cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of polymer nanolayer architecture on the separation performance of anion‐exchange membrane adsorbers: I. Protein separations

This contribution describes the preparation of strong anion-exchange membranes with higher protein binding capacities than the best commercial resins. Quaternary amine (Q-type) anion-exchange membranes were prepared by grafting polyelectrolyte nanolayers from the surfaces of macroporous membrane supports. A focus of this study was to better understand the role of polymer nanolayer architecture on protein binding. Membranes were prepared with different polymer chain graft densities using a newly developed surface-initiated polymerization protocol designed to provide uniform and variable chain spacing. Bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin G were used to measure binding capacities of proteins with different size. Dynamic binding capacities of IgG were measured to evaluate the impact of polymer chain density on the accessibility of large size protein to binding sites within the polyelectrolyte nanolayer under flow conditions. The dynamic binding capacity of IgG increased nearly linearly with increasing polymer chain density, which suggests that the spacing between polymer chains is sufficient for IgG to access binding sites all along the grafted polymer chains. Furthermore, the high dynamic binding capacity of IgG (>130 mg/mL) was independent of linear flow velocity, which suggests that the mass transfer of IgG molecules to the binding sites occurs primarily via convection. Overall, this research provides clear evidence that the dynamic binding capacities of large biologics can be higher for well-designed macroporous membrane adsorbers than commercial membrane or resin ion-exchange products. Specifically, using controlled polymerization leads to anion-exchange membrane adsorbers with high binding capacities that are independent of flow rate, enabling high throughput. Results of this work should help to accelerate the broader implementation of membrane adsorbers in bioprocess purification steps. Biotechnol. Bioeng. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anti-HIV drug particles may overcome lymphatic drug insufficiency and associated HIV persistence.

In a recent prospective study, Fletcher et al. report that HIV+ patients on oral antiretroviral therapy exhibited lower drug concentrations in cells of numerous lymph nodes compared with those in blood (1). Multiple drug concentrations in lymph nodes were as much as 99% lower than those in blood for the same patient. Association between low drug concentrations and persistent viral replication was noted (1). Over 10 y ago, we reported that HIV patients on oral indinavir therapy had threefold lower drug concentrations in mononuclear cells in lymph nodes than those in blood (2). We are pleased to learn that our data on lymphatic indinavir insufficiency in treated patients have been confirmed and … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rodneyho{at}u.washington.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Enhancement of extraction efficiency and reduction of boundary layer effects in pulse introduction membrane extraction.

Membrane separation has emerged as an attractive alternative for interfacing an extraction step directly to a gas chromatograph or to a mass spectrometer. In pulse introduction (or flow injection type) membrane extraction, a sample pulse is introduced onto an eluent stream that transports it onto the membrane. Since a fixed sample volume is injected, the detector response is directly proportional to the extraction efficiency. This in turn depends on membrane module design, flow conditions, etc. Also, when water contacts a membrane, a static boundary layer is formed at the membrane surface that serves as an additional diffusional barrier to the permeation process. Consequently, permeation slows down, which lowers the speed of analysis. In this paper, methods of increasing the extraction efficiency and decreasing boundary layer effects are presented. The goal is to have higher sensitivity at a shorter analysis time. A stream of nitrogen is introduced into the membrane after sample elution to eliminate the a...
Changing neurosurgical workload in the United States, 1988-2001: craniotomy other than trauma in adults.

OBJECTIVE: Changes in neurosurgical workload can justify requests for hospital resources and guide planning by neurosurgical training programs. Most previous studies have used non-population-based data sources, such as surveys of professional society members, to explore the neurosurgical workload in the United States. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients in Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) 1 (Craniotomy other than trauma, age > 17) using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Statistical methods were adjusted for complex survey methodology to generate total United States caseload estimates. RESULTS: The total United States DRG 1 caseload increased from 70,800 admissions in 1988 to 105,300 admissions in 2001, a 50% relative increase (P < 0.001). For most diagnostic categories, the relative caseload increase was similar to that for the whole group. Patient age and sex distributions remained stable over time. Medical comorbidities, such as hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, and obesity, became more frequent. Elective admissions increased and in-hospital mortality rates decreased. Length of hospital stay decreased during the first half of the study period and then stabilized. Combined with increasing caseload, this caused total annual inpatient DRG 1 days to increase progressively after 1996. The number of United States hospitals with DRG 1 admissions decreased over time. Per-hospital annual DRG 1 caseloads increased, especially at high-volume centers. For the largest 100 hospitals by DRG 1 caseload, total admissios increased from 8.5% of all United States admissions (1988) to 9.4% (2001), whereas DRG 1 caseload increased disproportionately, from 27% to 38% of the United States aggregate caseload. This is evidence that progressive centralization of DRG 1 admissions took place during the study period. CONCLUSION: We documented an increase in total caseload and centralization of care for DRG 1 in the United States during the period 1988 to 2001. Defining the reasons for the changes in neurosurgical workload we observed will require further research.
Predicting third molar surgery operative time: a validated model.

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a statistical model to predict third molar (M3) operative time. Materials and Methods This was a prospective cohort study consisting of a sample of subjects presenting for M3 removal. The demographic, anatomic, and operative variables were recorded for each subject. Using an index sample of randomly selected subjects, a multiple linear regression model was generated to predict the operating time. A nonoverlapping group of randomly selected subjects (validation sample) was used to assess model accuracy. P ≤ .05 was considered significant. Results The sample was composed of 150 subjects (n) who had 450 (k) M3s removed. The index sample (n = 100 subjects, k = 313 M3s extracted) had a mean age of 25.4 ± 10.0 years. The mean extraction time was 6.4 ± 7.0 minutes. The multiple linear regression model included M3 location, Winter's classification, tooth morphology, number of teeth extracted, procedure type, and surgical experience ( R 2 = 0.58). No statistically significant differences were seen between the index sample and the validation sample (n = 50, k = 137) for any of the study variables. Compared with the index model, the β-coefficients of the validation model were similar in direction and magnitude for most variables. Compared with the observed extraction time for all teeth in the sample, the predicted extraction time was not significantly different ( P = .16). Conclusions Fair agreement was seen between the β-coefficients for our multiple models in the index and validation populations, with no significant difference in the predicted and observed operating times.
Model of competition in a two-seller market

In this model of sellers' competition we are concerned with the transition from a single-seller market to a two-seller market, the effects of transition on the first seller, his likely reactioands the thereby changed market situation that awaits the entering competitor, The decision variables considered in this model are the sizes of the two sales forces. We show that the enterer should not view the market as it stands prior to his entry, but as changed by the first seller to accommodate or oppose his entry. Upon the entrance of the competitor, both sellers must increase their sales forces to attain the levels of profit anticipated prior to entry, if indeed these can be attained. Equilibrium strategies are shown to be maximal sales effort on the part of the first seller and either maximal sales effort or abstention from entry on the part of the enterer. A finite series is derived to express the exact expectation of a class of rational functions of a binomially distributed random variable.
Spatial patterns of growth in the mussel, Mytilus californianus, across a major oceanographic and biogeographic boundary at Point Conception, California, USA

The Point Conception, California, USA region (hereafter PC) is one of the most important biogeographic and oceanographic discontinuities on the US west coast. Here we address how mesoscale oceanographic variability in the region around PC affects the growth of the competitively dominant species in the rocky intertidal assemblage: the mussel Mytilus californianus. Strong upwelling and high wave exposure dominate the California coast north of PC, and weak, seasonal upwelling and warmer water temperatures are characteristic of the region south/east of PC. We hypothesized that the oceanographic gradients in temperature, upwelling, wave exposure and productivity around PC would exert strong bottom–up influences on growth rates of mussels, potentially underlying large-scale differences in community structure around the PC region. We evaluated these predictions by measuring mussel growth rates across the PC region both in the intertidal and offshore on moorings. Intertidal mussels grew at much higher rates at sites south relative to north of PC and growth rates decreased in a gradient from south to north. The gradient in intertidal mussel growth around PC was uncorrelated with inshore concentrations of chlorophyll-a, and was most strongly correlated with the alongshore gradient in wave exposure and intertidal temperature. Mussels on moorings offshore from the intertidal sites grew at much higher rates than those in the corresponding intertidal areas, and mussel growth rates did not differ significantly among moored locations around PC. The gradient of increasing temperature from north to south among mooring sites was correlated with a decreasing gradient in productivity in the same direction, potentially contributing to equal and opposite effects on mussel growth at offshore moorings. This study suggests that environmental factors such as cold temperatures and high wave exposure contribute to the spatial pattern of decreasing mussel growth rates from south to north around PC, underlying largescale patterns of community structure in this region.
The reliability of in-home measures of height and weight in large cohort studies: Evidence from Add Health.

Background With the emergence of obesity as a global health issue an increasing number of major demographic surveys are collecting measured anthropometric data. Yet little is known about the characteristics and reliability of these data. Objectives We evaluate the accuracy and reliability of anthropometric data collected in the home during Wave IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), compare our estimates to national standard, clinic-based estimates from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and, using both sources, provide a detailed anthropometric description of young adults in the United States. Methods The reliability of Add Health in-home anthropometric measures was estimated from repeat examinations of a random subsample of study participants. A digit preference analysis evaluated the quality of anthropometric data recorded by field interviewers. The adjusted odds of obesity and central obesity in Add Health vs. NHANES were estimated with logistic regression. Results Short-term reliabilities of in-home measures of height, weight, waist and arm circumference-as well as derived body mass index (BMI, kg/m2)-were excellent. Prevalence of obesity (37% vs. 29%) and central obesity (47% vs. 38%) was higher in Add Health than in NHANES while socio-demographic patterns of obesity and central obesity were comparable in the two studies. Conclusions Properly trained non-medical field interviewers can collect reliable anthropometric data in a nationwide, home visit study. This national cohort of young adults in the United States faces a high risk of early-onset chronic disease and premature mortality.
Hyperbaric oxygen and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction: the "HOT MI" pilot study

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO) in combination with thrombolysis has been demonstrated to salvage myocardium in acute myocardial infarction in the animal model. Therefore a randomized pilot trial was undertaken to assess the safety and feasibility of this treatment in human beings. Patients with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who received recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) were randomized to treatment with HBO combined with rTPA or rTPA alone. Sixty-six patients were included for analysis. Forty-three patients had inferior AMIs (difference not significant) and the remainder had anterior AMIs. The mean creatine phosphokinase level at 12 and 24 hours was reduced in the patients given HBO by approximately 35% (p = 0.03). Time to pain relief and ST segment resolution was shorter in the group given HBO. There were two deaths in the control group and none in those treated with HBO. The ejection fraction on discharge was 52.4% in the group given HBO compared with 47.3% in the control group (difference not significant). Adjunctive treatment with HBO appears to be a feasible and safe treatment for AMI and may result in an attenuated rise in creatine phosphokinase levels and more rapid resolution of pain and ST segment changes.
Patch Testing for Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone-Methylisothiazolinone Contact Allergy.

Importance Contact allergy to methylisothiazolinone (MI) or to the combined formulation of methylchloroisothiazolinone and MI (MCI-MI) has increased significantly, with a frequency of as much as 11.1% in patients with dermatitis; however, few cohort studies in the US population have been reported. Objective To investigate the prevalence of contact allergies to MI and MCI-MI and the outcomes of patients with positive patch test reactions to MI and MCI-MI. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective medical record review of all consecutive patients (n = 703) presenting with possible allergic contact dermatitis and subsequently undergoing patch testing at a tertiary referral center from January 1, 2012, through November 30, 2014. Patch testing used the North American Contact Dermatitis Group standard series. The MCI-MI concentration was 100 ppm; the MI concentration in the screening series increased from 200 to 2000 ppm in January 2013. Demographic data, exposures, and outcomes were reported for patients with positive patch test reactions to MI and/or MCI-MI. Data were analyzed from December 1, 2014, through January 31, 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures Positive patch test reaction to MI and/or MCI-MI and identification of the relevance of contact allergy to these preservatives. Follow-up after allergen avoidance was determined when available. Results Of the 703 patients who underwent patch testing, contact allergy to MI and/or MCI-MI occurred in 57 patients (8.1%), with 35 reactions to MI only, 5 reactions to MCI-MI only, and 17 reactions to both. Prevalence of contact allergy to MI increased from 6 of 236 patients (2.5%) in 2012 to 16 of 235 patients (6.8%) in 2014. The most commonly affected sites were the hands and face. Contact allergy to MI and/or MCI-MI was occupationally related in 4 cases. Cosmetics, soaps and cleansers (including wet wipes), and hair care products accounted for all identified sources. Twenty-three patients had follow-up data, and 17 of these (74%) improved with allergen avoidance. Conclusions and Relevance The increasing prevalence of contact allergy to MI alone supports its addition to the standard series to identify cases missed by testing only for MCI-MI. Recent regulations by the European Commission have banned MCI-MI in all leave-on body products as of July 16, 2015. Currently recommended US regulations are less stringent; however, US regulatory agencies must act to ensure patient safety.
One step ahead: using predictive inference to select service providers in loosely coupled electronic markets

The rapid growth of service-oriented electronic markets implies a common belief among managers that participation in these dynamic, loosely coupled markets can yield many benefits for their firms. At present, however, very little is known about organizational behavior in these nascent markets. By utilizing a sophisticated simulation of a loosely coupled interorganizational service market, this paper demonstrates that customer organizations seeking to purchase and consume services in such markets can benefit from the application of predictive inference in the provider selection process. Specifically, it is shown that a customer organization employing a simple predictive method to select service providers can, in the aggregate, achieve notably superior outcomes in terms of price, quality of service received, and several other metrics when compared to competitors who act opportunistically in selecting their business partners. The implications of these findings for managers and researchers are presented and discussed in the context of the rising popularity of loosely coupled electronic markets.
Redundancy in network traffic: findings and implications

A large amount of popular content is transferred repeatedly across network links in the Internet. In recent years, protocol-independent redundancy elimination, which can remove duplicate strings from within arbitrary network flows, has emerged as a powerful technique to improve the efficiency of network links in the face of repeated data. Many vendors offer such redundancy elimination middleboxes to improve the effective bandwidth of enterprise, data center and ISP links alike.In this paper, we conduct a large scale trace-driven study of protocol independent redundancy elimination mechanisms, driven by several terabytes of packet payload traces collected at 12 distinct network locations, including the access link of a large US-based university and of 11 enterprise networks of different sizes. Based on extensive analysis, we present a number of findings on the benefits and fundamental design issues in redundancy elimination systems. Two of our key findings are (1) A new redundancy elimination algorithm based on Winnowing that outperforms the widely-used Rabin fingerprint-based algorithm by 5-10% on most traces and by as much as 35% in some traces. (2) A surprising finding that 75-90% of middlebox's bandwidth savings in our enterprise traces is due to redundant byte-strings from within each client's traffic, implying that pushing redundancy elimination capability to the end hosts, i.e. an end-to-end redundancy elimination solution, could obtain most of the middlebox's bandwidth savings.
Diagnostic laparoscopy with planned appendectomy: an integral step in the evaluation of unexplained right lower quadrant pain

Recurrent right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain is often difficult to diagnose and treat. We reviewed our experience with diagnostic laparoscopy with planned appendectomy for children with unexplained RLQ pain. This procedure was performed when the cause of atypical RLQ pain could not be diagnosed by comprehensive medical and radiological evaluation. Outcome data was obtained at office visits and by telephone. From 1997 to 2000, 30 children (22 female) presented with unexplained RLQ pain. Ages ranged from 5 to 16 years (mean 11 years). Symptoms had been present from 6 days to 2 years (median 6 weeks). Gross and/or histological appendiceal abnormalities were found in 26 children (87%). Incidental findings included patent processus vaginalis in one and adnexal cysts in six. Two complications occurred: pelvic fluid collection and umbilical suture reaction. At initial follow-up, 29 patients (97%) were pain-free. Long-term follow-up was continued through 2002. At a median of 19 months (range 2–47 months), 25 of 28 patients (89%) reported no recurrence of their original pain. Our results confirm that the appendix is an important source of unexplained recurrent RLQ pain in children. Diagnostic laparoscopy with planned appendectomy is highly effective and should be considered an integral step in the management of these patients.
A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Single-Drug Versus Dual-Drug Immunosuppression in Heart Transplantation The Tacrolimus in Combination, Tacrolimus Alone Compared (TICTAC) Trial

Background—Cardiac transplantation, a procedure nearly abandoned in the 1970s, has evolved into the standard of care for appropriate patients with end-stage heart failure. Much of this success has ...
A Longitudinal Examination of the Appraisal Smoothing Hypothesis

Appraisal smoothing, the reduced variability of real estate return series, has been attributed to appraisers being influenced by their own previous value estimates. This hypothesis is tested experimentally. Expert apppraisers from Atlanta were asked to value a hypothetical apartment project in Phoenix. Eight months later, these experts were asked to update their original appraisals given certain market and property changes. At this time, an independent group of Atlanta experts was asked to appraise the property based on the updated conditions. Results support the hypothesis of insufficient adjustment from previous value judgments.
Citizen monitoring: Testing hypotheses about the interactive influences of eutrophication and mussel invasion on a cyanobacterial toxin in lakes.

Abstract An existing volunteer monitoring network in the state of Michigan was exploited to conduct a statewide survey of the cyanobacterial toxin, microcystin, and to test hypotheses about the interactive influences of eutrophication and dreissenid mussel invasion. A total of 77 lakes were sampled by citizen volunteers for microcystin, total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a . Microcystin was measured in depth-integrated samples collected from the euphotic zone as well as in surface-water samples collected along the shoreline. Average microcystin in samples collected by volunteers was not different from samples collected side-by-side by professionals. Euphotic-zone microcystin was positively related to TP in lakes without dreissenids (uninvaded) but not in lakes with dreissenids (invaded). Regression-tree analysis indicated that euphotic-zone microcystin was eight times higher in the presence of dreissenids for lakes with TP between 5 and 10 μg L −1 . In contrast, euphotic-zone microcystin was almost identical in invaded and uninvaded lakes with TP between 10 and 26 μg L −1 . Across all lakes, microcystin concentrations at the surface were on average more than double, and in some cases an order-of-magnitude greater than, concentrations in the euphotic-zone. Given these results, it seems prudent to include dreissenid invasion status in forecasting models for microcystin, and to include shoreline sampling in monitoring programs aimed at assessing recreational exposure to cyanobacterial toxins.
Vision-Only Aircraft Flight Control Methods and Test Results

An unmanned aerial vehicle usually carries an array of sensors whose output is used to estimate the vehicle’s attitude, velocity and position. This paper details the development of control strategies for a glider, which is capable of flying from a starting point to a ending location using only a single vision sensor. Using vision to control an aircraft presents a few unique challenges. Firstly, absolute state measurements are not available from an image. Secondly, in order to maintain adequate control of the aircraft, the images must be processed at a fast rate. The image processor utilizes an integral image representation and a rejective cascade filter to find and classify simple features in the images, reducing the image to the most probable pixel location of the objective. The navigation algorithms use an extended Kalman filter to generate state estimates based on measurements obtained from the imagery. The algorithms are tested through the flight testing of a glider instrumented only with a single camera.
The effect of violent and non-violent computer games on cognitive performance

Two studies were conducted in order to determine the impact computer games had on the cognitive performance. Study 1 evaluated a measure of cognition, which incorporates aspects of short-term working memory, visual attention, mathematical decision making, and auditory perception. Study 2 measured the cognitive performance between those who did not play video games versus those who played either a violent or non-violent video game. Results from Study 1 indicate participants needed approximately four trials to reach asymptotic performance on the cognitive measure. Results of Study 2 showed that participants who did not play any video game did not have a change in their cognitive performance, while those who played either a violent or non-violent video game had an increase in their cognitive performance.
Specific tetraspanin functions

Relatively little attention has been given to the large family of abundantly expressed transmembrane proteins known as tetraspanins. Now, the importance of tetraspanins is strongly supported by emerging genetic evidence, coupled with new insights into the biochemistry and functions of tetraspanin protein complexes.
Conversation disrupts change detection in complex traffic scenes

A set of studies examined the effects of cognitive distraction on visual scanning and change detection in natural traffic scenes. Experiment 1 found that a naturalistic hands-free phone conversation could disrupt change detection, thereby degrading the encoding of visual information and increasing the frequency of undetected changes. Data also revealed a tendency for conversation to impair knowledge-driven orienting of attention in older adults. Experiment 2 found that an attentive listening task produced no such effects. Actual or potential applications of this research include the design of displays and interventions to minimize the effects of cognitive distraction on human performance.
Notch and cardiac outflow tract development.

Congenital heart disease represents the most common form of human birth defect, occurring in nearly 1 in 100 live births. An increasing number of patients with these defects are surviving infancy. Approximately one-third of congenital heart defects involve malformations of the outflow tract. Related defects are found in isolation and as part of common human syndromes. Our laboratory has investigated mechanisms of cardiac morphogenesis with particular attention to outflow tract formation. During cardiogenesis, neural crest cells interact with second heart field myocardium and endocardial cushion mesenchyme. Our recent work demonstrates that Jagged1/Notch signaling within the second heart field initiates a signaling cascade involving Fgf8, Bmp4, and downstream effectors that modulate outflow tract development and aortic arch artery patterning. Hence, complex tissue–tissue interactions and integration of multiple pathways converge to orchestrate proper patterning of the outflow region. The role of Notch signaling in adult cardiac homeostasis and disease is an area of active investigation.
Before Hegemony: Adam Smith, American Independence, and the Origins of the First Era of Globalization

While extensive scholarship has shown that it is possible to maintain global economic openness after hegemony, economic liberalization is still thought to be unlikely prior to hegemonic ascent+ This assumption is based on the conven- tional narrative that Great Britain began lowering its trade barriers in the 1820s as it began its hegemonic ascent+ This article shows that Britain began pursuing an open trading structure in the 1780s—in precisely the multipolar world that heg- emonic stability theorists claimed would be least likely to initiate the shift+ This change in commercial strategy depended crucially on the intellectual conversion of ak ey policymaker—the Earl of Shelburne—from mercantilist foreign economic pol- icy to Adam Smith's revolutionary laissez-faire liberalism+ Using the case of "the world's most important trading state" in the nineteenth century, this article high- lights the importance of intellectuals—as well as their ideas—in shaping states' for- eign policy strategies+ It also provides further evidence of key individuals' significance and their decisions at "critical junctures+" Io we to aj ourney Im ade with Mr+ Smith from Edinburgh to London the difference between light and darkness +++ The novelty of his principles +++ made me unable to comprehend them at the time, but he urged them with so much +++eloquence, that they took a certain hold which, though it did not +++ arrive at full conviction for some few years after, Ic an truly say has consti- tuted ever since the happiness of my life+ —The Earl of Shelburne, Prime Minister ~1782-83!
Maternal inheritance and rapid evolution of sexual size dimorphism: passive effects or active strategies?

Abstract: Adaptive evolution is often strongly influenced by maternal inheritance that transfers the parental strategies across generations. The consequences of maternal effects for the offspring generation depend on the between‐generation similarity in environments and on the evolved sensitivity of the offspring’s ontogeny to maternal effects. When these factors differ between sons and daughters, maternal effects can influence the evolution of sexual dimorphism. The establishment of house finch populations across western Montana during the last 30 years was accompanied by rapid evolutionary change in sexual size dimorphism. Here I show that traits that changed the most across generations were most influenced by maternal effects in males but not females. Maternal effects differentially affected sons' and daughters' survival; greater maternal effects were commonly associated with higher survival of sons, especially when maternal and offspring environments were similar. Stronger maternal effects extended pr...
A formalism for calculation of absorbed dose to a medium from photon and electron beams.

A formalism is derived that relates the absorbed dose to a medium from photon and electron beams to the photoncalibration factor of an ionization chamber. The formalism is applicable to the photon and electron beam energies that are currently of interest in radiation therapy. It is developed in terms of a cavity‐gas calibration factor, a quantity characteristic of the chamber and independent of the energy of the calibration beam assuming the energy expended per ion pair is energy independent. The cavity−gas calibration factor can be obtained from a chamber calibration performed in terms of exposure,absorbed dose to water,or air kerma. The perturbation corrections due to replacement of the surrounding medium by the chamber wall and cavity are identified as ratios of the photon energy fluence,or the electron fluence, at the position of the chamber center. The unmanageable complexities of a theory that covers an ionization chamber made of several materials are avoided by limiting the development to a chamber made of a single material with the expectation that the inhomogeneities of real chambers can be treated as perturbations. Attention is called to certain theoretical aspects of this dosimetry development that do not appear to have been previously recognized.
Higher order effect of regular pumping in lasers and masers

Abstract The higher order terms in the expansion of ln (1 + pu ) with respect to the pumping regularity p are considered. The effects of higher order terms, due to regular pumping, on the photon statistics are found to be significant in maser case, and can be neglected in laser cases. We must be certain that the right order approximation is used to ensure correct results.
The development and implementation of a crisis response team in a school setting.

Traumatic events and subsequent crises within the school setting can have a devastating effect on students, faculty, staff and paebts. Crises serve to compromise the most important mission of the school, i.e., learning. A school crisis response plan is a mandatory aspect of effective educational planning and administration. This paper reviews the need for and development of a school-based crisis intervention system.
An application of the energy release rate concept to crack growth in attachment lugs

quently employed in aerospace and machine structures, and is commonly subjected to repeated load spectra. Furthermore, the lug joint has a relatively low fatigue strength, as cracks can be rapidly initiated in the bore of the hole where all of the load is transferred. Crack initiation is rapid, due to the very high stress concentration caused by the pin bearing load. A typical elastic gross section stress concentration factor for a lug is five or greater, compared with three for an open hole in a tension stress field. Furthermore, the crack initiation life of a lug is also reduced by fretting between the pin or bolt and the lug hole during load reversals. A typical attachment lug configuration is shown in Figure 1. A numerical method involving a variable multipoint constraint capability is used to determine the energy release rates associated with a propagating crack in straight sided, round-head and square-head attachment lugs. The method, formulated within the framework of finite element procedures, evaluates the changes in energy as a function of changing crack length along a prescribed crack path. A single idealization consisting of conventional quadrilateral finite elements is used in the computations. Results are presented for a variety of geometries and loading cases involving axial, as well as skewed, loadings. Comparisons with other existing analytical and experimental results are made for verification. The fatigue performance of attachment lugs has been extensively studied( 3 3 ) . However, fatigue Nomenclature life is actually a two-stage process, consisting of a crack initiation and crack propagation parts, and it crack length head length modulus of elasticity lug load gross stress thickness vector of generalized nodal displacement diameter radius width stress intensity factor stress concentration factor is important to be able to predict both &ages. Furthermore, recent damage tolerance specifications(4) require the prediction of the crack propagation life, TRANSVERSE LOAD DIRECTION I I L J angle between lug axis and load direction angle between lug axis and crack direction Poisson's ratio normalized stress intensity factor = K rn energy release rate strain energy stiffness influence coefficient matrix vector of generalized nodal forces potential of applied external loads total potential energy
Specific oculomotor deficit after acute methadone

Changes in smooth pursuit eye tracking of targets moving sinusoidally in horizontal and vertical planes before and after up to 10 mg oral methadone were measured electrooculographically in nontolerant nondependent humans. Methadone depressed the gain of horizontal tracking movements at most frequencies tested (0.2–1.6 Hz) without changing target-eye phase relationships. Lack of change in target-eye crosscorrelation functions after methadone and examination of individual records indicate that gain reduction was due to the eye failing to follow the target to the full extent of target excursion (±5° from eyes straight ahead view). Possible mechanisms and the practical consequences of methadone action on smooth pursuit were discussed.
Effect of Reducing Cage Density on Performance and Economics of Second-Cycle (Force Rested) Commercial Leghorns

Abstract In 2002 the United Egg Producers announced a new certification program that requires a significant increase in space per hen to produce eggs meeting animal welfare guidelines. Because there is little information concerning the influence of space per hen on hen performance of modern strains and increased cost associated with reduced hen numbers, this study was conducted to determine the effect of increasing space per hen on hen performance and economic returns. HyLine W36 hens (n = 1,120) were force rested at 68 wk of age and were kept in an environmentally controlled house at 3 or 4 per cage (64 or 48 in. 2/hen). After force resting, hens were fed a commercial layer corn-soy diet containing 0.92% lysine and 1,283 kcal ME/lb (2,823 kcal ME/kg) feed for 14 wk. Average house temperature was maintained at 78°F (25.6°C), and hens were provided a 16L:8D photoperiod. Increasing space per hen increased 14-wk average feed intake (85.7 to 89.6 g; P
Seismicity of the Southeastern Margin of Reelfoot Rift, Central United States

The first-order seismicity alignment of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) was recognized after just a few years of network monitoring in the Upper Mississippi Embayment and adjacent region. However, two decades of monitoring are now resolving secondary alignments. The most distinct of the second-order alignments is along the southeastern flank of Reelfoot rift. This rift margin zone includes the 32 km long Crittenden County fault zone, just 25 km from Memphis, Tennessee. Among those earthquakes recorded and located by the regional seismic network in the NMSZ between 1974 and 1994, 75 earthquakes with magnitude ∼0.0–4.0 are spatially associated with the southeastern rift margin. The opposing northwest flank is essentially aseismic except where crossed by active fault segments of the northern main NMSZ. Data are adequate to recover P -wave first-motion focal mechanisms for nine southeastern flank earthquakes. They indicate a mixture of right-lateral strike-slip and high-angle reverse faulting. The faulting style, while still poorly constrained by the sparse seismicity, is consistent with ancient rift-flank normal faults reactivated in a modern compressional stress regime oriented approximately east-west. The reason(s) for the enhanced seismicity of the southeastern relative to the northwestern flank remain unknown, but the question is of more than academic interest given the proximity of the southeastern flank to the city of Memphis.
Newly established myeloma-derived stromal cell line MSP-1 supports multiple myeloma proliferation, migration, and adhesion and induces drug resistance more than normal-derived stroma.

The effects of a normal bone marrow (BM) microenvironment compared to a malignant microenvironment on multiple myeloma (MM) are significantly different, where BM stromal cells (BMSCs) play a key role. We established, characterized and compared a myeloma-derived stromal cell line (Myeloma Stromal Puente-1, MSP-1) with two normal stromal cell lines (HS-5 and HS-27A). MSP-1 was found to affect MM proliferation, adhesion, migration and drug resistance in a more profound manner than HS-5 and HS-27A. These results demonstrated the importance of malignant versus normal BM microenvironment on several key MM processes, providing a new myeloma-derived stromal cell line to study the effect of tumor microenvironment on MM.
Experimental studies on shear behavior of concrete beams prestressed with CFRP tendons

As a new structural material,FRP(fiber reinforced plastics) features light weight,high strength,corrosion resistance,anti-fatigue,etc.,and have a bright future when used as a new type of prestressing tendon in engineering structures.The horizontal shear strength of FRP tendon is low,which will affect the shear strength of concrete beams prestressed with FRP tendons.Based on experimental studies on 27 concrete beams prestressed with CFRP tendons,this paper studied the shear failure modes and a variety of parameters on shear strength,and compared the shear performance with concrete beams prestressed with steel strands.Studies show that there are two shear failure modes for concrete beams prestressed with FRP tendons,i.e.diagonal compression and shear-compression.Shear span ratio and stirrup rate are main factors influencing the shear behavior of concrete beams prestressed with CFRP tendons.The shear strength of concrete beams prestressed with bonded CFRP tendons is about 15% larger than that of concrete beams prestressed with unbonded CFRP tendons.A simple formula for computing the shear capacity of concrete beams prestressed with FRP tendons was presented by introducing two parameters,which reflected the type and bonding condition of prestressing tendons respectively.The computed shear capacities of concrete beams by presented formula agree well with the experimental data.
Abstract B08: Highlighting the maturation of the MSI/NCI P20 South Carolina Cancer Disparities Research Center Partnership

The South Carolina Cancer Disparities Research Center (SC CaDRe), funded by the NIH/NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) in 2011, is a formal collaboration between the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and South Carolina State University (SCSU, an historically black university). The SC CaDRe focuses on biological mechanisms of disparity in hormone-related cancers (breast and prostate cancer). The Sea Island population plays a prominent role in the three SC CaDRe research projects. The Sea Islanders are an African American ethnic group indigenous to the coastal southeast, with low rates of European American genetic admixture; as such they are ideal for inclusion in biomedical research. Each SC CaDRe research project includes Multiple PIs from MUSC and SCSU. The first research project is titled Biological Implications of DNA Glycation in Prostate Cancer Disparities; the second is titled MicroRNA Mediated Negative Regulation of Caveolin 1 as a Biological Mechanism Driving Breast Cancer Disparities; and the third is titled Feasibility Study of Breast Cancer Candidate Genes in Three Population Groups in South Carolina. The design and results of each project will be presented. The P20 SC CaDRe has led to two funded NIH R21 grants, an R01 grant, an R25E grant, and a DOD research training grant. Three undergraduate students from SCSU and four graduate students from MUSC have participated in SC CaDRe cancer research training, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national scientific meetings. As a next step, the SC CaDRe investigators plan to submit an NIH/NCI CRCHD U54 grant application in 2016. Citation Format: Marvella E. Ford, Dennis K. Watson, James Stukes, Mahtabuddin Ahmed, David P. Turner, Ashley Evans Knowell, Victoria J. Findlay, Anita L. Harrison, Kendrea D. Knight, Heidi Varner, Kimberly Cannady, Judith D. Salley. Highlighting the maturation of the MSI/NCI P20 South Carolina Cancer Disparities Research Center Partnership. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B08.
Characteristics of Health Maintenance Organizations and their influence on efficiency

This study examines the efficiency of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) based on a sample of 249 HMOs operating in the United States in 1995. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) was used to calculate the level of technical efficiency for each HMO included in the sample. Further descriptive analyses were conducted examining various structural and operational characteristics of HMOs and their impact on efficiency. Federal qualification status, Medicare programme participation, combined Medicare and Medicaid programmes participation, chain affiliation and size were found to be significant influences on HMO efficiency.
[Sexual partners: a psychoanalytic study]

Love means the ability to combine idealization and erotic fulfillment and to establish a profound object relation. The author examines the clinical features of erotic desire, its ecstatic and aggressive aspects and the way they are bound up with transcending the limits of the self, its genetic roots and the unconscious object relations underlying the sexual couple. In Kernberg's view, embarking on the adventure of a love relationship involves both identifying with and overcoming the oedipal parent-couple at one and the same time. He sees breaches in love relationship as stemming from the discontinuity of the relation between mother and child. A mature super-ego, developing from a transformation of primitive constraints and guilt feelings as a result of aggression, is conducive to love and emotional commitment to the love object, while a sound ego-ideal is a fundamental requirement for the ability to fall in love. The article concludes with a discussion of the relationship between couples and groups.
The National Bioethics Committees and the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights: Their Potential and Optimal Functioning

The Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights calls for the establishment of ethics committees at various levels. There are different types of ethics committees and it is important to distinguish their missions as well as their compositions and operations: National Bioethics Committees, Clinical Ethics Committees, Research Ethics Committees, and Ethics Committees of professional healthcare associations.
Insights from pressure transients at observation wells near hydraulically fractured wells in a domestic shale play

AbstractWe integrate microseismic data and pressure measurements at far-field observation wells to characterize the relationship between deformation and fluid flow during hydraulic fracturing and production in four horizontal wells in an unconventional shale play. The microseismicity qualitatively delineated, where injection fluid traveled during stimulation. However, there was one clear example of the Kaiser effect, in which a strong pressure signal propagated aseismically over hundreds of feet through fractures that had recently been stimulated around a neighboring well. Analysis suggested that poroelastic pressure changes caused by fracture deformation were minimal because of the high compressibility of the volatile oil formation fluid. Therefore, the pressure changes at the observations wells were likely caused by flow of the injection fluid. Based on this hypothesis, the pressure signals in the observation wells were roughly categorized based on whether the pressure response exceeded the magnitude of...
Management of Forehead Scars

This article provides an overview of scar management within the forehead region. It addresses the unique challenges specific to the treatment of forehead wounds. A logical, stepwise approach is used. A subsite based treatment algorithm is provided along with a review of current best practices. Pertinent case examples are included for demonstration purposes.
From concessions to repression: Explaining regime survival strategies in Jordan during Black September

ABSTRACTWhen do Middle Eastern regimes respond to domestic threats with repression, and when do they accommodate opponents through offering concessions? This article examines the Jordanian monarchy’s showdown with the Palestinian fedayeen in the late 1960s and early 1970s, explaining why King Hussein’s policy toward the fedayeen evolved over time from concessions to repression. It demonstrates that the King’s evolving survival strategy resulted from shifts in Jordan’s domestic and regional political context. The article thus conceives of authoritarian survival strategies as a balancing act, in which regime survival strategies must simultaneously confront threats while at the same time placating key constituencies.