cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social network heavy drinking moderates the effects of a brief motivational intervention for alcohol use among injured patients.

Abstract Background Limited research has focused on identifying the extent to which social networks impact the effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions delivered in trauma care settings. Objectives The research presented here examines the extent to which the percent of heavy drinkers and percent of abstainers in one’s social network moderates the effectiveness of a brief motivational intervention with and without a telephone booster on alcohol use among trauma patients. Method Secondary data analyses were conducted using data from 596 participants (456males) who were recruited from three urban Level I trauma centers. Patients were randomized to one of the three intervention conditions: brief advice (BA; n = 200), brief motivational intervention (BMI; n = 203), and BMI with a telephone booster (BMI + B; n = 193). For the purpose of the present study, measures of alcohol-specific social network characteristics at baseline and alcohol use at 3- and 6-month follow-up were used. Results At low percentages (0% to ~7%) of people in one’s social network who are heavy drinkers, there was a negative, statistically significant effect of the BMI conditions versus the BA condition on alcohol use. However, percent of abstainers did not moderate the effects of the BMI conditions. Conclusion The results suggest that the BMI and BMI + B conditions may be most effective among patients with no heavy drinkers in their social networks. BMIs may benefit from including a component that addresses having one or more heavy drinkers in one’s social network.
A rare case of transient portal venous gas.

Abstract Hepatic portal venous gas, while a rare finding with a classically poor prognosis, is not always fatal. Mortality varies depending on the underlying etiology; bowel ischemia carries the highest mortality rate. Other etiologies include gastrointestinal obstruction, gastric ulcer, infectious processes (intraperitoneal abscess and gastroenteritis), inflammatory processes (ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease, chemotherapy-induced), and complications from endoscopic procedures. We report a case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with a week-long history of diminished intake, nausea, and vomiting, with unremarkable abdominal examination, who was found to have significant portal venous gas that completely resolved within 16 hours without surgical intervention.
Feasibility of same day surgery for pediatric second branchial cleft anomalies

Abstract Objective The risk of expansile hematoma and airway compromise following neck surgery have been used to validate overnight observation. We investigated the outcomes of pediatric patients undergoing a removal of second branchial cleft anomalies (BCA) via either same day surgery or overnight observation. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing second BCA removal between January 1, 2008 to January 1, 2019 was performed. 40 cases were identified for review. Bivariate analyses were performed to determine predictive factors for overnight admission as well as associations between overnight observation and adverse outcomes (hematoma, seroma, airway compromise, infection). Factors evaluated for analysis included ASA class, surgeon type, history of pre-operative infection, recurrent case, operation >90 min, pharyngeal violation, intraoperative cyst rupture, cyst size, and drain placement. Results There were no life-threatening adverse events. Same day discharge was not associated with adverse events (p = 0.24). Overnight observation was associated with a history of preoperative infection (p = 0.003), cyst > 3.0 cm (p = 0.046), operative time > 90 min (p Conclusion Same day discharge following second branchial cleft anomalies appears safe and feasible. Further study is needed to determine the safety profile of same day discharge and etiologies of practice patterns of overnight observation.
Pityriasis rosea as a leading manifestation of COVID-19 infection.

To the Editor: Reported cutaneous manifestations incidence during COVID-19 infection varied between countries, a recent review showed a worldwide mean incidence of 1.7%. These manifestations are polymorphic, and vary dependently on the disease severity. Few pityriasis rosea (PR) and PR-like eruptions have been reported during COVID-19 infection.
Commercializing the “Lost Crop of the Inca”: Quinoa and the Politics of Agrobiodiversity in “Traditional” Crop Commercialization

In the past decade, quinoa transformed from a traditional “peasant food,” produced and consumed almost exclusively in the Andes, into a global consumer “superfood.” Renowned for its exceptional nutritional profile, the “lost crop of the Inca” is now a staple in the diets of health-conscious consumers in the US and Europe. In Peru, now the world’s leading producer, quinoa exports increased 12-fold between 2009 and 2014, and thousands of smallholder agriculturalists converted subsistence farms into export-oriented quinoa operations. Quinoa’s remarkable success in global markets has made quinoa a poster child for multicultural development’s project to integrate cultural difference into paths to “progress” and “development.” Yet quinoa’s commercialization requires a radical reconfiguration of socio-natural landscapes of production, as well as patterns of consumption. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with quinoa producers and development practitioners in the Puno region of Peru, this chapter examines how quinoa producers and development practitioners negotiate local production systems and corresponding regimes of value and knowledge that emphasize intra- and inter-species diversity and logic of capital that emphasizes homogeneity and standardization. The quinoa boom is a case study to point to broader paradoxes of neoliberal multiculturalism and the politics of commercialization traditional Andean foods.
Ab initio and Monte Carlo studies of physical properties of semiconductor radiation detectors

The structural and electronic properties of Cd1−xZnxTe and Cd1–xMnxTe compound semiconductors are investigated by using the first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave method based on the density functional theory (DFT). The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and the local density approximation (LDA) are used. The calculated lattice parameters, the bulk modulus and the electronic band structures of different alloys are found to be in good agreement with the literature data. Absolute, photopeak and intrinsic detection efficiencies, in the 511–1332.5 keV gamma-ray energy range, are investigated using a stochastic approach, which is the Monte Carlo method as implemented in the Geant4 code. The calculated parameters are analyzed in the light of the available data.
Employer Support as a Predictor of Online Master’s Student Retention:

Enrollment in master level programs, particularly online, have been increasing nationwide. Students enrolled in online master’s programs tend to be older and more ethnically diverse, and are likely...
Nearest-neighbour transition-state analysis for nucleic acid kinetics.

We used stopped-flow to monitor hypochromicity for 43 oligonucleotide duplexes to study nucleic acid kinetics and extract transition-state parameters for association and dissociation. Reactions were performed in 1.0 M NaCl (for literature comparisons) and 2.2 mM MgCl2 (PCR conditions). Dissociation kinetics depended on sequence, increased exponentially with temperature, and transition-state parameters inversely correlated to thermodynamic parameters (r = -0.99). Association had no consistent enthalpic component, varied little with temperature or sequence, and poorly correlated to thermodynamic parameters (r = 0.28). Average association rates decreased 78% in MgCl2 compared to NaCl while dissociation was relatively insensitive to ionic conditions. A nearest-neighbour kinetic model for dissociation predicted rate constants within 3-fold of literature values (n = 11). However, a nearest-neighbour model for association appeared overparameterized and inadequate for predictions. Kinetic predictions were used to simulate published high-speed (<1 min) melting analysis and extreme (<2 min) PCR experiments. Melting simulations predicted apparent melting temperatures increase on average 2.4°C when temperature ramp rates increased from 0.1 to 32°C/s, compared to 2.8°C reported in the literature. PCR simulations revealed that denaturation kinetics are dependent on the thermocycling profile. Simulations overestimated annealing efficiencies at shorter annealing times and suggested that polymerase interactions contribute to primer-template complex stability at extension temperatures.
Across the Urban Divide: STEM Pipeline Engagement among Nonmetropolitan Students

Previous research highlights STEM educational inequities within various demographic groupings. However, little research explores the role of geography in STEM talent development. The present study assesses interest in and progression toward postsecondary STEM credentials among nonmetropolitan high school students (including rural areas and small towns) in the USA. Utilizing a national longitudinal dataset, the study finds nonmetropolitan high school students to be interested in STEM careers at rates equal to or greater than metropolitan students. However, our findings suggest that there are unique barriers on route to college for nonmetropolitan students. In general, geography alone does not account for differences in the educational pathways of nonmetropolitan students—in many cases, K-12 school characteristics play a more important explanatory role. The results of the present study may be useful in further understanding geographic inequity and identifying approaches to facilitate college degree attainment for the significant number of rural and small town students who are interested in a STEM career field.
Technoeconomic analysis of oxygen-nitrogen separation for oxygen enrichment using membranes

Abstract Enriched oxygen is a valuable commodity and has a range of applications including coal-gasification and uses in the chemical industry. Enriched oxygen can be obtained from air using different processes, such as cryogenic distillation, pressure swing adsorption, membrane-based air separation, etc. Air can be separated into component gases using membranes that do not require any regenerative steps and the products can be directly used or discharged. To understand the economics of polymer membrane-based oxygen enrichment, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a spreadsheet based technoeconomic analysis model that considered numerous parameters including selectivity and permeability of the membranes, performance conditions such as number of stages, module material, electricity cost, membrane cost, financing, etc. INL calculated the cost of production of product gas (containing an enriched O2 content) in US$/kg gas product at different oxygen purities and compared that with cryogenic distillation and pressure swing adsorption processes. This analysis helped to determine the membrane module scale performance targets in terms of permeability and selectivity of membrane modules to be economical for use in a small modular coal-fired gasification plant (10–25 tons/day). INL determined that a double staged membrane process with the selectivity of 5.5 and permeance of 1000 GPU has a cost of gas production of US$0.05/kg for 90% pure oxygen. This production cost is lower than pressure swing adsorption and competitive with cryogenic distillation, which only meets its cost targets at a much larger scale. Similarly, a three staged membrane process with the selectivity of 3.1 and permeance of 1000 GPU has the cost of production of US$0.071/kg for 90% pure oxygen.
Aviation

Background An increased awareness of the need for safety in medicine in general and in surgery in particular has prompted comparisons between the cockpit and the operating room. These comparisons seem to make sense but tend to be oversimplified.
Corticospinal Motor Circuit Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury: Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Improve Functional Outcomes

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that affects approximately 294,000 people in the USA and several millions worldwide. The corticospinal motor circuitry plays a major role in controlling skilled movements and in planning and coordinating movements in mammals and can be damaged by SCI. While axonal regeneration of injured fibers over long distances is scarce in the adult CNS, substantial spontaneous neural reorganization and plasticity in the spared corticospinal motor circuitry has been shown in experimental SCI models, associated with functional recovery. Beneficially harnessing this neuroplasticity of the corticospinal motor circuitry represents a highly promising therapeutic approach for improving locomotor outcomes after SCI. Several different strategies have been used to date for this purpose including neuromodulation (spinal cord/brain stimulation strategies and brain-machine interfaces), rehabilitative training (targeting activity-dependent plasticity), stem cells and biological scaffolds, neuroregenerative/neuroprotective pharmacotherapies, and light-based therapies like photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photobiomodulation (PMBT). This review provides an overview of the spontaneous reorganization and neuroplasticity in the corticospinal motor circuitry after SCI and summarizes the various therapeutic approaches used to beneficially harness this neuroplasticity for functional recovery after SCI in preclinical animal model and clinical human patients' studies.
Utilization of the Boston Children’s Hospital SRTR Cohort Visualization Tool to increase team understanding of reporting cohorts

BACKGROUND While reviewing outcomes metrics and data from the SRTR, it became apparent that prospective assessment of the SRTR reporting cohorts would be an important proactive strategy for internal quality control. It was particularly important to identify the number of patient deaths and graft failures within 1 year of transplant that would result in being flagged by the UNOS and the MPSC. METHODS A simple Microsoft Excel line graph was created to visually display retrospective, current, and future SRTR cohorts. Data provided by the SRTR CUSUM (https://securesrtr.transplant.hrsa.gov/srtr-reports/cusum-charts/) Reports and the SRTR 1 Year Expected Survival Excel Worksheet (https://securesrtr.transplant.hrsa.gov/srtr-reports/current-release/) were leveraged to identify whether programs were in jeopardy of being flagged by UNOS/MPSC for outcomes. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The creation of this visual tool has greatly improved team understanding of SRTR report cohorts, as well as the risk of being flagged by regulatory agencies, for adverse outcomes.
Evaluating the critical success factors of data intelligence implementation in the public sector using analytical hierarchy process

Abstract This study aims to fill a gap in the literature by identifying, defining, and evaluating the critical success factors that impact the implementation of data intelligence in the public sector. Fourteen factors were identified, and then divided into three categories: organization, process, and technology. We used the analytical hierarchy process, a quantitative method of decision-making, to evaluate the importance of the factors presented in the study using data collected from nine experts. The results showed that technology, as a category, is the most important. The analysis also indicated that project management, information systems & data, and data quality are the most important factors among all fourteen critical success factors. We discuss the implications of the analysis for practitioners and researchers in the paper.
The efficiency-fairness balance of Round Robin scheduling

Abstract Round Robin is a widely used scheduling policy, used primarily because it is intuitively fair, splitting the resources evenly among the jobs. Little is known, however, of its fairness with respect to completion times for the jobs, which is typically measured using the l p -norm of the completion times of the jobs for small p. This paper studies Round Robin's performance for the l p -norm of the completion times when scheduling n preemptive jobs on a single machine, for all integral p ≥ 1 . We show that if all jobs arrive at the same time Round Robin's approximation ratio is exactly p + 1 p . When jobs arrive over time, we show that Round Robin's competitive ratio is at most 4 for any p ≥ 1 .
Use of the 180 Heart Rate Response as a Measure of Circulorespiratory Capacity

Abstract Forty-four subjects were given an all-out run test on a motor driven treadmill. The times for attaining heart rates of 150, 160, 170, 180 beats per minute were recorded along with measurements of ventilation, oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production. The correlations between heart rate times and the all-out run times increased with the heart rate, a correlation of .85 calculated at the rate of 180 beats per minute. Using criteria established by Balke, it was demonstrated that the 180 heart rate serves as a valid cut-off point in measuring circulorespiratory capacity under variable exercise stress conditions.
Occurrence of Mysidopsis almyra Bowman, M. bahia Molenock and Bowmaniella brasiliensis Bacescu (Crustacea, Mysidacea) from the Eastern Coast of Mexico

Three species of mysids, Mysidopsis almyra, M. bahia and Bavmaniella brasiliensis are recorded for the first time from four locations along the eastern coast of Mexico. Data on geographical distribution, population structure, length, brood size, and morphological variation are given.
α‐Sulfopalmitic Acid

α-Sulfopalmitic acid reactant: Palmitic acid (200 g., 0.78 mole) reactant: sulfur trioxide, 53 ml. (100 g., 1.25 moles) product: α-Sulfolauric acid product: α-Sulfomyristic acid product: α-Sulfopalmitic acid product: α-Sulfostearic acid product: α-Sulfobehenic acid Keywords: sulfonation, C-sulfonation; sulfur trioxide, liquid, handling of; sulfur trioxide; sulfur trioxide, reaction with chlorinated solvents; rubber dam; stirrers, sealed
Thermal relaxation calorimeter for measurement of specific heat of small samples between 4 and 35 K

We describe a thermal relaxation calorimeter which has been developed to investigate the thermal property characteristics of bulk films as small as 1 mg over the range of temperatures from 4 K to 35 K. The calorimeter is designed to be attachable to various liquid helium dewars to provide minimum liquid helium consumption and faster thermal cycling while demonstrating high sensitivity and reproducibility. Details of the calorimeter and its performance are given. Preliminary thermal property results associated with the sapphire sample holder are provided to show reproducibility of the measurements.
17 - Prions of Yeast as Epigenetic Phenomena: High Protein “Copy Number” Inducing Protein “Silencing”

Abstract Yeast infectious protein (prion) forms of the Ure2 and Sup35 proteins determine the nonchromosomal genes [URE3] and [PSI], and these are, therefore, the basis for a kind of epigenetic phenomena. In many systems, introduction of multiple copies of a DNA gene, or dsRNA copies of its sequence, results in the epigenetic silencing of that gene. In parallel with these homology effects, which act at the level of DNA or RNA, elevated copy number of the Ure2 and Sup35 proteins increases the frequency of their own “silencing” by prion formation. Both [URE3] and [PSI] appear to be due to self-propagating amyloid formation of Ure2p and Sup35p, respectively. Another prion, [Het-s] of the filamentous fungus, Podospora anserina, is necessary for a normal cellular function, heterokaryon incompatibility. Since these prions are nonchromosomal genes, they are proteins acting as genes, a parallel to the fact that nucleic acids can catalyze enzymatic reactions.
Alternative Measures of U.S. Fiscal Deficits

The most widely quoted financial statistic about the U.S. government is its annual budget deficit. This measure, usually interpreted as an indicator of the extent to which the government is shifting costs incurred in the current period to the future, can be incomplete and misleading. At the very least, informed citizens with an interest in future tax burdens or intergenerational equity need to supplement the current deficit measure with broader, more comprehensive statistics that are currently available, but which also have their own limitations. In this article, we describe some of the major omissions of the U.S. federal budget deficit and consider the additional information provided by three broader measures of fiscal shortfall: the increase in outstanding gross federal debt; the change in the government’s net financial position; and the change in the fiscal gap. Effectively, we offer an evaluation of one element of the budget—the deficit—by the single criteria of its comprehensiveness as a measure of the burden of today’s policies on future taxpayers and other stakeholders. Additional budget elements that could be evaluated using other criteria include budget outlays as a measure of the size of government or the effectiveness of the budget process in achieving the goals of efficiency, stability, and equity. These topics, however, are beyond the scope of this paper.
Biosynthesis of reovirus-specified polypeptides: System-dependent effect of reovirus mRNA methylation on translation in vitro catalyzed by ascites tumor and wheat embryo cell-free extracts

Abstract The effect of methylation on the translation of reovirus messenger RNA catalyzed by the homologous mouse ascites tumor and the heterologous wheat embryo cell-free protein synthesizing systems was examined. Unmethylated and methylated reovirus mRNAs were translated with comparable efficiency in the ascites system; by contrast, in the wheat system, unmethylated reovirus mRNA was translated about 10% as efficiently as methylated viral mRNA. S -Adenosyl- l -homocysteine (SAdoHcy) inhibited S -adenosyl- l -[ Me - 3 H]methionine-mediated methylation in both the ascites and wheat cell-free extracts; however, translation of unmethylated reovirus mRNA was blocked by SAdoHcy in the wheat, but not in the ascites, cell-free protein synthesizing system.
Sorbate Tolerance by Lactic Acid Bacteria Associated with Grapes and Wine

Ten strains of lactic acid bacteria capable of growth under pH and ethanol conditions similar to those of table wine were studied for tolerance to potassium sorbate in laboratory media. For all strains there was little inhibition at sorbate levels up to 300 ppm. Between 300 ppm and 1000 ppm, inhibition of Leuconosroc oenos was variable among strains, and the Lactobacillus strains studied showed virtually no inhibition by sorbate levels up to 1000 ppm. Thus, there were significant inhibitory effects on growth of some strains in laboratory media at higher sorbate concentrations, but not at the commercially applied concentrations of200–300 ppm and less.
Ending a Career in a Declining Industry: The Retirement Experience of Male Auto Workers

Since the late 1970s, global competition has severely undermined profit margins of American corporations. The result has been a loss of jobs for more than five million workers. While research has clearly documented the negative impact of economic conditions on younger workers, older workers appear to have a safety net afforded by seniority systems, wage guarantees, and the option of retirement. The auto industry, which has been particularly hard hit, has used early retirement incentives as one mechanism for resolving the industry's unemployment problems. This study of early retirement among auto workers demonstrates that the apparent protection afforded blue-collar unionized workers does not necessarily guarantee them income security. The data indicate that older auto workers feel significant pressures to withdraw from the labor force but that these early retirees subsequently feel less satisfied than other retirees with the timing of their retirement and that they pay a heavy financial penalty in terms o...
The effect of semantic and syntactic structure on verbal memory in Alzheimer's disease

This study examined the ability of 17 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 17 normal-old subjects to recall short sentences that were normal, or had a disruption in either their semantic structure, their syntactic structure, or both their semantic and syntactic structure. Results showed that sentence recall performance was affected similarly in the demented and normal-old subjects by both the syntactic and semantic structure of the sentences. The presence of either type of language structure appeared to allow both normal and demented subjects to organize strings of words into multiword chunks for more efficient memory encoding.
The Association between Vitamin D and Vascular Stiffness in Adolescents with and without Type 1 Diabetes

Objective Vitamin D deficiency is common and associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a marker of vascular stiffness associated with CVD. We hypothesized that Vitamin D (25 (OH) D) levels would be inversely associated with PWV in youth with and without type 1 diabetes (T1D).
The Ratio between Endocyclic and Exocyclic Cleavage of Pyranoside Acetals Is Dependent upon the Anomer, the Temperature, the Aglycon Group, and the Solvent

Several cis-fused decalin pyranosides with intramolecular nucleophiles of high effective molarity were studied to determine the ratio between endocyclic and exocyclic cleavage in specific-acid-catalyzed solvolysis reactions. The molecular design that allows a differentiation between endo- or exocyclic cleavage is the symmetry and asymmetry of the respective oxocarbenium ion intermediates. The synthesis of the molecular probes involves eight steps from a known compound, and proceeds via a key intermediate functionalized with three different oxidation states. A crystal structure confirmed the relative stereochemistry of the probes. A quantifiable percentage of endocyclic cleavage for β-pyranosides was found for all reaction conditions, whereas α-pyranosides show exclusively exocyclic cleavage. The percent of endocyclic cleavage for β-pyranosides is dependent upon the temperature, the aglycon group, and the solvent. At lower temperatures endocyclic cleavage increases. The ΔH⧧ and ΔS⧧ for endocyclic and exocy...
Effect of electron-electron and electron-plasmon interactions on hot carrier transport in semiconductors

Abstract We present an Ensemble Monte Carlo (EMC) study of the electron-electron interaction in semiconductors, utilizing the full dielectric function to determine the contribution of the collective modes of the electron gas, i.e. the plasma oscillations, to the scattering terms. The transient dynamic response of electrons under high electric fields in n-Si and the quasi-ballistic motion of high energy electrons in n-GaAs are investigated.
Machine Vision: the Answer to the Optical Debate?

Machine vision is a branch of artificial intelligence aimed at extracting useful information from images. Vision techniques have typically been applied to images acquired by cameras, but recent research efforts have seen novel algorithms work with paintings. Promising results have been obtained which cast a new light on the debate regarding the way traditional paintings were created. The author believes that only a careful scientific analysis of each painting can provide meaningful answers to the debate.
Gay and Lesbian Clients' Ratings of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, and Counselors

Abstract Three hundred thirty-six gay and lesbian volunteers rated their therapy experiences between 1990 and 1995 with 46 psychiatrists, 77 counselors, 207 psychologists, and 107 social workers. Clients rated psychiatrists less helpful than the other three professional groups, which did not differ significantly from each other. Comparisons of the frequencies of various appropriate and inappropriate practices with gay and lesbian clients helped explicate differences in client satisfaction among the four professional groups. For example, according to client reports, psychiatrists were far more likely than other professionals to discount, argue against, or push the client to renounce his or her self-identification as a lesbian or gay man (11% of psychiatrists vs. 1% of other mental health professionals). Recommendations are made for professional training and dialogue.
Venous Angiomas: An Underestimated Cause of Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Cerebral venous angiomas are considered by many investigators as infrequent and incidental. Our experience, however, has been different. Since 1975, we have compiled a group of 21 patients with 23 venous angiomas. Nine patients (43%) presented with intracranial hemorrhage, and two in this group had recurrent hemorrhage. Surgical extirpation of the venous angioma was performed in all nine cases. An additional resection of a frontal venous angioma was performed in a woman with intractable seizures and headache. We experienced limited morbidity and no mortality. Although venous angiomas may be uncommon clinically, they have a significant potential for hemorrhage, and particularly, rehemorrhage if left untreated.
Beyond Young Measures

Young measures and their limitations are discussed. Some relations between Young measures and H-measures are described and used to analyze an example from micromagnetics. The need to improve H-measures and semi-classical measures is stressed.
Superior outcome with hypomethylating therapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: Outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities (excluding del 5[q]) has been poor, with <10% of patients alive at 2 years. METHODS: The authors investigated whether treatment with hypomethylating agents (5-azacytidine/decitabine) leads to an improved outcome. Between January 2004 and December 2007, 81 patients (37 [46%] with AML [≥20% blasts]; 44 [54%] with high-risk MDS) with chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities were treated with hypomethylating agents as their initial therapy. These included 68 patients with complex (≥3) abnormalities and 13 with <3 aberrations. During the same period, 151 patients (126 with AML, 25 with MDS) with chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities (128 complex, 23 noncomplex) were treated with intensive chemotherapy (including cytarabine-based regimens in 72% and other regimes in 28%). RESULTS: The median ages for the 2 groups were 66 years and 61 years, respectively (ranges, 37-85 years and 19-89 years). Thirty-three (41%) patients in the hypomethylating group achieved complete remission (CR) versus 53 (35%) in the chemotherapy group (P = .395). With a median follow-up of 51 weeks (range, 12-101 weeks) and 40 weeks (range, 5–128 weeks), 22 of 33 patients in the hypomethylating group and 33 of 53 patients in the chemotherapy group had developed disease recurrence. The median CR duration was 45 weeks and 23 weeks, respectively (P = .153). The overall survival was superior for the hypomethylating group compared with the chemotherapy group (P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with hypomethylating agents may be superior to chemotherapy in patients with chromosome 5 and 7 abnormalities. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.
Nanomechanics of Hall-Petch relationship in nanocrystalline materials

Abstract Classical Hall–Petch relation for large grained polycrystals is usually derived using the model of dislocation pile-up first investigated mathematically by Nabarro and coworkers. In this paper the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline materials are reviewed, with emphasis on the fundamental physical mechanisms involved in determining yield stress. Special attention is paid to the abnormal or ‘inverse’ Hall–Petch relationship, which manifests itself as the softening of nanocrystalline materials of very small (less than 12 nm) mean grain sizes. It is emphasized that modeling the strength of nanocrystalline materials needs consideration of both dislocation interactions and grain-boundary sliding (presumably due to Coble creep) acting simultaneously. Such a model appears to be successful in explaining experimental results provided a realistic grain size distribution is incorporated into the analysis. Masumura et al. [Masumura RA, Hazzledine PM, Pande CS. Acta Mater 1998;46:4527] were the first to show that the Hall–Petch plot for a wide range of materials and mean grain sizes could be divided into three distinct regimes and also the first to provide a detailed mathematical model of Hall–Petch relation of plastic deformation processes for any material including fine-grained nanocrystalline materials. Later developments of this and related models are briefly reviewed. Prof. Frank Nabarro was a physicist by training, a metallurgist by profession and a genius by nature, blessed with a unique ability to treat everyone as his equal. During his later years he was very much interested in the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline materials. This review on that topic is our contribution to the special issue of Progress in Materials Science honoring him.
Characterization of DNA standards by capillary electrophoresis

We have used capillary electrophoresis to evaluate commercial DNA size standards and have found that it can provide an efficient assessment of size. However, the accuracy of the determination is adversely affected by anomalous migration times due to specific interactions of the DNA with the gel matrix as well as conformational differences in the DNA due to sequence heterogeneity. These anomalous migration times are strongly dependent on the choice of gel matrix. For example, the anomalous migration times that are observed in a 1 kilobase standard DNA ladder can be minimized using nongel hydroxyethylcellulose. In addition, the peak resolution can be increased and the anomalous migration can be reduced by the addition of the intercalating dye, ethidium bromide. However, in the case of the D1S80 allelic ladder, some of the DNA fragments possess nucleotide sequences which do not interact equivalently with the dye and produce irregular migration times. These measurements yield preliminary information useful in evaluating DNA size standards which may be used for a wide range of DNA diagnostic applications.
Argon and hydrogen plasma interactions on diamond (111) surfaces: Electronic states and structure

Photoemission spectroscopy was used to compare the effects of a hydrogen or argon plasma on natural‐type 2B diamond (111) surfaces, while the diamond was heated to 350 °C. After the hydrogen plasma the surface exhibits a negative electron affinity, indicative of a hydrogen‐terminated surface. In contrast, the argon plasma was found to result in a surface with a positive electron affinity of 1.0 eV, indicating the removal of hydrogen from the surface. Features characteristic of graphite were not observed. After reexposing the surface to a hydrogen plasma, the spectrum was identical to the spectrum obtained after the initial hydrogen plasma.
Work in progress — Implementing peer observation of teaching

This paper describes how the Department of Engineering Technology & Management (ETM) at South Dakota State University (SDSU) is implementing a Peer Observation of Teaching process to improve teaching and as a result improve student learning. A robust definition of what constitutes good teaching that will address a variety of contexts and student cohorts has yet to be developed. There is general agreement that good teaching should lead to increased student learning. The teaching process is complex and difficult, however external feedback can be a useful tool to help faculty improve effectiveness. Based on a seminar provided to the entire SDSU campus, the ETM Department has developed and is beta-testing a seven-step process to implement peer observation and evaluation to provide feedback to teachers from their fellow faculty. Yet to be to fully developed is how to choose from among several possible ways to assess the results of the peer review of teaching process and to improve effective teaching. At the time of this paper's presentation in Fall 2011, we will report on the status of the process, some assessment outcomes, and recommendations for future implementation.
Simple yet efficient, transparent airtime allocation for TCP in wireless mesh networks

In this paper, we explore a simple yet effective technique for explicitly allocating airtime to each active pair of communicating neighbors in a wireless neighborhood so that TCP starvation in a wireless mesh network is avoided. Our explicit allocation is efficient, redistributing unused airtime and also accounting for airtime rendered unusable by external interference. Our technique requires no modifications to TCP/IP and the 802.11 MAC, and is responsive to short flows, MAC-layer auto rate adaptation, and other dynamics, as we demonstrate in extensive experiments on two indoor testbeds. Despite its simplicity, the technique is on average within 12% of the max-min optimal allocation on several topologies.
Factors influencing theophylline serum protein binding

We studied a number of influences on theophylline binding to serum proteins using equilibrium dialysis (37 degrees), a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (pH 7.4), and 8-14C-theophylline with unlabeled theophylline (30 microgram/ml) added to sera from healthy subjects. Theophylline protein binding rose by 18.6% as pH rose from 7.0 to 7.8 (percent theophylline bound = 28.2 +/- 4.3 at pH 7.0 and 46.8 +/- 4.9 at pH 7.8, n = 5). Average theophylline binding to the proteins at 37 degrees in serum samples from 10 normal adults was 39.3 +/- 3.44%, which is 89.9% lower than the average of 48.2 +/- 3.74% for the same samples at 26 degrees. Theophylline binding was 6.1% higher with 0.1 mole/l phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, than with a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.4. Of the 19 drugs and metabolites tested for competition with theophylline for binding sites on serum proteins, 10 induced decreases in binding ranging from 6.8% in the case of furosemide to 18.3% for sodium salicylate. The latter was the only drug that induced a decrease in theophylline binding at concentrations that would be achieved in the therapy of same patients (i.e., patients on long-term salicylate therapy). All the other drugs that decreased theophylline binding did so at much greater concentrations than their usual therapeutic levels. The mean +/- SD of theophylline bound in 51 fresh serum samples from healthy adults was 48.6 +/- 10.2%; the pH of these specimens varied from 7.6 to 8.7. After adjusting pH to 7.4, theophylline binding was lowered to 37.6 +/- 4.5% and intersubject variability decreased. We recommend that the pH of serum specimens be adjusted to 7.4, or to the original pH of the blood specimen if it differs significantly from 7.4 (i.e., in acidotic or alkalotic patients). The wide range of reported values for theophylline binding to serum proteins in normal and asthmatic adults at least partly results from differences in the conditions used for the separation of free from bound drug.
Using a Radio Shack model 100 as a real-time equipment monitoring and recording device

Abstract Stop watches, strip chart recorders or expensive customized equipment monitoring devices have been the traditional tools available to the industrial engineer to perform equipment downtime monitoring and reporting studies. This paper discusses an application using a low cost microcomputer as an equipment downtime monitoring and reporting device.
The effect of defect structure due to doping and irradiation on the thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate

The thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate was investigated as a function of doping and there seems to be a correlation between the polarizing nature of the dopant cation and the thermal degradation temperature of potassium chlorate. In particular, transition metal cations influence strongly the temperature of decomposition. Irradiation and mechanical shock defects influence also the process. A possible mechanism in terms of the semi-conductive properties of the defective chlorates is discussed.
Using Cognitive Conflict to Promote the Use of Dialectical Learning for Strategic Decision-Makers.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model that uses dialectical inquiry (DI) to create cognitive conflict in strategic decision‐makers for the purpose of improving strategic decisions. Activation of the dialectical learning process using DI requires strategic decision‐makers to integrate conflicting information causing cognitive conflict. Cognitive conflict is the catalyst that stimulates the creation of new knowledge in strategic decision‐makers resulting in improved organizational performance.Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model is developed that explicitly links DI to the dialectical learning process of strategic decision‐makers. This model extends previous research on DI by identifying cognitive conflict as the critical component that links DI as a learning method to the process of dialectical learning in strategic decision‐making.Findings – The major finding of the model of dialectical learning is that the model is an important resource that can be applied to cr...
Polyorganodisulfide electrodes for solid-state batteries and electrochromic devices

Abstract The use of polyorganodisulfides in a variety of solid-state batteries and electrochromic devices is discussed. Cycling data is presented for solid-state batteries using sodium and sodium-lead alloy negative electrodes with polyethylene oxide electrolyte and polydimercaptothiadiazole positive electrodes. Rate capabilities are comparable to that for analogous lithium batteries, but cells show continual deterioration with extended cycling. The use of polyorganodisulfide electrodes as optically passive counter electrodes for electrochromic devices is also described. Solid-state devices consisting of molybdenum doped WO 3 , amorphous polyethylene oxide electrolyte (aPEO), and a polyorganodisulfide counter electrode colored rapidly from a pale yellow to a deep bluegreen, upon application of 1.2 V dc. The photopic transmittance changed from 61 to 9%, and the solar transmittance from 45 to 5% during the coloration process.
The Use of Desk Top Computers in the Teaching of Aircraft Gas Turbines

The fairly recent advent of programmable desk top computers with branching and looping capability has allowed the simple and rapid handling of otherwise very complicated engineering problems. The teaching of aircraft gas turbines is particularly enhanced by the use of such computers because remarkably accurate performance calculations, design calculations or flow field calculations can be made on such machines. The rapid calculation capability of the computer frees the student to concern himself with the implications of the results, rather than with the minutia of the calculations. Four specific example programs and results are given: (a) Design calculations for a turbojet; (b) Design calculations for a fan jet, in which the bypass ratio is optimized to give minimum specific fuel consumption; (c) Performance calculations for both a conventional turbojet and a variable area turbojet; (d) Flow field calculations for a highly loaded actuator disk.Copyright © 1974 by ASME
Perspectives in medical education 9. Revisiting the blueprint for reform of medical education in Japan

Reform of medical education at Keio University has been underway since 2003. We measure the progress made since then in five specific categories that span fifteen recommendations presented in our "Blueprint for Reform" at the outset of the effort. These are effectiveness of leadership, curriculum reform, recognition of teaching, clinical competence, and comprehensive training in general internal medicine (GIM). First, effective leadership is being sustained through a succession of Deans, although a potentially crippling loss of leadership in the Department of Medical Education must be offset through timely appointment. Second, curriculum reform is awaiting the implementation in 2012 of an integrated, organ system-based curriculum with an emphasis on ward clerkships, but the introduction of PBL has been delayed indefinitely. Third, teaching is being recognized through the use of student feedback to reward good teachers and through funds for six full-time equivalent salaries dedicated to medical education, but promotions still depend exclusively on research, without consideration of teaching ability. Fourth, clinical skills training is still lacking, although enthusiasm for it seems to be building, thanks to the presence on the wards of a (still miniscule) cadre of dedicated teachers. Finally, exposure to GIM remains non-existent; however, visionary leadership in a newly-independent Emergency Department and the wide variety of medical problems seen there provide a remarkable opportunity to craft a uniquely Japanese solution to the problem. The changes implemented to date are impressive, and we remain enthusiastic about the future, even as we recognize the magnitude of the task that lies ahead.
Prevention of immunization to D+ red blood cells with red blood cell exchange and intravenous Rh immune globulin.

BACKGROUND: Although young women who are D– occasionally receive unintentional transfusions with D+ red blood cells (RBCs), there are little data to assist with management of such an event. Two cases of D– girls transfused with D+ RBCs are reported. In an effort to prevent formation of anti-D, RBC exchange followed by administration of intravenous (IV) Rh immune globulin (RhIg) was used. CASE REPORTS: Patient 1, a 56-kg, 16-year-old D– girl, was involved in a motor vehicle crash. She received 4 units of Group O uncrossmatched D+ RBCs. Thirty-six hours after admission, she underwent RBC exchange with 10 units of D– RBCs, followed by a total of 2718 µg of IV RhIg over 32 hours. Six months later, her antibody screen was negative. Patient 2, a 39-kg, 10-year-old D– girl with aplastic anemia, received 1 unit of D+ RBCs. She underwent RBC exchange on the same day with 5 units of D– RBCs, followed by a total of 900 µg of IV RhIg over 8 hours. Six months later her antibody screen was negative. CONCLUSION: RBC exchange followed by a calculated dose of IV RhIg was successful in preventing allo-immunization to D. Several small studies suggest that both trauma and hematology patients may be less capable of becoming immunized with the transfusion of D+ blood components. Until these findings are more clearly defined, there will be times when prevention of immunization of any D– girl is desired. RBC exchange followed by RhIg appears to be one way to achieve this goal.
A New Method for the Differential Precipitation of Nucleic Acids from Aqueous Solutions

MANY metallic ions are capable of reacting with sodium nucleates in aqueous solutions1,2. In these investigations, no attempt seems to have been made to differentiate between the reactivity of the two types of nucleic acid.
Mercury porosimetry and effective networks for permeability calculations in porous materials

Abstract It is shown that a mercury porosimetry measurement can be considered as generating a mapping between a real pore structure and a random network of cyclindrical tubes. The mapping is shown to preserve the hydraulic conductivity of individual pores having elliptical cross-sections. Thus, the assumption of circular cylindrical pores, commonly used to interpret mercury porosimetry results, does not necessarily invalidate the use of these measurements to predict the permeability of porous media with the Katz—Thompson equation. A regular lattice of randomly sized tubes with elliptical cross-sections is considered as a specific test of these ideas.