cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A residential recovery program for homeless alcoholics: differences in program recruitment and retention.

This paper describes the Sober Transitional Housing and Employment Project (STHEP), a longterm residential recovery program in Los Angeles for homeless alcoholics. This NIAAA community demonstration project aimed to reintegrate homeless alcoholics into the urban environment and to increase levels of sobriety, housing, and employment. Participants first completed a 90-day program in a rural location and then transferred to a downtown recovery home for an additional 120 days. Services included enhanced vocational and housing assistance and specialized group activities. The evaluation examined patterns of recruitment and program retention, in comparison to a control group which received only the first phase, without enhanced services. Whites, women, and younger residents were less likely to sign up for the project waiting list and to accept entry into the project when randomized. STHEP participants were more likely to complete the first phase, particularly black males, compared to the control group. Upon completion of the second phase, whites were more likely to discharge to a rental situation, blacks to a sober group living facility, and women to live with others. Differences in program recruitment and completion may be explained by employment history, economic status, and gender, race, and age differences in subsistence patterns while homeless. The findings suggest the need for program planners to take into consideration the diverse backgrounds and needs of homeless alcoholics and to match individual needs to services.
Adult Intelligence and Learning Ability

This study analyzed relationships between WAIS and achievement scores of 207 adult learners who studied nine topics using pro gramed materials. Zero- and first-order correlations were com puted between each of 10 learning topic scores and each of 17 WAIS scores. All but one of the correlations were statistically significant. The correlation between a composite learning topic score and the WAIS full-scaled score was .78. Correlations be tween the WAIS and topic scores ranged from .53 to .70 indicat ing that intelligence is highly correlated with certain learning abilities. Adult intelligence tests can be used to diagnose learner ability, to facilitate program design, as a control variable for program evaluation studies, for validation of achievement tests, and as control variables for learning research.
The Energy Spectrum of Energetic Particles Downstream of Turbulent Collisionless Shocks

Using simple analytic considerations, numerical simulations, and data analysis, we discuss the physics of charged-particle acceleration by turbulent, rippled, collisionless shocks. The standard theory of diffusive shock acceleration predicts that the energetic-particle energy spectrum, in the region of shocked plasma, is a function of the plasma density jump. But because of the interaction of the shock with plasma turbulence, the jump in plasma density varies in time and from place to place on the shock front. Here we show that for reasonable parameters, the shape of the energetic-particle energy spectra downstream of any given shock is nearly independent of location along the shock front, even though the density jump varies. This is because energetic particles are mobile and sample many turbulent fluctuations during their acceleration. This result holds for shocks having smaller scale ripples than the large-scale radius of curvature (Dc) of the shock. Thus, it applies to the interpretation of spacecraft observations of traveling interplanetary shocks provided the spacecraft separation is less than Dc. This result is confirmed with simple analytic considerations and numerical simulations that solve the combined magnetohydrodynamic equations for a plasma and energetic test particles using the well-known Parker transport equation. This conclusion is further supported by our analysis of ACE and Geotail observations of a few interplanetary shocks.
Introduction to nuclear reactions

When we wish to observe an object, we usually illuminate it with a beam of light. The light is then reflected, refracted, diffracted, absorbed, in various ways. By interpreting our measurements on the scattered light, we learn about the shape and size of the object and its other properties. For example, we may learn whether the object is transparent or opaque; if the former, we may measure its refractive index, if the latter, we can find its absorptivity, and so on. If we study further by using monochromatic light, we find these various properties vary with the wavelength (in particular, we may find the object is coloured; i.e. it preferentially scatters light of a particular wavelength). In some cases we may find more than just scattering or absorption of the light. The object may continue to re-emit light after the incident beam is removed (phosphorescence), it may emit radiation of a different wavelength from that used to illuminate it (fluorescence) or it may emit radiation of a different kind (e.g. electrons in the photo effect).
Mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus neurons projecting to the dorsal raphe and pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus: psychostimulant-elicited Fos expression and collateralization

The mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) is a GABAergic structure in the ventral midbrain and rostral pons that, when activated, inhibits dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra compacta. Additional strong outputs from the RMTg to the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus pars dissipata, dorsal raphe nucleus, and the pontomedullary gigantocellular reticular formation were identified by anterograde tracing. RMTg neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area express the immediate early gene Fos upon psychostimulant administration. The present study was undertaken to determine if neurons in the RMTg that project to the additional structures listed above also express Fos upon psychostimulant administration and, if so, whether single neurons in the RMTg project to more than one of these structures. We found that about 50% of RMTg neurons exhibiting retrograde labeling after injections of retrograde tracer in the dorsal raphe or pars dissipata of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus express Fos after acute methamphetamine exposure. Also, we observed that a significant number of RMTg neurons project both to the ventral tegmental area and one of these structures. In contrast, methamphetamine-elicited Fos expression was not observed in RMTg neurons labeled with retrograde tracer following injections into the pontomedullary reticular formation. The findings suggest that the RMTg is an integrative modulator of multiple rostrally projecting structures.
Locus of control, type of stressor, and appraisal within a cognitive-phenomenological model of stress

Abstract Measures of appraisal, situational stressor, and locus of control were administered to first- and second-year medical students (n = 433). Based on a cognitive-phenomenological model of stress, it was hypothesized that appraisals of threat/challenge and change/accept would be related to locus of control differentially depending on the type of stressor or situation appraised. Three types of stressors were examined related to the academic environment, social/familial issues, and personal performance. Internals and externals did not differ in their appraisal of social stressors. Internals, compared with externals, perceived less threat and more mutability when appraising personal performance stressors. In contrast, when appraising stressors in the academic environment internals actually perceived less mutability than externals. More importantly, however, internals accepted academic stressors perceived to be unchangeable, whereas externals did not. The observed I-E/situational stressor interactions were in line with expectations from existing theory. The fact that appraisal was better predicted by the interaction of person and situation factors rather than by either factor alone lends support to a cognitive-phenomenological model of stress.
Using key informant insights as a foundation for e-retailing theory development

Abstract Retailers are experiencing varying degrees of success as they strive to incorporate Internet technology into traditional retail formats. Although a variety of explanations for uncertainty surrounding electronic retailing (e-retailing) have been offered, the lack of a sound theoretical framework driving e-retailing decisions is at the heart of challenges facing Internet retailers. We argue that the Internet represents a sufficiently unique retail environment that practitioners and academicians alike should approach the development of knowledge and understanding in this arena in a mode of “discovery.” As such, qualitative and exploratory research methods can contribute significantly to e-retailing theory and decision-making frameworks. We present results of a key informant study of e-retailers, and provide the theoretical foundation for a model for effective integration of the Internet into the retail mix.
Residual neuropsychological deficits following head-injury on the wechsler memory scale-revised

Abstract The Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) was administered to 13 individuals with normal premorbid abilities who had experienced moderate to severe head injuries at least 1 year previously. Results were compared to performance on the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT), and the Paced Auditory Serial-Addition Task (PASAT). The findings in the present sample of head-injured individuals indicated greater construct validity for the WMS-R Indexes of Verbal, Visual, and Delayed Memory than for the Attention Concentration Index. Further research is suggested to replicate and clarify these findings, and it is further recommended that additional measures of attention and concentration be used to supplement the WMS-R in clinical practice.
Multiple effects of nicotine on behavior: a reply to Frenk and Dar (2003)

In Donny et al. (2003), we proposed the hypothesis that nicotine “may support behavior in two ways: by acting as a primary reinforcer and by directly potentiating the reinforcing effects of other stimuli.” Frenk and Dar (2003) favor an alternative hypothesis, that nicotine merely activates ongoing behavior, neither reinforcing specific behaviors nor facilitating the ability of other stimuli to do so. Here, we highlight some of the evidence for our hypothesis and explain why behavioral activation does not adequately account for the available data. Before presenting these data, we want to identify clearly the alternative hypothesis Frenk and Dar are proposing (Frenk and Dar 2000, 2003; Dar and Frenk 2002). They suggest that lever pressing is a consequence of prior food training and/or non-drug stimuli that either act as unconditioned reinforcers, or conditioned reinforcers (as a consequence of their pairing with food). From their perspective, the role of nicotine is simply to facilitate ongoing behavior, not to reinforce it. Nicotine acts as a reinforcer
A novel machine interface for scaled telesurgery

We have developed a system architecture that will allow a surgeon to employ direct hand-eye coordination to conduct medical procedures in a remote microscopic environment. In this system, a scaled real-time video image of the workspace of a small robotic arm, taken from a surgical microscope camera, is visually superimposed on the natural workspace of a surgeon via a half-silvered mirror. The robot arm holds a small tool, such as a microsurgical needle holder or microsurgical forceps, and the surgeon grasps a second tool connected to a position encoder, in this case a second robot arm. The views of the local and remote environments are superimposed such that the tools in the local and remote environments are visually merged. The position encoder and small robot arm are linked such that movement of the tool by the operator produces scaled-down movement by the small robot tool. To the surgeon, it seems that his hands and the tool he or she is holding is moving and interacting with the remote environment, which is really microscopic and at a distance. Our current work focuses on using a position-controlled master-slave robot linkage of two 3 degree of freedom haptic devices, and we are pursuing the use of a 6-to-7 degree of freedom master-slave linkage to produce more realistic interaction.
Canopy Cover and Leaf Area Index Relationships for Wheat, Triticale, and Corn

AbstrAct Previously collected data sets that would be useful for calibrating and validating AquaCrop contain only leaf area index (LAI) data but could be used if relationships were available relating LAI to canopy cover (CC). The objective of this experiment was to determine relationships between LAI and CC for corn ( Zea mays L.), winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.), and spring triticale (´ Triticosecale spp.) grown under dryland or very limited irrigation conditions. The LAI and CC data were collected during 2010 and 2011 at Akron, CO, and Sidney, NE, using a plant canopy analyzer and point analysis of above-canopy digital photographs. Strong relationships were found between LAI and CC that followed the exponential rise to a maximum form. The relationship for corn was similar to a previously published relationship for LAI <2 m 2 m –2 but predicted lower CC for greater LAI. Relationships for wheat and triticale were similar to each other. D.C. Nielsen, USDA-ARS Central Great Plains Research Station, 40335 County Road GG, Akron, CO 80720; J.J. Miceli-Garcia, LI-COR Biosciences, 4647 Superior Street, Lincoln, NE 68504; D.J. Lyon, Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, Univ. of Nebraska, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA is an equal opportunity employer. Received 28 Mar. 2012. *Corresponding author (david.nielsen@ars.usda.gov).
A new growth medium for the study of siderophore-mediated interactions

A microbial growth medium, RSM, was developed to study the role of siderophores (microbial Fe-transport compounds) in the inhibition of the take-all pathogen, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, by Pseudomonas putida strain B10. The inorganic constituents of the medium were designed to mimic the rhizosphere while the organic composition was designed to promote rapid growth and siderophore production. The antibiosis experiments were highly reproducible and the antagonism appeared to be due to production of pseudobactin, the siderophore of B10. On plates amended with chrome azurol S, G. graminis did not produce siderophores while other fungi did. The growth of G. graminis on plates prepared with Fe chelate buffers was inhibited at a free ferric ion concentration of 10−24.6 M, although three other fungi were not inhibited, even at 10−25.5 M, presumably due to their greater production of siderophores. In liquid medium amended with Fe chelate buffers, both the doubling time and the lag phase of P. putida increased as the free ferric ion concentration was reduced. A wide variety of fungi and bacteria were found to grow on this medium. Because the inorganic composition of RSM is based on that of the rhizosphere, the development of this medium may be a first step towards the study of the chemistry and biology of the rhizosphere under well defined conditions.
The hardness of composites as a function of temperature.

Summary The microhardness of conventional, posterior and microfil composites were measured as a function of temperature in an aqueous environment. With the exception of one posterior composite and two microfils, the composites suffered dramatic decreases in hardness (of the order of 30–50%) over temperature intervals corresponding to that encountered in oral service. In those systems which did not display hardness changes, interactions between glass and matrix as well as enhanced filler packing may be important.
Shear induced structures and transformations in complex fluids

Abstract Shear induces a wide variety of structural transformations in complex fluids. The complexity of the subject guarantees that this will remain an active field for some time to come. A brief review of the current literature on the subject is given, and an attempt to extract general or unifying themes is made. Some general trends and weaknesses in the direction of current research are identified and suggestions made.
Multivariate curve resolution for the analysis of remotely sensed thermal infrared hyperspectral images.

While hyperspectral imaging systems are increasingly used in remote sensing and offer enhanced scene characterization relative to univariate and multispectral technologies, it has proven difficult in practice to extract all of the useful information from these systems due to overwhelming data volume, confounding atmospheric effects, and the limited a priori knowledge regarding the scene. The need exists for the ability to perform rapid and comprehensive data exploitation of remotely sensed hyperspectral imagery. To address this need, this paper describes the application of a fast and rigorous multivariate curve resolution (MCR) algorithm to remotely sensed thermal infrared hyperspectral images. Employing minimal a priori knowledge, notably non-negativity constraints on the extracted endmember profiles and a constant abundance constraint for the atmospheric upwelling component, it is demonstrated that MCR can successfully compensate thermal infrared hyperspectral images for atmospheric upwelling and, thereby, transmittance effects. We take a semi-synthetic approach to obtaining image data containing gas plumes by adding emission gas signals onto real hyperspectral images. MCR can accurately estimate the relative spectral absorption coefficients and thermal contrast distribution of an ammonia gas plume component added near the minimum detectable quantity.
African-American race is associated with a poorer overall survival rate for breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy

BACKGROUND. African-American (AA) race has been associated with a worse outcome in breast cancer. It is unclear whether this is due to biological factors, socioeconomic factors, or both. METHODS. The records from 2 independent cohorts of breast cancer patients treated on institutional protocols with mastectomy and adjuvant (n = 1456) or neoadjuvant (n = 684) doxorubicin-based chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS. The adjuvant (Adj) chemotherapy cohort included 1142 Caucasian (CA), 186 Hispanic (HI), and 128 (AA) patients. The neoadjuvant (Neo) chemotherapy protocols included 448 CA, 114 HI, and 122 AA patients. In both groups, AA patients had later-stage tumors (Adj P = .017; Neo P = .051), a higher rate of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative disease (Adj P = .054; Neo P = .039), and a worse 10-year actuarial overall survival rate than CA or HI patients (Adj, 52%, 62%, and 62%, respectively, P = .009; Neo, 40%, 50%, and 56%, respectively, P = .015). In multivariate analyses, AA race remained independently associated with a poorer overall survival rate in both cohorts (Adj, hazard ratio = 1.39, P = .018; Neo, hazard ratio = 1.37, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS. The data suggest that AA race is associated with less favorable biological tumor features, such as an increased likelihood of ER-negative disease, than those found in CA and HI patients. Such differences in tumor biology, as well as previously described socioeconomic factors, likely contribute to the lower rate of survival in the AA breast cancer population. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Improved Syntheses of Non-dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Some of Their Sulfur-containing Metabolites

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are an important group of environmental pollutants that have been associated with adverse human health effects. Despite recent advances in their synthesis, the availability of PCB congeners in sufficient quantity and purity still represents one obstacle in the investigation of their biological effects. We report herein improved syntheses of PCB congeners (and their metabolites) containing two or more ortho-chlorine substituents. The Suzuki coupling reaction at 110 °C yielded PCB congeners with a 2,2'-substitution pattern in good yields (78-99%), but failed to give PCB congeners with 3 or 4 ortho chlorine substituents. Symmetrically substituted PCB congeners with multiple ortho chlorine substituents were obtained in 20-52% yields using a modified Ullmann coupling reaction. The yield of the coupling increased with increasing degree of chlorination of the starting material. The modified Ullmann coupling reaction employed much milder reaction conditions (copper-bronze/CuCl in N-methylpyrrolidinone, 110 °C) and, therefore, appears to be advantageous compared to the classical Ullmann coupling reaction (copper-bronze, no solvent, 230 °C). PCBs 136 and 155 prepared via the modified Ullmann coupling reaction were nitrated and reduced with Na(2)S(2)O(4) to the corresponding amino-PCBs. Subsequently, the amino-PCBs were converted into sulfur-containing PCB metabolites or PCB 184 via the corresponding diazonium salt. These modified reaction conditions allow the synthesis of large quantities of pure, non-dioxin-like PCB congeners and their sulfur-containing metabolites for environmental and toxicological studies by overcoming problems associated with classical PCB synthesis strategies.
Clinical features of misdiagnosed appendicitis in children.

Study objective: To compare clinical features of children with misdiagnosed appendicitis with those of children with appendicitis initially diagnosed correctly. Design: Retrospective review of hospital, emergency department, and clinic records. Setting: University medical center with annual ED census of 40,000 patients. Participants: Children less than 13 years old admitted between May 1, 1979, and April 30, 1989, with a discharge diagnosis of appendicitis. Measurements: Records were reviewed for historical, physical examination, laboratory, and pathologic features for all patients on their initial presentation to a physician and on final presentation during which the correct diagnosis was made. Using χ 2 analysis and Student's t test, clinical features of misdiagnosed patients and patients diagnosed correctly were compared. Results: One hundred eighty-one cases were identified with 50 initially misdiagnosed. On initial presentation, misdiagnosed patients were younger and more likely to have vomiting before pain onset, constipation, diarrhea, dysuria, and signs and symptoms of upper respiratory infections. Misdiagnosed cases were less likely to have right lower quadrant tenderness and documentation of bowel sounds, peritoneal signs, and rectal examinations. On final presentation, misdiagnosed patients were more likely to have pain duration of more than two days, temperature of more than 38.3 C, and to appear lethargic and irritable ( P Conclusion: Clinical features of children with misdiagnosed appendicitis differ from those of children with appendicitis initially diagnosed correctly.
Sensitivity of mononuclear cells to PUVA: effect on subsequent stimulation with mitogens and on exclusion of trypan blue dye

Summary In vitro exposure of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to UV-A radiation in the presence of methoxsalen produced a dose-dependent decrease in both trypan blue dye exclusion and in response to mitogen stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin, concanavalin-A and pokeweed mitogen. The doses of drug and radiation required to produce these effects are similar to the doses used in oral psoralen phorochemotherapy, suggesting that this treatment may have a direct effect on lymphocytes in vivo.
Oriented, single domain Fe nanoparticle layers in single crystal yttria-stabilized zirconia

To create an ensemble of oriented, single crystal particles of iron, Fe ions were implanted into the near-surface region of single crystal yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). With thermal processing, the implanted species precipitated to form faceted, predominantly single domain ferromagnetic nanoparticles. The YSZ substrate isolates, protects, and crystallographically textures the nanoparticles, creating a magnetically anisotropic layer. Experimental studies of the magnetization M(H,T) at various orientations of the applied field H show a major distinction only between H /spl par/ n/spl circ/ (hard direction) and H /spl perp/ n/spl circ/ (easy direction) where n/spl circ/ is the surface normal; there is little angular variation within the plane. This feature and the behavior of the orientationally dependent coercive field H/sub c/ and magnetic remanence M/sub r/ are attributed to magnetostatic interactions between the particles. Non-interacting single-domain particles should show a Stoner-Wohlfarth-like behavior that is poorly approximated in this far-from-close-packed system.
Development of a brief questionnaire to assess contraceptive intent.

Objective We sought to develop and validate an instrument that can enable providers to identify young women who may be at risk of contraceptive non-adherence.
Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of electron-irradiated lithium sulfate at liquid nitrogen temperature

Abstract Single crystals of Li 2 SO 4 · H 2 O have been grown with labeled Li- and H-isotopes near room temperature, and irradiated in 1 MeV electron beams near 77°K. EPR studies of the irradiated samples have also been conducted near 77°K, without warming the samples. The anisotropic spectra with resolved proton (or deuteron) hyperfine structure are satisfactorily described in terms of a spin Hamiltonian consisting of a Zeeman term and a proton (or deuteron) hyperfine interaction term where both the g -tensor and the hyperfine tensor are axially symmetric. The Li-hyperfine interaction is not needed to describe the observed anisotropy, and its only noticeable effect is on the width of individual hyperfine lines. The defect of axial symmetry responsible for the spectra is probably an OH radical with insignificant bonding to its neighbor. If Ziegler's crystallographic data are taken to be correct, the defect is oriented very closely to the direction of O 5 -O 4 .
Magnetic Field Measurements of LHC Inner Triplet Quadrupoles Fabricated at Fermilab

Fermilab, as part of the US-LHC Accelerator Project, is producing superconducting low-beta quadrupole magnets for the large hadron collider (LHC). These 5.5 m long magnets are designed to operate in superfluid helium at 1.9 K with a nominal gradient of 205 T/m in the 70 mm bore. Two quadrupoles separated by a dipole orbit corrector in a single cryogenic assembly comprise the Q2 optical elements of the final focus triplets in the LHC interaction regions. The field quality of the quadrupoles is measured at room temperature during construction of the cold masses as well as during cold testing of the cryogenic assembly. We summarize data from the series measurements of the magnets and discuss various topics of interest.
Helicobacter pylori-negative Russell body gastritis: does the diagnosis call for screening for plasmacytic malignancies, especially multiple myeloma?

Russell body gastritis (RBG) is a rare entity with unestablished pathophysiology, endoscopic findings, clinical manifestations and treatments. Literature is scarce on this clinical entity with unclear clinical significance. Of 18 cases reported, 12 tested (+) for Helicobacter pylori and improved with treatment, but it remains unclear whether this link is coincidental or bears some clinical significance. We describe a case of elderly woman who had a follow-up oesophagogastroduodenoscopy for chronic peptic ulcers, and biopsy showed positive immunohistochemical stains for κ and λ, indicating a polytypic population of plasma cells. Immunostaining for H pylori was negative. Biopsies were also (−) for gastric carcinoma, lymphoma and plasmacytoma. Considering her RGB-suggestive histology and her symptoms of bone pains and anaemia, multiple myeloma screening was considered clinically relevant. The purpose of this review was to educate clinicians and gastroenterologists about this unique entity and explore its association with multiple myeloma or other plamacytic malignancies.
A linear, time-varying system framework for noniterative discrete-time band-limited signal extrapolation

A technique for the analysis and design of noniterative algorithms for discrete-time, band-limited signal extrapolation is described. The approach involves modeling the extrapolation process as a linear, time-varying (LTV) system, or filter. Together with a previously developed Fourier theory for LTV systems, this model provides a frequency-domain transfer function representation for the extrapolation system. This representation serves as a powerful tool for characterizing and comparing the reconstruction properties of several well-known least squares optimal algorithms for band-limited extrapolation. Moreover, the frequency-domain setting provides a conceptually attractive means for understanding the process of extrapolation itself. Additionally, a least squares approximation methodology for designing LTV filters for band-limited extrapolation is developed. The design technique is shown to unify a broad class of algorithms for extrapolating discrete-time data and, further, to provide a means for designing new and improved extrapolation algorithms. >
Measuring the constitutive behavior of viscoelastic solids in the time and frequency domain using flat punch nanoindentation

The purpose of this work is to further develop experimental methodologies using flat punch nanoindentation to measure the constitutive behavior of viscoelastic solids in the frequency and time domain. The reference material used in this investigation is highly plasticized polyvinylchloride (PVC) with a glass transition temperature of −17 °C. The nanoindentation experiments were conducted using a 983-μm-diameter flat punch. For comparative purposes, the storage and loss modulus obtained by nanoindentation with a 103-μm-diameter flat punch and dynamic mechanical analysis are also presented. Over the frequency range of 0.01–50 Hz, the storage and loss modulus measured using nanoindentation and uniaxial compression is shown to be in excellent agreement. The creep compliance function measured using a constant stress test performed in uniaxial compression and flat punch nanoindentation is also shown to correlate well over nearly 4 decades in time. In addition, the creep compliance function predicted from nanoindentation data acquired in the frequency domain is shown to correlate strongly with the creep compliance function measured in the time domain. Time–temperature superposition of nanoindentation data taken at 5, 10, 15, and 22 °C shows the sample is not thermorheologically simple, and thus the technique cannot be used to expand the mechanical characterization of this material. Collectively, these results clearly demonstrate the ability of flat punch nanoindentation to accurately and precisely determine the constitutive behavior of viscoelastic solids in the time and frequency domain.
Dissipative and Fluctuating Hydrodynamic Interactions between Suspended Solid Particles via Lattice-Gas Cellular Automata

Lattice-gas models are simplified molecular models in which particles with a discrete set of velocities move from one node to another of a space-filling lattice, undergoing collisions with other particles occupying the same node. Macroscopic fluid dynamical behavior can be obtained by averaging over space and time. Moreover, the inherent noise in the lattice gas can be used to simulate the thermal fluctuations in a fluid which give rise to Brownian motion. A moving solid body interacts with the lattice gas via additional microrules, applied to nodes of the lattice gas coincident with the surface of the body, which represent collisions between the lattice-gas particles and the solid. These microrules are local to each node; on average they set up a hydrodynamic stick boundary condition so that the fluid next to the solid particle is moving with the local velocity of the particle surface. In this paper I will describe how lattice gases can be used to model the dissipative and fluctuating hydrodynamic forces between solid particles in suspension.
Is Obamacare working

The answer, as one might imagine, depends completely on whom you ask. The recent, end of March deadline had most members of the Obama administration very happy, showing over 8 million people signed for insurance through state and federal exchanges, which exceeded their goals.1 Overall, 31 states exceeded their targets for enrolment, including a number of heavily Republican states in the South.2 So the answer from the administration would be ‘yes’. The Republicans would say, of course, ‘no’, because that is what they say about anything that might extend financial support for people on a low-income, especially anything proposed by President Obama. The Republican House has voted 54 times now to repeal or alter the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It gives them something to do while they are not passing any legislation of importance on, let’s say, climate change or immigration. States could either design the exchange process themselves or punt it to the federal exchange, which has had well-publicised start-up problems and website crashes. The states that chose to do it themselves were often surprising. Kentucky is a poor state whose economy relies on tobacco and coal (not the best products on which to build a future). Yet Kentucky, led by a practically minded Democratic governor and despite having two of the more reactionary senators in Congress, used federal dollars to help dramatically increase the number of people on Medicaid and begin to enrol people in private programmes. Georgia and Florida were two other states with large enrolments through the federal exchange. Both states are seeing a large demographic shift with increases in African-American and Latino populations that are changing the voting profile to potentially be more Democratic. The governor of Florida, a former champion of industry in the country’s largest for-profit healthcare system, which paid $2 …
Dynamic swelling behavior of pH-sensitive anionic hydrogels used for protein delivery

There have been many attempts to use anionic hydrogels as oral protein delivery carriers because of their pH-responsive swelling behavior. The dynamic swelling behavior of poly(methacrylic acid-co-methacryloxyethyl glucoside) and poly(methacrylic acid-g-ethylene glycol) hydrogels was investigated to determine the mechanism of water transport through these anionic hydrogels. The exponential relation Mt/M∞ = ktn (where Mt is the mass of water absorbed at time t and M∞ is the mass of water absorbed at equilibrium) was used to calculate the exponent (n) describing the Fickian or non-Fickian behavior of swelling polymer networks. The mechanism of water transport through these gels was significantly affected by the pH of the swelling medium. The mechanism of water transport became more relaxation-controlled in a swelling medium of pH 7.0, which was higher than pKa of the gels. The experimental results of the time-dependent swelling behaviors of the gels were analyzed with several mathematical models. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1606–1613, 2003
Multiple tumour marker assays in advanced cervical cancer: Relationship to chemotherapy response and clinical outcome

Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), CA 125 and CA 15.3 were measured in 102 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and radical surgery. We found a significant correlation between SCC concentration and stage, histotype, cervical tumour size and lymph node status. For CA 125 and CA 15.3, no significant difference in the distribution of marker levels according to histopathological variables was found. In a multivariate analysis, histological type, FIGO stage and SCC positivity (> 5 ng/ml) proved to be independent predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, logistic regression analysis showed that CA 15.3 may be a significant adjunct to SCC in the prediction of chemotherapy response. Of the three markers tested, only CA 125 was significantly related to patient survival. In the multivariate analysis, clinical response to chemotherapy and CA 125 status (> 35 U/ml) retained an independent prognostic value. Our data suggest that the tumour markers used in this study could be useful in the management of locally advanced cervical cancer. Pretreatment serum levels of SCC, together with CA 15.3 assay, may be a useful tool in the determination of response to chemotherapy, while CA 125 assay could be evaluated as a prognostic risk factor in these patients.
Understanding ATP synthesis: structure and mechanism of the F1-ATPase (Review).

To couple the energy present in the electrochemical proton gradient, established across the mitochondrial membrane by the respiratory chain, to the formation of ATP from ADP and Pi, ATP-synthase go...
The Record and Prospects of the All- Volunteer Military in the United States

From the onset of World War II until July 1973, the draft was a fact of life for male youth in the United States. Since then, America's armed forces have been staffed by volunteers. Recent recruiting difficulties have precipitated calls from some quarters for a return to conscription. This paper reviews the economic issues involved in the choice over conscription versus volunteerism and it reviews the volunteer force record in the U. S. Despite recent recruiting difficulties, the case for the volunteer force is more compelling today than it was in 1973.
Computer Manipulation of DNA and Protein Sequences

This unit outlines a variety of methods by which DNA sequences can be manipulated by computers. Procedures for entering sequence data into the computer and assembling raw sequence data into a contiguous sequence are described first, followed by a description of methods of analyzing and manipulating sequences--e.g., verifying sequences, constructing restriction maps, designing oligonucleotides, identifying protein-coding regions, and predicting secondary structures. This unit also provides information on the large amount of software available for sequence analysis. The appendix to this unit lists some of the commercial software, shareware, and free software related to DNA sequence manipulation. The goal of this unit is to serve as a starting point for researchers interested in utilizing the tremendous sequencing resources available to the computer-knowledgeable molecular biology laboratory.
Microprogramming: The bridge between Hardware and Software

In the past decade, microprogramming has changed from a machine implementation process for large computing devices to a widespread design practice covering the full spectrum of machines as measured by their size, performance, and cost.
Isothermal Phase Transitions in Ceramic Lead Zirconate

Constant temperature permittivity measurements of ceramic lead zirconate near 230°C revealed that the paraelectric to ferroelectric, ferroelectric to antiferroelectric, and antiferroelectric to paraelectric phase transitions were isothermal transformations. On heating, the antiferroelectric phase transformed into a paraelectric phase. Cooling produced a transformation from the paraelectric into an intermediate ferroelectric phase which existed over a temperature range of about 5°C. On further cooling, the ferroelectric transformed into the antiferroelectric phase. Thermal expansion, relative permittivity, and dissipation factor data are reported.
A stable scheme for a nonlinear, multiphase tumor growth model with an elastic membrane

SUMMARY In this paper, we extend the 3D multispecies diffuse-interface model of the tumor growth, which was derived in Wise et al. (Three-dimensional multispecies nonlinear tumor growth-I: model and numerical method, J. Theor. Biol. 253 (2008) 524–543), and incorporate the effect of a stiff membrane to model tumor growth in a confined microenvironment. We then develop accurate and efficient numerical methods to solve the model. When the membrane is endowed with a surface energy, the model is variational, and the numerical scheme, which involves adaptive mesh refinement and a nonlinear multigrid finite difference method, is demonstrably shown to be energy stable. Namely, in the absence of cell proliferation and death, the discrete energy is a nonincreasing function of time for any time and space steps. When a simplified model of membrane elastic energy is used, the resulting model is derived analogously to the surface energy case. However, the elastic energy model is actually nonvariational because certain coupling terms are neglected. Nevertheless, a very stable numerical scheme is developed following the strategy used in the surface energy case. 2D and 3D simulations are performed that demonstrate the accuracy of the algorithm and illustrate the shape instabilities and nonlinear effects of membrane elastic forces that may resist or enhance growth of the tumor. Compared with the standard Crank–Nicholson method, the time step can be up to 25 times larger using the new approach. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Change in health-related quality of life of newly diagnosed cancer patients, cancer survivors, and controls.

BACKGROUND: Data from the 1998 Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) of patients who were enrolled in Medicare managed care and follow-up data from the 2000 HOS resurvey were analyzed to examine changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of newly diagnosed cancer patients, cancer survivors, and patients without cancer. METHODS: In 1998, the HOS was mailed to a random sample of 279,135 beneficiaries, and 167,096 respondents (60%) returned completed surveys. Those who were diagnosed with cancer (22,747) were frequency age-matched to an equal number of patients with no cancer. In 2000, the HOS was mailed to the same cohort of beneficiaries. Complete data at both baseline and follow-up were available on 16,850 individuals for inclusion in the current study. RESULTS: After 2 years, respondents who had been diagnosed with cancer at baseline continued to have lower scores on all but 3 scales of the 36-item short-form HRQOL measure. However, there was no evidence that they were declining any faster than or catching up with noncancer patients. Those who had been newly diagnosed with cancer since the baseline survey had lower mean scale scores than the no-cancer group on all scales and lower mean scores than the cancer survivors on all subscales except Bodily Pain, Vitality, and Mental Health. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that, after 2 years, cancer survivors continued to have poorer HRQOL than the no-cancer group. Newly diagnosed cancer patients had poorer quality of life than both the longer term cancer survivors and the no-cancer group.
African Americans and Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Review Article

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta and arteries of the lower extremities—affects 12 million Americans. African Americans (AAs) are more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic whites to suffer from PAD. When compared to non-Hispanic whites with PAD, AAs with PAD have more severe disease and a greater reduction in walking distance, speed, and/or stair climbing. AAs with PAD are at increased risk for disease progression and worsening lower limb function. Reasons for the higher risk for disease progression have not been defined. One potential modifiable risk is a lower level of physical activity. Lower levels of physical activity are more common among African American seniors. Walking is a common type of physical activity. The benefits of walking therapy are only realized if the patient adheres to such therapy. Efforts are needed to increase walking in AAs with PAD. Additionally, risk factor management is key to reducing adverse events in AAs with PAD-yet few studies have targeted this high-risk group. In this paper, we discuss the management of PAD in AAs. Identifying current gaps will help to inform clinicians, researchers, and policy makers on next steps in identifying innovative approaches to increase home-based walking and reduce walking impairment in AAs with PAD.
Hospital costs by cost center of inpatient hospitalization for medicare patients undergoing major abdominal surgery

Background This study aims to describe the magnitude of hospital costs among patients undergoing elective colectomy, cholecystectomy, and pancreatectomy, determine whether these costs relate as expected to duration of care, patient case-mix severity and comorbidities, and whether risk-adjusted costs vary significantly by hospital. Correctly estimating the cost of production of surgical care may help decision makers design mechanisms to improve the efficiency of surgical care. Study Design Patient data from 202 hospitals in the ACS-NSQIP were linked to Medicare inpatient claims. Patient charges were mapped to cost center cost-to-charge ratios in the Medicare cost reports to estimate costs. The association of patient case-mix severity and comorbidities with cost was analyzed using mixed effects multivariate regression. Cost variation among hospitals was quantified by estimating risk-adjusted hospital cost ratios and 95% confidence intervals from the mixed effects multivariate regression. Results There were 21,923 patients from 202 hospitals who underwent an elective colectomy (n = 13,945), cholecystectomy (n = 5,569), or pancreatectomy (n = 2,409). Median cost was lowest for cholecystectomy ($15,651) and highest for pancreatectomy ($37,745). Room and board costs accounted for the largest proportion (49%) of costs and were correlated with length of stay, R = 0.89, p Conclusions The hospital costs estimates appear to be consistent with clinical expectations of hospital resource use and differ significantly among 202 hospitals after risk-adjustment for preoperative patient characteristics and procedure type.
Disturbance rejection for nonlinear systems

Tracking or rejection of unknown exogenous signals with known generating dynamics is of major concern in feedback control design. Linear feedback control based on the internal model principle achieves asymptotic performance for linear systems with linear exogenous signal dynamics. This paper presents a control design based on the internal model principle to track or reject nonlinear exogenous signal dynamics for nonlinear systems. Necessary condition to achieve asymptotic disturbance rejection based on the proposed control structure is first derived. It is shown that the necessary condition becomes sufficient for linear systems with linear disturbance dynamics. Inspired by the unique structure of the necessary condition, sufficient conditions are then proposed. Simulations of a nonlinear plant with chaotic disturbance show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.