cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emergency Department Utilization by Noninstitutionalized Elders

. Objectives: To the best of the authors knowledge, no nationally representative, population-based study has characterized the proportion of elders using the emergency department (ED) and factors associated with ED use by elders. This article describes the proportion of elder Medicare beneficiaries using the ED and identifies attributes associated with elder ED users as compared with nonusers. Methods: The 1993 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey was used, a national, population-based, cross-sectional survey of Medicare beneficiaries linked with Medicare claims data. The study population was limited to 9,784 noninstitutionalized individuals aged 66 years or older. The Andersen model of health service utilization was used, which explains variation in ED use through a combination of predisposing (demographic and social), enabling (access to care), and need (comorbidity and health status) characteristics. Results: Eighteen percent of the sample used the ED at least once during 1993. Univariate analysis showed ED users were older; were less educated and lived alone; had lower income and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores; and were less satisfied with their ability to access care than nonusers (p < 0.01, chi-square). Logistic regression identified older age, less education, living alone, higher comorbidity scores, worse reported health, and increased difficulties with activities of daily living as factors associated with ED use (p < 0.05). Need characteristics predicted ED use with the greatest accuracy. Conclusions: The proportion of elder ED users is slightly higher than previously reported among Medicare beneficiaries. Need (comorbidity and health status) characteristics predict ED utilization with the greatest accuracy.
Acute Toxicity of Aflatoxin B1 to Channel Catfish

Abstract Both oral and intraperitoneal (IP) administration of 12 mg aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) per kilogram of body weight caused regurgitation of stomach contents by channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Detoxification of AFB1 (ammoniation) significantly reduced the incidence of regurgitation. The 10-d median lethal dose (LD50; dose that is lethal to 50% of test organisms) for IPadministered AFB, in channel catfish averaging 19 g was 11.5 mg/kg of body weight, with a 95% confidence interval of 9.5–13.3 mg/kg. Gills, livers, kidneys, spleens, stomachs, and intestines of moribund fish injected with 12 mg AFB1/kg of body weight were extremely pale. Hematocrits, hemoglobin concentrations, and erythrocyte counts of moribund fish were about 10% of those values in control fish. Histological lesions in moribund fish included sloughing of intestinal mucosa and necrosis of hematopoietic tissues, hepatocytes, pancreatic acinar cells, and gastric glands. Spleens showed reduction in volume of the red pulp and reduction in nu...
T41 mutation in lac repressor is Tyr282→Asp ☆

A monomeric mutant of the lac repressor protein, designated T41, produced originally by the in vivo MutT mutagenesis exhibited behavior similar to mutants identified as Tyr282----Ser or Tyr282----Gln [Schmitz et al., J. Biol. Chem. 251 (1976) 3359-3366]. The T41 gene, encoded within a phage lambda prophage in the Escherichia coli genome, was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The only mutation found in the nucleotide sequence corresponded to position 282 in the protein, and the amino acid encoded was Asp. The Tyr282----Asp mutant protein produced by site-specific methods was isolated and shares the oligomeric and inducer binding characteristics previously determined for the T41 mutation.
Checking solvability of systems of interval linear equations and inequalities via mixed integer programming

Abstract This paper deals with the problems of checking strong solvability and feasibility of linear interval equations, checking weak solvability of linear interval equations and inequalities, and finding control solutions of linear interval equations. These problems are known to be NP -hard. We use some recently developed characterizations in combination with classical arguments to show that these problems can be equivalently stated as optimization tasks and provide the corresponding linear mixed 0–1 programming formulations.
The independence of adenosine-5′-diphosphate binding and the state of association of L-glutamate dehydrogenase

Summary The dissociation constant of the adenosine-5′-diphosphate (ADP)-glutamate dehydrogenase complex in the absence of coenzyme was found to be independent of glutamate dehydrogenase concentration and ADP has no appreciable effect on the association state of the enzyme in the absence of coenzyme. These results indicate that ADP does not bind preferentially to any one form of the enzyme and does not by itself affect the reversible, protein concentration-dependent polymerization of the enzyme. The reversal of the effect of dissociative agents such as DPNH and GTP in the presence of DPNH may be explained by their displacement by ADP.
Engineering effective software

The editor has invited me to serve as associate editor of the Transactions for papers on communication issues in software engineering. This will include papers on the design of user manuals, the development of online help and tutorials, and the documentation of software development. I am delighted to accept the position, because I see these issues as central to the continued advancement of computer applications.
Optimal Solution-Range Analysis in Production Planning: Refinery Feedstock Selection

This paper presents a new way to expand and analyze the optimal solution of a process planning model. Feedstock selection in a refinery is a complex process, accomplished in many steps that typically involve numerous optimization executions that aim at providing a “value” for each potential crude oil feedstock to the refinery for a given operational period. Traditionally, the optimal crude oil slate as determined by the planning system is a point solution that does not provide detailed information regarding potential (finite) changes in the optimal crude oil selection without degradation of the overall plant economics., In this work we define the optimal selection range for each feedstock as the result of a Pareto-type analysis including all feedstocks. Two flexibility indices are defined for each crude oil feed providing a quantitative flexibility metric in the context of optimal economics. The proposed approach provides a useful and practical way to quantitatively evaluate each potential crude feed. Thi...
Dispersive analysis of charge transfer models

We prove dispersive estimates for the time-dependent Schrodinger equation with a charge transfer Hamiltonian. As a by-product we also obtain another proof of asymptotic completeness of the wave operators for a charge transfer model established earlier by K. Yajima and J. M. Graf. We also consider a more general matrix non-self-adjoint charge transfer problem. This model appears naturally in the study of nonlinear multisoliton systems and is specifically motivated by the problem of asymptotic stability of multisoliton states of a nonlinear Schrodinger equation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemisorption, photodesorption and conductivity measurements on ZnO surfaces.

Abstract Experimental results of a mass-spectro metric analysis of photodesorption from ZnO single crystals at different temperatures are reported. They provide direct evidence that CO2 is the only photodesorbed species from both the single crystal and powder samples studied. The CO2 photodesorption occurs only when the incident photon energy exceeds the ZnO band gap energy. Excellent agreement between the illumination time dependence of the CO2 photodesorption and surface conductivity data in both single crystals and powder samples strongly suggests a substrate dependent mechanism in which photodesorption occurs by the neutralization of chemisorbed CO2− “ion-molecules” by photogenerated holes. In addition, measurements of the chemisorption kinetics of oxygen on ZnO single crystal and powder surfaces are reported. The results are compared with CO2 and CO chemisorptiun experiments to show that, of these gases, only oxygen chemisorbs from the gas phase. Auger analysis of oxygen saturated and photodesorbed surfaces of ZnO show a significant relation between the carbon content and the photo-desorptive and conductive activities of those surfaces. These observations indicate that impurity carbon atoms on ZnO surfaces can be oxidized by electron capture to produce chemisorbed CO2− “ion-molecules’ which will then readily photodesorb by bandgap radiation. This proposed process is discussed together with further supporting evidence.
Generalized stacking fault energies, ductilities, and twinnabilities of Ni and selected Ni alloys

The generalized stacking fault energies, Rice-criterion ductilities, and twinnabilities of selected Ni-x solid-solution alloys (x=Nb, W, Mn, Fe, Cu) are calculated using density functional theory to elucidate how alloying alters the mechanical properties of pure Ni. Relative to Ni, the alloys have smaller stacking fault energies (γsf), similar ductilities, and a greater tendency to undergo deformation twinning. The results are compared to experimental studies of the mechanical properties of nanocrystalline (nc) Ni alloys from the literature, and it is suggested that the higher strain-hardening rate recently reported for nc-Ni-Cu (relative to nc-Ni-Fe) does not arise from differences in γsf, but from a higher dislocation density caused by more facile dislocation nucleation.
Nitrogen Fixation in Grasses Inoculated with Spirillum lipoferum

Field-grown pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) and guinea grass (Panicum maximum), lightly fertilized and inoculated with Spirillum lipoferum, produced significantly higher yields of dry matter than did uninoculated controls. Up to 42 and 39 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare were replaced by inoculation for pearl millet and guinea grass, respectively. The data demonstrate that nitrogen fixation by these grass-Spirillum systems is efficient and is achieved at a reasonable energy cost to the plant.
Direct observations of carbon clusters in a high-carbon martensitic steel☆

Abstract The morphology and diffraction contrast of carbon clusters formed at room temperature in an Fe-7.9 wt.% Cr-1.1 wt.% alloy have been investigated using the weak-beam method of transmission electron microscopy. The contrast of the carbon clusters is strongly dependent on the diffraction condition and associated diffuse electron scattering. The (200) b reflection in the [010] b orientation and the (020) b reflection in the [100] b orientation are most suitable for imaging of the carbon clusters. Layers of carbon clusters are found on planes close to the four {012} b planes, deviating from the (001) b plane by an angle of about 27°. The layers have a uniform spacing of about 3–4 nm and a thickness of 1–2 nm. The present observations confirm previous results obtained for Fe-C alloys.
Mortality after total hip and knee arthroplasty in a medium-volume university practice.

This study evaluated the mortality after total knee and hip arthroplasties by a single surgeon in a medium-volume university referral practice. For 610 knee arthroplasties, the in-hospital mortality rate was 0.16%, and overall, 2 patients (0.33%) died within the first 90 days. There was no significant difference in mortality at 1 year or 2 years (P =.55) between primary bilateral one-stage and primary unilateral total knee arthroplasties. For 1,108 total hip arthroplasties, the early in-hospital mortality rate was 0.18%, and overall 5 patients (0.45%) died within the first 90 days. For the entire group of arthroplasties, the overall mortality at 1 year and 2 years was significantly less (both P <.05) than the number of expected deaths in the general population.
The High Osmolarity Glycerol Response (HOG) MAP Kinase Pathway Controls Localization of a Yeast Golgi Glycosyltransferase

The yeast α-1,3-mannosyltransferase (Mnn1p) is localized to the Golgi by independent transmembrane and lumenal domain signals. The lumenal domain is localized to the Golgi complex when expressed as a soluble form (Mnn1-s) by exchange of its transmembrane domain for a cleavable signal sequence (Graham, T. R., and V. A. Krasnov. 1995. Mol. Biol. Cell . 6:809–824). Mutants that failed to retain the lumenal domain in the Golgi complex, called lumenal domain retention ( ldr ) mutants, were isolated by screening mutagenized yeast colonies for those that secreted Mnn1-s. Two genes were identified by this screen, HOG1 , a gene encoding a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) that functions in the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway, and LDR1 . We have found that basal signaling through the HOG pathway is required to localize Mnn1-s to the Golgi in standard osmotic conditions. Mutations in HOG1 and LDR1 also perturb localization of intact Mnn1p, resulting in its loss from early Golgi compartments and a concomitant increase of Mnn1p in later Golgi compartments.
Methadone metabolism and clearance are induced by nelfinavir despite inhibition of cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) activity

Background Methadone plasma concentrations are decreased by nelfinavir. Methadone clearance and the drug interactions have been attributed to CYP3A4, but actual mechanisms of methadone clearance and the nelfinavir interaction are unknown. We assessed nelfinavir effects on methadone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, intestinal and hepatic CYP3A4/5 activity, and intestinal P-glycoprotein transport activity. CYP3A4/5 and transporters were assessed using alfentanil and fexofenadine, respectively.
Some Elementary Geometric Aspects in Extending the Dimension of the Space of Instants

A local geometric construction is proposed on the partially ordered set of instants I. A totally ordered subset C(I) ⊂ I is assumed to have 3dimensional affine coordinate structure, without a specified metric, called the τ-space of C(I).Guided by a strong analogy with analytical mechanics the T-configuration space (θ, τ α ), θ a real parameter, is constructed whereupon the usual Hamilton-Jacobi theory establishes a simple geometrical construction, viz., the complete figure from the calculus of variations. The duration function, dur:C(I) →R is associated with temporally equidistant hypersurfaces through which pass a congruence of extremal curves to the fundamental integral.
Evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties of eutectic Fe30Ni20Mn35Al15

The microstructure of the eutectic alloy Fe30Ni20Mn35Al15 (in at.%) was modified by cooling at different rates from 1623 K, i.e., above the eutectic temperature. The lamellar spacing decreased with increasing cooling rate, and in water-quenched specimens lamellae widths of ~100 nm were obtained. The orientation relationship between the fcc and B2 lamellae was found to be sensitive to the cooling rate. In a drop-cast alloy the Kurdjumov–Sachs orientation relationship dominated, whereas the orientation relationship in an arc-melted alloy with a faster cooling rate was \( {\text{fcc}}\left( {\bar{1}12} \right)//{\text{B2}}\left( {0 1 1} \right);\;{\text{fcc}}\left[ {1\bar{1}1} \right]//{\text{B2 }}\left[ {1\bar{1}1} \right] \,{\text{and}}\,{\text{fcc}}\left( {0\bar{1}1} \right)//{\text{B2}}\left( {00 1} \right);{\text{ fcc}}\left[ {0 1 1} \right]//{\text{B2}}\left[ {\bar{1}\bar{1}0} \right] \). The hardness increased with microstructural refinement, obeying a Hall–Petch-type relationship. The strength of the alloy decreased significantly above 600 K due to softening of the B2 phase.
How are immune complexes bound to the primate erythrocyte complement receptor transferred to acceptor phagocytic cells

Abstract Immune complexes (IC) bound to the primate erythrocyte (E) complement receptor (CR1) are cleared from the circulation of primates and localized to phagocytic cells in the liver and spleen without E destruction. IC can be bound to E CR1 either via C3b opsonization or with cross-linked mAb complexes (heteropolymers, HP) which contain a mAb specific for CR1 and a mAb specific for an antigen. The long-term goal of our work is to apply the HP system to the treatment of human diseases associated with blood-borne pathogens. This review discusses the mechanism by which the E-bound IC are transferred to acceptor cells. Our studies in animal models as well as our in vitro investigations indicate that IC transfer is rapid (usually >90% in 10 min) and does not lead to lysis or phagocytosis of the E. Experiments with specific inhibitors and the use of IC prepared with Fab′ fragments suggest that transfer depends mainly upon recognition by Fc receptors on the acceptor cell. Moreover, we find that IC release from the E is associated with a concerted loss of CR1, and is followed by uptake and internalization of the IC by the acceptor cell. We suggest that recognition and binding of the E-bound IC substrates by Fc receptors allows close contact between the E and acceptor cells, which in turn facilitates proteolysis of E CR1, presumably by a macrophage-associated protease. After proteolysis, the released IC are internalized by the macrophages.
Photoactive and self-sensing P3HT-based thin films for strain and corrosion monitoring

Structural systems deteriorate due to excessive deformation and corrosive environments. If damage is left undetected, they can propagate to cause sudden collapse. However, one of the main difficulties of monitoring damage progression is that, for example, excessive/plastic deformation and corrosion are drastically different physical processes. Strain is a mechanical phenomenon, whereas corrosion is a complex electrochemical process. The current strategy for structural health monitoring (SHM) is to use either different types of sensors or to employ system identification for quantifying overall changes to the structure. In this study, an alternative SHM paradigm is proposed in that a single, multifunctional material would be able to selectively sense different but simultaneously occurring structural damage. In particular, a photoactive and self-sensing thin film was developed for monitoring strain and corrosion. Another unique aspect was that the films were self-sensing and did not depend on external electrical energy for operations. First, the thin films were fabricated using photoactive poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and other functional polymers using spin-coating and layerby- layer assembly. Second, the fabricated thin films were interrogated using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer for quantifying their optical response to applied external stimuli, such as strain and exposure to pH buffer solutions. Lastly, the multifunctional thin films were tested and validated for strain and pH sensing. Interrogation of these separate responses was achieved by illuminating the thin films different wavelengths of light and then measuring the corresponding electrical current generated.
Semi-preparative separation of polyhydroxylated sterols using a β-cyclodextrin high-performance liquid chromatography column

Abstract A series of closely related polyoxygenated sterols from the sponge Dysidea etheria was resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography on a β-cyclodextrin column, a stationary phase apparently not used previously for the preparative separation of natural products. Analysis of the chromatographic behavior of the various sterols on the β-cyclodextrin column indicated that formation of an inclusion complex was not the separation mechanism involved in this case. Rather, the comparative analysis suggested that hydrogen bonding between the solute molecules and the hydroxyl groups on the rim of the β-cyclo-dextrin cavities best explained the results observed.
A differential solvent effect on thermal stability of genetic markers in DNA.

The relative order of denaturation of four transforming activities in Diplococcus pneumoniae DNA is different in the two solvents, 0.15 m-NaCl-0.015 m-sodiumcitrate and 7.2 m-NaClO4-0.1 m-sodium-EDTA (pH 7.0), in both of which stability increases with the percentage of guanine-cystosine base pairs. For example, at low molecular weight, the streptomycin resistance marker is the least stable of the four in NaClO4, whereas novobiocin resistance is least stable in the sodium chloride-citrate solution. There is therefore a second-order effect on the relative stabilities of the DNA molecular fragments against irreversible denaturation (strand separation). If interpreted in terms of ΔH per mole of base pairs, the differential change is only 20 to 30 cal./mole between the two solvents. These effects are small, therefore, and yet readily detectable in this system. They may be due to nearest-neighbor effects on the stacking interactions, to a change in the degree of co-operativeness, to the known difference in the relative stability of adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine pairs in the two solvents, or to some combination of these factors.
Glucose metabolism in adipocytes of obese offspring of mild hyperglycemic rats.

ABSTRACT: Six pregnant rats were made mildly hyperglycemic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin on d 5 of gestation. Four control rats were injected with citrate buffer. Thirty pups born to experimental dams who had increased birth weight (birth weight >1.7 SD of mean birth weight of pups from control dams) maintained accelerated growth through 10 wk of age. At 10 wk, oral glucose tolerance tests showed higher glucose and insulin levels than the controls (n = 37). In addition to the higher body weight, the experimental rats also had higher fat weight to body weight ratios. Adipocytes of epididymal fat from obese males and periovarian fat from obese females had higher lipid content with significantly larger cell size than the adipocytes of the controls. The adipocytes of macrosomic rats showed attenuated response to insulin-stimulated glucose conversion to total lipid and fatty acid when compared with the responses seen in the adipocytes of the control rats. Interestingly, although the insulin-stimulated glucose conversion to CO2 was similar in macrosomic and control males, the response in the macrosomic female was blunted when compared with that of the control females. Insulin receptor binding capacities of the macrosomic rats were lower than those of the controls, which is consistent with a phenomenon of down-regulation. However, the receptor affinities were higher in the experimental animals than in controls. Therefore, a postreceptor defect may account for the abnormality in glucose metabolism in the obese rats. In conclusion, the abnormal response to oral glucose loading in these experimental obese, hyperinsulinemic rats is due to peripheral tissue insulin resistance that is probably postreceptor in nature.
Structure of the Mediator Head module bound to the carboxy-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II

The X-ray crystal structure of the Head module, one-third of the Mediator of transcriptional regulation, has been determined as a complex with the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. The structure reveals multiple points of interaction with an extended conformation of the CTD; it suggests a basis for regulation by phosphorylation of the CTD. Biochemical studies show a requirement for Mediator–CTD interaction for transcription.
New genes important for development

The genomic revolution has allowed scientists to scrutinize genomic features to previously impossible levels of precision and detail. The fully sequenced genomes of many related species have facilitated the detection of new genes and the examination of their origin and evolution by genomic and phylogenetic comparison. These new genes—defined as those that are lineage‐ and/or species‐specific and are found in one or a few closely related species (e.g., Drosophila melanogaster ), but are absent in outgroup species (e.g . D. simulans and Anopheles gambiae )—are known to result from a range of molecular mechanisms. Among these, DNA‐based and RNA‐based duplication have been frequently studied [1]. The most common fate for many new genes is to evolve into non‐functional pseudogenes, as they are redundant functional copies of their parental genes. However, de novo genes represent per se a novel protein. In contrast to pseudogenization, there are several evolutionary processes that can result in new gene evolution and are in accordance with natural selection and with the preservation of the new gene: subfunctionalization, neofunctionalization, or increased gene dosage, for example. Despite the expectation that new genes will not perform essential functions—because the ancestral species survived without the new gene—a study by Chen et al [2] has shown that new genes can quickly become essential in D. melanogaster . In this study, new genes were identified using syntenic relationships between orthologous and paralogous genes in 12 different genomes from Drosophila species in the lineage leading to D. melanogaster , comprising approximately 35 million years of new gene evolution. The majority of the new genes found in the study resulted from RNA or DNA duplication events, but there were a few genes resulting from de novo origination. In a subsequent constitutive gene knockdown experiment using RNAi, 195 new genes were tested for viability and 59 (30%) genes …
Soy isoflavonoids and cancer -- metabolism at the target site.

Isoflavonoids are members of the broad class of plant polyphenols that have been shown in vivo to have benefit in the prevention of a wide variety of chronic diseases, including cancer. For genistein (5,7,4 � -trihydroxyisoflavone) (GEN), the major isoflavone in soy, reported mechanisms for these biological activities are numerous and include regulation of estrogen-mediated events, inhibition of tyrosine kinase and DNA topoisomerase activities, synthesis and release of TGF, and modulation of apoptosis. However, the biochemical effects of GEN in cell culture occur at concentrations in the micromolar range, far above the circulating levels of the unconjugated GEN. This may point to the limitations of cell culture for the evaluation of the activity and mechanisms of potential anti-carcinogens. GEN is extensively metabolized in vivo, with only about 14–16% excreted in an unmodified form. Metabolism may also occur because of interaction between GEN (as well as other polyphenols) and oxidants produced by inflammatory cells (HOCl, HOBr and ONOO − ). These react with GEN to form brominated, chlorinated and/or nitrated GEN. Emerging evidence indicates that these modifications may substantially increase the biological activities of the parent compound. Future investigations of GEN and other polyphenols must, therefore, take into account metabolism at the tissue site. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
CBP Mediates NF-κB-Dependent Histone Acetylation and Estrogen Receptor Recruitment to an Estrogen Response Element in the BIRC3 Promoter

Estrogen receptor (ER) and NF-κB are transcription factors with profound effects on breast cancer cell proliferation and survival. While many studies demonstrate that ER and NF-κB can repress each other, we previously identified a gene signature that is synergistically upregulated by these two factors in more aggressive luminal B breast tumors. Herein, we examine a novel mechanism of cross talk between ER and NF-κB that results in the upregulation of the antiapoptotic gene BIRC3 (also known as cIAP2). We demonstrate that NF-κB, acting through two response elements, is required for ER recruitment to an adjacent estrogen response element (ERE) in the BIRC3 promoter. This effect is accompanied by a major increase in NF-κB-dependent histone acetylation around the ERE. Interestingly, CBP, a histone acetyltransferase previously implicated in repressive interactions between ER and NF-κB, plays a permissive role by promoting histone acetylation and ER recruitment, as well as enhanced expression of BIRC3. These findings suggest a new gene regulatory mechanism by which inflammation and NF-κB activation can influence ER recruitment to inherently inactive ER binding sites. This fine-tuning mechanism may explain how two factors that generally repress each other's activity may work together on certain genes to promote breast cancer cell survival and tumor progression.
Hip stiffness following mixed conformal neutron and photon radiotherapy: A dose-volume relationship

Purpose: To determine the relationship between dose, volume, and the incidence of hip stiffness in patients who received conformal neutron irradiation for nrostate cancer. Methods and Materials: A series of dose-searching studies using neutron irradiation for prostate cancer were performed to determine the optimal dose, fraction size, field size, technique, and proportions of photon and neutron dose. Neutron doses ranged fro& 9 to 20 Gy and photon doses ranged frbmb to 38 Gy: Data were analyzed by using a hip stiffness grading scale. Results: Hip stiffness was recorded on follow-up examination in 30% of patients (40 out of 132) treated with fast neutrons or mixtures of fast neutron and photon radiation for prostate cancer. Hip stiEness was categorized as none (Grade 0,92 patients), mild (Grade 1,24 patients), moderate (Grade 2,10 patients), or severe (Grade 3,6 patients). The incidence of hip stiffness differed significantly by dose and volume in the five dose levels studied @ < 0.001). Conclusions: By using a mixture of conformal neutron and photon irradiation and limiting the total neutron dose to less than 13 Gy, hip stiffness toxicity could be reduced to acceptable levels. Radiotherapy side effects, Fast-neutron radiation
Quick look parameter estimation in linear control systems

A method for estimating parameters of a linear control system is proposed. The estimation is based only on the early part of the step function response. A power series approximation is used, and it is shown that for a second-order system the form of the early response is the same, regardless of whether the system is overdamped underdamped, or critically damped. With the use of precise; noise-free data typical results for an underdamped second-order system gave parameter estimates within 0.1 to 11 percent in a time equal to about 10 percent of the time to the first peak of the response. Similar results for an overdamped second-order system provided parameter estimates within 0.3 to 2 percent in a time equal to about 1 percent of the longer time constant and 13 percent of the shorter time constant. >
Evaluation of diagonal impedance elements in TE polarization for two-dimensional field computations

Two formulas for moment method solutions to the electric-field integral equation of the TE polarization are developed to provide efficient and accurate field computations of two-dimensional problems. The new method has been extensively tested. A computer code, TDRS (Two-Dimensional Radiation and Scattering), has been developed for four geometries: a strip, a circular cylinder, a rectangular cylinder and an elliptical cylinder. >
THE DISTRIBUTION OF COPPER IN TROPICAL SEAWATER1

The concentrations of the ionic, particulate, and total soluble copper in waters off Florida were determined spectrophotometrically. Most of the copper was in the soluble organic complex. Nearshore waters had significantly more total copper (approximately 20 ,ug/liter) than the waters flowing through the center of the Straits of Florida (approximately 10 pg/liter ) . Ionic copper concentrations were always less than 2pg/liter, and the particulate copper concentrations rarely exceeded 0.2 pg/liter. Copper is essential for the gro’wth of certain algae ( Meyers 1962 ) , and a purified metalloprotein containing copper was recently isolated from ChZoreZZa ellipsoidu (Katoh 1960). Copper is also found in chloroplasts ( Riley and Sinhaseni 1958)) and it is believed to increase the stability of the chloroplast. The best known occurrence of copper is in hcmocyanin, the respiratory pigment of many marine invertcbrates such as the lobster. Chow and Thompson ( 1952) reviewed the determination and occurrence of copper in seawater. Early investigations showed concentrations ranging from zero to 600 pg/litcr. The greatest variability was found in inshore waters, especially near the Connecticut harbors, where values ranging from 200-600 ,ug/liter were found (Prytherch 1934). In the rivers entering the English Channel, Atkins (1933) reported copper concentrations ranging from zero to 38 pug/liter while only 10 pg/litcr were found in the channel itself (one analysis). Chow and Thompson (1952, p. 125) indicated that ‘Some of the early investigations may be questioned because of the analytical technique employed and because of the apparent lack of precautions to prevent contamination of the sample.” l Contribution No. 774 from the Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Miami. This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant G-16459 and Office of Naval Rcscarch Contracts Nonr 840( 01) and 4008( 02). 2 Present address: Biological Laboratory, Fordham University, Bronx, New York. Meng-Chierego and Piccotti (1959) found only slight variations of copper with depth in the Adriatic Sea. The average concentration was 6.10 pg/liter in the upper 50 m, while below 200 m it increased to 6.48 pg/litcr. More recently, Fabricand et al. ( 1962), using atomic absorption spectroscopy, reported concentrations of less than 2.2 pug/liter of total copper in all areas of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans sampled. During this study, the distribution of copper at eight stations in the Straits of Florida (Table 1) between Fowey Rocks (25”38’ N lat; 80’2’ W long) and Cat Cay, Bahamas (25’35’ N lat; 79’25’ W long) was investigated.
Variation in Institutional Strength

Comparative research on political institutions has begun to turn from issues of formal institutional design to issues of institutional strength. Rather than assuming a tight fit between formal rules and political behavior, these studies examine how variation in the stability and/or enforcement of formal rules shapes actors’ expectations and behavior. This article explores the emerging research agenda on institutional strength. It disaggregates the concept of institutional strength into two dimensions—enforcement and stability—and it argues that institutions vary widely on both dimensions. The article then examines the sources of this variation and its implications for comparative research. It shows how recent research on weak institutions may be used to refine existing theories of institutional effects, design, and development, which should broaden the comparative scope of these theories. The conclusion examines ways of developing comparative measures of institutional strength.
On the relative efficacies of *cGA variants for intrinsic evolvable hardware; population, mutation, and random immigrants

Previous work has demonstrated the efficacy and feasibility of the simulated population *cGA family for embedded EH applications. This paper introduces and discusses a new *cGA variant that increases search efficacy on a specific class of EH problems without increasing the amount of hardware required for implementation. We discuss the new EA variant and provide experimental verification of its superiority against both the Dejong benchmarks and a practical problem in the construction of an EH controller to suppress thermoacoustic instability. We also compare these results with similar population-based and a population-less EAs to help understand the effects of introducing a simulated population. We conclude with a brief discussion of possible implications for the EH community in general.
Positive and Negative Regulation of the Transforming Growth Factor β/Activin Target Gene goosecoid by the TFII-I Family of Transcription Factors

Goosecoid (Gsc) is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor present in a wide variety of vertebrate species and known to regulate formation and patterning of embryos. Here we show that in embryonic carcinoma P19 cells, the transcription factor TFII-I forms a complex with Smad2 upon transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/activin stimulation, is recruited to the distal element (DE) of the Gsc promoter, and activates Gsc transcription. Downregulation of endogenous TFII-I by small inhibitory RNA in P19 cells abolishes the TGFβ-mediated induction of Gsc. Similarly, Xenopus embryos with endogenous TFII-I expression downregulated by injection of TFII-I-specific antisense oligonucleotides exhibit decreased Gsc expression. Unlike TFII-I, the related factor BEN (binding factor for early enhancer) is constitutively recruited to the distal element in the absence of TGFβ/activin signaling and is replaced by the TFII-I/Smad2 complex upon TGFβ/activin stimulation. Overexpression of BEN in P19 cells represses the TGFβ-mediated transcriptional activation of Gsc. These results suggest a model in which TFII-I family proteins have opposing effects in the regulation of the Gsc gene in response to a TGFβ/activin signal.
Spatially selective visible light photocatalytic activity of TiO2/BiFeO3 heterostructures

Heterostructures of thin titania films on BiFeO3 substrates were grown by pulsed laser deposition. The heterostructures, when excited by visible light with energies between 2.53 and 2.70 eV, photochemically reduce aqueous silver cations from solution in patterns that mimic the structure of the ferroelectric domains in the substrate. Under the same conditions, titania by itself reduces insignificant amounts of silver. The observations indicate that electrons generated in the substrate are influenced by dipolar fields in the ferroelectric domains and transported through the titania film to reduce silver on the surface.
Critical Care Pharmacy Services in United States Hospitals

Background:Critical care pharmacy activities have been described as fundamental, desirable, and optimal, but actual services provided have not been evaluated.Objective:To characterize the type and level of pharmacy services provided to intensive care units (ICUs).Methods:A 38 question survey was sent in 2 consecutive mailings to all US institutions (N = 3238) with an ICU. Questions were categorized according to clinical, educational, administrative, and scholarly activities, with levels of services stratified as fundamental, desirable, or optimal.Results:Completed surveys were received from 382 (11.8%) institutions encompassing 1034 ICUs. Direct clinical pharmacy activities were provided at 62.2% of ICUs. The pharmacists in those programs attended rounds 4.4 ± 1.5 days/wk, mean ± SD, and had a workweek that consisted of patient care (43% of hours worked), drug distribution (26.2%), administration (12.6%), education (10.9%), and scholarly activities (7.3%). Fundamental clinical activities performed during ...
Turbo-encoder design for symbol-interleaved parallel concatenated trellis-coded modulation

This paper addresses turbo-encoder design for coding with high spectral efficiency using parallel concatenated trellis-coded modulation and symbol interleaving. The turbo-encoder design involves the constituent encoder design and the interleaver design. The constituent encoders are optimized for symbol-wise effective free distance, and each has an infinite symbol-wise impulse response. We identify the canonical structures for the constituent encoder search space. In many cases of practical interest, the optimal structure for these constituent encoders connects the memory elements in a single row. This single row generally applies to turbo code constituent encoders for parallel concatenation and is not restricted to symbol interleaving. To lower the error floor, a new semi-random interleaver design criteria and a construction method extends the spread-interleaver concept introduced by Divsalar and Pollara (1995). Simulation results show that the proposed system employing symbol interleaving can converge at a lower signal-to-noise ratio than previously reported systems. We report simulation results between 0.5 and 0.6 db from constrained capacity for rates of 2 and 4 bits/s/Hz.
Does risk for bipolar disorder heighten the disconnect between objective and subjective appraisals of cognition

Abstract Background Deficits in cognitive functioning have been associated with bipolar disorder during episodes of depression and mania, as well as during periods of symptomatic remission. Separate evidence suggests that patients may lack awareness of these deficits and may even be overly confident with self-appraisals. The extent to which these separately or together represent prodromes of the disorder versus a consequence of the disorder remains unclear. The present study sought to test whether risk for bipolar disorder in a younger, college-aged cohort of individuals would be associated with lower performance in cognitive ability yet higher self-appraisal of cognitive functioning. Method Participants (N=128) completed an objective measure of working memory, a self-report measure of everyday cognitive deficits, and a measure associated with risk for bipolar disorder. Results Contrary to expectation, risk for bipolar disorder did not significantly predict poorer working memory. However, a person's risk for bipolar disorder was associated with higher self-appraisal of cognitive functioning relative to those with lower risk despite there being no indication of a difference in ability on the working memory task. Limitations Participant recruitment relied on an analog sample; moreover, assessment of cognitive functioning was limited to working memory. Conclusions Results add to a growing body of evidence indicating that overconfidence may be part of the cognitive profile of individuals at risk for bipolar disorder.
Determninants of Enlistments in the U.S. Army Reserve

Existing research on manpower supply to the Selected Reserves has provided only sketchy evidence at best on the effects of such important supply factors as pay, unemployment, and recruitment policies. This paper provides improved empirical estimates of the supply relationships underlying Army Reserve enlistments using a data base composed of 967 local Reserve-market" areas.A market area is constructed as a circle with a radius of 35 miles from an existing Army Reserve Center. The empirical results provide plausible estimated elasticities of the reserve-civilian pay ratio, local unemployment and migration rates, recruiters, mission, and interservice competition. These estimates offer a more solid foundation for setting future reserve recruiting, compensation, and manpower policies.
UV Resonance Raman-Selective Amide Vibrational Enhancement: Quantitative Methodology for Determining Protein Secondary Structure†

We have directly determined the amide band resonance Raman spectra of the “average” pure α-helix, β-sheet, and unordered secondary structures by exciting within the amide π→π* transitions at 206.5 nm. The Raman spectra are dominated by the amide bands of the peptide backbone. We have empirically determined the average pure α-helix, β-sheet, and unordered resonance Raman spectra from the amide resonance Raman spectra of 13 proteins with well-known X-ray crystal structures. We demonstrate that we can simultaneously utilize the amide I, II, and III bands and the Cα−H amide bending vibrations of these average secondary structure spectra to directly determine protein secondary structure. The UV Raman method appears to be complementary, and in some cases superior, to the existing methods, such as CD, VCD, and absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the spectra are immune to the light-scattering artifacts that plague CD, VCD, and IR absorption measurements. Thus, it will be possible to examine proteins in micelles...
A new geometric and mechanical verification device for medical LINACs.

The goal of quality assurance (QA) for a radiation oncology medical LINAC is to maintain an acceptable level of equipment performance and reliability. The increasing complexity of Radiation Oncology equipment and treatment techniques have led to increased demands on the work load of the medical physicist. Regular testing needs to be as efficient as possible. Generally, the QA tests, as recommended by the AAPM Task Group 40 for medical LINACs, can be grouped into two categories: dosimetry and mechanical checks. A new QA device has been developed that facilitates many of the daily and monthly mechanical QA checks. Its efficiency and speed is achieved through a set of QA tools that are mounted on a single platform, which is designed to fit into the accessory mount of the medical LINAC. Named Mini-GARD (MG), it verifies the accuracy of the digital readouts for gantry angles, collimator angles, and field sizes. It also tests crosshair position, the optical distance indicator (ODI), and patient setup laser alignment. It uses two calibrated digital levels for the gantry and collimator angle verification, an electronic tape measure for ODI verification, and a calibrated transparent projection scale for the remaining tests. This paper evaluates the stability and accuracy of the device in clinical tests over a period of a year. Results show that the MG is reliable and capable of measuring gantry and collimator angle constancy to 0.3, ODI constancy to 0.05cm, and field size accuracies to 0.05cm. 2002 American College of Medical Physics.
A meta-analysis of the effects of attending religious schools and religiosity on black and hispanic academic achievement

Using meta-analysis, this study sought to determine the effects of religious schooling and personal religious commitment on African American and Hispanic students’ academic achievement. The results indicate that religious schooling and religious commitment each have a positive effect on academic achievement and school-related behavior. In the case of religious schooling, the effect sizes that emerged for religious schooling tended to be larger for older children. The effect sizes for religious schooling were evenlarger for school-related behavior thanthey were for academic achievement. The significance of these results is discussed.
Transitioning Between Systems of Care: Missed Opportunities for Engaging Adults with Serious Mental Illness and Criminal Justice Involvement

Individuals with serious mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and face difficulties accessing mental health services both during incarceration and upon re-entry into the community. This study examines how such individuals describe their experiences receiving care both during and after their time in custody and explores the perspectives of mental health service providers who treat this population upon re-entry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 43 individuals identified as having a history of serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement, as well as with 25 providers who have worked with this population. Clients noted the stress of transitioning to criminal justice settings, the uneven availability of services within jail and prison, and the significant challenges faced upon re-entry. Providers reported barriers to working with this population, including minimal coordination with the criminal justice system and challenging behaviors and attitudes on the part of both clients and providers. Findings identify potential target areas for improved care coordination as well as for additional provider education regarding the unique needs of this population. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.