cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The distribution of aluminum-26 in the early Solar System—A reappraisal

— A compilation of over 1500 Mg-isotopic analyses of Al-rich material from primitive solar system matter (meteorites) shows clearly that 26Al existed live in the early Solar System. Excesses of 26Mg observed in refractory inclusions are not the result of mixing of “fossil” interstellar 26Mg with normal solar system Mg. Some material was present that contained little or no 26Al, but it was a minor component of solar system matter in the region where CV3 and CO3 carbonaceous chondrites accreted and probably was a minor component in the accretion regions of CM chondrites as well. Data for other chondrite groups are too scanty to make similar statements. The implied long individual nebular histories of CAIs and the apparent gap of one or more million years between the start of CAI formation and the start of chondrule formation require the action of some nebular mechanism that prevented the CAIs from drifting into the Sun. Deciding whether 26Al was or was not the agent of heating that caused melting in the achondrite parent bodies hinges less on its widespread abundance in the nebula than it does on the timing of planetesimal accretion relative to the formation of the CAIs.
An Analysis of Evaluative Comments in Teachers' Online Discussions of Representations of Practice.

It has been common to use video records of instruction in teacher professional development, but participants have rarely been encouraged to evaluate teachers and students’ actions in those records,...
Aerodynamic profiles of women with muscle tension dysphonia/aphonia.

Purpose In this study, the authors aimed to (a) determine whether phonatory airflows and estimated subglottal pressures (est-Psub) for women with primary muscle tension dysphonia/aphonia (MTD/A) di...
Evidence in Action Rounds: Collaborating With Nursing to Improve Care

Evidence in Action Rounds is a unit-based interactive forum that assists nurses in defining and discussing evidence-based practice and the evidence-based approach to answering questions using frameworks of the Iowa Model, the Johns Hopkins evidence scale, and nursing sensitive indicators. Patient-specific clinical questions are examined and any gaps or opportunities for improving patient care are addressed with the best evidence available. This combination of librarian and nursing expertise works to familiarize staff nurses with evidence-based resources and translate evidence into practice while minimizing time and resource investment of all involved.
978-64 Does Cardiac Rehabilitation Improve Blood Viscosity in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease?

The importance of blood viscosity in ischemic heart disease is becoming increasingly well established. Blood viscosity directly affects shear rates in the coronary arteries and perfusion pressure across coronary stenoses. Abnormalities of blood rheology, particularly elevated whole blood viscosity (WBV), have been associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), and have been prospectively shown to be an independent predictor of adverse cardiac events. There is, as yet, no established method for modifying this newly established risk factor, although regular exercise has been shown to improve blood viscosity in healthy subjects. To determine if exercise training, as prescribed in standard cardiac rehabilitation programs, has beneficial effects on blood viscosity in patients with CAD, we prospectively studied WBV and the factors that affect it, as well as exercise tolerance (ETT), before and after a ten week program of moderate intensity dynamic exercise in fifteen patients (aged 58 ± 9). WBV was measured in triplicate at six different physiologic shear rates. There were no intercurrent events or medication changes during the study period. Before After p En Time (sec) 497 ± 118 648 ± 144 l0.001 Peak Vo 2 (ml/mg/min) 23.8 ± 6.93 31.6 ± 6.04 l0.001 HR at matched workrate (bpm) 118 ± 25 102 ± 17 0.012 Average WBV (cP) 5.20 ± 058 5.46 ± 1.00 NS Plasma viscosity (cP) 1.41 ± 0.10 1.46 ± 0.09 NS Hematocrit (%) 39.7 ± 2.50 41.0 ± 3.50 NS Fibrinogen (mg/dl) 307 ± 55.4 322 ± 89.5 NS Sedimentation rate (mm/hr) 26 ± 15 24 ± 14 NS The standard ten week cardiac rehabilitation program of moderate intensity dynamic exercise leads to a highly significant improvement in exercise tolerance, but does not have a beneficial effect on blood viscosity in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Association of triclosan to casein proteins through solvent-mediated high-pressure homogenization.

: The association of triclosan (TCS), a widely used hydrophobic compound, to the bovine casein micelle is investigated in this study. The use of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) at 0, 100, 200, and 300 MPa was introduced as a method for the dissociation of casein micelles in a skim milk/ethanol solution (1: 1, v/v) in the presence of TCS at 20, 80, and 160 mg/L where ethanol evaporation served as the final step for TCS association to caseins. The majority of TCS (over 80%) was associated with the caseins regardless of initial TCS concentration or applied pressure. TCS association to caseins was enhanced by 30% with continued pressurization to 300 MPa. Micellar dissociation and reassociation was found to be an irreversible process as evidenced by microscopy images. Pressurization to 300 MPa resulted in the formation of an integrated protein network of casein proteins and noncovalently linked whey proteins where the solubility of TCS was enhanced up to 40 times its reported water solubility at the highest initial TCS level of 160 mg/L. Reformed micelles exhibited Newtonian flow behavior at all pressure levels. This study provides evidence for the solubility enhancing quality of TCS through the solvent-mediated pressure/shear-induced dissociation of casein proteins.
Development of CIGS2 solar cells with lower absorber thickness

The availability and cost of materials, especially of indium can be a limiting factor as chalcopyrite based thin-film solar cells advance in their commercialization. The required amounts of metals can be lowered by using thinner films. When the thickness of the film decreases, there is possibility of remaining only in the small grain region because the coalescence of grains does not have an opportunity to enhance the grain size to the maximum. Solar cell performance in smaller grain chalcopyrite absorber deteriorates due to larger fraction of grain boundaries. Efforts are being made to reduce the thickness while maintaining the comparable performance. This work presents a study of preparation, morphology and other material properties of CIGS2 absorber layers with decreasing thicknesses up to 1.2 μm and its correlation with the device performance. Encouraging results were obtained demonstrating that reasonable solar cell efficiencies (>10%) can be achieved even for thinner CIGS2 thin-film solar cells.
Stata Hybrids: Updates and Ideas

At last year's Stata conference I presented two projects for using Python with Stata: a plugin that embeds the Python programming language within Stata and code for using Stata data sets in Python. In this talk I will describe some small improvements being made to these projects, and I will present other ideas for combining tools with Stata. Some of these ideas use Python, some use JavaScript and a web browser.
Source traffic regulation in reserved delivery subnetworks

Reserved delivery subnetworks (RDSs) can provide more consistent quality of service to users by reserving bandwidth on an aggregate basis. Besides the benefit of exclusive bandwidth access, there are other potentials to further improve end-to-end performance in an RDS because the end hosts can utilize the knowledge about the underlying networks to achieve better performance than in the ordinary Internet. In this paper, we propose a source traffic regulation technique to improve end-to-end performance in the environment of an RDS. The basic idea is to regulate the traffic from a server to sink end hosts such that bandwidth usage does not exceed the reserved link bandwidth and overloaded sinks do not affect other well behaved sinks. We propose a per-connection as well as an aggregated source traffic regulation algorithm for both single server and multi-server RDSs. We evaluate our algorithms with simulation studies in the ns-2 network simulator, and the simulation results show great improvements over traditional transport protocols.
SiC vs. Si for High Radiation Environments

Commercial silicon carbide and silicon Schottky barrier power diodes have been subjected to 203 MeV proton irradiation and the effects of the resultant displacement damage on the I-V characteristics have been observed. Changes in forward bias I-V characteristics are reported for fluences up to 4times1014 p/cm2. For devices of both material types, the series resistance is observed to increase as the fluence increases. The changes in series resistance result from changes in the free carrier concentration due to carrier removal by the defects produced. Calculation of carrier removal rates in both materials reveals that the carrier removal rate in silicon is less than that in silicon carbide, indicating that silicon is the more radiation tolerant material.
A retrospective analysis of abdominal competency scores to improve clinical education in a sonography program

Classroom examinations and a passing score on a sonography certification examination are means to assess a student’s retention of material presented during didactic education and further studying. Typically, however, clinical competencies are graded based on actual observation of scanning skills and the ability to identify specific organs and associated abnormalities. We are reporting an analysis of the data collected from students’ completed abdominal competency evaluations over the past four years to determine what organ was the easiest to learn to scan, what organ was the most difficult to learn to scan, and in what organ(s) was pathology most often recognized or missed.
Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

To the Editor: In their recent article, Elkouri et al described their experience with endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR) in 100 consecutive patients treated between June 26, 1996, and October 31, 2001. On the basis of their high frequency of secondary procedures (29%) and early surgical conversion rate of 3%, the authors concluded that because early complications and reinterventions are frequent, “current data are insufficient to support EVAR as the preferred treatment of AAAs [abdominal aortic aneurysms].” Although not stated in the article, of the 5 endovascular devices used, 2 devices never completed clinical trials (EVT and Vanguard). A third, the ANCURE device, is no longer approved for clinical use. Early endograft designs were associated with many complications in midterm follow-up, with secondary intervention rates between 26.6% and 29%. These discouraging numbers with early devices, when compared with the excellent clinical results and lower costs of conventional AAA repair, caused some authors (circa 2001) to infer that the new EVAR technique might be “a failed experiment.” Since 1999, we have performed 160 EVAR procedures using Food and Drug Administration–approved devices. At 13-month follow-up, 11% of patients have needed secondary procedures, but no patient has undergone early conversion to open repair. In addition, aneurysm diameter decreased or was unchanged in 98% of patients. We conclude that EVAR is a reasonable alternative to open AAA repair in selected patients. We believe the discrepancy between the high technical success and the frequent secondary procedures and early complications described by Elkouri et al is based on the types of devices used. Our current series includes 87 AneuRx devices (Medtronic AVE, Minneapolis, Minn), 41 Zenith devices (Cook Group Inc, Bloomington, Ind), 18 Talent devices (Medtronic), 12 ANCURE devices (Guidant Corp, St Paul, Minn), and 2 EXCLUDER devices (W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, Ariz). These secondand third-generation devices include structural and delivery system modifications that increase the deployment success and decrease the limb complication rate.
Facilitating interpersonal communication between students and faculty in an engineering design project

Traditional engineering education has focused on instructing students in the fundamentals of engineering and applying these principles in the solution of engineering problems. While it is important for engineering education to continue providing a strong technical background, recognition of communication skills (e.g., oral presentations, technical reports, memos) are becoming increasingly important in the current business environment. At Michigan Technological University, students complete these activities, but we have also included communication that has traditionally been used primarily in the workplace environment: the interpersonal communication that occurs between supervisor and employee. As part of their first-year engineering classes, student teams complete design projects, which consist of a series of deliverables throughout the semester. Beginning in the fall of 2008, students in several sections met with their instructor during the design process for a progress meeting. This paper discusses the dynamic experienced between different instructors and their student design teams as this concept was implemented into the first-year program.
Evaluation of porcelain cup soil water samplers for bacteriological sampling.

The validity of obtaining soil water for fecal coliform analyses by porcelain cup soil water samplers was examined. Numbers from samples of manure slurry drawn through porcelain cups were reduced 100- to 10,000,000-fold compared to numbers obtained from the external manure slurry, and 65% of the cups yielded coliform-free samples. Fecal coliforms adsorbed to cups apparently were released, thus influencing the counts of subsequent samples. Fecal coliforms persisted in soil water samplers buried in soil and thus could significantly influence the coliform counts of water samples obtained a month later. These studies indicate that porcelain cup soil water samplers do not yield valid water samples for fecal coliform analyses. Images
Stimulation of Steroidogenesis in Immature Rat Leydig Cells Evoked by Interleukin-1α Is Potentiated by Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factors

The cytokine IL-1α is produced constitutively by the intact testis, but its function in this organ remains largely unknown. In this study we examined cooperation between IL-1α and GH and IGFs with regard to stimulation of steroidogenesis by Leydig cells from 40-d-old rats in vitro. IL-1α alone stimulated testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production. GH, IGF-I, or IGF-II alone was without effect on T production, but they were found to elevate DHT release, albeit without an obvious dose-response effect. Costimulation with IL-1α and GH or with IL-1α and IGF-I or IGF-II elevated the rate of steroidogenesis (both T and DHT) above that observed with IL-1α alone. GH was found to increase the level of IGF-I in the cultured Leydig cells, an effect that was potentiated by IL-1α. The costimulatory effect of GH on steroidogenesis was abolished by treatment with picropodophyllin, a specific inhibitor of the IGF-I receptor, indicating that the action of GH is mediated via IGF-I. Moreover, cells costimulate...
Phenylbutyrate and phenylacetate induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation of human medulloblastoma cells.

Purpose: Phenylbutyrate (PB) and phenylacetate (PA) have antiproliferative and differentiation-inducing effects in malignant tumors, and had been evaluated in Phase I/II clinical trials. This study was undertaken to evaluate their antitumor activities in medulloblastomas. Experimental Design: The biological effects of PB and PA, ranging from 0.1 mm to 3 mm, on two medulloblastoma cell lines (DAOY and D283-MED) were examined using various long-term in vitro and in vivo assays for morphology, proliferation, differentiation, anchorage-independent growth, apoptosis, and tumorigenicity. Results: PB and PA can both induce morphological changes and suppress proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. These effects were more pronounced with PB and became irreversible in D283-MED cells after continuous exposure to 3 mm PB for 28 days. Both PB and PA were able to increase expression of glial marker glial fibriliary acidic protein and neuronal marker synaptophysin in two cell lines. For anchorage-independent growth, PB showed a more significant suppression than PA in D283-MED cells. PB caused more pronounced cell cycle arrest and remarkably reduced tumorigenicity in D283-MED cells than in DAOY cells. Apoptosis was readily induced in D283-MED cells with either low dose of PB or short-term treatment. In contrast, much higher concentrations of PB or longer treatment were required to achieve similar effect with DAOY cells. PB induced increased histones H3 acetylation in both cell lines, but histone H4 acetylation was only observed in D283-MED cells. Conclusions: PB, through induction of hyperacetylation of histone H3 and H4, is a much more potent antitumor agent than PA. 283-MED cells are more responsive to PB than DAOY cells, which may be dependent on their original state of differentiation as well as the changes of histone H4 acetylation status.
Computational geometry in C

From the Publisher: This is the newly revised and expanded edition of a popular introduction to the design and implementation of geometry algorithms arising in areas such as computer graphics, robotics, and engineering design. The basic techniques used in computational geometry are all covered: polygon triangualtions, convex hulls, Voronoi diagrams, arrangements, geometric searching, and motion planning. The self-contained treatment presumes only an elementary knowledge of mathematics, but it reaches topics on the frontier of current research. Thus professional programmers will find it a useful tutorial.
Thermochemistry of aqueous silicate solution precursors to ceramics

A quantitative understanding of the thermochemistry of silicate solution systems is necessary for the design, optimization and control of sol-gel, colloid and zeolite preparations. This review is intended to be a compendium of ready information for the growing number of chemical engineers active in solution-based materials synthesis. Experimental measurements of Silica solubility, silicate speciation and silanol deprotonation in aqueous solutions are summarized and critiqued. The thermochemical properties of monomeric and dimeric silicate anions are also assessed. The trends that are then evident are compared with expectations fr om simplistic gas-phase molecular orbital calculations to illustrate the importance of solvation. Finally, the equilibrium behavior of simple silicate oligomers is rationalized, and the future direction to quantitative modeling of the behavior of more complex oligomers is suggested.
Transition from near-field thermal radiation to phonon heat conduction at sub-nanometre gaps

Heat transfer typically occurs by conduction via phonons and radiation via photons, but the distinction between them blurs as surfaces come into contact. Chiloyan et al. study heat transfer between surfaces at sub-nanometre separation and explore the behaviour of phonons as the surfaces approach each other.
Taphonomy of modern and fossil intertidal gastropod associations from Isla Santa Cruz and Isla Santa Fe, Galápagos Islands

Examination of modern gastropod associations from the low intertidal zone of Isla Santa Cruz suggests that fossil rocky intertidal deposits from this tropical locality will be taphonomically compromised in three ways: (1) Marine hermit crabs, by their use of empty gastropod shells, will mix the shells from varying tidal heights and habitats, thus facilitating mixed associations of such shells in the fossil record, (2) encrusting organisms on crab-inhabited shells are abundant, while boring organisms are almost non-existent, indicating possible differences in postmortem shell retention, and (3) intertidal shells are further taphonomically altered by terrestrial hermit crabs, which transport the shells onto land as well as physically modify the shells. Gastropod fossils from beach and terrace deposits on Isla Santa Fe are interpreted to be a mixed assemblage of rocky intertidal assemblage with few shells indicating influence from marine hermit crabs. Modification of the shell by marine and terrestrial hermit crabs was also evident. A unique polish to the shells at one locality is attributed to the marine iguanas and is only found in the terrace site biologically bulldozed by egg-laying iguanas. Few studies exist on modern rocky intertidal associations in the Galapagos, and the fossil record of rocky shores may provide a baseline for future studies in how community structure has changed over since the advent of humans.Galapagos, Coenobita Compressus, gastropods, humans, Gulf of California, bionts, nutrients. Sally E. Walker, Department of Geology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA; 8th September, 1994; revised 28th June, 1995.
Rituximab-induced remission of a gastric MALT lymphoma

Gastric MALT lymphoma is usually associated with H. pylori infection, and responds to treatment with antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor. We report a case of H. pylori negative gastric MALT lymphoma. The patient was followed conservatively for 2 years until she developed gastrointestinal bleeding with significant anemia. She was treated with rituximab 375 mg/m2 weekly for four doses, which resulted in a biopsy proven complete remission. Rituximab therapy is a reasonable, well tolerated treatment alternative for MALT lymphomas not associated with H. pylori.
Planting Date Effects on Winter Triticale Dry Matter and Nitrogen Accumulation

Addition of triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) into more diversified cropping systems could provide valuable economic and environmental benefits to producers in the U.S. Corn and Soybean Belt. To maximize triticale value, research was conducted to identify planting dates that allowed maximum dry matter production and N capture. Winter triticale was planted at 10-d intervals from 15 September to 15 October at three Iowa locations: central, northeast, and southwest for two growing seasons: 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. Aboveground dry matter production, N concentration, and N removal were greater at southwest Iowa than central and northeast Iowa. Dry matter production decreased as planting was delayed from late September to late October. Nitrogen accumulation at any time during the spring and summer was greater for September- than October-planted triticale in 2002-2003. At the end of the 2002-2003 season, mid-September-planted triticale had accumulated 37% more N than mid-October-planted triticale. In 2003-2004, total N capture occurring by early May was less for late-October-planted triticale than the other three planting dates, but there were no differences in N capture among the four planting dates from late May until maturity. Dry matter production was greatest when at least 300 growing degree days (GDDs) (base 4°C) accumulated between planting and 31 December. These results suggest that triticale should be planted in September to maximize spring forage yield and N accumulation although later planting dates would provide a higher quality forage if harvest was not delayed into late spring and summer.
An ultracapacitor model derived using time-dependent current profiles

A linear model of an ultracapacitor cell has been determined using time-domain identification techniques. A third-order transfer function consistent in form with an RC ladder circuit model is assumed. The transfer function coefficients are identified from experimental data consisting of time-varying current excitations and the first differences of the resulting terminal voltage responses. The model accurately matches the transient response of the cell over time intervals of about an hour. A longer charge-redistribution time constant (on the order of days) was also observed; however, this time constant has no significant effect in the one-hour timeframe, and is included in the model only as a dissipative term.
Utilizing logic information in multi-level timing simulation

Multi-level simulation arith a dynamic model level selection mechanism is a technique for increasing simulation efficiency. Implementation considerations dictate a pessimistic dynamic model selection mechanjsm which could rault in longer execution times than a normal simulation of a flattened logic network. Om equivalence class concept lessens the impact of the pessimistic xlection mechanism by detecting currently dormant logic blocka with reaped to an input transition. Earlier work on timing simulation incorporated multiple model levels with a dynamic model level selection mechanism[l]. Similar multiple model level approaches have revealed comparable execution increases of three to five times over that of simulation using the lowest model levels[lO]. Unfortunately, due to practical limitations, the dynamic model selection mechanism is more pessimistic than necessary and results in an appreciable performance degradation due to the unnecessary invocation of lower model levels. In this work, we describe a technique to lessen the impact of the pessimistic dynamic model selection mechanism. Our technique called equivalence classes is based on anticipating a subcircuit block’s output activityin response to a transition at the block’s input node. We fmt start with the description of our simulation environment and then describe OUT equivalence classes concept. We continue with presentation of algorithms to extract equivalence classes from gate level logic descriptions, present implementation details and results, and finally our conclusions.
Multiple Functions of Aromatic-Carbohydrate Interactions in a Processive Cellulase Examined with Molecular Simulation

Proteins employ aromatic residues for carbohydrate binding in a wide range of biological functions. Glycoside hydrolases, which are ubiquitous in nature, typically exhibit tunnels, clefts, or pockets lined with aromatic residues for processing carbohydrates. Mutation of these aromatic residues often results in significant activity differences on insoluble and soluble substrates. However, the thermodynamic basis and molecular level role of these aromatic residues remain unknown. Here, we calculate the relative ligand binding free energy by mutating tryptophans in the Trichoderma reesei family 6 cellulase (Cel6A) to alanine. Removal of aromatic residues near the catalytic site has little impact on the ligand binding free energy, suggesting that aromatic residues immediately upstream of the active site are not directly involved in binding, but play a role in the glucopyranose ring distortion necessary for catalysis. Removal of aromatic residues at the entrance and exit of the Cel6A tunnel, however, dramatically impacts the binding affinity, suggesting that these residues play a role in chain acquisition and product stabilization, respectively. The roles suggested from differences in binding affinity are confirmed by molecular dynamics and normal mode analysis. Surprisingly, our results illustrate that aromatic-carbohydrate interactions vary dramatically depending on the position in the enzyme tunnel. As aromatic-carbohydrate interactions are present in all carbohydrate-active enzymes, these results have implications for understanding protein structure-function relationships in carbohydrate metabolism and recognition, carbon turnover in nature, and protein engineering strategies for biomass utilization. Generally, these results suggest that nature employs aromatic-carbohydrate interactions with a wide range of binding affinities for diverse functions.
Microstructures for fracture toughness characterization of brittle thin films

A simple one-mask technique for characterizing fracture design parameters has been applied to tensile-stressed low-pressure chemical vapor deposited silicon nitride films. The design parameter obtained is the critical geometry parameter, which can be converted into fracture toughness by multiplying by the residual stress. Values of this parameter range from 14 to 290 mu m/sup 1/2/. Corresponding K/sub I/ values are from 4.2 MPa-m/sup 1/2/ to 87 MPa-m/sup 1/2/, assuming a residual stress of 300 MPa. Fabrication and test results are presented. >
Slaving the In-Plane Motions of a Nonlinear Plate to Its Flexural Motions: An Invariant Manifold Approach

We show that the in-plane motions of a nonlinear isotropic plate can be decoupled from its transverse motions. We demonstrate this decoupling by showing analytically and numerically the existence of a global nonlinear invariant manifold in the phase space of three nonlinearly coupled fundamental oscillators describing the amplitudes of the coupled fundamental modes. The invariant manifold carries a continuum of slow periodic motions. In particular, for any motion on the slow invariant manifold, the transverse oscillator executes a periodic motion and it slaves the in-plane oscillators into periodic motions of half its period. Furthermore, as the energy level of a motion on the slow manifold increases, the frequency of the largest harmonic of the in-plane motion approaches the in-plane natural frequencies.
Thermocapillary Instability of an Infinite Prandtl Number Fluid with Negligible Gravitational Effects

Finite amplitude fluid motion is investigated in a horizontal layer of an infinite Prandtl number fluid with an upper free surface for the case where thermocapillary effects are significant and gravitational effects are negligible. It is found that subcritical instability exists and that two-dimensional rolls and down-hexagons (where motion is downward at the cells' centers) are always unstable. But up-hexagons (where motion is upward at the cells' centers) are stable for sufficiently small amplitude e, while both uphexagons and squares are stable in a range of larger e where hysteresis effects exist.
On Generating EFSM Models from Use Cases

Use case-based behavior modeling of applications provides a modeler with an intuitive way of capturing requirements and therefore is considered to be more usable than other conventional behavior modeling techniques. However, such models lack sufficient structure to allow them to be analyzed and processed automatically. In this paper, we demonstrate how a combination of use case diagrams and UML class diagrams can be converted to extended finite state machine model. This algorithm addresses all standard UML 2.0 use case constructs as well as additional concerns such as conditional updates and exceptions.
Shades of grey: radiopharmaceutical chemistry in the 1990s and beyond.

Science, like the universe itself, is ever expanding. The fields of biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology are rapidly growing, and radiopharmaceutical chemistry is no exception. In a recent Editorial Dr William C. Eckelman briefly reviewed the current status of radiopharmaceutical development (Eckelman, 1991). The ballots are out and returns are mixed. Radiopharmaceutical chemists have made great strides in the development and refinement of methods for radiochemical syntheses, but have made little impact on clinical Nuclear Medicine. Dr Eckelman ends his Editorial with a plaintive plea for more validation of radiotracers.
Development of a Global Validation Package for Satellite Oceanic Aerosol Optical Thickness Retrieval Based on AERONET Observations and Its Application to NOAA/NESDIS Operational Aerosol Retrievals.

Abstract In this paper, a global validation package for satellite aerosol optical thickness retrieval using the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) observations as ground truth is described. To standardize the validation procedure, the optimum time–space match-up window, the ensemble statistical analysis method, the best selection of AERONET channels, and the numerical scheme used to interpolate/extrapolate these observations to satellite channels have been identified through sensitivity studies. The package is shown to be a unique tool for more objective validation and intercomparison of satellite aerosol retrievals, helping to satisfy an increasingly important requirement of the satellite aerosol remote sensing community. Results of applying the package to the second-generation operational aerosol observational data (AEROBS) from the NOAA-14 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) in 1998 and to the same year aerosol observation data [Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System-Single Scanner Fo...
Chemical modification of wood : a short review

Abstract For most markets for wood, it is used without any treatments or modifications. When wood is used in adverse environments, it may be treated with chemicals to help prevent decay, improve water resistance, reduce the effects of ultraviolet radiation or increase fire retardancy. Many of these treatments involve the use of toxic or corrosive chemicals that can harm the environment. Chemical modification of wood provides an alternative by providing protection against water, decay, UV and thermal degradations by bonding chemicals to the cell wall polymers that do not leach out. Dimensional stability and decay resistance are two major properties that can be greatly improved by simple reactions with acetic anhydride.
Erratum for “Usefulness of Empirical Equations in Assessing Canal Losses through Seepage in Concrete-Lined Canal” by Erhan Akkuzu

Erhan Akkuzu Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Dept. of Farm Structures and Irrigation, Ege Univ., Izmir 35100, Turkey. E-mail: erhan.akkuzu@ege.edu.tr The following correction should be made to the original paper: 1. Tables 1–3: Column name “water depth (m)” should be changed to “Average water depth (m).” 2. Page 457, Table 1, the same values were given in the columns “Flow velocity of inflow” and “Average wetted perimeter” for the values of 13.1; 11.8; 5.9; 5.2, and 6.1. The necessary corrections have been made in Table 1 as follows.
Comparison of the acetylation of proteins and nucleic acids.

The possibility of acetylation of nucleic acids was examined. Although protein is actively acetylated with [1-14C]acetic acid in rat liver systems in vivo and in vitro and in a frog liver system in vivo, nucleic acids are not acetylated under these conditions; nucleic acids purified from these sources are without radioactivity. Requirements for acetylation in vitro of protein in rat liver are different from those in frog liver; GSH has no effect in the rat liver system and is inhibitory in the frog liver system. Among various acetylated proteins, proteins insoluble in 0.1m-sulphuric acid have the highest radioactivity.
An Integrated Picture of HDV Ribozyme Catalysis

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme, a small self-cleaving RNA originally identified in the human pathogen HDV, has been found to be broadly dispersed throughout life. In this article, we describe an integrated approach to understand the catalytic mechanism of this ribozyme that combines kinetics, crystallography, Raman spectroscopy, and calculations. Kinetics studies provide rate and binding parameters for protons and metal ions, and allow for design of properly folded and catalytically relevant RNAs for crystallography. Raman studies on these crystals provide direct evidence that the nucleobase of C75 has a shifted pK a. Moreover, Raman crystallography and solution kinetics demonstrate that proton binding to the N3 of C75 couples anticooperatively with binding of a Mg2+ ion, suggesting that the two species are close in space. Extensive structural studies on this ribozyme suggest that the cleavage reaction proceeds through a combination of Lewis acid catalysis by a catalytic Mg2+ ion and general acid catalysis by the nucleobase of C75. Molecular dynamics and electrostatics calculations support the above mechanism and reveal an intensely electronegative pocket that plays key roles in positioning the catalytic metal ion and C75 for catalysis. Integrating the results of kinetics, X-ray crystallography, Raman crystallography, and molecular dynamics suggests that there is a second Mg2+ ion in the active site that is bound diffusely and may play a structural role. In sum, these four disparate approaches provide for a robust kinetic mechanism for the HDV ribozyme that lays groundwork for future studies into its detailed mechanism of dynamics and cleavage.
Abstract P229: Is a Multidisciplinary Approach to Hypertension Better Than Traditional Care in Female Hypertensive Patients?

Background: Rush Heart Center for Women (RHCW) opened in October 2003 to provide a multidisciplinary approach (MDA) for female patients (pts). RHCW provided personalized care plans to address women’s heart health, with an emphasis on female-specific risk factors and symptoms. MDA including cardiologists, dietitians and nurse practitioners to treat female pts was compared to a similar cohort using standard practice in terms of HTN treatment. Methods: A retrospective study identified pts with HTN treated at RHCW using a MDA and compared to a cohort of pts treated by cardiologists and received a standard level of care consistent with guidelines and recommendations (standard practice). Pts seen between 2008 and 2014 with at least 2 visits between 9 and 15 months apart were studied. Demographic moderating variables were race, age, and insurance. Moderating clinical variables were baseline systolic BP, body mass index, diabetes, smoking status, history of coronary disease, stroke, and prior treatment of HTN. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the effect of treatment type, with pts’ follow-up BP. Results: A total of 1486 pts were evaluated. Pts seen treated by MDA was younger by Conclusion: The multidisciplinary approach had better BP control in female hypertensive pts. Prospective studies comparing MDA to standard practice may help to assess improved quality of life, compliance and outcomes.
Excitation functions of /sup 16/O inelastic scattering on /sup 40/Ca

Excitation functions for inelastic scattering of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ leading to the first ${5}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ state and (${2}^{+}$ + ${3}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) states in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ have been measured at the first maxima of the angular distributions. A monotonic increase with bombarding energy is observed for these cross sections, with no indication of the oscillatory structure seen for the 180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} elastic scattering excitation function.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$($^{16}\mathrm{O}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}$') inelastic scattering; ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=50\ensuremath{-}70$ MeV, 0.5 MeV steps; coupled channel analysis.
Bacteriologic studies of the upper respiratory passagesI. Hemolytic streptococci of the adenoids

Numerous bacteriologic investigations of the throat and nasopharynx have been carried out to determine the incidence of dangerous bacteria in the normal as well as in diseased conditions. Most of the previous observations were made from swab cultures of the throat and pharynx, and as it is impossible for this method to reach the recesses of the tonsillar crypts and folds of the adenoids, it is obvious that the results obtained are inaccurate and not a true index of the flora of these regions. In a previous work by Pilot and Davis 1 it was noted that the crypts of 100 pairs of extirpated tonsils contained hemolytic streptococci often in large numbers in 97%, whereas from the swab cultures of the same persons before tonsillectomy the same organisms were recovered in fewer numbers in only 6\^c. In order to ascertain the extent to which the other lymphoid structures harbor the streptococci a study of the flora of the extirpated adenoids of a similar group of persons was undertaken, together with a smaller series of extirpated tonsils for comparison. In the present work cultures were made from the adenoids of 103 children. In 25 instances swabs of the nasopharynx were obtained by means of the West tube before adenoidectomy and in the same group both the extirpated tonsils and adenoids were studied. In the remaining 78 cultures were made from the adenoids. The patients were children varying from 5 to 16 years of age who presented adenoids and tonsils of varying degrees of hyperplasia with no evidence of any recent acute inflammation, fever or subjective symptoms of sore throat. The adenoids in most instances were removed by the La Force adenectome and the tonsils by the Beck tonsillectome under general anesthesia at the Cook County Hospital during the months of April, May and June, 1920.
LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE LIGATION AND ABLATION FOR PERSISTENT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (LAALA-AF REGISTRY)

Left atrial appendage (LAA) isolation is known to be an important adjunctive therapy to improve outcomes of pulmonary vein isolation in patients with persistent AF. Percutaneous endo-epicardial LAA closure system (LARIAT) can result in both mechanical and electrical exclusion of the LAA and may
Association Between Availability of a Price Transparency Tool and Outpatient Spending

Importance There is increasing interest in using price transparency tools to decrease health care spending. Objective To measure the association between offering a health care price transparency tool and outpatient spending. Design, Setting, and Participants Two large employers represented in multiple market areas across the United States offered an online health care price transparency tool to their employees. One introduced it on April 1, 2011, and the other on January 1, 2012. The tool provided users information about what they would pay out of pocket for services from different physicians, hospitals, or other clinical sites. Using a matched difference-in-differences design, outpatient spending among employees offered the tool (n=148 655) was compared with that among employees from other companies not offered the tool (n=295 983) in the year before and after it was introduced. Exposure Availability of a price transparency tool. Main Outcomes and Measures Annual outpatient spending, outpatient out-of-pocket spending, use rates of the tool. Results Mean outpatient spending among employees offered the tool was $2021 in the year before the tool was introduced and $2233 in the year after. In comparison, among controls, mean outpatient spending changed from $1985 to $2138. After adjusting for demographic and health characteristics, being offered the tool was associated with a mean $59 (95% CI, $25-$93) increase in outpatient spending. Mean outpatient out-of-pocket spending among those offered the tool was $507 in the year before introduction of the tool and $555 in the year after. Among the comparison group, mean outpatient out-of-pocket spending changed from $490 to $520. Being offered the price transparency tool was associated with a mean $18 (95% CI, $12-$25) increase in out-of-pocket spending after adjusting for relevant factors. In the first 12 months, 10% of employees who were offered the tool used it at least once. Conclusions and Relevance Among employees at 2 large companies, offering a price transparency tool was not associated with lower health care spending. The tool was used by only a small percentage of eligible employees.
379 ADULT CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS' APPROACHES TO IMPROVING LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP CARE

Introduction Long-term follow-up (LTFU) care is essential for childhood cancer survivors since the use of cancer therapy at an early age can lead to long-term effects which may not become apparent until years after completion of therapy. The majority of survivors, however, are not receiving appropriate cancer-related long-term follow-up care and the reasons for which have not yet been completely defined. Purpose The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore patient and family views on the impact that childhood cancer has on their lives, and how LTFU can be improved. Methods Study design: Cross-sectional; Participants: Convenience sampling of childhood cancer survivors, ≥ 18 years of age,≥ 5 years from time of diagnosis, English or Spanish-speaking, and family member(s) identified as having been important to them during their cancer experience. Analysis In-home semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded from which verbatim-transcriptions were made. A grounded theory approach utilizing content analysis derived major themes. Results Three major themes arose: (1) survivor education (2) survivor empowerment; and (3) optimize health care system factors to facilitate LTFU care. The recommendations for unique interventions to LTFU care from the survivors9 and family members9 perspectives included: continuing education through a survivor-initiated mentoring program, telephone-linked and/or web communication programs to providers, survivor-to-survivor internet chat rooms for questions, and access to an on-line directory of knowledgeable providers (approved by pediatric oncologists) that would facilitate access to an experienced physician and/or other support services. Conclusions We should expand upon the current, traditional model of LTFU care that often focuses on screening for disease recurrence and include other novel medical and psychosocial support services noted as important from the survivors9 perspective. The interventions recommended by survivors and family members can be evaluated in future research studies for their feasibility and effectiveness.
The Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction in the Presence of Left Bundle Branch Block

The value of electrocardiographic signs for myocardial infarction in complete left bundle branch block are evaluated by comparing electrocardiographic characteristics with the location of infarction, as assessed by resting thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging. Many of the previously reported electrocardiographic signs lack specificity and sensitivity to be of practical value. The most valuable electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of infarction are (1) serial electrocardiographic changes, (2) transient ST-segment changes, (3) abnormal Q waves, (4) the sign of Cabrera, and (5) the appearance of RV1, QV6
Finding order in chaos.

Linda Sherman describes a 1991 study by Hans-Georg Rammensee and colleagues that defines allele-specific motifs required for the binding of peptides to MHC molecules.
Quantum simulation: Probing information scrambling

Quantum information encoded in one of many interacting particles quickly becomes scrambled. A set of tools for tracking this process is on its way.