cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A13: How do breast imaging centers communicate results: A national survey

Background: Effective communication of mammogram results is important as a step toward reducing patient anxiety and diagnostic delay. Research suggests, however, that many women do not correctly understand their results. The purpose of this study is to describe current communication practices among a nationally representative sample of mammography centers. Methods: A 35-question anonymous online survey was sent to members of the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), an association of more than 2000 physicians, nurses, administrators, radiology technicians, and others involved in breast care. Those involved in mammography were invited to participate. The survey was also distributed at the NCBC9s annual meeting. It asked about centers’ verbal, written, and telephone communication with patients, whether they employ patient navigators and staff with fluency in languages other than English, and whether and how they contact patients who do not follow up. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all responses. Additional analysis to assess the association of demographic variables with responses is ongoing. Results: 221 centers completed the questionnaire. 34% were affiliated with a private radiology practice, 26% were academically affiliated, and 16% were free-standing centers. Nearly half of the centers indicated that more than a quarter of their patients lacked insurance and/or relied on government programs such as Medicaid. Ten percent of the centers indicated that more than a quarter of their patients lacked English proficiency. Ten percent of the respondents indicated that they rarely inform patients of their results at the time of their mammogram; 17% indicated that they inform patients all or most of the time; 35% indicated that the result letters they send are English only; and 12% indicated that they do not have multilingual staff or translators available to answer questions. 22% of the centers indicated that they use patient navigators. 16% of respondents indicated that they do not routinely telephone any patients about results. Chi-square analysis to detect associations between variables is ongoing. Conclusions and Implications: Our sample included a diverse cross-section of mammogram centers, many of which serve low-income patients. More than one in three centers indicated that they do not send result letters in languages other than English, which is concerning given the increasing number of patients with limited English proficiency in the U.S. and past research indicating many women do not understand their result. One in five centers use patient navigators, however, which may help ensure appropriate follow up among patients who lack easy access to healthcare. Informing patients of their results at the time of their test may also be a step more centers could take to enhance patient understanding and reduce anxiety. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A13.
The Reason for Failure of Participation in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy During Cancer Inpatient Rehabilitation and the Effect of a Simple Intervention (727)

Objectives 1. Discuss the current readability levels of written materials used by hospices to provide information to family caregivers. 2. Discuss appropriate readability levels for written materials for families facing the death of a family member. 3. Describe at least one way to improve the readability of written materials aimed at family caregivers. I. Background. Printed education materials can be a great resource for patients and families using hospice services when they are written at a suitable reading level. The average adult American reads at an eighth to ninth grade level, with about one in five at or below fifth grade reading level (Doak, 1996). Healthcare education materials should be written at the fifth to sixth grade reading level (Albright, 1996). II. Research Objectives. Determine the readability of written materials used by hospices throughout the United States to prepare families for care around the time of death. III. Methods. This descriptive study is a secondary analysis of 150 written educational materials used by 170 hospices. Materials were obtained by surveying 400 hospices from across the U.S. Readability scores were determined using the WordsCount Web site (http://wordscount. info/index.html). Four measures were used: (i) Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), (ii) Flesch reading ease, (iii) FlescheKincaid grade level, and (iv) the ratio of big words (words of $ 3 syllables) to total words. IV. Results. SMOG mean 11.06, SD 1⁄4 1.36. Flesch reading ease mean 60.98, SD 1⁄4 8.77. Flesche Kincaid grade mean 8.95, SD 1.80. Mean ratio of big words to total words .1165, SD 0.03. V. Conclusion. The mean SMOG grade indicates that these hospice materials are written at a level higher than recommended. Flesch reading ease and grade levels were appropriate for the average adult in the United States, but are above the recommended level for healthcare materials. VI. Implications for Research, Policy, or Practice. The foremost needs of a family caring for a dying loved one are communication and information (Lowey, 2008). Hospices commonly use written materials to assist in providing information to family caregivers. Materials that are written at high reading levels may not be comprehensible for caregivers and may impair their ability to provide adequate end-of-life care for their loved ones. The Reason for Failure of Participation in Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy During Cancer Inpatient Rehabilitation and the Effect of a Simple Intervention (727) Benedict Konzen, MD, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. (Konzen has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.)
Platelet Activation and Prostacyclin Supporting Capacity in the Loin Pain Hematuria Syndrome

The loin pain hematuria syndrome has been characterized as a constellation of severe recurrent flank pain and hematuria, occurring predominantly in young women. We studied a 17-year-old woman who had recurrent right flank pain, gross hematuria, and fever, without evidence of urinary tract infection. Her physical exam was remarkable for right costovertebral angle tenderness and a normal BP. Her urinalysis showed blood and protein but her creatinine clearance and 24-hour urinary calcium excretion were normal. A kidney biopsy was remarkable for arteriolar subintimal fibrous thickening and fibrin deposition, but no glomerulonephritis. Her peripheral hemostasis evaluation was normal except for circulating platelet aggregates and elevated fibrinopeptide A levels. On two occasions, her serum was unable to normally support prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) production by cultured human umbilical endothelial cells, as measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) of its stable metabolite 6-keto-PGFα. Blood samples from the right renal vein and inferior vena cava revealed a selective elevation of fibrinopeptide A in the right renal venous effluent. The presence of circulating platelet aggregates and elevated levels of fibrinopeptide A (a cleavage product of fibrin) suggests that platelet activation and fibrin deposition may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. The inability of her serum to normally support the production of the potent antiplatelet and antithrombotic substance, PGI 2 , could represent a primary renovascular endothelial cell defect.
Continuous wave lidar measurement of atmospheric visibility

The technique of measurement of phase shift with a modulated cw lidar system for the purpose of atmospheric visibility assessment was evaluated both theoretically and experimentally. A closed form solution for prediction of phase shift as a function of visibility and modulation frequency was developed. Data obtained with a bistatic cw lidar configuration were compared with predictions. Results indicate the expected trends with equipment parameters and call for more extensive experiments.
941 PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING HEART RATE VARIABILITY IN PRETERM INFANTS

Decreased Neonatal Heart Rate Variability (NHRV) was observed in infants dying of RDS over a decade ago; however, only recently instrumentation for its measurement has become available to the clinician. To establish the value of monitoring NHRV, 92 preterm infants were studied (B.W. 750-2500 g., G.A. 28-36 wks.). Each infant was monitored continuously during first 6 hours and for 1 hour at 24, 48 and 168 hours of life. During each hour, NHRV was quantified and related to the following parameters: sex, G.A., respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure, skin, ambient and core temperatures, blood gases, serum lactic acid, glucose and calcium levels, and the presence and severity of RDS. Discriminant analysis of data revealed that NHRV in healthy preterm infants was inversely related to heart rate level and directly related to the infant's post-natal age. In healthy babies whose range of gestation was limited to 32-36 wks., there was no significant correlation between NHRV and G.A. Decrease in NHRV was significantly related to the severity of RDS. Decreased NHRV significantly differentiated the infants with RDS from normal controls from the first hour of life and patients with RDS who died from the patients with RDS who survived after the fourth hour of life. This data reveals that NHRV a) should be corrected for heart rate level and postnatal age, b) is decreased in RDS, and c) can be used as a predictor of course and outcome from RDS.
Reliability of main event measurement in the discourse of individuals with aphasia

Background: Quantitative measures of discourse skills of adults with aphasia can be valuable in documenting evidenced‐based practice. Comprehensive assessment of narrative discourse should include a measure of the ability to relay main events (Nicholas & Brookshire, 1995; Wright, Capilouto, Wagovich, Cranfill, & Davis, 2005). Wright et al. (2005) compared the ability of younger and older healthy adults to relate main events in response to pictured stimuli. Results indicated that the younger group produced a significantly higher proportion of main events as compared to the older group and that the main events measure was stable for individual participants over time. However, performance data and data supporting the stability of the main events measure for individuals with aphasia are needed to extend the clinical usefulness of the main events measure as an assessment tool. Aims: The purpose of this study was (a) to compare the performance of healthy adults and adults with aphasia on their ability to convey...
The superiority of "chemical thinking" for understanding free human society according to Hegel.

Abstract: This paper examines the claim of G.W.F. Hegel (1770–1831) that ‘chemical thinking’—the method of thinking employed in chemistry—marks a significant advance upon (and hence is superior to) ‘mechanistic thinking’—the method of thinking characteristic of physics. This is done in the context of Mancur Olson's theory of collective action and public goods. The analogy between the efficiency of a catalyst in bringing about chemical transformation and the function of leaders in free human society in developing latent groups to provide public goods is explored.
Optimal index policies for quickest localization of anomaly in cyber networks

We consider the problem of quickest localization of anomaly in a resource-constrained cyber network consisting of multiple components. Due to resource constraints, only one component can be probed at each time. The observations are random realizations drawn from two different distributions depending on whether the component is normal or anomalous. Components are assigned priorities. Components with higher priorities in an abnormal state should be fixed before components with lower priorities to reduce the overall damage to the network. The objective is to minimize the expected weighted sum of completion times of abnormal components subject to error probability constraints. We consider two different anomaly models: the independent model in which each component can be abnormal independent of other components, and the exclusive model in which there is one and only one abnormal component. We develop index policies under both models. Optimal low-complexity algorithms are derived for the simple hypotheses case, where the distribution is completely known under both hypotheses. Asymptotically (as the error probability approaches zero) optimal low-complexity algorithms are derived for the composite hypotheses case, where there is uncertainty in the distribution parameters. Simulation results then illustrate the performance of the algorithms.
Renal excretion of trace elements: chromium and copper.

SummaryThe ingestion by normal adults of a standard oral glucose load (75 g) resulted in a significant decrease of the fasting rate of urinary excretion of the trace metal chromium. This effect was not accompanied by any significant parallel change in GFR. Copper excretion rate was not significantly changed by the glucose load. In contrast with the effect of a glucose load, diuresis, induced by a water load, increased the excretion rate of both chromium and copper by more than 100%. The increases in metal excretion with diuresis were not attributable to increased GFR.Observations on the renal excretion of chromium and copper in the dog showed that tubular reabsorption of chromium and copper was greater than 98% in normal fasting conditions. In dogs receiving intravenous infusions of hypotonic saline and of vasopressin, a marked correlation was obtained between urine flow rate, the chromium and copper excretion rates, and also the fraction of the filtered loads of the metals excreted. However, tubular reab...
Geno-fuzzy classification trees

Making the non-terminal nodes of a binary tree classifier fuzzy can mitigate tree brittleness. Using a genetic algorithm, two optimization techniques are explored. In one case, each generation minimizes classification error by optimizing a common fuzzy percent, pT, used to determine parameters at every node. In the other case, each generation yields a sequence of minimized node-specific parameters. The output value is determined through defuzzification after input vectors, in general, take both paths at each node with a weighting factor determined by the node membership functions. Experiments conducted using this geno-fuzzy approach yield an improvement compared with other classical algorithms.
γ-Adducin promotes process outgrowth and secretory protein exit from the Golgi apparatus.

α, β, and γ adducins mediate F-actin remodeling of plasma membrane structures as heterotetramers. Here, we present two new functions of γ-adducin. (1) Overexpression of γ-adducin promoted formation of neurite-like processes in non-neuronal fibroblast COS7 cells. Conversely, overexpression of the C-terminal 38 amino acids of γ-adducin (γAddC38) acting as a dominant negative inhibited formation of neurites/processes in Neuro2A cells and anterior pituitary AtT20 cells. (2) γ-Adducin appears to facilitate pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) exit from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) by re-organizing the actin network around the Golgi complex. Filamentous actins (F-actins) which formed puncti around the Golgi complex in control cells were dispersed in AtT20 cells stably transfected with γAddC38. Furthermore, γAddC38-transfectants showed significant accumulation of POMC/adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) in the Golgi complex and diminished POMC/ACTH vesicles in the cell processes. The C-terminal 38 amino acids of γ-adducin interacted with F-actins around the Golgi complex, to facilitate F-actin-mediated budding of POMC/ACTH vesicles from the TGN. Thus, we propose that γ-adducin, via its interaction with F-actins, plays a critical role in actin remodeling to facilitate process/neurite outgrowth, as well as budding of POMC/ACTH vesicles from the TGN via its interaction with peri-Golgi F-actins.
The nondimensionalization of equations describing fluidization with application to the correlation of jet penetration height

Abstract A nondimensionalization of the basic continuum equations of fluidization and the boundary conditions for these equations provides dimensionless hydrodynamic and geometric parameters which characterize the state of fluidization. For an incompressible gas and monosize, rigid spherical particles in a nonreactive, isothermal environment with no interparticle forces, it is shown that there are four dimensionless hydrodynamic parameters, involving seven physical variables: ϱ s vd 2 /μ x , Stokes number; ϱ/ϱ s , ratio of gas to solid density; v 2 /gx, Froude number; and ϱ vd /μ, Reynolds number. The seven physical variables are ϱ(ϱ s ), gas (solid) density, v , jet velocity, d , particle diameter, x , bed dimension, g , gravity and μ, gas viscosity. The nature and number of the dimensionless geometric parameters depend upon the geometry of the fluidized bed. These dimensionless parameters are applied to correlating data on jet penetration height, in fluidized beds. For the data on single jets, a correlation of jet penetration height, l , can be represented by: where d 0 is the injector diameter. For the data on jets in multiple jet configurations, it is represented by: These correlations are developed from 260 data points for single jets and 122 data points for multiple jets. There is not a Reynolds number, ϱ vd /μ, in either of these correlations; for the range of experimental environments in the data, this parameter had little influence on the correlations.
The survival of genes for stupidity: consistency of fitness and heritability

Abstract Elsewhere, it is argued that intelligence could not be both a heritable trait and one that has made an important contribution to fitness because fitness related traits usually show low heritability. However, pleitropy and balancing selection could maintain such traits. The currently observed smaller families of the more intelligent is a too recent effect to explain the survival of genes for low intelligence. The recently reported mitochondrial DNA allele (15,925 bp in the region coding for threonine tRNA) adversely affecting intelligence in Whites (but absent in Blacks) may be an example of an intelligence-raising gene with adverse effects through decreased maximal oxygen consumption. An alternative location (13,365 bp, affecting energy metabolism) for the intelligence affecting mutation is proposed. The apparent slower ageing in the better educated and the more intelligent may be due to less free radical oxidative damage. However, intelligence is a unique trait in that it requires an observer who is himself intelligent to be observed. Thus, at the time in human evolutionary history when the concept of intelligence is first developed by the most intelligent, it is to be expected that alleles for low intelligence will still be being eliminated.
Pipe Whip—Bounding the Required Restraint Capacity

Vibrations des tuyauteries. Calcul des limites superieures et inferieures de la quantite d'energie que doit absorber le systeme de prevention du fouettage
Pharmacology: Unready for action.

Boy scouts recognize that the key to success is to be prepared. The same is true of molecules that bind to and open ion channels — the least effective ones are slower to prepare the channel to be ready for opening. Partial agonists have a place in pharmacology and clinical applications too, where a modest response is required. They bind to and activate a receptor, but elicit a smaller response than a true or full agonist. For those that act on ligand-activated ion channels it has been assumed for 50 years that they are simply inefficient at inducing the conformational change that opens and shuts the channel. A study of two partial agonists for nicotinic acid receptors — taurine and tetramethylammonium — shows that once bound to the receptor, they are as effective at opening the channel as a full agonist. Rather, the response to partial agonists is limited by an earlier conformation change ('flipping') that takes place while the channel is still shut. This has implications for the interpretation of structural studies, and for the design of partial agonists for therapeutic use.
Influence of thyroxine and steroid hormones on spontaneous and evoked unitary activity in the olfactory bulb of goldfish.

Abstract Three different types of discharge patterns of single cells were observed in the glomerular and subglomerular layers of the olfactory bulbs of normal goldfish, and these patterns were studied also in hormone-treated fish. The Type I pattern is a series of small spikes of relatively higher discharge rate seen in control and thyroxine-treated fishes with the recording electrode in the subglomerular layers of the bulb. Thyroxine treatment elicited a remarkable increase in the “spontaneous” Type I firing rate. Type B, also recorded from the subglomerular zone, a discharge pattern characterized by bursts of spikes, was obtained mostly after sex steroid treatment. Type G is a pattern of somewhat large action potentials, regularly firing, recorded from cells in the glomerular layer of all animals studied. Observations were made of the changes in rate and pattern of firing during infusion of 0.06 M NaCl into the olfactory sac. Estradiol pretreatment produced a strong facilitatory effect on the NaCl response of cells exhibiting the Type G pattern, but it did not alter the responses of cells of the Type B pattern. In contrast, testosterone did not affect the responsiveness of cells of the Type G pattern, but it facilitated NaCl-evoked changes in the firing rate of cells initially presenting the type B pattern. Progesterone and thyroxine were similar in their tendency to inhibit NaCl-evoked changes in rates of these single unit discharges. However, there was a pattern difference in the altered Type I and B firing, after NaCl infusion, between the progesterone and the thyroxine-treated fishes.
Atomization Characteristics, Global Emissions, and Temperature in Biofuel and Petroleum Fuel Spray Flames

Spray flame characteristics of canola methyl ester biofuel (CME) and petroleum fuel (No. 2D) are described. An enclosed spray flame in a heated co-flow air environment at ambient pressure was studied. A single nozzle, swirl-type, air-blast atomizer with a nozzle diameter of 300 microns was used to create the spray. The spray droplet size and velocity distributions were measured using a two-component phase Doppler particle analyzer. In-flame temperature profiles were measured using a type-R thermocouple. Global emission indices of NO and CO were derived from concentration measurements in the combustion products. The overall equivalence ratio was kept at 0.75 to simulate lean burning conditions. The changes in atomization air flow rate produced similar changes in atomization characteristics of both fuels. Emission indices of NO and CO for petroleum fuel were higher than those of the CME fuel. In-flame temperature levels were lower for the CME fuel than for the petroleum fuel at corresponding flame locations.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Either stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation or a flashing light increases latent inhibition to a tone-conditioned stimulus

Male Long—Evans rats chronically implanted with an electrode in the mesencephalic reticular formation were tested in a latent inhibition paradigm to contrast the idea that, under our conditions, stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation enhances memory processing with the notion that such stimulation is aversive. In the preexposure phase of the experiment some animals were given experience with the to-be-conditioned stimulus, a tone. Others received the tone followed by stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation or a flashing light. The animals were then fear conditioned by pairing the tone with footshock. In the test, drink latencies in the presence of the tone indicated that animals given preexposure to the tone followed by stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation or the flashing light showed increased latent inhibition relative to controls given preexposure to the tone but no stimulation. These results strongly suggest that stimulation of the mesencephalic reticular formation is not aversive but, rather, acts to enhance memory processing. The idea that the flashing light may also serve to enhance memory processing is discussed.
‘I recall the advent of a new attendant…’: extract from A Mind That Found Itself by Clifford Whittingham Beers

I recall the advent of a new attendant – a young man studying to become a physician. At first he seemed inclined to treat patients kindly, but he soon fell into brutal ways. His change of heart was due partly to the brutalizing environment, but more directly to the attitude of the three hardened
The thermal neutron cross-section of the reaction 137Cs(n,γ)138Cs

Abstract The thermal neutron cross-section for the reaction 137Cs(n,γ)188Cs has been found to be 0·110 ± 0·033 barns in a flux having a resonance flux, φ r φ th , equal to 0·00277, where φ r φ th is the resonance flux per unit interval of ln E, per unit thermal flux, and the resonance neutron energy ranges from 0·4 eV up to the energy of fission neutrons.
Self-Selected Spelling.

If students are allowed to select their own list of spelling words, it may improve their spelling skills.
The dynamics of a non-dilute vesicle suspension in a simple shear flow

We simulate multivesicle suspensions undergoing simple shear deformation by using the Stokes-flow boundary-integral equation method to quantify the effect of vesicle–vesicle interactions on the microstructure and rheology of the suspension. The binary collisions between vesicles are found to cause a vesicle’s instantaneous inclination angle to deviate considerably from its stationary tank-treading angle. The strength of the binary interaction becomes significant when the distance between centroids is less than three vesicle radii, which is consistent with observations from experiments. Vesicle interactions in the suspension delay the transition from tank-treading (TT) to trembling (TR)/tumbling (TU), which can be explained by the augmentation of the inclination angles in a binary collision when the viscosity ratio is close to its critical value. Accordingly, in a non-dilute suspension the global minimum of the particle shear viscosity occurs at higher values of due to the close correlation between the vesicle’s orientation and particle shear stress. In the high- regime, collisions in a suspension disrupt the TU cycles of individual vesicles, resulting in intermittent TU/TR motions. In addition, an entangled state is observed to occur for an interacting vesicle pair in the TR/TU regime, where the centroids are aligned approximately parallel to the vorticity direction and rotates about it. The persistence of this close-range interaction results in two distinct peaks in the pair distribution of vesicles. However, their existence is limited to suspensions at low volume fraction, as they are otherwise disrupted by the three-body interactions that occur more frequently in a dense suspension.
Respiratory failure in acute pancreatitis. I. The biophysical characteristics of lungs in experimental pancreatitis

Four percent of patients with acute pancreatitis develop an acute form of respiratory overwork and die within 24 hr. To elucidate the basic physiology of this respiratory failure in a group of dogs after production of acute pancreatitis, the respiratory functions and mechanics were studied and were compared with dogs undergoing sham operation. The results showed diminished pulmonary tissue recoil accompanied by deficiency in gas exchange after acute pancreatitis. The minute respiratory volume and oxygen uptake were increased in the presence of a large pulmonary venoarterial shunt. This was associated with hypoxemia and carbon dioxide retention which could be corrected with respiratory assistance by using a volume-controlled respirator. In clinical states any evidence of respiratory overwork and decreased Po2 should be considered as a warning sign of this malignant complication of acute pancreatitis.
Reserpine suppression of dorsal raphe neuronal firing: mediation by adrenergic system

Abstract Reserpine, which induces a depletion of both serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) in brain, suppresses the firing of 5-HT cells in the dorsal raphe. Since these cells are known to be inhibited by either increased 5-HT “availability” or a reduction of adrenergic tone, studies were aimed at defining the role of these transmitter systems in mediating reserpine's suppression of 5-HT cell firing. Intraventricular injections of 6-hydroxydopamine, which destroyed NE terminals in the raphe region, prevented reserpine's effect on 5-HT cell activity. Both 1-amphetamine, which releases endogenous NE, and high doses of clonidine (200–400 μg/kg), a post-synaptic α-agonist, reversed the reserpine-induced depression of firing. Pretreatment with parachlorophenylalanine, which inhibits 5-HT synthesis, did not block either reserpine's depressant effect or amphetamine's ability to restore activity. Taken together, these results suggests that reserpine suppresses 5-HT cell firing by interfering with tonic adrenergic transmission, a normally present pre-requisite for 5-HT cell firing. Local iontophoresis of small amounts of NE dramatically reversed reserpine's depressant effect, but not that produced by systemically administered LSD. Since the dorsal raphe receives an adrenergic innervation, catecholamine terminals there could be responsible for providing the adrenergic tone upon which the firing of 5-HT cells depends. he possible involvement of local GABAergic interneurons in mediating an indirect NE disinhibition of 5-HT cell activity is discussed.
Grip strength: a summary of studies comparing dominant and nondominant limb measurements

10 studies that included comparisons of dominant and nondominant grip strength are summarized. Grip strength is typically greater on the dominant than on the nondominant side, but the difference between sides varies widely among studies and depends on whether individuals are right- or left-hand dominant. Available information may be insufficient to justify using between-side comparisons to make judgments about grip-strength impairments.
Nitrogen fixation: One electron at a time

Dinitrogen ligands — key for understanding how atmospheric nitrogen can be reduced — almost exclusively have even-numbered oxidation states. Now, however, lanthanide complexes with [N2]3− ligands have been synthesized and investigated.
Development of an ASME QME-1-2007 Program for Safety Related Active Valve Assemblies for Advanced Plants

ASME QME-1 “Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment Used in Nuclear Power Plants” sets forth the requirements and guidelines which could be used to assure that active mechanical equipment is qualified for specified service conditions [1]. As determined by federal regulators and/or nuclear power plant licensees, this Standard could be applied to future nuclear power plants, or existing operating nuclear power plant component replacements, modifications, or additions. Over the years, the standard has gone through various revisions to both clarify and extend the requirements. However, the ASME QME-1-2007 standard significantly altered the qualification process for Active Valve Assemblies. For new nuclear plants, such as the Westinghouse AP1000, the change required a redevelopment of the valve assembly qualification program. This paper examines how the ASME QME-1-2007 valve assembly qualification requirements changed, how this has affected new plant valve assemblies and overall equipment qualification program, and the lessons that have been learned during the redevelopment and implementation of the standard. Specific issues covered in this paper include selecting the qualified valves and adjusting valve actuator qualifications to provide the right inputs to the ASME QME-1-2007 program.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
p38 MAPK Inhibition Decreases TNF-α Production and Enhances Postischemic Human Myocardial Function

Introduction.TNF-α is a proinflammatory cytokine implicated in myocardial dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). I/R results in myocardial production of TNF-α and TNF-α suppresses myocardial contractility. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a redox-sensitive protein kinase involved in intracellular signaling leading to TNF-α production. It remains unknown if the human heart produces TNF-α after I/R and, if so, whether p38 MAPK is involved. Hypothesis.p38 MAPK inhibition enhances human myocardial post-I/R contractile function by inhibition of myocardial TNF-α production. Methods.Human atrial trabeculae were suspended in organ baths, field simulated at 1 Hz, and force development was recorded. Following a 90-min equilibration, trabeculae were exposed to a p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB 203580, 1 μM) or vehicle (eachn= 6) prior to simulated ischemia (45 min hypoxia, substrate-free, rapid pacing at 3 Hz) followed by 120 min reoxygenation. Myocardial TNF-α levels were measured by ELISA at end reoxygenation. Results.I/R increased human myocardial TNF-α levels from 26.9 ± 9.3 to 83.9 ± 19.2 pg/g wet tissue (P 0.05 p38 MAPK inhibition vs I/R). p38 MAPK inhibition improved postischemic force development from 18.5 ± 2.1 to 37.0 ± 2.0% baseline developed force (%BDF;P< 0.05 I/R vs p38 MAPK inhibition). Conclusions.(1) The human heart produces TNF-α after I/R, (2) p38 MAPK mediates myocardial I/R-induced TNF-α production, (3) p38 MAPK inhibition limits functional impairment after I/R, and (4) inhibition of ischemia-induced TNF-α production may represent a potent therapeutic strategy for improving myocardial function after angioplasty, coronary bypass, or heart transplantation.
Illinois occultation summary. I - 1977-1978

Instrumentation and data acquisition techniques used to record lunar occultations at the University of Illinois Prairie Observatory are described. Tables and graphs summarize data from 64 events which include 30 observations of stars brighter than 7th magnitude, 40 reappearances, 4 angular diameter measurements, 8 observations of binary stars, and 6 observations which may indicate multiplicity.
Psychological Research and the Black Self-Concept: A Critical Review

Distinctive theoretical features characterizing research in the area of the self-concept, with attention paid to the approaches of phenomenology, existentialism, behaviorism, and symbolic interaction, are related to investigations into the nature of the black self-concept. A modification of Mead's symbolic interactional approaches is developed. The grounding of research on the black self-concept in non-African epistemologies is considered sufficient reason to discard most, if not all, previously published research in the area.
A Model for Representing Programs Using Hierarchical Graphs

In this paper a hierarchical graph model for programs based on the concepts of recursive graphs (RG's) and Codd relations is presented. The purpose of the model is to clearly represent the structure of a program implemented in a structured language, such as Pascal, Algol, or PL/1, so that the program can be analyzed and modifications to the program can be clearly specified. The model uses an RG representation for the control flow and the data flow with an equivalent relational representation. It also has a relational representation for the objects defmed within the program. The various aspects of the model are illustrated using Pascal constructs and a model for an example Pascal program is given.
Molecular asphaltene models based on Clar sextet theory

Asphaltenes, the base components in asphalt used for pavements and roads, are high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with long aliphatic chains and polar functionalities. Significant efforts have been made to develop representative asphalt models for molecular simulations, and several molecular structures have been proposed for asphaltenes based on experimental results and theoretical predictions. Many properties, such as viscosity, depend on the underlying detailed chemical structure of asphaltenes, since it defines the interactions at the nanoscale that dominate the formation of nanoaggregates. Among these interactions, π–π stacking plays a central role in the formation of clusters at the nanoscale level, with strong dependence on the electronic arrangement of π electrons in the polycyclic aromatic core of asphaltenes. Here, based on Clar sextet theory and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we propose asphaltene molecules that optimize the distribution of π electrons in the polycyclic aromatic core and minimize geometrical strain within the molecule. Accordingly, more stable isomers than the asphaltene molecules used in current asphalt models are proposed. These new isomers include a more representative arrangement of the π electrons, crucial for further description of intermolecular interactions and formation of nanoaggregates. Considering these basic guidelines in future molecular modeling of asphalt will improve the development of more accurate models that describe the behavior of these complex materials at the nanoscale.
An Analysis of the Ethical Codes of Corporations and Business Schools

Reports of ethical lapses in the business world have been numerous and widespread. Ethical awareness in business education has received a great deal of attention because of the number and severity of business scandals. Given Sarbanes-Oxley legislation and recent Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International’s (AACSBI) recommendations, this study examined respective websites of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulated public companies and AACSBI-accredited business schools for ethical policy statement content. The analysis was accomplished by classifying ethical expressions into a framework consisting of the attributes of thematic content and focus/themes partially based on the 2004 research of Gaumnitz and Lere. Findings indicate that public companies have been diligent in presenting website ethical content that closely follows authoritative recommendations. Business schools appear not to have prioritized such disclosure to the extent done so by public companies. Although there was improvement between two samples taken in 2005 and 2007, this study provides evidence that many accredited business schools have little or no disclosed ethical expectations in their mission, vision, goals, or other similar types of statements on their websites. Additional findings provide several opportunities for future research.
Cultural and genetic approaches to managing mycotoxins in maize.

▪ Abstract Infection of maize kernels by toxigenic fungi remains a challenging problem despite decades of research progress. Cultural practices, including crop rotation, tillage, planting date, and management of irrigation and fertilization, have limited effects on infection and subsequent mycotoxin accumulation. Current infrastructure and grain storage practices in developed countries can prevent postharvest development of mycotoxins, but this aspect remains a threat in developing countries, especially in tropical areas. Because most mycotoxin problems develop in the field, strategies are needed to prevent infection of growing plants by toxigenic fungi. Developing genetic resistance to Aspergillus flavus, Gibberella zeae, and Fusarium spp. (particularly F. verticillioides) in maize is a high priority. Sources of resistance to each of these pathogens have been identified and have been incorporated into public and private breeding programs. However, few, if any, commercial cultivars have adequate levels of...
Team building in an organizational setting

Examines the concept of team building in organizational settings. Team building is a form of social organization which seems to be replacing the traditional system of management. Two major components are introduced-the utilization of a facilitator and an emphasis on enhancing communication skills. Introducing a facilitator to coordinate activities between management and a team serves to clarify the team's purpose and keep an open line of communication. A second emphasis is on the education of team members on the principles of small group communication. Six small group communication variables are introduced and the role of the facilitator in each is highlighted.
Substituent Effects on the Assembly of Helical Cyanine Dye Aggregates in the Minor Groove of a DNA Template

Double-helical DNA was used as a template for the assembly of helical cyanine dye aggregates. The aggregates consist of cofacial dimers aligned end-to-end in the minor groove of the DNA. The effect of methoxy or fluoro substituents placed on the periphery of the cyanine dye heterocycles on aggregation both in water and on the DNA template was studied by UV−vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Methoxy groups were found to be stronger promoters of aggregation than fluoro, and a dimethoxy dye exhibited a higher propensity to aggregate compared with an unsymmetrical methoxy/fluoro dye. Semiempirical calculations supported the experimental observation of methoxy substitution favoring aggregation. These results indicate that dispersion and hydrophobic effects contribute more to dimerization/aggregation than do electron donor−acceptor effects.
On the Cryptographic Applications of Random Functions (Extended Abstract)

Now that “random functions” can be efficiently constructed([GGM]), we discuss some of their possible applications to cryptography: 1) Distributing unforgable ID numbers which can be locally verified by stations which contain only a small amount of storage. 2) Dynamic Hashing: even if the adversary can change the key-distribution depending on the values the hashing function has assigned to the previous keys, still he can not force collisions. 3) Constructing deterministic, memoryless authentication schemes which are provably secure against chosen message attack. 4) Construction Identity Friend or Foe systems.
APOBEC3G upregulation by alpha interferon restricts human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in human peripheral plasmacytoid dendritic cells

APOBEC3G (A3G), a member of cytidine deaminase family, has potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activity. It has been demonstrated that alpha interferon (IFN-α) can significantly enhance the expression of A3G in human primary resting CD4+ T-cells, macrophages and primary hepatocytes, subsequently decreasing their viral susceptibility. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are key effectors in innate host immunity, mediating adaptive immune responses and stimulating IFN-α production in reaction to various stimuli. In this report, we demonstrate that IFN-α, either exogenously added to- or endogenously secreted by pDCs, can enhance the expression of A3G and its family members such as A3A, A3C and A3F. We have also shown that IFN-α can inhibit HIV-1 expression in pDCs. This inhibitory effect could be countered by addition of an A3G-specific short interfering RNA, indicating that IFN-α-induced A3G plays a key role in mediating pDCs response to HIV-1. Given the central role played by pDCs in orchestrating the IFN-α/A3G intercellular network and intracellular signal pathway, our data indicate that pDCs themselves are also protected by an IFN-α/A3G-mediated innate immunity barrier from HIV-1 infection.
Schizophrenia and Alterations in Self-experience: A Comparison of 6 Perspectives

Contemporary researchers have tended to examine dysfunction among the lives of persons with schizophrenia as a matter of the impact of biological and social forces. While this has greatly advanced the knowledge base, any account of schizophrenia without a full consideration of the illness's first-person dimensions risks missing that schizophrenia is a disorder that interrupts the lives of people who must continue to struggle to find and create security and meaning. While literature from a range of sources has explored self-experience in schizophrenia, one barrier to the creation of a larger synthesis and application of this work is that it remains unclear whether, and to what degree, these differing views of self-experience are comparable with one another. To address this issue, this article reviews 6 different accounts of self-experience, a fundamental, first-person dimension of schizophrenia. The 6 are early psychiatry, existential psychiatry, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, psychosocial rehabilitation, and dialogical psychology. After comparing and contrasting the 6, we conclude that there is a wide-ranging, if general consensus, which suggests that many suffering from schizophrenia experience themselves as diminished relative to their former selves, ie, after onset they experience themselves as less able to engage the world effectively, which intensifies their anxieties in the face of everyday interactions. However, within this broad consensus, significant disagreements exist around issues such as whether these difficulties meaningfully predate the illness, how recovery is possible, and if so, under what conditions. In closing, we suggest a program of research to address these disagreements.
Matching and registration method for remote sensing images

The paper describes a general purpose algorithm for registration and matching of remote sensing images using a least square fitting procedure based on a modified Besl algorithm [Besl and Mckey, 1992]. An example from the Ottawa 1 area illustrates the procedure.
Cutaneous tumors cease CXCL9/Mig production as a result of IFN-γ-mediated immunoediting.

During growth in the host, tumor cells are subjected to the stresses of innate and adaptive immunity (immunoediting), which provoke epigenetic changes in the tumor and increase tumor resistance to these immune responses. Our recent studies in methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcomas have indicated the appearance and rapid growth of tumor variants deficient in producing the T cell chemoattractant chemokine CXCL9/Mig, an important component of antitumor immunity. In the current report, we demonstrate that highly tumorigenic Mig-deficient tumor variants arise in both cutaneous fibrosarcoma and melanoma as a result of immune stress imposed by IFN-γ and T cells. The consequence of the loss of tumor-derived Mig expression is the increased resistance of Mig-deficient tumors to T cell-mediated immunity, which promotes the accelerated growth of these tumor variants. Remarkably, the ability of Mig-deficient tumor cells to express another CXCR3 ligand, CXCL10/IFN-γ–inducible protein, does not compensate for the absent antitumor functions of Mig, suggesting a nonredundant role for this chemokine in the suppression of tumor growth. To our knowledge, these studies report for the first time that IFN-γ–mediated stress leads to the loss of specific chemokine expression by tumor cells, which in turn promotes tumor growth and evasion of the immune response.