cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balancing adequacy and affordability?: Essential Health Benefits under the Affordable Care Act

The Essential Health Benefits provisions under the Affordable Care Act require that eligible plans provide coverage for certain broadly defined service categories, limit consumer cost-sharing, and meet certain actuarial value requirements. Although the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was tasked with the regulatory development of these EHB under the ACA, the department quickly devolved this task to the states. Not surprisingly, states fully exploited the leeway provided by HHS, and state decision processes and outcomes differed widely. However, none of the states took advantage of the opportunity to restructure fundamentally their health insurance markets, and only a very limited number of states actually included sophisticated policy expertise in their decisionmaking processes. As a result, and despite a major expansion of coverage, the status quo ex ante in state insurance markets was largely perpetuated. Decisionmaking for the 2016 revisions should be transparent, included a wide variety of stakeholders and policy experts, and focus on balancing adequacy and affordability. However, the 2016 revisions provide an opportunity to address these previous shortcomings.
Hazards and Sustainable Development in the United States

It has become clear that natural and related technological hazards and disasters are not a problem that can be solved in isolation. Rather, the occurrence of a disaster is a symptom of broader and more basic problems. Since 1994 a team of over 100 expert academics and practitioners—including some from the private sector—have assessed, evaluated, and summarized knowledge about natural and technological hazards in the United States, from the perspectives of the physical, natural, social and behavioral, and engineering sciences. The major thesis of the findings from this national project is that hazard losses, and the fact that there seems to be an inability in the US to reduce those losses, are the consequences of narrow and short-sighted development patterns, cultural premises, and attitudes toward the natural environment, science, and technology. A way is proposed for people and the US to take responsibility for disaster losses, to design future hazard losses, and to link hazard mitigation to sustainable development.
PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION AND CLIENT OUTCOMES. A COMPARATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS

In studies of the effectiveness of health care organizations, the job satisfaction level of professional staff is often viewed as an "outcome," since providing a climate that satisfies participants' needs is one aspect of organizational effectiveness. Staff satisfaction, however, has not been linked with outcomes associated with clients. In this article, the authors examine the relationship between the aggregate job satisfaction level of nursing staff in 77 family planning clinics and two client outcomes: the aggregate satisfaction level of teenage clients with contraceptive services obtained in the clinic, and the subsequent rate of client compliance with contraceptive prescriptions. Among the variables studied in testing an organizational-level model, it is found that the job satisfaction level of nursing staff is the strongest determinant of the aggregate satisfaction level of clients; client satisfaction level, in turn, predicts the rate of clients' subsequent contraceptive compliance. Staff satisfaction has a noteworthy indirect effect on compliance through client satisfaction. Compliance, however, appears to be more susceptible to variations in clinic structure than to variations in staff satisfaction levels. Implications of these findings for studies of effectiveness of health services and for management of health care organizations are discussed.
Influence of lattice defects on the hyperfine interaction: Mn2+ in NaCl

Abstract The hyperfine interaction of Mn 2+ ion associated with various lattice defects in NaCl single crystal is interpretted through spin transfer mechanism.
Efficient distributed reconfiguration for binary trees on Diogenes model

The Diogenes model is a fault-tolerant model for many interconnection networks. The authors analyze a distributed reconfiguration algorithm for binary-tree structures based on this model. After a nonleaf node n in a binary tree has failed, the damage effect is minimized by substituting a leaf for n. The number of processing elements and the communication cost involved in the reconfiguration process are analyzed in the worst case and the average case. Several measures are defined for analyzing the performance of reconfigurable algorithms. It is shown that the reconfiguration algorithm can make the binary-tree structure become expected-case locally reconfigurable but not locally reconfigurable. By modifying the original Diogenes construction, the reconfiguration algorithm can achieve local reconfigurability. The performance analysis is presented. >
A three-body model of Li6

Abstract Li 6 is analyzed as a three-particle system, composed of the three structureless, distinguishable particles neutron plus proton plus alpha particle. The Schroedinger equation for the three-body system is solved by the Rayleigh-Schroedinger variational technique, as in calculations for H 3 . The particles interact through local, two-body, energy-independent, phenomenological potentials which are obtained from the analysis of two-body elastic scattering data. The spectrum of the nucleon-alpha potential thus determined contains states which violate the Pauli principle, and thus are spurious states. It is shown, however, that the nucleon-alpha potential can be used consistently in the three-body model of Li 6 , provided the eigenfunctions corresponding to the spurious states of this potential are projected out of the three-body wave function. It is also demonstrated that the spurious state parts of the three-body wave functions play a large role in determining the energy of the S states in Li 6 , but a small role in determining the energies of the D states. The four lowest levels of Li 6 differ in J , so that the variational method is suitable for finding the level structure. To this end the three-body wave functions are constructed primarily from a p 2 configuration, modified by configuration mixing which is introduced by the neutron-proton correlation. The ordering found for the isobaric spin singlet levels ( J = 1, 2, 3) is correct, and their calculated energy separations compare accurately with the measured separations. However, contrary to experiment, the isobaric spin triplet ( J = 0) level lies below the J = 3 level. All the levels are displaced upwards in energy, on an absolute scale, by about 3.5 MeV. The calculated energies are insensitive to the detailed forms of the two-body potentials. The wave functions of the various levels differ considerably, the system tending to stretch as it is excited. A large recoil kinetic energy of the alpha particle is identified; the enhancement of this term in the D states ( J = 2, 3) is of the same order as the entire level splitting. The quadrupole moment, magnetic moment and charge radius of the ground state all are computed, and are in as good agreement with experiment as seems possible from this calculation. The Coulomb separations of the isobaric spin triplet ( J = 0) level are computed, and are in excellent agreement with experiment, both in their ratio and in their absolute magnitude.
Three-year follow-up of a prospective randomized trial comparing laparoscopic versus open gastric bypass.

Objective: To analyze long-term weight loss, changes in comorbidities and quality of life, and late complications after laparoscopic and open gastric bypass. Background Data: Early results from our prospective randomized trial comparing the outcome of laparoscopic versus open gastric bypass demonstrated less postoperative pain, shorter length of hospital stay, fewer wound-related complications, and faster convalescence for patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass. Methods: Between May 1999 and March 2001, 155 morbidly obese patients were enrolled in this prospective trial, in which 79 patients were randomized to laparoscopic gastric bypass and 76 to open gastric bypass. Two patients in the laparoscopic group required conversion to open surgery; their data were analyzed within the laparoscopic group on an intention-to-treat basis. The 2 groups were well matched for body mass index, age, and gender. Outcome evaluation included weight loss, changes in comorbidities and quality of life, and late complications. Results: The mean follow-up was 39 ± 8 months. There were no significant differences in the percent of excess body weight loss between the 2 groups at the 3-year follow-up (77% for laparoscopic versus 67% for open). The rate of improvement or resolution of comorbidities was similar between groups. Improvement in quality of life, measured by the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire, was observed in both groups without significant differences between groups. Late complications were similar between groups except for the rate of incisional hernia, which was significantly greater after open gastric bypass (39% versus 5%, P < 0.01), and the rate of cholecystectomy, which was greater after laparoscopic gastric bypass (28% versus 5%, P = 0.03). Conclusions: In this randomized trial with a 3-year follow-up, we found that laparoscopic gastric bypass was equally effective as open gastric bypass with respect to weight loss and improvement in comorbidities and quality of life. A major advantage at long-term follow-up for patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass was the reduction in the rate of incisional hernia.
The ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway in heart vs skeletal muscle: effects of acute diabetes.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is thought to play a major role in normal muscle protein turnover and to contribute to diabetes-induced protein wasting in skeletal muscle. However, its importance in cardiac muscle is not clear. We measured heart muscle mRNA for ubiquitin and for the C2 and C8 proteasomal subunits, the amount of free ubiquitin and the proteasome chymotrypsin-like proteolytic activity in control and diabetic rats. Results were compared to those in skeletal muscle (rectus). Heart ubiquitin, C2 and C8 subunit mRNA and proteolytic activity were significantly greater than in skeletal muscle (P </= 0.05). This suggests that the ubiquitin proteasomal pathway may also be important for normal heart muscle turnover. Diabetes increased ubiquitin mRNA by approximately 50% in heart (P < 0.03) and by approximately 100% in skeletal muscle (P < 0.005). It remained high after 3 days of insulin treatment in both tissues. C2 and C8 subunit mRNA did not change with diabetes or insulin treatment. Diabetes did not change the amount of free ubiquitin or the proteasomal (lactacystin-inhibitable) chymotrypsin-like peptidase activity in heart or skeletal muscle. In conclusions, gene expression for several components of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway is significantly higher in cardiac than in skeletal muscle, as is the proteasome chymotrypsin-like peptidase activity. Diabetes increases the expression of ubiquitin but not C2 or C8 subunit mRNA, nor does it significantly alter the amount of free ubiquitin or the proteasome chymotrypsin-like peptidase activity. The rate-limiting step of enhanced protein degradation in diabetic rat heart and skeletal muscle may be located at ubiquitin conjugation and/or its binding to proteasome, not at the ubiquitin availability or the proteasome itself.
SU‐E‐T‐248: A Patient Data Management System for Philips Pinnacle‐3 TPS

Purpose: This abstract presents a Pinnacle TPS data management system for patient data sharing and long‐term archiving. Methods: For institutions deploying Philips Pinnacle‐3 as TPS, data management, such as, patient data sharing and long‐term archiving, is always challenging. Most institutions have multiple cancer centers, each of which has its own separate Pinnacle database. With increasing cooperation and personnel mobility, there is a high demand for patient data sharing among these cancer centers. Meanwhile, for the sake of patient data safety and integrity, once a patient is done with treatments, patient data should be moved out of Pinnacle database instead of continuing to consume limited disk space. In addition, for re‐treatment and research purposes, patient data should be retrievable and searchable. To address these needs, we implemented a solution, which uses a centralized database system with rich web interfaces. In this system, every operation is executed simply by mouse clicks through web and all data is transferred over secure network channels. Any Pinnacle database can join the system as a member. Within its user access control scheme, each user belongs to a user group associated with a specific Pinnacle database. That is, once a user logs on to the system, s/he can only access patient data from the Pinnacle database of which the user has privilege. Patient data in the database can be searched through a variety of criteria and also can be easily retrieved and restored to Pinnacle and other TPS. Furthermore, due to its rich web interfaces, this system can be accessed by mobile devices (e.g., iPad/Android). Results: Conclusion: Our system provides a comprehensive solution for Pinnacle patient data management, which greatly enhances patient data safety/integrity and facilitates cooperation. Its centralized infrastructure also opens up possibilities of advanced features, such as, online planning and patient data visual search.
The effects of multisensory structured language instruction on native language and foreign language aptitude skills of at-risk high school foreign language learners: A replication and follow-up study

According to research findings, most students who experience foreign language learning problems are thought to have overt or subtle native language learning difficulties, primarily with phonological processing. A recent study by the authors showed that when a multisensory structured language approach to teaching Spanish was used with a group of at-risk high school students, the group’s pre- and posttest scores on native language phonological processing, verbal memory and vocabulary, and foreign language aptitude measures significantly improved. In this replication and follow-up study, the authors compared pre- and posttest scores of a second group of students (Cohort 2) who received MSL instruction in Spanish on native language and foreign language aptitude measures. They also followed students from the first study (Cohort 1) over a second year of foreign language instruction. Findings showed that the second cohort made significant gains on three native language phonological measures and a test of foreign language aptitude. Follow-up testing on the first cohort showed that the group maintained its initial gains on all native language and foreign language aptitude measures. Implications for the authors’ Linguistic Coding Deficit Hypothesis are discussed and linked with current reading research, in particular the concepts of the assumption of specificity and modularity.
Cooperative and Competitive Motivation of Children in Three Mexican Sub-Cultures:

Large samples of children in southern Mexico representative of the urban middle class, urban poor, and a rural Indian village participated in four experiments. These were designed to assess cooperative and competitive motivation under the following conditions: (1) simple altruism, (2) work output, (3) solution of a problem in which competition minimized individual reward, and (4) solution of a problem in which competition maximized individual reward. Significant differences between groups were obtained in Exps. III and IV with the urban middle-class children proving to be much more competitive than their urban poor and rural counterparts.
Anchoring in sequential judgments

Building on the scale distortion theory (Frederick & Mochon, 2012), we explore the boundary conditions of anchoring outside of the standard paradigm. We argue that the conditions needed for anchoring effects are much more restrictive than those suggested by some theories, but much less restrictive than those suggested by others. Our findings illuminate both the scope and limits of this well-known effect and provide a framework for predicting its occurrence in novel settings.
Plant development. The SECrets of Arabidopsis embryogenesis.

Abstract The Study of plant embryogenesis has come of age with the cloning of the first gene controlling pattern formation in the Arabidopsis embryo.
Chlordiazepoxide and Diphenylhydantoin as Antagonists to AGTH Effect on Serum Calcium and Citrate Levels.

SummaryACTH (100 U/mg) caused a 64% elevation of citrate and a 26% drop of serum calcium levels at 2 hours after administration of the hormone, intramuscularly, in fasting rabbits. One out of 12 rabbits died in convulsions. Chlordiazepoxide (2 mg/kilo) administered intramuscularly caused a 33% depression of serum citrate levels at 3 hours. This substance had no significant effect on serum calcium levels. ACTH administered one hour after chlordiazepoxide injection caused a greater elevation of citrate levels (110%) which persisted longer than with ACTH alone. In these experiments 7 out of 12 rabbits died in convulsions within 4 hours after ACTH administration. Calcium depression due to the ACTH in this experiment was the same as without the chlordiazepoxide but persisted for a longer period. Diphenylhy-dantoin (20 mg/kilo) did not cause marked changes in the serum citrate or calcium levels. ACTH administered intramuscularly after diphenylhydantoin injection intravenously depressed calcium levels and elevat...
A quick proof of Hardy's estimate for Ramanujan function τ(n)

Abstract In this note we give a proof of the estimate τ ( n ) = 0( n 5 σ ( n )) for the Ramanujan function τ ( n ). The proof depends on a double application of the Eichler-Selberg trace formula to the evaluation of the eigenvalues of the Hecke operators.
The interactions of the cell surface P1 adhesin molecule of Streptococcus mutans with human salivary agglutinin

Abstract Two assays were utilized to study the interaction of P1, a cell surface adhesin molecule expressed by Streptococcus mutans , and a high molecular weight mucin-like glycoprotein found in human saliva known as salivary agglutinin. A spectrophotometric assay was used to monitor the calcium-dependent aggregation of S. mutans in the presence of fluid-phase salivary agglutinin as evidenced by a measurable decrease in optical density at 700 nm. An adherence assay was used to measure the binding of 3 H-radiolabelled S. mutans to immobilized salivary agglutinin coated onto hydroxyapatite beads. The role of P1 in these interactions was assessed using P1 retainer and non-retainer strain of S. mutans as well as P1 deficeint mutants. Several monoclonal antibodies which recognize different epitopes on P1 were tested for their ability to inhibit the interaction of S. mutans with salivary agglutinin in both the aggregation or adherence assays. Different monoclonal antibodies were inhibitory in each assay suggesting that the way in which P1 interacts with salivary agglutinin differs depending on whether the agglutinin is fluid-phase or immobilized. Competitive inhibition of aggregation and adherence reactions utilizing full-length and recombinant-specified P1 polypeptides was performed as well.
PC12 cells overexpressing the insulin receptor undergo insulin-dependent neuronal differentiation

Abstract Background Stimulation of phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells by nerve growth factor leads to growth arrest and neuronal differentiation, whereas insulin induces various metabolic responses such as metabolism of glucose and lipids. Moreover, both insulin and epidermal growth factor stimulate the proliferation of PC12 cells. In spite of their different biological effects, nerve growth factor, insulin and epidermal growth factor induce very similar early responses in PC12 cells. Stimulation with nerve growth factor leads to the sustained activation and nuclear translocation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. By contrast, both insulin and epidermal growth factor induce the transient activation of MAP kinase, without pronounced nuclear translocation of the enzyme. We have investigated whether the differential activation of signaling pathway components can account for the distinct cellular responses to these different growth factors. Results By overexpressing insulin receptors in PC12 cells, we observed insulin-dependent neurite outgrowth, similar to that induced by nerve growth factor in both non-transfected and overexpressing cells. Overexpression of insulin receptors in PC12 cells leads to a more pronounced, but similar pattern of insulin-induced tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in PC12 cells, including enhanced recruitment of Grb2/Sos into a complex with either Shc or IRS1. MAP kinase activation in response to insulin stimulation of cells overexpressing the insulin receptor is similar to MAP kinase activation in response to NGF stimulation of parental or overexpressing PC12 cells: the activation is prolonged and nuclear translocation of the enzyme occurs. Conclusion The differential subcellular localization and duration of MAP kinase activation induced by insulin and NGF may explain the difference in the biological actions of these two factors on PC12 cells. Our results show that the strength of the signal generated by a receptor with tyrosine kinase activity can influence the downstream signalng pathway, leading to cell differentiation instead of cell proliferation.
Health care utilization and expenditures among Medicaid beneficiaries with neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury.

© 2014 Margolis et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. Permissions beyond the scope of the License are administered by Dove Medical Press Limited. Information on how to request permission may be found at: http://www.dovepress.com/permissions.php
Development of a primary mouse intestinal epithelial cell monolayer culture system to evaluate factors that modulate IgA transcytosis

There is significant interest in the use of primary intestinal epithelial cells in monolayer culture to model intestinal biology. However, it has proven to be challenging to create functional, differentiated monolayers using current culture methods, likely due to the difficulty in expanding these cells. Here, we adapted our recently developed method for the culture of intestinal epithelial spheroids to establish primary epithelial cell monolayers from the colon of multiple genetic mouse strains. These monolayers contained differentiated epithelial cells that displayed robust transepithelial electrical resistance. We then functionally tested them by examining immunoglobulin A (IgA) transcytosis across Transwells. IgA transcytosis required induction of polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) expression, which could be stimulated by a combination of lipopolysaccharide and inhibition of γ-secretase. In agreement with previous studies using immortalized cell lines, we found that tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17, and heat-killed microbes also stimulated pIgR expression and IgA transcytosis. We used wild-type and knockout cells to establish that among these cytokines, IL-17 was the most potent inducer of pIgR expression/IgA transcytosis. Interferon-γ, however, did not induce pIgR expression, and instead led to cell death. This new method will allow the use of primary cells for studies of intestinal physiology.
Contractor prequalification data for construction owners

In this paper, an industry evaluation of the perceived impact of various decision factors and subfactors on the contractor prequalification decision-making process has been conducted and the results are presented herein. The three organization types participating in the study were public owners, private owners, and construction managers. An analysis of the mean impact responses by organization type has been performed. An analysis of the correlation coefficients among the questionnaire items has also been completed. The mean impact responses of the various organization types were evaluated for statistical significance. The results indicate a significant statistical difference in the value of the perceived impact among public owners when compared to private owners or construction managers, while private owners and construction managers responded similarly. These results provide documented evidence of organizational similarities and differences that are, in some cases, intuitively perceived to exist. A sumar...
Vanadate-catalyzed, conformationally specific photocleavage of the Ca2(+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Vanadate-sensitized photocleavage of the Ca2+-ATPase of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum was observed upon illumination of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles or the purified Ca2+-ATPase by ultraviolet light in the presence of 1 mM monovanadate or decavanadate. The site of the photocleavage is influenced by the Ca2+ concentration of the medium. When the [Ca2+] is maintained below 10 nM by EGTA, the vanadate-catalyzed photocleavage yields fragments of ≊ 87 and ≊ 22 kDa, while in the presence of 2–20 mM Ca, polypeptides of 71 and 38 kDa are obtained as the principal cleavage products. These observations indicate that the site of the vanadate-catalyzed photocleavage is altered by changes in the conformation of Ca2+-ATPase. Selective tryptic proteolysis, at Arg-505-Ala-506, combined with covalent labeling of Lys-515 by fluorescein 5′-isothiocyanate and with the use of anti-ATPase antibodies of defined specificity, permitted the tentative allocation of the sites of photocleavage to the A fragment near the T2 cleavage site in the absence of Ca2+, and to the B fragment between Lys-515 and Asp-659 in the presence of 2–20 mM Ca2+. The loss of ATPase activity during illumination is accelerated by calcium in the presence of vanadate. The vanadate-catalyzed photocleavage in the presence of Ca2+ is consistent with the existence of an ATPase-C2+-vanadate complex (Markus et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 793–799).
I/O facilities of the Distributed Processing Programming Executive (DPPX)

This paper introduces the input/output facilities of DPPX, the Distributed Processing Programming Executive for the IBM 8100 Information Processing System. Design requirements and alternatives are discussed, as well as the general structure of the services that implement the I/O facilities. Services that support specific I/O resources, such as disk storage and communication devices, are related to the general structure. The paper considers some of the problems in designing a general structure to support a wide range of services, and it briefly describes the interface architecture used to solve these problems.
Comparative analysis of the recently discovered hAT transposon TcBuster in human cells.

Background: Transposons are useful tools for creating transgenic organisms, insertional mutagenesis, and genome engineering. TcBuster, a novel hAT-family transposon system derived from the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum, was shown to be highly active in previous studies in insect embryoes. Methodology/Principal Findings: We tested TcBuster for its activity in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells. Excision footprints obtained from HEK-293 cells contained small insertions and deletions consistent with a hAT-type repair mechanism of hairpin formation and non-homologous end-joining. Genome-wide analysis of 23,417 piggyBac, 30,303 Sleeping Beauty, and 27,985 TcBuster integrations in HEK-293 cells revealed a uniquely different integration pattern when compared to other transposon systems with regards to genomic elements. TcBuster experimental conditions were optimized to assay TcBuster activity in HEK-293 cells by colony assay selection for a neomycin-containing transposon. Increasing transposon plasmid increased the number of colonies, whereas gene transfer activity dependent on codonoptimized transposase plasmid peaked at 100 ng with decreased colonies at the highest doses of transposase DNA. Expression of the related human proteins Buster1, Buster3, and SCAND3 in HEK-293 cells did not result in genomic integration of the TcBuster transposon. TcBuster, Tol2, and piggyBac were compared directly at different ratios of transposon to transposase and found to be approximately comparable while having their own ratio preferences. Conclusions/Significance: TcBuster was found to be highly active in mammalian HEK-293 cells and represents a promising tool for mammalian genome engineering.
Human Resource Issues in University Health Services

Abstract To provide first-rate services to students, college health services need the best possible staff. Managers and supervisors play a critical role in guiding the work of their employees so as to enhance performance. Reference checks for new employees and regular performance appraisal dialogues for ongoing employees are important tools in this process. The author discusses these issues and suggests formats for reference checks and performance appraisals.
A geometric approach to visual servo control in the absence of reference image

In this paper, we formulate a visual servo control problem when a reference image corresponding to the desired position and orientation (i.e., pose) of a camera is not available. The desired pose is described in terms of the introduced angle of incidence and point of arrival of a camera coordinate frame. The presented problem is motivated by the application of homing missiles where a reference image may not be available and the angle of contact with a target is crucial to maximizing the target penetration. A new geometric approach is presented to formulate a rotation error system that minimizes the required control effort while achieving the desired angle of incidence. A nonlinear adaptive control law is developed to provide 6 degrees of freedom camera motion while compensating for an unknown target depth; stability analysis is presented to prove asymptotic regulation of the system states. High-fidelity numerical simulation results are provided to verify the performance of the proposed visual servo controller.
Long-Wave Lattice Dynamics of the Fluorite Structure

A simple shell model is used to calculate expressions for the long-wavelength vibrational eigenfrequencies and elastic constants of the fluorite (Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ type) lattice. The concept of effective charge is introduced and expressions analogous to the Szigeti relations for lattices with diatomic unit cells are given. These and other relations between the acoustic and optical properties derived for the dipole shell model are in better agreement with the measured properties of the alkaline-earth fluorides than are those derived for a rigid-ion model. The large deviation from the Cauchy relation ${C}_{12}={C}_{44}$ seems to be largely explainable in terms of the shell-model correction to the internal strain.
Guns and suicide in the United States

In 2005, an average of 46 Americans per day committed suicide with a firearm, accounting for 53% of all completed suicides. Dr. Matthew Miller and David Hemenway write that the empirical evidence linking suicide risk in the United States to the presence of firearms in the home is compelling.
Interactions of the COP9 Signalosome with the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase SCF TIR1 in Mediating Auxin Response

The COP9 signalosome is an evolutionary conserved multiprotein complex of unknown function that acts as a negative regulator of photomorphogenic seedling development in Arabidopsis. Here, we show that plants with reduced COP9 signalosome levels had decreased auxin response similar to loss-of-function mutants of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SCF^(TIR1). Furthermore, we found that the COP9 signalosome and SCF^(TIR1) interacted in vivo and that the COP9 signalosome was required for efficient degradation of PSIAA6, a candidate substrate of SCF^(TIR1). Thus, the COP9 signalosome may play an important role in mediating E3 ubiquitin ligase–mediated responses.
A morphologic study of the relationship of collateral ligaments to growth plates in the digits

The precise origin and insertion of collateral ligaments to metacarpals and phalanges prior to growth plate closure is not clearly described in textbooks or journals. This study delineates such attachments by gross dissection and microscopic evaluation. Middle and distal phalangeal attachments are to epiphyses and metaphyses, whereas attachments at the metacarpophalangeal joint are almost entirely to the epiphyses of metacarpal and proximal phalanges. The clinical significance of these differences is not known.
Clinical experience with scott inflatable penile prosthesis in 150 patients

Abstract The Scott inflatable penile prosthesis was implanted in 150 patients with organic (89%)and psychologic (11 %)impotency from 1979 to 1982. The patients were followed up for an average of twenty-five (6–46) months. A satisfactory result was achieved in 133 (89%) patients. Forty-nine major complications occurred in 38 patients. Forty-four surgical procedures were performed in 33 patients to correct mechanical or technical complications (32), replace the device (9), or remove the device (3). Two patients refused corrective surgery, and the complications could not be corrected in 2 patients. Cylinder leaks (15), leaks at tubing/connector junctions(14), and cylinder aneurysms (7) were responsible for most of the mechanical failures. Additional refinements in surgical technique will not eliminate these problems. Device modifications should be made to increase cylinder durability, to eliminate the need for suture ligation of tubing/connector junctions, and to assure symmetrical cylinder expansion.
Antidipsogenic effect of clonidine on isoproterenol-induced water intake

Acute administration of the β-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol (25–50μg/kg body weight, subcutaneous), induced drinking and an antidiuresis in rats during the first hour after treatment. Clonidine, administered at doses of 12·5 to 200μg/kg b.w., intraperitoneal, simultaneously with isoproterenol (25 μg/kg), attenuated the drink in a dose-dependent fashion. However, the antidiuresis induced by isoproterenol could be attenuated only by a very high dose of Clonidine (200μg/kgb.w.). When administered alone, Clonidine increased both urine and urinary sodium outputs in a dose-related fashion. Since Clonidine is reported to inhibit release of both antidiuretic hormone and renin, the increased urine output, increased urinary sodium excretion and reduction of the drinking response to isoproterenol are not unexpected findings. However, it appears likely that these effects may be secondary to its central a-adrenergic stimulatory action.
The characterization of a novel rigid nicotine analog with α7-selective nAChR agonist activity and modulation of agonist properties by boron inclusion

The α7 nAChR subtype is of particular interest as a potential therapeutic target since it has been implicated as a mediator of both cognitive and neuroprotective activity. The rigid nicotine analog ACME and the N-cyanoborane conjugate ACME-B are selective partial agonists of rat α7 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes, with no significant activation of either α3β4 or α4β2 receptors. ACME-B is both more potent and efficacious than ACME. The efficacies of ACME-B and ACME are approximately 26% and 10% of the efficacy of ACh, respectively. Similar N-conjugation of S(−)nicotine with cyanoborane decreased efficacy for α3β4 and α4β2 receptors, as well as for α7 nAChR. Structural comparison of ACME with the benzylidene anabaseines, another class of previously identified α7-selective agonists, suggests that they share a similar structural motif that may be applicable to other α7-selective agonists.
Photoconductivity and small-polaron effects in tetracyanoquinodimethan

Photoconductivity has been observed in high-purity tetracyanoquinodimethan (TCNQ) single crystals and polycrystalline evaporated thin films. The photocurrent was measured as a function of wavelength, light intensity, and temperature. A photoconducting edge is observed at about 1.7 eV. The spectral response of the crystals and films are essentially identical. Comparison with optical-absorption, reflection, and resistivity data imply that the 1.7-eV edge is a measurement of the band gap. The relatively small value is attributed to the high electron affinity of TCNQ and its polaron binding energy. Pulsed photocurrent measurements give a drift mobility for both electrons and holes of about 0.4 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/V sec in single crystals and somewhat lower in thin films. The electron mobility is about 10% higher than the hole mobility, and both are independent of temperature from 204 to 306 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The results suggest that conduction occurs by diffusion of small polarons in a conduction band whose width is comparable to the phonon energies. The relevance of this study to other systems is discussed.
Avian muscular dystrophy: Thyroidal influence on pectoralis muscle growth and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity

Abstract The pectoralis muscles of dystrophic chickens (line 413) were hypertrophic on the basis of fresh weight and fat-free dry weight. They also had greater DNA content and greater glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) activities. Of the parameters measured, the largest differences between pectoralis muscles from dystrophic and normal (line 412) chickens were for DNA content and G6PD activity. These parameters were 4.3- and 6.7-fold, respectively, the values for control pectoralis at 5 wk of age. The average number of nuclei per unit length of isolated muscle fiber was also greater (approximately 3-fold) for the dystrophic pectoralis. Body weight and pectoralis fresh weight, fat-free dry weight, DNA content, G6PD activity and 6PGD activity were reduced significantly in propylthiouracil (PTU)-treated normal and dystrophic chickens. Moreover, the effects of PTU were more pronounced in the dystrophic strain. Thyroid deprivation significantly improved the righting ability of the dystrophic chickens, in addition to its influence on muscle hypertrophy and body growth. Thyroxine (T 4 ) replacement reversed the PTU effects in both strains. Of all the variables measured, total G6PD activity was the most affected by PTU treatment of dystrophic chickens and was only 16% of the control dystrophic value. In addition to the effects of thyroid deprivation on the expression of avian muscular dystrophy, we observed significant differences in thyroid-related variables in the two strains. The average thyroid weight at 4 wk and serum triiodothyronine level at 5 wk for dystrophic chickens were 65 and 76%, respectively, of the normal values. The results that we report here indicate that altered thyroid function affects the expression of avian muscular dystrophy.
Numerical Modeling for Multiphase Incompressible Flow with Phase Change

ABSTRACT A general formula for the second-order projection method combined with the level set method is developed to simulate unsteady, incompressible multifluid flow with phase change. A subcell conception is introduced in a modified mass transfer model to accurately calculate the mass transfer across the interface. The third-order essentially nonoscillatory (ENO) scheme and second-order semi-implicit Crank-Nicholson scheme is employed to update the convective and diffusion terms, respectively. The projection method has second-order temporal accuracy for variable-density unsteady incompressible flows as well. The level set approach is employed to implicitly capture the interface for multiphase flows. A continuum surface force (CSF) tension model is used in the present cases. Phase change and dynamics associated with single bubble and multibubbles in two and three dimensions during nucleate boiling are studied numerically via the present modeling. The numerical results show that this method can handle com...
Interdependency modeling for survivability of Smart Grid and SCADA network under severe emergencies, vulnerability and WMD attacks

In this paper, we propose a flexible and extensible framework for network survivability based on interdependency modeling of Smart Grid and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network. We developed novel approach for vulnerability reduction considering both structural and functional vulnerability. We computed interdependent effect between these networks under different conditions. We used MATLAB for simulation and analysis for methodology developed by us for interdependency analysis. The contribution of this paper provides a feasible research approach for the normalization of network survivability testing and evaluation and the promotion of network survivability research.
SU-E-T-584: Commissioning of the MC2 Monte Carlo Dose Computation Engine

Purpose: An automated system, MC2, was developed to convert DICOM proton therapy treatment plans into a sequence MCNPX input files, and submit these to a computing cluster. MC2 converts the results into DICOM format, and any treatment planning system can import the data for comparison vs. conventional dose predictions. This work describes the data and the efforts made to validate the MC2 system against measured dose profiles and how the system was calibrated to predict the correct number of monitor units (MUs) to deliver the prescribed dose. Methods: A set of simulated lateral and longitudinal profiles was compared to data measured for commissioning purposes and during annual quality assurance efforts. Acceptance criteria were relative dose differences smaller than 3% and differences in range (in water) of less than 2 mm. For two out of three double scattering beam lines validation results were already published. Spot checks were performed to assure proper performance. For the small snout, all available measurements were used for validation vs. simulated data. To calibrate the dose per MU, the energy deposition per source proton at the center of the spread out Bragg peaks (SOBPs) was recorded for a set of SOBPs from each option. Subsequently these were then scaled to the results of dose per MU determination based on published methods. The simulations of the doses in the magnetically scanned beam line were also validated vs. measured longitudinal and lateral profiles. The source parameters were fine tuned to achieve maximum agreement with measured data. The dosimetric calibration was performed by scoring energy deposition per proton, and scaling the results to a standard dose measurement of a 10 x 10 x 10 cm3 volume irradiation using 100 MU. Results: All simulated data passed the acceptance criteria. Conclusion: MC2 is fully validated and ready for clinical application.
A comparison of several procedures for reducing RNase contamination in preparations of DNase and a particularly successful combination of methods.

Abstract The three methods most commonly used for removing RNase from preparations of DNase were compared under similar assay conditions for residual RNase activity. In order of their effectiveness they ranked: (1) bentonite, (2) agarose-UMP, (3) iodoacetate. Even the best of the single treatments did not eliminate all of the RNase, and it was discovered that a significant improvement was obtained when DNase was first passed over agarose-UMP and then treated with bentonite.
III-V alloys for optoelectronic applications

The energy bandgap values of the 9 binary compounds, 18 ternary alloys and 15 quaternary alloys comprising the family of practical III-V materials can, in principle, provide sources, detectors, and optoelectronic components over a wavelength range between 0.51 and 7.3 μm. The material and metallurgical properties essential to the selection of III-V compounds and alloys for epitaxial opto-electronic devices are reviewed. Emphasis is given to the effects of lattice mismatch between ad joining heteroepitaxial layers, with techniques illustrated for minimizing mismatch effects in practical ternary and quaternary device structures. The most promising applications for III-V heteroepitaxial structures in the emerging fields of fiber optics, integrated optics, and photodetectors are cited.
Study of water treatment effects on organic volatiles in drinking water

Abstract Volatile organics determined during all stages of the water treatment process in a municipal water works. Analytical parameters for a quantitative procedure were investigated. The method used allows simultaneous determination of both halogenated and non-halogenated purgeable organics. Approximately 70 substances were identified by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry with capillary columns. Well water contained considerable quantities of aliphatic and aromatic substances. Halocarbons were formed during both steps of a double chlorination procedure, but the largest quantity was generated during the first step. Only tetrachloroethylene was present in untreated surface water in significant quantities. Most hydrocarbons were carrried through the treatment process from the raw water to the finished water with little change in concentration.
Routine Screening Radiography for Retained Wire Following Arch Bar Removal Is Not Indicated

Purpose To estimate the screening test value of routine radiography after arch bar wire removal by assessing the incidence of retained wires and the importance of their sequelae. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective medical record review. Records of arch bar removal procedures were examined and divided into those screened with radiography after removal (screen group) and those that were not screened (comparison group). The incidence of retained wire was calculated for each group. Study variables included wire-related radiographic or clinical findings. Results Records of 546 mandible fractures were reviewed; 95 met the study criteria. Most exclusions were due to lack of arch bars, missing postoperative radiographs, or insufficient postoperative documentation. Of the 55 records in the screen group, 1 wire was detected (2%); of the 40 records in the comparison group, 1 wire was detected (3%). The total incidence of retained wire findings was not statistically different between the 2 groups and there were no adverse wire-related sequelae reported by any of the 95 patients. Conclusion Because of the low incidence of retained wires and wire-related sequelae, routine imaging after wire removal is probably not an effective screening test for retained wire and should be limited to situations in which there is clinical suspicion of retained wire.
WORK AND INTELLECTUAL AGING: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCOMITANTS OF SOCIAL‐ORGANIZATIONAL CONDITIONS

Previous research reveals a reciprocal relationship between the substantive nature of people's work experience and their intellectual and personality functioning. The present study employed a cross‐sectional comparison of 187 mid‐level professional managers (age range 30 to 61, mean age = 43.4) to assess the relationship of several work‐related variables and perceived intellectual aging. Results supported the hypothesis that older managers would report more intellectual processing decline than younger managers, but that both young and old managers would see themselves as equally competent. Delegation of decision‐making responsibility was positively associated with years of supervisory experience, organizational level, and percentage of time spent managing people, but was unrelated to age. Controlling for work‐related factors as well as age did not alter significant canonical correlational relationships between the usage of cognitive strategies (delegation, time management) and perceived intellectual effic...