cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elektronenspinresonanz, eine molekulare Sonde bei der mechanischen Beanspruchung von Thermoplasten

In dieser Ubersichtsarbeit werden zunachst Erkenntnisse diskutiert, die sich an Elektronenspinresonanz-Untersuchungen (ESR) im Hinblick auf Erzeugung, Lage, Anzahl, Beweglichkeit und Reaktionen freier Radikale in beanspruchten Hochpolymeren gewinnen lassen. Die sich daraus ergebenden Folgerungen fur die mechanische Beanspruchung eines Kettensegmentes und der Uberstruktur sowie fur die Bruchentwicklung in Fasern und Elastomeren werden ebenfalls ausfuhrlich besprochen.
Inelastic strains due to matrix cracking in unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites

Abstract Simulations of the inelastic strains caused by matrix cracking in unidirectional CMCs are performed. They are based on a cell model, which has previously been analyzed by a shear lag approximation. Here, finite element solutions are used to arrive at more accurate formulae, differing from the shear lag results mainly in the range of small debonds. The model relates the inelastic strain to the constitutive properties, particularly the interface sliding and debonding resistances. Comparisons with experimental results indicate good correspondence for a SiC/SiC composite but divergences for a SiC/CAS composite. The divergences are attributed to the contribution of inelastic strain from fiber failure.
Pituitary-Thyroid Hormone Periodicities in Serially Sampled Plasma of Unanesthetized Rats*

Circadian and ultradian rhythms of plasma TSH, T3 and T4 were investigated in rats from which serial blood samples were obtained every 4 h for 3 days (low frequency) or every 15 min for 2–3 h (high frequency). Eleven male adult Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 400–600 g, were maintained in individual cages at 28 C with artificial lighting from 0630–1830 h. Whole blood samples were drawn remotely via indwelling intraatrial catheters from unanesthetized animals enjoying normal activity, and the plasma concentrations of TSH, T3, and T4 were measured in triplicate by RIAs. Plasma corticosterone was also measured in the eight rats sampled at low frequency. Circadian periodicity was evident for plasma TSH, the mean concentration ranging from 138 ± 9 to 50 ± 4 (SE) μU/ml (n = 25). Eighteen of 25 diurnal cycles (eight different rats) had TSH peaks at 1100 or 1500 h; 16 had nadirs from 2300–0700 h. Circadian variation of plasma corticosterone was also seen in most rats, with the average peak amplitude 4–8 h in advanc...
Theory of carrier gain dynamics in InGaAs/AlGaAs strained-layer single-quantum-well diode lasers

Abstract Calculations of the femtosecond gain dynamics in InGaAs/AlGaAs strained-layer single-quantum-well diode lasers are presented and compared to experiments which use a novel multiple-wavelength pump probe technique. We develop a detailed theoretical model for the gain dynamics in a quantum well laser diode structure to aid in the interpretation of gain dynamics induced by both interband absorption and stimulated emission of photons. In the model, transient gain and differential transmission are computed in a multiband effective mass model including biaxial strain, valence subband mixing, and scattering both within and between subbands. The transient photogeneration of electron-hole pairs by the pump pulse and subsequent relaxation of carriers by both polar optical phonon scattering and carrier-carrier scattering are calculated within a Boltzmann equation framework. A relaxation approximation for the carrier-carrier scattering is made making the coupled Boltzmann equations an effective one dimensional model which are then solved using an adaptive Runge-Kutta technique rather than a more computationally intensive Monte Carlo approach.
PERMUTATION ROUTING AND SORTING ON MESHES WITH ROW AND COLUMN BUSES

We study the problems of permutation routing and sorting on several models of meshes with fixed and reconfigurable row and column buses. We describe two fast and fairly simple deterministic algorithms for permutation routing on two-dimensional networks, and a more complicated algorithm for multi-dimensional networks. The algorithms are obtained by converting two known off-line routing schemes into deterministic routing algorithms, and they can be implemented on a variety of different models of meshes with buses. We also give a deterministic algorithm for 1–1 sorting whose running time matches that for permutation routing, and another algorithm that matches the bisection lower bound on reconfigurable networks of arbitrary constant dimension.
History of Rangeland Management in California

On the Ground Spanish colonists brought cattle to California when they landed in San Diego in 1769, with two hundred head of cattle arriving by overland routes. Mexico, achieving independence, established rules to petition for land grants in California, paving the way for additional settlers by making land grants easier to obtain. The Gold Rush resulted in cattle numbers quadrupling and sheep numbers increasing more than 60-fold between 1850 and 1860. Multiple uses, such as agriculture crop production, impacted California rangelands. Public policies now influence management of approximately 38 million acres of privately and publicly owned rangelands.
Preoperative assessment of the thoracic surgery patient: pulmonary function testing.

Tests of pulmonary function before thoracic surgery can help to assess the risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality, and are the basis for estimating remaining lung function after resection of lung tissue. Testing has evolved over the past 50 years from reliance on the maximum breathing capacity to a range of studies including spirometry, and measurement of lung volume, diffusing capacity, and arterial blood gases, and the interpretation of these in conjunction with radionuclide scanning. The surgeon must consider both the early postoperative decrement in function and the level to which the patient is expected to recover. Although it is difficult to establish absolute limiting values, and current surgical techniques are blurring the boundary further, the reported experience underlying current guidelines is reviewed.
Diagnostic imaging prior to hepatic tumor ablation: how long is too long to wait between diagnosis and treatment

Purpose While image guided tumor ablation offers a minimally invasive option, careful patient selection ensures optimal results. Although relatively infrequent, some patients presenting for ablation are found to have disease progression or metastases on the pre-procedure planning CT. In order to avoid delay in the therapy, unnecessary admission or general anesthesia, criteria to guide the timing of pre-procedure imaging studies would be beneficial. The goal of this analysis was to determine if setting a limit in the time interval between diagnostic imaging and treatment may reduce the number of cancelled procedures with the hopes of improving treatment outcomes and reducing unnecessary episodes of general anesthesia. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients presenting for CT-guided hepatic tumor ablation at our institution over a three year period. Information on tumor histology, type of prior diagnostic imaging, interval between the imaging study and the planned therapy, and the procedure outcome (aborted vs. technically successful) was analyzed. Results Preliminary data review from one year identified thirty two patients. Cross sectional imaging modalities included MRI (17), CT can (11) and PET/CT (5). The interval between prior diagnostic imaging and the treatment encounter ranged from 14 to 125 days (mean 53). Six procedures (18%) of the procedures were aborted after the CT scan indicated disease progression. These patients had diagnostic imaging 24 to 125 days prior to planned ablation (mean 65). The patients who successfully underwent ablation had diagnostic imaging 14 to 108 days prior to planned ablation (mean 50).There was no difference between the two groups in the tumor histology, histologic grade, or diagnostic imaging modality.Patients, whose pre-ablation imaging studies are greater than 55 days old, are at increased risk for cancellation of their procedure from disease progression. Conclusion Preliminary results found that patients, whose pre-ablation imaging studies are greater than 55 days old, are at increased risk for cancellation of their procedure from disease progression.
NMR spectral data for acyclovir prodrugs

Both 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were assigned to a series of acyclovir ester and amide prodrugs. Assignments were based on spectral comparison with compounds of similar structure. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contrast‐detail‐Dose and dose efficiency analysis of a scanning digital and a screen‐film‐grid radiographic system

The purpose of this study is to examine the diagnostic potential of a scanning digital radiography (SDR) system currently used clinically as a CT localization device. The technique of contrast-detail-dose analysis is used to compare the low-contrast sensitivity and dose efficiency of an SDR unit with standard radiography (SR). The theory of threshold perceptibility in both digital radiography and SR is described, including the effects of scattered radiation and antiscatter devices, object attenuation, geometry, system image processing, and recorder quantum efficiency. The concept of dose efficiency is defined and derived from the contrast-detail-dose data. The SDR system is shown to operate with a threshold signal-to-noise ratio of 7.3 +/- 1.2 for large area detection (d greater than or equal to 2 mm); to be relatively scatter-free; and to be as much a 100x more dose efficient than SR for visualization of large low contrast objects (C less than or equal to 0.04, d greater than or equal to 2 mm).
Effects of stress upon acquired immunity to the dwarf tapeworm, Hymenolepis nana.

Abstract Severe and prolonged fighting among male mice hindered development of acquired immunity in stressed animals and increased the reinfection rate in mice with well-established acquired immunity. Stress induced by repeated association with strange mice also enhanced reinfection rates in immune mice. Severe nutritional stress rendered most immune mice susceptible to reinfection but cold stress did not significantly increase reinfection rates.
Surface cross-linked UHMWPE can enable the use of larger femoral heads in total joints.

Limiting cross-linking to the articular surfaces of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to increase wear resistance while preventing detrimental effects of cross-linking on mechanical strength has been a desirable goal. A surface cross-linked UHMWPE can be achieved by blending UHMWPE with a free radical scavenger, such as vitamin E, consolidating the blend into an implant shape, extracting the vitamin E from the surface, and radiation cross-linking the surface extracted blend. This process results in high cross-link density in the vitamin E-depleted surface region because vitamin E hinders cross-linking during irradiation. In this study, we described the properties of successful extraction media and the manipulation of the wear and mechanical properties of extracted, irradiated blends. We showed that these formulations could have similar wear and significantly improved mechanical properties compared to currently available highly cross-linked UHMWPEs. We believe that these materials can enable thinner implant forms and more anatomical designs in joint arthroplasty and may provide a feasible alternative to metal-on-metal implants. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:59–66, 2012
Towards a next-generation hearing aid through brain state classification and modeling

Traditional brain-state classifications are primarily based on two well-known neural biomarkers: P300 and motor imagery / event-related frequency modulation. Currently, many brain-computer interface (BCI) systems have successfully helped patients with severe neuromuscular disabilities to regain independence. In order to translate this neural engineering success to hearing aid applications, we must be able to capture brain waves across the population reliably in cortical regions that have not previously been incorporated in these systems before, for example, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and right temporoparietal junction. Here, we present a brain-state classification framework that incorporates individual anatomical information and accounts for potential anatomical and functional differences across subjects by applying appropriate cortical weighting functions prior to the classification stage. Using an inverse imaging approach, use simulated EEG data to show that our method can outperform the traditional brain-state classification approach that trains only on individual subject's data without considering data available at a population level.
Is RecF a DNA replication protein

Maintenance of genetic integrity is of foremost importance to the cell. Thus, cells are well equipped with a number of repair mechanisms for different types of DNA damage. All DNA polymerases are very sensitive to pyrimidine dimers, a major DNA lesion of UV irradiation. Inhibition of DNA replication by dimers, if not recovered, causes cell death. Escherichia coli cells have at least five different ways to deal with dimers (1). Dimers can be directly reversed by a reaction (photoreactivation) catalyzed by photolyase or can be removed by UvrABC-catalyzed excision repair. The remaining dimers can be tolerated by the replication machinery in different mechanisms. A modified DNA polymerase is able to replicate past noninstructive dimers by a mechanism termed translesion replication (1). Major mechanisms of dimer tolerance, however, involve two recombinational repair activities. The first of the two is RecF-dependent postreplication gap repair. It was demonstrated that DNA replication stalls at a dimer but can restart downstream of the dimer (2, 3). Thus, newly synthesized DNA after UV irradiation contains single-strand (ss) gaps opposite dimers (2). These gaps are subsequently filled by a mechanism involving homologous recombination (4). The second recombinational repair activity is RecBCD-dependent double-strand break (DSB) repair. It is known that a significant fraction of UV-induced lesions is converted to DSBs (5), which can be repaired by a mechanism that requires homologous recombination functions (6). A crucial aspect of recombinational repair is the extent to which the repair process involves DNA replication. Recently, RecBCD-dependent DSB repair was shown to require extensive semiconservative DNA replication that initiates at a D-loop, a recombination intermediate (6). Now, the paper by Courcelle et al. (7) in this issue of the Proceedings suggests that RecF protein, previously identified as a recombination protein, may assist replisome reassembly after UV irradiation. The proposal opens the door to the possibility that RecF-dependent postreplication gap repair also might involve extensive DNA replication.
Labor-tying in a Poor Agrarian Economy: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis

In this paper we show how tied labor, contrary to its common characterization as a feudal relic and as a symptom of economic stagnation, may actually be strengthened by capitalist agricultural development. We construct a simple two-period theoretical model of a two-tiered labor market to show how the proportional importance of voluntary labor-tying contracts may increase with yield-increasing improvements and with a tightening of the labor market. We then provide in support of these hypotheses some general historical as well as more detailed econometric evidence from a variety of cross-sectional data in rural India.
Voting patterns of big eight representatives in setting accounting and auditing standards

Abstract The “Big Eight” accounting firms are alleged to dominate the setting of accounting and auditing standards. This paper identifies the recent criticisms and reviews the standard setting procedures of the APB, FASB, and the ASB. The results of five empirical studies designed to investigate the alleged domination issue are summarized. The conclusion drawn is that there is no empirical evidence to indicate that the Big Eight collectively govern the accounting and auditing standard-setting process.
Literacy and labour: The Russian literacy campaign within the trade unions, 1923–27

IN 1923 GLAVPOLITPROSVET, the political enlightenment section of the Soviet commissariat for education, Narkompros, and its literacy commission, Cheka likbez, launched a new literacy campaign with the primary emphasis on trade union membership, both employed and unemployed.1 According to the trade union part of the plan, unions would be fully literate by 1 May 1925.2 After that date Cheka likbez would concentrate entirely on the non-union workers and the peasantry. The 17 million illiterate adults in Russia were to be fully literate by 7 November 1927, the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution (see Table 1).3 Two factors motivated Cheka likbez and Glavpolitprosvet to begin their campaign with trade unions: illiteracy would be most easily overcome among the unions, and an industrialised state needed a literate work force.4 Union members enjoyed relatively high literacy compared to non-union workers and the peasantry,5 which still made up the majority of the Russian population. Yet though union literacy rates were higher than non-union rates, unions were still not fully literate. The union sector of the population was where success was most needed and seemed most likely. Party activists and literacy campaigners during NEP could hope that a level of heightened political and social awareness, such as had obtained among workers during 1917, would strengthen the appeal of literacy training among seasoned unionists.6 This article explores how unions conducted their portion of the literacy effort throughout the 1923-27 period, and how unions reacted to both the demands of the campaign organisers at Cheka likbez and the demands of a changing union population. I will limit my discussion to how the unions' structured nature benefited the campaign and how union expansion caused an extension of union literacy efforts. Below I present evidence to suggest that unions were desirable, though not ideal, organisations upon which to call for support of a state-sponsored literacy drive. By using the trade union, essentially an arm of the state, the Soviet Union in the 1920s repeated policy used by other European states in earlier eras.7 Though Soviet writers who treat the issue of literacy after the revolution try to emphasise the backwardness of tsarist education and the low level of literacy in Russia, education and literacy both had gained firm footholds in Russia prior to 1917.8 If Imperial Russia was slow to grasp the significance of literacy and education in relation to economic development, by the latter half of the nineteenth century
A time series approach to estimating the economic impacts of exogenous events on recreational fishing.

A series of abrupt exogenous events, namely, harmful algal blooms occurred at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas in 2001 and 2003. We demonstrate a time-series approach for estimating the extent of local economic impact loss associated with these multiple events. A regional input–output model and time-series intervention analysis were used. Total economic output lost was estimated at $2.8 million from the first event and considerable declines in the number of visitors were associated with the two algal blooms. Without an accounting system in place for assessing the impacts of exogenous events on a local economy, an empirical modeling process using a time series approach was the best available alternative. For economically important high risk recreational fishing lakes, more data needs to be available on fishing use and expenditure so links can be made to other similar exogenous events for planning and remediation purposes.
EBV-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma with extensive hemophagocytosis

![Figure][1] A 46-year-old man with HIV was admitted with subacute onset of fever, cough, generalized weakness, and weight loss. He went on to develop multiorgan failure with encephalopathy, acute kidney injury, fulminant liver failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. He was also
A prolactin release inhibiting activity isolated from neurointermediate lobe extracts is an endothelin-like peptide.

Abstract A prolactin release-inhibiting factor has been reported in extracts of rat and bovine neurointermediate lobes of the pituitary gland. This material when isolated by Sephadex G-25 chromatography or by C-8 high pressure liquid chromatography coelutes with synthetic forms of all members of the mammalian endothelin family of peptides and with their immediate precursors, big-ET-1 and big-ET-3. The endogenous material crossreacts in an endothelin radioimmunoassay. Immunohistochemical analysis of endothelin-like immunoreactivity in the neurointermediate lobe revealed a predominantly intermediate lobe localization. Individual immunopositive cells were visualized in the intermediate lobe. Preabsorption of the chromatographically isolated prolactin release-inhibiting activity with an endothelin antiserum which recognizes all members of the ET family of peptides abolishes its in vitro bioactivity. These results suggest that a prolactin release-inhibiting activity present in the neurointermediate lobe is endothelin or an endothelin-like peptide.
Quantification of immunoglobulins and cytokines in human cervical mucus during each trimester of pregnancy

Abstract Objectives: Our aims were to determine immunoglobulin and cytokine levels in cervical mucus obtained from women during each trimester of pregnancy and to compare these levels with those reported in normally menstruating women and in women taking oral contraceptives. Study Design: Cervical mucus samples were collected at specified intervals from 36 pregnant women. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantitate the presence of immunoglobulins A and G and interleukins 1β, 6, and 10 in cervical mucus. Results: Immunoglobulin A in cervical mucus remained stable during each trimester of pregnancy (26 mg/dL). Cervical mucus immunoglobulin G decreased from a first-trimester high of 44.4 mg/dL to lower levels in the second and third trimesters. Levels of interleukin 1β increased significantly from the first trimester (4261 pg/mL) to 12,899 pg/mL in the second trimester ( P Conclusion: These data suggest a possible correlation of reproductive hormones and immunologic factors in the female reproductive tract during pregnancy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:865-74.)
Crystalline stark splitting and microwave resonance absorption in paramagnetic salts

A theoretical discussion is given of the application of microwave-absorption measurements to the determination of energy levels in single crystals of paramagnetic salts. Selection rules are given for magnetic-dipole transitions between sublevels in the presence of crystalline electric fields of cubic, tetragonal, trigonal, and rhombic symmetry. The Zeeman effect in the presence of crystalline electric fields is discussed in some detail for three special cases: (a)$J=\frac{5}{2}$, cubic field; (b) $J=\frac{7}{2}$, cubic field; (c) $J=\frac{3}{2}$, trigonal field. These examples may correspond approximately to certain magnetically dilute salts containing ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{+++}$, ${\mathrm{Gd}}^{+++}$, and ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{+++}$ ions, respectively, provided that exchange interactions do not play an important role and that the assumed symmetries are approximately correct. Numerical values are tabulated for the relative frequencies and line strengths associated with magnetic-dipole transitions in the cases discussed. The character of the spectra may change radically between the limit where the Zeeman splitting is small in comparison with the Stark splitting, and the opposite limit where the Stark splitting may be neglected.
Respiratory Function in Healthy Late Preterm Infants Delivered at 33-36 Weeks of Gestation

Objective To compare pulmonary function testing including respiratory compliance (Crs) and time to peak tidal expiratory flow to expiratory time (TPTEF:TE) at term corrected age in healthy infants born at 33-36 weeks of gestation versus healthy infants delivered at term. Study design We performed a prospective cohort study of late preterm infants born at 33-36 weeks without clinical respiratory disease ( 0.21 fraction of inspired oxygen) and studied at term corrected age. The comparison group was term infants matched for race and sex to the preterm infants and studied within 72 hours of delivery. Crs was measured with the single breath occlusion technique. A minimum of 50 flow-volume loops were collected to estimate TPTEF:TE. Results Late preterm infants (n = 31; mean gestational age 34.1 weeks, birth weight 2150 g) and 31 term infants were studied at term corrected age. The late preterm infants had decreased Crs (1.14 vs 1.32 mL/cm H 2 O/kg; P P 2 O/mL/s; P Conclusions Healthy late preterm infants (33-36 weeks of gestation) studied at term corrected age have altered pulmonary function when compared with healthy term infants.
Improving the Strategy‐Innovation Link

In spite of the tremendous impact that new technology has had on every aspect of business operations, we have yet to develop a satisfactory way of incorporating innovation in our strategic thinking processes. However, we are making progress. A further step in our understanding is provided in this article by Gerhard Mensch, the recent winner of the Humboldt prize for his creative work in economics, and Vasudevan Ramanujam. They collaborate in developing a model that links strategy and innovation by relating innovation activities to strategic goals of the firm and the external pressures that are perceived by management.
Confronting risks: regulatory responsibility and nuclear energy

The imperatives of contemporary environmental governance require the minimization and/or the redistribution of risk among persons, peoples, and generations, subject to various tradeoffs and based in several key principles of risk distribution. Especially in cases involving manufactured risks, justice requires that states and societies protect their vulnerable from avoidable anthropogenic risk, and this imperative forms the basis for regulatory responsibility. The ethical issues surrounding risk as they apply to nuclear energy, including those inherent in expanded nuclear development as well as in continued reliance upon non-nuclear sources of electrical generation, are examined. Of particular concern is comparison of the risks associated with nuclear energy and those related to reliance upon carbon-intensive energy sources, including issues of justice in the distribution of risk and the legitimacy of involuntarily imposed risks, such that the potential costs and benefits associated with each of these risk...
Microstructure of natural glasses

Abstract The microstructure of several natural glasses was examined from the viewpoint of known glass forming processes and the role of composition and melting history in microstructure. Microstructural analysis by electron microscopy, electron microbeam probe, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction, allowed characterization in terms of chemical and phase homogeneity. Tektite glasses (Thailand, Australian and Darwin) range from highly homogeneous to fairly homogeneous. Glasses associated with impact sites (Irghizite, Aouelloul and Lonar) were found to be highly heterogeneous, exhibiting a wide variety of microstructures. Irghizite glass appears to be the result of welding together smaller glassy bodies having separate thermal histories. Libyan Desert glass is fairly homogeneous and exhibits rapid crystallization when heated. California obsidian is a homogeneous mixture of glass and crystals. Deep-sea microtektites examined were fairly homogeneous and some showed liquid immiscibility. The wide range of observed microstructures in these glasses are discussed in terms of possible glass forming processes.
The Application of External Knowledge: Organizational Conditions for Exploration and Exploitation

A firm's ability to acquire and exploit external knowledge is often critical to achieving and sustaining a competitive advantage. In this study, we adopt a multi-dimensional view of absorptive capacity and focus specifically on the application of external knowledge that has been obtained via university-firm collaborations. We examine various organizational conditions that we propose influence a firm's ability to apply external knowledge for explorative and exploitative innovations. We collected data by a survey of firms in industries that frequently work with university research centres (URCs) and from publicly available sources. Results show that predictors of exploration and exploitation of the application of external knowledge differ. Surprisingly, technological relatedness, a common measure of absorptive capacity, is negatively associated with the application of external knowledge to explorative innovations, indicating that knowledge from more distant sources is applied more to exploration. Results also indicate that the effects of two external learning capabilities (prior experience with URCs and technological capability) on knowledge application are moderated in such a way by the tacitness of the knowledge transferred that experience is a stronger predictor when the knowledge is more explicit and technological capability is a stronger predictor when the knowledge is more tacit. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on the application of external knowledge.
North American sports leagues and gambling policy: a comparative analysis

This paper analyzes the near-simultaneous submissions made by the five major North American sports leagues in opposition to New Jersey and Canada’s proposed gambling schemes, both of which would allow for the creation of single-game sports wagering. The method employed is one of comparative legal analysis of the declarations and depositions filed in proceedings surrounding the New Jersey legislation, and submissions made to Canadian Parliament. The analysis of the data involved a comparison of key legal arguments and consistency based on length, format, content, formality and the status of the signatories.
Seriously Ill Hospitalized Adults: Do We Spend Less on Older Patients?

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of age on hospital resource use for seriously ill adults, and to explore whether age-related differences in resource use are explained by patients' severity of illness and preferences for life-extending care. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Five geographically diverse academic acute care medical centers participating in the SUPPORT Project. PATIENTS A total of 4301 hospitalized adults with at least one of nine serious illnesses associated with an average 6-month mortality of 50%. MEASUREMENTS Resource utilization was measured using a modified version of the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS); the performance of three invasive procedures (major surgery, dialysis, and right heart catheter placement); and estimated hospital costs. RESULTS The median patient age was 65; 43% were female, and 48% died within 6 months. After adjustment for severity of illness, prior functional status, and study site, when compared with patients younger than 50, patients 80 years or older were less likely to undergo major surgery (adjusted odds ratio .46), dialysis (.19), and right heart catheter placement (.59) and had median TISS scores and estimated hospital costs that were 3.4 points and $7161 lower, respectively. These differences persisted after further adjustment for patients' preferences for life-extending care. CONCLUSIONS Compared with similar younger patients, seriously ill older patients receive fewer invasive procedures and hospital care that is less resource-intensive and less costly. This preferential allocation of hospital services to younger patients is not based on differences in patients' severity of illness or general preferences for life-extending care.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy of vanadium dioxide thin films across the phase-transition boundary

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy of the V L edge and O K edge were performed on VO{sub 2} thin films rf sputtered at various conditions. The spectra give evidence of the changes in the electronic structure depending on the film quality. XAS of the O K edge shows a decrease of the spacing between 3d{sub {pi}} and 3d{sub {sigma}} bands by 0.8 eV with concurrent broadening of both bands for the sample sputtered at lower substrate temperature and consequently having more polycrystalline and disordered character. 3d{sub {sigma}} band position appears to be more sensitive to the sample quality, indicating that the cation-ligand interaction is mostly affected likely due to the distortion of the local O coordination surrounding a V ion. The observed variation of the spectra in films of different morphologies may reflect the changes of the density of states responsible for the considerable variation of the metal-insulator transition (MIT) properties reported for VO{sub 2} thin films synthesized at different conditions. The study of the temperature dependence of the XAS spectra including repeated measurements across the MIT revealed both reversible and irreversible V L-edge and O K-edge changes. The thermal cycling of the VO{sub 2} filmsmore » through the MIT shows irreversible shifts of the conduction bands toward lower photon energies apparently caused by the sample deterioration due to the lattice transformations at the MIT. The signature of a phase transition in a VO{sub 2} film at MIT temperature (T{sub MIT}) is clearly seen in the XAS O K-edge spectra which show reversible switches of the 3d{sub {pi}} and 3d{sub {sigma}} bandwidths by approximately 20% depending on the sample being above or below T{sub MIT}.« less
Computer-based algorithm modeling protein metabolism in aortic regurgitation for positron emission tomography

The authors have developed a 3-compartment model for determining the distribution of label derived from L-[l-/sup 14/C]leucine (LEU) in myocardial tissue. The 3 compartments are the pools of tissue precursor (i.e. free) LEU, protein-incorporated leucine (P-LEU), and the leucine metabolite /spl alpha/-ketoisocaproate (KIC). To apply this model to positron emission tomography (PET) of the heart with /sup 11/C labeled LEU, the portion of image activity within the protein pool must be determined. The authors have determined experimentally the kinetic rate coefficients for LEU metabolism in heart protein and used them to calculate the distribution of activity in the tissue LEU, P-LEU and KIC pools from the plasma LEU activity. The authors then applied these results in simulation studies modeling PET image acquisition using L-[1-/sup 11/C]LEU. Their findings indicate that PET imaging of protein metabolism with L-[l-/sup 11/C]LEU is feasible. >
Alternating copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide with highly efficient and selective (salen)Co(III) catalysts: Effect of ligand and cocatalyst variation

Synthetic routes to a series of new (salen)CoX (salen = N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-diaminoalkane; X = Br or pentafluorobenzoate (OBzF5)) species are described. Several of these complexes are active for the copolymerization of propylene oxide (PO) and CO2, yielding regioregular poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) without the generation of propylene carbonate byproduct. Variation of the salen ligand, as well as the inclusion of organic-based ionic or Lewis basic cocatalysts, has dramatic effects on the resultant (salen) CoX catalytic activity. Highly active (R,R)-(salen-1)CoOBzF5 (salen-1 = N,N′-bis(3,5- di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) catalysts with [Ph4P]Cl or [PPN]Y ([PPN] = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium; Y = Cl or OBzF5) cocatalysts exhibited turnover frequencies up to 720 h−1 for rac-PO/CO2 copolymerization, yielding PPC with greater than 90% head-to-tail connectivity. Additionally, the (R,R)-(salen-1)CoOBzF5/[PPN]Cl catalyst system demonstrated a krel of 9.7 for the enchainment of (S)- over (R)-PO when the copolymerization was carried out at low temperatures. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5182–5191, 2006
Introduction to the wire-speed processor and architecture

In this paper, we introduce the wire-speed processor (WSP) project, an advanced development project led by IBM Research and the IBM Systems and Technology Group. The WSP represents a generic processor architecture in which processing cores, hardware accelerators, and I/O functions are closely coupled in a system on a chip. The first implementation of the WSP architecture targets applications operating at "wire speed" (i.e., speeds in which the data are transmitted and processed at the maximum speed allowed by the hardware). These applications include those that involve routers, firewalls, intrusion-prevention systems, and other network analytics. The WSP combines 16 multithreaded IBM PowerPC® cores with special-purpose dedicated accelerators optimized for packet processing, security, pattern matching, compression, Extensible Markup Language (XML) parsing, and I/O for networking that provides four 10-Gb/s bidirectional network links. In this paper, we describe the various system components, the underlying design philosophy involving close integration of these components, and the special system features that were developed to achieve this close integration.
Defining Habituation using Hand Geometry

The word "habituation" has many meanings within the biometric community. Most people define the concept of habituation as "continued use of a biometric device." When a user is habituated, he or she is capable of providing repeatable samples to the biometric sensor, and the performance scores of the biometric sensor, relative to that user, have stabilized. This paper establishes a model of the processes of habituation and provides score data from hand geometry to show how this concept works with actual data. We illustrate a four-step process of a user's interaction with the device and describe how the data seems to prove that an individual becomes fully habituated after repeated use of the device. The type and amount of user training, and number of interaction attempts are shown to have an impact on the biometric sensor's performance scores.
Constitutional Courts in Comparative Perspective: A Theoretical Assessment

In many democratic polities, constitutional courts significantly shape the political landscape. Yet, how they are able to do so is a puzzle: With limited resources at their disposal, and no direct powers of enforcement, judges must rely on the willingness of executives and legislators to comply with their decisions and to respect judicial authority. This essay surveys recent literature that has explored the conditions that sustain judicial authority. I contrast explanations that highlight the benefits that independent courts can provide to other policy makers (“endogenous explanations”) with explanations that emphasize the constraints that keep executives and legislators from undermining the judiciary (“exogenous explanations”). I conclude by exploring the role of strategic judicial behavior in maintaining and expanding judicial power.
How the current understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma influences our approach to therapy

Asthma can no longer be equated with bronchospasm; instead, we know now that this disease is due to combinations of mucosal edema and inflammation, increased secretions, and muscle contraction. The appreciation of the contribution of these various causes of airflow obstruction and the role that inflammation plays in asthma dictates that we approach treatment using two parallel modalities: (1) symptomatic drugs that act to relieve the airflow obstruction but have no effects on the underlying causes of the disease (e.g., bronchodilators such as beta-adrenergic agonists, theophylline, and anticholinergic compounds) and (2) specific treatment aimed at preventing or reversing the underlying causes responsible for the disease. Four specific treatments are available today: allergen avoidance, immunotherapy, cromolyn sodium, and inhaled corticosteroids. Management of asthma in the 1990s requires that all patients receive specific treatments intended to reduce the disease processes and that symptomatic treatment be used only as necessary.
Status assessment of composite insulators for outdoor HV applications

An attempt has been made to summarize the research and development on the topic of assessing the status of composite insulators used for outdoor power delivery. Advances made in the evaluation of the electrical performance are discussed. The findings are applicable to other composite insulating systems, as well. Aspects that have been understood well enough to be of practical use, and those needing further research are outlined.
Accelerating popular tomographic reconstruction algorithms on commodity PC graphics hardware

The task of reconstructing an object from its projections via tomographic methods is a time-consuming process due to the vast complexity of the data. For this reason, manufacturers of equipment for medical computed tomography (CT) rely mostly on special application specified integrated circuits (ASICs) to obtain the fast reconstruction times required in clinical settings. Although modern CPUs have gained sufficient power in recent years to be competitive for two-dimensional (2D) reconstruction, this is not the case for three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions, especially not when iterative algorithms must be applied. The recent evolution of commodity PC computer graphics boards (GPUs) has the potential to change this picture in a very dramatic way. In this paper we will show how the new floating point GPUs can be exploited to perform both analytical and iterative reconstruction from X-ray and functional imaging data. For this purpose, we decompose three popular three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction algorithms (Feldkamp filtered backprojection, the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique, and expectation maximization) into a common set of base modules, which all can be executed on the GPU and their output linked internally. Visualization of the reconstructed object is easily achieved since the object already resides in the graphics hardware, allowing one to run a visualization module at any time to view the reconstruction results. Our implementation allows speedups of over an order of magnitude with respect to CPU implementations, at comparable image quality.
Boater Perceptions of Environmental Issues Affecting Lakes in Northern Wisconsin

Understanding public perceptions of the importance of environmental issues is crucial for gauging support for management activities. I present a novel methodological approach to assess the importance boaters placed on 16 water issues in a lake-rich region of northern Wisconsin. A latent class maximum difference con- joint model was used to examine the relationships between environmental concern and engagement with lake resources. Boaters were grouped to maximize observed heterogeneity in prioritizing issues of concern. Socio- demographic characteristics, recreation specialization, place attachment, and attitudes concerning aquatic ste- wardship and invasive species management were then used to predict class membership. This modeling approach identified five groups whose perceptions of issues pertaining to lakes are influenced by their interac- tions with the lake environment. While anglers were most concerned about fishing quality, sightseers identified lakeshore development and loss of natural habitat. Groups also differed in their socio-demographic and attitudi- nal characteristics. The priorities of each group were substantially different from those of the overall sample. Accounting for differences in stakeholders' environmental concerns may improve public involvement in water management initiatives by allowing managers to identify common concerns and prioritize important issues among multiple groups. (KEY TERMS: best-worst scaling; latent class analysis; decision support systems; sociology; public participa- tion.)
An Extended Concurrent Validation of the Vocational Preferences of Clergymen

A validity extension of the vocational preferences of a previously reported homogeneous sample was attempted for a heterogeneous sample of 30 clergymen. Preferences from the Vocational Preference Inventory indicated that a pattern for the heterogeneous sample had the same order of types as proposed by Holland. Significant differences were found between the two samples on the Conventional and Artistic scales. These findings generally support the concurrent validity of the classification scheme but also point out that differences in levels of preference can be found within two samples of a population.
Inhibition of breast cancer growth and invasion by single-minded 2s.

Single-minded 2 (SIM2) is a member of the bHLH-PAS family of transcription factors. SIM2 was initially identified by positional cloning on chromosome 21 and is thought to contribute to the etiology of trisomy-21 [Down syndrome (DS)]. In addition to the physical and mental deficiencies associated with this genetic disease, it has become apparent that women with DS are 10- 25 times less likely to die from breast cancer in comparison with age-matched normal populations. This is thought to be a result of gene dosage effect of tumor suppressor genes on chromosome 21. Here, we report that a splice variant of SIM2, SIM2 short (SIM2s), is differentially expressed in normal breast and breast cancer-derived cell lines and is downregulated in human breast cancer samples. Re-establishment of SIM2s in MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells significantly reduced proliferation, anchorage-independent growth and invasive potential. Consistent with its role as a transcriptional repressor, SIM2s directly decreased expression of matrix metalloprotease-3, a known mediator of breast cancer metastasis. These results suggest that SIM2s has breast tumor suppressive activity.