecules. it is generally accepted that minimizing the number of hydrophobic side - chains exposed to water is the principal driving force behind the folding process, although a recent theory has been proposed which reassesses the contributions made by hydrogen bonding the strengths of hydrogen bonds in a protein vary, i. e. they are dependent on their microenvironment, thus h - bonds enveloped in a hydrophobic core contribute more than h - bonds exposed to the aqueous environment to the stability of the native state. the process of folding in vivo often begins co - translationally, so that the n - terminus of the protein begins to fold while the c - terminal portion of the protein is still being synthesized by the ribosome. specialized proteins called chaperones assist in the folding of other proteins. a well studied example is the bacterial groel system, which assists in the folding of globular proteins. in eukaryotic organisms chaperones are known as heat shock proteins. although most globular proteins are able to assume their native state unassisted, chaperone - assisted folding is often necessary in the crowded intracellular environment to prevent aggregation ; chaperones are also used to prevent misfolding and aggregation which may occur as a consequence of exposure to heat or other changes in the cellular environment.


so last time, tetra was being enlightened by mc - kun about definitions. this actually arises from mc - kun using prime numbers as a motivating example. primes are megas important in mathematics and even more important today. the entire branch of mathematics called number theory is all about studying the properties of prime numbers. they ’ re so useful that we ’ ve done stuff like extend the notion of prime elements to algebraic structures called rings or apply analytic techniques to learn more about them, but we ’ ll stick with elementary number theory for now. now, for hundreds of years, we ’ d been studying number theory only because it ’ s cool and mathematicians love prime numbers. last time, i mentioned some examples of math preceding useful applications. well, number theory is a really good example of that, because in the 70s, we found a use for it, which is its main use today, in cryptography. there have been some new techniques using some algebra as well, but for the most part, modern cryptography relies on the hardness of factoring primes. neat! okay, so we ’ re back to the original question that mc - kun tries to get tetra to answer, which is, what is a prime number? definition. an integer $ p $ is prime if and only if $ p \ geq 2 $ and the only positive divisors of $ p $ are 1 and itself. mc - kun explains that the motivation for excluding 1 from the definition of a prime number is because we want to be able to say that we can write every number as a unique product of prime numbers. this is very useful, because now we know we can break down every number like this and we can tell them apart because they ’ re guaranteed to have a unique representation. this is called unique prime factorization. theorem. let $ a > 0 $ be an integer. then we can write $ a = p _ 1p _ 2 \ cdots p _ k $ for some primes $ p _ 1, \ dots, p _ k $. this representation is unique up to changing the order of terms. we can show this by induction on $ a $. we ’ ve got $ a = 2 $ so that ’ s pretty obvious. so let ’ s say that every integer $ k \ lt a $ can be decomposed like this and suppose we can ’ t decompose $ a $ into prime numbers, assuming $ a $ itself isn ’ t already a prime since it would just be its own


that every integer $ k \ lt a $ can be decomposed like this and suppose we can ’ t decompose $ a $ into prime numbers, assuming $ a $ itself isn ’ t already a prime since it would just be its own prime decomposition. then we can factor $ a = cd $ for some integers $ c $ and $ d $. but both $ c $ and $ d $ are less than $ a $, which means they can be written as a product of primes, so we just split them up into their primes and multiply them all together to get $ a $. tada. as a sort of side note, i mentioned before that primes are so useful that we wanted to be able to extend the idea of prime elements into rings. well, it turns out for certain rings, it isn ’ t necessarily true that numbers will always have a unique representation when decomposed into primes. this is something that comes up in algebraic number theory, which is named so because it involves algebraic structures and techniques. this was invented while we were trying to figure out if fermat ’ s last theorem was actually true ( which needed this and other fun mathematical inventions from the last century that implies that fermat was full of shit when he said he had a proof ). so at the end of the chapter, after tetra gets her chair kicked over by the megane math girl, we ’ re treated to a note that acts as a sort of coda to the chapter that mentions that there are infinitely many primes. how do we know this? suppose that there are only finitely many primes. then we can just list all of the prime numbers, like on wikipedia or something. so we ’ ve got our list of primes $ p _ 1, p _ 2, \ dots, p _ k $. so let ’ s make a number like $ n = 1 + p _ 1 \ cdots p _ k $. well, that number is just a regular old number, so we can break it down into its prime factors. we already know all the primes, so it has to be divisible by one of them, let ’ s say $ p _ i $. now we want to consider the greatest common divisor of the two numbers, which is just the largest number that divides both of them. we ’ ll denote this by $ \ gcd ( a, b ) $. so since $ p _ i $ is a factor of $


common divisor of the two numbers, which is just the largest number that divides both of them. we ’ ll denote this by $ \ gcd ( a, b ) $. so since $ p _ i $ is a factor of $ n $, we ’ ve got $ \ gcd ( n, p _ i ) = p _ i $. but then that gives us $ p _ i = \ gcd ( n, p _ i ) = \ gcd ( p _ i, 1 ) = 1 $ by a lemma that says that for $ a = qb + r $, we have $ \ gcd ( a, b ) = \ gcd ( b, r ) $. this means that we have $ p _ i = 1 $, which is a contradiction, since 1 isn ’ t a prime number, and so i guess there are actually infinitely many primes. so the nice thing is that we won ’ t run out of prime numbers anytime soon, which is very useful because as we get more and more computing power, we ’ ll have to increase the size of the keys we use in our cryptosystems. luckily, because factoring is so hard, we don ’ t need to increase that size very much before we ’ re safe for a while. or at least until we develop practical quantum computers.


table of contents there are times when a generic ( in the sense of general as opposed to template - based programming ) type is needed : variables that are truly variable, accommodating values of many other more specific types rather than c + + ' s normal strict and static types. we can distinguish three basic kinds of generic type : converting types that can hold one of a number of possible value types, e. g. int and string, and freely convert between them, for instance interpreting 5 as " 5 " or vice - versa. such types are common in scripting and other interpreted languages. boost : : lexical _ cast supports such conversion functionality. discriminated types that contain values of different types but do not attempt conversion between them, i. e. 5 is held strictly as an int and is not implicitly convertible either to " 5 " or to 5. 0. their indifference to interpretation but awareness of type effectively makes them safe, generic containers of single values, with no scope for surprises from ambiguous conversions. indiscriminate types that can refer to anything but are oblivious to the actual underlying type, entrusting all forms of access and interpretation to the programmer. this niche is dominated by void *, which offers plenty of scope for surprising, undefined behavior. the boost : : any class ( based on the class of the same name described in " valued conversions " by kevlin henney, c + + report 12 ( 7 ), july / august 2000 ) is a variant value type based on the second category. it supports copying of any value type and safe checked extraction of that value strictly against its type. a similar design, offering more appropriate operators, can be used for a generalized function adaptor, any _ function, a generalized iterator adaptor, any _ iterator, and other object types that need uniform runtime treatment but support only compile - time template parameter conformance. | last revised : march 15, 2003 at 23 : 12 : 35 gmt |


bri news archive a feature article that compiles the scientific evidence for why bird conservation is so critical to humanity. bri ' s adirondack loon study is quoted under the section " winged sentinels. " still endangered in maine, the species is recovering from devastating effects of ddt in the 1960s. by north cairn bri research is featured in the march issue of discover magazine. scientists are only beginning to understand the impacts of mercury contamination on birds, fish, and other wildlife populations. but what they are finding is alarming — even low levels can cause harm, and chronic exposure has unexpected and troubling effects. by rebecca kessler david evers speaks to steve curwood, host of npr ' s living on earth, about bri ' s new report that describes hotspots of unsafe mercury levels around the world. negotiators seek to finalize mercury treaty as groups warn about cost of inaction by : international environment reporter mercury poisoning is a growing global menace we have to address progressive radio network 84 % of fish have mercury contamination, new study finds ; united nations seeks treaty to reduce mercury poisoning mercury poisoning is a growing global menace we have to address by : robert f kennedy jr and marc a yaggi study by researchers in gorham warns of mercury in fish maine public broadcasting network nearly a year ago, i interviewed david evers, the executive director of maine ’ s biodiversity research institute, on the revelation that insect - eating inland songbirds can accumulate mercury at dangerous levels every bit as much as fish - eating river and coastal birds. he called the findings a “ game - changing paradigm shift ” for understanding mercury ’ s pernicious presence. a new scientific report finds that humans and marine ecosystems around the world are contaminated with mercury and that mercury levels in humans and fish regularly exceed health advisory guidelines. the report, a collaboration between ipen and biodiversity research institute ( bri ), highlights the urgent need for an overall reduction in mercury emissions when government delegates convene next week in geneva in their final negotiating session to establish an international mercury treaty – the first global treaty on the environment in more than a decade by the united nations environment programme. biodiversity research institute announced that the institute has endorsed a technical - scientific cooperation agreement on the issue of mercury with mexico ’ s major federal environmental agency, the national institute of ecology and climate change ( inecc ). the agreement allows the maine wildlife research group to conduct scientific research in mexico in full cooperation with that country ’ s federal government. toronto – the


mexico ’ s major federal environmental agency, the national institute of ecology and climate change ( inecc ). the agreement allows the maine wildlife research group to conduct scientific research in mexico in full cooperation with that country ’ s federal government. toronto – the current health benchmarks for mercury levels in fish are outdated and inadequate and should be strengthened worldwide, according to two international reports released on tuesday. scientists say that consuming fish may be more hazardous to your health than you think, according to new reports published this week. new reports released today find that mercury is widespread in fish, and that mercury exposure can be dangerous to human health at lower levels than previously thought. maine things considered host tom porter spoke with dr. david evers, the executive director and chief scientist of the biodiversity research institute, in gorham, maine, which released the latest data. a report to be released tuesday by the biodiversity research institute in gorham evaluates the amount of mercury in fish species around the world and suggests that levels of the toxin previously deemed safe are probably not. biodiversity research institute invites you to a global webinar on new findings on mercury exposure and contamination on december 4, 2012, the zero mercury working group, in cooperation with scientists from biodiversity research institute ( bri ) and other prominent scientists, is organizing a global webinar to release new findings that demonstrate extensive mercury contamination of seafood and to summarize recent studies that show health effects from methylmercury occurring below the level that was considered “ safe ” just a few years ago. scientists will highlight new research and explain why current government “ safety limits ” should be strengthened worldwide. the report will be released accompanied by a press release on december 4. this comes ahead of the final round of united nations negotiations, scheduled in january 2013, for a global mercury treaty. click here for more information : http : / / www. briloon. org / uploads / bri / index / finalzmwg _ media _ % 20advisory. pdf if you have questions please contact deborah mckew at 207 - 839 - 7600 x222 the maine medical center research institute vector - borne disease lab ( mmc ) announces that it has received funding support from the maine outdoor heritage fund to conduct surveillance for eastern equine encephalitis virus ( eeev ) in maine ’ s songbirds in 2013. this funding was awarded following a collaborative pilot study in 2012 between mmc and the biodiversity research institute ( bri ), which found 7. 4 %


trouble for long - distance migrators like willets, says dave evers of the biodiversity research institute. he ' s been researching the effects of mercury on wildlife for years and first discovered the problem of wing asymmetry in loons. more recently, he ' s documented mercury ' s impact on insect - eating songbirds. read the full story here. albany, ny – an extensive study of new york ’ s adirondack loon population has revealed that mercury contamination can lead to population declines of the iconic bird. the research effort was a joint project between the new york state energy research and development authority ( nyserda ), the biodiversity research institute ( bri ) and the wildlife conservation society ( wcs ). with senator james inhofe ' s ( r - ok ) move to roll back the environmental protection agency ' s ability to regulate mercury - - both now and in the future - - the threat to the health of americans is in the balance. dr. david evers to speak as part of the great lakes air deposition atmospheric toxics webinar series the atmospheric toxics webinar series showcases recent research findings supported by the great lakes air deposition ( glad ) program. dr. david evers speaks about intergrating multimedia measurements of mercury in the great lakes region on july 24, 2012, 2pm - 4pm ( et ). ever wonder what ' s lurking in falmouth ' s river point conservation area? the falmouth conservation commission and the biodiversity research institute of gorham are hoping to find out when they conduct one of the state ' s largest " bio blitzes " june 29 - 30. recently the society for the conservation and study of caribbean birds, biodiversity research institute ( bri ) and the bahamas national trust ( bnt ) came together in a major effort to assess the seabirds of the cay sal bank. recently, the society for the conservation and study of caribbean birds, biodiversity research institute ( bri ) and the bahamas national trust ( bnt ) came together in a major effort to assess the searbirds of the cay sal bank. recently the society for the conservation and study of caribbean birds, biodiversity research institute and the bahamas national trust came together in a major effort to assess the seabirds of the cay sal bank. bri executive director, david evers, ph. d., speaks with the wamc radio program earthwise about the dangers of mercury in the environment. bri ’ s director of scientific advancement and development is featured in a


, ” by the biodiversity research institute, a nonprofit organization in gorham, me., that investigates emerging environmental threats. topic : wind power development and wildlife bri partners with the international pops elimination network for a global mercury monitoring project biodiversity research institute ( bri ) announced today its partnership with ipen ( international pops elimination network * ) to conduct a joint mercury research and monitoring study. the goals of this global fish and community mercury monitoring project include generating new scientific data, raising awareness about global mercury pollution, and identifying mercury hotspots, primarily in developing and transition countries throughout africa, asia and the pacific, central and eastern europe, latin america, and the caribbean. listen as bri biologists patrick keenan and kate williams set out into the field in search of saw - whet owls, and susan sharon of the maine public broadcasting network tags along. gorham, me - - biodiversity research institute ( bri ) announced today the launch of its new wildlife science and marine wind energy initiative, an international collaborative effort to inform policy makers and the public about areas of scientific consensus regarding the effects of marine wind energy development to wildlife. the initiative will kick off with a two day workshop that will bring leaders in this field together for the first time to pool their knowledge base. please join us for a discussion of the state of the science on mercury pollution and its long - term impacts on the nation ’ s ecosystems. this panel discussion will highlight policy - relevant findings from a major new scientific study by the biodiversity research institute on mercury in the great lakes region that has been widely reported on in the media. the research suggests that the extent and severity of mercury in the great lakes region is greater than previously documented. new information will be presented on mercury levels in fish and wildlife and the health risks they pose. highlights from mercury research in the northeast will be provided. the panel will also introduce an upcoming national report by the ecological society of america on a range of air pollutants and their impacts on natural resources. health risk : ‘ if you ’ re pregnant or planning to get pregnant you want to reduce fish consumption as much as possible ’ by john miner, the london free press this is a test gorham, me – biodiversity research institute announces the award of a three - year, $ 4. 5 million grant from the u. s. department of energy to collect ecological data - - on birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals - - that is required to inform siting and permitting processes for offshore wind energy development in the mid - atlantic. gorh


grant from the u. s. department of energy to collect ecological data - - on birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals - - that is required to inform siting and permitting processes for offshore wind energy development in the mid - atlantic. gorham, me — biodiversity research institute ( bri ) today announced the appointment of jonathan l. atwood, ph. d. as science director. in this newly created position, atwood, educator, ornithologist, and conservation biologist, will be responsible for managing the institute ’ s staff of 20 researchers working in 10 wildlife science programs. biodiversity research institute ( bri ) today announced the appointment of h. bruce rinker, ph. d. as director of scientific advancement and development. in this newly created position, rinker will build on the institute ’ s strength as an innovator of wildlife science to further develop external relationships within the scientific and philanthropic communities. in early 2012 dr. jim paruk will be leading an earthwatch institute expedition studying the impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill on the common loon population in the gulf of mexico. seabirds declining as eagles in maine recover - by bill trotter, bdn staff bill trotter speaks with dr. iain stenhouse regarding declines in marine birds on the coast of maine. call of the wild - bri scientists provide insight about the common loon in this in - depth story by kristen laine. biodiversity research institute ( bri ) has established a new wildlife and renewable energy program to study and understand the movements of birds and bats and to assess the potential interactions between energy facilities and wildlife. in partnership with the united nations environment programme ( unep ), bri is contributing in multiple ways toward the first international treaty of a globally binding instrument on mercury. the goal is for the intergovernmental negotiating committee ( inc ) to complete a document for the governing council by 2013. washington, d. c. - u. s. senator susan collins has introduced legislation to create a comprehensive new program to measure mercury levels across the united states. the bipartisan " comprehensive national mercury monitoring act " is cosponsored by senator tom carper ( d - de ). bri ' s work with northern saw - whet owls in coastal maine featured in maine boats, homes & harbors magazine.


extremes in weather more likely - scientists wet areas have become wetter and dry areas drier during the past 50 years due to global warming, a study of the saltiness of the world ' s oceans by a team including csiro researchers has shown. the intensification of rainfall and evaporation patterns, which is occurring at twice the rate predicted by climate change models, could increase the incidence and severity of extreme weather events in future. the team ' s leader, paul durack, said the finding was important because reductions in the availability of fresh water posed more of a risk to human societies and natural ecosystems than a rise in temperature alone. " changes to the global water cycle and the corresponding redistribution of rainfall will affect food availability, stability, access and utilisation, " said dr durack, a former csiro researcher now at the lawrence livermore national laboratory in california. the fact that hotter air can hold more water underpinned predictions that recent warming of the globe ' s surface and lower atmosphere could have already strengthened the natural evaporation and precipitation cycle – increasing rainfall where it was higher than average and decreasing it where it was lower. initial attempts to study this " rich get richer " effect, however, were hindered by a shortage of good rainfall records on land and a lack of long - term satellite measurements. so dr durack and his australian colleagues studied the oceans. " the ocean matters to climate, " said richard matear, a csiro researcher and member of the team. " it stores 97 per cent of the world ' s water and receives 80 per cent of all the surface rainfall. " the team analysed about 1. 7 million records of surface sea salinity collected worldwide between 1950 and 2000. their results are published in the journal science. they found regions near the equator and the poles, where greater rainfall keeps surface waters less salty than average, had become even fresher during the past half century. saltier areas, such as in the centre of oceans where evaporation dominated, had become even saltier. brian soden, a meteorologist at the university of miami in the us, said the study had important implications for extreme weather. warmer water moving faster from the surface into the atmosphere could fuel violent storms, and floods and droughts could become more intense. susan wijffels, a csiro researcher and team member, said a network of 35000 argo floats throughout the world ' s oceans would be vital for continued observation of salinity changes.


could crash modeling have saved the concordia? 8 mar, 2012 by : robert yancey viewpoint : event simulation helps automobile manufacturers design safer vehicles — and it can do the same for shipbuilders. the costa concordia cruise ship disaster has generated many questions, but one in particular haunts survivors and onlookers alike : could this disaster have been prevented? it is clear that the captain made some unwise choices, which put the ship and its passengers in danger. could something have been altered in the ship ’ s design to limit the impact of that poor decision - making on the crew and passengers? most automobile accidents are also caused by bad decisions. some are caused by conditions beyond the control of the driver, but the vast majority are a result of drivers speeding, disobeying traffic regulations, attending to distractions, falling asleep at the wheel, etc. automotive manufacturers have done a great deal to improve car safety, introducing features that minimize harm even when drivers perform poorly. crumple zones, airbags, and energy - absorbing materials all reduce passenger injuries and fatalities in crashes. automobile safety ratings for the past decade show a clear improvement — much of which is due to extensive simulation modeling of crash events. in simulation modeling, engineers use a digital design of a vehicle to generate a simulation model that represents all of the key elements of the design, including material properties, mass properties, occupant models, and the impact event ( e. g., side impact, frontal offset, etc. ). engineers have been working for years to correlate these simulation models with real - world test results. the result is that modern simulation models correlate very well with physical test data in regard to the deformation of the vehicle, the energy absorption of the vehicle, and — most importantly — the effects on the passengers. the accuracy of these models is now so high that most automotive companies do extensive virtual testing of their vehicle designs before ever building prototypes, and the physical testing is really just a final verification of the crashworthiness of the design. in most cases, there are no surprises during the physical test. from land to sea could ship designers follow the automotive industry ' s example? could we employ simulation modeling to create more advanced designs that can better respond to the type of event that destroyed the concordia? the answer is yes. engineers could use much of the technology developed for automotive crash modeling to model a ship ’ s impact on rocks, icebergs, sandbars, and other hazards. we cannot always prevent these events from happening


the concordia? the answer is yes. engineers could use much of the technology developed for automotive crash modeling to model a ship ’ s impact on rocks, icebergs, sandbars, and other hazards. we cannot always prevent these events from happening, but if we can develop ship designs that more effectively respond to these impacts — especially to provide sufficient time to safely evacuate the passengers — we could improve passenger safety and confidence. in the case of the concordia, the ship ’ s hull was divided into several watertight compartments ; one or two sections of the hull could flood without sinking the entire ship. the ship had longitudinal bulkheads, intended to keep it from listing when flooded. during the recent disaster, however, the ship came to rest on a rock ledge ; this caused the vessel to become unstable on the uneven bottom and roll on its side. this position complicated the rescue operation, because many of the lifeboats could not be deployed with the ship listing to one side. disaster simulations could help ship designers prepare for uncommon scenarios, such as having a ship run aground and roll onto its side. image courtesy of roberto vongher, via wikimedia commons. this occurrence, and many other unusual situations, could be simulated on a computer. just as a car - crash simulation varies according to speed, direction, impact zone, and other elements, a good simulation model of a ship could replicate many of the conditions that the vessel might encounter. armed with the results of these simulations, engineers can adapt the ship design to better respond to each of these situations. simulation offers proven benefits in addition to the automotive industry, the ability of simulation to inform design is also evident in the aviation world. airplane designers must ensure a safety by planning for a variety of events, including excessive turbulence, engine failure, bird strikes, and lightning. redundancy is built into the design to ensure that the airplane can land safely, even under these circumstances. simulation modeling is also used extensively in the aerospace industry to understand and design for these events. can simulation modeling help with the design of cruise ships? twenty - five years of experience in the simulation field has taught me that simulation technology definitely can help this industry. the technology is available, it ' s proven, and it can be used successfully to improve safety. in that case, the questions become : will the industry embrace this technology? will shipbuilders see value in performing these simulations? and — more importantly — will the passengers who book passage on these ships demand a safer experience? hopefully, the concordia tragedy will bring


new tool from the university of nottingham may help screen patients at risk for vte heart health is a major concern for many americans, which is why individuals who are hoping to reduce their risk of experiencing a stroke choose to buy plavix. heart health is a major concern for many americans, which is why individuals who are hoping to reduce their risk of experiencing a stroke choose to buy plavix. the condition arises due to the presence of serious blood clots. according to a paper published in the british medical journal, a new tool created at the university of nottingham could be an effective way of identifying people who need preventive treatment for this ailment. funded by the national institute for health and clinical excellence, the tool is based on simple variables that are accessible to patients and can easily be integrated into computer systems. this could help assess people ' s risk of having serious blood clots and consequently developing venous thromboembolism ( vte ) before they are admitted to the hospital. additionally, the screening technique could help doctors decide whether to prescribe medications that carry an increased clotting risk. lead authors julia hippisley - cox and carol coupland studied data from 3. 5 million men and women between the ages of 25 and 84. the rate of vte was about 15 cases per 10, 000 people, according to their analysis. " further research is needed to assess how best to use the algorithm and whether, upon implementation, it has any impact on health outcomes, " the scientists concluded. see also... | important disclosure : all medical content and news articles on this website is supplied by an independent third party company. while the information can be useful, this website relies on others for its creation and cannot guarantee the accuracy, medical efficacy, or reliability of the information provided. in all circumstances, you should always seek the advice of your physician and / or other qualified health professional ( s ) for drug, medical condition, or treatment advice. this website does not provide any medical advice. the content provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. |


leds are commonly used in all kinds of applications. the tiny red and green indication lights found here and there on electronic equipment such as tvs and computers are leds. they are very efficient in converting an electric current directly into light, but their use was limited by technical constraints preventing the creation of colors other than red and green. in the 1990s, led color display was made possible by the development of blue leds, and we are now witnessing rapid growth in led applications. the outdoor displays you see on the sides of buildings and other locations on city streets use leds. they are also employed in the optical scanning units of color copying machines and image scanners. mechanism by which light exposure produces an electric current to understand leds, let ' s first take a look at the mechanism by which light exposure produces an electric current, such as in solar batteries. semiconductors, a term you probably hear daily, are a key component of electric circuits, including computers, and they are commonly made from silicon. semiconductors either use " n - type " silicon, in which there are extra electrons, or " p - type " silicon, in which there are missing electrons that form " electron holes " or simply " holes. " combining these two types of silicon produces a " pn junction diode. " when the pn junction is exposed to light, the p - type silicon becomes an anode and the n - type silicon a cathode. attaching electrodes to either side and then connecting them to an external electrical conductor produces a current. this is also the principle behind solar batteries. what do you suppose goes on inside a pn junction diode? when silicon is exposed to light such as that from the sun, electrons and electron holes are produced therein. connecting the p - type silicon and n - type silicon to an external electrical conductor causes electrons in the electron - rich n - type silicon to move to the p - type silicon and the electron holes in the hole - rich p - type silicon to move to the n - type silicon. this in turn causes the excess electrons to flow out over the electrical conductor from the electrode attached to the n - type silicon and head towards the electrode on the p - type silicon, thereby generating an electric current. the flow of an electric current is defined as heading in the opposite direction of the flow of electrons, thus we get an electric current in which the p - type silicon is an anode and the n - type silicon a cathode. mechanism by which application of a current produces


is defined as heading in the opposite direction of the flow of electrons, thus we get an electric current in which the p - type silicon is an anode and the n - type silicon a cathode. mechanism by which application of a current produces light since exposing a pn junction diode to light produces an electric current just like a solar battery, the reverse should also hold true, i. e. applying an external electric current in the opposite direction should cause light to emit from the pn junction. this phenomenon does in fact occur. making the n - type silicon the cathode and the p - type silicon the anode produces light. this is known as a light - emitting diode ( led ). however, light emission from such rudimentary leds is inefficient, making them ill suited for practical applications. only after creating pn junctions using semiconductor materials made of the compounds gallium arsenide, gallium phosphide, and gallium arsenide phosphide did leds become practical. semiconductor lasers also use pn junctions the semiconductor laser is another technology that uses pn junctions. creating a pn junction within a semiconductor brings about " population inversion " by means of the electrons that flow into n - type silicon and the electron holes in p - type silicon. by skillfully placing two perpendicular mirrors with cleavage planes of semiconductor crystal on either end of the pn junction, we can intensify light by making it bounce back and forth between the planes, thus producing a laser beam comprising light with uniform phase and direction. such semiconductor lasers are also called laser diodes. these devices are only about 300 micrometers square and 80 micrometers thick. laser diodes using gallium arsenide phosphide, which emit a laser beam with a wavelength of 700 nanometers, are being mass produced for use in compact disc ( cd ) players and laser beam printers.


hydraulic fracking is a process of injecting proprietary chemicals into the ground in order to fracture rock and release natural gas. many parts of north carolina, mostly outside the catawba basin, are considered to have good potential for " fracking " to release natural gas deposits. overview of fracking - hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking ( or " fracking " ), is a process of extracting natural gas in gas shale deposits by drilling horizontally. - the process of fracking involves injecting ( with high pressure ) sand, hundreds of chemicals and millions of gallons of water into a well. - the pressure fractures the shale and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well. - for a quick visual presentation of how this happens watch the video to the left or click here for an interactive demonstration. potential problems from fracking fracking has the potential to pollute the air, groundwater, and surface waters. potential devestating impacts include : - pollution of surface waters ( from drilling fluids and other wastes that are brought to the surface in the drilling process ) ; - groundwater contamination ( from bad well construction and the fracking process ) ; - air pollution ( from the wells and related truck traffic ) ; - strain on water supplies ( fracking requires large quantities of water ) ; - hazardous material spills ( fracking fluids and fracking wastes ) ; - heavy truck traffic ; - and disruption of local economies. reports on fracking and its wastewater disposal have caused some distressing problems in other states : a duke university study in dimock, pa found that some residents ’ water wells exploded or their water could be lit on fire. - the epa scientifically linked fracking as the cause of water contamination in pavillion, wyoming. the following videos contain additional information about fracking : - for our library of information about hydraulic fracking, click here - for information about other issues, click here - for even more information, go to :


by steven reinberg tuesday, aug. 28 ( healthday news ) - - people who have a normal weight but have excess belly fat may have a higher risk of dying from heart disease than even obese individuals, researchers report. in a new study, investigators found that normal - weight people who have what is called central obesity are at almost three times greater risk of dying from heart disease and two times greater risk of dying from any cause than those of normal weight with a normal waist - to - hip ratio. " people with normal weight may be less likely to feel the need for lifestyle changes, " explained lead researcher dr. francisco lopez - jimenez, a cardiologist at the mayo clinic in rochester, minn. " but, central obesity isn ' t healthy even in those with normal weight. " there are several reasons why central obesity may raise the risk of death, lopez - jimenez said. it increases insulin resistance, and people with central obesity tend to have less fat in areas where fat might be protective, such as the hips and legs, he said. people with central obesity also tend to have less muscle mass. for obese people, some of the risk is tempered by fat distribution, lopez - jiminez noted. obese people tend to have fat in those places where it may be protective, and they tend to have more muscle mass, he explained. for normal - weight people with central obesity, the only way to reduce the risk is to lose weight and build muscle mass, lopez - jimenez said, so that the weight is redistributed. " a healthy diet and exercise are the way to treat this problem. you do both, lose weight and build muscle mass, " he said. the findings were presented monday at the european society of cardiology congress in munich, germany. research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer - reviewed medical journal. for the study, lopez - jimenez ' s team collected data on more than 12, 000 men and women in the united states who took part in the third national health and nutrition examination survey. as part of the survey, participants had their weight, height, waist and hip size measured. in addition, the researchers matched data from the survey with the national death index. over 14 years of follow - up, more than 2, 500 people died. of those, more than 1, 100 deaths were due to cardiovascular disease. lopez - jimenez ' s group found the risk of dying from heart disease was 2. 75 times higher, and the risk of


up, more than 2, 500 people died. of those, more than 1, 100 deaths were due to cardiovascular disease. lopez - jimenez ' s group found the risk of dying from heart disease was 2. 75 times higher, and the risk of dying from any causes was 2. 08 times higher among those of normal weight with central obesity, compared with people of normal weight and normal waist - to - hip ratio. to make sure their results would reflect body type, the researchers excluded anyone in the survey who had cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. they also took into account age, sex, race, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. commenting on the study, dr. gregg fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the university of california, los angeles, explained that " central obesity is the presence of excess fat in the abdomen. in this condition, the amount of fat deposited in the abdomen is out of proportion to total body fat. " many studies have shown that central obesity is independently associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular events, fonarow noted. " in some studies, waist circumference or waist - hip ratio is a better predictor of risk than body mass index, " fonarow said. body mass index is a measurement based on a person ' s height and weight only. " in this new study, men and women in the normal body mass index category, but with increased waist - hip ratio had the highest cardiovascular mortality risk, even higher than those classified as obese by body mass index. this increased cardiovascular risk remained evident after risk factor adjustment, " he added. " this study further highlights the dangers associated with excess fat in the abdomen, " fonarow said. while the study reported an association between belly fat in normal - weight people and risk of death from heart disease, it did not prove that a cause - and - effect relationship exists. to determine your hip - to - waist ratio, visit the university of maryland. copyright © 2012 healthday. all rights reserved.


the journal pediatrics has published a new study : “ trends in survival among children with down syndrome in 10 regions of the united states. ” you can read the article ’ s abstract here. see below for a summary of the findings from this article. main finding from this study survival among people with down syndrome improved in the united states over time. importantly, the greatest improvement in survival was among babies with down syndrome who were born with low birth weight or born with a major heart defect. although small racial / ethnic differences in survival persist, these differences have lessened over time. about this study : - what is down syndrome? down syndrome is a condition in which a baby has an extra chromosome. chromosomes are small “ packages ” of genes in the body. they determine how a baby ’ s body forms during pregnancy and how, as the baby grows in the womb and after birth, the baby ’ s body functions. most people have 46 chromosomes. babies with down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. this extra copy changes the body ’ s and brain ’ s development and can cause mental and physical problems for the baby. - how common is down syndrome? down syndrome remains the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the united states. down syndrome affects about 1 out of every 700 infants born in the united states1. - what is currently known on this subject? people with down syndrome are more likely to die at a younger age than people without down syndrome. for example, babies born with down syndrome are five times more likely to die in their first year of life when compared to the general population 2. some studies have suggested that differences in survival exist between racial / ethnic groups. for example, black children with down syndrome are more likely to die at a younger age than white children with down syndrome2, 3. but it is not well understood why these differences in survival exist, nor is it known how this increased risk of death changes over the life course. - what were the study results? this study used data from 10 birth defects tracking programs in the united states to look at trends in the survival of children born with down syndrome. they also looked at what factors might impact survival of these individuals over time. - overall survival of people with down syndrome improved over time. - in this study, about 94 % of the babies born with down syndrome survived to one year of age, and in a subset of the data from regions with at least 20 years of follow - up, about 88 % survived to twenty years of age. -


this study, about 94 % of the babies born with down syndrome survived to one year of age, and in a subset of the data from regions with at least 20 years of follow - up, about 88 % survived to twenty years of age. - certain factors affect survival of people with down syndrome — - infants with down syndrome who were born of very low birth weight ( < 1500 grams ) were 24 times more likely to die in the first 28 days of life compared to infants of normal birth weight. - infants with down syndrome who were born with a major heart defect had a lower survival compared to those born without a major heart defect. having a major heart defect increased the risk for death across the lifespan. - non - hispanic black children with down syndrome were twice as likely to die during childhood and adolescence compared to non - hispanic white children with down syndrome. - why is this study important? this was the largest population - based study on survival of people with down syndrome. population - based means that the researchers look at all babies born with down syndrome who live in a defined study area, which is important to get a complete picture of what is happening within the population. this study provides estimates of survival of people with down syndrome that are the most representative of the u. s. population to date. these estimates can serve as a benchmark and for comparison with other countries. these estimates also could be useful for determining the need for local and regional resources to address the long - term needs of people with down syndrome. importantly, this study also identifies certain factors, including low birth weight and the presence of a major heart defect that might increase the risk for death among babies born with down syndrome. increasing awareness of the risks associated with these factors can help health care providers better address medical needs and promote health among people with down syndrome. down syndrome : cdc ’ s activities cdc ’ s national center on birth defects and developmental disabilities ( ncbddd ) is learning more about down syndrome by tracking the occurrence and conducting research. - surveillance or disease tracking : tracking where and when down syndrome occurs and the individuals it affects gives us important clues about opportunities to improve outcomes and help plan for services for affected families. - research : to understand how down syndrome impacts affected children and their families, cdc and its partners conduct studies on health service use, survival, and racial / ethnic disparities. - tools : cdc is collaborating to revise the down syndrome growth charts, which are commonly relied on to establish growth patterns and detect when growth problems occur. cdc and its partners continue to look


use, survival, and racial / ethnic disparities. - tools : cdc is collaborating to revise the down syndrome growth charts, which are commonly relied on to establish growth patterns and detect when growth problems occur. cdc and its partners continue to look at these issues to improve the lives of children and families affected by down syndrome. to learn more about down syndrome, please visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / ncbddd / birthdefects / downsyndrome. html - parker se, mai ct, canfield ma, et al. updated national birth prevalence estimates for selected birth defects in the united states, 2004 - 2006. birth defects res a clin mol teratol. 2010 ; 88 ( 12 ) : 1008 - 16. - shin m, kucik je, correa a. causes of death and case fatality rates among infants with down syndrome in metropolitan atlanta. birth defects res a clin mol teratol. 2007 ; 79 ( 11 ) : 775 - 80. - rasmussen sa, wong ly, correa a, gambrell d, friedman jm. survival of infants with down syndrome, metropolitan atlanta, 1979 - 1998. j pediatr. 2006 ; 148 ( 6 ) : 806 - 12. reference for key findings feature : kucik je, shin m, siffel c, marengo l, correa a for the congenital anomaly multistate prevalence and survival collaborative. trends in survival among children with down syndrome in 10 regions of the united states. pediatrics. 2012 [ epub ahead of print ].


about communion, communion supplies & protestant holy communion what is communion? communion celebrations in protestant churches are most often held weekly or monthly. the most common communion supplies used for the remembrance of jesus ’ last supper with the disciples are grape juice or wine and unleavened bread. christian communion is the sharing of a meal that remembers jesus ’ sacrifice and celebrates the redemption he gave to the world through his life, death and resurrection. why do we celebrate communion? christians believe christ instructed them to celebrate communion with these words : " this is my body, which is for you ; do this in remembrance of me. " 1 corinthians 11 : 24 sharing juice or wine in a chalice or in individual communion cups and breaking unleavened bread together is a core expression of christian faith. why unleavened bread? unleavened bread has traditionally been used as part of christian holy communion celebrations since christ ’ s last supper with the apostles. as part of the jewish passover, unleavened bread was a central part of the traditional jewish holiday celebrating the liberation of the people of israel from slavery in egypt. exodus 12 : 1 - 76 describes how, after the israelites were spared from the tenth plague which killed all first born in egypt, they were told to journey to the promised land. in their haste, they took dough with them before it had been leavened. in commemorating the fact that their first born were spared, or passed over, unleavened bread became a traditional part of the passover meal or “ seder. ” it was passover when jesus sat down with his disciples to share the last supper. unleavened bread was most certainly part of this meal. how do we celebrate communion? communion is celebrated in many different ways. many protestant churches use communion cups filled with grape juice, passed or served in round communion trays made out of brass or silver metals. a relatively new product, the prefilled communion cup with wafer is an all in one communion cup and wafer kit that has gained favor in recent years thanks to its convenience and healthier qualities. prefilled communion cups with wafers are an all in one communion cup with bread - wafer set that keeps the elements safely sealed until it is time to partake, eliminating extra handling. still, use of a common communion cup is the preference of some churches. in this case a cup or chalice of grape juice or wine is passed from church member to church member. is the new all in one communion cup with


eliminating extra handling. still, use of a common communion cup is the preference of some churches. in this case a cup or chalice of grape juice or wine is passed from church member to church member. is the new all in one communion cup with bread concept appealing to you and your church? for a limited time you can order free samples from celebrate communion! when a common communion cup is used, the faithful either take the bread or communion wafers separately, or may dip the bread or wafer into the cup prior to partaking. this act of dipping unleavened communion bread or wafers into a communion cup is called “ intinction. ” what else is communion called? while the frequency and manner in which communion is celebrated might vary from church to church or denomination to denomination, the other terms synonymous with communion are generally the same for all christians. other terms for communion include : • holy communion • the lord ’ s supper • the eucharist • breaking of the bread • sacrament of the table what does the bible say about communion? while they were eating, jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, " take and eat ; this is my body. " then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, " drink from it, all of you. this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. " matthew 26 : 26 - 28 ( niv ) while they were eating, jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, " take it ; this is my body. " then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. " this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. " mark 14 : 22 - 24 ( niv ) and he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, " this is my body given for you ; do this in remembrance of me. " in the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, " this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. " luke 22 : 19 - 20 ( niv ) is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of christ? and is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of christ? because there is one loaf, we, who are many,


8 : 04 pm est, december 22, 2012 when most people think of crime ’ s cost they immediately think of stolen valuables, cops on the street and the ever spiraling fortune spent keeping large portions of the population behind bars. but what about the burden of locking and unlocking your front door? centre college economics professor david anderson took into account both direct and less obvious financial hardships caused by criminal activity in his attempt to put a price tag on crime in the united states each year. his estimate was staggering : $ 1. 7 trillion. anderson, who has studied the economic impact of criminal activity in the past, published his article, “ the cost of crime ” earlier this year in the journal foundations and trends in microeconomics. although many reports are produced each year on what is spent for specific crime - related purposes, such as law enforcement or the court system, anderson ’ s may be the most comprehensive estimate of the burden for the country as a whole. anderson notes the country ’ s expenditures on policing, corrections and the criminal justice system, for which america annually spends in excess of $ 113 billion, $ 81 and $ 42 billion respectively. he also cites figures that show the number of individual victimizations declined dramatically between 1995 and 2010, going from 40 million to 18. 7 million. despite the drop in cases, anderson found crime ’ s toll is often less straightforward than the amount spent on prevention or punishment. that includes everything from the loss of productive time a criminal spends planning a caper to what the value of time lost to locking and unlocking doors — or sophisticated safes, depending on your level of worry. “ the indirect costs of crime include the opportunity cost of time lost to criminal activities, incarceration, crime prevention and recovery after victimization, ” anderson writes. “ the threat of crime elicits private expenditures on deterrents such as locks, safety lighting, security fences, alarm systems, anti - virus software programs and armored car services. ” anderson ’ s findings also indicate some of the burden may have shifted. he writes that crime - induced production, which are expenses that would be unnecessary in the absence of crime or the threat of crime, are about $ 646 billion a year. of that, $ 300 billion was spent on private efforts to prevent crime. the booming personal security industry is an indicator of what anderson called the “ environment of crime. ” while the modern lament about how “ no one used to lock their doors at night ” in small towns across the country is one indicator of that environment


. the booming personal security industry is an indicator of what anderson called the “ environment of crime. ” while the modern lament about how “ no one used to lock their doors at night ” in small towns across the country is one indicator of that environment, the $ 36 billion people spend each year on home security systems is even more striking. the variety of crime, and the resulting necessity to stop it, were also factored in to anderson ’ s estimate. adoption of computer systems and the ascendency of the internet have created an entire new avenue for criminals and a market for preventative software. anderson includes figures from an fbi survey that found businesses alone spend $ 78. 1 billion each year on computer viruses and computer security incidents. while local or national trends may have a more sublet effect, some crimes have a sudden impact on the individual and collective psyche of americans. around the time of the october vice presidential debate on centre ’ s campus, anderson had only to look out his window to see the scale of crime prevention measures brought on in large part by the 2001 terrorist attacks on the world trade center. the newtown, conn., school massacre last week served as heart rending example of the how even distant acts impact all parts of the country. anderson said events like what happened in newtown, while uncommon, consume both time and mental and emotional energy on a broad scale. sensational crimes that hold the national attention also contribute to what anderson calls the environment of crime. in the case of newtown and other school shootings, a relatively safe place becomes one fraught with potential dangers people will try to mitigate with costly solutions. just as the costs of criminal activity are more diverse than theft prevention or paying for bricks and bars, anderson believes the country as a whole needs to look at varied ways of reducing the overall impact on society. anderson would like to see schools create anger management lessons and other types of instruction that nurture emotional development included in curriculums. he pointed to the recurrence of costly white collar cases as evidence of the need for more ethics education in classrooms. “ i think it is important to have discussions of how you deal with anger, but also the repercussions of criminal activity, ” anderson said. “ even if it is just spray painting a building or some other kind of vandalism, there are so many costs associated with that and it is part of creating an environment of crime. i also think there is value and real importance in having people think, from a young age, about what is right and wrong


building responsibly for future generations. sustainable building design. discover how respecting nature, preserving resources and building habitats with sensitivity to the world around us is actually good business. certainteed building science supports sustainable design in an effort to minimize the negative impact humans have on our natural surroundings, materials, and resources. it also ensures consistent high performance over the full lifecycle of the building. the overall objective of sustainability is to provide for the needs of the present without detracting from the needs of the future. sustainable building projects should result in an optimal balance of cost, environmental, societal, and human benefits, while meeting the mission and function of the intended facility. the sustainable building portion of the certainteed website is a robust resource covering the roots of sustainable design as well as the latest understandings in high performance products and solutions that deliver sustainability over the full lifecycle of the building. certainteed supports the leed ( leadership in energy and environmental design ) and nahb national green building standard. our resources provide information and insight into how to design and build with the standards and sustainability in mind. our goal is to provide the science and material solutions you need to reduce the consumption of non - renewable resources and energy, minimize waste, conserve water, and create productive, healthy environments for the future. get more information on how certainteed is sustainable by visiting the certainteed building responsibly sitelette. building science home


centrifugal pumps are ubiquitous at process plants but many users don ' t understand how to select and install them. some strict rules apply and the devil is in the details. so, this article presents some pointers i ' ve gleaned over the years. pump selection should start with the system curve. plants that supply vendors with a system curve have addressed 80 % of the pump selection process. unfortunately, plant - supplied system curves are rare and this leads to excessive costs. developing the curve first requires establishing the piping lay out, allowable system pressures and flow rates. once isometrics are drawn, you can calculate and graph the system curve. the pressure / flow rate plot should represent the changes that flow will experience over the life of the process. this plot is essential for the pump vendor to make a valid recommendation. the only other plot needed is the range of net positive suction head available ( npsha ) the pump can experience. determining the total npsha requires calculating suction - side static, velocity and friction heads. you should compare these plots to the pump curve the vendor supplies. the intersection of the system curve and the pump curve represents the ideal design point. comparing the npsha to the net positive suction head required ( npshr ) will indicate if the pump is a viable candidate. when selecting between two particular pumps, try to choose the one with the greatest distance between its maximum and minimum wheel ( impeller ) size shown on the pump curve. specifying a pump with a wheel diameter nears its minimum means you can ' t shave the impeller down to adapt to process changes. installing the largest possible wheel means you can ' t debottleneck the process later by increasing the wheel diameter, and will need to purchase a new pump. comparing pump curves requires engineering judgment and experience. sometimes, though, the choice is clear. for instance, figure 1 shows curves for two pumps — one, an a - frame, with a recommended wheel of 9. 25 inches ; the other, an s - frame, with a 6. 13 - inch wheel. both pumps will operate at the same flow rates when compared to the system curve. however, the larger a - frame pump has an impeller only 0. 25 inch larger than the minimum size for that pump. in contrast, the impeller for the s - frame is about halfway between the minimum and maximum sizes. clearly, the s - frame pump provides more flexibility to accommodate changes. a smaller wheel has a higher npshr and lower required power


* before christ * till crusades * post crusades * it ' s christmas * catholic 1 * catholic 2 * s. francesco * pictures 1 * pictures 2 * pictures 3 * pictures 4 from justinian to the crusaders in 527 justinian became emperor of the byzantine empire. his reign was one of great prosperity and expansion for the churches, but not for the non - christians. in 529 the samaritans revolted. spreading from nablus, they plundered the countryside. the rising was soon quelled and the samaritans in great part exterminated. according to a posterior source ( eutichius of alexandria ) the rebuilding of the church in bethlehem is attributed to this emperor. this same source says that the emperor himself was not " satisfied " with the job carried out by his architects who had pulled the constantinian church down, damaged during the samaritan uprising, and built in its place a new one. the emperor found that this new church was " dark " and he even accused the architect of wasting the empire ' s money. so much was his dissatisfaction that the architect was executed! whatever was the emperor ' s judgement about this new church remains the fact that it survived time and history and today is still standing at the site of the nativity. the essential form of the church has not altered since but the original plan of the constantine edifice was modified. the atrium was raised to o higher level. the fasade retreated back about two metres. the constantinian mosaic floor was covered up with two feet of imported soil and a new marble pavement was laid at a higher level. the lower part of the interior walls was also covered with marble and the upper parts with mosaics. it was one of these mosaic scenes that spared the church from destruction during the persian invasion ( 614 ad ). this is what a ninth century greek document states : " ( when the persians ) arrived at bethlehem, they saw with awe the figures of the persian wise men, star - gazers, their country folk. for the respect and love towards their ancestors they revered them as if they were still alive and spared the church. that is why it is still standing today ". the main modification to the constantinian church plan was performed at the " sacred area " above the grotto. this was enlarged to the east, north and south in each being added an apse to create a cross - form basilica. the canopy was substituted by a " crescent shaped " ( semicircular ) presbytery leaving


above the grotto. this was enlarged to the east, north and south in each being added an apse to create a cross - form basilica. the canopy was substituted by a " crescent shaped " ( semicircular ) presbytery leaving access all around it. it is at this time that the two side entrances were opened. it is also at this time that the whole grotto was vaulted in stone and an altar on the easter side built under which the " exact birth - site of jesus " started to be venerated. with the occupation of palestine by the islamic army we assist to a gradual decline of the christian presence. the caliph omar visited bethlehem and promised that the moslems would pray in the church as individuals only, without assembly or muezzin. at christmas time members of both religions performed their devotions together in the church and on the whole lived on peaceful terms due to the common respect of moslems and christians for the birth - place of jesus and to the money paid by the christians as a price of peace. this probably saved the church from the orders of the caliph hakim in 1009. samuel did what the lord said. when he arrived at bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. they asked, " do you come in peace? " samuel replied, " yes, in peace ; i have come to sacrifice to the lord. consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me. " then he consecrated jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. when they arrived, samuel saw eliab and thought, " surely the lord ' s anointed stands here before the lord. " but the lord said to samuel, " do not consider his appearance or his height, for i have rejected him. the lord does not look at the things man looks at. man looks at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart. " then jesse called abinadab and had him pass in front of samuel. but samuel said, " the lord has not chosen this one either. " jesse then had shammah pass by, but samuel said, " nor has the lord chosen this one. " jesse had seven of his sons pass before samuel, but samuel said to him, " the lord has not chosen these. " so he asked jesse, " are these all the sons you have? " " there is still the youngest, " the arrival of the crusaders in 1099 changed things for the better. the crusader army under godfrey de bouillon


chosen these. " so he asked jesse, " are these all the sons you have? " " there is still the youngest, " the arrival of the crusaders in 1099 changed things for the better. the crusader army under godfrey de bouillon was resting at emmaus, when messengers arrived from bethlehem requesting aid against the saracens of the villages who were about to attack bethlehem. tancred with one hundred knights was dispatched and in the morning the flag of tancred was raised over the basilica. from that day the normans regarded the church of the nativity as something peculiarly their own. on christmas day, 1100, baldwin the first king of the latin kingdom was crowned in bethlehem. his successor baldwin ii followed his example in 1122. the crusaders did not have to do restoration of the church as it seems that it was in a good state. but to the north side of the church they built a cloister and monastery which was given to the canons of st. augustine. the restoration affected most of the church. the walls below the architraves were covered with white marble : above were coloured or gilt mosaics of glass and mother - of - pearl. although time and man have destroyed much of this splendid work we can, through literary sources, know exactly what was represented. in the absidal semi - dome a dominant virgin mary with her son jesus. in the absidal arch the annunciation scene flanked by two biblical figures : abraham and david. on the lower walls of the apse scenes from the life of mary based on the apocryphal writings. greek and latin inscriptions praised the latin crusader king amalircus, bishop radolfus and the byzantine emperor commenus. a date at the foot of this work dated the mosaic : 1169 a. d.. in the northern transept the scenes of the bewilderment of thomas and ascension while in the southern transepts scenes depicting the transfiguration and the entry of jesus in jerusalem. these scenes, parts of them still visible, had latin inscriptions. the upper part of the central nave was also decorated with this golden mosaic, of which large parts are still visible. in the space between the windows a procession of angels, all moving towards east ( as if going to adore baby jesus in the holy grotto ). at the foot of one of the angels the signature of one of the artists " basilius pictor ". under the windowsills, in very elaborate architecture compositions a synthesis, in greek


to adore baby jesus in the holy grotto ). at the foot of one of the angels the signature of one of the artists " basilius pictor ". under the windowsills, in very elaborate architecture compositions a synthesis, in greek, of the principal decisions of the main ecumenical and provincial councils of the church. these greek and latin inscriptions in the same works reflects the short period of peace between the latin and greek worlds. the northern and southern frieze above the cedar wood architrave contained portraits of the ancestors of jesus, the former based on the gospel of matthew ( 1, 1 - 16 ) while the latter based on that of luke ( 3, 23 - 38 ). of these medallions only the first eight on the northern frieze survived. during this period the roof of cedar wood was covered with lead. the two entrances to the holy grotto received their present monumental form. the rosy columns of the central nave, made from the red stone of bethlehem, were depicted with figures of our lady, eastern saints ( st. macarius, st. euthimius, st. saba, st. theodosius, st. george.... ) and western saints ( s. cathaldus of taranto, s. canutos of denmark, st. olaph of norway... ). with the fall of jerusalem, things went bad for bethlehem. in 1192 hubert walter, the bishop of salisbury, obtained permission from saladin for two priests and two deacons of the latin rite to remain in bethlehem, but now a moslem guard sat at the door collecting fees. the treaty of 1229 between frederick ii and sultan kamil mohammed restored temporarily bethlehem to the franks, but ten years later the church was in financial straits under the mismanagement of bishop giovanni romano. his successor godfrey de prefetti tried to repair the losses. godfrey had been the holder of two benefices in england, long kensington and coleby and he visited france and england to get funds. he had some success and was back in palestine in 1253. three years later he helped to negotiate marriages between the royal families of england and cyprus : hugh ii and dowager queen of cyprus with a daughter and son of edward i of england. when bibars came into power, palestine suffered. in 1263 he ordered the destruction of bethlehem, but the church somehow escaped. when finally the crusaders were driven from palestine in 1291, the moslem rulers used the holy places for


dose comparison of amino acids on growth in premature neonates malnutrition is a common problem in the neonatal intensive care unit. recent studies indicate that prematurely born neonates commonly develop a severe nutritional deficit during the first weeks after birth, referred to as extrauterine growth restriction. despite an increase in growth during the second month of hospitalization, many neonates are ultimately discharged home having grown inadequately. the early nutritional deficit affects weight gain as well as growth in length and head circumference. growth measurements such as weight, length, and head circumference, however, are macroscopic measures of nutritional status and underestimate the physiologic consequences of prolonged nutritional deprivation. energy and micronutrient deficiencies alter growth at a cellular and tissue level before macroscopic measures are altered. in the brain, for instance, energy is required for cell division and neuronal growth, glial cell function, and myelination. energy deprivation may consequently alter neuronal function and growth, resulting in adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. immunocompetence also appears to be sensitive to the untoward effects of energy and nutritional deficiency. malnourished neonates often exhibit immune deficiencies related to inadequate protein intake that compound an already immature immune system. such immunodeficiency results in susceptibility to infectious agents that creates substantial morbidity and mortality to the course of intensive care for premature infants. a recent study suggests that postnatal malnutrition and growth restriction are inevitable if current recommended dietary intakes are followed. multicenter studies show that variation in dietary intake accounts for 45 % of the variation in growth. hence, efforts have focused on determining whether nutritional deficiency and the observed growth restriction of premature infants can be prevented through the use of more optimal nutritional intake. in addition, inadequate protein support may be a primary cause for growth failure. based on animal studies showing high in utero amino acid flux observed during the latter phase of gestation, thureen et al have suggested the use of higher doses of amino acid supplementation in order to minimize growth restriction and improve outcomes of premature infants. however there are no large human trials that demonstrate that this approach promotes better growth or that it is safe. while small doses of amino acids may be inadequate to promote normal growth, high doses may lead to elevated serum amino acid levels and increase the occurrence of toxicity. through the implementation of a multicenter, randomized trial and tandem mass spectrometry, the


doses of amino acids may be inadequate to promote normal growth, high doses may lead to elevated serum amino acid levels and increase the occurrence of toxicity. through the implementation of a multicenter, randomized trial and tandem mass spectrometry, the investigators propose to evaluate the effects of two distinct strategies of amino acid supplementation on serum amino acid profiles and growth of premature infants during the first 28 days of life. | study design : | | allocation : randomized endpoint classification : safety / efficacy study intervention model : parallel assignment primary purpose : treatment | official title : | | randomized control trial evaluating the effect of two different doses of amino acids on growth and serum amino acids in premature neonates admitted to the nicu | - the primary outcome is growth velocity for first 28 days of life calculated as : weight gain, head circumference, length - secondary outcomes include serum amino acid profiles measured on : day 7 of life, day 28 of life | study start date : | | august 2005 | | estimated study completion date : | | june 2006 | | united states, south carolina | | mcleod regional medical center | | florence, south carolina, united states, 29506 | | principal investigator : | | reese clark, md | | pediatrix medical group, inc. |