cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Use of Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles to Enhance the Efficiency of Thin-Film Silicon (Si) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) Solar Cells – A Comparative Study

This study compares the response of thin-film silicon and gallium arsenide solar cells to the use of plasmonic metal nanoparticles for modifying their respective opto-electronic behavior. Square arrays of silver nanoparticles were placed at different inter-particle distances on top of a thin film of Silicon and gallium-arsenide substrate, respectively. The absorption of incident sunlight within each solar cell type is analyzed, and compared to the short circuit current density, open circuit voltage and the output power generated from each solar cell type due to the effect of the plasmonic nanoparticles. It is found that gallium-arsenide shows larger values than Silicon of the short circuit current generated, open circuit voltage, the fill-factor and the output power generated. These results show the effect of plasmonic metal nanoparticles to increase the optoelectronic efficiency of thin-film solar cells is not limited to only Silicon substrates but extends to other commonly used semiconductor substrates.
Assessment of human pancreas cancer tissue and precursor lesions via a fluorophore with inherent PDAC selectivity.

The current five-year survival rate of <5% for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is compounded by late diagnosis, a lack of PDAC-specific intraoperative guidance to ensure complete resection, and the ineffectiveness of current therapies. Previously, utilizing compound 1, a fluorophore with inherent PDAC selectivity, PDAC was visualized both in vivo and ex vivo in a murine model. In the current study, human PDAC tissue is targeted. Compound 1 selectively stains ducts of the adenocarcinoma versus the surrounding stroma, enabling the imaging of PDAC in frozen tissue sections with high contrast. To enhance the potential of 1 for intraoperative applications, the ex vivo staining protocol was optimized for rapid margin assessment, with a final staining time of ~15 min. To measure diagnostic performance, the area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was measured for the identification of ductal adenocarcinoma vs. stroma. The bright fluorescence contrast enabled quantitative determination of PDAC (or precancerous PanIN lesions) versus healthy pancreas tissue in human tissue array samples.
Experiences of Speaking With Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: A Qualitative Investigation.

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe experiences of speaking with 2 forms of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV)—mouthpiece NPPV (M-NPPV) and nasal bilevel positive airway pre...
Corrections in the US Equity Indexes and Sector Exchange-Traded Funds

In this article, a rule-based definition of market corrections that depends on price volatility is proposed. This enables consistent comparison of corrections in different markets. Statistics of corrections in several US equity indexes and major US equity sector exchange-traded funds are compiled. According to the definition proposed in this work, the bear market of 2007–2009 had five distinct corrections, three of which exceeded 20%. It is shown that binary variables that account for market corrections improve accuracy of the ARMA-GARCH model for asset returns. Among other findings, volatility during market corrections has increased in recent years. The losses of the SP however, this is not the case since 2007. Corrections in the US equity sector exchange-traded funds are determined by the sector-specific trends rather than by their volatility. The results obtained in this article may be useful for a better understanding of business cycles and optimal portfolio rebalancing among various equity sectors. TOPICS:Exchange-traded funds and applications, mutual funds/passive investing/indexing Key Findings • A rule-based definition of market corrections that depends on price volatility is proposed. • The statistics of corrections in several major US equity indexes and sector exchange-traded funds is compiled. • It is found that the binary variables that account for market corrections improve accuracy of the ARMA-GARCH model for asset returns.
Moving from “I” to “We”: A Grounded Theory Analysis of Couple Therapy with Liver Patients and Their Partners

Prior research indicates that couples who cope with chronic illness from a relational "we" orientation experience more positive outcomes than couples that cope individually; however, little prior research identifies clinical processes that promote reciprocity or how societal gender processes are involved. This grounded theory analysis of 25 videotaped therapy sessions with six heterosexual couples coping with chronic liver disease (LD) used a feminist-informed relational lens to focus on the clinical processes involved in shifting from an individual to a relational orientation. Findings identified three contextual barriers to attaining a "we orientation": (a) autonomy discourse, (b) illness-related power, and (c) gendered power. Analysis detailed therapist actions that decreased the impact of barriers to reciprocity and fostered relational coping. Clinical implications attend to complex intersections among gender, caregiving, and contextual barriers to reciprocity.
Exploring Challenges in the Design of Learning Environments Towards Technical Competency Development in Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has been attracting increasing interest from academic research communities, apart from the manufacturing industry, because it simplifies prototyping and opens a conducive space for directly transforming design ideas into workable physical products. In this dissertation research, the researcher intends to explore the significant differences in practices between four-year and two-year engineering degree programs from universities and community colleges that offer additive manufacturing majors. This work seeks to investigate the major challenges in the design of learning environments and the alignment of pedagogical strategies used in existing additive manufacturing programs offered in community colleges and meeting the needed technical knowledge and skills in the manufacturing industry workplace.
The neurological and neuropsychological effects of child maltreatment

Abstract Due to the increase in annual cases, child maltreatment has become a significant focus in research. There are four types of childhood abuse that have been identified and discussed throughout this review: sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. In order for psychologists and other related professionals to recognize the contributions maltreatment has on psychiatric disorders, it is necessary to identify and understand the complex sequela of childhood abuse and neglect that may appear throughout the victim's lifespan. This paper reviewed current research on child maltreatment and its relationship to neurological impairments and neuropsychological effects. Additionally, a comparison between typical and impaired neurological morphology emphasized alterations in volumetric structures and stress response functions occurring in the HPA axis, amygdala, hippocampus, and corpus callosum. Recent studies have discovered that changes to the preceding neurological structures can significantly impact different neuropsychological domains including working memory, processing speed, language, visual-spatial abilities, and motor skills.
Acute and chronic sympathomimetic effects of e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette smoking: role of nicotine and non-nicotine constituents

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) and tobacco cigarettes (TCs) both release nicotine, a sympathomimetic drug. We hypothesized that baseline heart rate variability (HRV) and hemodynamics would be similar in chronic EC and TC smokers and that after acute EC use, changes in HRV and hemodynamics would be attributable to nicotine, not non-nicotine, constituents in EC aerosol. In 100 smokers, including 58 chronic EC users and 42 TC smokers, baseline HRV and hemodynamics [blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR)] were compared. To isolate the acute effects of nicotine vs. non-nicotine constituents in EC aerosol, we compared changes in HRV, BP, and HR in EC users after using an EC with nicotine (ECN), EC without nicotine (EC0), nicotine inhaler (NI), or sham vaping (control). Outcomes were also compared with TC smokers after smoking one TC. Baseline HRV and hemodynamics were not different in chronic EC users and TC smokers. In EC users, BP and HR, but not HRV outcomes, increased only after using the ECN, consistent with a nicotine effect on BP and HR. Similarly, in TC smokers, BP and HR but not HRV outcomes increased after smoking one TC. Despite a similar increase in nicotine, the hemodynamic increases were significantly greater after TC smokers smoked one TC compared with the increases after EC users used the ECN. In conclusion, chronic EC and TC smokers exhibit a similar pattern of baseline HRV. Acute increases in BP and HR in EC users are attributable to nicotine, not non-nicotine, constituents in EC aerosol. The greater acute pressor effects after TC compared with ECN may be attributable to non-nicotine, combusted constituents in TC smoke.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Chronic electronic cigarette (EC) users and tobacco cigarette (TC) smokers exhibit a similar level of sympathetic nerve activity as estimated by heart rate variability. Acute increases in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate in EC users are attribute to nicotine, not non-nicotine, constituents in EC aerosol. Acute TC smoking increased BP significantly more than acute EC use, despite similar increases in plasma nicotine, suggestive of additional adverse vascular effects attributable to combusted, non-nicotine constituents in TC smoke.
Structural power, corporate strategy, and performance

Research Summary We develop a structural theory of power to explain how an organization is indirectly influenced by others through intermediaries. Our theory begins by explaining why an organization can improve its power position by acquiring partners that have direct advantages over it. We then propose the construct of indirect disadvantage to explain why an organization is motivated to acquire other partners that have advantages over its powerful partners. We further predict that the organization is motivated to acquire non‐partners to gain two‐step leverage over powerful partners. Finally, we theorize that the total indirect disadvantage of an organization relative to all partners negatively influences its performance. Using an extensive dataset on American businesses (1997–2007), we find strong support for our theory at both industry‐industry and firm‐industry levels. Managerial Summary Powerful buyers and suppliers are major influencers of the bottom line. This study develops a new theory to explain how to deal with them effectively, especially through mergers and acquisitions. In addition to considering powerful exchange partners as acquisition targets, firms can seek to exercise indirect influence over them through others. Acquiring other partners or non‐partners that have control over powerful buyers and suppliers is often feasible and effective in dealing with those organizations and improving the firm's financial position. Our analysis of a very large sample of American businesses over a decade not only provides clear evidence that supports our theory but also highlights the substantial competitive advantages enjoyed by firms that exercise indirect sources of influence over major exchange partners.
Membrane Electrolyzers for Impure-Water Splitting

Summary Membrane electrolyzers enable the production of high-purity H2 from pure water. There is growing interest in developing this technology to operate in impure water. While proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyzers are the current industry leaders, anion-exchange-membrane (AEM) electrolyzers might be better suited for impure-water operation with further development. Here, the technical barriers to developing AEM electrolyzers for impure-water splitting are discussed. We highlight progress in the field and present possible research approaches to advance the field.
Family Law and Foster Care

Abstract There are challenges associated with teaching family law and public policy; however, cooperative learning, a recognized teaching strategy that serves to enhance students' overall development, including academic, cognitive, and social growth, can be used successfully to teach this subject matter. In this paper, we describe how we taught students about some aspects of qualitative research methods, foster care policies, and pertinent family law concepts and practices; this was done through the initiation of a research team of undergraduate and graduate students. We explain the development of a cooperative research team, and the methods used to teach family law, using foster care as a context. The observed outcomes for students and faculty members are offered to readers.
Association of AKI-D with Urinary Findings and Baseline eGFR in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

Abstract Background AKI is common in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Risk factors for AKI requiring dialysis (AKI-D) are not fully understood. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with AKI-D and AKI not requiring dialysis (AKI-ND). Methods We reviewed electronic health records of 3186 patients aged ≥18 years old who were hospitalized with COVID-19 across six hospitals. Patient characteristics, urinalysis findings, and inflammatory markers were analyzed for association with in-hospital AKI status (AKI-D, AKI-ND, or no AKI), and we subsequently evaluated mortality. Results After adjustment for multiple covariates, higher baseline eGFR was associated with 30% lower odds of AKI-D and 11% lower odds of AKI-ND (for AKI-D, OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.77; for AKI-ND, OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.92). Patients with obesity and those who were Latino had increased odds of AKI-D, whereas patients with congestive heart failure or diabetes with complications had increased odds of AKI-ND. Females had lower odds of in-hospital AKI (for AKI-D, OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.46; for AKI-ND, OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.99). After adjustment for covariates and baseline eGFR, 1–4+ protein on initial urinalysis was associated with a nine-fold increase in odds of AKI-D (OR, 9.00; 95% CI, 2.16 to 37.38) and more than two-fold higher odds of AKI-ND (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.66 to 3.13). Findings of 1–3+ blood and trace glucose on initial urinalysis were also associated with increased odds of both AKI-D and AKI-ND. AKI-D and AKI-ND were associated with in-hospital death (for AKI-D, OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.13 to 6.17; for AKI-ND, OR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.77 to 3.35). Conclusions Active urine sediments, even after adjustment for baseline kidney function, and reduced baseline eGFR are significantly associated with increased odds of AKI-D and AKI-ND. In-hospital AKI was associated with in-hospital death. These findings may help prognosticate patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
Influx and Efflux of N,N,N-Trimethyl-N-Prop-2-Ynylammonium by a Rat Brain Synaptosome Preparation

Several analogs of choline (Ch) have been studied as substrates for the Ch uptake systems present in synaptosomes or brain slices (4–7,9,12,13,15). These analogs are monoethylcholine, diethylcholine, triethylcholine, pyrrolidinecholine, homocholine, sulfocholine, l,l-dimethyl-3-hydroxypiperidine, N-(4-hydroxylbutyl)-N,N, N-trimethylammonium (TMHBA) and N,N-dimethylaminoethanol (DJIAE), and all have a free hydroxyl group. With the exceptions of TMHBA (16) and DMAE (15) they are alternative substrates for the high affinity Ch uptake system as well as precursors to false cholinergic transmitters. These findings and the results of studies on Ch analogs as inhibitors of the high affinity uptake of Ch (22) define some, of the structural requirements for alternative substrates. To be recognized as a substrate, it appears that the Ch analog must be a simple alkyl ammonium or sulfonium that has no more than three methylene groups between the quaternary head and terminal hydroxyl group. The observation that acetylcholine (ACh) is not transported by the high affinity Ch uptake system suggests that a free hydroxyl group also is required for a Ch analog to be a substrate for this transport (17,18). To test this notion, a Ch analog devoid of a hydroxyl group, N,N,N-trimethyl-N-prop-2-ynylammonium (TMPYA), was evaluated as a substrate for the Ch high affinity uptake system. TMPYA was chosen on the basis that the electrostatic potential it generates is quite similar to that of Ch (25). On that basis, TMPYA should be recognized by and interact with binding sites for Ch (see 24 for review). Further, the high affinity transport of Ch, monoethylcholine, pyrrolidinecholine, and homocholine by rat brain synaptosomes is so closely linked to acetylation (3,7,28), it is difficult to study this uptake system separately from the associated metabolism of the substrates. Thus it is desireable to have a non- metabolizable analog of the natural substrate for transport studies. The preliminary results of studies on one such analog, TMPYA, are reported here.
Willingness to Participate in Cardiovascular Clinical Research among African-Americans.

African Americans (AA) have been underrepresented in clinical trials in the United States for a variety of reasons. Barriers to minority enrollment and participation in clinical trials are numerous: patient skepticism, lack of encouragement to enroll, and generally lower health literacy are only a few [1-3]. In cardiovascular clinical research in particular, longer trial durations and intensive tests and procedures were the factors most significantly associated with minority nonparticipation [2]. Many studies examining this issue were conducted more than 10 years ago [4,5] and since then, efforts have been implemented to improve AA enrollment in research [6].
Forensic Tools for Mobile Phone Subscriber Identity Modules

Mobile phones and other handheld devices incorporating cellular capabilities, such as Personal Digital Assistants, are ubiquitous. Besides placing calls, these devices allow users to perform other useful tasks, including text messaging and phonebook entry management. When cell phones and cellular devices are involved in a crime or other incident, forensic specialists require tools that allow the proper retrieval and speedy examination of data present on the device. For devices conforming to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standards, certain data such as dialed numbers, text messages, and phonebook entries are maintained on a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). This paper gives a snapshot of the state of the art of forensic software tools for SIMs and an explanation of the types of digital evidence they can recover.
The Effect of Ownership Structure on News Coverage in the United States

This study examined the size of newspapers and newspaper chains in the United States and the impact on content. The purpose of this study was to look at how newspapers are providing local information necessary for local communities. Are diversification practices, downsizing and economic concerns of news organizations resulting in more or less local news coverage? To address these questions, a number of key newspaper chains in the U.S. were examined to see whether or not circulation size and size of the parent company impacted the use of local sources in the coverage of key issues. Findings indicated that newspapers with smaller circulations tend to use more local sources and that the number of newspaper holdings of parent companies was also significant in predicting use of national/online sources.
Services Concepts in Marketing Textbooks: A Consideration of Product and Distribution:

Despite the importance of services to marketers, and the substantial amount of services marketing literature, marketing principles textbooks still tend to reflect a goods orientation. Product and distribution concepts in texts are reviewed, relevant services literature cited, and textbook authors encouraged to consider services issues more precisely and in greater depth.
Scaling Factors in Estimation of Time-Nonseparable Utility Functions

In GMM estimations, when data exhibit exponential trends, scaling factors are often used to restore stationarity in Euler equation residuals. The present paper demonstrates that finite-sample estimates are sensitive to the scaling factors, and seemingly plausible scaling factors may produce spurious estimates. It suggests that scaling factors be chosen so that the scaled marginal utility is roughly constant. The discussion is conducted through estimation of a representative agent's time-nonseparable utility function, using first artificial data and then aggregate consumption and asset returns.
44 Experimental Studies on Pathogenesis of Nephrotic Hyperlipemia and Dysproteinemia

Drainage of the abdominal chyleduct was carried out for 1–18 days in 11 rats, a continuous i.v. drip preventing dehydration. Marked hypoalbuminemia (with values < 1.0 gm %) developed in all and cholesterol and total lipid values in sera remained within normal limits. At the same time electrophoretic patterns obtained on sera of these rats showed the appearance of proteins with the mobility of α2 globulins that were not obtained before. Marked decreases of γ globulins were also noted. In as much as these observations were made on animals without kidney disease, it would seem possible that the increase of α2 globulins observed regularly in the nephrotic syndrome do not reflect any etiological or pathogenic manifestation of the disease process. These observations also do not support the contention that the nephrotic hyperlipemia is due to hypoalbuminemia. Sera of 5 children with non nephrotic hypoalbuminemias also revealed normal cholesterol and total lipid values with increased α2 globulins. (APS)
Portable 512 x 512 grayscale optical correlator

JPL has developed a compact portable 512 x 512 Grayscale Optical Correlator [1-4] by integrating a pair of 512 x 512 Ferroelectric Spatial Light Modulator (FLCSLM), a red diode laser, Fourier optics, a CMOS photodetector array. The system is designed to operate at the maximum speed of 1000 frames per second. A FPGA card was custom programmed to perform peak-detection post-processing to accommodate the system throughput rate. Custom mechanical mounting brackets were designed miniaturized the optics head of the GOC into a 6” x 3.5” x 2” volume. The device driver HW/SW is installed in a customized PC. The GOC system’s portability has been demonstrated by shipping it to various locations for target recognition testing.
Optimum Criteria for the Diagnosis of Ventricular Septal Defect from Measurements of Blood Oxygen Saturation

A combination of physical findings, x-ray films and fluoroscopy, electrocardiography, vectorcardiography, cardiac catheterization including oxygen analysis, indicator-dilution curves, and selective angiocardiography was employed to evaluate 259 consecutive patients undergoing right heart catheterization. All patients were classified on the basis of existing shunts. The present report concerns 63 patients with no shunts and 70 patients with a left-to-right shunt through a ventricular septal defect alone. A method employing oxygen analysis of right heart blood was evaluated as an isolated diagnostic technic. Blood specimens were obtained in rapid sequence during withdrawal of the catheter from the pulmonary arteries. Spectrophotometric measurements of blood oxygen saturation were appropriately grouped. The difference in means between the right ventricular outflow tract and right atrium was standardized with the estimated standard deviation and the statistical significance determined from the t-distribution....
Can radiation cause thyroid cancer.

IN 1950 it was first suggested that there might be some relationship between irradiation of the thymus gland and cancer of the thyroid (1). In a survey of the cases of thyroid cancer seen at the Memorial Hospital in New York from 1932 to 1948, 28 patients were found to have histologic evidence of thyroid cancer before the age of 18 years. Ten of these 28 had been irradiated over the chest in infancy for symptoms thought to be due to enlarged thymus. The authors stated at that time that “to propose a cause-and-effect relationship between thymic irradiation and the development of cancer would be quite unjustified on the basis of data at hand when one considers the large number of children who have had irradiation to an ‘enlarged thymus.’ However, the potential carcinogenic effects of irradiation are becoming increasingly apparent, and such relationships as those of thymic irradiation in early life and the subsequent development of thyroid or thymic tumors might be profitably explored.” This is a review of c...
Conformational energetics and low-frequency vibrations of cyclohexene and its oxygen analogs

Ab initio and DFT calculations with MP2/cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ basis sets have been carried out for cyclohexene and four of its oxygen analogs. All of the molecules possess a twisted structure while the bent forms represent saddle points in two-dimensional surfaces. The structures, relative energies, and frequencies for the lowest energy vibrations of the twisted, bent, and planar forms were calculated and compared to experimental results. The calculated results agree very well with the microwave data but the computed barriers are somewhat less than those based on low-frequency infrared data.
Layer disorder in carbon anodes

Abstract Inter- and intra-layer disorder in a representative hard carbon derived from epoxy novolac resin at 1000°C have been investigated by comparing both the elastic structure factor S(Q) and radial distribution function obtained from pulsed neutron time-of-flight measurements with calculations from simple hypothetic systems with specific disorder characteristics. The spatial relationship between these building blocks, planar graphene fragments with length scale of 1 nm, is probed in terms of inter-layer alignment and intra-layer connectivity. Coupled with the density of dangling bonds obtained from ESR and residual hydrogen concentration, these simulations provide sufficient information to construct an overall model of the carbon structure. Of special interest is the physical origin of the ubiquitous broad (002)-like reflection frequently interpreted as that from layers with a uniform interlay spacing (d002) It is found to be directly related to the misalignment between layers with an average interlayer spacing as that in crystalline graphite (3.35 A).
Sub-nanomolar detection of prostate-specific membrane antigen in synthetic urine by synergistic, dual-ligand phage.

The sensitive detection of cancer biomarkers in urine could revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment. Such detectors must be inexpensive, easy to interpret, and sensitive. This report describes a bioaffinity matrix of viruses integrated into PEDOT films for electrochemical sensing of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a prostate cancer biomarker. High sensitivity to PSMA resulted from synergistic action by two different ligands to PSMA on the same phage particle. One ligand was genetically encoded, and the secondary recognition ligand was chemically synthesized to wrap around the phage. The dual ligands result in a bidentate binder with high-copy, dense ligand display for enhanced PSMA detection through a chelate-based avidity effect. Biosensing with virus–PEDOT films provides a 100 pM limit of detection for PSMA in synthetic urine without requiring enzymatic or other amplification.
Choosing among partition models in Bayesian phylogenetics.

Bayesian phylogenetic analyses often depend on Bayes factors (BFs) to determine the optimal way to partition the data. The marginal likelihoods used to compute BFs, in turn, are most commonly estimated using the harmonic mean (HM) method, which has been shown to be inaccurate. We describe a new more accurate method for estimating the marginal likelihood of a model and compare it with the HM method on both simulated and empirical data. The new method generalizes our previously described stepping-stone (SS) approach by making use of a reference distribution parameterized using samples from the posterior distribution. This avoids one challenging aspect of the original SS method, namely the need to sample from distributions that are close (in the Kullback–Leibler sense) to the prior. We specifically address the choice of partition models and find that using the HM method can lead to a strong preference for an overpartitioned model. In contrast to the HM method and the original SS method, we show using simulated data that the generalized SS method is strikingly more precise (repeatable BF values of the same data and partition model) and yields BF values that are much more reasonable than those produced by the HM method. Comparisons of HM and generalized SS methods on an empirical data set demonstrate that the generalized SS method tends to choose simpler partition schemes that are more in line with expectation based on inferred patterns of molecular evolution. The generalized SS method shares with thermodynamic integration the need to sample from a series of distributions in addition to the posterior. Such dedicated path-based Markov chain Monte Carlo analyses appear to be a cost of estimating marginal likelihoods accurately.
Caregiver mental health and racial/ethnic disparities in stroke: implications for culturally sensitive interventions.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to create a set of culturally sensitive mental-health-intervention recommendations for the caregivers of Latino/Puerto-Rican, Black, and White individuals with stroke. The study examined whether the mental health of stroke caregivers and functioning of individuals with stroke differed according to race/ethnicity, changed differentially over time according to race/ethnicity, and showed relationships between the two sets of constructs that differed according to race/ethnicity. RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN Data on caregiver mental health and functioning of individuals with stroke were collected from 124 (n = 248) White, Black, and Latino/Puerto-Rican dyads at 1, 6, and 12 months post-hospital discharge. RESULTS Out of the three racial/ethnic groups, Latino/Puerto-Rican individuals with stroke showed the lowest functioning, and their caregivers showed the poorest mental health, though the mental-health effects did not reach statistical significance. Consistent patterns which differed as a function of race/ethnicity emerged over time in the relationships between caregiver mental health and functioning of individuals with stroke. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS Critical knowledge may be lost regarding the connections between caregiver mental health and the functioning of individuals with stroke when researchers and clinicians look only across race/ethnicity as opposed to also within. A monolithic racial/ethnic approach to mental-health interventions for stroke rehabilitation is likely limited, and race/ethnicity may affect how caregiver mental health and functioning of individuals with stroke reciprocally influence each other.
Flat ideals II

This paper is concerned with the relationships that hold between finiteness and divisibility properties of flat ideals of integral domains. Brought out often is the role of the arithmetic of a ring in the finiteness of its flat ideals.
Low Morbidity Following High Dose Rate Brachytherapy in the Setting of Prior Transurethral Prostate Resection

Purpose: We reviewed our single institution experience with high dose rate brachytherapy in patients who underwent prior transurethral prostate resection.Materials and Methods: A total of 28 patients treated with high dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer at our institution between 2001 and 2006 were identified as having undergone prior transurethral prostate resection. All patients received high dose rate brachytherapy as a boost before or after conformal external beam radiation therapy to 4,500 cGy. Boost brachytherapy doses ranged from 1,600 to 1,900 cGy, given in 2 or 3 fractions. Changes in American Urological Association symptom scores were assessed.Results: Dosimetric goals were adequately achieved in all patients with a median minimal dose to 90% of the prostate of 109% of the prescription dose (range 100% to 117%). The median volume receiving 100% of the prescribed dose was 95% (range 87.9% to 100%) Three patients (11%) required temporary urinary catheter placement for acute obstructive sym...
INHIBITION OF RUBELLA VIRUS BY AMANTADINE.

The inhibition of rubella virus by amantadine reported byCochran andMaassab in LLC-MK 2 is confirmed by demonstration of similar activity in vervet kidney, in RK 13, and in human fibroblasts. Inhibition was noted at concentrations ranging from 10 to 25μg/ml.
Quality-of-life assessment in patients with bladder cancer

Surgical treatments for bladder cancer are associated with long-term morbidities that affect bladder and sexual function. This Review on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) examines the important issues surrounding surgical treatment options for bladder cancer patients, including the different definitions and measurements for HRQOL. Factors that should be considered when selecting the type of reconstruction a patient should have following cystectomy are also discussed. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with bladder cancer is important, because radical cystectomy and urinary diversion significantly affect urinary and sexual function, and lead to associated sex-specific morbidity. This article reviews the current methods for defining HRQOL, describes the specific challenges in measuring HRQOL in patients with bladder cancer, and critically analyzes the existing literature on bladder cancer HRQOL. Previous studies have been limited by study design, generalizability, and by the different instruments used, namely nonvalidated questionnaires that are not specific for bladder cancer. To date, only two prospective studies with baseline HRQOL data have been published and few conclusions can be drawn from these cross-sectional, retrospective studies. On the basis of the published literature, there is no convincing evidence that superior HRQOL is achieved with a particular type of urinary diversion after cystectomy for bladder cancer. Patients should be counseled on all reconstructive alternatives and a diversion chosen on the basis of patient preference, patient anatomy and tumor status, rather than on a potential difference in HRQOL. Prospective studies with appropriate adjustment for confounding factors, which use validated and disease-specific questionnaires, are needed for HRQOL research on bladder cancer.
Substrate Selectivity and a Novel Role in Inhibitor Discrimination by Residue 237 in the KPC-2 β-Lactamase

β-Lactamase-mediated antibiotic resistance continues to challenge the contemporary treatment of serious bacterial infections. The KPC-2 β-lactamase, a rapidly emerging Gram-negative resistance determinant, hydrolyzes all commercially available β-lactams, including carbapenems and β-lactamase inhibitors; the amino acid sequence requirements responsible for this versatility are not yet known. To explore the bases of β-lactamase activity, we conducted site saturation mutagenesis at Ambler position 237. Only the T237S variant of the KPC-2 β-lactamase expressed in Escherichia coli DH10B maintained MICs equivalent to those of the wild type (WT) against all of the β-lactams tested, including carbapenems. In contrast, the T237A variant produced in E. coli DH10B exhibited elevated MICs for only ampicillin, piperacillin, and the β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Residue 237 also plays a novel role in inhibitor discrimination, as 11 of 19 variants exhibit a clavulanate-resistant, sulfone-susceptible phenotype. We further showed that the T237S variant displayed substrate kinetics similar to those of the WT KPC-2 enzyme. Consistent with susceptibility testing, the T237A variant demonstrated a lower kcat/Km for imipenem, cephalothin, and cefotaxime; interestingly, the most dramatic reduction was with cefotaxime. The decreases in catalytic efficiency were driven by both elevated Km values and decreased kcat values compared to those of the WT enzyme. Moreover, the T237A variant manifested increased Kis for clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam, while the T237S variant displayed Kis similar to those of the WT. To explain these findings, a molecular model of T237A was constructed and this model suggested that (i) the hydroxyl side chain of T237 plays an important role in defining the substrate profile of the KPC-2 β-lactamase and (ii) hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl side chain of T237 and the sp2-hybridized carboxylate of imipenem may not readily occur in the T237A variant. This stringent requirement for selected cephalosporinase and carbapenemase activity and the important role of T237 in inhibitor discrimination in KPC-2 are central considerations in the future design of β-lactam antibiotics and inhibitors.
Extremes of daily rainfall in west central Florida

Annual maxima of daily rainfall data dating from 1901 to 2003 are modeled for fourteen locations in West Central Florida. The generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution is fitted to data from each location. The location parameter of the GEV is formulated as a function of time to adequately describe the extremes of rainfall and to predict their future behavior. We find evidence of non-stationarity in the form of trends for eight of the fourteen locations considered. We quantify the change in extreme rainfall for each location and provide return levels for the years 2010, 2020, 2050 and 2100. We also derive estimates of return levels for daily rainfall and provide a classification of the fourteen locations based on the degree of severity of these estimates. This paper provides the first application of extreme value distributions to rainfall data specifically from Florida.
Strategic group technique: Involving managers in strategic planning

Abstract This article describes a process by which top management can be involved in strategic planning without losing the contribution of the CEO, key senior managers and the planning staff. In addition, it describes a recent application of the process.
White Phosphorus Contamination of an Active Army Training Range

Detonations of military ordnance will leave various amounts of chemical residue on training ranges. Significant adverse ecological effects from these residues have not been documented except for ordnance containing white phosphorus. At a military training range in Alaska, USA, the deaths of thousands of waterfowl due to poisoning from white phosphorus ordnance prompted a two-decade-long investigation of the extent of the contamination, remediation technologies, and methods to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the remediation. This paper gives an overview of these investigations and provides the outcome of the remediation efforts.
Serotonin 1A receptors in the living brain of Alzheimer's disease patients

Abstract 4-[F-18]fluoro-N-{2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-N-(2-pyridinyl)benzamide, a selective serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) molecular imaging probe, was used in conjunction with positron emission tomography (PET) for quantification of 5-HT1A receptor densities in the living brains of Alzheimer's disease patients (ADs) (n = 8), subjects with mild cognitive impairment (n = 6), and controls (n = 5). ADs had receptor densities significantly decreased in both hippocampi (binding potential: controls 1.62 ± 0.07; ADs 1.18 ± 0.26) and also in raphe nuclei (controls 0.63 ± 0.09; ADs 0.37 ± 0.20). When volume losses are included, 5-HT1A losses are even more severe (i.e., average mean decreases of 24% in mild cognitive impairment patients and 49% in ADs). A strong correlation of 5-HT1A receptor decreases in hippocampus with worsening of clinical symptoms (Mini Mental State Exam scores) was also found. Moreover, these decreases in 5-HT1A receptor measures correlate with decreased glucose utilization as measured with 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose PET in the brains of ADs (standardized uptake values; globally: controls 0.89 ± 0.04, ADs 0.72 ± 0.04; posterior cingulate gyrus: controls 1.05 ± 0.09, ADs 0.79 ± 0.11). They also inversely correlate with increased neuropathological loads measured with 2-(1-{6-[(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl}ethylidene)malononitrile PET in several neocortical regions in the same subjects. The in vivo observations were confirmed independently by in vitro digital autoradiography with 4-[F-18]fluoro-N-{2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl}-N-(2-pyridinyl)benzamide and 2-(1-{6-[(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl}-ethylidene)malononitrile on brain tissue specimens from two ADs and three nondemented subjects. [F-18]MPPF brain 5-HT1A receptors neuronal loss positron emission tomography
Use of ELF and AIM parameter ratios for bond order characterization of two‐, three‐, and four‐coordinate gallium hydrides

Calculations at the B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) level involving the electron localization function (ELF) and atoms-in-molecules (AIM) methods have been carried out for two-, three-, and four-coordinate gallium hydrides present in Na and Li salts and as the isolated dianionic species, for some isoelectronic germanium compounds, and for several neutral gallium hydrides. Using the ratio of delocalization indices and bond basin populations referenced to reasonable standards, formal bond orders are derived. While chemically expected bond orders are found in most cases, the situation in the [HGaGaH]2− species appears to lie intermediate between bonds of order 2 and 3, and that for neutral trans-bent HGaGaH is found to be best described as a bond of order 1. In these cases the larger bond order predicted by ELF bond basin populations evidently results from overlap of the bond basin into the lone pair (nonbonding) region of the molecule. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:175–185, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10120
Association study between GABA receptor genes and anxiety spectrum disorders.

Background: Human anxiety disorders are complex diseases with relatively unknown etiology. Dysfunction of the Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system has been implicated in many neuropsychiatric conditions, including anxiety and depressive disorders. In this investigation, we explored four GABA receptor genes for their possible associations with genetic risk for anxiety disorders and depression.Methods: Our study sample consisted of 589 cases and 539 controls selected from a large population-based twin registry based upon a latent genetic risk factor shared by several anxiety disorders, major depression, and neuroticism. We subjected these to a two-stage protocol, in which all candidate genetic markers were screened for association in stage 1 (N=376), the positive results of which were tested for replication in stage 2 (N=752). We analyzed data from 26 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from four GABA receptor genes: GABRA2, GABRA3, GABRA6, and GABRG2. Results: Of the 26 SNPs genotyped in stage 1, we identified two markers in GABRA3 that met the threshold (P≤.1) to be tested in stage 2. Phenotypic associations of these two markers failed to replicate in stage 2. Conclusions: These findings suggest that common variation in the GABRA2, GABRA3, GABRA6, and GABRG2 genes does not play a major role in liability to anxiety spectrum disorders. Depression and Anxiety 26:998–1003, 2009. Published 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Progress in the Development of Well‐Defined Ethylene‐Vinyl Halide Polymers

Here progress in the development of well‐defined halogen containing polyolefins is described. A comparison of industrially relevant examples is given with attention to the influence of the halogen type and content on the thermal and crystalline properties and the resultant structure‐function relationships in the context of application. A more detailed account of the fundamental basis of such structure‐function relationships is given through a discussion of the various ethylene vinyl halide copolymers that have been reported.
A homologous expression system for obtaining engineered cytochrome ba3 from Thermus thermophilus HB8

Cytochrome ba3 is an integral membrane protein that serves as a terminal oxidase of the respiratory chain in some prokaryotes. We have cloned the complete cba operon of Thermus thermophilus HB8 in an Escherichia coli/T. thermophilus shuttle vector. The ba3-encoding operon, cba, was eliminated from the chromosome of T. thermophilus strain MT111 using the pyrE system of Yamagishi and co-workers. Expression of functional cytochrome ba3 occurred in cells grown at reduced dioxygen levels. A hepta-histidine tag was placed at the N-terminus of subunit I, and a purification method for this form of the enzyme was developed. Growth conditions were investigated for moderate sized cultures (2L) with typical yields of approximately 2 mg of highly pure enzyme per liter of culture medium. The physical properties and enzymatic activities of these recombinant enzymes were compared with those of native enzyme. Recombinant enzyme lacking the histidine tag is spectrally identical to wild-type enzyme. Histidine-tagged cytochrome ba3 shows minor differences from wild-type, and it appears be somewhat less active as a cytochrome c552 oxidase. Exemplary mutants were also produced and compared to native protein. Tyrosine I-237, previously found to be covalently bonded to I-His-233, was changed to phenylalanine (I-Y237F) and to histidine (I-Y237H) in the hepta-histidine tagged cytochrome ba3. The Y to F mutant is devoid of enzyme activity whereas the Y to H mutant possesses approximately 5% wild-type oxidase activity; their properties are compared with those of wild-type enzyme. The above versions of the histidine-tagged enzyme have been crystallized, and our analysis of a 2.3 angstrom resolution electron-density map will be discussed elsewhere.
Rapid lymphocyte immunoreactivity test utilizing [3H]uridine in vitro

Abstract A microculture assay utilizing [ 3 H]uridine incorporation was developed to test murine spleen lymphocyte immunoreactivity in vitro. Parameters of the culture technique which included cell density, doses of LPS, Con A, PHA, [ 3 H]uridine levels, and length of culture time were investigated. Responses were detectable at 4 h for all 3 mitogen, with labeling ranging up to 180% of the control value. By 8 h there was a 200–350% increase in mitogen-induced incorporation of radioactivity. Similar increases were observed in a serum-free system. The responses were the result of increased incorporation of label by stimulated cultures rather than decreased labeling of non-mitogen treated cultures over time. The [ 3 H]uridine incorporation was demonstrated to be the selective response of T or B cell populations when stimulated with appropriate lectins. This assay detects early RNA synthesis, as supported by experimental observations in which accumulation of radioactivity in stimulated lymphocytes was TCA precipitable, resistant to SDS treatment, and inhibited by actinomycin D.