cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The fusion breeder

The fusion breeder is a fusion reactor designed with special blankets to maximize the transmutation by 14 MeV neutrons of uranium-238 to plutonium or thorium to uranium-233 for use as a fuel for fission reactors. Breeding fissile fuels has not been a goal of the U.S. fusion energy program. This paper suggests it is time for a policy change to make the fusion breeder a goal of the U.S. fusion program and the U.S. nuclear energy program. There is wide agreement that many approaches will work and will produce fuel for five equal-sized LWRs, and some approach as many as 20 LWRs at electricity costs within 20% of those at today's price of uranium ($30/lb of U3O8). The blankets designed to suppress fissioning, called symbiotes, fusion fuel factories, or just fusion breeders, will have safety characteristics more like pure fusion reactors and will support as many as 15 equal power LWRs. The blankets designed to maximize fast fission of fertile material will have safety characteristics more like fission reactors and will support 5 LWRs. This author strongly recommends development of the fission suppressed blanket type, a point of view not agreed upon by everyone. There is, however, wide agreement that, to meet the market price for uranium which would result in LWR electricity within 20% of today's cost with either blanket type, fusion components can cost severalfold more than would be allowed for pure fusion to meet the goal of making electricity alone at 20% over today's fission costs. Also widely agreed is that the critical-path-item for the fusion breeder is fusion development itself; however, development of fusion breeder specific items (blankets, fuel cycle) should be started now in order to have the fusion breeder by the time the rise in uranium prices forces other more costly choices.
Needs and uses: Technology applied in research settings suggests that virtually everyone will use the new-generation computing systems

The author explores the applications that will become possible with fifth-generation computers, and who the users of this new computing will be. All the applications rely on advances in three areas: integrated information-management systems, new computer architectures, and improved human-machine interfaces. They include industrial automation, office automation, science and engineering, aerospace, the military, retail and service industries, education, health care, the arts, culture, and leisure.
trans-Difluorosilicon(IV) Complexes of Tetra-p-tolylporphyrin and Tetrakis(p-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)porphyrin: Crystal Structures and Unprecedented Reactivity in Hexacoordinate Difluorosilanes(1).

Single-crystal X-ray structures have been determined for the difluoro(porphyrinato)silicon(IV) complexes trans-(Por)SiF(2) (Por = the dianions of tetra-p-tolylporphyrin (TTP) and tetrakis(p-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)porphyrin). Crystallographic data for (TTP)SiF(2).Et(2)O: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 30.228(4) A, b = 9.913(4) A, c = 15.474(5) A, alpha = gamma = 90 degrees, beta = 114.58(3) degrees, V = 4217(2) A(3), Z = 4, R1 = 0.0588. Crystallographic data for (TTFP)SiF(2): monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 31.557(2) A, b = 9.546(1) A, c = 15.941(1) A, alpha = gamma = 90 degrees, beta = 115.83(1) degrees, V = 4322.4(8) A(3), Z = 4, R1 = 0.0489. In both structures, the silicon lies in a slightly distorted octahedral geometry (average distances: Si-F 1.642 A and Si-N 1.919 A) with the fluorides in a trans configuration, and the porphyrin is in a ruf nonplanar form. The trans-(Por)SiF(2) structures were compared to the structures of related hexacoordinate cis-difluorosilanes and other group 14 metalloporphyrins. (TTP)SiF(2) readily reacts with excess MeMgBr or LiPh to give (TTP)SiMe(2) or (TTP)SiPh(2), respectively, in contrast to related hexacoordinate cis-difluorosilanes which do not react with strong nucleophiles. The enhanced reactivity of (TTP)SiF(2) may be a combination of a trans-effect, even though the structural parameters for cis and trans Si-F bonds and Si-N bonds are essentially the same, and a single-electron transfer process involving the porphyrin ligand.
Antithrombin III does not have bound glucocerebroside

Purified antithrombin III has been reported to have bound glucocerebroside, the major glycolipid of plasma. We have separated whole plasma by ultracentrifugation into lipoprotein-rich and lipid-deficient fractions and demonstrated that glucocerebroside and antithrombin III clearly separate into different fractions. Antithrombin III does not have glucocerebroside associated with it.
Effects of grafting on porous metal ingrowth: A canine model☆

Twenty-five mongrel dogs were studied using implantation of autograft, fresh-frozen allograft, and beta-tricalcium phosphate around a porous-coated chrome-cobalt plug in the distal femoral metaphysis; interference-fit and overreamed control specimens were also studied. Over the course of this 4-month study, bone ingrowth through the grouting materials into the center plug was noted for autologous, allograft, and ceramic specimens. Quantitatively, in terms of push-out strength and histology, there were no significant differences between grafted groups; significantly higher push-out strengths were attained in each grafted subgroup compared with nongrafted, overreamed control subjects. In the setting of uncemented revision total hip arthroplasty, bone-grafting is frequently required. Because of the limited availability of autogenous bone and the potential liabilities of allograft material, attention has been given to bone substitutes. On the basis of this preliminary study, bone ingrowth into a porous metal substrate has been documented to occur through autograft, allograft, or ceramic grouting agents. Within the limits of this nonloaded experimental model, it appears that these materials are comparable in terms of their osteoconductive capability. Even in the optimal laboratory situation, bone ingrowth does not appear to occur in a canine model across a nongrafted 2-mm gap with regularity over a 16-week period.
Unification of the inverse radon transform in odd and even dimensions

It is well known that the inverse radon transform exists in two forms for odd and even dimension functions, respectively. This note shows that these formulas become zero when the dimension requirement is violated, which results in a simple unified formula for the inverse radon transform of arbitrary dimensions.
Ultrafast laser-induced Coulomb explosion of clusters with high charge states

Abstract Iodine and argon ions, as highly charged as I17+ and Ar8+, are found to be formed upon the irradiation of HI clusters and HIArm clusters with an intense femtosecond laser beam. Double peaks are observed for each multicharged species, and identified to result from Coulomb explosion of clusters. Kinetic energy release values are calculated from the peak splittings, and also directly measured from cutoff potentials using a reflectron as an energy analyzer. The determined values are surprisingly large, on the order of several hundred electron volts.
Univariate polynomial root-finding by arming with constraints

Elimination methods are highly effective for the solution of linear and nonlinear systems of equations, but there are important examples where reversing the elimination idea can improve global convergence of iterative methods, that is their convergence from the start. We believe that these examples reveal a direction that the algorithm designers should explore systematically, and we show this principle at work for the approximation of a single root (zero) of a univariate polynomial of a degree n. We reduce the latter task to the solution of a multivariate polynomial system of n equations with n unknowns and achieve faster and more consistent global convergence of Newton's iteration applied to the system rather than a single equation. Global convergence behavior of our algorithms is similar to that of Durand--Kerner's (Weierstrass') iteration, but we direct convergence to a single root and use linear arithmetic time per iteration loop. Having m processors one can apply the algorithms concurrently, to approximate up to m roots within the same parallel time. Technically the computations boil down to solving Sylvester or generalized Sylvester linear systems of equations, linked to partial fraction decompositions. By solving these tasks efficiently, we arrive at effective algorithms for polynomial root-finding.
Intracranial Tumours in the First Year of Life. A Report on 51 Cases

The authors report on 51 infants with intracranial tumours treated in an eleven-year period; these infants represent 13% of the total population of children with intracranial tumours who have been operated on in the same institution during the same period of time. Males (28 cases) were slightly more frequent. Astrocytomas (17 cases), medulloblastomas (12 cases), and ependymal tumours (5 cases) were the commonest histologic types.
Ameliorating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A newly implicated molecular pathway in skeletal muscle regulates the formation of the neuromuscular junction and is implicated in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
COLLAGEN: STRUCTURAL STUDIES BASED ON THE CLEAVAGE OF METHIONYL BONDS.

Eighteen peptides from the α1 fraction and eight from the α2 fraction of rat skin collagen cleaved with cyanogen bromide have been identified by chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose. The isolated peptides show wide differences in amino acid composition, and their molecular weights vary from several thousand to about 23,000. The data indicate that there are two different chains in the α1 fraction, demonstrating the nonidentity of all three α-chains. The primary structure of each chain appears to be unique throughout its length.
Sonographische Akutdiagnostik der Darmischämie

Acute intestinal ischaemias, which are associated with a high mortality of 70-90 per cent, are properly identified in only about 50% of the cases despite the use of update imaging methods. Improvement of the unfavourable prognosis appears possible if diagnosis is effected early enough. With the help of high-resolution real time sonographic equipment--as far as possible with 5 MHz linear or convex transducers--ischaemic changes of the intestinal wall can be detected. However, a sophisticated examination technique is necessary. The following findings must be sought for, depending on the degree of severity and the stage of the mesenterial disturbance of blood flow: Oedematous swelling of the intestinal wall; intramural air ("pneumatous intestinalis"); free liquid; free air; possibly also air in the portal venous system. If the conditions of examination are favourable, it is also possible to identify the relevant stenose or occlusions at the mesenteric vessels by means of Duplex sonography. Sonography is well suited for acute diagnosis and follow-up assessment of intestinal flow disturbances. Angiography should be used preoperatively and to clarify the problem of non-occlusive types of intestinal ischaemia.
District-Wide Effects on Data Use in the Classroom

In the present study, an examination is conducted in three school districts of how data are used to improve classroom practice. In doing so, we explore the effects that attitudes toward data, principal leadership, and computer data systems have on how data are used to affect classroom practice. Findings indicate that educators are ambivalent about data: they see how data could support classroom practice, but their data use operates in the presence of numerous barriers. Many of these barriers are due to principal leadership and computer data systems; these barriers often have negative effects on attitudes toward data and disrupt the progression from using data to inform classroom practice. It is hypothesized that many of these barriers can be removed through effective
Highly specific transcription of globin sequences in isolated reticulocyte nuclei

Summary Chicken reticulocyte nuclei have been isolated under conditions where the endogenous RNA polymerase activity is retained and catalyzes the incorporation of ribonucleotide triphosphates into RNA linearly for at least 5 hours at 25°C after an initial burst of activity. Transcription has also been carried out utilizing 5-mercurated uridine triphosphate. Hybridization of the mercurated RNA, isolated from the endogenous RNA by affinity chromatography on sulfhydryl Sepharose with globin cDNA reveals that 0.24 percent of the transcript is globin sequence: this is about 100-fold higher than that reported for chromatin with E. coli RNA polymerase.
Sensation seeking of young children

Thirty-six boys and 33 girls, attending kindergatern, second-grade and fourth-grade, and their parents responded to a simplified version of the general Sensation Seeking Scale. Children's preferences for activities, puzzles, pictures, responses, foods, mazes and behaviors were also assessed. Results showed that the mean scores for the Sensation Seeking Scale of young children were much lower than scores of high school and college students, and significantly lower than the guesses of their parents. Sensation seeking was found to be related to preference for complex puzzles and pictures, to engagement in negative behaviors and to the children's knowledge about the environment. These findings suggest that the level of sensation seeking of children is related to their activities and preferences as well as their exposure to a variety of experiences.
Role of sympathetic overactivity in the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome

n this review, the role of the autonomic nervous system, especially the adrenergic component, in the pathophysiology and complications of the metabolic syndrome will be examined. The metabolic syndrome is a term that denotes a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors related to insulin resistance and obesity with a centripetal fat pattern. While the insulin resistance syndrome has worn many previous labels over the past three decades, metabolic syndrome gained preeminence after publication and revision of the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee Report on the diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus in 1999 and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel–III (ATP III) guidelines in the USA in 2001.1-3 While the definitions provided by these two working groups present some differences, both predict a significantly greatly risk of developing diabetes in those not yet afflicted as well as an excess of coronary heart disease and total cardiovascular disease.4-6 The metabolic syndrome already affects a substantial proportion of adults in virtually every society with access to excess of calories, labor-saving devices, and passive leisure time activities. The syndrome is poised to become pandemic as the worldwide race to obesity runs unchecked Dialogues in Cardiovascular Medicine Vol 9 . No. 3 . 2004
Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes with Antibodies for Breast Cancer Detection Applications

We study the effect of functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) with a primary monoclonal mouse immunoglobin G (IgG) specific to the cell-surface receptors of breast cancer cells, and secondary polyclonal goat ant- mouse IgG. The CNTs, in solution with a surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate) were labeled with dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6), a fluorescent dye, in order to view them with fluorescently labeled antibodies through confocal microscopy. Co-localization for CNTs in combination with the primary antibody conjugated to the secondary was determined to be 90%, whereas CNTs in combination with the secondary antibody and polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer used to block CNTs from proteins binding to their surface, was found to be very minimal (0.5%). Preliminary studies on the electrical measurements of the primary mouse IgG incubated with CNTs show a decrease in conductance compared to that of bare CNT field effect transistors (CNTFETs). This observed change in conductance, can eventually be amplified and utilized in applications leading to a full-fledged breast cancer detection system in the future.
Habitat Separation among Three Species of Water Snakes in Northwestern Kentucky

Historical records and recent studies indicate that populations of the Copperbellied Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) are in decline. Reduction in range and fragmentation of populations are largely based on human activities, primarily through alteration of shallow wetlands. We conducted a comparative study of habitat use to determine why N. e neglecta may be more vulnerable to human-induced changes than sympatric congeners. Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta were observed primarily along shorelines with gentle slopes near very shallow water and often used herbaceous vegetation, logs, grasses, and sedges substrate categories. Nerodia sipedon pleuralis used habitat most similar to N. e. neglecta. Although N. s. pleuralis were observed to be more aquatic and were more often found in open water, they showed the same close association with shorelines and basking substrates as N. e. neglecta. Nerodia rhombifer is the least selective in habitat use of the three species and is the least similar in habitat use to N. e. neglecta in this study. As a whole, the results of this study support previous research that suggests N. e. neglecta is a seasonal habitat specialist. The extensive destruction of seasonal wetlands in the Midwest may thus have a greater impact on N. e. neglecta than their sympatric congeners.
Amplitude and phase noise of RF photodiodes operated in compression

We present a study of amplitude and residual phase noise in RF photodetectors. At 1 GHz, the noise spectra of p-i-n photodiodes were measured and found to vary with the level of space charge induced RF compression.
The Teaching of Constructed Responses in Language Therapy

Equal numbers of aphasic adults, deaf children, ages 9-10, and deaf adolescents, ages 13-17, were required to complete stems of sentences. The incomplete sentences were typed automatically in the presence of the individual subject who constructed the final word of each sentence, monitored and corrected letter by letter. The responses were 55 words, 11 of which were predicted on each of five test days. The responses were repeated four times daily for four days, making 20 experiences (days) for each participant. The response words varied in numbers of letters and in numbers of phonemes. The results showed that the deaf adolescents made the fewest errors and the aphasic adults, the most. Except for words of two phonemes and two letters, the number of errors per letter increased with the length of the word.
Role of gill Na+ + K+ -dependent ATPase in acclimation of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) to low salinity

Male blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) were acclimated to salinities of 5 and 34 o/oo. Microsomal preparations of gills from these animals possessed Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase specific activities of 2.33 ± 0.11 and 1.29 ± 0.11 μmoles Pi min per mg protein respectively, implicating the Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase in the previously recognized ability of the blue crab to maintain high hemolymph sodium levels in low salinity environments. The specific ATPase activity of gill microsomes increased significantly within two and one-half hours after transfer of crabs from high to low salinity, prior to stabilization of hemolymph sodium levels. The ATPase isolated from crabs acclimated to the two different salinities were both highly sensitive to ouabain, and required either K+ or NH4+ as well as Na+. Sodium-dependent phosphorylation of both enzymes was blocked by K+ or NH4+. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized ATPases revealed one band of radioactivity in each case, with an apparent molecular weight of 104,000. The ability of NH4+ to serve as an effective counterion supports the hypothesis that, in blue crabs acclimated to low salinity, Na+ uptake may be coupled to NH4+ excretion.
Effect of Trap Color and Orientation on the Capture of Aphelinus mali (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a Parasitoid of Woolly Apple Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The factors affecting trap capture of adult Aphelinus mali (Haldeman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were studied in 2010-2011 in eastern Washington apple (Malus spp.) orchards infested with its host woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The initial study of white sticky cards indicated that traps stapled to the trunk in a vertical orientation had the highest capture. A factorial experiment of three colors (clear, white, and yellow) by three orientations (trunk, scaffold, and hanging) indicated that yellow traps and traps on trunks caught higher numbers ofA. mali. For this reason, the recommended trap for this natural enemy is a yellow trap stapled to the trunk. Having a readily available and effective sampling method for this species may be helpful in implementing biological control programs and assessing the impact of different spray regimes.
Cytomegalovirus in the transplanted kidney: a report of two cases and review of prophylaxis.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is a leading cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in patients with a kidney transplant. Before the advent of specific prophylaxis and therapy, more than half of the patients who had not been exposed to CMV prior to kidney transplantation developed primary disease and ~20% of patients with prior evidence of exposure developed reactivation disease [1]. Mortality estimates from CMV disease exceeded 30% [2]. Although use of prophylaxis or preemptive treatment of detectable viral load has drastically reduced its burden, CMV remains a common clinical problem with a wide variety of presentations. To highlight the importance of clinical vigilance for CMV even in the current era of effective prophylaxis, we describe two adult kidney transplant recipients with invasive CMV disease. Both patients were diagnosed with CMV disease after they underwent allograft biopsy, which demonstrated the rare finding of CMV inclusions in the kidney allograft.
Emissions and Stability Characteristics of Flameholders for Lean-Premixed Combustion

An experimental study was conducted to determine the NOx emissions and flame stability associated with various flameholders used to support lean-premixed combustion of natural gas at gas turbine conditions. Data were obtained for velocities of 6 to 24 m/s, initial temperatures of 533 to 650 K, and pressures of 3.4 to 13.6 atm. Bluff-body, perforated-plate, and swirl-stabilized flameholders were tested and compared. The results confirm that NOx emissions at ultra-lean conditions scale with the flame temperature and are essentially independent of flameholder geometry for typical combustor residence times. The stability behavior, however, was strongly affected by flameholder type, illustrating the influence of fluid mechanics on flame stability. The flame stability was related also to the dynamics produced by combustion instability. A swirl-stabilized flameholder demonstrated the best stability characteristics at the expense of flameholder pressure drop.Copyright © 1992 by ASME
Tap water scalds among seniors and the elderly: Socio-economics and implications for prevention

Abstract Introduction Tap water scalds among those ≥60 years old are often attributed to physical impairments with aging. This study assesses socio-economics associated with tap water scalds among seniors and the elderly. Methods Charts of patients admitted to an urban Burn Center between 7/00 and 6/04 for treatment of tap water scalds were reviewed. Demographics, injury details, co-morbidities, surgical interventions/critical care requirements, length of stay (LOS), disposition and related economics were reviewed. Results During the study period, 68 patients ≥60 years were hospitalized for treatment of these scalds. Mean age and burn size were 78 ± 1 years and 7 ± 0.9% TBSA. Over 98% of patients were admitted with pre-existing co-morbidities; 60% required ICU care for 40 ± 5 days; 22% required mechanical ventilation and 71% required surgery. LOS was 34 ± 4 days. Most patients received government assistance income. Pre-injury, 32% resided alone. Post-injury, 10% of patients returned home alone; mortality was 22%. Per patient hospital costs approximated $113,000. Conclusion These findings report that tap water scalds result in significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs for local seniors and the elderly. Socio-economic factors play a significant role in these injuries and must be assessed when planning prevention efforts.
Microgel-modified surfaces enhance short-term osteoblast response.

Abstract Modulations of surface structure or chemistry over various length scales are able to control the interactions of cells with biomaterials surfaces. This effect has been extensively studied using a number of top-down lithographic patterning processes. We create a modulated surface using a simple, bottom-up, self-assembly method involving the electrostatic deposition of microgels onto surfaces. We copolymerize acrylic acid (AA) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by suspension polymerization to form negatively charged, submicron-sized PEG-AA microgels and electrostatically deposit these onto cationic poly- l -lysine (PLL) primed substrates. The PEG-AA microgels resist fibronectin adsorption while the exposed PLL between adjacent microgels adsorbs fibronectin, thus producing a disordered array of submicron sized non-adhesive features separated from each other by microscale distances on an otherwise cell-adhesive surface. Relative to continuously adhesive surfaces, microgel-modulated adhesiveness increases both short-term cell spreading and cell proliferation (MTS) while maintaining the same differentiation behavior (ALP). Scanning electron microscopy indicates that osteoblasts grow over the microgels while adhering to the exposed adhesive surface between the microgels. Time-resolved optical microscopy shows that microgel-modified surfaces induce higher cell motility than the unmodified controls. These findings are consistent with the idea that cell–surface interactions are regulated by the spatial distribution of cell-adhesive sites on a surface, and they furthermore suggest a simple method by which to influence cellular processes associated with healing after the implantation of a tissue-contacting biomedical device.
Outcomes of endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms

Introduction The successful application of endovascular techniques for the elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has stimulated a strong interest in their possible use in dealing with a long-standing surgical challenge: the ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA). The use of a conventional open procedure to repair ruptured aneurysms is associated with a high operative mortality of 45% to 50%. In this study, we evaluated the current frequency of endovascular repair of RAAAs in four large states and the impact of this technique on patient outcome. Methods We examined discharge data sets from 2000 through 2003 from the four states of California, Florida, New Jersey, and New York, whose combined population represents almost a third of the United States population. Proportions and trends were analyzed by χ 2 analysis and continuous variables by the Student's t test. Results We found that since the year 2000, endovascular repair has begun to emerge as a viable treatment option for RAAAs, accounting for the repair of 6.2% of cases in 2003. During the same period, the use of open procedures for RAAAs declined. The overall mortality rate for the 4-year period was significantly lower for endovascular vs open repair (39.3% vs. 47.7%, P = .005). Moreover, compared with open repair, endovascular repair resulted in a significantly lower rate of pulmonary, renal, and bleeding complications. Survival after endovascular repair correlated with hospital experience, as assessed by the overall volume of elective and nonelective endovascular procedures. For endovascular repairs, mortality ranged from 45.9% for small volume hospitals to 26% for large volume hospitals ( P = .0011). Volume was also a determinant of mortality for open repairs, albeit to a much lesser extent (51.5% for small volume hospitals, 44.3% for large volume hospitals; P Conclusion We observed a benefit to using endovascular procedures for RAAAs in institutions with significant endovascular experience; however, the analysis of administrative data cannot rule out selection bias as an explanation of better outcomes. These data strongly endorse the need for prospective studies to clarify to what extent the improved survival in RAAA patients is to be attributed to the endovascular approach rather than the selection of low-risk patients.
Geographical Information Systems in Archaeology

Geographical Information Systems in Archaeology. James Conolly and Mark Lake. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. 326 pp.
Dynamic stability in minimum operating voltage Vmin for single-port and dual-port SRAMs

We discuss dynamic stability for single-port SRAM that manifests itself in the difference between minimum operating voltage (Vmin) for longer and shorter word-line (WL) pulse width (T wl ). The most probable failure points (MPFPs) that determine Vmin for various Twl are investigated. Regarding dual-port SRAM, we identify the MPFP for the worst Vmin degraded by WL pulse skew between ports in asynchronous operation. The validity of our simulation results are verified through comparison with measured data for SRAM modules in 28 nm generation.
Analysis of complications following partial and total nephrectomy for renal cancer in a population based sample.

Purpose: We determined the frequency and predictors of complications of partial and total nephrectomy in a population based sample.Materials and Methods: There were 3,019 partial and 18,575 total nephrectomies identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data set of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (2000 to 2003). The prevalence of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision coded complications following nephrectomy was determined. Hospital and patient related factors associated with the occurrence of a complication were determined by logistic regression analysis. We evaluated the impact of complications on in-hospital mortality, length of stay and hospital charges.Results: Respiratory, digestive and bleeding complications were the most common, with similar patterns for partial nephrectomy and total nephrectomy. Significant predictors of complications after total nephrectomy included age, male sex, comorbidity severity index and hospital location (rural vs urban), while comorbidit...
Mariposa: a new architecture for distributed data

We describe the design of Mariposa, an experimental distributed data management system that provides high performance in an environment of high data mobility and heterogeneous host capabilities. The Mariposa design unifies the approaches taken by distributed file systems and distributed databases. In addition, Mariposa provides a general, flexible platform for the development of new algorithms for distributed query optimization, storage management, and scalable data storage structures. This flexibility is primarily due to a unique rule-based design that permits autonomous, local-knowledge decisions to be made regarding data placement, query execution location, and storage management. >
143 The Effect of Various Antimicrobial Agents on Acinetobacter Baumannii: An In Vitro Evaluation

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii has recently emerged as an important hospital-acquired pathogen, especially in surgery, burn, and intensive care units. Due to its ability to develop resistance to antimicrobials, wound infection with A. baumannii is difficult to treat, and can lead to septicemia and even death. Use of appropriate topical antimicrobial agents in these circumstances could be one of the first steps in prevention of A. baumannii wound infection. Objectives: In this study, we will discuss the in vitro effects of seven common topical antimicrobial creams and dressings on A. baumannii. Methods: A. Baumannii ATCC# 6919 was subjected to sensitivity tests against mupirocin, silver sulfadiazine, mafenide acetate, a double antibiotic combination of polymyxin and bacitracin, a triple antibiotic combination of Neomycin, bacitracin and polymyxin, and two silver-containing dressings. Zones of inhibition were measured after 24 hours incubation period. Results and Conclusion: Of the evaluated antimicrobial agents, mafenide acetate was the most efficacious followed by mupirocin, triple and double antibiotic combinations in decreasing order. The silver-containing dressings yielded a lesser zone of inhibition as compared to the previously mentioned, and no zone of inhibition was observed using silver sulfadiazine. Further in vivo studies on the effect of antimicrobial agents against A. Baumannii are necessary to substantiate these findings and determine the potential clinical relevance of these therapies.
Concepts and limitations of macroparticle accelerators using travelling magnetic waves

The concept of an accelerator using a travelling magnetic wave that acts on magnetized projectiles is discussed. Although superconductors potentially may be good projectile material, their low critical temperature makes them unsuitable, Among ferromagnetic materials, dysprosium seems superior. For stable suspension and guidance, a high conductivity (preferrably superconducting) guide sheet is necessary. Magnetic field gradients of 109A/m2travelling at 106m/s should be achievable using present state-of-the-art components; resulting accelerations are ≳500 km/s2. A linear accelerator for final speeds of 50 km/s needs a length of 2.5 km. Guidance forces sufficient to produce acceleration of 2 \times 10^{6} m/s2allow circular accelerators of reasonable size to achieve hypervelocities for small (50-100 mg) projectiles. An accelerator of 170-m diam would surpass the best results from light gas guns. Travelling waves suitable for accelerations of 104m/s2can be produced without switching by means of flux displacing rotors and may be easily adapted to circular accelerators.
Hierarchical Spatial Structure of Stream Fish Colonization and Extinction

Spatial variation in extinction and colonization is expected to infl uence community composition over time. In stream fi sh communities, local species richness (alpha diversity) and species turnover (beta diversity) are thought to be regulated by high extinction rates in headwater streams and high colonization rates in downstream areas. We evaluated the spatiotemporal structure of fi sh communities in streams originally surveyed by Burton and Odum 1945 (Ecology 26: 182 – 194) in Virginia, USA and explored the eff ects of species traits on extinction and colonization dynamics. We documented dramatic changes in fi sh community structure at both the site and stream scales. Of the 34 fi sh species observed, 20 (59%) were present in both time periods, but 11 (32%) colonized the study area and three (9%) were extirpated over time. Within streams, alpha diversity increased in two of three streams but beta diversity decreased dramatically in all streams due to fi sh community homogenization caused by colonization of common species and extirpation of rare species. Among streams, however, fi sh communities diff erentiated over time. Regression trees indicated that reproductive life-history traits such as spawning mound construction, associations with mound-building species, and high fecundity were important predictors of species persistence or colonization. Conversely, native fi shes not associated with mound-building exhibited the highest rates of extirpation from streams. Our results demonstrate that stream fi sh colonization and extinction dynamics exhibit hierarchical spatial structure and suggest that mound-building fi shes serve as keystone species for colonization of headwater streams.
The Partnership Model For Service-Learning Programs: A Step-By-Step Approach

Service-Learning is a hot topic in higher education today, but the importance of streamlining processes for community service will never go out of style. Generally, universities, faculty, communities, and students value the concept of civic engagement. However, it is challenging for educators to provide meaningful service, which offers valuable learning opportunities, while trying to meet academic expectations of rigor and research. The Partnership Model for Service- Learning provides a visual framework for organizing sustainable programs and leads to collective impact. It is a model that “ties it all together”, seamlessly connecting teaching, scholarship, and service. In addition to a step-by-step framework for constructing a service-learning program, this article presents case examples to illustrate the differences between “ project-based ” and “ program-based ” pedagogical approaches. Finally, student-perceived impacts of service-learning are quantified, via Likert scale, in the associated areas (Callister and Hobbins-Garbett, 2000), of personal satisfaction, impact on professional development, critical thinking, awareness of unmet community needs, and feelings of preparedness for practice, for both the project-based and program-based case examples.
On the Influence of Microstructure on the Fracture Behavior of Gamma-Based Titanium Aluminides. III. Effects of Interstitials and Microalloying with W

ABSTRACT The results of a recent study of the effects of interstitial elements and microalloying with 0.2 at.% W on the tensile and fracture properties of Ti-48Al (compositions quoted in atomic % unless stated otherwise) base gamma alloys are presented in this paper. Lower interstitial oxygen levels are shown to promote higher levels of tensile ductility at the expense of yield/ultimate tensile strength and fracture toughness. Microalloying with W is also shown to result in microstructural instability and a concomitant degradation in tensile and fracture properties. Ductility and yield/ultimate tensile strengths in binary gamma alloys at room - and elevated-temperature are shown to exhibit a simple Hall-Petch dependence on the average grain/lamellar packet size. The observed Hall-Petch behavior is found to be independent of lamellar volume fraction and fracture mechanism at room- and elevated-temperature. The implications of the results are discussed for future alloy/process development.
Project Nervi: Aesthetics and Technology

Project Nervi: Aesthetics and Technology in Building Pier Luigi Nervi questioned the nature and physical impact of the relationship between aesthetics and technology from the viewpoint of architecture, engineering and construction; this question remains vital for both academy and profession. Project Nervi, a collaboration of the CMU School of Architecture and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, was formed to extend the engineers proposition of the relationship of aesthetics and technology by undertaking an empiric research project to characterize the relationship between material placement and aesthetics in architecture with reference to the correlation of material placement and performance found in nature. The tools of Processing and Grasshopper combined with physical modelling are used to better understand Nervi's structural/visual thinking of the cast concrete floor plates at the Palace of Labour (1961), the Gatti Wool Factory (1951) and the Palazzetto dello Sport (1957) and to morphologically further these prospects. In the second part of this study, we apply the pattern research to two relatively new building materials, plywood and carbon fiber for lightweight stressed skin construction based on force trajectories.
Trion Model and Symmetries

This chapter focuses on the Trion model. The resultant trion model is a guide into the complexities of the cortex. However, it has led to new concepts and insights into how one think, reason, and create, which have led to behavioral and neurophysiological experiments testing the predictions from the model. Thus far all the results from these experiments have been supportive of the model. The chapter begins with the history of studies related to brain theory. It illustrates Roulette analogy for a Monte Carlo or full probabilistic calculation of time evolutions of the trion model. It also present the key features of symmetry in the trion model. Furthermore, it discusses the recognition of spatially rotated and time-reversed objects in the trion model. This recognition of symmetry is built into the highly structured trion model. Much more work on the trion model, both computationally and then analytically, is necessary before more detailed features of the proposed cortical language and grammar can be discerned. However, testable neurophysiological predictions can be made.
Food Security: Concept, Challenges, and the Role of Attorneys

Feeding a growing global population, estimated to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, in a changing climate without destroying our environment is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Environmental advocates have a central role in addressing this challenge. This Comment provides a brief overview of the concept of food security, starting with its foundation in the internationally recognized right to food. After providing the legal framework, the Comment describes the meta challenges to global food security, with a particular focus on the environment and the role of legal practitioners.
Contextual Alignment of Ontologies for Semantic Interoperability

Virtually all of the existing approaches to ontology integration assume that each of the individual ontologies (and the integrated ontology) corresponds to a single set of semantics at a given time. We first claim that this single integrated view assumption is unnecessarily restrictive, and defend the view that ontologies can simultaneously accommodate multiple integrated views provided the accompaniment of contexts - a set of axioms on the interpretation of data allowing local variations in representation and nuances in meaning, and a conversion function network between contexts to reconcile contextual differences. Then, we propose an ontology integration methodology based on the alignment of contexts and linking conversion function networks defined between contexts. The flexibility of our approach and methodology is illustrated with the alignment of air travel and car rental domains, an actual example from our prototype implementation.
Estrogen and Cardiovascular Disease: Is Timing Everything?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for both women and men, accounting for 1 in every 3 deaths in the United States (US) [1]. Since the mid-1980s, CVD has killed more women than men each year. In 2011 alone, CVD caused about 10,000 more deaths in women than men [1]. CVD in women is a disease of aging, rarely occurring before the 6th decade of life [2]. It has been proposed that deprivation of ovarian hormones, specifically estrogen, in menopause is causally related to increased CVD risk in aging women [3]. Observational and randomized controlled trials showed differential effects of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), which included estrogen, on CVD risk: observational studies almost uniformly suggested benefit, while randomized trials showed harm, particularly in elderly women who were many years post-menopausal [4,5]. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to explain the differences between the unfavorable effects of MHT in randomized studies and the body of observational evidence supporting the beneficial effects of MHT. Prominent among these is the “timing hypothesis” which proposes that MHT started in the perimenopausal or early postmenopausal period is cardioprotective, whereas MHT begun late after menopause increases the risk of CVD [6]. In this review we discuss observational studies and randomized controlled trials of MHT in women and examine the age-dependent effects of estrogen in animal models of acute vascular injury, as well as the effects of estrogen on cellular (macrophage and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)) responses to inflammatory stimuli in vitro. STUDIES OF MENOPAUSAL HORMONES IN WOMEN Observational Studies A meta-analysis of 25 observational studies showed a decreased relative risk of CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) in postmenopausal women taking MHT compared to those who had never taken hormones (RR=0.70; CI, 0.65-0.75) [7]. The largest and most frequently cited of these, the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), was a prospective observational study that enrolled 121,700 female nurses 30-55 years of age (Table 1) [8]. The 20 year follow up study of the 70,533 postmenopausal participants (accruing 808,825 person-years of follow up) demonstrated significantly fewer CVD events, non-fatal myocardial infarctions (MIs) or fatal CHD in women on MHT compared to MHT never-users after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), weight, diabetes history, hypertension, increased cholesterol, age of menopause, smoking, and family history (RR=0.61; 95% CI 0.52-0.71). Table 1 Studies of Menopausal Hormones
Redes De Pymes: Una Visión Desde Las Teorías De Club Y De Equipo (SME Networks: A View from Theories of Club and Team)

Spanish Abstract: La cooperacion entre empresas se puede analizar desde diferentes concepciones teoricas. Este articulo analiza las redes de empresas desde el punto de vista de las teorias de clubes y de equipos, cuyo marco teorico es un aporte novedoso paracaracterizar las redes de empresas. Y muestra que para un analisis adecuado de los casos de cooperacion es necesario integrar las dimensiones que caracterizan a ambas teorias. Este marco teorico integrado es complementario a los que hoy se utilizan en el analisis de redes.English Abstract: Cooperation among firms can be analyzed from different theoretical perspectives. The objective of this paper is to analyze firm networks from the perspective of team theory and club theory. Even though these theories are not recent in economics, using them as a theoretical framework for the characterization of firm networks could be a novel contribution. We can infer that aspects of both theories could be combined to explain cases of cooperation.
Biology of ocular transporters: efflux and influx transporters in the eye

Abstract: Transporters are membrane-bound proteins that play an important role in active transport of nutrients or xenobiotics. These transporters, in humans, play a significant role in the processes of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination. The presence of both efflux and influx transporters has been reported for various ocular tissues. The presence of efflux pumps on various ocular tissues has been shown to regulate the intracellular drug concentration needed to achieve therapeutic activity. Prominent members of efflux pumps include P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance proteins and breast cancer resistance protein. These efflux pumps play an important role not only in extruding xenobiotics but also in maintaining the body’s homeostasis by their ubiquitous presence and capability to coordinate among themselves. On the other hand, influx transporters enable translocation of essential nutrients and xenobiotics across cell membranes. These include carriers for amino acids, peptides, vitamins, glucose, lactate and nucleoside/nucleobases. The most widely studied influx transporters for ocular drug delivery include peptide transporters, monocarboxylate transporters, organic cation transporters, organic anion transporters, the neutral and cationic amino acid transport system (B0’+), the organic anion transporting polypeptide family and sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter. In this chapter, the biology of efflux pumps and influx transporters with special emphasis on membrane topology, structural conformations, tissue localization and distribution, transport mechanisms, genomic properties and some important mutation sites are discussed in detail.