cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MATURATION OF FUROSEMIDE PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS IN THE PIGLET

We have previously demonstrated an apparent decrease in renal tubular secretion and an increase in plasma half-life for furosemide (F) in VLBW infants. To pharmacokinetically characterize maturation of furosemide's tubular secretory pathway(s) and investigate whether pharmacodynamic effects such as sodium excretion undergo similar developmental changes, 3 and 18 day old piglets were administered a) an i.v. bolus dose or b) a. primed continuous i.v. infusion of F, with quantitative fluid replacement. Plasma and urinary sodium and F levels, urine output and GFR were measured. Intrinsic secretory clearance of unbound F was calculated as were dose-response curves expressed as sodium excretion rate vs. log furosemide excretion rate. Mean intrinsic secretory clearance was significantly lower in the younger age group (51.7 vs. 104 ml/min/kg, p<0.01). While basal responses and slopes of the dose-response curves did not differ significantly, maximal response was increased in the older piglets (0.63 vs. 1.18 m mole Na/min, p<0.05). The F excretion rate required to stimulate a half-maximal response, however, was lower in the younger animals (0.06 vs. 0.15 μmoles F/min, p<0.01) and indicated an increased sensitivity to the drug. Thus the net response to F is a balance of maturational factors which influence both drug delivery and tubular responsiveness.
Properties of Acetylcholinesterase in Axolemma-Enriched Fractions Isolated From Bovine Splenic Nerve

The properties of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in axolemma-enriched fractions (AEF) from bovine splenic nerve were investigated to see if they differed in any way from those of the AChE in diaphragm muscle. The axolemmal enzyme had a low Km for acetylthiocholine (ca. 90 microM), exhibited substrate inhibition, and had a well-defined optimum of substrate concentration of 1 mM. The rate of hydrolysis of substrate decreased with increasing acyl chain length (acetyl- greater than propionyl- greater than butyryl-). The AChE inhibitors eserine and hexamethonium were competitive inhibitors of the membrane-bound enzyme, whereas lidocaine was a noncompetitive inhibitor; these results were comparable to the effect of these inhibitors on diaphragm muscle AChE. The axolemmal enzyme was more efficiently solubilized and more stable in nonionic detergents such as Triton X-100 and Tween 20 than charged detergents such as lysolecithin and zwitterionic detergents. These results indicate that the AChE present in bovine splenic nerve AEF is identical to the previously characterized AChE from other sources.
Boundary Interaction Between Service Organizations and Their Publics: A Study of Teacher-Parent Relationships

A scattered literature suggests that interaction between service organizations and their publics will diminish with (a) the pervasiveness of administrative controls, and (b) the solidarity of the employees. We also expected that the organizational characteristics that minimize boundary interaction will promote disputes when contact does occur. Using information pertaining to 40 schools in a regression analysis, we found that the rate of interaction between teachers and parents declined with formalization, centralization, solidarity of teacher organizations, and teacher's formal training; but, contrary to the hypothesis, interaction increased with staff seniority. These five variables accounted for one-third of the variance. Teacher-parent disputes increased with formalization and training and declined with staff seniority. There were also some indications that interaction increased, and disputes declined with organization size. Interpretations are offered. Over a decade ago Bidwell and Vreeland observed that relations between clients and client-serving organizations were largely unexplored. In recent years this topic has excited more interest (see Katz and Danet; Rosengren). Still, this realm of inquiry remains largely uncharted' although the social distance between service organizations and the public is of special significance in modern societies. Incompatibilities between families and service bureaucracies require that they be insulated from one another (Dreeben; Thompson, b).2 But too much autonomy interferes with social integration and the society's capacity to adapt responsively to social change (Blau, d). Since service organizations must share responsibility for clients with their families, some communication is obviously necessary (Litwak and Meyer).3 This paper reports an exploratory analysis of selected organizational characteristics of schools that are likely to influence two dimensions of teacherparent interaction, the amount of face-to-face interaction and the frequency of disputes.4 Following Simmel we examine the frequency and form of interaction, as distinct from its content. Several writers have stressed the importance of such variables for a variety of reasons (Caplow, b; Etzioni, b; Homans). Although some of the literature to be cited refers to the behavior of individuals, we have tried to recast the propositions to apply to an organizational level of analysis. The responses of individuals have been aggregated where necessary. The school is the unit of analysis. *The authors gratefully acknowledge the statistical assistance provided by Wen L. Li in connection with a companion paper. We also appreciate the helpful suggestions made by John Seidler and by two anonymous reviewers who commented on an earlier draft.
A 6 th order continuous time band-pass Sigma Delta Analog to Digital modulator with active inductor based resonators

This paper presents a 6th order, continuous time bandpass Sigma Delta Analog to Digital modulator in IBM 0.18 um CMOS technology. In order to decrease chip area we replace traditional RLC circuits, containing low quality factor spiral inductors with high quality factor, active inductor based resonators utilizing negative impedance circuits. We see a reduction in chip area and post processing needs are eliminated. Pad to pad simulation of the extracted layout in Cadence yields an enhanced SNDR of 70 dB and a power consumption of 29 mW. An extra active inductor resonator is included on chip for characterization. Our modulator occupies 0.5 mm2 of chip area without pads.
Characterization and Surface Acidity Modelling of an Iron Oxide-impregnated Activated Carbon

The objective of the present research was to characterize the surface of an iron oxide-impregnated activated carbon (FeAC), model the surface acidity of the FeAC and determine the most appropriate acid-base surface-site representation — the foundation for modelling arsenic adsorption in water and wastewater treatment. The FeAC surface was characterized by measuring the surface area, using scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive spectroscopy to confirm the presence of Fe, and determining the species at the carbon surface [Fe oxides, predominately hematite (α-Fe2O3)] using X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. Potentiometric titrations of FeAC were performed at three ionic strengths (I) and surface complexation modelling was used to determine the surface-site and electrical double layer (EDL) representations. FeAC was modelled as one component for simplicity, as it was comparable to modelling FeAC as its two separate components (GAC1240 and Fe oxide). The diprotic and two-monopro...
Embryonic pattern formation without morphogens.

One of the earliest and most-fundamental pattern- formation events in embryonic development is endoderm and mesoderm specification. In sea urchin embryos, this process begins with blimp1 and wnt8 gene expression at the vegetal pole as soon as embryonic transcription begins. Shortly afterwards, wnt8/blimp1 expression spreads to the adjacent ring of mesoderm progenitor cells and is extinguished in the vegetal-most cells. A little later, the ring of wnt8/blimp1 activity moves out of the mesoderm progenitors and into the neighboring endoderm cells. Remarkably, this moving ring of gene expression has now been shown to be controlled entirely by transcriptional cis-regulatory logic.1. BioEssays 30:412–417, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Light-induced change in rhodopsin emission: phosphorescence and fluorescence.

— Phosphorescence measurements of rhodopsin in bovine rod disk membranes were made to study changes in protein conformation on bleaching by probing the environment of tryptophan and tyrosine residues of the protein. Bleaching decreased the tyrosine phosphorescence by about 25% and significantly affected the amplitude of triplet decay when rhodopsin was excited at 280 nm, where both tyrosine and tryptophan absorb. Computer analysis using one or two exponential model functions showed the presence of two components in the decay curve at 410 nm—one with a lifetime of 2.2 s, the other with a lifetime of 4.8 s>—which are typical of tyrosine and tryptophan respectively. When the rod outer segment sample was bleached, there was a significant decrease in the amplitude of the tyrosine component. However, the lifetime values of the two components did not change. Analyses of the fluorescence spectra of dark and bleached membranes at different excitation wavelengths and the phosphorescence change on bleaching suggest energy transfer between tyrosine and tryptophan singlet states, which may result from a conformational change of the opsin moiety on bleaching.
Prediction of maxillary canine impaction using sectors and angular measurement

Maxillary canine impaction has an incidence of 1 in 100 in the general population and has been reported as much higher in an individual orthodontic practice. Because patients with canine impactions generally have longer treatment times, depending on the location of the impacted tooth, early identification of impaction is of critical interest to the orthodontist. Sector location and angulation of the unerupted tooth have been analyzed previously as predictors of canine eruption after deciduous extraction. Additionally, sector location has been studied as an indicator of eventual impaction, resulting in good predictive success. In this study, angulation of the unerupted tooth was measured from panoramic radiographs and added to sector location to see whether the combination of these factors could predict impaction more accurately than sector alone. Results verified earlier findings for sector: canines that become impacted will overlap the adjacent lateral incisor in 82% of cases. Logistic regression analysis also determined that once the canine overlaps the midline of the lateral incisor, there is a greater than 0.87 chance of impaction. Sector was found to be the better predictor of impaction, with angulation adding little supplementary predictive value.
Sum of Profiles Model with Exchangeably Distributed Errors

Abstract We have considered a generalization of the basic Potthoff–Roy growth curve model by combining a sum of profiles model with an exchangeably distributed errors model. Analytical expressions for the growth curve coefficients and their standard errors are obtain specifically. An illustration where such a model is useful in practice is also supplied.
Is There Physician Bias Against Eliciting Affective Qualities of Pain

Goals: The purpose of this study is to determine the weight given to each of 3 pain dimensions by physicians who assess patients' pain experiences. Background: Pain is a subjective experience that has profound impact on the quality of life. The 101-Multidimensional Affect and Pain Survey (101—MAPS) is currently the only available instrument that takes into account all 3 validated dimensions of pain by classifying 101 items into "superclusters" of sensory pain, suffering, and well-being. Study: Fourteen gastroenterologists, 11 internists, and 11 medicine residents from 2 teaching hospitals rated the items on the 101— MAPS based on their perception of the items' relevance to pain in gastrointestinal diseases, on a scale of 0 (least relevant) to 5 (most relevant). Results: Of the 101 items in the MAPS rated by gastroenterologists, 25 items received a median rating of 4 or above. Of these, 23 were selected from the 57 items in the sensory pain supercluster (40%) and only 1 item each from the 26 in the suffering (3.8%), and the 18 in the well-being (5.5%) dimensions. These proportions were significantly lower for the suffering (P < 0.01) and well-being (P < 0.05) superclusters than for the sensory pain dimension. Conclusions: These findings suggest a bias among physicians toward sensory and against affective qualities when eliciting patients' pain experiences. The results also suggest that this bias is found as early as residency training and persists among specialists.
Climb and glide of a/3 dislocations in an aluminium Σ = 3 boundary

Abstract High-resolution transmission electron microscopy observations are presented of the motion of grain-boundary dislocations within an aluminium Σ = 3[011] bicrystal. The observations show the glide of dissociated a/3[111] grain-boundary dislocations on the incoherent Σ = 3(211) boundary. These dislocations are subsequently incorporated into a growing coherent two lamella where further motion occurs by climb. Analysis of the tip of the advancing twin suggests that nucleation of coherent twin segments may be initiated by the absorption of a lattice dislocation in the boundary with the subsequent dissociation to form a/3[111] and a/6[211] grain-boundary dislocations.
Evaluating an Accelerated Nursing Program: A Dashboard for Diversity

Diversity is a topic of increasing attention in higher education and the nursing workforce. Experts have called for a nursing workforce that mirrors the population it serves. Students in nursing programs in the United States do not reflect our country's diverse population; therefore, much work is needed before that goal can be reached. Diversity cannot be successfully achieved in nursing education without inclusion and attention to quality. The Inclusive Excellence framework can be used by nurse educators to promote inclusion, diversity, and excellence. In this framework, excellence and diversity are linked in an intentional metric-driven process. Accelerated programs offer a possible venue to promote diversity, and one accelerated program is examined using a set of metrics and a dashboard approach commonly used in business settings. Several recommendations were made for future assessment, interventions, and monitoring. Nurse educators are called to examine and adopt a diversity dashboard in all nursing programs.
Ion channels and the control of myometrial electrical activity

Understanding the role of ion channels in the generation of slow waves and action potentials in the myometrium is critical in designing strategies to regulate uterine contractile activity. The development of the patch clamp technique has allowed the identification of specific types of channels in the myometrium and provided insights into their regulation by hormones and drugs. Specifically, new studies suggest that KATP and KCa channel openers could be important tools in the management of inappropriate uterine contractions, but peripheral effects will have to be controlled. Conversely, blockers of these same channels may have some effects on dystocia. The study of contractant-operated channels in the myometrium is still in its infancy, but promises new insights into possible modes of regulation as well. Myometrial activity is controlled at a number of levels. The regulation of ion channels is an important aspect, but receptor-mediated actions that do not appear to be voltage- or ion-dependent presumably are also important contributors and hence are sites of potential modulation as well. Clearly, future multifaceted approaches to tocolysis, and perhaps also dystocia, may well include agents targeting the activity of ion channels.
Fat necrosis of the breast in the accelerated partial breast irradiation era: the need for a universal grading system

Fat necrosis of the breast is increasingly reported and used as a trial endpoint in the treatment of breast cancer with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). Yet, there is no universal toxicity scoring system within the latest version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0). This requires investigators to adopt their own scoring system or improperly use those that exist, and limits accurate reporting of this entity. Fat necrosis of the breast also creates diagnostic uncertainty among clinicians and concern of recurrence among patients. In this review, we address the question of increasing incidence of fat necrosis through the comparison of recent APBI trials and literature. The pathogenesis, symptoms, clinical and radiologic diagnosis, clinical predictors of developing fat necrosis, management and follow-up are also discussed. Lastly, we propose a simplified and universal scoring system for the reporting of fat necrosis.
Joint ICI cancellation and channel estimation with real-time channel adaptation for high-mobility OFDM systems

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems suffer severely from several highly time-variant channel effects under conditions of high-mobility. To cope with this issue, we propose a low-complexity receiver architecture utilizing interference cancellation followed by a real-time channel parameter extraction for channel estimation. The estimated parameters for the delay spread in power delay profiles can be tracked iteratively using an adaptive filter, according to the current received signal and channel information. The numerical simulations show that this approach achieves system performance closely to the ideal channel correlation. With the real testbed field measured channel models on Taiwan high speed rail, we proved a significant gain improvement (2–8 dB at SNR of 30 dB) under scenarios of high-mobility.
Do Public Transport Improvements Increase Agglomeration Economies? A Review of Literature and an Agenda for Research

Public transport improvements may increase economic productivity if they enable the growth and densification of cities, downtowns, or industrial clusters and thereby increase external agglomeration economies. It has been argued that the potential agglomeration benefits are large; if so, understanding them better would be useful in making funding decisions about public transport improvements. We reviewed theoretical and empirical literature on agglomeration as well as a small number of articles on transportation's role in agglomeration. The theoretical literature is useful in understanding possible avenues by which transportation improvements might affect agglomeration, although there is little discussion of public transport specifically. Relevant empirical studies tend to focus on metropolitan regions and use a generalized measure of transportation cost. But public transport impacts on agglomeration are likely to be different from road investment impacts. We identified several ways of conducting research ...
The thermal decomposition reactions of [Co(en)3]Cl3 and [Co(en)3]Br3 complexes☆

Abstract The thermal decomposition reactions were determined for [Co(en)3]Cl3 and [Co(en)3]Br3 in a dynamic nitrogen gas atmosphere and in vacuo. Data were obtained using thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, thermomagnetic analysis, reflectance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and pyrolytic techniques. The dissociation reaction in nitrogen was found to be: In vacuo, the first step is: The remainder of the reaction is the same as that in nitrogen.
Mechanistic Studies of the Palladium-Catalyzed Copolymerization of Ethylene and α-Olefins with Methyl Acrylate

Mechanistic aspects of palladium-catalyzed insertion copolymerizations of ethylene and α-olefins with methyl acrylate to give high molar mass polymers are described. Complexes [(N∧N)Pd(CH2)3C(O)OMe]BAr‘4 (2) or [(N∧N)Pd(CH3)(L)]BAr‘4 (1: L = OEt2; 3: L ⋮ NCMe; 4: L ⋮ NCAr‘) (N∧N ≡ ArNC(R)−C(R)NAr, e.g., Ar ⋮ 2,6-C6H3(i-Pr)2, R ⋮ H (a), Me (b); Ar‘ ⋮ 3,5-C6H3(CF3)2) with bulky substituted α-diimine ligands were used as catalyst precursors. The copolymers are highly branched, the acrylate comonomer being incorporated predominantly at the ends of branches as −CH2CH2C(O)OMe groups. The effects of reaction conditions and catalyst structure on the copolymerization reaction are rationalized. Low-temperature NMR studies show that migratory insertion in the η2-methyl acrylate (MA) complex [(N∧N)PdMe{H2CCHC(O)OMe}]+ (5) occurs to give initially the 2,1-insertion product [(N∧N)PdCH(CH2CH3)C(O)OMe]+ (6), which rearranges stepwise to yield 2 as the final product upon warming to −20 °C. Activation parameters (ΔH⧧ = ...
Vanquish the Backlog! And Into the Future—of Social Work!

Readers of earlier editorials recognize that the journal has embarked on a self-improvement campaign--a campaign to improve its utility and readability. As editor-in-chief, my goals are to improve our profession's professional journal in at least three ways: first, by reducing the backlog of articles; second, by reintroducing the standard columns of Practice Updates, Commentary, Points & Viewpoints and Letters-to-the-Editor, and, finally, by inviting both structured (in form of a reader survey in the July 2003 issue) and unstructured (in the form of letters) input on the relevance and utility of the journal for the nearly 150,000 social workers who receive it four times each year. Readers will see that we are directly addressing the publication backlog by expanding the number of articles in this issue and the next. Nineteen articles and four Commentaries are published here in the place of the usual 12. With the reduction in the backlog, we--the editorial board and staff--are able to reintroduce the traditional columns of the journal that allow for timely, interactive communication reflecting the diverse perspectives of the profession. Finally, by publishing both critical and reinforcing reviews of the journal's content and direction, we seek to learn from readers the path to a more useful, relevant journal. Getting it right, that is, optimizing the utility and relevance of Social Work, is a priority for NASW and the profession. I bring to the role of editor-in-chief a sense of urgency that the journal received by 150,000 NASW members worldwide represents the highest possible standards of utility and relevance. Professions--social work, law, medicine, engineering--are defined both by the work they do and by the specific body of knowledge that guides, differentiates, and legitimizes that work. The existence of a professional knowledge base distinguishes professions from occupations such as information technology and fund raising. In social work, we use our knowledge base not only to define who we are, but also to claim or reclaim new areas. Themes of recent issues of Social Work (Poverty and Welfare Reform, July 2002; Ethics, January 2003; Responding to Violence, October 2003) indicate arenas of special interest for us, arenas where social work is developing knowledge and claiming expertise. What may be frustrating to readers of Social Work is that our knowledge base is not always neatly packaged in a problem-solving format. …
Long-term growth and development of transplants of the salt-marsh grass Spartina alterniflora

The effect of transplant spacings (45, 60, and 90 cm) on establishment ofSpartina alterniflora along an eroding shoreline in North Carolina was evaluated and annual biomass production of the planted marsh was compared to a natural marsh. The 45- and 60-cm spacings were more successful for establishment on marginal sites that were near the lower elevation limits ofS. alterniflora. The 90-cm spacing was adequate where growing conditions were favorable. Measurements of aboveground growth indicated that there were no differences due to spacing by the end of the second growing season. Differences between spacing treatments in belowground dry weight persisted through three growing seasons. Annual aboveground and belowground standing crop of the transplanted marsh and a nearby natural marsh were compared over a ten-year period. During the early years of development, several characteristics of the transplanted vegetation differed from the natural marsh, but these differences diminished with time. Development of the aerial portion of the transplanted vegetation was rapid, with the most vigorous growth occurring in the second growing season. At that stage of development, the transplants were taller with more flowering stems and a greater standing crop. There were fewer but larger stems than in later years or in the natural marsh. Belowground standing crop increased over the first 3 growing seasons, reached an equilibrium level in 4 growing seasons, and remained constant during the remainder of the study. This indicated that annual production and decomposition of belowground material were about equal. Annual belowground production was estimated to be about 1.1 times the October standing crop of aboveground material. The results indicated that vegetation in a man-initiatedS. alterniflora marsh was effective in reducing shoreline erosion and was comparable to a natural marsh growing under similar environmental conditions. The ten-year sampling period was adequate to document that the transplanted marsh was equal in primary productivity and that it was persistent and self-sustaining.
Rectourethral fistula after combination radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES To describe 6 cases of rectourethral fistula in patients treated with brachytherapy plus external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer and subsequent rectal biopsies or rectal surgery. METHODS A retrospective chart review was undertaken of patients with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy who presented to our institution with the diagnosis of rectourethral fistula from February 1999 to June 2002. Potential contributing factors, including patient age, cancer grade and stage, cancer treatment, rectal procedure, and time to the complication, were evaluated. Potential approaches to rectourethral fistula treatment and their outcomes are reported. RESULTS The mean patient age was 63.8 years. All 6 men underwent combination prostate brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy with subsequent rectal biopsy/hemorrhoidectomy. All 6 patients developed a rectourethral fistula, with an average time between the end of radiotherapy and fistula development of 22.6 months. Four patients underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which failed. Three patients underwent fecal diversion with gracilis interposition flaps, and two underwent pelvic exenteration. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that rectourethral fistula development is a serious complication of combination radiotherapy, with definitive repair requiring major intraabdominal surgery. Biopsy of rectal ulcers in the clinical setting of combined radiotherapy should not be performed. In addition, elective rectal surgery should not be performed on irradiated tissue. In our series, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and conservative treatment did not obviate the need for definitive surgical management of the rectourethral fistula.
A New Perspective to Information Security: Total Quality Information Security Management

Information systems is greatly identified as the engine that drives and supports the U.S. and global economy, giving industry a strategic competitive advantage in global markets., enabling the federal government and agencies to collaborate among themselves, and building a 21st century digital government platform to provide better services to its citizens. But information systems are exposed to serious internal and external threats that can have adverse effects on organizational operations. Unfortunately, the complexity of security attacks, and increased number of vulnerabilities, and lack of quality information security management implementation within organizations have greatly increased over the past few years, even the best security mechanisms can be bypassed by professional hackers. The author creates and develops a new perspective in information security management, and it introduces a new concept which is called total quality information security management, and it is designed, and applies toward quality of information security management.
Radiation stimulated incorporation of thymidine into the DNA of human lymphocytes.

TRITIATED thymidine is incorporated into both strands of DNA in HeLa cells which have been exposed to ultraviolet and ionizing radiation1,2. This stimulated incorporation can occur in concentrations of hydroxyurea3 which inhibit normal DNA synthesis.
Niche Partitioning Increases Resource Exploitation by Diverse Communities

Classical ecological theory suggests that the coexistence of consumer species is fostered by resource-use differences, leading to greater resource use in communities with more species. However, explicit empirical support for this idea is lacking, because resource use by species is generally confounded with other species-specific attributes. We overcame this obstacle by co-opting behavioral plasticity in food choice among a group of animal consumers, allowing us to manipulate patterns of resource use while controlling for the effects of species identity and diversity. Within an aphid-parasitoid-radish community, we created a fully factorial manipulation of consumer resource-use breadth (specialist versus generalist) and species diversity (one versus three species) and found that resource exploitation improved with greater specialist, but not generalist, diversity. Therefore, resource partitioning, and not diversity per se, fostered greater overall resource consumption in our multispecies consumer communities.
Trigger features and excitation in the retina

This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of how neural divergence and convergence give rise to complex encoding properties of retinal ganglion cells. We describe the apparent mismatch between the number of cone bipolar cell types, and the diversity of excitatory input to retinal ganglion cells, and outline two possible solutions. One proposal is for diversity in the excitatory pathways to be generated within axon terminals of cone bipolar cells, and the second invokes narrow-field glycinergic amacrine cells that can apparently act like bipolar cells by providing excitatory drive to ganglion cells. Finally we highlight two advances in technique that promise to provide future insights; automation of electron microscope data collection and analysis, and the use of the ideal observer to quantitatively compare neural performance at all levels.
Fitness portfolio calibration for first-through sixth-grade children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop and calibrate health-related fitness portfolios for 1st-6th grade students using the many-faceted Rasch model, and examine advantages and disadvantages of a portfolio assessment system based on Rasch calibration. Nine hundred ninety-five students from 23 schools in first–sixth grade, who completed three–six of nine health-related fitness portfolios, participated in this study. Ten physical education teachers performed the grading across various portfolios and grade levels. Students' portfolios were rated using 23 predeveloped rubrics, and their scores linked through several common portfolios that were used across schools. The rating scores were analyzed using the many-faceted Rasch model, with four defined facets: portfolio, rubric, student, and rater. The model-data fit was very good, and a consistent grade difference was found, that is, older students scored higher in fitness knowledge than younger ones. With Rasch calibration, measurement problems in co...
Plasma and urine electrolyte and mineral concentrations in Thoroughbred horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis after consumption of diets varying in cation-anion balance.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether plasma, urine, and fecal electrolyte and mineral concentrations differ between clinically normal horses and Thoroughbreds with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) after consumption of diets varying in cation-anion balance. ANIMALS 5 Thoroughbred mares with RER and 6 clinically normal mixed-breed mares. PROCEDURE Each of 3 isocaloric diets designated as low, medium, and high on the basis of dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) values of 85, 190, and 380, respectively, were fed to horses for 14 days. During the last 72 hours, 3 horses with RER and 3 control horses had daily urine and fecal samples obtained by total 24-hour collection. Remaining horses had urine samples collected daily by single catheterization. RESULTS For each diet, no differences existed between horses with RER and control horses in plasma pH, electrolyte concentrations, and creatine kinase activity or in urine pH and renal fractional excretion (FE) values. Plasma pH, strong ion difference, bicarbonate and total carbon dioxide concentrations, and base excess decreased and plasma chloride and ionized calcium concentrations increased with decreasing DCAB. Urine pH decreased with decreasing DCAB. The FE of chloride and phosphorus were greatest for horses fed the low diet. The FE values for all electrolytes exept magnesium did not differ between urine samples obtained by single catheterization and total 24-hour collection. Daily balance of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, and potassium did not differ significantly among horses fed the various diets. CONCLUSIONS In clinically normal horses and in horses with RER, the DCAB strongly affects plasma and urine pH and the FE of sodium, potassium, chloride, and phosphorus.
The effects of domain size and fluid conditions at the boundary, on convection inside an annulus heated from below

Abstract We use the theory of self adjoint operators to come to some definite conclusions on the behaviour of the critical Rayleigh number with domain size and rigidity of sides in an annulus. The annulus which has two aspect ratios, provides an interesting connection between a cylinder and rectangular channel. The critical Rayleigh number does not monotonically decay with increase in lateral domain size but increases monotonically as the sides become more rigid and as we proceed from total slip to the no slip condition. The analysis also provides a useful way of obtaining first order effects in an annulus as the domain changes or rigidity changes. Our analysis provides monotonicity results only because of the ability to formulate the equations in the form of operator which are self adjoint in a certain inner product.
Closed mallet thumb injury: a review of the literature and case study of the use of magnetic resonance imaging in deciding treatment.

Summary:At present, the literature dedicated to closed mallet thumb injury offers conflicting evidence between conservative and operative approaches. Although conservative treatment is often successful, retraction of the extensor pollicis tendon may lead to improper reattachment and continued deform
Priscilla Murolo and A.B. Chitty; illustrations by Joe Sacco, From the Folks Who Brought You the Weekend: A Short Illustrated History of Labor in the United States. New York: The New Press, 2001. xx + 364 pp. $27.50 cloth; $17.95 paper.

The title of this book, cutely folksy, may help to attract some readers who would be intimidated or put off by something more accurate (captured in the subtitle), but it obscures the achievement of this splendid contribution by Priscilla Murolo and A.B. Chitty.
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with previous mediastinal radiation therapy.

Abstract Objectives: Our objectives were to characterize the outcome of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with previous mediastinal radiation therapy and to identify special features of this condition that relate to surgical management. Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 47 patients (28 women, 19 men) with a mean age of 63.5 ± 12.8 years (range 31.0-82.9 years) from 1976 through December 1996 undergoing coronary artery bypass graft after mediastinal radiation therapy. Results: The mean interval between mediastinal radiation therapy and coronary artery bypass grafting was 15.1 ± 9.8 years (range 1.1-37.8 years). In the 44 patients with isolated coronary surgery, operative mortality was 3 patients (6.8%). Sternal wound infection occurred in 3 patients (6.8%). Actuarial survival at 1 and 5 years was 87.2% ± 4.9% and 71.6% ± 7.1%, respectively. Total follow-up was 293.7 patient-years (mean 6.2 ± 5.1 years). There were 17 late deaths (malignancy, n=7; heart failure, n=6; stroke, n=1; other noncardiac causes, n=2; and sudden death, n=1). Twelve of 43 discharged patients had the development of valvular disease demonstrated by follow-up echocardiography. Conclusions: The early results of coronary artery bypass grafting for the treatment of ischemic heart disease after mediastinal radiation therapy are good. Late survival, however, is limited by malignancy, either recurrent or new, and the development of heart failure. Inasmuch as 25 other patients after radiation therapy required concomitant valve surgery and 12 of 43 (28%) discharged patients had later development of valvular disease, with 2 requiring reoperation, careful assessment of any valvular lesion is important during the initial coronary artery bypass grafting. Careful follow-up, including regular echocardiographic screening, is recommended in this patient population. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:1136-43)
Family composition and the labor force activity of American wives

This is a study of the employment patterns of American wives in relation to the composition of their families. The data are taken from the 1960 United States Census, both from published tabulations and the 1/1000 sample. The population studied is non-Negro, non-farm, married, husband present women who are under the age of sixty. The methods of analysis used include the comparison of employment rates among subpopulations and a dummy variable regression technique. Aspects of family composition studied include age of the youngest child (in single years in order to determine whether there are discontinuities in the rates of employment when youngest children enter school, etc.), number of children in the family, and the presence of other relatives in the family. The paper concludes with a discussion of the meaning of family status differentials in employment including differential preferences for employment, differential fertility experience, and differential demands on the mother’s time. Some discussion of the use of cross section data of this sort to infer life cycle patterns of employment is included.
A Flexible Framework for Developing Integrated Models of Transportation Systems Using an Agent-based Approach

Abstract Travel demand, traffic flow and land-use models are typically modeled in a decoupled way, i.e. each of the components is modeled separately assuming that parameters related to the other components are ﬁxed. Moreover, the models are often developed by different groups for different contexts, requirements, etc. In this paper we present a prototype of a software framework which allows the user to develop an integrated simulation of a transportation system and also to link additional models to the new simulation in a standardized way. We use an agent-based approach as the basis of such a model. Integrated transportation system models allow model users to overcome the limitations of traditional aggregated, independent transportation models, particularly with respect to sensitivity to behavioral aspects of the travelers. Another requirement, which the software is to satisfy, is the interoperability of models developed in the new framework with legacy models. By interoperability we mean, that any component of the of the model can be interchanged by a legacy software and be used for the integrated simulation. This would allow disparate research groups working on modeling different aspects of a transportation model to plugnplay their models into the framework and test those as a part of an integrated model of an entire system, providing a beneﬁt to researchers, modelers and institutional users of such models.
The paradox of trust in online collaborative groups

Open and sustained discussions in heterogeneous collaborative online groups should provide opportunities for adults to reshape their thinking, deeply understand the subject content, and have their voices heard and respected. These opportunities turn on trust. The ability to trust thoughts that are different from their own is influenced by the learners’ ability to be open about their beliefs and to develop healthy self–other relationships within their small groups. These issues are examined through a qualitative phenomenographic perspective of the stories of the students enrolled in two online adult learning classes utilizing a problem‐based and collaborative pedagogy. The findings indicate that group members import trust issues into the group, which then become issues for the group‐as‐a‐whole. To resolve these issues, the groups engage in several evading behaviors to avoid the types of discussion necessary to fully deal with the difference and resolve the trust issues.
Production and chemical processing of Fe52 for medical use

Abstract A method is described for the production and chemical separation of radioactive Fe 52 for clinical use. Iron-52 in the form of ferrous citrate is being used to determine the distribution of erythropoietic bone marrow in both animal and human subjects with the positron scintillation camera. Detailed descriptions of the target preparation, cyclotron irradiation and chemical processing of the Fe 52 are given.
Remarkably improved complexation of a bisparaquat by formation of a pseudocryptand-based [3]pseudorotaxane

Significant improvement of complexation of a bisparaquat guest was achieved by the formation of a pseudocryptand-based [3]pseudorotaxane.
Synthesis and characterization of highly ordered Co-MCM-41 for production of aligned single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT)

Highly ordered cobalt substituted MCM-41 samples were synthesized and characterized for application as catalytic templates for producing aligned single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT). Highly reproducible Co−MCM-41 samples were successfully synthesized using alkyl templates with 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 carbon chain lengths by direct incorporation of cobalt into the siliceous MCM-41 framework using a hydrothermal method; the pore size and the pore volume can be controlled precisely. The local environment of cobalt as determined by UV−vis spectroscopy is a mixture of tetrahedral and distorted tetrahedral structures similar to those observed in Co3O4. Cobalt atoms are uniformly distributed in the pores (about 30−40/pore) at nearly atomic dispersion probed by XAFS. Incorporation of cobalt into siliceous MCM-41 improves the structure, most likely by dehydroxylation and/or knitting the defective structure of the amorphous silica polymer. The optimum crystallization temperature and time were 100 °C and 4 days for ...
Nonlinear mode interaction as a mechanism to obtain slow/fast light in diode lasers

The nonlinear mode interactions (NMIs) in semiconductor lasers produce perturbations of optical parameters in the vicinity of strong-mode frequencies. These perturbations include changes in the complex refractive index, which could either increase or decrease, depending on the frequency detuning. Variation of the refractive index over a small frequency range may produce a rather strong variation of the group index. There are regimes of slow light (large group index), fast light (group index smaller than the phase index), and a range of negative group index. Critically anomalous dispersion conditions occur when the group index changes its sign. Thus, the NMIs in diode lasers and in semiconductor optical amplifiers can be used to obtain slow or fast light. A specific application is considered for gyroscopic laser devices that are sensitive to dispersion. It is shown that the fast light phenomenon can be used to increase the scale factor in a gyro without increasing its size.
Transcatheter Heart Valves for Failing Bioprostheses State-of-the-Art Review of Valve-in-Valve Implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is emerging as an alternative to conventional surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS).1,2 Since the first-in-man procedure in 2002,3 TAVI has been rapidly adopted in Europe and Canada, and, to date, more than 30 000 procedures have been performed worldwide. TAVI early and medium-term results have been promising.3–5 In the first prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial in the United States (PARTNER), safety and effectiveness of TAVI was evaluated in a stratified population of inoperable and high-risk patients with severe symptomatic AS.6,7 Superiority of TAVI over medical therapy, including balloon aortic valvuloplasty, has been proven in inoperable patients in whom TAVI significantly improved survival and reduced cardiac symptoms.6 Furthermore, in high-risk surgical cohorts, TAVI demonstrated noninferiority to gold-standard surgical AVR in which all-cause mortality was similar at 1 year.7 However, in both inoperable and high-risk cohorts, TAVI was associated with higher incidence of major stroke and major vascular events.6,7 While TAVI experience within native AS rapidly progresses, TAVI offers an attractive option for patients with failing bioprostheses (valve-in-valve concept). Over time, bioprostheses have been preferentially used over mechanical valves for valve replacement because of favorable clinical results, patient age, and preference—outperforming mechanical valves in market share.8 As life expectancy increases, degeneration of previously implanted bioprostheses will inevitably become more common, requiring reoperative valve replacement. Reoperation in patients with degenerated bioprostheses carries an operative mortality risk ranging from 1.5% to 23%, depending on patient age, sex, preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, left ventricular dysfunction, number of previous operations, urgency of operation, and technical difficulties caused by adhesions.9 In high-risk surgical patients who are candidates for reoperative valve replacement, TAVI …
Near-Miss Transcription Errors: A Comparison of Reporting Rates between a Novel Error-Reporting Mechanism and a Current Formal Reporting System:

PurposeThe medication use process comprises several steps. In institutions without full implementation of computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE), transcription is a critical step in this proces...
Theory of light scattering from oriented and fiber structures

Recent progress in the theory of scattering by spherulites of crystalline polymers is reviewed. The consequences of arbitrary optic axis orientation, periodicity of optic axis orientation and of spherulite deformation are described. The transmission of light by a film of a crystalline polymer having spherulitie or lower degrees of order of crystalline orientation is discussed. A theory of the scattering of light from such a film having nonrandom correlation in crystalline orientation is developed. The dependence of the scattered intensity on the polarization directions of the incident and scattered light is shown to depend upon a parameter which characterizes the nonrandomness.
A model of baryon states

The self-consistent bound-state approach is applied to the meson and baryon octet model. An estimate is made of the mass differences within the baryon multiplet. Predictions of the model for the properties of the P/sub 3/2/, K/sub 3/2/, and more highly excited states are examined. (R.E.U.)
GEOS 3 data processing for the recovery of geoid undulations and gravity anomalies

The paper discusses the analysis of GEOS 3 altimeter data for the determination of geoid heights and point and mean gravity anomalies. Methods are presented for determining the mean anomalies and mean undulations from the GEOS 3 altimeter data available by the end of September 1977 without having a complete set of precise orbits. The editing of the data is extensive to remove questionable data, although no filtering of the data is carried out. An adjustment process is carried out to eliminate orbit error and altimeter bias. Representative point anomaly values are computed to investigate anomaly behavior across the Bonin Trench and over the Patton seamounts.