cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlating Acid Properties and Catalytic Function: A First-Principles Analysis of Alcohol Dehydration Pathways on Polyoxometalates

Density functional theory calculations and reactivity data were used to examine the mechanism of alcohol dehydration on Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM) catalysts and the influence of the POM composition and the degree of substitution of the alcohol on kinetically relevant elimination steps. Dehydration was found to proceed through E1 pathways in which the alcohol C—O bond is cleaved heterolytically via a carbenium-ion transition state. Dehydration rates were found to depend on the elimination rate constant and the equilibrium constant for the formation of unreactive alcohol dimers. E2-type elimination transition states, involving concerted C—H and C—O bond cleavage, were not found. The extent of substitution at the α-carbon on the alcohol was found to lead to marked effects on elimination barriers, because substitution increases the proton affinity of the alcohol and the stability of the carbenium-ion transition state. Changes in the central and addenda atoms of the POM cluster and the presence of n-don...
PILOT TRIAL OF BRANCHED-CHAIN AMINOACIDS IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

22 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were entered into a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial of treatment with branched-chain aminoacids. 11 received daily 12 g L-leucine, 8 g L-isoleucine, and 6.4 g L-valine, by mouth, and the remainder received placebo. During the one-year trial, patients in the placebo group showed a linear decline in functional status consistent with the natural history of the disease. Those treated with aminoacids showed significant benefit in terms of maintenance of extremity muscle strength and continued ability to walk.
Use of Student Interpreters to Serve Limited English Proficient Patients

Abstract Changing patient demographics and recently expanded federal guidelines require healthcare organizations to provide improved interpreter services to limited English proficient (LEP) patients. Access to health services for LEP patients has become a controversial public policy issue in the absence of consistent payment mechanisms and policies for recipients of federal funds affected by the guidelines. The experience of one hospital in addressing these new market demands illustrates some of the administrative, policy and educational challenges inherent in healthcare service delivery to LEP patients today. This hospital uses bilingual and bicultural college students preparing for careers in health care administration as interpreters. Preliminary data indicate that this is a cost-effective arrangement that can serve as a model for other health care organizations serving LEP patients, and as an incremental, operational coping stratagem while the broader policy issues undergo further debate.
The effect of varying strain rates and stress states on the plasticity, damage, and fracture of aluminum alloys

Abstract In this work, we analyze the plasticity, damage, and fracture characteristics of three different processed aluminum alloys (rolled 5083-H13, cast A356-T6, and extruded 6061-T6) under varying stress states (tension, compression, and torsion) and strain rates (0.001/s, 1/s, and 1000/s). Typically, compression gave the highest stress levels and torsion gave the lowest stress levels. Variations among three tests were within 3% error, so the stress state dependence was a definite flow stress phenomenon. At a 6% equivalent strain, the flow stress difference between compression and tension was 15% for 5083-H131, 16% for A356-T6, and 9% for 6061-T6 at any applied strain rate. Also at 6% equivalent strain for the 5083-H131, A356-T6, and 6061-T6, the flow stress difference between different applied strain rates were 14%, 3%, and 9%, respectively. Hence, the stress state difference had more of a flow stress effect than the applied strain rates for those given in this study (0.001/s up to 1000/s). The stress state and strain rate also had a profound effect on the damage evolution of each aluminum alloy. Tension and torsional straining gave much greater damage nucleation rates than compression. Although the damage of all three alloys was found to be void nucleation dominated, the A356-T6 and 5083-H131 aluminum alloys incurred void damage via micron-scale particles where the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy incurred void damage from two scales, micron-scale particles and nanoscale precipitates. Having two length scales of particles that participated in the damage evolution made the 6061-T6 incur a strain rate sensitive damage rate that was different than the other two aluminum alloys. Under tension, as the strain rate increased, the 6061-T6 aluminum alloy’s void nucleation rate decreased, but the A356-T6 and 5083-H131 aluminum alloys’ void nucleation rate increased. The Horstemeyer–Gokhale void nucleation model was shown to capture the stress state and strain rate effects on the void nucleation rates.
Self and parent ratings of executive functioning after adolescent traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To examine the level of agreement between adolescents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their parents in standardized ratings of executive functioning, and to determine correlates of discrepancies between those ratings. Participants: Ninety-eight 11- to 16-year-old adolescents with TBI and their parents, and 97 neuropsychologically healthy controls. Method: Five-year consecutive series of rehabilitation referrals for TBI. Measures: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Self Report (BRIEF-SR) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) parent report versions. Results: Self and parent ratings were moderately positively correlated in both the TBI group and the control group, but parents generally identified more executive dysfunction than did the adolescents. Parent-adolescent discrepancies were statistically significantly greater in the TBI group than in the control group on the Metacognitive index but not the Behavioral Regulation index. The degree of the former discrepancy was predicted by duration of coma in the TBI group. Conclusions: Adolescents with more severe TBI may underestimate their own degree of executive dysfunction in daily life, particularly aspects of metacognitive abilities, possibly, in part, because of an organic-based lack of deficit awareness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Rapidly progressive dementia

In contrast with more common dementing conditions that typically develop over years, rapidly progressive dementias can develop subacutely over months, weeks, or even days and be quickly fatal. Because many rapidly progressive dementias are treatable, it is paramount to evaluate and diagnose these patients quickly. This review summarizes recent advances in the understanding of the major categories of RPD and outlines efficient approaches to the diagnosis of the various neurodegenerative, toxic-metabolic, infectious, autoimmune, neoplastic, and other conditions that may progress rapidly.
An automaton for fractal patterns of fragmentation

FRACTURES in the Earth's crust have a fractal structure over a wide range of length scales. A micromechanical model has been proposed 1 for the formation of fractal patterns of fragmentation in fault zones, based on the preferential fracture, at all length scales, of neighbours of a particle that have the same size as the particle itself. Here we explore this model in two and three dimensions using computer automata which implement these nearest-neighbour fracture rules. The automata produce random fractals which have capacity dimensions between 1.1 and 1.7 in two dimensions, and between 2.0 and 2.8 in three dimensions, the precise value depending on the packing geometry and the presence of long-range interactions imposed by uniform strain conditions. The fractal fragmentation patterns observed in natural systems tend to have dimensions between 2.5 and 2.7; we suggest that our model may permit an interpretation of these values in terms of the packing configuration (number of nearest neighbours) of the constituent particles.
The trend toward instant starting of fluorescent lamps

Instant and quick-start circuits now on the market for use with fluorescent lamps include the series or sequence type as well as high-frequency-circuits. New designs may lead to smaller ballasts or to a self-starting lamp which will start instantly with present switch-start fixtures.
Results of the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 Assay for Specimens Yielding “Target Not Detected” Results by the Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Test

No significantly discordant results were observed between the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay and the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test (CTM) among 1,190 unique clinical plasma specimens obtained from laboratories located in 40 states representing all nine U.S. geographic regions and previously yielding "target not detected" results by CTM.
Effect of Cryogenic Temperature on the Fracture Toughness of Graphite/Epoxy Composites

The research presented in this paper is an effort to better understand the interlaminar fracture behavior of graphite/epoxy composite laminates in cryogenic conditions. Double cantilever beam tests were performed on different types of specimens, at room and cryogenic temperatures, and the fracture toughness was calculated from their load-displacement diagram. Additionally, the fracture toughness of some plain-weave textile composite specimens and specimens treated with nanoparticles (38 nmAl 2 O 3 ) were also measured. It was observed that all specimens, with the exception of woven composites, showed deterioration in fracture toughness at the liquid nitrogen temperature. Nanoparticle treated specimens showed an improvement in fracture toughness, both at room and cryogenic temperatures compared to the control specimens. The woven composite specimens showed an increase in fracture toughness at cryogenic temperature. The results indicate that woven fiber composites may have potential in lightweight cryogenic storage systems.
Teratogen-induced limb defects

Limb abnormalities are one of the most common and visible phenotypic effects of several human teratogens. The specific effects are different for most teratogens and include effects on limb morphogenesis (thalidomide, warfarin, phenytoin, valproic acid) and the effect of vascular disruption on a limb that had formed normally (misoprostol, chorionic villus sampling, and phenytoin). Either duplication (preaxial polydactyly of hands and feet) or deficiency (absence of thumb) is a common effect of thalidomide; no other human teratogen identified to date has this effect on the developing limb. Procedures during pregnancy, including chorionic villus sampling and dilation and curettage, produce defects of vascular disruption. For common exposures, such as alcohol and cocaine, it has been difficult to confirm objectively the exposure during embryogenesis and to ascribe specific limb defects that are produced. The molecular basis for the limb defects produced by the recognized human teratogens remains unknown.
Subject Access to Fiction: An Application of the Guidelines

In recent literature, authors have advocated the enhancement of subject access to individual works of fiction. Guidelines were developed and published by the Subcommittee on Subject Access to Individual Works of Fiction, Drama, etc. The OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., and the Library of Congress conducted pilot projects to study the implications of subject cataloging of fiction. Researchers have indicated that while improved access to works of fiction drama, etc., is desirable, the idea lacks practicality because of the apparent difficulty involved in applying topical headings to works that are not fact-based in nature. Adding to this difficulty is the fact that most fictional works lack indexes, abstracts, and tables of contents, which can aid the cataloger in applying appropriate headings. Exclusive use of dust jacket copy (or back-of-the-book copy for paperbacks) to form fiction subject headings is recommended. The purpose of this study is to determine whether enough information is included on the dust jacket (or the back cover) to provide adequate subject access in the four areas covered in the Guidelines: character, setting, genre or form, and topic.
Subchronic and chronic exposure to d-fenfluramine dose-dependently enhances splenic immune functions in young and old male Fischer-344 rats.

Serotonin (5-HT) has been shown to modulate various arms of the rodent immune system in an age- and sex-dependent fashion. Thus, only young (5-6 months) male and old (21-23 months) female Fischer-344 (F344) rats demonstrated an elevation in ex vivo assessed basal and IL-2 stimulated splenic NK activity as well as CON-A induced T cell proliferation after subchronic (30-44 days) administration of low doses (0.6-1.8 mg/kg per day, p.o.) of the 5-HT releaser and reuptake inhibitor, d-fenfluramine (d-FEN). In the present study when young male F344 rats were administered higher doses of d-FEN (3-9 mg/kg per day, p.o.) for 30-39 days, there was a dose-dependent decrease in basal NK activity which returned to control levels after overnight incubation with IL-2. Further, only the rats receiving 6 mg/kg per day of d-FEN exhibited an elevation (40%) in CON-A mitogenesis compared to controls. When 15-month-old male rats were treated with d-FEN (0.6 mg/kg per day, p.o.) for 8 months, their NK and T cell activities at 23 months were not statistically different from young (7 months old) control animals. Importantly, neither the old rats treated with d-FEN nor the young control animals evidenced splenic or hepatic hypertrophy and lesions. In contrast, the old control animals showed increased NK activity (250%) and decreased T cell mitogenesis (300%) which correlated with a high incidence of splenic pathology. Thus, long-term exposure to d-FEN appears to maintain the NK and T cell arms of the immune system at youthful levels and prophylactically reduce the splenic pathology associated with advancing age. These results suggest that long-term exposure to increased levels of 5-HT may be beneficial to the immune system of the aging male F344 rat.
German crises before the crisis

The article reviews recent writing on the political economy of Germany. Even before the global economic crisis of 2008–2010, scholars of German politics had identified deep fissures in the German model of capitalism and in the policies that sustained this system. Neither Social Democrats nor Christian Democrats seemed capable of initiating and executing the reforms that would tackle the fiscal dilemmas of the state. Though these recent accounts of German troubles agree in their diagnosis of severe strains and inadequate political response, they diverge in their analysis of the source of these problems. Are they endogenous to capitalist societies that try to reconcile free market economics with social welfare policies? Or were they Induced by the disruptive shocks of globalization and European integration? Whether the origins of the crises before the big crisis were exogenous or endogenous, there remains the further question of the national state's capacity to provide solutions. This article considers the German state's responses to the 2008–2010 financial and economic breakdown and concludes that there may be greater resilience and capabilities in national politics than those that the recent literature has identified.
Retinoic Acid Receptor-γ in Human Epidermis Preferentially Traps All-Trans Retinoic Acid as its Ligand Rather Than 9-cis Retinoic Acid

The biologic activity of retinoids is mediated through nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RAR), which are ligand-activated transcription factors. RAR directly bind and are activated by two naturally occurring isomers of retinoic acid (RA), all- trans retinoic acid ( t -RA) and 9- cis retinoic acid (9 c- RA). Human skin predominantly expresses RAR-γ (≈87%) and RAR-α makes up the remainder. Recombinant RAR-γ preferentially binds t- RA over 9 c- RA in cell-free assays containing mixtures of the two retinoic acid isomers. We have investigated the ligand-binding properties of RAR in human epidermis. [ 3 H]All- trans retinol ( t -ROL) added to suspensions of intact epidermal cells was metabolically converted to [ 3 H] t- RA, which bound to RAR. No binding of [ 3 H]9 c- RA to RAR was detected. Binding of [ 3 H] t -RA, formed from [ 3 H] t -ROL, was abolished by adding unlabeled t -RA, but was unaffected by adding unlabeled 9 c- RA. Intact epidermal cells were incubated with mixtures of [ 3 H]9 c- RA and [ 3 H] t- RA in varying ratios, and the amount of each labeled retinoid bound to RAR was measured. At ratios of 9 c -RA to t -RA of 3:1 or lower, only [ 3 H] t- RA was bound by RAR. Incubation of cells with [ 3 H]9 c- RA alone resulted in substantial (38%) binding of [ 3 H] t -RA to RAR, in addition to binding of [ 3 H]9 c- RA, due to isomerization of [ 3 H]9 c -RA to [ 3 H] t -RA. RAR in nuclear extracts from epidermal cells also displayed strong preferential binding of t -RA over 9 c- RA. Competition studies revealed that 9 c- RA was 6-fold less effective than t -RA at displacing [ 3 H] t -RA bound to RAR in nuclear extracts. At ratios of 9 c- RA to t -RA of 4:1 or lower, RAR in nuclear extracts bound t -RA exclusively. At higher ratios, [ 3 H]9 c- RA binding increased steeply. RAR-α in nuclear extracts bound both 9 c- RA and t -RA without preference, whereas RAR-γ displayed strong preferential binding of t -RA over 9 c- RA. The level of endogenous t -RA exceeds that of 9 c- RA in human skin in vivo , and significant isomerization of topically applied 9 c- RA and 13 c- RA to t -RA occurs. The relative abundance of t -RA in human skin, and preferential binding of t -RA by RAR-γ, indicate that t -RA is the primary ligand mediating RAR-dependent responses in human skin under physiologic conditions, and under pharmacologic conditions when t -RA, 9 c- RA, or 13 c- RA are applied to skin.
High-efficiency, ultrafast separation of emulsified oil–water mixtures

Multiple oil spill disasters over the last few years have highlighted the challenges of effective oil–water separation. The separation of oil–water micro- and nano-emulsions (emulsions with dispersed droplet sizes in the micro- or nano-meter range) can be particularly difficult.1, 2 Shi et al.3 from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Suzhou and Beijing have now developed ultrathin carbon nanotube membranes that can separate a wide range of oil–water micro- and nano-emulsions with separation efficiency >99.9%. Perhaps more significantly, the separation fluxes are 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those obtained with current commercially available separation membranes.
Factors influencing maintenance and release of acetylcholine in rat cortical brain slices.

Abstract Rat cortical brain slices were incubated under a variety of conditions and the ACh concentration of the brain slices and incubating fluid was measured. A high potassium concentration in the incubating fluid released ACh from slices and newly-synthesized ACh remained primarily unbound. Under low-potassium conditions in media containing eserine, there was some evidence for ACh re-uptake. Electrical stimulation of slices resulted in an enhanced release of ACh from brain slices without a fall in brain slice ACh concentration. In a medium containing scopolamine, electrical stimulation of slices resulted in greater ACh release compared to stimulated controls and a fall in brain slice ACh levels. Scopolamine increased ACh release only with electrical stimulation.
Enterprise simulation: a hybrid system approach

Manufacturing enterprise decisions can be classified into four groups: business decisions, design decisions, engineering decisions, and production decisions. Numerous physical and software simulation techniques have been used to evaluate specific decisions by predicting their impact on either system performance or product performance. In this paper, we focus on the impact of production decisions, evaluated using discrete-event-simulation models, on enterprise-level performance measures. We argue that these discrete-event models alone are not enough to capture this impact. To address this problem, we propose integrating discrete-event simulation models with system dynamics models in a hybrid approach to the simulation of the entire enterprise system. This hybrid approach is conceptually consistent with current business trend toward integrated systems. We show the potentials for using this approach through an example of a semiconductor enterprise.
Experiments on Mach-Wave Interactions in a Compressible Shear Layer

A potential technique for improving the growth rate of compressible shear layers is studied, in which a wavy-wall geometry is configured in a confined supersonic shear-layer facility that generates Mach waves in the flowfield. The major objective of this work is to evaluate a numerical model that predicts the growth properties of a three-way resonant interaction of these spatial Mach waves with duct acoustic waves and Kelvin-Helmholtz waves excited artificially or naturally within the shear layer. Measurements show that a tuned pure tone excitation of Kelvin-Helmholtz waves couples with the wavy-wall-induced disturbances and duct acoustic waves to produce local shear-layer growth rates that are approximately 50% higher than the natural, smooth-walled baseline case. The conditions for optimum growth rates are in general concurrence with numerical predictions. In this study the flow physics of a compressible shear layer in a wavy-wall environment was investigated with mean and fluctuating flowfield measurements, as well as schlieren visualizations
Spinal cord astrocytomas: Results of therapy

Spinal cord astrocytomas are rare lesions, usually of low grade, with a long natural history. Because of this, it is difficult to define the optimum approach to therapy based on available data. To provide more data, a retrospective review was performed. From 1975 through 1989, 21 patients were seen and treated (median age, 21 years), and 15 patients received radiation therapy after undergoing either biopsy or resection. The median time until death or the last follow-up examination was 41 months. The actuarial survival of all patients was 68% at 5 years. Of the five deaths, four were related to local tumor recurrence. The overall survival and recurrence-free survival of irradiated patients at 5 years was 57% and 44%, respectively. The age of the patient was a prognostic factor, with younger patients surviving substantially longer before recurrence. Of the 15 irradiated patients, 7 experienced recurrence of the tumor, which occurred within the irradiated portion of the spinal cord in all 7. Gross total resections were rarely achieved and, also, the extent of resection did not influence the risk for recurrence. In summary, we observed a long natural history for this disease, and although additional local therapy appears needed, it is unclear that either higher doses of radiation or more extensive surgery will decrease the risk of recurrence.
Effect of tension and temperature on crystalline polymer texture

A variety of annealing treatments at elevated temperatures have been characterized by a specific infrared absorption assigned to the folded chain segments in polyethylene terephthalate fibers. The higher the annealing temperature, the more regular is the chain folding introduced into the fiber. When a fiber is free to contract, it will have a much larger amount of refolding than one which is held at constant length. Stretching is able to prevent refolding at low temperatures but in these experiments stretching was not able to prevent refolding at the highest temperature. By comparing the above infrared results with small angle X-ray diffraction and broadline nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, it is now possible to give validity to the interpretation that chain folds are major contributors to the long period. The external tension applied to a fiber during an annealing treatment will determine the internal shrinkage tension caused by the molecules during subsequent reheating. If chain refolding is allowed to occur during annealing, the potential for subsequent shrinkage and the amount of internal shrinkage tension are lowered, and higher temperatures are required to activate additional shrinkage. It thus appears that a major contributor to shrinkage and shrinkage tension in an oriented fiber is the refolding of molecules during thermal activation.
Efficiency of the synergistic infection of L cells by groups of damaged vaccinia virus particles, MR

Abstract Suspensions of high passage vaccinia virus have been partially inactivated by methyl methanesulfonate, ultraviolet rays, and heat at 56°. Groups of virus particles, whether present before treatment or formed subsequently, are shown to be 10 to several thousand times more likely to make plaques than single particles. This synergistic effect of MMS and UV is stronger than after heating. It closely resembles the multiplicity reactivation previously shown with X-rays, 137 Cs γ-rays, nitrogen mustard, and formaldehyde. It is demonstrated also in terms of more rapid growth of virus in cultures inoculated with aggregated preparations of virus treated with several of these agents. The probability of plaque formation has been computed for single particles and groups of 2, 3, 4 … from aggregation analyses by electron microscopy. The values, at equivalent dosages, are remarkably similar for all agents except heat.
Kinetics of competitive inhibition of salicylic acid conjugation with glycine in man.

Abstract Man has a very limited capacity for the synthesis of salicylurate from salicylate and glycine. Since the appearance of salicylate metabolites in the urine is rate-limited by formation rather than by renal excretion, it has been possible to demonstrate in intact man that salicylurate formation is describable by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Salicylurate formation rates as a function of salicylate levels in the body have now been determined at the same time that relatively constant body levels of benzoate were maintained by administration of sodium benzoate at frequent intervals. The results of these experiments, which show that benzoate inhibits competitively the formation of salicylurate, constitute apparently the first demonstration of competitive inhibition of drug metabolism by classical enzyme-kinetic methods in intact man.
Centralized administration and academic credit base in experiential education

The Off-Campus Term (OCT) Program of the University of South Florida is a model in experiential education of centralized administration and in granting academic credit. In contrast to many programs where the experiential office serves in a coordinating role, but the academic work is under the supervision of classroom faculty, the OCT Program encompasses all of this under one program umbrella. Further, the program is comprehensive in nature providing for any kind of off-campus experience desired by the student. The methods and systems used, both functional and academic, are described along with the strengths and weaknesses of the OCT centralized model.
Directional selectivity in hamster superior colliculus is modified by strobe-rearing but not by dark-rearing

Visual response properties of superior collicular neurons of normal hamsters were compared with those of animals reared from birth to adulthood in either total darkness or with stroboscopic illumination. Directional selectivity was markedly reduced only in the strobe-reared animals, thus demonstrating visual plasticity in a system that develops apparently normally without visual experience.
System-Level Thermal Modeling Using Nonconformal Domain Decomposition and Model-Order Reduction

To keep up with increasing modeling complexity arising from 3-D integration, novel thermal modeling methods are required to tackle large-scale 3-D systems. In this paper, we propose a system-level thermal modeling method using nonconformal domain decomposition and Krylov space-based model-order reduction (MOR) for both steady-state and transient analysis. To efficiently model a 3-D system, the system is divided into separate domains with independent meshing grids using nonconformal domain decomposition. As a result, reduced-order models can be created for individual domains with MOR ports, which can reduce the computational challenge of performing MOR for the entire system with a large number of unknowns and ports. The connectivity between domains is captured using coupling matrices via Lagrange multipliers and Schur complements. In addition, the proposed method can efficiently handle varying design parameters, such as air convection coefficient and thermal conductivity without performing parameterized MOR. The modeling results show that the proposed method can efficiently simulate 3-D systems with hundreds of ports with a speed-up of 20×, compared with just thermal modeling using domain decomposition.
Prevention of nocturnal elevation of intraocular pressure by gene transfer of dominant-negative RhoA in rats.

Importance We developed a gene transfer tool for the control of nocturnal elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Objective To demonstrate that inhibiting the trabecular meshwork RhoA pathway by delivering a mutated, dominant-negative RhoA gene ( dnRhoA ) carried inside a long-expressing recombinant virus would reduce nocturnal elevated IOP in a living animal. Design and Setting We generated an optimized recombinant viral molecule by inserting a mutated RhoA complementary DNA with a translation enhancer-promoter into a specially designed plasmid containing mutated viral terminal repeats. We then generated the virus particle, self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype 2 carrying the mutated gene (scAAV2. dnRhoA ) and assessed its function in vitro by infecting primary human trabecular meshwork cells and in vivo by injecting living rats intracamerally with therapeutic and control viruses. Three different models of 12-hour light and dark cycles were used. Viruses were injected when animals showed the circadian dark IOP elevation. The IOP measurements were conducted with a tonometer at 2 to 4 hours after onset of the nocturnal and diurnal cycles. Values at preinjection time were used as baselines. Animals were euthanized at 4 to 8 weeks after injection. Exposures Intraocular injection of rodent eyes with the recombinant viral vector scAAV2. dnRhoA . Main Outcomes and Measures Nocturnal elevation of IOP blocked for prolonged periods by transferred RhoA gene. Results By visual inspection, human trabecular meshwork cells infected with scAAV2. dnRhoA showed diminished stress fiber formation. Living rats exhibited a circadian IOP cycle that could be reset by adjusting light conditions to facilitate light and dark nocturnal IOP studies. A single-dose injection of scAAV2. dnRhoA into the rat eyes prevented elevation of IOP during the nocturnal cycle for at least 4 weeks (mean [SE], 9.2 [0.2] mm Hg light IOP and 9.6 [0.4] mm Hg dark IOP), while control eyes showed a significantly higher IOP over baseline (9.5 [0.4] mm Hg light IOP and 13.5 [0.3] mm Hg dark IOP). Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this is the first example of a gene transfer strategy that prevents nocturnal IOP elevation in living animals for prolonged periods. Inhibiting the RhoA pathway upstream of Rho kinase with a safe gene drug could provide a new enhanced treatment for long-term management of elevated nocturnal IOP.
Relapse Prevention: Introduction and Overview of the Model

Summary As an introductory overview of the Relapse Prevention (RP) model, this article briefly describes the conceptual and clinical features of the RP approach to altering excessive or addictive behaviour patterns. In contrast with traditional approaches that overemphasize initial habit change, RP focuses more on the maintenance phase of the habit change process. From this perspective, relapse is not viewed merely as an indicator of treatment failure. Instead, potential and actual episodes are key targets for both proactive and reactive intervention strategies. RP treatment procedures include specific intervention techniques designed to teach the individual to effectively anticipate and cope with potential relapse situations. Also included are more global lifestyle interventions aimed at improving overall coping skills and promoting health and well being. Important questions raised by this relatively recent alternative to traditional approaches are discussed.
Fire induced flows through room openings-flow coefficients

A full-scale experimental and theoretical study was made of steady-state fire-induced flows through doorway and window openings. Measurements included two-dimensional temperature and pressure-difference profiles within the opening and vertical temperature profiles within the rooms connected by the openings. Gas burners served as the energy source. Mass flow rates through the openings were calculated from the opening data. A static-pressure flow model was used to establish ideal orifice flows. The opening and ideal flow results were combined to form room-opening flow coefficients as a function of fire energy release rate, opening geometry, and fire location. An irrotational jet model for the flow coefficients was developed and found to be in reasonable agreement with these and other measurements. Measured flow coefficient results show no significant dependence on fire strength, opening geometry, or fire location. The mean value of the inflow coefficient is 0.68 and 0.73 for the outflow coefficient. However, the theory indicates a significant variation in flow coefficient with opening widths larger than those used in the experiments.
Renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus: is cytoreductive nephrectomy for advanced disease associated with an increased complication rate?

ABSTRACTPurpose: We examined whether cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with venous tumor thrombus and metastatic disease is associated with more complications than in those with thrombus without metastatic disease.Materials and Methods: Between 1989 and 2000, 74 patients with renal vein extension, 87 with inferior vena caval extension and 491 without tumor thrombus underwent nephrectomy at our institution. Metastatic and nonmetastatic renal vein extension in 51 and 23 cases, inferior vena caval extension in 54 and 33, and nontumor thrombus in 171 and 320, respectively, were compared for symptoms at presentation, surgical data, mortality and complications.Results: For nonmetastatic and metastatic inferior vena caval extension presenting symptoms, hospital stay, surgical time and the number of patients undergoing thoraco-abdominal incision, lymph node dissection, venacavotomy alone for thrombus and adrenal sparing surgery were similar. Five patients with thrombus died intraoperatively or postoperatively...
Computational study of wind-tunnel wall effects on flow field around delta wings

This paper addresses wind-tunnel wall effects on delta-wing flow fields using the Free Vortex Sheet (FVS) theory in support of planned subsonic wind-tunnel tests. The configurations include several sizes of a 65-deg delta wing in the NASA Langley Research Center Low-Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (LTPT), and an aspect ratio 1 delta wing in the Delft University low-speed tunnel. Standard upflow correction methodology is extended to account for angle-of-attack and nonplanar effects. Blockage and streamline curvature corrections are not applied in the present investigation. Resulting corrections to the 65-deg delta flow field were good for model-to-tunnel span ratios up to 0.5 and angles of attack up to 30-deg, both for linear attached flow and nonlinear vortex flow. For the aspect ratio 1 delta wing, corrections to the vortex flow field for the effect of the averaged upflow angle were satisfactory but streamline curvature effects were larger.
Mechanical properties and energy absorption of heterogeneous and functionally graded cellular structures

Abstract The crushing behaviour and energy absorption of honeycombs made of a linear elastic-perfectly plastic material with constant and functionally graded density were studied up to large crushing strains using finite element simulation. Our numerical simulations showed three distinct crushing modes for honeycombs with a constant relative density: quasi-static, transition and dynamic. Moreover, irregular cellular structures showed to have energy absorption similar to their counterpart regular honeycombs of same relative density and mass. To study the dynamic crushing of functionally graded cellular structures, a relative density gradient in the direction of crushing was introduced in the computational models by a gradual change of the cell wall thickness. Decreasing the relative density in the direction of crushing was shown to enhance the energy absorption of honeycombs at early stages of crushing. We also developed detailed finite element models of a three-dimensional closed-cell rhombic dodecahedron structure subjected to dynamic crushing. We specifically quantified the distribution of plastic strain and energy absorption of the cellular structure and provided a comparison with the results obtained in analysis of 2-D cellular structures. The results provide new insight into the behavior of engineered and biological cellular materials, and could be used in development of a new class of energy absorbent cellular structures.
Isoindigo-Containing Molecular Semiconductors: Effect of Backbone Extension on Molecular Organization and Organic Solar Cell Performance.

We have synthesized three new isoindigo-based small molecules by extending the conjugated length through the incorporation of octyl-thiophene units between the isoindigo core and benzothiophene terminal units. Both UV–vis and Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction experiments show that such extension of the π-conjugated backbone can induce H-aggregation, and enhance crystallinity and molecular ordering of these isoindigo-based small molecules in the solid state. Compared to two other isoindigo-based derivatives in the series, the derivative with two octyl-thiophene units, BT-T2-ID, is the most crystalline and ordered, and its molecular packing motif appears to be substantially different. Devices utilizing these new extended isoindigo-based small molecules as the electron donor exhibit higher performance than those utilizing nonextended BT-ID as the electron donor. Particularly, devices containing BT-T2-ID in an as-cast blend with PC61BM show power conversion efficiencies up to 3.4%, which is comparable to th...
Electron-nuclear double-resonance study of NaF: Fe + in an octahedral site

Results of electron-nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR) measurements and an analysis of a paramagnetic ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{+}$ ion in an octahedral site in NaF are presented. The hyperfine constants of the octahedral center have been determined for the fluorine-lattice nuclei in the first five shells (shells I, III, V, IX, and IX') and for the sodium-lattice nuclei in the first two shells (shells II and IV). Both positive and negative Fermi contact interactions are observed. A good example of multiplet structure of ENDOR spectra due to the equivalent fluorine nuclei in the first shell has been observed and analyzed by numerical diagonalization of the spin Hamiltonian of this system.
Topology of order complexes of intervals in subgroup lattices

Abstract We conjecture that the order complex of an open interval in the subgroup lattice of a finite group has the homotopy type of a wedge of spheres and prove that if (H,G) is a minimal counterexample to this conjecture then either G is almost simple or G=HN, where N is the unique minimal normal subgroup of G, N is non-Abelian and H∩N=1.
Diamagnetic and zeeman shifts of the ground state of arsenic donors in germanium

Abstract The technique of four-wave mixing spectroscopy has been utilized to study the magnetic field dependence of the valley-orbit splitting, 4△(B), of As donors in Ge at 1.8°K for ⊥ [111]. The upper ground level, ls(T2), splits into two levels, one of “high” and the other of “low” diamagnetism. For donor concentration ND ⪷ 5 × 1015 cm-3 we have measured the diamagnetism and g-factor for the high diamagnetism level (g ≅ 1.07) as a function of (
Abstract LB-297: Mortality trends from lung and bronchus cancer in Boone County, W.V., USA before and after mountaintop removal mining practices

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Publically-available databases (CDC/NCI) report causes of mortality at the national, state and recently, county level. However, county or sub-county-wide health in West Virginia is difficult to assess due to the rural, sparse and isolated nature of many counties. In Boone County, WV, villages are arranged in a narrow, winding valley or ‘hollow’ lying between mountain peaks and situated along a creek or river. This region, rich with subterranean coal seams, has been mined for over 100 years; however, mountaintop removal mining (MTR), which began in the 1980s, now allows for the removal of previously-inaccessible seams by surface mining techniques in the top third of a mountain. Mountaintop removal mining has increased dramatically and current estimates suggest greater than 30 percent of West Virginia’s coal is produced using this technique. For people residing near MTR sites, dust particulates or other mobilized constituents (minerals, metals, coal, or excipients) may present a health hazard by entering the food chain via vegetables or fruit grown in a home garden, through drinking water, or by breathing or ingestion. To evaluate whether the rate of lung and bronchus cancer deaths have changed over the past fifty years, mortality records were examined from 1962 and 1972-3 (before mountaintop mining removal was widely used) and compared with those from 2006-12. The Chi-squared statistic was used to compare the frequency distributions for the rate of lung and bronchus cancer deaths in eight age categories between 1962, 1972-3, and 2006-12. We found the three time periods were significantly different from one another (α=0.005), and that the number of lung and bronchus cancer deaths had increased in those aged 45 years or older. Smoking rates and socioeconomic status within the county have remained relatively constant during the past decade. Taken together societal and environmental changes and medical advances have influenced causes of mortality in this coal-rich Appalachian county. Citation Format: Lynn M. Crosby, Christina DeVera, Kaylene Charles, William Orem. Mortality trends from lung and bronchus cancer in Boone County, W.V., USA before and after mountaintop removal mining practices. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-297. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-297
Cortex, a Drosophila gene required to complete oocyte meiosis, is a member of the Cdc20/fizzy protein family

Summary: Mutations in cortex and grauzone cause abnormal arrest in Drosophila female meiosis. cortex was mapped to a 14 kb interval in 26F–27A by the male recombination mapping method. While these experiments mapped the gene accurately, they also illustrated some complexities of this method. Rescue results showed that a 2.8 kb genomic fragment from this interval was able to fully rescue the cortex phenotype. The 2.8 kb rescuing fragment contains a single open reading frame. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates that cortex encodes a WD-repeat protein and is a distant member of the Cdc20 protein family. Results from a developmental Northern analysis showed that the cortex transcript is expressed at high levels during oogenesis and early embryogenesis. Interestingly, the meiotic metaphase-anaphase II arrest defect in embryos laid by cortex homozygous females resembles the mitotic metaphase-anaphase defects observed in yeast cdc20 mutants. The predicted nature of the Cortex protein, together with the observed meiotic phenotype in cortex mutants, suggest that a similar pathway to the cdc20 dependent APC-mediated proteolysis pathway, which governs the metaphase-anaphase transition in mitosis, is also important in regulating oocyte meiosis. genesis 29:141–152, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Exact analysis of Coulomb gauge vacuum degeneracies in (2 + 1) dimensions

Abstract The solutions of the two-dimensional euclidean σ-model provide an infinite number of pure gauge field configurations satisfying the Coulomb gauge condition, in (2 + 1) dimensions. For vacuum gauge fields associated with finite action instanton solutions of the σ-model, we find that the winding number n configuration leads to n negative eigenvalues for the ghost operator, up to a finite calculable degeneracy.
Reaction Times of Twenty Limestones

Particle size and calcium carbonate equivalent characterize agricultural limestone. When agricultural limestone is used for horticultural container substrates, variations in pH among batches of substrate produced with the same limestone rate, as well as pH drift from initial pH, occur. Horticultural endeavors require more detailed characterization of limestone neutralization capacity than is provided for agricultural limestones. Reactivity of twenty limestones encompassing a broad range of calcium and magnesium carbonate were compared. Limestones were wet-sieved into three particle-diameter fractions and reacted with ammonium chloride in the presence of steam. Fine particles reacted faster than coarse; however, there was a point beyond which degree of fineness of calcitic limestone no longer affected reactivity. Dolomitic limestones were slower reacting than calcitic. Reactivity within particle fractions of dolomitic and coarse calcitic limestones varied significantly. These results indicate that particle diameter and calcium carbonate equivalent are not the only factors influencing limestone neutralization capacity.
Abstract 2259: Oxidative DNA damage causes premature senescence in mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient for krüppel-like factor 4

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc-finger-containing transcription factor with tumor suppressor activity in various cancer types. Cells that sustain double strand breaks (DSBs) in their DNA due to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can develop genomic instability, which can result in cancer formation. One protective response to increased levels of ROS is the induction of cellular senescence. Recently, we found that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) null for Klf4 are genetically unstable, as evidenced by the presence of DNA DSBs. However, it is yet unknown whether KLF4 is involved in regulating oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. Therefore, we sought to determine the mechanisms by which ROS induce genomic instability in Klf4-deficient MEFs. With SA-β-Gal staining, we show that Klf4-/- MEFs enter senescence earlier than Klf4+/+ MEFs, and western blot shows accumulation of p21 and p53 with increasing passages. In addition, immunostaining against γ-H2AX indicates that the increased level of DNA damage in Klf4-/- MEFs positively correlates with ROS accumulation. Consistent with ROS as a source of DSB in Klf4-/- MEFs, treatment with NAC, reduced the accumulation of DNA damage. Our RT-PCR result demonstrates that Klf4-/- MEFs have decreased expression of the antioxidant gene, Gstα4. The downregulation of the Gstα4 correlates with significant levels of ROS accumulation, as shown by DCFDA and FACS analysis, and thus the oxidative stress-induced premature senescence. Together these findings suggest a mechanism by which KLF4 protects against DNA damage and oxidative stress at least in part through the regulation of Gsta4 and likely related genes. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Changchang Liu, Stephen La Rosa, Engda Hagos. Oxidative DNA damage causes premature senescence in mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient for kruppel-like factor 4. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2259. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2259