cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The face of the patent is not the “Whole Story”: determining effective life of a pharmaceutical patent in the United States

Abstract This article provides an overview of the factors that may contribute to the effective term of protection for a pharmaceutical product in the USA––by patent and by FDA market exclusivities, identifies public and commercial sources for collecting relevant patent term and exclusivity data, and provides a strategy for ensuring that the effective term of protection has been calculated accurately.
Pd-catalyzed TCE dechlorination in water: effect of [H2](aq) and H2-utilizing competitive solutes on the TCE dechlorination rate and product distribution.

The aqueous-phase H2 concentration ([H2](aq)) and the presence of H2-utilizing competitive solutes affect TCE dechlorination efficiency in Pd-based in-well treatment reactors. The effect of [H2](aq) and H2-utilizing competing solutes (cis-DCE, trans-DCE, 1,1-DCE, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrite, nitrate) on the TCE transformation rate and product distribution were evaluated using 100 mg/L of a powdered Pd-on-Al2O3 catalysts in batch reactors or 1.0 g of a 1.6-mm Pd-on-γ-Al2O3 catalyst in column reactors. The TCE dechlorination rate constant decreased by 55% from 0.034 ± 0.006 to 0.015 ± 0.001 min-1 when the [H2](aq) decreased from 1000 to 100 μM and decreased sharply to 0.0007 ± 0.0003 min-1 when the [H2](aq) decreased from 100 to 10 μM. Production of reactive chlorinated intermediates and C4−C6 radical coupling products increased with decreasing [H2](aq). At an [H2](aq) of 10 μM (P/Po = 0.01), DCE isomers and vinyl chloride accounted for as much as 9.8% of the TCE transformed at their maximum but disappea...
Foetuses, famous violinists, and the right to continued aid.

1. Every person has a right to life. 2. The foetus is a person. (So, the foetus has a right to life.) 3. Every person has a right to decide what happens in or to her body. 4. The pregnant woman is a person. (So, the pregnant woman has a right to decide what happens in or to her body.) 5. Where the right to life of one person conflicts with another's right to decide what happens in or to her body, violating the right to life is morally impermissible [all else equal]. 6. Abortion is a violation of the foetus's right to life.
Lithosphere thickness, subsidence of aseismic ridges, and volcano height

Abstract Two methods — collection of empirical subsidence data for aseismic ridges and observation of the increase in height of oceanic volcanoes with increasing lithospheric age — are used to try to discriminate between the thermal models for the oceanic lithosphere of McKenzie (1967), Parker and Oldenburg (1973), and Crough (1975). Although the volcano height data indicate that thickening of the lithosphere does occur, neither method is precise enough to allow preferential selection of one model over another.
A simple two-dimensional representation for the common secondary structural elements of polypeptides and proteins

A simple method is presented for projecting the conformation of extended secondary structure elements of peptides and proteins that extend over four C alpha atoms onto a simple two-dimensional surface. A new set of two degrees of freedom is defined, a pseudodihedral involving four sequential C alpha atoms, as well as the triple scalar product for the vectors describing the orientation of the three intervening peptide groups. The method provides a reduction in dimensionality, from the usual combination of multiple phi,psi pairs to a single pair, yielding valuable information concerning the structure and dynamics of these important elements. The new two-dimensional surface is explored by reference to 63 selected protein crystal structures together with a comparison of model built peptides representing the common secondary structural elements. Dynamical aspects on this new surface are examined using a molecular dynamics trajectory of Basic Pancreatic Trypsin Inhibitor.
Electrical potential difference across bone membrane

The control of ion fluxes to and from bone has important implications to mineralization and calcium homeostasis. Since ionic transport frequently results in an electrical potential difference across the layer of cells lining bone surfaces, knowledge of this potential is critical to understanding the means of regulation of ionic concentrations in the interior bone fluid phase. This work presents a determination of a metabolism-related electrical potential difference by a thermodynamic argument based on the distribution of charged and uncharged tracers between the bone extracellular fluid compartment and the bathing medium. For embryonic chick calvaria whose viability was assured by oxygen consumption measurements, an electrical potential of 4 mV was determined, positive with respect to the bone fluid compartment. This measurement is shown to be consistent with the active transport of K+ ion into the interior of bone; the potential developed by this transport process will then exclude from the interior phase a passively leaked Ca2+ ion.
Recombination current in forward-biased p-n junctions

An analytical expression for the recombination current in a forward-biased p-n junction is derived and it is shown that formulas given for the recombination current in most textbooks overestimate the recombination current by a large factor of the order of (V/sub bi/-V)/V/sub th/ where V/sub bi/ is the built-in voltage, V is the applied forward-bias voltage, and V/sub th/ is the thermal voltage. >
Leakage Current and Floating Gate Capacitor Matching Test

Capacitor mismatch is an important device parameter for precision analog applications. In the last ten years, the floating gate measurement technique has been widely used for its characterization. In this paper we describe the impact of leakage current on the technique. The leakage can come from, for example, thin gate oxide MOSFETs or high dielectric constant capacitors in advanced technologies. SPICE simulation, bench measurement, analytical model and numerical analyses are presented to illustrate the problem and key contributing factors. Criteria for accurate capacitor systematic and random mismatch characterization are developed, and practical methods of increasing measurement accuracy are discussed.
Alcohol consumption and postmenopausal endometrial cancer: results from the Iowa Women's Health Study

At least three case-control studies have examined the association between alcohol consumption and endometrial cancer; two studies showed inverse associations, and a third a positive association. To our knowledge, no prospective studies of this association have been reported. The association between alcohol and endometrial cancer was examined in the Iowa Women's Health Study (United States), a prospective study of postmenopausal women. Information on alcohol consumption and other variables was obtained through a mailed questionnaire in January 1986. Through December 1990, 167 incident endometrial cancer cases occurred in the at-risk cohort of 25,170 women. Multivariate-adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) were computed using Cox proportional hazards regression controlling for age, body mass index (BMI), parity, age at menopause, and noncontraceptive estrogen use, and to determine multiplicative interactions. The RRs of endometrial cancer associated with <4.0 and ≥4.0 g of alcohol per day compared with abstainers were 0.7 (CI=0.5–1.1) and 1.0 (CI=0.7–1.6), respectively. No statistically significant association between endometrial cancer and consumption of either beer, wine, or liquor was observed. There was no interaction between alcohol and any other endometrial cancer risk factors, including BMI or noncontraceptive estrogen use. These data do not support an association between alcohol and endometrial cancer among postmenopausal women.
Bisphosphonate effects on bone turnover, microdamage, and mechanical properties: what we think we know and what we know that we don't know.

Abstract The bisphosphonates (BPs) have been useful tools in our understanding of the role that bone remodeling plays in skeletal health. The purpose of this paper is to outline what we know, and what is still unknown, about the role that BPs play in modulating bone turnover, how this affects microdamage accumulation, and ultimately what the effects of these changes elicited by BPs are to the structural and the material biomechanical properties of the skeleton. We know that BPs suppress remodeling site-specifically, probably do not have a direct effect on formation, and that the individual BPs vary with respect to speed of onset, duration of effect and magnitude of suppression. However, we do not know if these differences are meaningful in a clinical sense, how much remodeling is sufficient, the optimal duration of treatment, or how long it takes to restore remodeling to pre-treatment levels following withdrawal. We also know that suppression is intimately tied to microdamage accumulation, which is also site-specific, that BPs impair targeted repair of damage, and that they can reduce the energy absorption capacity of bone at the tissue level. However, the BPs are clearly effective at preventing fracture, and generally increase bone mineral density and whole bone strength, so we do not know whether these changes in damage accumulation and repair, or the mechanical effects at the tissue level, are clinically meaningful. The mechanical effects of BPs on the fatigue life of bone, or BP effects on bone subject to an impact, are entirely unknown. This paper reviews the literature on these topics, and identifies gaps in knowledge that can be addressed with further research. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Bisphosphonates.
High strain rate mechanical properties of a cross-linked epoxy across the glass transition

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the high strain rate mechanical properties of a cross-linked epoxy system comprised of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) that is cross-linked by a poly(oxypropylene) diamine with three propylene oxide moieties per diamine. Atomistic network structures were characterized using volume-temperature behavior and their response to mechanical deformation. The Young's modulus was determined as a function of temperature across strain rates spanning three decades in magnitude, and collapsed onto a single “master curve” using the time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP). The master curve obtained from molecular dynamics simulation data shows good agreement with a similar master curve of the reduced storage modulus as a function of frequency, which was obtained using experiments. At higher strain rates, the simulation master curve deviated from the experimental master curve. This deviation could be attributed to the lack of occurrence of sub-Tg motions on the time scale of simulations due to the use of higher strain rates in simulations compared to experiments. Our work demonstrates the utility of TTSP in connecting the thermo-mechanical behavior of polymers at high strain rates and high temperatures to experiments performed at much different conditions. To the best of our knowledge, the use of the time–temperature superposition to compare mechanical properties determined from molecular simulation and experiments is the first reported effort of its kind.
The behaviour of an nth-order equation with two middle terms

with n 2 4. Here the function H(t, U) is increasing in u and such that uH(t, U) > 0 for all u # 0. Equations of this type, and in the present spirit, have already been studied by Kartsatos 161 for p(t) = 0 and by Kartsatos and Toro (81 for q(t) = 0. Some results of this paper do overlap with the above results and extend and/or improve certain results of Erbe [2] and Svec [lo]. Erbe considered third-order equations. For an extensive account of results related to the ones in this paper the reader is referred to the survey paper of the first author [7]. In Section 2 we shall obtain two results that guarantee the existence of monotone solutions of (1) with certain asymptotic properties. The first of these results actually holds if H(f, x) is replaced by a function Zf,(t, x,x’...., x’“-I’) x, where H, is nonnegative, continuous, and bounded above by a function of C. This result, extended in this fashion, complements and extends the result of Svec in [lo]. Section 3 is devoted to the study of (1) via certain nonlinear operators involving a solution of (1) and some of its derivatives.
Mate removal leads to increase in parental defence behaviour in free-ranging convict cichlids

The convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata is a monogamous, biparental teleost species. Convict cichlids form pairs to provide parental care and share in territory defence. In order for pairs to be successful there must be coordination of behaviour between the sexes. Although pair dynamics have been studied in the laboratory, few field experiments have investigated male and female responses to mate removal. We examined how convict cichlids modulate their parental defence behaviour in response to mate removal at Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve, Costa Rica. We presented convict cichlid pairs with a conspecific intruder and observed the parental defence behaviour of both individuals. One member of the pair was then removed and the remaining individual was presented with the intruder. Both males and females significantly increased aggression towards the intruder after the removal of the mate; however, males were able to fully compensate for the loss of the female, whereas females were not. These results suggest that both male and female convict cichlids may modulate their behaviour in response to changing stimuli.
A comparison of uranium oxide and nickle as single-layer reflectors from 2.7 to 11.6 nm

We present the measured reflectances (Beamline 6.3.2, ALS at LBNL) of naturally oxidized uranium and naturally oxidized nickel thin films from 2.7 to 11.6 nm at 5°, 10°, and 15° grazing incidence. These show that uranium, as UO2, can fulfill its promise as the highest known single surface reflector for this portion of the soft x-ray region, being nearly twice as reflective as nickel in the 5-10 nm region. This is due to its large index of refraction coupled with low absorption. Nickel is commonly used in soft x-ray applications in astronomy and synchrotrons. (Its reflectance at 10° exceeds that of Au and Ir for most of this range.) We prepared uranium and nickel thin films via DC-magnetron sputtering of a depleted U target and resistive heating evaporation respectively. Ambient oxidation quickly brought the U sample to UO2 (total thickness about 30 nm). The nickel sample (50 nm) also acquired a thin native oxide coating (<2nm). Though the density of U in UO2 is only half of the metal, its reflectance is high and it is relatively stable against further changes. There are important discrepancies between UO2’s actual reflectance with those predicted by the atomic scattering factor model indicative of the need to determine the actual constants of UO2.
Epstein Barr virus‐associated lymphoproliferative‐disorders primarily involving the skin

In cases of solid organ or bone marrow transplantation, up to 2 to 10% of patients may develop lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD), often induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Despite a morphology mimicking malignant lymphoma, in some cases the lesions will disappear completely after the degree of immunosuppression is lowered. Lately, similar processes have been described in non-transplant, immunosuppressed patients. A SNOMED search was performed on the database of three hospitals between 1990 and 1997, to identify patients with immunosuppression-related lymphoproliferative disorders (IR-LPD) involving primarily the skin. Two patients were identified. One was 2 years after kidney transplantation, and the other was being treated with methotrexate for dermatomyositis. In both biopsies, there was a diffuse perivascular proliferation of large lymphocytes with ample cytoplasm and pleomorphic nuclei, associated with extensive dermal and subcutaneous necrosis. Immunohistochemical studies revealed expression of CD20, CD45RO, CD43, CD30, EBV-LMP1, and EBV-NA2 by the atypical lymphocytes in both cases and, in one case, of the EBV-transcriptional replication activation protein. In both cases the lesions completely disappeared and have not recurred. Primary involvement of the skin by IR-LPD is very rare. Based on our results, it is possible that some of these cases in the skin contain EBV and co-express CD30 and T- and B-cell markers. The diagnosis of IR-LPD should be considered in cutaneous lymphoid proliferations in immunosuppressed patients. Before rendering an unequivocal diagnosis of malignant lymphoma, reduction of immunosuppression and follow-up of 4-8 weeks should be considered.
The use of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery for controlling radon and radondaughter concentrations in houses

Abstract An energy research house in Maryland was found to have radon concentrations far in excess of recommended guidelines. A mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery was installed in this house to test its effectiveness as an energy-efficient control technique for indoor radon. Radon concentration was monitored continuously for 2 weeks under varying ventilation conditions [0.07–0.8 air changes per hour (ach)] and radondaughter concentrations were measured by grab-sample techniques about nine times daily during this period. At ventilation rates of 0.6 ach and higher, radon-daughter levels dropped below guidelines for indoor concentrations. Comparison with other studies indicates that indoor radon buildup may be a problem in a considerable portion of houses characterized by their low infiltration rates. The use of mechanical ventilation systems with air-to-air heat exchangers may offer a practical, cost-effective and energy-efficient means of alleviating not only the radon problem specifically but also the general deterioration of indoor air quality in many houses designed or retrofitted to achieve low infiltration.
Indirect comparison of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism

Four target-specific oral anticoagulants (TSOA’s) have been compared to a vitamin K antagonist for the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE): dabigatran (D), rivaroxaban (R), apixaban (A) and edoxaban (E). We performed an indirect comparison of the TSOA’s, based on the six phase III trials identified (RE-COVER I, RE-COVER II, EINSTEIN-DVT, EINSTEIN-PE, AMPLIFY and Hokusai-VTE). There was no statistically significant difference in risk of recurrent VTE or all-cause mortality between the TSOA’s. For major bleeding, the RR of an event was 0.42 (95 % CI 0.21–0.87, p = 0.02) for A versus D, compared with 0.57 (95 % CI 0.29–1.15, p = 0.12) for A versus R, 0.37 (95 % CI 0.19–0.73, p < 0.001) for A versus E, 0.74 (95 % CI 0.42–1.30, p = 0.30) for R versus D, 0.64 (95 % CI 0.38–1.08, p = 0.10) for R versus E and 1.15 (95 % CI 0.66–2.00, p = 0.62) for E versus D. For the composite endpoint of major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, the RR was 0.71 (95 % CI 0.53–0.96, p = 0.02) for A versus D, 0.47 (95 % CI 0.37–0.61, p < 0.001) for A versus R, 0.54 (95 % CI 0.42–0.70, p < 0.001) for A versus E, 1.50 (95 % CI 1.17–1.92, p = 0.001) for R versus D, 1.15 (95 % CI 0.95–1.39, p = 0.16) for R versus E and 1.31 (95 % CI 1.02–1.68, p = 0.04) for E versus D. Overall, apixaban appears to be associated with a lower risk of bleeding than the other TSOA’s. This analysis may be helpful to the clinician in trying to balance risk versus benefit in selecting a new anticoagulant. A dedicated randomized trial directly comparing the new agents would be required to confirm these results.
Microencapsulation and Dissolution Properties of a Neuroleptic in a Biodegradable Polymer, Poly(d,l-lactide)

Polylactide was polymerized from dilactide under various conditions to yield polymers in the molecular weight range from 11,000 to 21,000 as determined by osmometry. Chlorpromazine was encapsulated by the polylactide polymers by using an emulsification-solvent evaporation method. Microscopic observation revealed that when drug loading was ≤18%, the drug was in the form of a solid solution in microspheres of polylactide. At higher drug loadings, crystalline drug was present. In vitro dissolution of the encapsulated drug was followed in hydroalcoholic and aqueous buffer media. Studies with the hydroalcoholic media revealed that the drug release rate decreased as microcapsule size increased. However, dissolution in the hydroalcoholic media did not reflect the effect of molecular weight or percentage loading observed in the aqueous system. Dissolution in aqueous buffer showed that t50% increased with molecular weight and that release rates-surface area increased with increasing drug loading.
An unsteady mixed soft EHL model, with application to a rotary lip seal

A rotary lip seal usually operates with full-film lubrication. However at low speeds, such as those encountered during startup and shutdown, mixed lubrication occurs and asperities on the lip contact the shaft. To simulate this condition, a mixed soft EHL model has been constructed. The fluid mechanics of the lubricating film is described by a Reynolds equation that can handle interasperity cavitation. The bulk deformation of the lip is computed using influence coefficients, while the junctions between the asperities and the shaft are modeled as Hertzian contacts. Since the shaft is rough, the flow is unsteady and an unsteady analysis is required. The model shows how the shaft roughness affects such seal characteristics as load support, contact load ratio, contact area ratio, cavitation area ratio, reverse pumping rate and average film thickness.
Signal detection using a hybrid system model

The hybrid system is an extension of the state-space system model which allows for random and abrupt changes in the model parameters. It has been used in the control and estimation literature to model a number of phenomena including subsystem failures, piecewise approximations for nonlinear systems, and target maneuverability. This paper describes a novel application of the hybrid system to the field of digital communications. Specifically, the hybrid system is used to model pulsed narrowband interference in a direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DS/SS) communication system. The resulting optimum receiver is easily derived but too computationally complex to be practical. A suboptimal but more practical receiver is presented along with a method for approximating the receiver's performance. The approximate performance is then compared to the performance obtained through computer simulations. >
Mindfulness meditation training effects on CD4+ T lymphocytes in HIV-1 infected adults: a small randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Mindfulness meditation training has stress reduction benefits in various patient populations, but its effects on biological markers of HIV-1 progression are unknown. The present study tested the efficacy of an 8-week Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) meditation program compared to a 1-day control seminar on CD4+ T lymphocyte counts in stressed HIV infected adults. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with enrollment and follow-up occurring between November 2005 and December 2007. A diverse community sample of 48 HIV-1 infected adults was randomized and entered treatment in either an 8-week MBSR or a 1-day control stress reduction education seminar. The primary outcome was circulating counts of CD4+ T lymphocytes. Participants in the 1-day control seminar showed declines in CD4+ T lymphocyte counts whereas counts among participants in the 8-week MBSR program were unchanged from baseline to post-intervention (time × treatment condition interaction, p = .02). This effect was independent of antiretroviral (ARV) medication use. Additional analyses indicated that treatment adherence to the mindfulness meditation program, as measured by class attendance, mediated the effects of mindfulness meditation training on buffering CD4+ T lymphocyte declines. These findings provide an initial indication that mindfulness meditation training can buffer CD4+ T lymphocyte declines in HIV-1 infected adults. Clinical Trials Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier: NCT00600561.
Smooth conjugacy of algebraic actions on affine varieties

The motivation for this result is the linearity conjecture which asserts that any algebraic action of a reductive algebraic group on affine n-space is conjugate to a linear action. This topic has been popularized by H. Bass and H. Kraft. See for example [4], [2] and [S] for the current status of the conjecture. In addition to being interesting, the conjecture is tough. It is not even known whether the set of algebraic conjugacy classes of algebraic actions of a reductive group of affine n-space is countable, as implied by the linearity conjecture. Theorem 1 is a version of this countability question. We shall see in the course of the proof of Theorem 1 that there are an uncountable number of conjugacy classes of smooth actions of a nontrivial compact Lie group on real n-space. Theorem 1 shows that only countably many of these are conjugate to algebraic actions on real n-space. The main tools in the proof are the compactification theorem of Corollary 4 and the Palais Rigidity Theorem [lo]. Whether this rigidity theorem has an algebraic analog is an interesting question whose consequences we briefly explore at the end. Before giving the proof, we introduce some notation. In this discussion varieties are affine. The ground field is the reals [w or the complex numbers @. An algebraic map between affine spaces (over [w or C) is a map whose coordinate functions are polynomials. An algebraic map between affine varieties is a map which extends to an algebraic map of affine spaces containing the varieties as subvarieties. Let W be a nonsingular variety resp. a smooth manifold and Aut( W, c) for c=a or s denote the group of algebraic resp. smooth automorphisms of W with the C” topology. Let Hom(G, Aut( W, c)) denote the space of c actions of G on W. A point d of this space is a homomorphism d:BG+Aut( W, c) such that the induced map from G x W to W is a c-map. Topologize Hom(G, Aut( W, c)) as the subspace of the space of all smooth maps of G x W to Win the C” topology. The group Aut( W,c) acts by conjugation on the space of c-actions and the orbit space is denoted by Hom(G, Aut( W, c))/Aut( W, c). In the case W is a nonsingular variety V, weakening structure defines a continuous function from the space of a-actions to the space of s-actions and induces a map of corresponding orbit spaces. We are interested in the cardinality of the image. The idea is to factor this map through a countable set. In the case V is simply connected at infinity (i.e. given any compact set C in Vthere is a compact set D containing C
The elusive and expensive green job

Abstract The United States, Europe, and non-governmental international organizations are seeking to encourage the creation of green jobs and the use of non-hydropower renewable energy. This paper discusses the challenge in defining green jobs and reviews definitions across different countries, states, and NGOs. The paper describes some of the costs the United States has faced in creating jobs through programs funded by the Departments of Labor and Energy. The paper concludes by comparing the experiences of China and the United States in the use of renewable energy.
The metabolism of deoxyguanosine in mitochondria. Characterization of the uptake process.

The uptake of deoxyguanosine by rat liver mitochondria was characterized. The process required an intact mitochondrial membrane and exhibited a dependence on added phosphate. Deoxyguanosine uptake was minimally influenced by Mg2+ or Mn2+, but Ca2+ at concentrations above 0.5 mM were detrimental. Of the deoxynucleosides tested, only deoxyinosine inhibited the uptake of deoxyguanosine. The ribonucleoside guanosine was not observed to compete with its deoxynucleoside analog. Known inhibitors of nucleoside transport, cytochalasin B and NBMPR, did not block deoxyguanosine uptake, but the sulfhydryl reagents NEM and pCMB were both inhibitory. The uptake of deoxyguanosine was shown to be a saturable process and an apparent Km of 0.64 σM was calculated from a Hanes plot.
Semantics of prepositional constructs in Russian: tentative approach

The paper describes an experiment designed to investigate the semantic relationships between the three basic components of a prepositional construct: the governor, preposition and the complement. The data was derived from the Soviet Academy of Sciences Grammar and to some extent from the Soviet Academy of Sciences Dictionary. Following the classification provided by the above mentioned grammar, the prepositional constructs were coded according to the grammatical category of their governors and the type of relationship with their complement. The following governor categories were recognized: noun, verb, adjective, adverb, numeral. Next, the governors as well as the complements were coded according to their semantic properties from examples provided by the Grammar. The semantic classification is arbitrary in that it does not attempt to map the universe of all Russian word forms in the five governor categories, but only tends to accomodate those complements and governors which occur in the examples and only if their characteristics are relevant. An attempt was made to keep the number of classes at minimum to permit easier recognition of possible patterns. Initial results are presented in tabular form.
Incidence of cancer in 98 patients with common varied immunodeficiency.

Ninety-eight patients with common varied immunodeficiency have been observed for periods of 1–13 years. In 1986, 78 were alive, 19 had died, and 1 could not be located. Eleven patients in the group had developed cancer; two patients had had two cancers. Of the total number of neoplastic malignancies, seven were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one patient had a Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and nine of the patients who developed cancer were female. Cancer developed in the fifth or sixth decade of life for 10 of the 11 patients. These data show an 8- to 13-fold increase in cancer in general for patients who have this immunodeficiency and a 438-fold increase in lymphoma for females.
Growth and properties of VPE GaP for green LEDs

The PH3-HCl-Ga-H2 technique for VPE growth of GaP is described. The influence of various growth parameters, including substrate temperature, orientation, and PH3 flow rate on morphology and growth rate are described. For both VPE and LPE nitrogen doping is known to be a major factor in obtaining high green luminescence efficiency. The major emphasis of this paper is an examination of the effect of nitrogen concentration in the range less than 1019 cm−3 (using the Lightowlers correction factor) on the growth process and materials properties, such as defect structure, photoluminescence spectra (at 300 and 77K) and photoluminescence intensity and lifetime. The LED device performance (B/J and efficiency) is used as the final test of material quality. Nitrogen is found to be incorporated far in excess of the solubility limit, and the solid gas distribution coefficient for nitrogen is found to increase rapidly with decreasing temperature below 840°C . The optimum nitrogen concentration for high diode efficacy, photoluminescence intensity, and lifetime is found to be approximately 5 × 1018 cm−3, where diodes fabricated by Zn diffusion into the VPE GaP have efficiencies at a current density of 10 A/cm2 of 0.1%, comparable to the state-of-the-art in the more widely used grown p-n junctions using LPE.
A136: Assessing the Efficacy of Pediatric Rheumatology Video‐based Curriculum

Background/Purpose: Musculoskeletal complaints are common in pediatrics. Practitioners are often under-skilled in performing the musculoskeletal exam and deficient in basic knowledge regarding rheumatologic diseases. We sought to determine if learning the pediatric musculoskeletal exam and rheumatic conditions in a video-enriched case-based lecture series will improve their knowledge of rheumatic diseases. Methods: This prospective pre/post test single group design study was conducted at a pediatric tertiary care center with a pediatric residency. A convenience sample of students attending a monthly lecture series was included in this study. We designed a video case-based curriculum; Pediatric Rheumatology Video-based Curriculum (PRVC), using a disease specific video/image timeline to demonstrate abnormal physical findings. Novel features included: “voice over” explanation of findings while the patient is being examined, split screen display of abnormal vs. normal findings, graphics to highlight subtle findings seen in rheumatic diseases and evolution of physical exam with treatment. A single experimental group was administered a pretest prior to being exposed to the PRVC. After each intervention, effectiveness was assessed with a posttest. The primary outcome measure was measured by improvement on pre-/post- intervention questionnaires using a paired t-test. Secondary outcome measure was learner satisfaction assessed by a 5-point Likert questionnaire. Results: Over a 10-month period, 8 (1 hour) lectures were given to audiences consisting of medical students and pediatric residents. Eleven to 28 listeners performed an assessment pre and post-test for each lecture. Based on pre-test and post-test results from each lecture, each lecture demonstrated statistically significant improvement for the learner (Table 1). Similarly, respondents expressed overall satisfaction with an average score of 4.8 on a 5-point Likert scale. Table 1. Results for pre/post-test improvement for each lecture Lecture Topic n Pre-test (%) Post-test (%) p valuea a p value calculated using paired t-test MSK (Musculoskeletal Exam) 15 66.7 80 0.01 JIA (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis) 24 44.2 78.6 <0.0001 ERA (Enthesitis Related Arthritis) 20 61.5 85.8 <0.0001 JDMS (Juvenile Dermatomyositis) 11 50 78.8 0.0005 SCL (Juvenile Scleroderma) 14 52.5 80.4 <0.0001 SARC (Juvenile Sarcoidosis) 28 53 96.4 <0.0001 SLE (Systemic Lupus) 18 51.4 78.2 0.0002 PFS (Periodic Fever Syndromes) 11 50 92.2 <0.0001 Overall 141 53.6 83.5 <0.00001 Conclusion: The PRVC is a unique curriculum that demonstrated effectiveness and satisfaction as assessed by the learners.
Viscometry and rheology of coal water slurry

Abstract This paper presents the results of a detailed experimental study on rheological behaviour of coal water slurry (CWS). In contrast to earlier rheological studies at shear rates of rather narrow ranges, this study covered a much wider range of shear rates: 0–800 s −1 in a rotational viscometer and 400–10000 s −1 in a capillary viscometer. While the gap width of a rotational viscometer had no effect on the apparent viscosity of CWS, it was found that selection of proper tube dimensions in a capillary viscometer was important, Thus, the viscosities of CWS measured in both viscometers at the overlapping shear rates of 400–800 s −1 were in good agreement. Consequently, it was possible to study the effect of shear rate higher than 800 s −1 on slurry rheology. In addition, the effects of coal content, coal particle size and size distribution, and temperature on the slurry rheology were investigated. The slurry, a dispersion of coal particles in a pseudoplastic fluid, became more viscous and less pseudoplastic as the coal content was increased. The pseudoplasticity of a highly concentrated utility grind CWS approached that of a concentrated suspension of 40–50 μm solids in a Newtonian fluid. Also, the slurry pseudoplasticity was enhanced at a slightly elevated temperature, but significantly reduced as the shear rate exceeded a threshold dependent on coal content and particle size and size distribution.
Eye movements and cognitive psychology: On-line computer approaches to studying visual information processing

Advantages of using on-line computers to record eye movement data are discussed. These advantages include computer scoring of eye movement data, greater accuracy in identifying the location of a fixation, greater accuracy in determining timing variables such as saccade duration and fixation duration, and the capability of controlling stimulus presentation as a function of eye location. Emphasis is placed on the latter of these advantages. The characteristics of an on-line eye movement recording system are briefly described, followed by a description of the research using such a system to investigate reading, integration of information across eye movements, eccentric vision, and picture processing and visual search.
Structure of simple viruses: Specificity and flexibility in protein assemblies

Recent X-ray diffraction studies have shown how flexibility can be built into protein subunits or assemblies without losing specificity of subunit interactions.
Electromotive Force of Dielectrics

I FOUND some time agol that glasses in aqueous solutions show the electromotive force of a solid electrolyte: the ion in the solid glass determines the potential difference against the solution. Moreover, it could be shown that cations from the solution were exchanged against the cations in the glass: the glass behaves then like a mixed electrode, but in a certain range of concentration practically like an electrode reversible to the ions taken up from the solution. Glasses which show definitely the behaviour of a solid electrolyte (sodium electrode) also show always exchange electrodes, particularly the silver and hydrogen electrode. Certain soft glasses show only the hydrogen electrode except in alkaline solution.
Predictive and Reactive Distribution of Vaccines and Antivirals during Cross-Regional Pandemic Outbreaks

As recently pointed out by the Institute of Medicine, the existing pandemic mitigation models lack the dynamic decision support capability. We develop a large-scale simulation-driven optimization model for generating dynamic predictive distribution of vaccines and antivirals over a network of regional pandemic outbreaks. The model incorporates measures of morbidity, mortality, and social distancing, translated into the cost of lost productivity and medical expenses. The performance of the strategy is compared to that of the reactive myopic policy, using a sample outbreak in Fla, USA, with an affected population of over four millions. The comparison is implemented at different levels of vaccine and antiviral availability and administration capacity. Sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the impact of variability of some critical factors on policy performance. The model is intended to support public health policy making for effective distribution of limited mitigation resources.
The effects of social story interventions on preschool age children with and without disabilities

This study compared the effects of a social story-only intervention with the effects of a social story-plus practices session intervention as implemented with preschool age children with disabilities (n = 16) and without disabilities (n = 16) in an inclusive preschool setting. The social story interventions were implemented with groups of four children in order to examine the impact of the intervention on the children's prosocial and antisocial skills. The findings of the study differ from previous research in that the social story interventions were not found to be an effective intervention. The significance of these findings, limitations of the study, and future research suggestions are discussed.
Agent credibility and receptivity influences on children's political learning

This study investigates the child's perception of primary agents (parent, teacher, and friend) as political references. It differs in emphasis from earlier socialization studies by adopting the perspective of the child and asking how and why the child regards these agents as authorities. Using two studies (an original and a replication performed a year later with a separate sample), we demonstrate that fifth- and sixth-grade children exhibit two evaluative dimensions, credibility and receptivity. They discriminate among the agents using these two dimensions, and this discrimination is specific to the type of issue. These dimensions affect successful attitude transmission from agent to child: increasing agent credibility and receptivity factors increase opinion congruence.
Theory of high-Tc superconductivity in oxides.

It is shown that the properties of high-${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$ oxide superconductors are consistent with a model in which the charge carriers are holes in the O(2p) states and the pairing is mediated by strong coupling to local spin configurations on the Cu sites.
Alternate Methods To Determine Asphalt Content

A method was identified to determine asphalt content to replace chlorinated solvent extraction. Production of trichloroethane was banned on December 31, 1995, as part of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. Initially, the study focused on evaluating the nuclear asphalt content gauge with Marshall plugs. During the course of the research, early data from the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) indicated that the ignition method was a promising alternative. Testing was conducted with three generations of ignition furnaces. Four aggregate types were evaluated with typical surface mix and base mix gradations found in Virginia. Samples for evaluation were produced at four asphalt contents for each mix design representing typical field variation around the optimum. Operator variance samples were tested nondestructively in the nuclear gauge and then destructively by solvent extraction and the ignition method. As a result of the research, a test method was developed using the ignition furnace with an inte...
Fact and judgment in the search for a social carrying capacity

Abstract An analogy drawn twenty years ago between biological carrying capacity and the effects of user density on visitor satisfaction in natural areas has elicited voluminous publication; yet, review of this literature demonstrates that the analogy has failed to provide management with a rationale for allocating use. A technical/computational solution for determining use levels requires a high degree of concurrence on social values and on scientific facts. The social carrying capacity model which seeks a deterministic solution is unable to achieve this concurrence. Social carrying capacity, in addition, stresses site products and visitor satisfaction, while neglecting site capabilities. Site capability analysis places greater burdens on management to use observation, judgment, and courage. Biosocial systems analysis is one such approach. It, as well as other processes of its type, avoids deterministic solutions to the problem of allocating access to limited resources and encourages managers to draw a cl...
A note on the importance of cost structures for the behavior of Political Action Committees

In sum, the cost environment in which PACs operate will directly influence both their behavior and their ability to ‘buy’ political benefits. Recognition of these effects implies that the conclusions of earlier studies that different PACs follow inherently different strategies, or that PACs are not rational in their contributory allocations are premature, and indeed, insupportable in the absence of cost analysis. Attention to costs also suggests that some important econometric problems may attend the investigation of PAC behavior.
A new metal-binding site in photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers that modulates QA to QB electron transfer.

Isolated reaction centers (RCs) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides were found to bind Zn(II) stoichiometrically and reversibly in addition to the 1 equiv of non-heme Fe(II). Metal and EPR analyses confirm that Zn(II) is ligated to a binding site that is distinct from the Fe site. When Zn(II) is bound to this site, electron transfer between the quinones QA and QB (QA-QB → QAQB-) is slowed and the room-temperature kinetics become distributed across the microsecond to millisecond time domain. This effect of metal binding on the kinetics is similar to the more global effect of cooling RCs to 2 °C in the absence of Zn(II). This suggests that Zn(II) binding alters localized protein motions that are necessary for rapid QA-QB → QAQB- electron transfer. Inspection of the RC crystal structure suggests a cluster of histidine ligands located beneath the QB binding pocket as a potential binding site.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment options for patients with methotrexate-resistant rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective. Recently, new treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX) have become available. Given the wide variability in efficacy and costs among these different treatment options, we sought to determine their cost-effectiveness (CE) in order to guide policy in different cost-constrained settings. Methods. We performed a CE analysis comparing 6 treatment options for patients with MTX-resistant RA: 1) etanercept 1 MTX, 2) etanercept monotherapy, 3) cyclosporine 1 MTX, 4) triple therapy (hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and MTX), 5) continuation of MTX monotherapy, and 6) no second-line agent. A decision model was used with a time horizon of 6 months. We used 2 measures of effectiveness based on published clinical trial data: the American College of Rheumatology 20% response criteria (ACR 20); and a weighted average of proportions of patients achieving responses of ACR 70, ACR 50, and ACR 20 (ACR 70 weighted response [ACR 70WR]). Incremental CE ratios were calculated as the additional cost per patient achieving either outcome, compared with the next least expensive option. To help interpret CE relative to these RA-specific outcomes, we conducted a separate, “reference” CE analysis of MTX use in MTX-naive RA patients, using the same outcomes. Results. In our reference analysis, MTX therapy
The State as Naive Entrepreneur: The Political Economy of Export Promotion in Brazil and Tunisia

Export-promotion strategies based on the success of the East Asian newly industrializing countries have been proffered in the 1990s to middle-income countries in Latin America. Africa, and Asia. This article argues that far from untried, export-promotion policies were attempted in Brazil and Tunisia in the 1960s and 1970s, with only limited long-term success. The problem of export promotion in these two countries are attributed to the lack of strategic export policies, the political costs of changing policy in a more effective direction, and the reliance on a few products and markets.
Binding energies of water to lithiated valine: Formation of solution-phase structure in vacuo

Dissociation kinetics for loss of a water molecule from hydrated ions of lithiated valine, alanine ethyl ester and betaine are determined using blackbody infrared radiative dissociation at temperatures between −60 and 110 °C. From master equation modeling of these data, values of the threshold dissociation energy are obtained for clusters containing one through three water molecules. By comparing the values for valine with its two isomers, one a model for the nonzwitterion structure, the other a model for the zwitterion structure, information about the structure of valine in these hydrated clusters is inferred. Structures, relative energies, and water binding energies for these ions are also calculated at the B3LYP/6–31++G** level of theory. With one water molecule, both experiment and theory indicate that valine is not a zwitterion and that the lithium ion coordinates with the amino nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen (NO coordinated) and the water molecule interacts directly with the lithium ion. With two water molecules, the zwitterion and nonzwitterion structures are nearly isoenergetic, but the experiment clearly indicates a NO-coordinated nonzwitterion structure. With three water molecules, both the experimental data and theory indicate that the lithium ion binds to the carboxylate group of valine, i.e., valine is zwitterionic with three water molecules. The agreement between the experimentally determined and calculated binding energies is good for all the clusters, with deviations of ⩽0.12 eV.