cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Origin of high piezoelectric response in A-site disordered morphotropic phase boundary composition of lead-free piezoelectric 0.93(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3–0.07BaTiO3

Perovskite piezoelectric compositions near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) are known to exhibit high piezoelectric response. In lead-based ABO3 compound with B-site disorder, the origin of this enhancement has been associated with the presence of an intermediate monoclinic/orthorhombic state that bridges the adjacent ferroelectric rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. However, the origin of high piezoelectric response in lead-free ABO3 compounds with A-site disorder has not been conclusively established. We describe a microscopic model derived from comparative analyses of high resolution transmission electron microscopy and neutron diffraction that explains the origin of high piezoelectric response in lead-free MPB compositions of 0.93(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3–0.07BaTiO3. Direct observation of nanotwins with monoclinic symmetry confirmed the presence of an intermediate bridging phase that facilitates a pathway for polarization reorientation. Monoclinic distortions of an average rhombohedral phase are attributed to localized displacements of atoms along the non-polar directions.
Stress and business travel: Individual, managerial, and corporate concerns

Business travel is often a positive experience —offering close collaborations with distant colleagues and clients,the stimulation of different environments,and a change of routine. But it is also a source of a variety of stresses,often overlooked or denied by both organizations and travelers themselves.The World Bank,studying its own travelers,discovered that both their physical and mental health-care claims were significantly greater than those of nontravelers.And so the bank recently sponsored a symposium on the subject of business travel stress,at which more than 100 representatives of more than 50 organizations in a wide variety of industries met and agreed that travel stress,including jet lag, fatigue, family disruptions, and compromised work effectiveness were common outcomes of frequent business travel -and that responsibility for understanding and doing something about travel stress is shared among the individual employee,the manager,and the organization. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Calcium is involved in formation of high molecular weight adiponectin.

Abstract Background: Adiponectin, an adipocyte-specific secretory protein, is known to circulate as different isoforms in the blood stream. Methods: Using sucrose gradients and Western blotting on ...
Physical activity in the prevention of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease

There are compelling epidemiologic and clinical data demonstrating that regular physical activity reduces the incidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The hypothesis that exercise decreases atherosclerotic coronary heart disease has never been directly tested in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Nevertheless, there are sufficient data to recommend that adults should routinely engage in moderately vigorous physical activity. Exercise training also improves multiple atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors, including low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and obesity. Some of this effect attributed to exercise training is actually an acute effect of recent exercise and not a chronic metabolic adaptation. There are multiple randomized controlled clinical trials of exercise training in patients with established coronary artery disease enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation programs. These results demonstrate that exercise training reduces total cardiovascular mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease. The evidence cited above supports the recommendation that all stable adults should participate daily in a minimum of 30 minutes of moderately vigorous physical activity. Less activity than this is probably beneficial, whereas more activity is probably more beneficial.
Indications for nephrectomy in children: what has changed?

Abstract Objective To review the indications for nephrectomy in children between 1990 and 2001, at the Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Patients and methods There were 206 nephrectomies. A retrospective review of the patients' notes was performed. The 12-year period was divided into two halves (1990–1996 and 1996–2001) which were then compared. Results The total number of nephrectomies per year significantly increased over the period of the study (11.5 and 22.2 per year for 1990–1995 and 1996–2001, respectively; P Conclusion The total number of nephrectomies, including partial nephrectomies, has increased significantly. The decrease in nephrectomies for PUJ obstruction could be accounted for by a more aggressive approach in the management and follow up of prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis. Of note is that there was no significant change in the proportion of nephrectomies performed for Wilms' tumour, MCDK and VUR.
Herpetiform cutaneous metastases following negative second look laparotomy for ovarian adenocarcinoma

Cutaneous metastases from gynecologic malignancy are rarely reported, and when present are invariably accompanied by intraperitoneal disease. In the present case extensive metastases to the skin of the abdomen, groin, thigh and perineum appeared six weeks following extensive "second look" laparotomy which revealed no evidence of intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal disease. The appearance of cutaneous metastases was preceded by only a one month history of leg swelling, erythema, and a markedly elevated serum CA-125. Problems in the differential diagnosis and management of this clinical situation are discussed.
Understanding and managing burn pain: part 1

Burns are among the most intensely painful injuries. All patients will experience pain, regardless of the cause, size, or depth of the burn. Despite advances in topical wound care and pharmacology, and a growing emphasis on palliative care, wound care is the main source of the pain associated with burn injury. A deeper understanding of the many aspects of treating burns and their associated pain can help nurses to provide more effective analgesia. In this two-part article, the author explores burn pain and its treatment from a nursing perspective. Part 1 provides an overview of burn injury and addresses the wound care-related causes of burn pain as well as its assessment and treatment. Part 2 will address the psychosocial aspects of burn pain and will provide a more in-depth discussion of pain management and topical medications.
Sexual dimorphisms in dental dimensions of higher primates.

Dental dimensions and distributions of dental dimensions of males and females were compared for great apes (Pan, Gorilla, and Pongo, and humans (Homo). The results were examined and discussed with reference to fossil primates Sivapithecus and Ramapithecus. The analyses focused on patterns of sexual dimorphism, both with regard to mean dimensions and the distribution of those dimensions. Sex differences in mean canine dimensions were large and significant for Gorilla and Pongo, significant but smaller for Pan, and small but occasionally significant for Homo. The dispersions of measures were greater for males than for females in Gorilla and Pan but did not differ significantly for Pongo or Homo. Examination of the noncanine teeth revealed complex sex differences. In the anterior teeth, sex differences in mean dimensions were generally apparent for Gorilla and Pongo, less so for Pan, and least of all in Homo. The patterns of dispersion of measures of anterior teeth differed markedly from those of the canines. Pan exhibited the same pattern for anterior and canine teeth. Gorilla showed the opposite pattern. Pongo and Homo showed similar dispersions for males and females in many cases. Sex differences in posterior teeth followed the pattern of the canines for Gorilla and were absent for Pan. Pongo exhibited mean differences in dimensions across sex, but dispersions were similar. The pattern for Homo was most like that of Pongo, but with fewer significant differences. The genera differed with regard to the number of significant differences in means or dispersions along the tooth row. It is clear that the patterns of dimorphism differ qualitatively across all extant genera of great apes and humans. It appears that the pattern for Homo most closely resembles that of Ramapithecus, whereas Pongo most closely resembles Sivapithecus. The patterns for Gorilla and Pan appear to be unlike either of the fossil forms. It is suggested that the qualitatively distinct patterns of dental sexual dimorphism indicate substantial flexibility during recent primate evolution and that the degree of structural flexibility demonstrated provides a basis for appreciating potential for plasticity of gender differences in behavioral, social, and cultural systems.
Historical evolution of automated blood culture systems

Abstract Blood cultures comprise a significant portion of the workload in most clinical microbiology laboratories. However, detection systems that automate the reading of blood culture bottles can reduce the burden blood cultures place upon the laboratory. Accordingly, a number of automated blood culture detection systems have been developed over the past three decades (Table 1). This article reviews the development of commercial automated blood culture systems and briefly summarizes the principles upon which each type of system is based.
DNA-induced alpha-helix capping in conserved linker sequences is a determinant of binding affinity in Cys(2)-His(2) zinc fingers.

High-affinity, sequence-specific DNA binding by Cys(2)-His(2) zinc finger proteins is mediated by both specific protein-base interactions and non-specific contacts between charged side-chains and the phosphate backbone. In addition, in DNA complexes of multiple zinc fingers, protein-protein interactions between the finger units contribute to the binding affinity. We present NMR evidence for another contribution to high- affinity binding, a highly specific DNA-induced helix capping involving residues in the linker sequence between fingers. Capping at the C terminus of the alpha-helix in each zinc finger, incorporating a consensus TGEKP linker sequence that follows each finger, provides substantial binding energy to the DNA complexes of zinc fingers 1-3 of TFIIIA (zf1-3) and the four zinc fingers of the Wilms' tumor suppressor protein (wt1-4). The same alpha-helix C-capping motif is observed in the X-ray structures of four other protein-DNA complexes. The structures of each of the TGEKP linkers in these complexes can be superimposed on the linker sequences in the zf1-3 complex, revealing a remarkable similarity in both backbone and side-chain conformations. The canonical linker structures from the zinc-finger-DNA complexes have been compared to the NMR structure of the TGEKP linker connecting fingers 1 and 2 in zf1-3 in the absence of DNA. This comparison reveals that additional stabilization likely arises in the DNA complexes from hydrogen bonding between the backbone amide of E3 and the side-chain O(gamma) of T1 in the linker. We suggest that these DNA-induced C-capping interactions provide a means whereby the multiple-finger complex, which must necessarily be domain-flexible in the unbound state as it searches for the correct DNA sequence, can be "snap-locked" in place once the correct DNA sequence is encountered. These observations provide a rationale for the high conservation of the TGEKP linker sequences in Cys(2)-His(2) zinc finger proteins.
The continuing gender gap in later life economic security.

(2000). The Continuing Gender Gap in Later Life Economic Security. Journal of Aging & Social Policy: Vol. 11, No. 2-3, pp. 157-165.
Predictors of shoulder and back injuries in nursing home workers: a prospective study.

Background Nursing assistants (NAs) working in nursing homes have among the highest back and shoulder injury rates in the US. Incidence, severity, and cost of non-traumatic soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders in the nursing home industry in Washington State are quite high. Methods To determine whether resident characteristics data reported on the Health Care Financing Administration Minimum Data Set (MDS) could be used as a surrogate measure of cumulative exposure to physical loads, we conducted an 18-month prospective study in one nursing home. Results The combined NA injury incidence rate (IR) was 45.8 self-reported back and shoulder injuries per 100 [FTE] workers per year. In general, MDS reported resident characteristics failed to predict risk with the exception of exposure to loss of voluntary leg mobility (OR = 1.11 per person-shifts of exposure, 95% CI [0.97–1.27]), with the highest risk on the day shift (OR = 1.15, 95% CI [0.95–1.40]). Conclusions These findings suggest social integration and work organization issues may be more important predictors of back and shoulder injuries in nursing assistants than reported resident characteristics as measured by the MDS. Am. J. Ind. Med. 41:466–476, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reactions of H3O+(H2O)n and H+(H2O)n(CH3COCH3)m with CH3SCH3

Abstract We have measured the rate constants and product branching fractions for the reactions of water clusters and mixed water/acetone clusters, H3O+(H2O)n and H+(H2O)n(CH3COCH3)m, reacting with dimethylsulfide, CH3SCH3. The proton hydrates react rapidly. For n = 0–2, the reactions proceed at the collision rate within experimental error, while the reaction efficiency decreases slightly for n = 3 and further for n = 4 and n = 5. The product distributions for the higher clusters are mainly switching one H2O for the CH3SCH3. The product distributions appear to be affected by thermal dissociation at higher temperatures. The reactions of H+(H2O)n(CH3COCH3)m with CH3SCH3 are also rapid and proceed by switching both a CH3COCH3 and a H2O out of the primary ion. The rate constant for H+(CH3COCH3)2 is very slow, although the addition of two H2O ligands increases reaction by a factor of 13 and 21, respectively. The reactivity of H+(H2O)(CH3COCH3)3 decreases to a value close to that of H+(CH3COCH3)2. These results indicate that H3O+(H2O)n ions can be used as chemical ionization agents for CH3SCH3 detection in the atmosphere and that use of the mixed cluster ions, H+(H2O)n (CH3COCH3)m, would be problematic.
Effects of Prolonged Exposure to an Augmented Acoustic Environment on the Auditory System of Middle-Aged C57BL/6J Mice: Cochlear and Central Histology and Sex Differences

Genetic progressive sensorineural hearing loss in mice of the C57BL/6J (B6) inbred strain begins at high frequencies during young adulthood and is severe by 12 months (middle age). Nightly treatment with an augmented acoustic environment (AAE)—12-hour periods of exposure to repetitive noise bursts of moderate intensity, begun at age 25 days—resulted in less severe hearing loss compared with control mice. Cochlear histopathological correlates of AAE treatment, assessed at 12–14 months of age, included lessened severity of progressive loss of outer hair cells in both sexes as well as small savings of spiral ganglion cells in females and inner hair cells in males. AAE effects on the number of surviving neurons (age 12–14 months) in the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) depended on sex. Compared with controls, the loss of AVCN neurons that typically accompanies the initial period of hearing loss (between 2 and 7 months of age) was not significantly affected by AAE treatment in females. In contrast, males treated with the AAE exhibited more severe loss of neurons in the dorsal and ventral extremes of the AVCN than male controls of the same age. AAE treatment begun at age 3–5 months resulted in significant but less severe loss of AVCN neurons in 1-year-old male mice. J. Comp. Neurol. 472:358–370, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Synergistic Effects of Mixing Sulfone and Ionic Liquid as Safe Electrolytes for Lithium Sulfur Batteries

A strategy of mixing both an ionic liquid and sulfone is reported to give synergistic effects of reducing viscosity, increasing ionic conductivity, reducing polysulfide dissolution, and improving safety. The mixtures of ionic liquids and sulfones also show distinctly different physicochemical properties, including thermal properties and crystallization behavior. By using these electrolytes, lithium sulfur batteries assembled with lithium and mesoporous carbon composites show a reversible specific capacity of 1265 mAh g(-1) (second cycle) by using 40 % 1.0 M lithium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide with 60 % 1.0 M LiTFSI in methylisopropylsulfone in the first cycle. This capacity is slightly lower than that obtained in pure 1.0 M LiTFSI as the sulfone electrolyte; however, it exhibits excellent cycling stability and remains as high as 655 mAh g(-1) even after 50 cycles. This strategy provides a method to alleviate polysulfide dissolution and redox shuttle phenomena, at the same time, with improved ionic conductivity.
Estimation of snow surface albedo using Landsat Thematic Mapper

Snow surface albedo is important to climatological and hydrological investigations. Using data acquired with the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) over Mammoth Mountain, California, the authors derived snow particle size from which surface albedo was estimated. Quantitative measurements of temporal and spatial variations in snow surface albedo will permit accurate parameterization for climatological and hydrological studies.
The Children Gap on Social Welfare and the Politicization of American Parents, 1984–2000

Having and raising children bring about tremendous change in the lives of parents, and it seems likely that these changes may have a political dimension to them. In this article, we use National Election Studies data from 1984 to 2000 to explore the impact of children on social welfare policy attitudes, with special focus on how children influence the sexes differently. Our findings show that having children does have a significant effect and affects the views of men and women differently. Women with children were significantly more liberal on social welfare issues than those without, whereas children had either no effect or possibly a conservative impact on the views of men. Moreover, the impact of parenthood grows stronger across the 1990s. We argue that two factors lie behind the increased and gendered impact of parenthood: the changing nature of the American family, particularly the role of mothers, and the politicization of the American family.
LASER-INITIATED REACTIVITY IN CONSTRAINED GAS EXPANSIONS USING TRIMETHYLGALLIUM AND AMMONIA AS PRECURSORS

Abstract The present work combines pulsed lasers and nozzles in order to form GaN-containing species by using metalorganic compounds as precursors. The apparatus consists of a high-vacuum chamber equipped with a specialized dual-source pulsed-nozzle assembly and a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS). Ammonia and trimethylgallium are introduced into the high-vacuum chamber via the nozzle assembly. The 193 nm output from an ArF excimer laser is focused into the mixing and reaction region of the nozzle assembly. Reaction products are subsequently mass-analyzed with the QMS and show efficient production of simple GaN-containing species due to laser-assisted growth.
Feasibility and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiation for elderly patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract Objectives Although concurrrent chemoradiation is increasingly used for patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer, many elderly patients receive radiation alone due to toxicity concerns. We evaluate acute and late toxicity among patients age ≥ 65 who received concurrent chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Design Retrospective review. Setting Tertiary care center. Participants Between 6/2003 and 8/2011, 40 consecutive patients age ≥ 65 underwent combined chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. Ten patients were treated in the postoperative setting and 30 underwent definitive chemoradiation. Twenty-eight patients received concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and 12 received concurrent weekly paclitaxel. Treatment plans were designed to provide a dose of 66–72 Gy at 2–2.12 Gy/fraction to > 95% of the gross tumor volume in the definitive setting or for positive margins and 60–66 Gy at 2 Gy/fraction post-operatively. Median follow-up was 23.2 months (range: 0–94.4 months). Main outcomes measures Acute skin and mucosal toxicity, unplanned treatment interruptions, and chronic treatment related toxicity including gastrostomy tube dependence as graded by the CTCAE v3.0. Results Eight patients (20%) required a radiation treatment break of ≥ 3 days. Thirteen (33%) required unplanned hospitalization during or immediately following treatment. No grade 4 + skin or mucosal toxicity was noted. Five patients remained PEG tube dependent at > 1 year. One patient developed non-healing mandibular osteoradionecrosis > 3 years following chemoradiation. The 2-year Kaplan–Meier estimate of overall survival was 55%. Conclusion Higher-than-expected rates of in-patient hospitalization with significant acute toxicity were noted in this cohort with a correspondingly high rate of radiation treatment breaks. Late toxicity rates were similar to those observed in historical controls with younger patients. Careful patient selection criteria should be employed for elderly patients considering concurrent chemoradiation for head and neck cancer.
(Non)-migration of radiopaque markers used for on-line localization of the prostate with an electronic portal imaging device

Abstract Purpose Radiopaque gold markers can be implanted in the prostate to visualize its position on portal images during radiation therapy. This procedure assumes that the markers do not move within the prostate. In this work we test this assumptiom. Methods and materials Three markers were implanted transrectally in the prostate of patients undergoing external radiation therapy. An orthogonal pair of portal images was acquired periodically throughout the course of radiation therapy with an a-Si electronic portal imaging device (EPID). The marker coordinates were determined, and the distances between the implanted markers were recorded. The distance time trend is used to evaluate the magnitude of marker migration. Results The average standard deviation (SD) of the distances between markers was 1.3 mm (range 0.44 to 3.04 mm). Three of the 11 patients show a SD larger than 2 mm. For these patients, all three distances show a simultaneous reduction with time, compatible with a shrinking of the prostate. All had been treated with neoadjuvant hormone therapy. For 1 of the 3 patients, this reduction in volume was confirmed with a repeat computed tomographic scan. Conclusion None of the 33 markers studied migrated significantly. The implantation of three radiopaque gold markers enables accurate and precise on-line verification of the prostate position during external beam radiation therapy. The use of three markers provides a tool to monitor prostate position and volume changes that can occur over time due to hormone or radiation therapy.
Attachment Without Fear.

John Bowlby hypothesized an attachment system that interacts with caregiving, exploration, and fear systems in the brain, with a particular emphasis on fear. Neurobiological research confirms many of his hypotheses and also raises some new questions. A psychological model based on this neurobiological research is presented here. The model extends conventional attachment theory by describing additional attachment processes independent of fear. In this model, the attachment elements of trust, openness, and depending interact with the caregiving elements of caring, empathy, and responsibility.
An analytic hindered rotor model for calculating microcanonical variational unimolecular rate constants from reaction path properties

A model is proposed for performing microcanonical variational transition state theory calculations which incorporates ideas from vibrator and flexible variational transition state models. Vibrational frequencies, moments of inertia, and potential energy for the variational transition state are found by reaction path following as for the vibrator model. However, the transitional modes are treated as hindered rotors using an analytic potential and an analytic density of states, which are fit to barriers for hindered rotation determined from reaction path following. The model proposed here differs from the flexible transition state model in that the density of states for the transitional modes is analytic and transitional modes and external rotational angular momenta are uncoupled. For the H + CH3 ⇌ CH4 system, rate constants calculated with this new model are only 6–23% smaller on average from those of the flexible transition state model for values of total angular momentum which correspond to average rotational temperatures of 0–2000 K. Harmonic frequencies calculated for the transitional modes from the hindered rotor Hamiltonian are in good agreement with the exact values found by a reaction path analysis. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Aminotransferase Levels and 20-Year Risk of Metabolic Syndrome, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease

Background & Aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are used to detect NAFLD and have also been associated with increased risk for MetS, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We studied the relationship between ALT levels and these disorders in a long-term follow-up study. Methods Framingham Offspring Heart Study participants (n = 2812; mean age, 44 years; 56% women) were followed for the development of MetS, diabetes, CVD, and all-cause mortality using logistic regression (MetS, diabetes) or Cox proportional hazards models (CVD, all-cause mortality). Results Among individuals at baseline, per 1 standard deviation increase in log ALT level, there were increased odds of the development of MetS (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, P P P = .006; diabetes OR, 1.34; P =.002). There was an increased risk of CVD in age/gender-adjusted models (hazard ratio, 1.23; P P = .27); no association was observed for all-cause mortality. Aspartate aminotransferase levels were found to be associated with an increased risk of only diabetes. Conclusions Both normal and increased levels of ALT are associated with long-term development of multiple metabolic disorders. These results indicate the potential for ALT values as biomarkers for the risk of metabolic disease.
Strategic Voting and the Role of Polls: Evidence from an Embedded Web Survey

What motivates people to vote strategically? Although a broad literature addresses this question, few studies capture the point at which individuals shift from sincere to strategic voters. Furthermore, the influence of polling information remains debated. The analysis in this article tackles strategic voting with an original embedded experiment in a web survey. Empirical analysis finds that respondents who were told of the margin of error in preelection polls were more likely to vote strategically. This analysis also suggests the limits to strategic voting even in ideal settings.
Effect of Acute and Chronic Stress on Amobarbital Metabolism in the Rat

Labeled amobarbital was employed in an investigation of the utilization of urinary excretion of a labeled compound as an index for indicating altered amobarbital metabolism due to a stress. A study of the effect of an external acute unilateral hindleg ligation stress showed significant differences in amobarbital and/or metabolite urinary excretion patterns between stress and control groups. Adrenal ascorbic acid as an index of acute stress showed a significant difference between groups. Repeated injection of amobarbital as an internal chronic stress resulted in a significant difference between stress and control rat urinary excretion of amobarbital and/or metabolites.
Identification of Mammalian DNA Topoisomerase I as an Intracellular Target of the Anticancer Drug Camptothecin

Camptothecin, a plant alkaloid with antitumor activity, has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of nucleic acid synthesis and a strong inducer of DNA strand breaks in mammalian cells. Previous studies have shown that camptothecin inhibits purified mammalian DNA topoisomerase I by trapping a reversible enzyme-DNA "cleavable complex" (Hsiang et al., J. Biol. Chem., 260: 14873-14878, 1985). Our present studies, using L1210 cells and SV40-infected monkey cells, have shown that camptothecin-induced strand breaks are protein linked. The linked protein is most likely DNA topoisomerase I as revealed by immunoblot analysis, using antibodies against purified mammalian DNA topoisomerase I. Brief heating of camptothecin-treated cells to 65 degrees C resulted in a rapid reduction of the number of protein-linked DNA breaks. Reversal of the camptothecin-induced topoisomerase I-DNA complex by heat was also observed in an in vitro system by using purified mammalian DNA topoisomerase I. Our results suggest that camptothecin interferes with DNA topoisomerase I both in cultured mammalian cells and in the purified system by trapping a reversible enzyme-DNA cleavable complex.
The adaptive lattice array processor

A greal deal of interest has been shown in the scalar adaptive lattice structure due to its rapid convergence properties even in the presence of a wide eigenvalue spread in the input data. Recursive update expressions for the lattice parameters (reflection coefficients) have been developed both as the approximate solution to the Wiener filtering problem and the exact solution to the deterministic least squares problem. Considered here is the multi-channel extension of the lattice structure and its application to adaptive array processing.
Prediction of Child Abuse—Does It Work?

To the Editor.— Rosenberg et al1 report on a prospective, "random" study of 476 patients up to 2 years of age seen in an emergency room. The paper is concerned with a problem of importance to health care providers and of great interest to parents and society. The paper reports statistically significant differences in rates of observed or reported child abuse between children grouped according to the presence of certain abnormal features. Our concern is that the reported results may be easily misinterpreted and, therefore, may be misleading.
Otis Dudley Duncan's legacy: The demographic approach to quantitative reasoning in social science☆

Abstract Otis Dudley Duncan, who died in November 2004, had enormous impact on the practice of quantitative reasoning in sociology and demography today. This paper traces the influence of Duncan as a quantitative sociologist within the context of the history of science. I locate Duncan's philosophy of social science within the tradition of “population thinking” that was begun by Charles Darwin and introduced to social science by Francis Galton. As part of this exploration, I distinguish two approaches to statistical analysis (emanating from the two main philosophical views of science): Gaussian or typological thinking, and Galtonian or population thinking. I examine in detail Duncan's views of quantitative reasoning in the social sciences, particularly his opinions on social measurement, path analysis, structural modeling, econometrics, and the Rasch model. An important theme of the paper is that Duncan quickly realized the difficulties and limitations of quantitative methodology in social science. In particular, he was bothered by inherent population heterogeneity that makes it futile to draw “law-like” inferences from statistical analyses in social science. Thus, Duncan was disdainful of the search for supposedly universal laws of society that would mimic those of the physical sciences, because he believed that such laws did not exist and would be meaningless. Instead, to Duncan, the main use of statistical tools was to summarize systematic patterns of population variability. The paper draws heavily on Duncan's previously unpublished personal communications.
The Use of Health Savings Accounts for Health Care in Retirement

This paper examines the savings needed to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for health care services in retirement and evaluates the use of health savings accounts (HSAs) to save for those expenses. Proponents of HSAs often tout them as a vehicle for funding future retiree health care costs. However, statutory contribution limits mean that they are unlikely to play more than a minor part in savings for health care costs in retirement. If an individual age 55 in 2009 were to contribute $3,000 to his or her HSA and also contribute the $1,000 catch-up contribution each year for 10 years, $48,300 would be in the account after 10 years at a 2 percent interest rate. And if the interest rate was 5 percent, $55,100 would be accumulated at the end of 10 years. Such savings levels by themselves are inadequate to cover health costs in retirement. A man age 55 in 2009 would need between $144,000-$290,000 by the time he reached age 65 in 2019 (depending upon his use of prescription drugs in retirement) to have a 50 percent chance of being able to cover premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for Medigap and Medicare Part D. Thus, a 55-year-old man would be able to use an HSA to accumulate between 16-32 percent of needed savings for insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement for a 50-50 chance of having enough savings. For a 90 percent chance, the maximum HSA savings would cover between 7-16 percent of the necessary savings amount. Women, who live longer than men on average, will need more. The PDF for the above title, published in the April 2010 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another April 2010 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Tax Expenditures and Employee Benefits: Estimates from the FY 2011 Budget.”
Application of Virtual Instrument in Shearer Machine Fault Diagnosis System

The new method of fault diagnosis based on virtual instrument technology instead of the traditional measuring instruments has been proposed.With the help of LabVIEW software,a mechanical fault diagnosis system of shearer is developed.It also introduced software and hardware functions and design the mechanical fault diagnosis system.The experiments show that the system has high reliability and strong practicability.
Investigation of allosteric regulation of porcine fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

Porcine Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is a homotetramer with four identical subunits. It plays a central role in gluconeogenesis and is tightly regulated by metabolites fructose 2,6bisphosphate (F26P2) and AMP. Loop 52-72, loop 182-194 and residues 7-11 of the Nterminal segment play important role in the mechanism of catalysis and allosteric inhibition by AMP by retaining a structural hydrophobic region. Disruption of the hydrophobic region will evidently affect the catalysis and regulation of FBPase. Mutation of Thr reduced the catalysis activity of FBPase, mutation of Thr eliminated inhibition of AMP due to its low affinity to the enzyme, while double mutation Thr had accumulative effect. Mutation Ala exhibited biphasic AMP inhibition, an AMP high affinity site which had comparable IC50 with wild-type FBPase and an AMP low affinity site which required 3000-fold AMP to reach 50% relative inhibition.
Reduction of roast Movat chromite ore with carbon

Solid-state reduction of roast Movat chromite ore with carbon was carried out as a function of the C/FeO ratio at temperatures ranging from 800 °C to 900°C. The reduction was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A two-stage mechanism consisting of the reduction of FeO with carbon monoxide and the regeneration of CO by the oxidation of carbon with CO2 was proposed. The rate-controlling step is the carbon oxidation reaction. A kinetic equation, that of random nucleation, was proposed. The activation energy for the reduction was determined to be 55,800 J/mole and is compared to those activation energies determined for other chromite ores.
Sensitivity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum to Prothioconazole and Thiophanate-Methyl and Gene Mutation Conferring Resistance to Thiophanate-Methyl

Fusarium wilt, incited by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum, is a soilborne disease that affects watermelon production worldwide. Approaches for effective management of Fusarium wilt in watermelon are limited. Studies conducted in recent years indicated that prothioconazole and thiophanate-methyl reduced the disease significantly under field conditions. However, effects of the fungicides on different life stages of F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum and potential existence of fungicide resistance in F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum populations are unknown. In the present study, effects of prothioconazole and thiophanate-methyl on mycelium growth and spore germination of F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum isolates collected in watermelon fields in Georgia were determined. In vitro mycelium growth studies indicated that all 100 isolates evaluated were sensitive to prothioconazole; the effective concentration that suppressed mycelium growth by 50% ranged from 0.75 to 5.69 μg/ml (averaged 1.62 μg/ml). In contrast, 33 and 4% of the isolates were resistant to thiophanate-methyl at 10 and 100 μg/ml, respectively. Microconidial germination assays showed that 36 and 64% of the isolates tested were sensitive or intermediately sensitive to prothioconazole at 100 μg/ml but the fungicide did not inhibit spore germination at 10 μg/ml. Sequencing a portion of the β-tubulin gene of eight isolates resistant or sensitive to thiophanate-methyl indicated that fungicide resistance was associated with a point mutation at nucleotide position 200, resulting in a substitution of phenylalanine by tyrosine. This is the first report of isolates of F. oxysporum resistant to thiophanate-methyl. Results of the research suggest that prothioconazole may be a viable option for management of Fusarium wilt of watermelon whereas thiophanate-methyl should be used judiciously due to the existence of isolates resistant to the fungicide.
Safety of acoustic separation in plastic devices for extracorporeal blood processing

BACKGROUND Acoustic cell separation uses ultrasound waves to separate cells from plasma to perform plasmapheresis. Although the fundamental process has been studied for decades, no acoustic cell separation has been studied in a disposable plastic format suitable for clinical applications. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We developed a disposable, rectangular, polystyrene microchannel acoustic cell-separation system and applied acoustic energy relevant for plasmapheresis. Fresh blood from healthy volunteers was exposed in vitro to acoustic energy in an open microfluidic circuit with and without ultrasound applied. Blood was tested for perturbations in red blood cells, platelets, and coagulation using clinical assays. RESULTS Red blood cell and platelet size parameters as well as coagulation activation all were within 3% of baseline values. P-selectin expression on platelets increased by an average of 10.9% relative to baseline. Hemolysis increased with flow through the microfluidic channel, but percentage hemolysis remained below 0.3%. CONCLUSION Blood parameters in a single-pass, microfluidic acoustic cell-separation apparatus remained within normal limits. In vivo animal studies that model continuous separation in a physiologic environment are warranted.
Pim-1 kinase interacts with P-glycoprotein in human leukemia cells and this interaction is inhibited by N-benzoyl staurosporine (PKC412)

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 3231 The serine/threonine protein kinase Pim-1, originally identified as a proviral integration site involved in lymphomagenesis induced by the murine leukemia virus, has been implicated in the development of leukemias, lymphomas, and prostate cancer. Pim-1 is overexpressed in blasts of approximately 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We previously showed that Pim-1 can protect prostate cancer cells from apoptosis induced by chemotherapy drugs ( Oncogene , 25: 70-78, 2006). We also showed that Pim-1 interacts with the transmembrane domain of the drug efflux pump breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a G subfamily member of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family (ABCG2), and regulates BCRP-mediated drug resistance (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meeting: Phosphorylation, Signaling & Disease, 2007). To further explore Pim-1 regulation of drug resistance in leukemia cells, we tested whether Pim-1 can also interact with P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a B subfamily ABC transporter (ABCB1) that plays an important role in drug resistance in AML. Using a co-immunoprecipitation assay, we found that Pim-1 was co-immunoprecipitated with Pgp in Pgp-overexpressing multidrug resistant HL60/VCR leukemia cells. PIM-1 is known to complex with staurosporine, and we found that the association of Pim-1 and Pgp was disrupted by N-benzoyl staurosporine (PKC412), a staurosporine derivative which is currently in clinical trials as an inhibitor of fms-like tyrosine kinase (FLT-3) in AML. Thus Pim-1 interacts with the ABC transporter Pgp and may regulate Pgp-mediated drug resistance by phosphorylating Pgp and thereby regulating its function. Moreover, disrupting Pim-1 signaling with agents such as PKC412 provides a potential approach to reversing Pgp-mediated multidrug resistance.
Graph Community Detection: Normalized Compression Distance Based Implementation for Text Data

Community detection algorithms are widely used to study the structural properties of real-world networks. In this paper, we experimentally evaluate the qualitative performance of several community detection algorithms based on normalized compression distance (NCD) using diversified datasets like documents, feeds, articles and blogs. We compare the quality of the algorithms based on F-score measure. Text data when given as input to NCD performs better when compare to conventional feed like document term matrix as input. Finally, we reveal that label propagation community detection algorithm is more suitable for clustering text data as compare to other community detection algorithms and it creates more distinct communities on diversified data.
Metabolism: Tick, tock, a beta-cell clock.

The daily light–dark cycle affects many aspects of normal physiology through the activity of circadian clocks. It emerges that the pancreas has a clock of its own, which responds to energy fluctuations.
Solid State Ionics - the key to the discovery, introduction and domination of lithium batteries for portable energy storage

Abstract 2017 is the 50th anniversary of the discovery of fast ion transport in β-alumina. This discovery led to a revolution in the study of solid materials that might exhibit ionic motion as fast as that found in liquids. The need for materials with both fast ionic and electronic conductivity and a wide stoichiometry range to measure the ionic conductivity of beta alumina led to the intercalation concept for rechargeable alkali metal batteries. These discoveries and the resulting development of the lithium battery are described.
Power Flow Convergence and Reactive Power Planning in the Creation of Large Synthetic Grids

To encourage and support innovation, synthetic electric grids are fictional, designed systems that mimic the complexity of actual electric grids but contain no confidential information. Synthetic grid design is driven by the requirement to match wide variety of metrics derived from statistics of actual grids. In order to scale these systems to 10,000 buses or more, robust reactive power planning is needed, accounting for power flow convergence issues. This paper addresses reactive power planning and power flow convergence in the context of large synthetic power grids. The iterative algorithm presented by this paper supplements a synthetic transmission network that has been validated by a dc power flow with a realistic set of voltage control devices to meet a specified voltage profile, even with the constraints of difficult power flow convergence for large systems. The algorithm is illustrated with an example new synthetic 10,000 bus system, geographically situated in the western United States, which is publicly available and useful for a variety of research studies. An analysis is shown validating the synthetic system with actual grid characteristics.
Performance assessment of variable frequency drives in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are widely applied on the induction motors in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to reduce energy consumption and improve power factor (PF) in commercial buildings. On the other hand, VFDs not only consume energy but also create harmonic distortion, which may interfere with sensitive electronic equipment, cause additional motor energy losses, and worsen PF. These negative impacts are more often concealed by the significant energy reduction. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively assess those positive and negative impacts of VFDs in actual HVAC systems. Experiments were conducted on three HVAC systems to quantify the energy reduction, PF improvement, voltage and current total harmonic distortions (THDs), and system efficiency degradation introduced by VFDs. The experiment results reveal that the VFDs significantly reduced the system input power by 85% at 50% rated frequency and increased the PF to 0.95 at 95% rated frequency with the voltage T...
Oxidative Stress and Photodynamic Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) takes advantage of the generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent oxidative effects to generate focal tissue damage. It involves the local activation of a chemical photosensitizer by a specific light wavelength corresponding to the absorption characteristics of the photosensitizer. The excited photosensitizer then transfers its energy to oxygen within the tissue, thereby creating the cytotoxic oxygen species. PDT is an established treatment modality for cancer, and its feasibility has been demonstrated for a variety of cancer types. Here, we briefly detail the known mechanisms of the photodynamic reaction, with particular attention to the role of reactive oxygen species in PDT-mediated cell death. We then describe the application of PDT in recent clinical studies for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Preliminary study on the TOF-timing performance of non-optimized PMT-quadrant-sharing (PQS) LYSO array

1535 Objectives We measured the preliminary TOF resolution of non-optimized LYSO arrays in PMT-Quadrant-Sharing(PQS) mode which has higher light collection efficiency(no external light guide). Methods LYSO array, coupled directly to PMTs in PQS mode, was tested. Digital oscilloscope (Tektronix DPO7054) was used to capture the original waveforms(10G sample rate). The signals were analysed in Labview. Two types of timing method, CFD and linear fitting to the pulse rising time, were studied. A Time-Energy correction using Multivariate Least Mean Square Fit was applied to avoid the time walk caused by the variation of signal shape. Results 1) Coincident timing resolution of single crystal (4*4*20mm3) with 51mm-dia R9779 PMT was measured to be 300ps. 2)13*13 array of 4*4*20mm3 LYSO with R9779 was tested. The average coincident timing resolution is 367ps. 3) 13*13 array of 1.4*1.4*10mm3 LYSO with 19mm-dia XP1912 PMT was also tested. The average coincident timing resolution is 492ps. Conclusions Low-pass digital filter is needed to improve the SNR. The average baseline of the signal should be subtracted to avoid system DC shift. The best threhold of linear fit timing method is 10% of the pulse peak. The preliminary result of non-optimized LYSO block to block with R9779 is 432ps, which is better than current commercial TOF PET. Even with poor timing PMT(XP1912), it is under 700ps. Better TOF timing may be achieved with PQS-LYSO blocks optimized for timing and better PMT.