cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Processing and Characterization of In Situ (TiC–TiB2)p/AZ91D Magnesium Matrix Composites†

In this paper, a practical and cost-effective processing route, in situ reactive infiltration technique, was utilized to fabricate magnesium matrix composites reinforced with a network of TiC–TiB2 particulates. These ceramic reinforcement phases were synthesized in situ from Ti and B4C powders without any addition of a third metal powder such as Al. The molten Mg alloy infiltrates the preform of (Tip + B4Cp) by capillary forces. The microstructure of the composites was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The compression behavior of the composites processed at different conditions was investigated. Also, the flexural strength behavior was assessed through the four-point-bending test at room temperature. Microstructural characterization of the (TiB2–TiC)/AZ91D composite processed at 900 °C for 1.5 h shows a relatively uniform distribution of TiB2 and TiC particulates in the matrix material resulting in the highest compressive strength and Young's modulus. Compared with those of the unreinforced AZ91D Mg alloy, the elastic modulus, flexural and compressive strengths of the composite are greatly improved. In contrast, the ductility is lower than that of the unreinforced AZ91D Mg alloy. However, this lower ductility was improved by the addition of MgH2 powder in the preform. Secondary scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the fracture surfaces after the flexural strength test. The composites show signs of mixed fracture; cleavage regions and some dimpling. In addition, microcracks observed in the matrix show that the failure might have initiated in the matrix rather than from the reinforcing particulates.
Decline in Total T Cell Count Is Associated with Onset of AIDS, Independent of CD4+Lymphocyte Count: Implications for AIDS Pathogenesis

We previously reported that blind T cell homeostasis, in which the total T cell count is maintained but the CD4+and CD8+subset composition of the T cells can vary, fails approximately 1.5 to 2.5 years before the onset of AIDS. The present study was premised on the hypothesis that if failure of T cell homeostasis (i.e., a decline in total T cell counts) is important in the pathogenesis of AIDS, it should be a significant predictor of AIDS after controlling for the CD4+lymphocyte count. Data from 1556 homosexual men with sufficient sequential T cell subset measurements were evaluated, representing 11,988 person-visits in men with known clinical outcomes over a period of more than 10 years. Using regression models that incorporated CD4+lymphocyte count and HIV-related symptoms (fever, thrush), it was determined that a yearly decline of more than 300 T cells/μl of peripheral blood was an independent predictor of the onset of AIDS for subjects with CD4+lymphocyte counts of <500 cells/μl. The results support an important role for failure of T cell homeostasis in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Ultrastructural characterization of epithelial cell membranes in normal human conducting airway epithelium: A freeze‐fracture study

Cell membranes of normal human nasal and tracheal epithelium were characterized by means of freeze-fracture preparations. These investigations illustrated a predictable variability in the distribution of membrane-associated particles on PF-faces of different cell types and in different regions of the same cell. Details of the fine structure and variability of tight junctional complexes in different cell types are presented as are ultrastructural perspectives of cell membrane involvement in ciliogenesis and in mucus secretion. Because ciliogenic profiles and nascent tight junctional complexes were observed more frequently in nasal epithelial cells, these features provided markers of cellular differentiation. Based on the frequent appearance of such indicators, these observations suggested that cell turnover may be more rapid in the region of the nasal turbinates than in the trachea. There was no appreciable evidence of ultrastructural variability between the epithelial cell membranes of similar cell types in the upper and lower respiratory tract.
An injection scheme for the Brookhaven ATF utilizing space-charge emittance growth compensation

We consider possible configurations for injection of photocathode-produced electron beams straight into linear accelerating sections. A slightly convergent beam into the linac is required for maximum transmission through the linac sections and therefore a solenoid pair is considered. We describe strategies for placing the rf gun injector and the strength of the solenoids so as to minimize the emittance growth of the beam as it traverses the linac sections. The simulation codes PARMELA and TRACE 3-D were used for this design study. >
Laparoscopic management of ureteric obstruction after uterosacral vaginal vault suspension.

The uterosacral ligaments commonly are used to correct pelvic organ prolapse. For experienced surgeons, the rate of ureteral injury with uterosacral vaginal vault suspensions is 2%–4%. Exploratory laparotomy and ureterolysis has been used to treat iatrogenic ureteral injury. A 64-year-old woman with stage III pelvic organ prolapse underwent surgical correction with an uterosacral vaginal vault suspension. On postoperative day 1, the patient was diagnosed with partial ureteral obstruction. She underwent laparoscopic ureterolysis and stent placement. A follow-up intravenous pyelogram showed no evidence of damage or obstruction. With proper patient selection, ureteral obstruction after vault suspension procedures can be managed with laparoscopic ureterolysis, avoiding the morbidity associated with laparotomy.
Change in the distribution of succinic dehydrogenase within the rat hepatic lobule after ligation of the common bile duct.

The distribution of hepatic succinic dehydrogenase has been compared in common bile duct-ligated and control rats. In control cases, a gradient of succinic dehydrogenase activity is found within each liver lobule; periportal regions exhibit the highest level of enzyme activity, and the activity gradually decreases in a central direction. Centrilobular regions exhibit only slight activity. However, after complete ligation of the common bile duct, this gradient gradually disappears from the lobule due to a gradual increase in succinic dehydrogenase activity in middle and central regions. By 18–19 days after ligation, a relatively high and uniform level of succinic dehydrogenase activity is displayed by all surviving parenchymal cells, regardless of position occupied within the lobule. The possible functional implications of this finding are discussed.
Demographic predictors of severity of stable slipped capital femoral epiphyses.

Background: The outcome of stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis is directly related to the severity of the slip. If it is assumed that the slip will be less severe if it is diagnosed early, then early diagnosis should improve the prognosis. It was our purpose to determine demographic predictors of the severity of a slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Methods: A retrospective study of 243 children with a total of 328 stable slipped capital femoral epiphyses was performed. Gender, race, age, and symptom duration were noted. Slip severity was classified as mild ( 50°). Statistical analyses included bivariate, multivariate, linear correlation, and logistic regression techniques. Results: There were 159 boys and eighty-four girls; 149 children had unilateral and ninety-four had bilateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Of the bilateral slips, forty-two were simultaneous and fifty-two were sequential. The mean age (and standard deviation) was 12.6 ± 1.8 years, the mean duration of the symptoms was 5.2 ± 7.4 months, and the mean slip angle was 29° ± 20°. There were 199 mild, sixty-eight moderate, and forty-five severe slips. The mean duration of symptoms was 3.5 ± 5.0 months for the mild slips, 7.7 ± 9.0 months for the moderate slips, and 8.8 ± 10.6 months for the severe slips (p < 0.0001). Older children had more severe slips: the average age was 12.3 ± 1.8 years for the children with a mild slip, 13.0 ± 1.6 years for those with a moderate slip, and 13.8 ± 1.8 years for those with a severe slip (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that, among the factors studied, only the age of the patient and the duration of the symptoms were associated with the slip severity. Symptom duration and patient age were used as predictors of slip severity in a logistic regression analysis, with ≥30° and <30° used as the categories for slip severity, older than 12.5 years old compared with 12.5 years old or younger used as the categories for age, and more than 2.0 months compared with 2.0 months or less used as the categories for symptom duration. This model predicted the probability of a slip with confidence (p < 0.0001). The odds ratios (with 95% confidence intervals) for age and symptom duration were 2.0 (1.15 to 3.53) and 4.1 (2.34 to 7.12), respectively. Thus, a child with a stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis is 2.0 times more likely to have a moderate or severe slip if he or she is older than 12.5 years of age at the time of the diagnosis and 4.1 times more likely to have a moderate or severe slip if the duration of symptoms was longer than two months. Conclusions: The only two known significant predictors of the severity of a slipped capital femoral epiphysis are age at diagnosis and symptom duration. For any individual child, slip severity and symptom duration are unique; in a large population, there is a general correlation between slip severity and increases in patient age and increases in the duration of symptoms. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Fractured dirt: Deformation textures and processes in sediment and other unconsolidated deposits

Structural geologists examine rock deformation to evaluate how Earth's crust responds to tectonic loads in the brittle, mixed mode (or the schizosphere of [Scholz, 2002][1]) and plastic regimes of the crust ([Rutter, 1986][2]). Recently, some researchers have turned their attention to uncon-
Frequency and intensity noise in an injection-locked, solid-state laser

We have calculated transfer functions for frequency and intensity fluctuations in an injection-locked solid-state laser. At modulation frequencies well below the locking frequency we find significant frequency-noise reduction, and at modulation frequencies above the locking frequency we find that the frequency noise is that of the free-running slave laser. Our intensity-noise theory predicts substantial damping of relaxation oscillations in the slave laser. To verify these results we have measured the frequency and intensity noise of a 5-W, injection-locked Nd:YAG laser.
Structural basis for imipenem inhibition of class C β-lactamases

To determine how imipenem inhibits the class C β-lactamase AmpC, the X-ray crystal structure of the acyl-enzyme complex was determined to a resolution of 1.80 A. In the complex, the lactam carbonyl oxygen of imipenem has flipped by approximately 180° compared to its expected position; the electrophilic acyl center is thus displaced from the point of hydrolytic attack. This conformation resembles that of imipenem bound to the class A enzyme TEM-1 but is different from that of moxalactam bound to AmpC.
Monitoring succession from space: A case study from the North Carolina Piedmont

Question: Is the successional transition from pine to hardwood, which has been inferred from chronosequence plots in previous studies, validated through a time line of satellite imagery? Location: Durham, North Carolina, USA. Methods: We examined successional trends in a time-series of winter-summer pairs of Thematic Mapper imagery from 1986 to 2000. We calculated the normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI) for winter and summer, as well as the difference between summer and winter NDVI (i.e., summer increment NDVI). A set of approximately 50 forest stands of known age and phenology were used to interpret patterns in winter and summer increment NDVI over successional time, and a continuum was found to exist between pine-dominance and hardwood-dominance. We fitted a series of linear regressions that modeled the change in winter and summer increment NDVI as a function of initial winter and summer increment NDVI, and additional explanatory variables. Results: All regressions were highly significant (P < 0.0001, R2 = ca. 0.3). Predicted dynamics are in accord with successional theory, with pixels moving from evergreen dominance to deciduous dominance along a line of fairly constant summer NDVI. A large disturbance event that occurred over the course of this study, Hurricane Fran, appeared to slow rates of succession in the short term (1-3 years), but increase the rate of conversion to hardwoods over longer time spans. Conclusions: We conclude that temporal sequences of remote sensing images provide an excellent opportunity for broad-scale monitoring of successional processes, and that continuous metrics of that change are essential to accurate monitoring.
Gender differences in sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium loading after isoproterenol.

Males exhibit enhanced myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury versus females under hypercontractile conditions associated with increased sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+. We therefore examined whet...
Comment on “The diffusion of antimony in heavily doped and (sic) n- and p-type silicon” [J. Mater. Res. 1, 705 (1986)]

R. B. Fair et al. have analyzed original data on the effect of heavy, uniform background doping with As and B on the diffusivity of Sb in Si at 1000°–1200°C. Their analysis attributed a role to “electric fields” and led to the conclusion that, for n -type background doping, Sb diffusion is dominated by double-negatively charged vacancies with no contribution from V − . For p -type backgrounds they concluded that donor-acceptor pairing alone retards the diffusion. Here it is shown (1) that electric fields do not play a role in their experiments, (2) that the contribution of V − to Sb diffusion in an n -type background is not zero but is roughly equal to that of V = for n/n i = 10, and (3) that the retardation of Sb diffusion in p -type Si is due both to donor-acceptor pairing and, principally, to the elimination of the contributions of V − and V = .
Treatment of calcified coronary lesions with Palmaz-Schatz stents An intravascular ultrasound study

Aims To evaluate the result of coronary stenting in calcified lesions and to find morphological and procedural factors influencing the final result. Methods and results Three hundred and twenty three native coronary artery lesions in 303 patients (197 men, mean age 63·9±11·5 years) treated with Palmaz–Schatz stents were differentiated into four groups depending on their degree of circumferential calcification as defined by intravascular ultrasound [0–90° (n=120), 91–180° (n=58, 181–270$ (n=71) and 271–360° (n=74)]. In 117 lesions rotational atherectomy was used prior to stent placement. Intravascular ultrasound and quantitative angiography were performed prior to treatment and after stent placement to measure minimal and maximal lumen diameter and lumen cross-sectional area at the lesion site and the reference segments. Acute lumen gain and eccentricity index were calculated. Although higher balloon pressures were used than in the minimally calcified lesions, the final angiographic minimal lumen diameter decreased with increasing arc of calcification (3·01±0·47, 3·04±0·43, 2·85±0·53, 2·83±0·40mm, respectively, P =0·0320) resulting in a decrease in acute diameter gain with increasing arc of calcification (2·06±0·51, 1·91±0·46, 1·81±0·56, 1·78±0·51mm, respectively, P =0·0067). Adjunctive rotational atherectomy prior to stent placement resulted in a greater acute diameter and a greater lumen cross-sectional area gain, coupled with less final residual stenosis than pre-treatment with balloon angioplasty. Conclusion Implantation of stents in calcified lesions results in less optimal stent expansion, especially in lesions with thick, eccentric calcific plaque layers. Use of adjunctive rotational atherectomy before stent placement may improve the procedural result.
DOHaD research with populations in transition: a case study of prenatal diet remote recall with Yup'ik Alaskan women.

Maternal prenatal diet can exert a powerful influence on the health of children when they reach adulthood – an orienting phenomenon in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease research paradigm. Similar to other subsistence-based communities experiencing a rapid nutrition transition, obesity is increasing among Yup’ik Alaskans. Diabetes prevalence, however, remains relatively low and may reflect developmental nutritional processes that have yet to be thoroughly considered. Here we investigate recall of Yup’ik women’s diets during a past pregnancy using a mixed-methods approach as a critical first step in exploring such alternative developmental hypotheses. For certain populations, retrospective dietary reports might be the only source of information on factors relevant to understanding developmental pathways to health and disease. Our analysis identified community-specific factors that will likely improve the accuracy of future retrospective dietary analyses investigating the role of prenatal nutrition in the developmental origins of metabolic disease, especially among Alaska Natives.
Mass and heat transfer relations in evaporation through porous membranes

This study concerns rates of evaporation and mass transfer of water vapor from a heated salt solution through a water repellent porous membrane to a cooled water condensate. This transfer is a result of temperature differences and corresponding vapor pressure differences across the membrane. Three groups of experiments were carried out which indicate that the major factor influencing the rates of transfer is diffusion through a stagnant gas in the membrane pores. However, an equation considering film heat transfer coefficients, membrane thermal conductivity, and an empiricial correction based on temperature driving force appears to be necessary for representing all the data. The empirical correction appears to be related to internal condensation and possibly diffusion along surfaces.
Free vibrations of plates and beams of pyrolytic graphite type materials

A set of general governing equations is derived for the study of free vibrations of rectangular plates composed of a transversely isotropic material, including the effects of transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia. Such a formulation is necessary for even geometrically thin plates, when the ratio of in-plane modulus of elasticity to transverse shear modulus is large (i.e., 20-50) which occurs in vapor deposited materials such as pyrolytic graphite, and in many fiber reinforced composite materials. The corresponding equations for beams are also derived. The case of a simply supported plate is treated in detail. Numerical results show that significant differences occur in predicting natural frequencies for various modes when the present theory is used compared to the use of classical methods for plates of these material systems. Classical methods can predict frequencies that are erroneous by a factor of nearly three.
Microbiology and Pathogenesis of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections

Advancements in our understanding of cardiac conduction abnormalities and pathophysiology of congestive heart failure coupled with innovations in device manufacturing and programming have helped to create a demand for a plethora of newer cardiovascular devices over the past 3 decades. Appropriate use of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in carefully selected patients is associated with better survival and significant improvements in quality of life.1 Cardiac resynchronization therapy devices are the newest “breed” to join an existing and growing family of permanent pacemakers (PPMs) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). The number of cardiac devices implanted each year continues to grow exponentially. Unfortunately, because of the invasive nature of the implantation procedures required for placement of these devices and multiple comorbid conditions in device recipients, the benefits of these devices can be eclipsed by infectious complications. Infection is a very serious and dreadful complication requiring complete removal of the infected device and systemic antimicrobial therapy.2–4 Moreover, the financial cost of managing device infections is enormous. In this article, we review the latest developments pertaining to CIED infections, with a special emphasis on pathogenesis and microbiology. Since their first conceptualization and use in the late 1950s,5 CIEDs have undergone significant enhancements in design and function, and their use continues to rise, with a growing number of indications for placement, improvements in implantation techniques, and enhancements in device programming and monitoring.1 Earlier investigations reported a highly variable CIED infection rate, ranging from 0.13% to 19.9%.6,7 However, a more recent review of case records from the Massachusetts General Hospital reported 21 (1.2%) ICD-related infections among 1700 patients who underwent device implantation procedures.8 In a study by Mela et al,8 CIED infection occurred in 1.8% of 1170 patients who underwent a primary implant, a generator change, …
The physician's role in nutrition-related disorders: from bystander to leader.

Doctors and hospitals must stop being bystanders to food-related illness and begin to become role models and educators in the transition to healthful eating habits, just as they did in tobacco cessation.
Metabolism of 2-Acetylaminofluorene by Hepatocytes Isolated from Rainbow Trout

The metabolism of 2-acetyl-[9-14C]aminofluorene (AAF) by hepatocytes isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Shasta strain, was investigated in order to assess the competing activation and detoxification pathways which may explain the resistance of this species and strain to the initiation of carcinogenesis by this model carcinogenic aromatic amide. Freshly isolated hepatocytes (per milliliter: 1.0 mg dry wt; 1.5 (106) hepatocytes) incubated with 65 μM AAF for 4 hr converted 15.4 nmol AAF to metabolites, including 7.8 nmol of water-soluble compounds. AAF-derived radioactivity extracted from the incubation mixtures, before and after hydrolysis by β-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase, was analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC. The metabolite profile following incubation of hepatocytes with 6.5 μM AAF for 4 hr included (as percentage of total metabolites): 7-OH-AAF, 5-/8-/9-OH-AAF and 2-aminofluorene (AF) (17, 2.4, and 2.7%, respectively); conjugates of these respective primary metabolites (39, 9, and 4%, respectively). Glucuronides amounted to 49% of the total metabolites. N-OH-AAF and its conjugates always amounted to <1% of total metabolites. The relative amount of (unconjugated) AF increased considerably (to 26%) following incubation of hepatocytes with 65 μM AAF, with a corresponding decrease in the total amount of glucuronides formed. Following incubation with 65 μM AAF, 1.6% of AAF metabolites was covalently bound to macromolecules, giving a ratio of covalently bound derivatives to detoxification products of 0.028. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that rainbow trout are resistant to AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, in part, because trout liver efficiently detoxifies AAF and forms only relatively small amounts of active intermediates capable of binding to macromolecules, including DNA.
Ethanol Induced Increase in the Metabolic Clearance of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane in Human Volunteers

This study evaluated the effect of moderate doses of ethanol over a short period of time on the toxicokinetics of an organic solvent, 1,1,1-trichloroethane. A group of 10 moderate drinkers were recruited and exposed via inhalation for 2 h to a low concentration of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (175 ppm) on two separate occasions. Subjects were administered ethanol (0.35 g/kg body weight) on each of the 7 days preceding one of the exposures. Blood and urine samples were collected during and following each exposure, with blood analyzed for 1,1,1-trichloroethane and urine analyzed for the metabolites of 1,1,1-trichloroethane: trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid. Prior ethanol consumption resulted in a significant increase in apparent metabolic clearance of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (mean increase = 25.4%). The results of this study demonstrate that ethanol consumption over time can affect the rate at which an organic solvent is cleared through metabolism in humans. For chemicals with toxic metabolic products, this inductive effect of ethanol consumption on the rate of biotransformation could be potentially harmful to exposed individuals. Metabolic clearance of compounds with high hepatic extraction may not be affected by enzyme induction as it is likely that these compounds are essentially completely metabolized while passing through the liver.
The Effect of Hypolimnion Reservoir Releases on Fish Distribution and Species Diversity

Abstract The fish faunas above and below Canyon Reservoir, Comal County, Texas, were surveyed to determine the effect of the impoundment upon the downstream community. Although 22 species were found above the reservoir, only 18 species were taken in the area downstream from the dam. Comparisons with pre-impoundment surveys of this area, taken a quarter century ago, indicate that seven species, which were once present in the downstream area, are now absent. Species diversity indices demonstrate reduced diversity below the impoundment. Changes in downstream water quality, especially water temperatures, due to hypolimnion water releases, seem to be the most likely causal factors associated with this disruption of the natural stream community.
Web Wisdom: An essay on how Web 2.0 and Semantic Web can foster a global knowledge society

Admittedly this is a presumptuous title that should never be used when reporting on individual research advances. Wisdom is just not a scientific concept. In this case, though, we are reporting on recent developments on the web that lead us to believe that the web is on the way to providing a platform for not only information acquisition and business transactions but also for large scale knowledge development and decision support. It is likely that by now every web user has participated in some sort of social function or knowledge accumulating function on the web, many times without even being aware of it, simply by searching and browsing, other times deliberately by e.g. adding a piece of information to a Wikipedia article or by voting on a movie on IMDB.com. In this paper we will give some examples of how Web Wisdom is already emerging, some ideas of how we can create platforms that foster Web Wisdom and a critical evaluation of types of problems that can be subjected to Web Wisdom.
Perceptions of credibility in scientific images

This study sought to discern how people determine credibility of images in science. We predicted that certain visual cues would correspond to relatively higher credibility ratings of images; therefore, realistic images with more detail and more contextual cues would receive correspondingly higher ratings. We administered a three-part, 19-question survey to 83 University of Missouri-Rolla General Psychology students in Spring, 2006. While few of the measured variables could be correlated to credibility ratings, the surprising results of the study warrant discussion and follow-up investigations.
Subcellular Localization of the Intracellular Survival-Enhancing Eis Protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen that has evolved the ability to survive and multiply within human macrophages. It is not clear how M. tuberculosis avoids the destructive action of macrophages, but this ability is fundamental in the pathogenicity of tuberculosis. A gene previously identified in M. tuberculosis, designated eis, was found to enhance intracellular survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis in the human macrophage-like cell line U-937 (J. Wei et al., J. Bacteriol. 182:377–384, 2000). When eis was introduced into M. smegmatis on a multicopy vector, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the appearance of a unique 42-kDa protein band corresponding to the predicted molecular weight of the eis gene product. This band was electroeluted from the gel with a purity of >90% and subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing, which demonstrated that the 42-kDa band was indeed the protein product of eis. The Eis protein produced by M. tuberculosis H37Ra had an identical N-terminal amino acid sequence. A synthetic polypeptide corresponding to a carboxyl-terminal region of the deduced eis protein sequence was used to generate affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal antibodies that reacted with the 42-kDa protein in Western blot analysis. Hydropathy profile analysis showed the Eis protein to be predominantly hydrophilic with a potential hydrophobic amino terminus. Phase separation of M. tuberculosis H37Ra lysates by the nonionic detergent Triton X-114 revealed the Eis protein in both the aqueous and detergent phases. After fractionation of M. tuberculosis by differential centrifugation, Eis protein appeared mainly in the cytoplasmic fraction but also in the membrane, cell wall, and culture supernatant fractions as well. Forty percent of the sera from pulmonary tuberculosis patients tested for anti-Eis antibody gave positive reactions in Western blot analysis. Although the function of Eis remains unknown, evidence presented here suggests it associates with the cell surface and is released into the culture medium. It is produced during human tuberculosis infection and therefore may be an important M. tuberculosis immunogen.
Orthopedic Surgeons and Physical Therapists Differ in Assessment of Need for Physical Therapy After Traumatic Lower-Extremity Injury

Background Lower-extremity injuries constitute the leading cause of trauma hospitalizations among people under the age of 65 years. Rehabilitation has the potential to favorably influence the outcomes associated with traumatic lower-extremity injuries. Objectives The objectives of this study were to explore variability in surgeon and physical therapist assessments of the need for physical therapy in patients with traumatic lower-extremity injuries and to determine the factors associated with assessments of need. Design This study was a retrospective cohort investigation. Methods Participants were 395 patients treated by reconstruction in the Lower-Extremity Assessment Project. They were evaluated at 8 level I trauma centers at 3, 6, and 12 months after hospitalization by an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist to determine the need for physical therapy. Analyses included multilevel logistic regression. Results Chi-square analyses showed that surgeon and therapist assessments of need differed statistically across trauma centers. Surgeons were more likely to assess a need for therapy at 3 months when participants had low work self-efficacy, impaired knee flexion range of motion (ROM), and weight-bearing limitations and at 6 and 12 months when participants had impaired knee flexion ROM and weight-bearing and balance limitations. Therapists were more likely to assess a need for therapy at 3 months when participants had moderate to severe pain and at 6 and 12 months when participants had low work self-efficacy, pain, impaired knee flexion ROM, and balance limitations. Conclusions The results revealed variability in assessments of the need for physical therapy at the provider and trauma center levels. Differences in provider assessments highlight the need for communication and further investigation into the outcomes and timing of physical therapy for the treatment of traumatic lower-extremity injuries.
Radioiodine tracer studies in thiocyanate myxedema.

LTERATIONS in the function of the thyroid gland associated with the administration of potassium thiocyanate have been recognized clinically for a number of years. In 1936 Barker (1) observed 3 patients in whom during treatment with potassium thiocyanate “peculiar myxedematous swelling of the tissues of the face, orbital areas, and cervical region” developed. Thyroid enlargement was noted in 2 of them. Basal metabolic rates varied from −9 to –18 per cent. Later, Barker and associates (2) reported that in 9 of 246 patients so treated, large thyroids and myxedematous facies developed. Their metabolic rates were “in the neighborhood of −10.” Both goiter and myxedematous symptoms disappeared when desiccated thyroid was given. Similar observations have been reported by others (3, 4, 5). Estes and Keith (6) reported a case in which there were myxedematous symptoms without enlargement of the thyroid during thiocyanate therapy. Omission of thiocyanate was followed by prompt disappearance of myxedematous symptoms w...
Pensions and Risk Aversion: The Influence of Race, Ethnicity, and Class on Investor Behavior

Defined Contribution plans have greatly expanded over the last two decades. Defined Contribution plans place the investment risk on employees. Employee investment decision making should be examined to determine whether those decisions are influenced by race, ethnicity and/or class. Empirical data show that investor behavior is greatly influenced by race, ethnicity and/or class. Blacks and Hispanics are far less likely to invest in the stock market than whites. Low-income whites are far more likely to invest in the stock market than blacks or Hispanics regardless of income. As a result, retirement account balances are the greatest for many white households and the least for black, Hispanic, and certain white households. This article explores those issues and suggests solutions that will allow employees to overcome their built-in biases and make wiser investment choices.
IonWorks Barracuda Assay for Assessment of State-Dependent Sodium Channel Modulators.

Abstract Voltage-gated sodium channels represent important drug targets. The implementation of higher throughput electrophysiology assays is necessary to characterize the interaction of test compounds with several conformational states of the channel, but has presented significant challenges. We describe a novel high throughput approach to assess the effects of test agents on voltage-gated sodium currents. The multiple protocol mode of the automated electrophysiology instrument IonWorks Barracuda was used to control the level of inactivation and monitor current stability. Good temporal stability of currents and spatial uniformity of inactivation were obtained by optimizing the experimental conditions. The resulting assay allowed for robust assessment of state-dependent effects of test agents and enabled direct comparison of compound potency across several sodium channel subtypes at equivalent levels of inactivation.
Is it an Interest in Property or a Lien? The Misapplication of the Federal Bankruptcy Code in North Carolina Bankruptcy Court and the Legal Implication in Construction Practice

The Eastern District of North Carolina erred in its conclusions that the creditors in Shearin and Harrelson did not fall within the scope of the exception described in sections 362(b)(3) and 546(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. The term “interest in property,” as used in section 362(b)(3), is broader than the term “lien.” The Leonard and Small Courts spent much time dissecting the terms of Chapter 44A and analyzing whether a lien is created instantly upon delivery or if it is only created upon filing and perfecting a lien. Most courts hold that once entitlement to a lien has been established, statutory requirements concerning perfection are to be liberally construed in favor of the lien claimant. When drafting the Bankruptcy Code and creating the exception to the automatic stay under sections 362(b)(3) and 546(b) Congress did not use the term “lien.” Rather, Congress elected to use the word “interest in property.” Both cases should turn on the definition of “interest in property” and not the “lien” terminology used by both the Leonard and Small courts. This is because Congress is not shy in its use of the word “lien” throughout the Bankruptcy Code. As a matter of statutory construction, when Congress “includes particular language in one section of a statute, but omits it in another section of the same Act, it is generally presumed that Congress acts intentionally and purposely in the disparate inclusion or exclusion.”
Structural Changes in Self-Catalyzed Adsorption of Carbon Monoxide on 1,4-Phenylene Diisocyanide Modified Au(111)

The self-accelerated adsorption of CO on 1,4-phenylene diisocyanide (PDI)-derived oligomers on Au(111) is explored by reflection–absorption infrared spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. PDI incorporates gold adatoms from the Au(111) surface to form one-dimensional −(Au–PDI)n– chains that can also connect between gold nanoparticles on mica to form a conductive pathway between them. CO adsorption occurs in two stages; it first adsorbs adjacent to the oligomers that move to optimize CO adsorption. Further CO exposure induces PDI decoordination to form Au–PDI adatom complexes thereby causing the conductivity of a PDI-linked gold nanoparticle array on mica to decrease to act as a chemically drive molecular switch. This simple system enables the adsorption process to be explored in detail. DFT calculations reveal that both the −(Au–PDI)n– oligomer chain and the Au–PDI adatom complex are stabilized by coadsorbed CO. A kinetic “foot-in-the-door” model is proposed in which fluctuations in PDI coordinati...
Reaction Kinetics for the Hydrolysis of Titanium Isopropoxide Carboxylate Complexes

Titanium alkoxides modified by carboxylic acids have been widely studied as the molecular precursors to ceramic materials. These alkoxide complexes have also been very useful in the formation of stable, porous, optically clear films having many novel applications such as chemical sensors, catalytic supports, and ion-exchange media. To improve the processing of these materials, it is essential to better understand the kinetics of the chemical transformations which occur. The kinetics of the hydrolysis reaction are studied for selected carboxylic acids using Raman spectroscopy to probe the chemistry of the process. The study has a special emphasis on the titanium isopropoxide-valeric acid system due to the superior quality of these films over other carboxylates. Greater knowledge of the hydrolysis kinetics allows increased control over the quality of the film materials and should be of general interest to those working with modified metal alkoxides.
A CLINICAL REVIEW OF 110 CASES OF INFANTILE HYPERTROPHIC PYLORIC STENOSIS

We report 110 cases of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis which were operated on at the Department of Surgery of National Kagawa Children's Hospital from July 1974 to July 1994. There were 87 males and 23 females, and the male-to-female ratio was 3.8:1. The majority were the first-born and second-born children. The most frequent incidence in birth weight was recognized between 3001 and 3500g, and the low birth weight infants were seen in only 5 cases. The average onset of vomiting was 21st day in the mature infants and was 28th day in the low birth weight infants. The mean size of pyloric tumors was 23.4×16.7×4.7mm. The average episodes frequency of postoperative vomiting was 4.5 times, the mean duration of the postoperative vomiting was 2.4 days, and the averaged hospital stay was 16.4 days. The case of death was not observed. The strong correlation between seurm Cl value and Na, K, pH and B.E. values was observed. A recent shortening of preoperative symptomatic period is closely related to an increasing of mild cases. On the other hand, it is suggested that, in severe cases, not only correction of the water and electrolyte inbalance but also correction of blood Hb and protein are needed.
Epidemiological Analysis of Viral Hepatitis in Pinggu District of Beijing City in 2009

[Objective] To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and epidemic tendency of viral hepatitis in Pinggu District of Beijing City in 2009,and provide scientific evidence for the disease control and prevention.[Methods]Descriptive epidemiological analysis was applied.[Results]]Of 184 cases,120 were male (65.22%) and 64 were female (34.78%),the ratio of male to female was 1.88:1. The highest incidence rate was in male group aged 60~70 years (58.07 /100 000). Main type of the hepatitis was HBV,which accounted for 78.8%. Most cases were peasants (58.7%). The peak incidence appeared in January (11.08/ 100 000). Spring and winter were the seasons of susceptible.[Conclusion]The incidence rate is low in younger group shows that the hepatitis A and B vaccination is effective. Future prevention should still focus on rural area. In order to minimize the incidence of viral hepatitis,it is necessary to increase publicity efforts,to promote the hepatitis A and B vaccination,to investigate and handle the starter case in collective unit.
Epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of severe cases of hand-foot-mouth disease in Xingning District of Nanning city in 2012

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of severe cases of head-food-mouth disease(HFMD) in Xingning District of Nanning City in 2012 and provide scientific evidence for making the effective HFMD prevention and control measures.Methods The epidemiological and laboratory data of all reported severe HFMD cases in 2012 in Xingning District were collected from surveillance system of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.We compiled hospital consultation information.The descriptive methods were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics.Results In total of 3 698 cases of HFMD were reported in Xingning District in 2012,236(6.38%) were severe cases.The severe illness rate in rural residence was12.01%,higher than in urban residence.The severe cases were mainly occurred in April to July and reached the peak in May.In total of 90.68% of severe cases were occurred in children under 4 years,75.42% of severe cases were scattered children,the boy-girl ratio was 1.65:1.Most of severe cases(89.16%) were infected by Enterovirus 71(EV71).In total of 85.55% of severe cases consulted a general practitioner within 72 h since the first symptoms onset,61.44% of severe cases were transferred to a high level hospital at least two times during the treatment.In total of 30.93% cases were not diagnosed as HFMD in the first hospital consultation,59.32% of severe cases firstly consulted a county-level or under county-level hospital.Conclusion The incidence of severe HFMD is higher in rural residence of Xingning District in 2012.The severe cases are occurred more frequently in spring-summer,scattered children,boy and children between 1-2 years old.HFMD severe cases are mainly caused by EV71 infection.Poor diagnosis capacity of county-level hospitals is an important issue that should be improved.Our findings suggest that the most important strategy of the HFMD control is to protect the susceptible groups.To improve the diagnosis and the treatments capacity of the primary health care institutions is the key prevention and control strategy to decrease the morbidity and mortality of severe cases.
Natural periodic orbit-attitude behaviors for rigid bodies in three-body periodic orbits

Abstract Trajectory design increasingly leverages multi-body dynamical structures that are based on an understanding of various types of orbits in the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP). Given the more complex dynamical environment, mission applications may also benefit from deeper insight into the attitude motion. In this investigation, the attitude dynamics are coupled with the trajectories in the CR3BP. In a highly sensitive dynamical model, such as the orbit-attitude CR3BP, periodic solutions allow delineation of the fundamental dynamical structures. Periodic solutions are also a subset of motions that are bounded over an infinite time-span (assuming no perturbing factors), without the necessity to integrate over an infinite time interval. Euler equations of motion and quaternion kinematics describe the rotational behavior of the spacecraft, whereas the translation of the center of mass is modeled in the CR3BP equations. A multiple shooting and continuation procedure is employed to target orbit-attitude periodic solutions in this model. Application of Floquet theory and Poincare mappings to identify initial guesses for the targeting algorithm are described. In the Earth–Moon system, representative scenarios are explored for axisymmetric vehicles with various inertia characteristics, assuming that the vehicles move along L 1 / L 2 Lyapunov orbits as well as distant retrograde orbits. A rich structure of possible periodic behaviors appears to pervade the solution space in the coupled problem. The stability analysis of the attitude dynamics for the available families is included. Among the computed solutions, marginally stable and slowly diverging rotational behaviors exist and may offer interesting mission applications.
SU-F-I-79: Validation of a Monte Carlo Radiographic Simulation

Purpose: To validate a radiographic simulation in order to estimate patient dose due to clinically-used radiography protocols. Methods: A Monte Carlo simulation was created to simulate a radiographic x-ray beam using GEANT4. Initial validation was performed according to a portion of TG 195. Computational NURBS-based phantoms were used simulate patients of varying ages and sizes. The deposited energy in the phantom is output by the simulation. The exposure in air from a clinically used radiography unit was measured at 100 cm for various tube potentials. 10 million photons were simulated with 1 cubic centimeter of air located 100 cm from the source, and the total absorbed dose was noted. The normalization factor was determined by taking a ratio of the measured dose in air to the simulated dose in air. Dose to individual voxels is calculated using the energy deposition map along with the voxelized and segmented phantom and the normalization factor. Finally, the effective dose is calculated using the ICRP methodology and tissue weighting factors. Results: This radiography simulation allows for the calculation and visualization of the energy deposition map within a voxelized phantom. The ratio of exposure, measured using an ionization chamber, to air in the simulation was determined. Since the simulation output is calibrated to match the exposure of a given clinical radiographic x-ray tube, the dose map may be visualized. This will also allow for absorbed dose estimation in specific organs or tissues as well as a whole body effective dose estimation. Conclusion: This work indicates that our Monte Carlo simulation may be used to estimate the radiation dose from clinical radiographic protocols. This will allow for an estimate of radiographic dose from various examinations without the use of traditional methods such as thermoluminescent dosimeters and body phantoms.