cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of Disease: regulation of RANTES (CCL5) in renal disease

Chemokines (chemoattractant cytokines) are fundamental regulators of immune cell movement from the bloodstream into tissues. Regulating expression of chemokines might, therefore, alleviate inflammation in autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection, or augment immune responses in cancer and immunodeficiency. RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted [also known as CCL5]) is a model chemokine of relevance to a myriad of diseases. Regulation of RANTES expression is complex. In fibroblasts and monocytes, rel proteins alone suffice to induce transcription of RANTES. By contrast, expression of RANTES in T lymphocytes 3-5 days after activation requires the development of a molecular complex (enhancesome) including KLF13 (Krueppel-like factor 13), rel proteins p50 and p65, and scaffolding proteins. This complex recruits enzymes involved in acetylation, methylation and phosphorylation of chromatin, and ultimately in the expression of RANTES. In addition, KLF13-the lynchpin for recruitment of this molecular complex-is itself translationally regulated. Such complex regulation of biological systems has major implications for the rational design of drugs aimed at increasing or decreasing inflammatory responses in patients.
Dolomite selectivity and mimic replacement

Dolomite can (1) selectively replace certain components of a rock such as coralline algae and (2) mimically replace certain fossils such as echinoid fragments. We dolomitized coralline alga, echinoid, foram, pelecypod, Halimeda, gastropod and coral fragments at 250 °C in two-molar CaCl 2 /MgCl 2 solutions and found that coralline algae, echinoids, Halimedae, and forams dolomitized faster than the other fossils. Echinoids and forams were mimically replaced, whereas pelecypods, gastropods, and corals were replaced by dolomite, which destroyed the original skeletal architecture. Artificial conversion of high-Mg calcite coralline algae and echinoid fragments to low-Mg calcite prior to dolomitization had no discernible effect on the rate of dolomitization or the fabric of the dolomitized fossils. On the basis of these results and petrographic analyses of natural, low-temperature dolomites, we conclude that mimic replacement and fossil selective replacement is more likely to be affected by the crystal size than by mineralogy.
Parenting Coordination (PC) Laws, Rules, and Regulations: A Jurisdictional Comparison

ABSTRACT Parenting Coordination (PC) is a well-established ADR process that involves court-appointed roles for family law experts across mental health and legal professions. PC involves a legal psychological hybrid case management role for practitioners that is effective precisely because of greater access and availability for families, unique knowledge base of the family law professional concerning dynamics of divorcing families, and the court-granted authority to help families resolve common post-divorce disputes. This paper compares the growth of the PC role across crucial areas of practice in different jurisdictions.
Simultaneous eye tracking and blink detection with interactive particle filters

We present a system that simultaneously tracks eyes and detects eye blinks. Two interactive particle filters are used for this purpose, one for the closed eyes and the other one for the open eyes. Each particle filter is used to track the eye locations as well as the scales of the eye subjects. The set of particles that gives higher confidence is defined as the primary set and the other one is defined as the secondary set. The eye location is estimated by the primary particle filter, and whether the eye status is open or closed is also decided by the label of the primary particle filter. When a new frame comes, the secondary particle filter is reinitialized according to the estimates from the primary particle filter. We use autoregression models for describing the state transition and a classification-based model for measuring the observation. Tensor subspace analysis is used for feature extraction which is followed by a logistic regression model to give the posterior estimation. The performance is carefully evaluated from two aspects: the blink detection rate and the tracking accuracy. The blink detection rate is evaluated using videos from varying scenarios, and the tracking accuracy is given by comparing with the benchmark data obtained using the Vicon motion capturing system. The setup for obtaining benchmark data for tracking accuracy evaluation is presented and experimental results are shown. Extensive experimental evaluations validate the capability of the algorithm.
Effects of sample preparation on the mechanical properties of AlMgB14

Using synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction we have studied the behaviour of two different preparations of the super hard material AlMgB14 at pressures up to 41 GPa. Analysis of lattice parameter data from the high-pressure x-ray measurements provides a bulk modulus (K) of 196 GPa and a pressure derivative of the bulk modulus (K′) of 4.2 for sample 1, which was prepared by comminuting the elements and then hot pressing the sample. For sample 2, which was prepared by comminuting the elements and then cold pressing, K=264 GPa and K′=3.7. The differences in K and K′ clearly demonstrate that sample preparation significantly affects the mechanical properties of AlMgB14.
Voltage sensitive calcium channels mark a critical period in mouse neurodevelopment

Abstract Voltage sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) probes 125 I-ω-GVIA Conotoxin (ω-GVIA), (+)-[5-methyl- 3 H]-PN200-110 ( 3 H-PN200), and 3 H-Nimodipine were bound to developing Swiss Webster mouse whole brain from postnatal days 3 to 24. 125 I-ω-GVIA binding, thought to be presynaptic, showed a 50% increase between days 11 and 14. 3 H-dihydropyridine binding, thought to be postsynaptic, showed spike patterns when measured developmentally. 3 H-PN200 binding showed a >150% increase between days 11 and 15. 3 H-Nimodipine binding showed a >100% increase between days 11 and 14. Depolarization-induced 45 Ca fluxes also increased between days 8 and 16 by >500%. The dramatic increases indicated by these binding data correspond to a critical period described by Himwich ( Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 4, 117, 1962) between postnatal days 11 and 14 in Swiss Webster mice; during this critical period, dendrites exhibit rapid outgrowth, sensory modalities come on line, EEG patterns mature, and the cortex reaches adult proportions. We conclude from these data that the increase in VSCC activity parallels a critical period in the development of the central nervous system in Swiss Webster mice.
Induction of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in cultured human fibroblasts.

Abstract Mitochondria of cultured normal human fibroblast cells were found to contain the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The activity of this enzyme in these cells is increased 2- to 3-fold by addition of 5 · 10−4 M dibutyryl cyclic AMP, or 1.5- to 2-fold by the addition of dexamethasone (2 · 10−7 M) or hydrocortisone (1.38 · 10−6 M). These increases in enzyme activity were inhibited by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, suggesting they are dependent upon de novo protein synthesis. Cultured human fibroblasts may thus provide a useful system for studying the regulation of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.
Harland Bartholomew and Corpus Christi: the faltering pursuit of comprehensive planning in South Texas

In the mid-twentieth century, the prolific St Louis consulting firm Harland Bartholomew and Associates (HBA), played a strategic role in the standardization of planning practices and in the diffusion of professional planning to small and mid-sized cities around the United States. The firm's twenty-year relationship with Corpus Christi, Texas, illustrates the attraction of HBA's approach, as well as reasons for the decline of Bartholomew's style of expert master planning. In two comprehensive city plans, a regional plan, and over a dozen other studies, HBA put forth a vision of a cosmopolitan, thriving Corpus Christi that suited the mindset of the tight group of prominent commercial-civic reformers who sponsored these projects. Bartholomew's first Corpus Christi plan, which appeared as the civic reform movement reached the height of its confidence and authority in the 1950s, met with impressive success. By the late 1960s, the civic reform regime fell apart in the face of a stagnating regional economy and a...
Using mRNA expression profiling to determine anticancer drug efficacy

Pharmacogenomics is a fast-growing field of investigations that aims to further elucidate the inherited nature of interindividual differences in drug disposition and effects, with the ultimate goal of providing a stronger scientific basis for selecting the optimal drug therapy. Providing the right drug for the right patient is an important problem in the treatment of cancer. This is mainly due to the lack of information about the sensitivity of the tumor for a specific treatment modality, such as either chemotherapy or radiation treatment. This presentation highlights two approaches to identify responsiveness to treatment. Both approaches are based on the identification of expression profiles. The first approach concentrates on drug resistance and the second on the signaling pathways leading up to the death of the cell. Both approaches provide expression profiles; however, the more dynamic expression profiling as used to determine the signaling in damage cells promises to be a better determinant for the pharmacogenomic changes in expression profiles and, consequently, a potential better determinant for drug efficacy.
PRICE EXPECTATIONS and EQUILIBRIUM WHEN THE INTEREST RATE IS PEGGED

The results of recent analyses of interest rate pegging, in the context of macromodels incorporating rational expectations, stand in marked contrast to the classic Wicksellian conclusions. This paper examines this discrepancy. It is argued that the contrast is by no means wholly to the disadvantage of the Wicksellian analysis. There are considerable problems in providing a credible account of the economic mechanisms that could produce convergence on the solution obtained via rational expectations mathematics. Further, the Wicksellian process is consistent with correct expectations of inflation, although not with aggregate demand/supply equilibrium. Copyright 1989 by Scottish Economic Society.
Prospective Memory Training: Outlining a New Approach

Prospective memory (PM) tasks are those that must be performed in the future (e.g., attend an appointment). While these everyday tasks can be especially relevant for older adults (i.e., medication ...
Degeneration of hippocampal fibers and spatial memory deficit in the aged rat

Old and young Fisher 344 rats were compared for their ability to learn a delayed alternation task. The old animals displayed significant impairment of alternation learning, and were slower than the young animals. The brains of these animals were examined using a silver degeneration stain, and among old rats there was conspicuous degeneration. The greatest density of degenerating fibers was seen in the hippocampus and in anatomically related tracts, but there was substantial fiber staining in the corpus callosum, anterior commissure, and internal capsule. Examination of the young brains revealed only an occasional fiber. There were no signs of cortical atrophy in the old animals. The histopathology of the aged animals' hippocampus and fiber tracts supports the possibility that the delayed alternation impairment shown by these animals was a result of age related degenerative changes.
Microbiologic contamination of ultrasound transducers utilized by anesthesiologists in the operating room and ICU

Ultrasound is increasingly used to facilitate central venous catheter and regional anesthetic block placement [1,2]. Bacterial colonization of ultrasound probes has been demonstrated and the potential for cross-contamination between patients exists [3]. There are few, if any, studies investigating this for procedures performed by anesthesiologists, in the operating room and ICU.
Psychological sequelae of childhood sexual abuse: abuse-related characteristics, coping strategies, and attributional style

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to test a model predicting the contribution of abuse-related characteristics and mediating variables such as coping and attributional style in the development of psychological sequelae in adults reporting a history of child sexual abuse (CSA). Methodology: Two hundred and eighty-five males and females from three settings (a nonpatient, psychiatric outpatient, and psychiatric inpatient) completed a battery of questionnaires that included a (1) Sexual History Questionnaire, (2) Ways of Coping Questionnaire, (3) Attributional Style Questionnaire, and (4) the SCL-90-R. Results: Of the 285 participants, 33% reported unwanted or forced sexual contact before the age of 18 years. Participants who reported a history of CSA also reported higher levels of psychological distress when compared to those who did not report a history of abuse. In testing the model concerning the relationship between victim-offender characteristics, mediating variables and psychological distress in adulthood; two abuse-related characteristics (number of offenders and duration of abuse) were found to be directly associated with psychological distress in adulthood. Other abuse-related variables (i.e., relation with offender, force, resistance, age of onset, participation, and frequency of abuse) were found to be related to psychological distress in adulthood through the mediation of various coping strategies (i.e., Accepting Responsibility, Confrontive Coping) and attributions (i.e., internalization of the abuse). Conclusions: The results of the present study further our understanding regarding the relationship between abuse-related characteristics, mediating factors such as coping and attributional style and psychological distress in adults with a history of CSA. Future research should focus on the development of interventions that focus on variables amenable to psychotherapy to ameliorate the psychological sequelae of CSA.
Latent growth curve analyses of emotional support for informal caregivers of vulnerable persons with HIV/AIDS

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) have growing rates of morbidity and need for informal care, especially among drug-using PLHIV. Informal caregivers, or persons providing unpaid emotional or instrumental support, have protective effects on the health and well-being of PLHIV. Research suggests that social support, including care recipients' reciprocity of emotional support, is important to sustained caregiving. This study examined HIV caregivers' perceived emotional support over time from their current or former injection drug-using care recipients. Data were from baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up of the BEACON study. Latent growth curve analysis showed a decline in reciprocated emotional support reports over time, particularly among caregivers themselves HIV seropositive or currently substance using. Researchers should develop interventions to strengthen the caregiving relationship by promoting reciprocity of emotional support, with implications for sustaining caregiving to vulnerable PLHIV and improving their health outcomes. Interventions should especially target dyads in which caregivers are also HIV positive or using substances.
Mexican Americans in Middle Schools: The Illusion of Educational Reform

T AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL has been the subject of intense criticism over the past decade and a half. Federal and state policymakers charged that misguided educational reformers allowed standards to slip, student performance to decline, and the overall quality of the high school to deteriorate. Deemed as mediocre, in a state of crisis, and ill-equipped to compete in a global economy, critics declared that the high school curriculum was fragmented, unregulated, and spread over too many subjects (Kirst, 1984). In response, reformers raised academic standards, introduced mastery skills testing, tightened the assessment of teachers, and restructured teacher training programs (Boyer, 1983; Goodlad, 1984; National Commission, 1983). Emphasizing cumcular and pedagogical reforms, educational reformers, politicians, special interest groups, and high level educational commissions made serious efforts to "restructure" the American high school. In the midst of these debates, less attention was given to the elementary school, and the junior high school was virtually ignored. Educational reformers have recently become more interested in the junior high school. Their focus has been on structural grade changes, the application of an experiential curriculum, and concentration
The Timing and Impact of Follow-Up Studies After Normal Stress Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Sestamibi Studies

Background— The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and timing of routine follow-up single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies after a normal stress SPECT scan compared with the patient's warranty period (ie, time to 1% risk of death or myocardial infarction). Methods and Results— We identified patients at Mayo Clinic Rochester who had normal stress SPECT scans in 2002. Of 2354 patients without prior coronary artery disease, 309 (13%) had routine follow-up scans. The time to routine follow-up was a median of 2.1 years (25th percentile, 1.2 years; 75th percentile, 3.6 years). This interval was a median of 45% of the warranty period. Of the 309 patients, only 9 (3%) underwent subsequent coronary angiography, without revascularization. Of 656 patients with prior coronary artery disease, 171 (26%) had routine follow-up scans. The time to routine follow-up was a median of 1.6 years (25th percentile, 1.0 years; 75th percentile, 2.7 years). This interval was a median of 164% of the warranty period. Of the 171 patients, only 7 (4%) underwent coronary angiography, without revascularization. Conclusions— In patients without prior coronary artery disease, routine follow-up SPECT scans are performed infrequently but well before the end of the patient's warranty period. Routine follow-up scans are performed more commonly in patients with prior coronary artery disease but generally after the end of the warranty period. Routine follow-up SPECT scans have minimal impact on referral to catheterization or revascularization.
Increased susceptibility of juvenile chinook salmon to infectious disease after exposure to chlorinated and aromatic compounds found in contaminated urban estuaries

Saltwater-adapted juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) exposed in the laboratory to various aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons representative of those found in urban estuaries in Puget Sound have a higher susceptibility to infectious disease relative to carrier-exposed juveniles. Disease susceptibility was assessed by examining the temporal percent cumulative mortality in juvenile chinook salmon after exposure to the marine pathogen, Vibrio anguillarum. Aromatic and chlorinated compounds tested included a sediment extract from the Hylebos Waterway predominantly composed of butadiene-like compounds (CHWSE), a model mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), a PCB mixture (Aroclor 1254), and a single PAH, dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). The effect of these compounds on disease susceptibility was tested in two separate trials. In Trial I, the percent cumulative mortality in salmon exposed to bacteria after exposure to either CHWSE, HCBD, or the model mixture of PAHs ranged from 28 to 31%, as compared to 16% in the acetone:emulphor control group at 7 days after challenge. In Trial II, the cumulative mortality in salmon ranged from 46 to 49% after exposure to either DMBA or the PCB mixture compared to 25% in the acetone:emulphor control group at 9 days after challenge. These results suggest that juvenile chinook salmon migrating to the ocean through a contaminated estuary experience immunodysfunction, characterized by lowered resistance to disease, which potentially could affect survival of populations that are particularly threatened.
Structure and motion estimation of a moving object using a moving camera

A solution is presented to the problem of estimating the structure and motion of a moving object seen from a moving camera. A nonlinear observer is proposed, which asymptotically identifies the structure and motion of the moving object, when the camera motion is persistently exciting. The object is assumed to be moving with constant velocities. The proposed method makes no assumptions on the minimum number of views or point correspondences as required by the existing approaches.
QUALITATIVE STUDIES OF THE LOW TEMPERATURE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF RHODOPSIN AND RELATED PIGMENTS

— Rhodopsin, the isomeric pigments formed from 9-cis- and 9, 13-dicis-retinal, and the synthetic pigments formed from 9-cis- and 11-cis-14-methylretinal were irradiated with 490 nm light at -196C. Absorption spectral changes indicate that a distinguishable bathorhodopsin type intermediate may be formed for each pigment. The bathorhodopsin intermediates of the 9-cis pigments have band maxima hypsochromically shifted by4–5 nm compared to their corresponding rhodopsins. The bathorhodopsin type intermediate formed upon irradiation of 9, 13-dicis-rhodopsin has an absorption that maximizes 6 nm shorter than that of rhodopsin. Band maxima of the bathorhodopsin intermediates of the 14-methylrhodopsins are bathochromatically shifted ca. 8 nm compared to their corresponding rhodopsins.
Expanding Goffman's Theater Metaphor to an Identity-Based View of Place Branding

Image/impression management takes place every day at the individual level. Cities similarly manage their images by creating, implementing, and evaluating strategic place-branding strategies. For public administration, however, which has neglected this subject, there is a risk that place branding may become collateral damage. The theoretical understanding developed in this article extends Goffman's theater metaphor to a view of place branding based on organization identity. The use of a trusted theory to give place-branding scholarship additional footing will enable public administration practitioners to better utilize the underlying principles of image management when crafting place-branding processes.
Initial assessment of the operability of the VHTR-HTSE nuclear hydrogen plant.

The generation of hydrogen from nuclear power will need to compete on three fronts: production, operability, and safety to be viable in the energy marketplace of the future. This work addresses the operability of a coupled nuclear and hydrogen-generating plant while referring to other work for progress on production and safety. Operability is a measure of how well a plant can meet time-varying production demands while remaining within equipment limits. It can be characterized in terms of the physical processes that underlie operation of the plant. In this work these include the storage and transport of energy within components as represented by time constants and energy capacitances, the relationship of reactivity to temperature, and the coordination of heat generation and work production for a near-ideal gas working fluid. Criteria for assessing operability are developed and applied to the Very High Temperature Reactor coupled to the High Temperature Steam Electrolysis process, one of two DOE/INL reference plant concepts for hydrogen production. Results of preliminary plant control and stability studies are described. A combination of inventory control in the VHTR plant and flow control in the HTSE plant proved effective for maintaining hot-side temperatures near constant during quasi-static change in hydrogen production more » rate. Near constant electrolyzer outlet temperature is achieved by varying electrolyzer cell area to control cell joule heating. It was found that rates of temperature change in the HTSE plant for a step change in hydrogen production rate are largely determined by the thermal characteristics of the electrolyzer. It's comparatively large thermal mass and the presence of recuperative heat exchangers result in a tight thermal coupling of HTSE components to the electrolyzer. It was found that thermal transients arising in the chemical plant are strongly damped at the reactor resulting in a stable combined plant. The large Doppler reactivity component, three times greater than next reactivity component, per unit temperature, is mainly responsible. This is the case even when one of the conditions for out-of-phase oscillations between reactor inlet and outlet temperature, a large time for transport of process heat between the reactor and chemical plant, exists. « less
Enhanced hepatotoxicity and toxic outcome of thioacetamide in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Abstract Diabetes is known to potentiate thioacetamide (TA)-induced liver injury via enhanced bioactivation. Little attention has been given to the role of compensatory tissue repair on ultimate outcome of hepatic injury in diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diabetes on TA-induced liver injury and lethality and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that hepatotoxicity of TA in diabetic rats would increase due to enhanced bioactivation-mediated liver injury and also due to compromised compensatory tissue repair, consequently making a nonlethal dose of TA lethal. On day 0, male Sprague–Dawley rats (250–300 g) were injected with streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg ip) to induce diabetes. On day 10 the STZ-induced diabetic rats and the nondiabetic rats received a single dose of TA (300 mg/kg ip). This normally nonlethal dose of TA caused 90% mortality in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. At various times (0–60 h) after TA administration, liver injury was assessed by plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), and liver histopathology. Liver function was evaluated by plasma bilirubin. Cell proliferation and tissue repair were evaluated by [ 3 H]thymidine ( 3 H-T) incorporation and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) assays. In the nondiabetic rat, liver necrosis peaked at 24 h and declined thereafter toward normal by 60 h. In the STZ-induced diabetic rat, however, liver necrosis was significantly increased from 12 h onward and progressed, culminating in liver failure and death. Liver tissue repair studies showed that, in the liver of nondiabetic rats, S-phase DNA synthesis was increased at 36 h and peaked at 48 h following TA administration. However, DNA synthesis was approximately 50% inhibited in the liver of diabetic rats. PCNA study showed a corresponding decrease of cell-cycle progression, indicating that the compensatory tissue repair was sluggish in the diabetic rats. Further investigation of tissue repair by employing equitoxic doses (300 mg TA/kg in the non-diabetic rats; 30 mg TA/kg in the diabetic rats) revealed that, despite equal injury up to 24 h following injection, the tissue repair response in the diabetic rats was much delayed. The compromised tissue repair prolonged liver injury in the diabetic rats. These studies suggest that the increased TA hepatotoxicity in the diabetic rat is due to combined effects of increased bioactivation-mediated liver injury of TA and compromised compensatory tissue repair.
The Longitudinal Relationships Between Rural Adolescents’ Prosocial Behaviors and Young Adult Substance Use

While many adolescents and young adults experiment with substances (e.g., alcohol, cigarette smoking, marijuana), recent research suggests that rural youth and young adults may be more at risk for substance use than their urban counterparts. This study was designed to examine the longitudinal relationships between rural adolescents’ prosocial behaviors and substance use in young adulthood. Furthermore, we examined the potential mediating effects of adolescent substance use, academic investment, and delinquency. Rural youth (N = 531; 263 girls) were surveyed in grades 10–12 (Time 1; M age = 16.17; SD = .91) and again in early adulthood (Time 2). Measures of prosocial behaviors, substance use, academic investment, and deviant activities were assessed at Time 1. At Time 2, measures of marijuana use, cigarette smoking, and getting drunk were administered. Overall, the findings showed that rural adolescents who frequently exhibit prosocial behaviors are less likely to engage in substance use in young adulthood than those who exhibit relatively low levels of prosocial behaviors. These findings indicate that prosocial behaviors may have positive health consequences, establishing behavioral trajectories that lead to lower levels of risky health behaviors in adulthood in rural populations.
Isolation of triploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

THE production of tetraploids in a brewery yeast has been reported by Subramaniam and Krishna Murthy1 and Mitra and Subramaniam2, following treatment with acenaphthene and chrysene. These authors did not present genetic evidence to support their claim, which was based mainly on colony and other gross observations. Cytological evidence has recently been presented for a tetraploid with four chromosomes, derived from a “diploid two chromosome… strain”3. Tobias4 studied a yeast isolated after acenaphthene treatment in terms of survival after X-irradiation, and concluded that the isolate was tetraploid. DeLong and Lindegren5 have characterized certain strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as triploid and tetraploid, based on the shapes of survival curves after ultra-violet irradiation. A paper by Lindegren and Lindegren6 has recently appeared, describing the production of tetraploid yeast by crosses of diploids homozygous for complementary mating types. We wish to give a preliminary report on a procedure for the isolation of pure triploid clones of S. cerevisiae.
Development and evaluation of the CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey for in-center hemodialysis patients.

Background The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assess patient experiences of care as part of the end-stage renal disease prospective payment system and Quality Incentive Program. This article describes the development and evaluation of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) In-Center Hemodialysis Survey. Study Design We conducted formative research to generate survey questions and performed statistical analyses to evaluate the survey's measurement properties. Setting & Participants Formative research included focus groups, cognitive interviews, and field testing the survey with dialysis patients. Measurements & Outcomes We assessed internal consistency reliability (Cronbach alpha) and center-level reliability for 3 multi-item scales. We evaluated construct validity using correlations of the scales with global ratings of the kidney doctor, staff, and dialysis center. Results Response rate was 46% (1,454 completed surveys). Analyses support 3 multi-item scales: Nephrologists' Communication and Caring (7 items, alpha=0.89), Quality of Dialysis Center Care and Operations (22 items, alpha=0.93), and Providing Information to Patients (11 items, alpha=0.75). The communication scale was correlated the most strongly with the global rating of the "kidney doctor" ( r =0.78). The Dialysis Center Care and Operations scale was correlated most strongly with global ratings of staff ( r =0.75) and the center ( r =0.69). Providing Information to Patients was correlated most strongly with the global rating of the staff ( r =0.41). Limitations A relatively small number of patients completed the survey in Spanish. Conclusions This study provides support for the reliability and validity of the CAHPS In-Center Hemodialysis Survey for assessing patient experiences of care at dialysis facilities. The survey can be used to compare care provided at different facilities.
Urban youth: emergent directions in the field

by L. Archer, S. Hollingworth, and H. Mendick, Maidenhead, Open University Press, 2010, 194 pp., £21.99 (paperback), ISBN 978‐0‐33‐522382‐4 by R. Deuchar, Stoke‐on‐Trent, Trentham Books, 2009, 192 ...
Fossil Fuels as a Source of Mercury Pollution

The upper limit of the quantity of mercury released by weathering processes is approximately 230 metric tons per year. The quantity of mercury released by burning of coal is estimated to be of the order of 3000 tons per year, a quantity comparable to that emitted as waste from industrial processes.
Mechanism of Rapid Electron Transfer during Oxygen Activation in the R2 Subunit of Escherichia coli Ribonucleotide Reductase. 2. Evidence for and Consequences of Blocked Electron Transfer in the W48F Variant

The mechanism and outcome of dioxygen activation by the carboxylate-bridged diiron(II) cluster in the W48F site-directed variant of protein R2 of ribonucleotide reductase from Escherichia coli has ...
A highly sensitive silver-activation detector for pulsed neutron sources

Abstract A silver-activation detector has been built and calibrated to measure the neutron yield produced by pulsed D(d,n) and T(d,n) sources. The detector has three principle virtues. Its high sensitivity (registering as little as 20 n/cm 2 ) results from 1.7 kg of silver incorporated into a plastic scintillator. Its modular design allows several efficiency vs energy responses to be obtained, including one configuration in which the efficiency is the same at 2.5 and 14 MeV. Also, the dynamic range spans five to seven decades of useful neutron intensity. Construction details and measured efficiencies are given.
Visual Illusion in Lengths of Words: A Firend is More than a Friend:

Change of the sequence of letters within a word may change its apparent length. Systematic variation of letters demonstrated that the illusion may have multiple sources, any single unifying principle remaining undisclosed.
Present Status of Gonadotropic Therapy in Gynecologic Practice

THE discovery of gonadotropic principles in pregnancy urine and in extracts of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland heralded great expectations in the therapy of ovarian failure. The responses of laboratory animals to these gonadotropins justified some of our early expectations. However, further observations in the laboratory and in the clinic have led to a maze of ideas and conclusions. This is particularly true in the therapeutic application of the gonadotropins that are available for gynecologic practice. The lack of uniformity in the results obtained from the clinical use of gonadotropins is due to several factors. In the first place, the physiology of human reproduction is not well understood. Although the general principles underlying the endocrine control of the sex cycle are known, there are many defects in our knowledge which must be removed before successful therapy can be developed. In the second place, the clinical problem of ovarian failure is still a crude entity, the etiology of which m...
Production of a full-length infectious GFP-tagged cDNA clone of Beet mild yellowing virus for the study of plant-polerovirus interactions.

The full-length cDNA of Beet mild yellowing virus (Broom’s Barn isolate) was sequenced and cloned into the vector pLitmus 29 (pBMYV-BBfl). The sequence of BMYV-BBfl (5721 bases) shared 96% and 98% nucleotide identity with the other complete sequences of BMYV (BMYV-2ITB, France and BMYV-IPP, Germany respectively). Full-length capped RNA transcripts of pBMYV-BBfl were synthesised and found to be biologically active in Arabidopsisthaliana protoplasts following electroporation or PEG inoculation when the protoplasts were subsequently analysed using serological and molecular methods. The BMYV sequence was modified by inserting DNA that encoded the jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP) into the P5 gene close to its 3′ end. A. thaliana protoplasts electroporated with these RNA transcripts were biologically active and up to 2% of transfected protoplasts showed GFP-specific fluorescence. The exploitation of these cDNA clones for the study of the biology of beet poleroviruses is discussed.
Twenty-Five Years and Counting of Sweet Valley: Jessica and Elizabeth in Romance Novels for Young Children?

With the 2008 reissue of Francine Pascal's (1983) Sweet Valley High, the popular cultural icons of twins Jessica and Elizabeth have been revitalized. Jessica and Elizabeth are the much-beloved protagonists in romance novels strategically targeted for young adults in Sweet Valley High or Sweet Valley U, and for first- and second-grade readers in the Sweet Valley Kids series. Young children reading romance novels? Analysis shows that these books are a part of the same marketing formula used for adult romance novels.
Effect of the Transition Zone on the Bulk Modulus of Concrete

In concrete, non-uniformities in the hydration process, due to the the “wall effect” produeed by the aggregate (inclusion) particles, lead to an interfacial transition zone (ITZ) that is characterized by an increase in porosity near the inclusions. This increase in porosity may in turn be expected to cause a local decrease in the elastic moduli. We have modeled the effect of the ITZ by assuming that the elastic moduli vary smoothly in the vicinity of the inclusions, according to a power law. The exponent in the power law is chosen based on the estimated thickness of the ITZ. For this model, a closed-form expression can be found for the overall effective bulk modulus. The predicted bulk modulus of the concrete depends on known properties such as the elastic moduli of the bulk cement paste and the inclusions, the volume fraction of the inclusions, as well as on the elastic moduli at the interface. By comparing the model predictions to measured data, we can obtain estimates of the elastic moduli at the interface. Application of this inverse procedure to a set of data from the literature on mortar containing sand inclusions leads to the conclusion that the modulus at the interface is about 15-50% lower than in bulk cement paste.
Behavioral Economics: Toward a New Paradigm

This article discusses the challenges behavioral economics poses for neoclassical economics and the ways in which the young field may move forward. After reviewing some of behavioral economics’ accomplishments and the responses to these accomplishments, the article asks whether its findings can be incorporated into the neoclassical paradigm and suggests additional steps behavioral economics may consider undertaking in order to expand its reach.
CONSTITUENCY FOCUS AND URBAN POLICY MAKING: LOCAL POLITICS IN LONDON

The significance of constituency forces in policy making has been frequently suggested, but the role of psychological constituency orientations in legislative politics has rarely been explored. We explore the structure and impact of such internalized norms in a survey of 1 14 councillors in three Greater London boroughs. The research suggests that councillors do not usually choose between representing smaller or larger territorial units; rather, councillors aggregate these as a single geographical focus which is distinct from an alternative partisan set of constituencies. The two orientations are unrelated to each other and, to a large extent, to party affiliation. Furthermore, the choice of constituency is associated with distinctive, fairly coherent attitudes towards policy making. The geographic focus is linked to a Pluralist policy-making style which disperses and individualizes power in council politics. In contrast, council Partisans tend to hold attitudes about representation which augment the role of party institutions.
Robust I-sample analysis of means type randomization tests for variances

Four Analysis of Means (ANOM) type randomization tests for testing the equality of I variances are presented. Randomization techniques for testing statistical hypotheses can be used when parametric tests are inappropriate. Suppose that I independent samples have been collected. Randomization tests are based on shuffles or rearrangements of the (combined) sample. Putting each of the I samples "in a bowl" forms the combined sample. Drawing samples "from the bowl" forms a shuffle. Shuffles can be made with replacement (bootstrap shuffling) or without replacement (permutation shuffling). The tests that are presented offer two advantages. They are robust to non-normality and they allow the user to graphically present the results via a decision chart similar to a Shewhart control chart. The decision chart facilitates easy assessment of both statistical and practical significance. A Monte Carlo study is used to identify robust randomization tests that exhibit excellent power when compared to other robust tests.
A screening tool for clinically relevant urinary incontinence

Aims The Michigan Incontinence Symptom Index (M-ISI) is a validated measure for urinary incontinence. This study evaluates the M-ISI as a screening tool for clinically relevant urinary incontinence in a population-based sample of women.
Higgs bosons from vector-boson fusion in e+e-, ep, and pp collisions.

We calculate the production of Higgs bosons via W- and Z-boson fusion in ${e}^{+}$${e}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, ep, and pp collisions. Vector-boson fusion is the dominant contribution to Higgs-boson production in ${e}^{+}$${e}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and pp collisions for heavy Higgs bosons and in ep collisions for all Higgs-boson masses. We determine the maximum Higgs-boson mass which is accessible in each type of collision.
RELATIONSHIP OF MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE, DIFFERENTIATION, AND CREATIVITY

The purpose of the investigation was to examine the relationship of three variables proposed as correlates of development in a conceptual system. Variables were selected and measured based on congruency with the system and on the theoretical rationale that the diverse perceptual features of mystical experience and differentiation would be conducive to emergent creativity. A volunteer sample of 160 college age students (17 to 24 yr. of age), comprised of both men (31%) and women (69%), were administered Hood's Mysticism Scale, Factor I; Witkin's Group Embedded Figures Test; Gough and Heilbrun's Adjective Check List from which 19 items were extracted to measure creativity as validated by Yonge. The findings provided mild support for the proposed hypothesis. The combination of mystical experience and differentiation accounted for 14.5% of the total variance of creativity in this sample. Mystical experience accounted for about 11% and differentiation for about 3%. Mystical experience and creativity were posit...
Ion-Irradiation Effects in Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3010 Superconductors

The effects of oxygen and helium ion irradiation on the superconducting properties of Tl2Ca2Ba2Cu3010 thin films were investigated. The transition temperature and width were monitored as a function of ion fluence using both magnetization and resistivity measurements. These data suggest that superconductivity is completely suppressed at 0.020 dpa for both He and 0 ion irradiation. Further, the rate of decrease in Tc as a function of deposited energy showed that the dominant mechanism causing damage-induced suppression of Tc in these films was from atomic collisions.
Anatomic patterns of carotid endarterectomy healing

BACKGROUND : Restenosis after carotid endarterectomy is a dynamic process likely influenced by surgical technique as well as by anatomic, hemodynamic, and patient factors. METHODS : To characterize the healing of carotid endarterectomy sites, intraoperative and serial postoperative color duplex scans were performed in 126 patients (136 repairs). Vessel-wall imaging, midstream spectral analysis, and measurements of diameter and cross-sectional area from common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) segments were compared (at 3, 6, 15, and 30 months) and severity of lumen stenosis was determined. RESULTS : After primary closure (n = 15), patch angioplasty (n = 121), or intraoperative revision based on duplex scanning (n = 5), 12 repairs had mild residual flow abnormalities and 1 repair had a moderate flow abnormality. Mean ICA bulb diameter was greater in patched repairs (0.81 cm, range 0.6 to 1.1 cm) than primary closed repairs (0.7 cm, range 0.45 to 0.8 cm). No ICA occluded during follow-up (mean 24 months), and three repairs, two in the ICA and one in the CCA, demonstrated 50% to 75% diameter reduction at 9 months. Lumen cross-sectional area of vein-patched repairs increased 0.6 cm 2 to 0.76 cm 2 (P <0.01) in the ICA and 0.69 cm 2 to 1.1 cm 2 (P <0.01) in the CCA segments by 3 months compared with intraoperative measurement Four patients with progressive dilatation of the patch segment to a mean of 1.77 cm 2 developed asymptomatic posterior wall mural thrombus. Postoperative blood flow velocities measured through the repair were similar to intraoperative values. Minor intraoperative hemodynamic abnormalities were not associated with the development of restenosis, and changes in repair site anatomy occurred within 3 months with little change thereafter. CONCLUSIONS : We have found intraoperative scanning useful for detection of anatomic defects and associated turbulence, lesions that should be immediately corrected. Surgical technique that achieves normal intraoperative carotid flow hemodynamics and B-mode ultrasonic vessel wall appearance should predict an endarterectomized segment free of significant residual plaques and neointimal hyperplasia. Tailoring of the vein patches to achieve lumen diameters <1 cm is recommended because of the dilataton likely to develop after surgery that may lead to vessel wall mural thrombus.
Co-integration of high speed heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) and tunnel diodes

Co-integration of high speed heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) and tunnel diodes (TDs), forming Tunneling Bipolar Transistors (TBTs), is proposed and experimentally realized for the first time. The TBTs offer a new family of negative differential resistance transistors for applications in ultra-high speed and ultra-compact digital circuits. Especially, they can be incorporated into Si integrated circuits easily without complicated growth effort. In this paper, Si and InGaAs TDs will be described and compared in terms of device performance. Furthermore, the idea of a TBT will be demonstrated using a CBE grown structure and hybrid integration of Si devices.