cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transitions regarding palliative and end-of-life care in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or advanced cancer: themes identified by patients, families, and clinicians.

ABSTRACT Background: Classic trajectories of illness at end of life (EOL) suggest different care needs for patients with cancer versus chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may lead to different experiences of transitions over the course of a life-limiting illness. Patients may experience transitions in different ways than clinicians. No prior studies have examined this issue from patients', families', and clinicians' perspectives. Objectives: We sought to explore transitions, defined as experiences that patients and family members viewed as milestones in the evolution of their illnesses and therapies, and compare these perceptions with the perspectives of the patient's physician and nurse to provide insights about communication concerning EOL care. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using grounded theory to examine participants' perspectives on the experiences of key transitions in the context of living with advanced COPD or cancer. In-depth interviews with patients, family members, nur...
Quantitative Interpretation of Infra-Red Dichroism in Partly Oriented Polymers

It is shown that, subject to certain mild restrictions, the dichroism of a partly oriented polymer sample is the same as that of a fully alined plus an entirely random portion. If the directions of three linearly independent dipole moment vectors associated with different bands can be determined relative to the repeating unit of the polymer, then using the dichroism of the bands, the degree of orientation can be eliminated as a parameter and the inclination of the repeating unit relative to the polymer axis can be determined. Graphs are provided to aid in testing structures.
University-school collaboration: Working to improve rural physical education

Abstract The authors describe how a three-year, eight-step project to improve a rural school system's physical education program was planned and implemented.
Power restoration in emergency situations

This paper addresses a problem of assigning electric power repair crews and depots to various locations (cells) in a damaged area during emergency situations such as natural disasters. The problem takes into account the damage levels and consequent demand for various resources at different cells in the area, along with the capacity restrictions of the depots. Two mixed integer quadratic programming models-one for single resource and another for multiple resources allocation are presented in the paper. The objective is to locate the depots, and assigning the crews and other resources to depots to various cells, at a minimum cost. The problem is solved optimally for various dimensions of the problem (e.g., number of cells in the region, number of depots considered and the number of resources) for a limited instance.
Increase of impurity during fine grinding

Abstract Recently, sub-micron powder has become of general interest in many fields of industry, especially in the production of the high-performance ceramics. From this background, ultra-fine grinding operations have become attractive for preparation of the starting powder for sintering. The fine powder produced by grinding might be contaminated by the wear of grinding media and mill container. This contamination problem is unavoidable for grinding in the sub-micron region. In this presentation, the contamination of powder during ultra-fine grinding is reviewed from papers based on experiments of preparing ceramics powder.
Diabetes-induced apoptosis in rat kidney

Oxidative stress has been suggested to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications including nephropathy. However, the exact mechanism of diabetic nephropathy is still not clearly understood. Since oxidative stress is known to be a major component in the induction of apoptosis, we investigated the occurrence of apoptosis in diabetic rat kidney. The status of oxidative stress was determined as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The TBARS in the control and diabetic rat kidney were 2.00 ± 0.963 and 3.83 ± 0.715 μmol/mg protein, respectively (P< 0.05). Apoptosis was determined by evaluating the DNA fragmentation using an enzyme-linked immunoassay andin situend labeling. DNA fragmentation increased approximately fourfold in diabetic rat kidney compared to the normal kidney (P< 0.05). Apoptagin situlabeling displayed negligible apoptosis in nondiabetic kidney while significant areas of apoptosis were observed in diabetic kidney. Our results suggest that increased oxidative stress in diabetic kidney could induce apoptosis, which may contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Swimming behavior and predator avoidance in three populations of Fundulus heteroclitus larvae after embryonic and/or larval exposure to methylmercury

Abstract We determined effects of embryonic and/or larval exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) on swimming behavior and predator avoidance ability in larval mummichogs ( Fundulus heteroclitus ) from a site polluted with heavy metals and organic materials (Piles Creek (PC), NJ) and two reference sites (Tuckerton (TK), NJ and East Hampton (EH), NY). Mummichog eggs and sperm were stripped from ripe females and males captured from the field, and their embryos and larvae were raised in clean sea water or MeHg solution. After hatching, larval spontaneous activity, swimming performance and predator avoidance were tested periodically. Embryonic and/or larval exposure sometimes caused hyperactivity in PC or EH larvae, hypoactivity in TK larvae, and depression of swimming performance in all the three populations. Embryonic and/or larval exposure also increased vulnerability to predation by yearling mummichogs, but the effects of embryonic exposure were transitory. Among the three populations, TK was the least vulnerable to predation by blue crabs (i.e. most resistant to MeHg), which may have been associated with their lower swimming activity induced by MeHg, making them less conspicuous to the predator. The higher prey susceptibility in PC or EH larvae was correlated with their MeHg-induced hyperactivity.
Optical properties of HgTe/CdTe superlattices in the normal, semimetallic, and inverted-band regimes.

The optical properties of HgTe/CdTe superlattices (SL's) in the three principal regimes are summarized. Experimental results from the photoluminescence and the cyclotron resonance of electrons and holes both parallel and perpendicular to the SL layer plane in the SL's in the normal semiconducting regime are presented. These results, together with the previously reported optical and magneto-optical spectra of a series of SL's in the inverted-band regime, are analyzed systematically under the framework of a six-band k\ensuremath{\cdot}p model. Using a single value of 550 meV for the valence-band offset (VBO) the model correctly predicts all the major experimental results. These include (i) the energy gap between the electron subband and the heavy-hole subband and the energy gap between the electron subband and the light-hole subband of the SL's in the normal regime over the temperature range from 4.5 to 150 K, (ii) the in-plane masses of the electrons and holes and the Voigt geometry mass of electrons of the SL's in the normal semiconducting regime, (iii) the in-plane electron and hole masses in a SL in the semimetallic regime, (iv) the energy gap between the second electron subband and the second heavy-hole subband in the SL's in the inverted-band regime, and (v) the electron in-plane masses of the SL's in the inverted-band regime. The value of VBO that fits the experimental results is 550\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 meV at 5 K and it reduces, probably linearly, to 500\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 meV at 120 K. The origin of the discrepancy between the value of VBO found in this work and the ones reported in earlier works is discussed.
Preparation and characterization of CuIn1 − xGaxSe2 − ySy thin film solar cells by rapid thermal processing

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of CuIn{sub 1-x}Ga{sub x}Se{sub 2-y}S{sub y} (CIGSeS) thin-film solar cells prepared by rapid thermal processing (RTP). An efficiency of 12.78% has been achieved on {approx} 2 {micro}m thick absorber. Materials characterization of these films was done by SEM, EDS, XRD, and AES. J-V curves were obtained at different temperatures. It was found that the open circuit voltage increases as temperature decreases while the short circuit current stays constant. Dependence of the open circuit voltage and fill factor on temperature has been estimated. Bandgap value calculated from the intercept of the linear extrapolation was 1.1-1.2 eV. Capacitance-voltage analysis gave a carrier density of 4.0 x 10{sup 15} cm{sup -3}.
Enantiomeric Cross-Inhibition in the Synthesis of Oligonucleotides on a Nonchiral Template

Prebiotic syntheses of chiral monomers always yield racemic mixtures. Living systems, however, utilize L-amino acids and D-nucleotides in their biopolymers. The generation of optical asymmetry by selection and amplification in an autocatalytic process is, therefore, an important element in many theories of the origin of life. Replication of polynucleotides in template-directed syntheses is an obvious candidate for such an amplification step in a pre-'RNA world'. A serious objection to this suggestion is the observation that the efficiency of template-directed syntheses of RNA is limited by enantiomeric cross-inhibition. Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs), amide-linked, nonchiral analogues of RNA, have been 'copied' into RNA and constitute an alternative to chiral polynucleotides as an informational replicating system. Here, we use PNA as model for a hypothetical, nonchiral precursor of RNA in experiments re-examining enantiomeric cross-inhibition. We find that enantiomeric cross-inhibition is as serious in the polymerization of nucleotides on a PNA template as it is on a conventional RNA or DNA template.
Couples' experiences with prostate cancer: focus group research.

Purpose/objectives To explore the experiences of couples living with prostate cancer, the impact of the illness on their quality of life, their ability to manage symptoms, and their suggestions for interventions that would help them to improve their daily experiences. Design Descriptive, qualitative. Setting Six focus groups were used to obtain the data; two were patient-only groups, two were spouse-caregiver groups, and two were dyad groups. The focus groups were conducted at two comprehensive cancer centers in the midwestern region of the United States. Sample 42 participants: 22 men with prostate cancer and 20 spouse-caregivers. Methods Focus group discussions were tape-recorded, and the content was analyzed. Main research variables Quality of life, symptom experience, and areas for intervention. Findings Four major themes emerged from the data: enduring uncertainty, living with treatment effects, coping with changes, and needing help. Conclusions Participants had a need for information and support. Both men and spouse-caregivers felt unprepared to manage treatment effects. Symptoms had a broad effect on couples, not just men. Positive effects of the illness, as well as negative effects, emerged from the themes. Implications for nursing Attention needs to be given to methods of providing information and support to couples coping with prostate cancer. Both patients and partners need to be included in discussions about the effect of the illness and treatments so that both can feel more prepared to manage them.
A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE HECKSCHER‐OHLIN THEOREM

A mainstay of conventional trade theory, the Heckscher‐Ohlin theorem, dates back to an article published in 1919 by the Swedish economist Eli Heckscher. Bertil Ohlin, a student of Heckscher's, developed the ideas in greater detail in 1933. A footnote in an article by Stolper and Samuelson specifically designated the “Heckscher‐Ohlin theorem” as such.
Phosphorylation and inhibition of rat glucocorticoid receptor transcriptional activation by glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). Species-specific differences between human and rat glucocorticoid receptor signaling as revealed through GSK-3 phosphorylation.

Transcriptional activation by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is regulated by both glucocorticoid binding and phosphorylation. The rat GR N-terminal transcriptional regulatory domain contains four major phosphorylation sites: threonine 171 (Thr171), serine 224 (Ser224), serine 232 (Ser232), and serine 246 (Ser246). We have previously demonstrated that Ser224 and Ser232are phosphorylated by cyclin-dependent kinases, while Ser246 is phosphorylated by the c-Jun N-terminal kinase. We report here that the remaining GR phosphorylation site, Thr171, is a target for glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3)in vitro and in cultured mammalian cells. Increasing GSK-3 activity through its overexpression in cultured cells inhibits GR transcriptional enhancement, an effect dependent upon Thr171. Correspondingly, overexpression of a constitutively active form of the GSK-3 inhibitor, protein kinase B/Akt, increases GR transcriptional enhancement. Overexpression of GSK-3 had no effect on GR-mediated transcriptional repression of AP1-dependent gene expression. Importantly, transcriptional activation by the human GR (hGR), which contains an alanine (Ala150) at the position equivalent to Thr171 in rat GR, is not affected by GSK-3 overexpression. Introduction of a threonine residue at this position (A150T) establishes GSK-3-mediated inhibition of hGR transcriptional activation. These findings demonstrate species-specific differences in GR signaling, as revealed through GSK-3 phosphorylation, which suggests that GR function in rodents may not fully recapitulate receptor action in humans and that hGR is capable of adopting the GSK-3 signaling pathway through a somatic mutation.
189 METABOLIC ACIDOSIS, HYPERGLYCEMIA, AND KETONURIA IN CARBAMAZEPINE OVERDOSE

Certain drugs may produce hyperglycemia by decreasing pancreatic secretion of insulin. We report a case of accidental carbamazepine overdose in a previously healthy three year old black male who presented in an unconscious state without seizures with an arterial pH of 7.28, serum glucose of 210 mg/dl, and urine glucose and ketones of 3+ and 2+, respectively. Arterial blood gases showed a pure metabolic acidosis. A diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis was made; the patient was given insulin, sodium bicarbonate, and intravenous hydration. Subsequent history revealed that the patient ingested an unknown amount of carbamazepine. A toxic serum carbamazepine level of 22 mcg/ml (therapeutic = 6 to 10) was found. The patient was treated with activated charcoal and general supportive care. Complete symptomatic recovery occurred by the end of 48 hours and follow up laboratory studies failed to show any evidence of hyperglycemia, ketonuria, or glycosuria. This case demonstrates a previously unreported manifestation of carbamazepine overdose in a child, i.e., metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia and ketonuria. Carbamazepine in high dose is known to produce hyperglycemia in rats possibly by decreasing the sodium influx needed for insulin secretion (Pharmacology 24:123, 1982). We conclude that metabolic acidosis due to carbamazepine overdose should be considered in the differential diagnosis of altered metabolic states and drug overdose.
Towards negotiation as a framework for health promoting technology

In this paper we reflect on the findings of three empirical studies of health-related behavioural change and existing work in the technological and sociomedical domains, to critique emerging technological approaches to promoting health-related behavioural change. The critique challenges what appear to be implicit assumptions about technology's role in promoting health-related behavioural change. It prompts a consideration of whose agenda in being pursued, whose values are being encapsulated, and argues for a rethink and reorientation of technological interventions in this domain. As an alternative to the existing approach we suggest a shift in focus from behavioural change to health promotion, and offer negotiation as a potential framework for future innovations in this area.
High order finite difference WENO schemes with the exact conservation property for the shallow water equations

Shallow water equations with nonflat bottom have steady state solutions in which the flux gradients are nonzero but exactly balanced by the source term. It is a challenge to design genuinely high order accurate numerical schemes which preserve exactly these steady state solutions. In this paper we design high order finite difference WENO schemes to this system with such exact conservation property (C-property) and at the same time maintaining genuine high order accuracy. Extensive one and two dimensional simulations are performed to verify high order accuracy, the exact C-property, and good resolution for smooth and discontinuous solutions.
The Serenity Prayer for acute GVHD.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference . (The Serenity Prayer; attributed to R. Niebuhr) In this issue of Blood , Jagasia and colleagues identify new risk factors for acute GVHD (aGVHD) in a group of
Calculation of the relative influence of cloud layers on received ultraviolet and integrated solar radiation

Discrete ordinate radiative transfer calculations are used to examine the relative influence of cloud layers on the received ultraviolet flux and the received solar energy for a plane parallel atmosphere. The wavelength dependence for the cloud influence on the integrated solar radiation is primarily a function of the interaction of the cloud layer with the surrounding atmosphere and the underlying surface. It is found that for uv wavelengths greater than 300 nm, the ratio of uv to solar energy flux transmission through the atmosphere is insensitive to changes of cloud height, cloud scattering parameters and surface albedo (for realistic values), but is dependent on cloud thickness. For wavelengths approaching and less than 300 nm, absorption by tropospheric ozone results in sensitivity to cloud height and surface albedo.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL ASPECTS OF EARLY STAGES IN COTTON FIBER ELONGATION

A B S T RA CT Fine structural alterations associated with early stages of cotton fiber elongation in Gossypium hirsutum L. var. dunn 56 C occur rapidly following anthesis and appear to be correlated with the formation of the central vacuole, plasma membrane, and primary cell wall as well as with increased protein synthesis necessary for cell elongation. Association of dilated cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum with the tonoplast suggests that the endoplasmic reticulum is involved in the formation of the central vacuole. Dictyosome involvement in both plasma membrane and primary cell wall formation was suggested from observations of similarities between dictyosome associated vesicles, containing fibrils appearing similar in morphology to fibrils found in the primary cell wall, and plasma membrane associated vesicles. The single nucleolus found in cotton fibers enlarges following anthesis, shows segregation of granular and fibrillar components by 1 day postanthesis, develops a large "vacuole," thus appearing ring-shaped, and occupies much of the nuclear volume by 2 days postanthesis. Prominent nucleoli were not ob
Emergency seizure care in adults with known epilepsy

We describe the prehospital and emergency department care provided to adults with known epilepsy in an attempt to determine whether such patients required prehospital transportation and to describe the laboratory and radiographic studies obtained. One hundred consecutive emergency department visits for seizures or seizure-related problems of known epileptics were analyzed by chart review. These visits represented 75 different patients, six leading to hospital admission and 16 involving seizure-related injuries. Some tests and treatments were chaffy useful, whereas others may have been unnecessary; computed tomography (CT) scans were performed in eight patients because of a secondary head injury or unexplained neurological impairment. Subdural hematomas were detected in two. Antiepileptic drug (AED) levels were measured in 24 patients with admitted noncompliance. Twenty-three had predictably low levels. Twenty transports were considered potentially unnecessary by Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA) guidelines (known epilepsy, consciousness returns without further incident, no signs of injury, physical distress, or pregnancy). Only one patient required special care; she had a second seizure on arrival at the emergency department and was admitted to the observation unit.
Metamorphic petrology of the Sarmiento ophiolite complex, Chile

The Sarmiento Complex of southern Chile is a Mesozoic ophiolite that underwent hydrothermal “ocean-floor metamorphism” prior to its uplift and exposure in the Andean Cordillera. The overprint of this metamorphism exhibits a steep vertical metamorphic gradient although the extent of metamorphic replacement decreases markedly within the gabbro unit of the complex, probably because of restricted access of circulating sea-water at deeper levels of the complex. Even for rocks of the same facies, pseudostratigraphic variations in the proportions of major metamorphic minerals and the presence or absence of accessory phases such as biotite, magnetite, ilmenite, and orthoclase indicate that conditions other than the temperature of metamorphism, particularly f O 2 , varied pseudostratigraphically. Detailed textural, mineralogic, and geochemical studies indicate that ocean-floor metamorphism is a complicated interaction between the various rock units that make up the igneous pseudostratigraphy of the ocean floor and circulating seawater; the interaction is strongly dependent on P H 2 O and the thermal gradient.
On Twenty Years of Being a Literary Critic

In this ENDPIECE, I reflect on some of the lessons that I have learned during my twenty years of reviewing books. I also put forward the proposal that twenty years of writing book reviews is enough for this Clarson, in this lifetime.
α-Expansins in the semiaquatic ferns Marsilea quadrifolia and Regnellidium diphyllum: evolutionary aspects and physiological role in rachis elongation

To investigate the evolutionary history of expansins and their role in cell elongation in early land plants, we isolated two α-expansin genes, Mq-EXP1 and Rd-EXP1, respectively, from the semiaquatic ferns Marsilea quadrifolia L. and Regnellidium diphyllum Lindm. The deduced amino acid sequences of the fern expansins exhibit a high degree of identity to those of seed plants, showing that expansin genes were conserved during the evolution of vascular plants. Gel-blot analysis of M. quadrifolia and R. diphyllum genomic DNA indicated that, in both ferns, α-expansins are encoded by multigene families. Expression of α-expansin genes probed with Mq-EXP1 was confined to the elongating region of the Marsilea rachis. Cell-wall proteins of M.␣quadrifolia induced in-vitro extension of acidified cucumber cell walls. In R. diphyllum, expression of Rd-EXP1 increased when elongation of the rachis was enhanced by submergence or ethylene. These results indicate that α-expansins act as wall-loosening proteins in ferns, as has been proposed for angiosperms. In addition, Rd-EXP1 may play a role in mediating elongation of the rachis in submerged plants.
Image restoration using reduced order models

Abstract The one-dimensional state-space representation of an image for restoration using a Kalman filter requires a relatively large state vector. For a typical autoregressive signal model with nonsymmetric half-plane support, the dimension of the state is approximately equal to the product of the image model order and the pixel width of the image. This state is quite large particularly for practical applications and would require excessive computation if the Kalman filter were used directly. Consequently, there have been varying filtering approximations which reduce this computation. An alternative approach, presented here, is the reduction of the dimension of the state representation by approximation and the use of the corresponding optimal filter directly. To this effect a reduced order model Kalman filter (ROMKF) which reduces both the quantity and the complexity of the computations is developed. This ROMKF should prove to be particularly advantageous for adaptive filtering of images due to the low state dimensionality.
A review and comparison of models for predicting dynamic chemical bioconcentration in fish.

Over the past 20 years, a variety of models have been developed to simulate the bioconcentration of hydrophobic organic chemicals by fish. These models differ not only in the processes they address but also in the way a given process is described. Processes described by these models include chemical diffusion through the gill's interlamellar water, epithelium, and lamellar blood plasma; advective chemical transport to and from the gill by ventilation and perfusion, respectively; and internal chemical deposition by thermodynamic partitioning to lipid and other organic phases. This article reviews the construction and associated assumptions of 10 of the most widely cited fish bioconcentration models. These models are then compared with respect to their ability to predict observed uptake and elimination rates using a common database for those model parameters that they have in common. Statistical analyses of observed and predicted exchange rates reveal that rates predicted by these models can be calibrated almost equally well to observed data. This fact is independent of how well any given model is able to predict observed exchange rates without calibration. The importance of gill exchange models and how they might by improved are also discussed.
Electron transport in amorphous semiconductors

Abstract The Mott-CFO model for transport in amorphous semiconductors has a exact basis in the absence of electron-electron and electron-phonon interactions. Nevertheless, there are major discrepancies between the predictions of this “exact” theory and experimental observations. These difficulties can be completely eliminated by utilizing recent advances in our understanding of the density of states and of the energy- and temperature-dependent tail introduced into the mobility gap by the electron-phonon interaction.
Waste disposal site selection using GIS-based simulated annealing

Abstract The Markov-chain-based simulated annealing algorithm is applied to search a Geographic Information System (GIS) to locate potential waste disposal sites in the Indian Pine watershed of Indiana, on administrative scores that have been regulated by the Indiana Solid Waste Management Board. Results show that simulated annealing achieved an order of magnitude reduction in execution time over that of an exhaustive search method, and gives a policy maker the option of selecting the final site based on social factors that are not considered in the numerical model.
A reassessment of electron escape depths in silicon and thermally grown silicon dioxide thin films

Abstract The escape depths of electrons with kinetic energies of approximately 1150 and 1380 eV in Si and thermally grown SiO 2 thin films have been calculated, using three methods, from X-ray photoelectron spectra of samples which have been characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The most reliable and reproducible escape depths derived in this study are significantly less than the average of those reported in the literature. It is believed that this is due principally to inaccurate characterization of the samples previously used for escape depths measurements.
Shifting the Territory of Politics

I write this editorial introduction while in Hong Kong for a conference on ‘Asian urbanism’. There is perhaps no more interesting place on the map from which to consider the analytics of territory,...
Mexican immigrant women searching for a solution to intimate partner abuse: common breaking points and type of help needed

This phenomenological grounded theory study, with a sample 29 Mexican immigrant women affected by intimate abuse and secondary sample of 15 service providers, examines the breaking point for help seeking and the type of help needed. Harm to children, infidelity, and threat to the participant's life were the most common breaking points. Some didn't know what type of help was needed, only that they could not solve the problem on their own. Other types included protection (physical and legal) from the abusive partner and economic assistance. The findings have implications for attorneys, domestic violence programs, mental health and social service programs, police, and health care workers.
Is changing hospitals for revision total joint arthroplasty associated with more complications

Background Many patients change hospitals for revision total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The implications of changing hospitals must be better understood to inform appropriate utilization strategies.
Use of a novel FISH assay on paraffin-embedded tissues as an adjunct to diagnosis of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

A valuable diagnostic adjunct and important prognostic parameter in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is the identification of translocations t(2;13)(q35;q14) and t(1;13)(p36;q14), and the associated PAX3-FKHR and PAX7-FKHR fusion transcripts, respectively. Most RMS fusion gene type studies have been based on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of the fusion transcript, a technique limited by RNA quality and failure of devised primer sets to detect unusual variants. As an alternative approach, we developed a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay that can: (1) distinguish between the two most common ARMS-associated fusion genes; (2) identify potential unusual variant translocations; (3) assess histologic components in mixed alveolar/embryonal RMS; and (4) be performed on paraffinized tissue. FISH analyses of 75 specimens (40 ARMS, 16 ERMS, 8 mixed ARMS/ERMS, and 11 non-RMS tumors) using selected cosmid clone, bacterial, P1-derived, and yeast artificial chromosome probe sets were successful in all but two cases. Among specimens with informative results for both FISH and RT-PCR or standard karyotyping, PAX/FKHR classification results were concordant in 94.6% (53/56). The three discordant cases included one exhibiting a t(2;13) by FISH that was subsequently confirmed by repeat RT-PCR, a second showing a rearrangement of the PAX3 locus only (consistent with the presence of a PAX3 variant translocation), and a third revealing a t(2;13) by FISH that lacked this translocation cytogenetically. Both alveolar and embryonal components of the mixed ARMS/ERMS subtype were negative for PAX3, PAX7, and FKHR rearrangements, a surprising finding confirmed by RT-PCR and/or conventional karyotyping. These data demonstrate that FISH with newly designed probe sets is a reliable and highly specific method of detecting t(1;13) and t(2;13) in routinely processed tissue and may be useful in differentiating ARMS from other small round cell tumors. The findings also suggest that FISH may be a more sensitive assay than RT-PCR in some settings, capable of revealing variant translocations.
The Effects of Suspect Race and Situation Hazard on Police Officer Shooting Behavior

Shooting incidents involving patrol officers are examined for the effect of suspect race and degree of hazard in the number of shots fired and hits made on suspects. Additional tests examine frequencies of shooting incidents among Blacks and Whites with respect to city population and various measures of police-citizen contact. Finally, fatalities are examined with respect to involvement in shooting and arrest rates. The results suggest an effect for degree of hazard; however, there was no evidence to suggest police bias against Blacks.
Structural and electrochemical evaluation of (1 − x)Li2TiO3·(x)LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 electrodes for lithium batteries

Abstract X-ray diffraction (XRD), in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and chemical lithiation experiments were used to evaluate the phases associated with the electrochemistry of the mixed-metal layered LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 oxide electrode. These results, along with coin-cell cycling data from the substituted layered (1−x)Li2TiO3·(x)LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 composite oxide electrode are reported. The cycling behavior of Li/0.05Li2TiO3·0.95LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 (x=0.95) cells over an extended voltage window (4.3 or 4.6–1.25 V) under moderate current rate have yielded rechargeable capacities above 250 mAh/g. These large capacities and structural data suggest that both the composite (1−x)Li2TiO3·(x)LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 and LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 (standard) layered electrodes operate predominantly off two-electron redox couples, Ni4+/Ni2+ and Mn4+/Mn2+, approximately between 4.6 and 2.0 V, and between 2.0 and 1.0 V versus metallic Li, respectively. The LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 layered oxide is shown to reversibly react chemically or electrochemically with Li to form a stable, but air-sensitive dilithium compound, Li2Mn0.5Ni0.5O2 (Li2MO2; M=metal ion) that can be indexed to the space group P-3m1.
Quantum-Mechanical Amplification and Frequency Conversion with a Trilinear Hamiltonian

A description of the parametric amplifier and frequency converter is presented without introducing the classical (i.e., parametric) approximation for the pumping field. Constants of the motion are found which reduce the solution of the Schr\"odinger equation to the diagonalization of a matrix. This diagonalization is accomplished numerically, and the eigenvalues and eigen-functions of a system with fixed energy are calculated. The time-dependent behavior of the mean number of photons in the amplified or frequency up-converted field is presented. The time evolution of the probability distributions is illustrated. The technique is extended to the problem of coherent spontaneous emission from a system of $N$ two-level atoms interacting with the radiation field where both the atomic system and the radiation field are quantized.
WS-ResourceFramework on .NET

The WSRF specifications [Foster, I. et al., (2004)] represent the merging of "the Web " and "the grid". This poster describes a design to achieve compliance with the WS-ResourceFramework specifications using Microsoft .NET technologies. Our design seeks to leverage Microsoft tools wherever possible and to make WSRF compliant services easy to program. While our work on OGSI.NET [Wasson, G. et al., (2004)] provides invaluable insight that guides the design of WSRF.NET, we feel that a different set of abstractions are necessary to capture the full potential of the WS-ResourceFramework. This poster describes our work to date on WSRF.NET The poster discusses topics such as the implementation of WS-Resources, the WSRF.NET programming model, our security architecture and our future release plans (including our first release at HPDC 13).
The Importance of Creating a “Sense of Community”:

This article presents the results of a research project conducted with 39 adult students enrolled in a management degree completion program. The research indicates that creation of a sense of community among students in a “closed” cohort setting is a significant factor in helping adults reach their goal of getting a college degree. The data suggest that degree completion programs using a closed-cohort format, which are successful in creating perceptions of a genuine sense of community among adult students, may increase student retention rates.
Simulations of a thermostat model I: Approach to steady states

Numerical simulations and analysis of the approach to steady states of a model for the dynamic behavior of an automotive thermostat-like system are presented. The model consists of a coupled system of three delay differential equations with hysteresis. This work is a continuation of our recent investigation of models for automotive thermostats in [1]. The main interest lies in the types of oscillations that such models can exhibit. This is done through the analysis of the steady states and the decay of the solutions to these states.
Nanoscale surface characterization of GaN nanowires correlated with metal contact characteristics

Surface electronic properties of GaN nanowires have been investigated using scanning probe microscopy and correlated with metal/nanowire contact characteristics. Surface current map of the nanowire was observed to be highly nonuniform, resulting from a large variation in surface barrier of the nanowire, on the order of a few tenths of an eV. The surface barrier non-uniformity, which most likely determines the formation of an ohmic or Schottky contact, is increased dramatically with the nanowire surface deformation. Current–voltage characteristics and scanning gate microscopy of the nanowires also indicate significant carrier trapping at the nanowire and silicon dioxide surface. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Removal of Plasma FSH-RF Activity in Hypophysectomized Rats by Testosterone Propionate or Reserpine1

The effects of testosterone propionate (TP) and reserpine administration were studied on hypothalamic and plasma FSH-RF activity. Adult hypophysectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing about 200 g, received daily subcutaneous injections of TP, reserpine or corn oil, starting at different intervals after hypophysectomy. TP administration for 15 days (2 mg daily), starting 1 month after hypophysectomy, did not induce any significant change in plasma FSH-RF. In 2 other experiments, administration of TP for 1 month (2 and 5 mg daily, respectively), starting one week after hypophysectomy, significantly reduced plasma FSH-RF activity to undetectable levels. Hypothalamic FSH-RF content remained unchanged after TP treatment at any of the levels tested. Reserpine administration (25 μg daily) for 1 month, starting 10 days after hypophysectomy, significantly reduced plasma and hypothalamic FSH-RF activity in 2 separate experiments. These results indicate that reserpine and TP are able to inhibit FSH-RF release i...
Catastrophic failure of a cemented, collarless, polished, tapered cobalt-chromium femoral stem used with impaction bone-grafting. A report of two cases.

Revision total hip arthroplasty performed with use of impaction bone-grafting and insertion of a tapered femoral component with cement in patients who have severe bone loss in the proximal part of the femur has yielded encouraging short-term results4,9,10,13,16,17,20. The collarless, polished, tapered (CPT) femoral stem (Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana), which was designed for this purpose, is manufactured from a high-strength material (forged cobalt-chromium) in order to avoid the substantial rate of stem fracture that has been observed in association with a component of similar geometry, the original Exeter femoral prosthesis (Howmedica, Rutherford, New Jersey)14. Femoral stems made of forged cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy rarely fracture; the only such failures of which we are aware were attributed to defects that had been introduced during the manufacturing process18,22. In the original series of 433 polished, stainless-steel Exeter stems, which were implanted between 1970 and 1975, the rate of fracture was 3 percent (thirteen stems) and the fractures were attributed to the use of inferior materials and the thin distal aspect of the stem14. We are not aware of any reported fractures of the CPT femoral stem, despite its original highly tapered design. The purpose of this report is to describe the catastrophic failure of two cemented CPT femoral stems that had been used in conjunction with the impaction bone-grafting technique. Both failures apparently were related to implant design and operative technique rather than to defects introduced during the manufacturing process. The results presented here are important because more orthopaedic surgeons are utilizing this technique to address deficiency in the proximal part of the femur in patients managed with revision total hip arthroplasty. CASE 1. A fifty-nine-year-old woman who had a history of degenerative …
Thermal Stability of Vitamin B6 Compounds in Liquid Model Food Systems

The degradation of pyridoxine (PN), pyridoxal (PL), and pyridoxamine (PM) during thermal processing was evaluated in casein-based liquid model food systems. Limited evaluation of various potentially reactive ingredients suggested that vitamin B6 stability is not strongly a function of food system composition. Rapid interconversion of PL and PM was observed. Kinetic analysis of B6 vitamer degradation revealed approximately 2.5- to 3.5-fold greater stability of PN than the other nonphosphorylated vitamers, with activation energies of 27.3, 23.7, and 20.8 kcal/mol for the loss of total vitamin B6 after initial fortification with PN, PM, and PL, respectively. Limited studies with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate indicated that it is approximately 1.5- to 2-fold less stable than PL.
Thin sample dielectric properties measurement using open-ended coaxial probes and FDTD calculations

Open-ended coaxial probes have been used for broadband dielectric properties measurements for several years. However open-ended probes have been limited to measuring "thick" samples, (e.g., samples that are thick enough to contain the majority of the electromagnetic field that is penetrating the sample). This is known as the infinite sample criteria. In conjunction with our ongoing research activities in the area of microwave processing of materials, we have developed a metallized ceramic coaxial probe for broadband, high-temperature dielectric properties measurements. We have also developed a method of using the metallized ceramic probe in conjunction with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical methods to make dielectric properties measurements on thin samples. The method is described and results are given to show the validity of the measurement procedure. Results from 2.5 mm thick Zirconia and 5 mm Teflon samples are accurate, and the developed measurement procedure is therefore promising. Results from error analysis calculations are also presented to help guide the successful implementation of the measurement procedure.
Comminuted femur fracture secondary to stress during the Boston marathon

We report a case of a comminuted femur fracture secondary to repetitive stress in a healthy marathon runner. Stress fractures are common orthopedic injuries that result from normal muscular activity on deficient bone ("insufficiency fractures") or excessive, repetitive stresses on normal bone ("fatigue fractures"). Of recreational and professional sports, running accounts for a higher incidence of stress fractures, which have been reported to cause up to 15% of all injuries to runners. We report a case of a sub-trochanteric comminuted femoral stress fracture in a female marathon runner.
Toward unsupervised correlation preserving discretization

Discretization is a crucial preprocessing technique used for a variety of data warehousing and mining tasks. In this paper, we present a novel PCA-based unsupervised algorithm for the discretization of continuous attributes in multivariate data sets. The algorithm leverages the underlying correlation structure in the data set to obtain the discrete intervals and ensures that the inherent correlations are preserved. Previous efforts on this problem are largely supervised and consider only piecewise correlation among attributes. We consider the correlation among continuous attributes and, at the same time, also take into account the interactions between continuous and categorical attributes. Our approach also extends easily to data sets containing missing values. We demonstrate the efficacy of the approach on real data sets and as a preprocessing step for both classification and frequent itemset mining tasks. We show that the intervals are meaningful and can uncover hidden patterns in data. We also show that large compression factors can be obtained on the discretized data sets. The approach is task independent, i.e., the same discretized data set can be used for different data mining tasks. Thus, the data sets can be discretized, compressed, and stored once and can be used again and again.
The relation of megakaryocyte ploidy to platelet volume.

To determine how alterations of megakaryocyte proliferation will affect platelet production, we measured mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet volume heterogeneity, platelet count, and mean megakaryocyte ploidy in 42 patients. In normal subjects, mean platelet volume and megakaryocyte ploidy were related inversely but nonlin-early to platelet count, whereas mean platelet volume and platelet volume heterogeneity were related directly. In patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (low platelet count, MPV above normal, and increased megakaryocyte ploidy), and in those with reactive thrombocytosis (high platelet count, low MPV and megakaryocyte ploidy), the relation of MPV to megakaryocyte ploidy, platelet volume heterogeneity, and platelet count resembled or extended the relations found in normal subjects. By contrast, in patients with aplastic anemia or megaloblastic anemia, or in patients who were undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, heterogeneity was increased abnormally at any MPV, and both MPV and megakaryocyte ploidy were substantially lower, at any platelet volume, than in normals or the above other groups. The most common ploidy class was 8N in all patients, and the mean megakaryocyte ploidy correlated directly and linearly with mean platelet volume. The data show that bone marrow with megakaryocytes of higher ploidy produces platelets that are both larger and more heterogeneous.
Differential Effects of Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Morphine on Activation Levels of Signaling Molecules.

Background. Opioids alter the responses of D2-like dopamine receptors (D2DRs), known to be involved in the pathology of addiction and other mental illnesses. Importantly, our recent results demonstrated that various opioids differentially modulate the behavioral responses of D2DRs. Objective. To examine the effect of various opioids on striatal activation levels of Akt and ERK1/2, as well as the signaling responses of D2DRs following opioid exposure. Methods. Mice were pre-treated with 20 mg/kg morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, or saline for 6 days. Twenty-four hours later, mice were injected with vehicle or a D2/D3 receptor agonist, quinpirole. Thirty minutes later, dorsal striatum was collected and analyzed using Western blot. Results. In morphine-pretreated animals, baseline Akt activation level was unchanged, but was reduced in response to quinpirole. In contrast, baseline Akt activation levels were reduced in mice pretreated with hydrocodone and oxycodone, but were unchanged in response to quinpirole. In mice pretreated with all opioids, baseline ERK2 activation levels were unchanged and increased in response to quinpirole. However, quinpirole-induced ERK2 activation was significantly higher than drug naive animals only in the morphine-pretreated mice. Conclusions. Various opioids differentially modulate the baseline activation levels of signaling molecules, which in turn results in ligand-selective effects on the responses to a D2/D3 dopamine receptor agonist. This demonstrates a complex interplay between opioid receptors and D2DRs, and supports the notion that various opioids carry differential risks to the dopamine reward system. This information should be considered when prescribing opioid pain medication, to balance effectiveness with minimal risk.