cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of natural corrosion by vapor hydration test: seven-year results

We have investigated the alteration behavior of synthetic basalt and SRL 165 borosilicate waste glasses that had been reacted in water vapor at 70 {degrees}C for time periods up to seven years. The nature and extent of corrosion of glasses have been determined by characterizing the reacted glass surface with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Alteration in 70 {degrees}C laboratory tests was compared to that which occurs at 150-200 {degrees}C and also with Hawaiian basaltic glasses of 480 to 750 year old subaerially altered in nature. Synthetic basalt and waste glasses, both containing about 50 percent wt SiO{sub 2} were found to react with water vapor to form an amorphous hydrated gel that contained small amounts of clay, nearly identical to palagonite layers formed on naturally altered basaltic glass. This result implies that the corrosion reaction in nature can be simulated with a vapor hydration test. These tests also provide a means for measuring the corrosion kinetics, which are difficult to determine by studying natural samples because alteration layers have often spelled off the samples and we have only limited knowledge of the conditions under which alteration occurred.
Serum cotinine as a biomarker of tobacco exposure and the association with treatment response in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective Cigarette smoking has emerged as a risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have suggested that cigarette smoking may lead to lower treatment response rates with methotrexate (MTX) and some biologic agents in RA. Knowledge of whether tobacco exposure reduces treatment efficacy is important, since smoking could represent a modifiable factor in optimizing RA treatment. Methods The study participants included patients with early RA (<3 years in duration) enrolled in the Treatment of Early Aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis study, a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial comparing early intensive therapy (MTX + etanercept or MTX + hydroxychloroquine + sulfasalazine triple therapy) versus initial treatment with MTX with step-up to MTX + etanercept or to triple therapy if the disease was still active at 24 weeks. Serum cotinine was measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and at 48 weeks, with detectable concentrations at both visits serving as an indicator of smoking status. The mean Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) was compared by smoking status, adjusting for baseline disease activity. Results Of the 412 subjects included in the analysis, 293 (71%) were categorized as nonsmokers and 119 (29%) as current smokers. There were no differences in the mean DAS28 score between 48 and 102 weeks based on smoking status for the overall group (P = 0.881) or by specific treatment assignment. Conclusion Among patients enrolled in a large randomized controlled trial of early RA with poor prognostic factors, smoking status did not impact treatment responses for those receiving early combination or initial MTX with step-up therapy at 24 weeks if the disease was still active.
Blood gas values during intermittent positive pressure ventilation and spontaneous ventilation in 160 anesthetized horses positioned in lateral or dorsal recumbency

One hundred sixty horses were anesthetized with xylazine, guaifenesin, thiamylal, and halothane for elective soft tissue and orthopedic procedures. Horses were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Group 1 (n = 40): Horses positioned in lateral (LRG1; n = 20) or dorsal (DRG1; n = 20) recumbency breathed spontaneously throughout anesthesia. Group 2 (n = 40): Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was instituted throughout anesthesia in horses positioned in lateral (LRG2; n = 20) or dorsal (DRG2; n = 20) recumbency. Group 3 (n = 40): Horses positioned in lateral (LRG3; n = 20) or dorsal (DRG3; n = 20) recumbency breathed spontaneously for the first half of anesthesia and intermittent positive pressure ventilation was instituted for the second half of anesthesia. Group 4 (n = 40): Intermittent positive pressure ventilation was instituted for the first half of anesthesia in horses positioned in lateral (LRG4; n = 20) or dorsal (DRG4; n = 20) recumbency. Spontaneous ventilation (SV) occured for the second half of anesthesia. The mean time of anesthesia was not significantly different within or between groups. The mean time of SV and IPPV was not significantly different in groups 3 and 4. Variables analyzed included pH, PaCO2, PaO2, and P(A-a)O2 (calculated). Spontaneous ventilation resulted in significantly higher PaCO2 and P(A-a)O2 values and significantly lower PaO2 values in LRG1 and DRG1 horses compared with LRG2 and DRG2 horses. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation resulted in normocarbia and significantly lower P(A-a)O2 values in LRG2 and DRG2 horses. In LRG2 the PaO2 values significantly increased from 20 minutes after induction to the end of anesthesia. The PaO2 and P(A-a)O2 values were not significantly different from the beginning of anesthesia after IPPV in DRG2 or DRG3. The PaO2 values significantly decreased and the P(A-a)O2 values significantly increased after return to SV in horses in LRG4 and DRG4. The PaO2 values were lowest and the P(A-a)O2 values were highest in all horses positioned in dorsal recumbency compared with lateral recumbency and in SV horses compared with IPPV horses. The pH changes paralleled the changes in PaCO2. Blood gas values during right versus left lateral recumbency in all groups were also evaluated. The PaO2 values were significantly lower and the P(A-a)O2 values were significantly higher during SV in horses positioned in left lateral (LRLG1) compared with right lateral (LRRG1) recumbency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Trends in atrial fibrillation in patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation is common among patients with cardiovascular disease and is a frequent complication of the acute coronary syndrome. Data are needed on recent trends in the magnitude, clinical features, treatment, and prognostic impact of preexisting and new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome. Methods The study population consisted of 59,032 patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome at 113 sites in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events Study between 2000 and 2007. Results A total of 4494 participants (7.6%) with acute coronary syndrome reported a history of atrial fibrillation and 3112 participants (5.3%) developed new-onset atrial fibrillation during their hospitalization. Rates of new-onset atrial fibrillation (5.5%-4.5%) and preexisting atrial fibrillation (7.4%-6.7%) declined during the study. Preexisting atrial fibrillation was associated with older age and greater cardiovascular disease burden, whereas new-onset atrial fibrillation was closely related to the severity of the index acute coronary syndrome. Patients with atrial fibrillation were less likely than patients without atrial fibrillation to receive evidence-based therapies and more likely to develop in-hospital complications, including heart failure. Overall hospital death rates in patients with new-onset and preexisting atrial fibrillation were 14.5% and 8.9%, respectively, compared with 1.2% in those without atrial fibrillation. Short-term death rates in patients with atrial fibrillation declined over the study period. Conclusions Despite a reduction in the rates of, and mortality from, atrial fibrillation, this arrhythmia exerts a significant adverse effect on survival among patients hospitalized with an acute coronary syndrome. Opportunities exist to improve the identification and treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome with, or at risk for, atrial fibrillation to reduce the incidence and resultant complications of this dysrhythmia.
Building population pharmacokinetic--pharmacodynamic models. I. Models for covariate effects.

One major task in clinical pharmacology is to determine the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) parameters of a drug in a patient population. NONMEM is a program commonly used to build population PK-PD models, that is, models that characterize the relationship between a patient's PK-PD parameters and other patient specific covariates such as the patient's (patho)physiological condition, concomitant drug therapy, etc. This paper extends a previously described approach to efficiently find the relationships between the PK-PD parameters and covariates. In a first step, individual estimates of the PK-PD parameters are obtained as empirical Bayes estimates, based on a prior NONMEM fit using no covariates. In a second step, the individual PK-PD parameter estimates are regressed on the covariates using a generalized additive model. In a third and final step, NONMEM is used to optimize and finalize the population model. Four real-data examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. The examples show that the generalized additive model for the individual parameter estimates is a good initial guess for the NONMEM population model. In all four examples, the approach successfully selects the most important covariates and their functional representation. The great advantage of this approach is speed. The time required to derive a population model is markedly reduced because the number of necessary NONMEM runs is reduced. Furthermore, the approach provides a nice graphical representation of the relationships between the PK-PD parameters and covariates.
Somatic Symptoms Among US Adolescent Females: Associations with Sexual and Physical Violence Exposure

The objective of this study is to examine the association between physical and sexual violence exposure and somatic symptoms among female adolescents. We studied a nationally representative sample of 8,531 females, aged 11–21 years, who participated in the 1994–1995 Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Female adolescents were asked how often they had experienced 16 specific somatic symptoms during the past 12 months. Two summary categorical measures were constructed based on tertiles of the distributions for the entire female sample: (a) total number of different types of symptoms experienced, and (b) number of frequent (once a week or more often) different symptoms experienced. Groups were mutually exclusive. We examined associations between adolescents’ violence exposure and somatic symptoms using multinomial logistic regression analyses. About 5 % of adolescent females reported both sexual and non-sexual violence, 3 % reported sexual violence only, 36 % reported non-sexual violence only, and 57 % reported no violence. Adolescents who experienced both sexual and non-sexual violence were the most likely to report many different symptoms and to experience very frequent or chronic symptoms. Likelihood of high symptomatology was next highest among adolescents who experienced sexual violence only, followed by females who experienced non-sexual violence only. Findings support an exposure–response association between violence exposure and somatic symptoms, suggesting that symptoms can be markers of victimization. Treating symptoms alone, without addressing the potential violence experienced, may not adequately improve adolescents’ somatic complaints and well-being.
Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography

Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography fills a real need for a single-volume summary of such methods suitable for both graduate teaching and research use. It is very successful in meeting its primary objective—to be a practical guide to oceanographic data collection and analysis that provides the reader with a solid understanding of both logistical difficulties and data analysis theory. The writing is clear and succinct. Furthermore, the book's coverage is even broader than the title suggests. The first 158 pages summarize physical oceanographic data collection methods from the obvious to the obscure. Because of its broad scope, it is sometimes less complete than one might wish with regard to new developments. Even when this is true, however, references to a fuller treatment are usually provided.
Monitoring fishing mortality: Compliance in Norwegian offshore fisheries

Abstract Sustainable management of wild fish stocks by means of catch quotas requires reliable data on fishing mortality. Norwegian authorities have attempted to ensure the reliability of this data through catch report procedures and a ban on dumping. The reliability of data on fishing mortality depends on the fishers’ compliance with these regulations. This article outlines the main factors that govern compliance and non-compliance in the Norwegian pelagic fisheries. Data was generated during fieldwork in the offshore pelagic fishing fleet.
Identity of Passive Film Formed on Aluminum in Li-Ion Battery Electrolytes with LiPF6

The passive film that forms on aluminum in 1:1 ethylene carbonate + ethylmethyl carbonate with 1.2M LiPF{sub 6} and 1:1 ethylene carbonate + dimethyl carbonate with 1.0M LiPF{sub 6} was investigated by a combination of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurements (EQCM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. During anodic polarization of aluminum a film of AlF{sub 3} forms on top of the air-formed oxide, creating a duplex, or two-layered film. The thickness of the AlF{sub 3} increases with the applied potential. Independent measurements of film thickness by EQCM and EIS indicate that at a potential of 5.5V vs. Li/Li{sup +}, the thickness of the AlF{sub 3} is approximately 1 nm.
Comparing Fit and Reliability Estimates of a Psychological Instrument using Second-Order CFA, Bifactor, and Essentially Tau-Equivalent (Coefficient Alpha) Models via AMOS 22

Estimation of composite reliability within a hierarchical modeling framework has recently become of particular interest given the growing recognition that the underlying assumptions of coefficient alpha are often untenable. Unfortunately, coefficient alpha remains the prominent estimate of reliability when estimating total scores from a scale with a hierarchical structure, in part because there are few published articles that provide a step-by-step demonstration of how to estimate reliability within the context of structural equation modeling. Using AMOS 22 to analyze simulated and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) summary data, the authors demonstrate how to compare the fit and reliability estimates of a (a) second-order confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) model, (b) bifactor model, and (c) essentially tau-equivalent model, which conforms to the stringent assumptions underlying coefficient alpha. The variance–covariance matrices generated from the simulated data as well as the WAI...
Variationally consistent multi-scale modeling and homogenization of stressed grain growth

The macroscopic mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties of materials are essentially determined by the microstructures of polycrystalline materials. This paper presents a multi-scale mathematical and computational framework for analyzing the global and local behavior of stressed grain growth. This is achieved by introducing an asymptotic expansion of field variables into the variational equation based on the principle of virtual power. The expanded variational equation gives rise to multi-scale Euler equations describing evolution processes at different scales, the scale-coupling relation, as well as the homogenized material properties. The multi-scale characteristics of grain boundary migration triggered by the multi-scale property of strain energy density jump across the grain boundaries are also discussed. A stressed grain growth example is analyzed to demonstrate multi-scale behavior of grain deformation and grain structure evolution under mechanical loading.
Growth Inhibitory Effects of Endotoxins from Bacteroides gingivalis and intermedius on Human Gingival Fibroblasts in Vitro

Purified endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide from Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides inlermedius caused a similar dose-dependent inhibition of growth of cultured human gingival fibroblasts as determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation and direct cell count. Approximately 200 μg/ml endotoxin caused a 50% reduction in 3H-thymidine uptake of logarithmically growing cells. Inhibition of growth was similar in cultures of fibroblasts derived from either healthy or diseased human gingiva. When examining the change in cell number with time of exposure in culture, the rate of proliferation was significantly suppressed during the logarithmic phase of growth. However, the cells recovered so that the rate of proliferation, although reduced, was sufficient to produce a cell density similar to the control cells with prolonged culture. The endotoxins were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The profiles of the Bacteroides endotoxins were different. B. gingivalis endotoxin showed a w...
The relationship between reading level and retention in average and supra readers

Abstract Research which indicates a relationship between reading level and memory has generally focused on the performance of average and delayed readers, leaving open the question of performance by above average (supra) readers. The present study considered the performance of average and supra readers on a partial report task with a variable interstimulus interval. The results demonstrated that the two groups do not differ when the interval is less than 200 ms, but the supra readers perform better when the interval extends beyond that point. The results are interpreted as supporting the concept of a continuous relationship between memory and reading level.
Quorum regulatory small RNAs repress type VI secretion in Vibrio cholerae.

Type VI secretion is critical for Vibrio cholerae to successfully combat phagocytic eukaryotes and to survive in the presence of competing bacterial species. V. cholerae type VI secretion system genes are encoded in one large and two small clusters. In V. cholerae, type VI secretion is controlled by quorum sensing, the cell-cell communication process that enables bacteria to orchestrate group behaviours. The quorum-sensing response regulator LuxO represses type VI secretion genes at low cell density and the quorum-sensing regulator HapR activates type VI secretion genes at high cell density. We demonstrate that the quorum regulatory small RNAs (Qrr sRNAs) that function between LuxO and HapR in the quorum-sensing cascade are required for these regulatory effects. The Qrr sRNAs control type VI secretion via two mechanisms: they repress expression of the large type VI secretion system cluster through base pairing and they repress HapR, the activator of the two small type VI secretion clusters. This regulatory arrangement ensures that the large cluster encoding many components of the secretory machine is expressed prior to the two small clusters that encode the secreted effectors. Qrr sRNA-dependent regulation of the type VI secretion system is conserved in pandemic and non-pandemic V. cholerae strains.
Ice-Wedge Casts and Relict Patterned Ground in Central Illinois and their Environmental Significance

Sediment features and soil patterns indicate that permafrost developed beyond the late Wisconsinan (Woodfordian) ice margin in Illinois. Vertical wedge-shaped bodies in Woodfordian glacigenic deposits and buried by Woodfordian loess are interpreted to be ice-wedge casts. Large-scale patterned ground, common on the late Wisconsinan drift plain and on the Illinoian drift plain to the south and west, also is interpreted to be the result of ice-wedge formation. Permafrost extended to about 38° 30′ N latitude and formed during the interval from about 21,000 to 16,000 yr B.P. Formation and degradation of permafrost was time-transgressive, directly related to the ice-marginal climate, and probably restricted temporally to less than 1000 years at a site. The following environmental conditions are suggested near the ice margin: mean annual ground temperature −3°C; mean annual air temperature −6 ± 2°C; less precipitation than modern, particularly in winter; strong and likely dry wind systems; and relatively open vegetation with few woody plants.
Use of a Minimum-Ellipse Criterion in the Study of Ion-Beam Extraction Systems

Ion-beam extraction systems may be optimized by ray-tracing codes. As a general criterion for comparing the geometry-dependent phase-space distributions, we first calculate the minimum-area ellipse that encloses all particles of any given two-dimensional phase-space distribution. Then, the relation between ellipse area and contained beam fraction is established by systematically finding and eliminating those particles that contribute most heavily to the emittance. Prescriptions for finding the minimum ellipse and beam fractions will be presented. The minimum and rms ellipses are compared for two code-calculated distributions that represent ion-beam extraction geometries.
Prediction and Prevention of IDDM—1991

Although we can now identify some nondiabetic individuals who will subsequently develop clinical insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), our ability to predict subsequent clinical IDDM is far from perfect. In this article, we discuss the status of knowledge regarding the natural history of preclinical IDDM and discuss, especially in relation to predicting IDDM, the genetic, immunologic, and metabolic components of the IDDM disease process.
The antiferromagnetic state in the chrome alums

This paper is a report on a calculation made by Miss Mary O’Brien which she has presented briefly at the Yale meeting of the American Physical Society, and which she plans to publish more fully in thePhys. Rev. The most striking result of Miss O’Brien’s work is that purely dipolar interaction can lead to an antiferromagnetic Curie (Neel) point even though the paramagnetic ions are cubically spaced. It is usually assumed that cubic symmetry precludes this result, but caculations which are an extension of those previously made byDaniels show that when different atoms in the unit cell have different directions for their crystalline fields, antiferromagnetism can ensue at sufficiently low temperatures. The predicted Neel point for methylamine chrome alum agrees with experiment ((.015 ÷ .020) °K) practically within the limits of error of the latter. The calculated isentropic curves of moment versus field strength also agree quite well with experiment if a small amount of exchange is included.
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist therapy and induction of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation-type tolerance after corneal transplantation.

PURPOSE. Topical treatment with interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) can promote corneal allograft survival by suppressing induction of allodestructive immunity. The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether IL-1ra could also promote induction of allo-protective tolerogenic pathways, including anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID), which has been shown to participate in long-term survival of corneal transplants. METHODS. Corneal buttons from BALB/c (syngeneic) or C57BL/6 (fully mismatched allogeneic) mice were orthotopically grafted onto BALB/c recipients. Topical IL-Ira or vehicle alone was applied to grafts three times daily. Donor-specific ACAID was measured in allogeneic grafted mice at 4 and 8 weeks after transplantation by ear-challenging grafted hosts with donor-derived splenocytes 1 week after SC immunization. In separate experiments, grafted mice were treated for 4 weeks before injecting ovalbumin (OVA) into their anterior chambers to determine their capacity to induce antigen-specific ACAID. RESULTS. Treatment with IL-1ra did not promote, or inhibit, induction of donor-specific ACAID compared with vehicle-treated controls at either the early or late time points studied. However, IL-Ira treatment after transplantation led to significantly earlier restoration of the grafted eyes' capacity for inducing ACAID to soluble antigen (OVA). CONCLUSIONS. Promotion of OVA-specific ACAID by IL-Ira suggests that suppression of IL-1-mediated mechanisms contributes to recovery of the anterior segment's immunosuppressive microenvironment at least 1 month earlier than would otherwise be seen after corneal transplantation. However, IL-1ra treatment does not alter induction of donor-specific ACAID after transplantation, suggesting that its anti-inflammatory activities do not lead to an ACAID-inducing signal per se. This suggests that IL-1ra promotes graft survival almost exclusively by virtue of suppressing inflammation and not by directly promoting tolerance or antigen-specific regulatory pathways.
Reliable computation of mixture critical points

The determination of critical points of mixtures is important for both practical and theoretical reasons in modeling phase behavior, especially at high pressure. This article presents the first completely reliable method for locating all the critical points of a given mixture. The method also verifies the nonexistence of a critical point if a mixture of a given composition does not have one. The methodology used is based on interval analysis, in particular an interval Newton/generalized bisection algorithm providing a mathematical and computational guarantee that all mixture critical points are located. The procedure is initialization-independent and thus requires no a priori knowledge of the number of mixture critical points or their approximate locations. The technique is illustrated using several example problems involving cubic equation-of-state models; however, the technique is for general purpose and can be applied in connection with other thermodynamic models.
Development of haptic assistance for route assessment tool of NASA nextgen cockpit situation display

The NextGen Cockpit Situation Display (CSD), developed by NASA Ames's Flight Deck Display Laboratory, provides advanced flight control functionalities and traffic/weather displays to pilots [1]. Traditionally, the user operates with the CSD using a computer mouse and receives only visual feedback about the controlling actions. In this work, we integrate force feedback in the Route Assessment Tools of the CSD, where the user can manage the flight plan to resolve conflicts in real-time. A spring force, with a variable stiffness coefficient, was used to model the force feedback with its strength varying proportionally to the overall path length. Force display was provided as an indicator of the effort required to deviate from the optimal path to assist the user in decision making. The force feedback models were evaluated on a software testbed created on Microsoft Foundation Class with the Novint Falcon haptic-feedback input device.
Inference of combinatorial regulation in yeast transcriptional networks: A case study of sporulation

Decomposing transcriptional regulatory networks into functional modules and determining logical relations between them is the first step toward understanding transcriptional regulation at the system level. Modules based on analysis of genome-scale data can serve as the basis for inferring combinatorial regulation and for building mathematical models to quantitatively describe the behavior of the networks. We present here an algorithm called modem to identify target genes of a transcription factor (TF) from a single expression experiment, based on a joint probabilistic model for promoter sequence and gene expression data. We show how this method can facilitate the discovery of specific instances of combinatorial regulation and illustrate this for a specific case of transcriptional networks that regulate sporulation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Applying this method to analyze two crucial TFs in sporulation, Ndt80p and Sum1p, we were able to delineate their overlapping binding sites. We proposed a mechanistic model for the competitive regulation by the two TFs on a defined subset of sporulation genes. We show that this model accounts for the temporal control of the “middle” sporulation genes and suggest a similar regulatory arrangement can be found in developmental programs in higher organisms.
Nutritional strategy for adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery: report of a working group of the Nutrition Committee of NASPGHAN/NACHRI.

Surgical options for the treatment of adolescent obesity have been gaining popularity. Adolescent patients present a particular challenge to clinicians, secondary to age-related issues, revolving around both mental and physical growth. These age-related issues require a unique approach to nutritional intervention for adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery as opposed to standardized approaches for adults. Despite the increasing numbers of adolescents undergoing obesity surgery, evidence-based nutritional guidelines have yet to be published. The goal of this document is to provide the clinician with recommendations on how to assess, educate, nourish, and monitor the adolescent who has undergone obesity surgery. A multidisciplinary panel composed of 3 pediatric gastroenterologists, 1 psychologist, and 3 registered dietitians from the Nutrition Committee for the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, with experience in nutrition and adolescent weight loss surgery, reviewed the medical literature for evidence-based practice for nutritional strategies for patients undergoing bariatric surgery. In addition to this group, an adolescent medicine physician was consulted for matters related to reproductive health. The present article presents a consensus of recommendations based on a review of the literature. In areas for which there was a lack of evidence to support the recommendations, best-practice guidelines were used. The present article provides the clinician with an overview of the nutritional concerns for adolescent patients undergoing obesity surgery. These guidelines address the preoperative educational pathway, the postoperative diet progression, recognition of disordered eating, guidelines for female reproductive issues, and assistance for the adolescent in a school/ college environment.
Limiting average availability of a system supported by several spares and several repair facilities

A one-unit repairable system, supported by r repair facilities and s spare units, fails when all units are down and are undergoing or awaiting repair. Under the perfect repair policy and instantaneous commencement of repair and installation to operation, the limiting average availability of the system is obtained when the lifetime has a density function and the repair time is exponentially distributed.
Poly(glutamic acid) poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels prepared by photoinduced polymerization: Synthesis, characterization, and preliminary release studies of protein drugs

A class of new biodegradable hydrogels based on poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-graft-poly(glutamic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate was synthesized by photoinduced polymerization. Because all the polymeric constituents were highly hydrophilic, crosslinking could be performed in aqueous solutions. This type of crosslinked hydrogel was prepared by modifying a select number of acidic side-groups on poly(glutamic acid) with poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate. These modified chains were then crosslinked in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate under a photoinduced polymerization at a wavelength of 365 nm. Swelling experiments were conducted to study the crosslinking density, pH-responsive behavior, and degradation of the hydrogel. Results showed that the degree of swelling of this type of hydrogels increased as the crosslinker concentration (or density) was reduced. Because of the presence of acidic side chains on poly(glutamic acid), swelling behavior was found to be pH-responsive, increasing at high pH in response to the increase in the amount of ionized acidic side chains. The degradation rate of these hydrogels also varied with pH. More rapid degradation was observed under stronger alkaline conditions because of the hydrolysis of the ester bonds between the crosslinker and the polymer backbone. Practically useful degradation rates could be achieved for such hydrogels under physiological conditions. Drug release rates from these hydrogels were found to be proportional to the protein molecular weight and the crosslinker density; increasing at lower protein molecular weight or crosslinker density. The preliminary findings presented in this article suggest that this class of biodegradable hydrogels could be an attractive avenue for drug delivery applications. The specific photoinduced crosslinking chemistry used would permit hydrogels to be synthesized in existence of the entrapped macromolecular drugs including peptides, proteins, and cells. In addition, the rapid feature of this polymerization procedure along with the ability to perform hydrogel synthesis and drug loading in an aqueous environment would offer great advantages in retaining drug activity during hydrogel synthesis.
Fanon's politics of culture: the colonial situation and its extension

The idea of cultural resistance has been taken up in combative analysis of metropolitan racist situations. It is a legacy from analyses by combatants in anti-colonial struggles. Fanon's were among the most searching of such analyses. His writings indicate an unusual concept of culture and of a people. The concept is at the same time of a political subject and of a the formation and direction of psychic energies. What he wrote on violence and counter-violence should not be abstracted from his concepts of culture and its colonial situation. That situation as it is described in Fanon's writings and then the concept of culture and people are elaborated and then extended so that their application to metropolitan racism can be tried.
Reconstitution of Photochemical Activity in Rhodobacter capsulatus Reaction Centers Containing Mutations at Tryptophan M-250 in the Primary Quinone Binding Site

Tryptophan M-250 (TrpM250) in the reaction center (RC) of the purple non-sulfur bacteria occupies a key position between the photoactive pheophytin (HA) and the primary quinone (QA), according to the X-ray crystal structures obtained for Rps. viridis and Rb. sphaeroides (refs. 1,2; Fig. 1). Seven directed mutations have been introduced at this position in a related organism, Rb. capsulatus, in order to determine their effects on quinone binding and electron transfer (for a review, see ref.3). The results of these substitutions indicate that although TrpM250 is important for high-affinity quinone binding, primary photochemistry can be reconstituted in all of the genetically modified RCs by addition of exogenous quinone.
Asymmetry in the F1-ATPase and its implications for the rotational cycle.

ATP synthase uses a rotary mechanism to carry out its cellular function of manufacturing ATP. The central g-shaft rotates inside a hexameric cylinder composed of alternating a- and b-subunits. When operating in the hydrolysis direction under high frictional loads and low ATP concentrations, a coordinated mechanochemical cycle in the three catalytic sites of the b-subunits rotates the g-shaft in three 1208 steps. At low frictional loads, the 1208 steps alternate with three ATP-independent substeps separated by ;308. We present a quantitative model that accounts for these substeps and show that the observed pauses are due to 1), the asymmetry of the F1 hexamer that produces a propeller-like motion of the power-stroke and 2), the relatively tight binding of ADP to the catalytic sites.
Arthroscopic synovectomy in haemophilia: indications, technique and results

Recurrent spontaneous haemarthrosis are commonly seen in patients affected by haemophilia. The knee and the elbow are most commonly affected and both are amenable to arthroscopic treatment. Arthroscopic synovectomy is indicated after failure of appropriate medical management with recurrent bleeding. Many patients also demonstrate motion loss and functional deterioration. The benefits of arthroscopic synovectomy include the ability to perform adequate synovial debridement, but also concomitant lysis of adhesion and capsular release to regain range of motion. Results of arthroscopic synovectomy demonstrate a significant decrease in episodes of haemarthrosis, and significant improvement in pain, range of motion and function. The primary predictor of outcome is degree of pre-existing degenerative changes within the joint. In more severe cases, the results of arthroscopic synovectomy are unpredictable and serious consideration should be given to primary arthroplasty.
Regularization Paths for Cox's Proportional Hazards Model via Coordinate Descent

We introduce a pathwise algorithm for the Cox proportional hazards model, regularized by convex combinations of l1 and l2 penalties (elastic net). Our algorithm fits via cyclical coordinate descent, and employs warm starts to find a solution along a regularization path. We demonstrate the efficacy of our algorithm on real and simulated data sets, and find considerable speedup between our algorithm and competing methods.
Salt-induced cardiac hypertrophy is independent of blood pressure and endothelin in obese, heart failure-prone SHHF rats.

The interaction of salt sensitivity and obesity in development of cardiac hypertrophy is incompletely understood. The SHHF/Mcc-facp (SHHF) rat model was used to examine the effect of high salt on cardiac hypertrophy and expression of endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. Homozygous lean (+/+) and obese (facp/facp) SHHF were fed a low-salt diet (0.3% NaCl) for seven days followed by a high-salt diet (8.0% NaCl) for seven days. To assess the role of ET in mediating cardiac hypertrophy and gene expression with high salt, additional groups were treated with an ETA/ETB receptor antagonist (bosentan) while on high salt. Obese SHHF showed an increase in systolic blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in response to the high-salt diet. High salt resulted in decreased expression of preproET as well as all three NOS isoforms in the Obese, while cytokine induced NOS (iNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in Leans. Though the salt-sensitive component of the hypertension observed in the Obese was...
Practical image restoration of thick biological specimens using multiple focus levels in transmission electron microscopy.

Three-dimensional electron tomographic studies of thick specimens such as cellular organelles or supramolecular structures require accurate interpretations of transmission electron micrograph intensities. In addition to microscope lens aberrations, thick specimen imaging is complicated by additional distortions resulting from multiple elastic and inelastic scattering. Extensive analysis of the mechanism of image formation using electron energy-loss spectroscopy and imaging as well as exit wavefront reconstruction demonstrated that multiple scattering does not contribute to the coherent component of the exit wave (Han et al., 1996, 1995). Although exit wavefront restored images showed enhanced contrast and resolution, that technique, which requires the collection of more than 30 images at different focus levels, is not practical for routine data collection in 3D electron tomography, where usually over 100 projection views are required for each reconstruction. Using a 0.7-micron-thick specimen imaged at 200 keV, the accuracy of reconstructions using small numbers of defocused images and a simple linear filter (Schiske, 1968) was assessed by comparison to the complete exit wave restoration. We demonstrate that only four optimal focus levels are required to effectively restore the coherent component (deviation 5.1%). By contrast, the optimal single image (zero defocus) shows a 25.5% deviation to the exit wave restoration. Two pairs of under- and over-defocus images should be taken: one pair at quite high defocus (> 10 microns) to differentiate the coherent (single elastic scattering) from the incoherent (multiple elastic and inelastic scattering) components, and the second pair to optimize information content at the highest desired resolution (e.g., 5 microns for (2.5 nm)-1 resolution). We also propose a new interpretation of the restored amplitude and phase components where the specimen mass-density is proportional to the logarithm of the amplitude component and linearly related to the phase component. This approach should greatly facilitate the collection of high resolution tomographic data from thick samples.
Liver tumor promotion by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin is dependent on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and TNF/IL-1 receptors.

We set out to better understand the signal transduction pathways that mediate liver tumor promotion by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxn (“dioxin”). To this end, we first employed congenic mice homozygous for either the Ahrb1 or Ahrd alleles (encoding an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) with high or low binding affinity for dioxin, respectively) and demonstrated that hepatocellular tumor promotion in response to dioxin segregated with the Ahr locus. Once we had genetic evidence for the importance of AHR signaling, we then asked if tumor promotion by dioxin was influenced by “interleukin-1 (IL-1)-like” inflammatory cytokines. The importance of this question arose from our earlier observation that aspects of the acute hepatocellular toxicity of dioxin are dependent upon IL1-like cytokine signaling. To address this issue, we employed a triple knock-out (TKO) mouse model with null alleles at the loci encoding the three relevant receptors for tumor necrosis factors α and β and IL-1α and IL-1β (i.e., null alleles at the Tnfrsf1a, Tnfrsf1b, and Il-1r1 loci). The observation that TKO mice were resistant to the tumor promoting effects of dioxin in liver suggests that inflammatory cytokines play an important step in dioxin mediated liver tumor promotion in the mouse. Collectively, these data support the idea that the mechanism of dioxin acute hepatotoxicity and its activity as a promoter in a mouse two stage liver cancer model may be similar, i.e., tumor promotion by dioxin, like acute hepatotoxicity, are mediated by the linked action of two receptor systems, the AHR and the receptors for the “IL-1-like” cytokines.
Abstract P3-01-04: Mammographic changes after oncoplastic reduction mammoplasty

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of partial lumpectomy defects with reduction mammaplasty techniques can improve aesthetic outcomes. However, the impact of the significant tissue rearrangement on post-operative mammographic findings and subsequent recommendations for biopsy has not been well-studied. METHODS: A retrospective review of 50 patients who underwent partial mastectomy with immediate oncoplastic reduction mammaplasty reconstruction from 2001 to 2008 was performed. Mammography reports at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years post-operatively were reviewed for Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) scores, predominant findings, and recommendations for subsequent imaging or biopsy. RESULTS: At six months post-operatively, 49 patients (98%) had benign findings of post-surgical changes, while one patient had microcalcifications and underwent subsequent surgical re-excision with residual DCIS on pathologic analysis. At one year, 94% of patients continued to have benign mammograms; of these mammograms, 94% reported only post-surgical scarring, while 6% described benign-appearing scattered or dystrophic calcifications. Of the three patients with suspicious mammograms at one year, all underwent core biopsies with benign results. At two years, rates of fat necrosis (2%) and scattered or dystrophic calcifications (10%) increased, though all mammographic findings were considered benign and none required additional imaging or biopsies. By three years post-operatively, an additional two patients (4%) developed suspicious findings and underwent biopsies confirming local recurrence (one invasive, one in situ). The remaining 96% continued to have benign mammographic findings and were subsequently followed with routine biannual mammographic surveillance. Overall, 88% of patients required no additional intervention in the three-year period following oncoplastic reduction mammaplasty. Of patients recommended for biopsy, malignancy was discovered in 50%, including two local recurrences (4% of total patients). This data is similar to a previously published large study (1841 women) of mammographic surveillance after partial mastectomy without oncoplastic reconstruction at our institution, which found a 6% malignancy rate at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Although substantial tissue rearrangement is performed at the time of oncoplastic reduction mammaplasty, our results demonstrate low rates of abnormal post-operative mammograms and subsequent biopsies over the first three years following the procedure. These findings support the use of oncoplastic reduction mammaplasty as a strategy for improving reconstructive outcomes in patients undergoing partial mastectomy. Citation Format: Anne Warren Peled, Merisa Piper, Laura J Esserman, Robert D Foster, Hani Sbitany, Elissa R Price. Mammographic changes after oncoplastic reduction mammoplasty [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-04.
Do Alumni Change Their Minds Regarding Student Evaluations of Teachers? On the Time Stability of Student Evaluations

While the effectiveness and validity of student evaluations of teaching (SETs) has been discussed in the literature for decades, there is little consensus. This paper contributes to the discussion by collecting data regarding SETs from former Murray State University students. Specifically, respondents were asked to score the importance of different attributes, such as quality of teaching and expected grade, when completing the evaluations in college (college scores), and how would they score these same attributes if they were completing the evaluations now (current scores). The difference between the college scores and the current scores are statistically different from zero for most attributes and categorical variable models are used to estimate the determinants of these differences. Students were also asked if they would change the evaluations of the professors of the classes in which they studied the most, studied the least, enjoyed the most, and learned the most. The past students would, on average, give higher evaluations to all classes but the one in which they studied the least. Using econometric estimations, we were able to determine which students’ and instructors’ characteristics were the main determinants of the mentioned changes in student evaluations of teachers.