cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of hospital volume with readmission rates: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Objective To examine the association of hospital volume (a marker of quality of care) with hospital readmission rates. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting 4651US acute care hospitals. Study data 6 916 644 adult discharges, excluding patients receiving psychiatric or medical cancer treatment. Main outcome measures We used Medicare fee-for-service data from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012 to calculate observed-to-expected, unplanned, 30 day, standardized readmission rates for hospitals and for specialty cohorts medicine, surgery/gynecology, cardiorespiratory, cardiovascular, and neurology. We assessed the association of hospital volume by quintiles with 30 day, standardized readmission rates, with and without adjustment for hospital characteristics (safety net status, teaching status, geographic region, urban/rural status, nurse to bed ratio, ownership, and cardiac procedure capability. We also examined associations with the composite outcome of 30 day, standardized readmission or mortality rates. Results Mean 30 day, standardized readmission rate among the fifth of hospitals with the lowest volume was 14.7 (standard deviation 5.3) compared with 15.9 (1.7) among the fifth of hospitals with the highest volume (P<0.001). We observed the same pattern of lower readmission rates in the lowest versus highest volume hospitals in the specialty cohorts for medicine (16.6 v 17.4, P<0.001), cardiorespiratory (18.5 v 20.5, P<0.001), and neurology (13.2 v 14.0, p=0.01) cohorts; the cardiovascular cohort, however, had an inverse association (14.6 v 13.7, P<0.001). These associations remained after adjustment for hospital characteristics except in the cardiovascular cohort, which became non-significant, and the surgery/gynecology cohort, in which the lowest volume fifth of hospitals had significantly higher standardized readmission rates than the highest volume fifth (difference 0.63 percentage points (95% confidence interval 0.10 to 1.17), P=0.02). Mean 30 day, standardized mortality or readmission rate was not significantly different between highest and lowest volume fifths (20.4 v 20.2, P=0.19) and was highest in the middle fifth of hospitals (range 20.6–20.8). Conclusions Standardized readmission rates are lowest in the lowest volume hospitals—opposite from the typical association of greater hospital volume with better outcomes. This association was independent of hospital characteristics and was only partially attenuated by examining mortality and readmission together. Our findings suggest that readmissions are associated with different aspects of care than mortality or complications.
Risk Versus Reward [Perspectives on Graduate Life]

The author expressed his thoughts on being doing thesis papers in a graduate school especially in medicine school, his expectations and realizations.
Identification of a functional docking site in the Rpn1 LRR domain for the UBA-UBL domain protein Ddi1

The proteasome is a multi-subunit protein machine that is the final destination for cellular proteins that have been marked for degradation via an ubiquitin (Ub) chain appendage. These ubiquitylated proteins either bind directly to the intrinsic proteasome ubiqutin chain receptors Rpn10, Rpn13, or Rpt5, or are shuttled to the proteasome by Rad23, Dsk2, or Ddi1. The latter proteins share an Ub association domain (UBA) for binding poly-Ub chains and an Ub-like-domain (UBL) for binding to the proteasome. It has been proposed that shuttling receptors dock on the proteasome via Rpn1, but the precise nature of the docking site remains poorly defined. To shed light on the recruitment of shuttling receptors to the proteasome, we performed both site-directed mutagenesis and genetic screening to identify mutations in Rpn1 that disrupt its binding to UBA-UBL proteins. Here we demonstrate that delivery of Ub conjugates and docking of Ddi1 (and to a lesser extent Dsk2) to the proteasome are strongly impaired by an aspartic acid to alanine point mutation in the highly-conserved D517 residue of Rpn1. Moreover, degradation of the Ddi1-dependent proteasome substrate, Ufo1, is blocked in rpn1-D517A yeast cells. By contrast, Rad23 recruitment to the proteasome is not affected by rpn1-D517A. These studies provide insight into the mechanism by which the UBA-UBL protein Ddi1 is recruited to the proteasome to enable Ub-dependent degradation of its ligands. Our studies suggest that different UBA-UBL proteins are recruited to the proteasome by distinct mechanisms.
Cutaneous Manifestations of Viral Hepatitis

There are several extrahepatic cutaneous manifestations associated with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection. Serum sickness and polyarteritis nodosa are predominantly associated with hepatitis B infection, whereas mixed cryoglobulinemia associated vasculitis and porphyria cutanea tarda are more frequently seen in hepatitis C infection. The clinico-pathogenic associations of these skin conditions are not completely defined but appear to involve activation of the host immune system including the complement system. Management of the aforementioned cutaneous manifestations of viral hepatitis is often similar to that done in cases without viral hepatitis, with control of immune activation being a key strategy. In cases associated with hepatitis B and C, control of viral replication with specific antiviral therapy is also important and associated with improvement in most of the associated clinical manifestations.
The Study of French Civilization and Art

Author's Summary.— Thirty practical assignments in a course in the history of French art correlated with political history and literature. Such a course should be made an integral part of the work in French.)
International Collaboration and Communication in Rehabilitation Research

Abstract Dijkers MP. International collaboration and communication in rehabilitation research. In his 1956 Coulter Lecture, Frederic Jung anticipated that the artificial language Interlingua might become the lingua franca of international scholarly exchange. That has not happened; English is the language of international science, and the journal of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , plays a central role in the communication of rehabilitation research. This presidential address traces the development of Archives , with emphasis on trends in contributions from outside the United States. Opportunities for the journal in the near future are sketched, as well as the threat to its economic potential created by Internet journals, open-access journals, and the requirement by government and other research funding agencies that there is free public access to the fruits of the research they sponsor. The activities of ACRM in the international arena (including its first-ever annual meeting outside the US) are sketched, as is the potential for international collaboration in rehabilitation research. The internationalizing of ACRM (under a new name) is offered as a direction for the organization to consider.
Fine structure and histochemistry of the spermathecal gland in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio Molitor

The spermathecal accessory gland of female Tenebrio molitor is examined by histochemicai and electron microscopical techniques. Immediately after ecdysis of the female, neither Golgi regions nor the endoplasmic reticulum of the secretory cells are well developed. In two days' time, the cytoplasm is rich in rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi areas are expanded. Membrane-bound droplets of secretion move from the Golgi zone to a central cavity, formed by the invaginated plasma membrane of this cell. As the secretion accumulates this cavity swells until the fourth day after ecdysis when the females first mate. An efferent cuticular ductule, ensheathed in a ductulecarrying cell, carries the product to the main axial duct of the tubular gland. By histochemical criteria, the product is a glycoprotein.
Metolachlor and alachlor breakdown product formation patterns in aquatic field mesocosms

The transformation of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] and alachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl)acetamide] in aquatic systems was investigated using outdoor tank mesocosms. Metolachlor and alachlor levels and their ethane sulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanillic acid breakdown products were monitored over time under five experimental treatments (each in quadruplicate). Background water conditions were identical in all treatments with each treatment differing based on the level and type(s) of herbicide present. Treatments included a no-herbicide control, 10 μg/L metolachlor, 25 μg/L metolachlor, 25 μg/L alachlor, and 25 μg/L alachlor plus 25 μg/L metolachlor in combination. The experiment was initiated by adding herbicide(s) to the units to the target concentrations; herbicide and breakdown product levels and other chemical parameters were then monitored for 85 days. In general, metolachlor half-lives were longer than alachlor half-lives under all treatments, although the differences were not statistically significant. Metolachlor half-lives (±95% confidence limits) ranged from 33.0 d (±14.1 d) to 46.2 d (±40.0 d), whereas alachlor half-lives ranged from 18.7 d (±3.5 d) to 21.0 d (±6.5 d) for different treatments. Formation patterns of ESA were similar in all treatments, whereas oxanillic acid formation differed for the two herbicides. Alachlor oxanillic acid was produced in larger quantities than metolachlor oxanillic acid and either ESA under equivalent conditions. Our results suggest that the transformation pathways for alachlor and metolachlor in aquatic systems are similar and resemble the acetochlor pathway in soils proposed by Feng (Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 1991, 34, 136); however, the oxanillic acid branch of the pathway is favored for alachlor as compared with metolachlor.
THE HELP HOSPITAL INFORMATION SYSTEM : UPDATE 1998

The HELP hospital information system has been operational at LDS Hospital since 1967. The system initially supported a heart catheterization laboratory and a post open heart Intensive Care Unit. Since the initial installation the system has been expanded to become an integrated hospital information system providing services with sophisticated clinical decision-support capabilities to a wide variety of clinical areas such as laboratory, nurse charting, radiology, pharmacy, etc. The HELP system is currently operational in multiple hospitals of LDS Hospital's parent health care enterprise--Intermountain Health Care (IHC). The HELP system has also been integrated into the daily operations of several other hospitals in addition to those at IHC. Evaluations of the system have shown: (1) it to be widely accepted by clinical staff; (2) computerized clinical decision-support is feasible; (3) the system provides improvements in patient care; and (4) the system has aided in providing more cost-effective patient care. Plans for making the transition from the 'function rich' HELP system to more modern hardware and software platforms are also discussed.
Differential and opposing effects of imatinib on LPS- and ventilator-induced lung injury

Endothelial dysfunction underlies the pathophysiology of vascular disorders such as acute lung injury (ALI) syndromes. Recent work has identified the Abl family kinases (c-Abl and Arg) as important regulators of endothelial cell (EC) barrier function and suggests that their inhibition by currently available pharmaceutical agents such as imatinib may be EC protective. Here we describe novel and differential effects of imatinib in regulating lung pathophysiology in two clinically relevant experimental models of ALI. Imatinib attenuates endotoxin (LPS)-induced vascular leak and lung inflammation in mice but exacerbates these features in a mouse model of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). We next explored these discrepant observations in vitro through investigation of the roles for Abl kinases in cultured lung EC. Imatinib attenuates LPS-induced lung EC permeability, restores VE-cadherin junctions, and reduces inflammation by suppressing VCAM-1 expression and inflammatory cytokine (IL-8 and IL-6) secretion. Conversely, in EC exposed to pathological 18% cyclic stretch (CS) (in vitro model of VILI), imatinib decreases VE-cadherin expression, disrupts cell-cell junctions, and increases IL-8 levels. Downregulation of c-Abl expression with siRNA attenuates LPS-induced VCAM-1 expression, whereas specific reduction of Arg reduces VE-cadherin expression in 18% CS-challenged ECs to mimic the imatinib effects. In summary, imatinib exhibits pulmonary barrier-protective and anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-injured mice and lung EC; however, imatinib exacerbates VILI as well as dysfunction in 18% CS-EC. These findings identify the Abl family kinases as important modulators of EC function and potential therapeutic targets in lung injury syndromes.
Political structures and interest group activism: A comparison of the British and American pro-life movements

Abstract This article examines the relationship between the structure of state power and interest group activism in Great Britain and the United States using as a model a comparison of the pro-life movement in both countries. The article proposes that different types of political structures create different sets of opportunities for interest group activism. A review of abortion politics in Britain shows how a unitary political system, lack of elite support, and strong party structures, frustrated the political efforts of pro-life organizations. In contrast, American pro-life interest groups took advantage of opportunities created by a federal political system, weak political parties, and elite support to become a significant social force in state and national politics.
Evaluation of urinary cytology of male sexual partners of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and human papilloma virus infection

Condylomas of the genital tract can be found in 70% of patients who have cytologic evidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection or mild epithelial dysplasia (CIN I). Most male sexual partners of women with overt or subclinical HPV infections have no visible condylomas. Presently, there is no therapy for subclinically infected male partners. A screening test capable of detecting such HPV infections in males would be of value should effective therapy be discovered. Fifty-four men who were the current sexual partners of women with visible condylomata acuminata or with cytologic evidence of subclinical HPV infection or cervical neoplasia were asked to give a urine specimen for cytologic examination. The cytologist had no knowledge of the cytologic or histopathologic findings in the female partners. Of the 54 women, 39 (72%) had either visible genital condylomas or cytologic evidence of mild dysplasia or of HPV infection with or without mild dysplasia (CIN I). Twenty-five (63%) had histologic evidence of HPV infection with or without mild dysplasia. With one exception, urinary cytologic preparations from the study and from the control males were negative. No correlation could be found between cervical cytology and histology in the females and urinary cytologic findings in their current male partners. At the present time there is no screening test that can be utilized to detect male carriers with subclinical disease.
Equivalence and relational thinking: preservice elementary teachers’ awareness of opportunities and misconceptions

This study examined awareness of equivalence and relational thinking exhibited by 30 preservice elementary teachers in order to assess their initial preparedness to engage students in these two important aspects of early algebraic reasoning. Findings indicated that preservice teachers collectively demonstrated an awareness of relational thinking both in identifying opportunities offered by tasks to engage students in this thinking and in identifying this thinking in samples of student work. However, in proposing difficulties students might have with selected tasks, few participants demonstrated the understanding that many elementary school students hold misconceptions about the meaning of the equal sign. Implications of these findings for preservice and inservice teacher education are discussed.
Ultrafast time-resolved soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of dissociating Br2.

The dissociation of excited state ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$ is probed with the novel technique of ultrafast soft x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Excited ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$ molecules are prepared in the dissociative $^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{u}$ state with 80 fs, 400 nm pulses, and a series of photoelectron spectra are obtained during dissociation with pulses of soft x-ray light (47 nm, 26.4 eV, 250 fs). The formation of Br atoms is readily detected and the data support an extremely fast dissociation time for ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$ on the order of 40 fs. Amplitudes of the pump-probe features reveal that the ionization cross section of atomic Br at 47 nm is $\ensuremath{\sim}40$ times larger than that of ${\mathrm{Br}}_{2}$.
Direct-contact photography—A convenient and versatile technique for the cameraless Photography of polyacrylamide gels

Abstract The staining and photography of nucleic acids in polyacrylamide gels is a somewhat involved and certainly time-consuming procedure. Ultraviolet scanning methods (1) may be used to record the location of uv-absorbing bands of material in polyacrylamide gels, but this is a complicated and inefficient way of storing experimental information. Recently, we have published a method (2) for the location and isolation of nucleic acids from unstained polyacrylamide gels (entitled UV Shadowing). An extension of this method is the technique of Direct-Contact Photography.
Novel class of electron acceptors lead to extremely high electro-optic coefficient chromophores

A novel class of organic electro-optic(EO) acceptors has been synthesized by a facile high yield synthetic route. These tricyanovinyldihydrofuran type of acceptors have been used to prepare high μβ chromophores. Due to the three dimensional shape of the acceptor, these so called fish hook chromophores have been proven to be highly soluble and processable by minimizing chromophorechromophore electrostatic interactions. Preliminary EO characterization as a guest in polycarbonate film has given r 33 values of 70 pm/v at 1550nm for one of these chromophores. We believe this to be the highest value EO coefficient to be reported at this wavelength.
High-Performance Architectures For Adaptive Filtering Based On The Gram-Schmidt Algorithm

The difficulties in designing systolic processors can be reduced by applying the architectural transformations of code motion, retiming, slowdown, coalescing, parallel/serial compromises and partitioning to a more easily designed combinational or semisystolic form of the processor. In this paper, the use of these transformations and the attendant tradeoffs in the design of architectures for adaptive filtering based on the Gram-Schmidt algorithm are considered. A modification to the classical Gram-Schmidt algorithm which eliminates the use of division under certain assumptions is suggested. Also, size and speed statistics are given for a projected .5 micron VHSIC implementation of the processor.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Glycoalkaloid levels in potato tubers and leaves after intermittent plant exposure to ozone

Irish potato vines of ‘Norland’ and ‘Kennebec’ cultivars were exposed to 387 μ/m3 ozone for 3 hr once every wk throughout their growth. Tubers of ‘Norland’ and ‘Kennebec’ were harvested at 120 and 140 days, respectively, from exposed and non-exposed plants. The experiment was conducted in 1977 and again in 1978. Ozone induced severe foliar injury to ‘Norland’ and slight injury to leaves of ‘Kennebec’ Tubers from ozone treated plants displayed a significant reduction (0.35 mg TTGA/100 g fresh weight tuber tissue) in tuber total glycoalkaloids (TTGA) when expressed on a fresh weight basis. However, since differences were not detected for TTGA on a dry-weight basis, the fresh-weight TTGA differences may only reflect variations in moisture content. In a separate experiment, both ‘Norland’ and ‘Kennebec’ were exposed to 488 μg/m3 ozone for 3 hr when the plants were 18 days old. When leaves were harvested three days later, no significant differences were detected between leaf total glycoalkaloid (LTGA) levels of treated and nontreated plants.
Efficient Network Reconstruction from Dynamical Cascades Identifies Small-World Topology of Neuronal Avalanches

Cascading activity is commonly found in complex systems with directed interactions such as metabolic networks, neuronal networks, or disease spreading in social networks. Substantial insight into a system's organization can be obtained by reconstructing the underlying functional network architecture from the observed activity cascades. Here we focus on Bayesian approaches and reduce their computational demands by introducing the Iterative Bayesian (IB) and Posterior Weighted Averaging (PWA) methods. We introduce a special case of PWA, cast in nonparametric form, which we call the normalized count (NC) algorithm. NC efficiently reconstructs random and small-world functional network topologies and architectures from subcritical, critical, and supercritical cascading dynamics and yields significant improvements over commonly used correlation methods. With experimental data, NC identified a functional and structural small-world topology and its corresponding traffic in cortical networks with neuronal avalanche dynamics.
Treatments for Osteoporosis in People With a Disability

Abstract The morbidity from osteoporotic fractures for people with a disability is considerable because of the increased risk of medical complications, loss of independence and mobility, and prolonged hospitalization. The frequency with which low bone mineral density occurs in people with a disability is now well recognized, and professionals have a greater awareness of the need to investigate bone mineral density levels with a view to preventing fragility fractures. After patients with osteoporosis are identified, the challenge is to treat them appropriately. This article reviews the physical and pharmacologic measures that have been researched in the prevention and treatment of low bone mineral density in people with a disability.
Characterization of the early events of potato tuber development

The early events of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Superior) tuberization were examined by using a model system of axillary bud tuber development from petiole-leaf single-node cuttings. Both fresh weight and starch accumulation were monitored to establish a developmental framework for morphological changes. Fresh weight and starch content began to increase in axillary buds after 2 days. Visible changes in bud morphology could be detected 4 days after the start of incubation. Substantial increases in both total protein and total RNA were observed at the onset of tuber morphology. Immunoblot analysis showed that the major tuber protein, patatin, could be initially detected in day 4 buds and that a 22-kDa proteinase inhibitor could be initially detected at day 8. Northern blot analysis corroborated this pattern of accumulation at the RNA level for both protein types. Substantial accumulation of the two proteinase inhibitor mRNAs occurred later than patatin mRNA accumulation. The results of this study showed that there is considerable accumulation of both protein and mRNA occurring during the early stages of tuber development prior to the substantial accumulation of the major tuber storage proteins.
Centrosomes Tune in to Metabolic State and Turn on to Oxygen

Events required for cell-cycle progression, including centriole duplication and mitotic spindle formation, are obligatorily linked to the metabolic state of a cell. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Moser et al. (2013) show that PHD1 can act as such a sensor through proline hydroxylation of the centrosomal protein Cep192.
Imaging the microcirculatory proton fraction of muscle with diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging.

Rationale and Objectives. The diagnosis of exertional compartment syndrome is challenging. In this feasibility study, diffusion-weighted echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging was performed in human subjects to determine whether alterations in the circulating blood volume of muscle secondary to exercise or changes in compartment pressure could be visualized. Materials and Methods. The calf muscles of six subjects were studied before and after exercise and also during the application of external pressure to the calf. Gated, single-shot, diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (1.5 T) was implemented with signal averaging. Parametric images of the “perfusion” fraction ( f ) were generated, and regions of interest from anatomic compartments were analyzed. The precision of f was estimated by using propagation of error analysis. Results. Parametric images depicted visible increases in the microcirculatory proton fraction ( f ) of calf muscle after exercise (mean change, +0.016) and visible decreases in f on the application of 40 mm Hg to the calf after exercise (mean change, −0.023). Mean changes in f were only significantly different from zero for the group, however, under conditions of applied pressure to the calf after exercise. Changes in f were not significantly different across muscle compartments. The error variance in f was approximately 0.01. Conclusion. Parametric images of f generated by diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging may depict alterations in the circulating blood volume of muscle induced by exercise and changes in compartment pressure. The inherent imprecision of this technique, however, appears to limit its clinical utility.
Foreign Language Retention and Attrition: A Study of Regression Models

ABSTRACT This article discusses current perspectives on foreign language loss and offers a reinterpretation of regressionist theories of attrition in which last-presented FL material is predicted to deteriorate first. Before reporting the results of a small-scale study of the retention and loss of Spanish among college undergraduates, the author describes a processing model of FL maintenance which holds that FL material having cognitive associations is most likely to be retained. Results of the investigation, which provide evidence for a processing view, are then discussed with respect to developing a more widely-based research paradigm.
MFP scanner motion characterization using self-printed target

Multifunctional printers (MFP) are products that combine the functions of a printer, scanner, and copier. Our goal is to help customers to be able to easily diagnose scanner or print quality issues with their products by developing an automated diagnostic system embedded in the product. We specifically focus on the characterization of scanner motions, which may be defective due to irregular movements of the scan-head. The novel design of our test page and two-stage diagnostic algorithm are described in this paper. The most challenging issue is to evaluate the scanner performance properly when both printer and scanner units contribute to the motion errors. In the first stage called the uncorrected-print-error-stage, aperiodic and periodic motion behaviors are characterized in both the spatial and frequency domains. Since it is not clear how much of the error is contributed by each unit, the scanned input is statistically analyzed in the second stage called the corrected-print-error-stage. Finally, the described diagnostic algorithms output the estimated scan error and print error separately as RMS values of the displacement of the scan and print lines, respectively, from their nominal positions in the scanner or printer motion direction. We validate our test page design and approaches by ground truth obtained from a high-precision, chrome-on-glass reticle manufactured using semiconductor chip fabrication technologies.
Optimal Sampling of Overflow Paths in Jackson Networks

We consider the problems of computing overflow probabilities at level N in any subset of stations in a Jackson network and of simulating sample paths conditional on overflow. We construct algorithms that take ON function evaluations to estimate such overflow probabilities within a prescribed relative accuracy and to simulate paths conditional on overflow at level N. The algorithms that we present are optimal in the sense that the best possible performance that can be expected for conditional sampling involves ΩN running time. As we explain in our development, our techniques have the potential to be applicable to more general classes of networks.
Multi-level Organizational Moral Disengagement: Directions for Future Investigation

The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical review of the moral disengagement literature, integrating research that has been completed as well as identifying thought lacunas, including the subfield of organizational moral disengagement. It is proposed that because moral disengagement is an inherently interpersonal phenomenon, organizational moral disengagement should be a salient concern of both organizational and management researchers. A conceptual framework of organizational moral disengagement is suggested, examining moral disengagement at both the employee as well as manager/executive level. Lastly, a series of propositions are proffered in order to provide direction to organizational moral disengagement researchers, including the proposition that moral disengagement is a function of interpersonal proximity and the possession or lack of organizational power. Methods for effectively studying organizational moral disengagement are suggested.
Probing adenosine and P2 receptors: Design of novel purines and nonpurines as selective ligands

Recent approaches to the design of selective agonists and antagonists at adenosine (AR) and P2 receptors include both modifying known receptor ligands and searching for structurally diverse antagonists. The ribose-like moiety of nucleoside/nucleotide derivatives was rigidified with a methanocarba (mc) modification, to constrain the ring in a conformation that was favored in binding to ARs or P2Y receptors. (N)-mc analogs of various N 6 -substituted adenosine derivatives, including cyclopentyl and 3-iodobenzyl, in which the parent compounds are potent agonists at either A 1 or A 3 ARs, respectively, retained high receptor affinity and selectivity. For nucleotides acting as P2Y 1 receptor antagonists, the (N)-mc analog MRS 2279 ((1R,2S,4S,5S)-1-[(phosphato)methyl]-4-(2-chloro-6-methylaminopurin-9-yl) bicyclo [3.1.0]-hexane-2-phosphate) proved to be a selective antagonist, with an IC 50 of 52 nM. Other ribose substitutions possible in P2Y 1 receptor antagonists were 4- and 6-membered rings and acyclic derivatives. High affinity for the A 2B AR was achieved through the formation of anilides and benzylamides of XCC (8-[4-[carboxy]methyl]oxy]phenyl]-1,3-dipropylxanthine). Ap-cyanoaniline derivative (MRS 1754, K i value 1.97 nM) was 205-, 255-, and 289-fold selective for the human A 2B ARs vs. human A 1 /A 2A /A 3 ARs, respectively. A template approach based on the pyridine family, i.e., 1,4-dihydropyridine nucleus and the corresponding 3,5-diacylpyridines, was used for the design of novel adenosine antagonists. The pyridine derivative MRS 1523 (5-propyl-2-ethyl-4-propyl-3-(ethylsulfanylcarbonyl)-6-phenylpyridine-5-carboxylate) was shown to be a selective antagonist at the rat A 3 AR as well as the human A 3 AR. Chemical libraries were screened computationally and using binding assays to identify novel AR antagonists. Molecular modeling of ARs and P2Y receptors provided hypotheses for ligand docking.
Predacious Mites for Control of Citrus Thrips,Scirtothrips citri(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Nursery Citrus

Abstract Predation on citrus thrips,Scirtothrips citri(Moulton), by four species of predacious mites,Ipheseius degeneransBerlese,Euseius tularensisCongdon,Neosieulus cucumeris(Oudemans), andN. barkeri(Hughes) was studied. In the laboratory,I. degeneransandE. tularensisexhibited a consistently high consumption rate of second-instar citrus thrips (4–5 thrips per mite per day), 68–96% survival, and reproduction of 0.9–2.5 eggs per day during the 5-day experiment. Initially,N. cucumerisexhibited a lower consumption rate as well as lower survival and egg production compared withI. degeneransandE. tularensis;however, these rates increased as the experiment progressed. The fourth species,N. barkeri,responded poorly with respect to all three biological parameters. In experiments using potted citrus in a greenhouse, immature stages of citrus thrips were not always available for predation. Under these circumstances,I. degeneransandE. tularensissurvived well and reduced immature citrus thrips to undetectable levels for the 4-week period after release. In contrast,N. cucumerisandN. barkeriexhibited poor survival and did not fully control citrus thrips. WhenI. degeneransandE. tularensiswere released onto potted citrus trees in a commercial citrus nursery, releases ofI. degeneransreduced citrus thrips for two sampling periods and improved tree height and leaf number comparable with an abamectin insecticide treatment. In contrast,E. tularensisreleases did not control citrus thrips, resulting in less growth of trees. These data suggest thatI. degeneransshows promise for commercial releases and control of citrus thrips in citrus nurseries.
Isolation and structure of a homoleptic yttrium trimethylsilylmethyl complex

Abstract YCl3 reacts with 2 equivalents of LiCH2SiMe3 and 2 equivalents of LiOCMe3 to form {(Me3SiCH2)x(Me3CO)1−xY(μ-OCMe3)4[Li(THF)]4(μ4-Cl) )}+[Y(CH2SiMe3)4]−, 1. The anion in 1 has a tetrahedral arrangement of terminal alkyl groups around yttrium. The cation is a heterometallic Li4Y mixed ligand species containing six anionic groups: a bridging Cl, four bridging OCMe3 units, and a terminal ligand which is a disordered mixture of OCMe3 and CH2SiMe3. In the cation, a square plane of four OCMe3 groups is oriented on top of a square plane of four Li(THF) groups to form overall a square antiprism which is capped below with a chloride and above with an yttrium attached to the disordered CHSiMe3/OCMe3 group. 1 crystallizes from toluene in the space group P 1 with a = 11.383 (2) A , b = 17.057 (3) A , c = 20.036 (4) A , α = 95.684(14)°, β = 94.028 (13)°, γ = 90.031 (12)°, V = 3861.5 (11) A 3 and DCalc. = 1.112 Mg m−3 for Z = 2. Least squares refinement of the model based on 6562 reflections (|Fo| > 4.0σ (|Fo|)) converged to a final RF = 7.1%.
Preparation of Blue Background Slides

The use of colored background slides has become popular in presentation of data in scientific meetings. A colored background slide is more pleasant to the eye, attracts the audience's attention and provides a good contrast with the white lettering. Of all the colors, a blue background seems to be preferred by most people.
Quality and consumer acceptability of salt and phosphate enhanced goat loin from goats fed varying levels of pine bark.

Abstract Goat loins (n = 22) were evaluated to test effects of 0, 15, and 30% dietary pine bark (PB) and salt, water, and phosphate enhancement on shelf-life, shear force (WBSF) and consumer acceptability. No interactions existed between PB and enhancement. Dietary PB did not affect objective color, but enhancement increased a* and b* values ( P P P = 0.0199), and enhancement decreased WBSF ( P = 0.0010). Texture, flavor, and overall acceptability were greater ( P P
Excitation-ionization and double ionization of helium by Compton scattering

We investigate the behavior of the cross section for inelastic photon scattering in the limit of high but nonrelativistic photon energies \ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} at helium leading to two-electron transitions. Our calculation employs fully correlated wave functions for the helium ground state and different forms for approximate two-electron final states. We determine the \ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} limit for the ratio of double to single ionization. We find the high-energy behavior to differ significantly from the one for photoabsorption. Our results confirm our previous estimate [Andersson and Burgd\"orfer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 50 (1993)] but disagree with recent predictions by Hino et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 72, 1620 (1994)].
Ethnic Factors in New Drug Evaluations: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Considerations:

In recent years, there have been substantial efforts on the part of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) to provide guidance and/or guidelines to facilitate the registration of new drug and biologic products in the ICH regions. The objectives of these initiatives are to generate regulatory and developmental strategies that will assist in the use of a common database with limited bridging studies, when necessary, for demonstration of safety and efficacy of drugs among different ICH regions, thereby reducing regulatory burdens and promoting international harmonization of regulatory requirements.Under the auspices of ICH, the United States Food and Drug Administration recently published a draft guideline entitled “Ethnic Factors in the Acceptability of Foreign Clinical Data.” The draft guideline classifies the various ethnic or racial factors that may account for the observed differences in response to certain drugs and delineates the possible use of supplemental or bridging studies to support...
Rolling Element Bearing Fatigue Damage Propagation

Rolling element bearing fatigue spalls were propagated for several test conditions well beyond the laboratory criteria of 6.5 square millimeters used in the author's laboratory. Usually mare than one mode of fatigue spall propagation is involued when large spalls develop. The information provided in this paper can be used to gain an appreciation of the total useful life of a bearing and to allow a more accurate diagnosis of fatigue spall damage
Luminescence studies of ultrafast energy transfer oscillations in dimers

Abstract The intramolecular electronic excitation transfer in 9,9'-bifluorene and 2,2'-binaphthyl showed weak oscillations. These oscillations correspond to a coherent transport of the exciton. A model is presented that describes this coherent transport for which molecular dynamics computer simulations have been incorporated.
Sequential Resource Allocation for Nonprofit Operations

This paper studies a sequential resource allocation problem motivated by distribution operations of a nonprofit organization. The alternate objectives that arise in nonprofit as opposed to commercial operations lead to new variations on traditional problems in operations research and inventory management. Specifically, we consider the problem of distributing a scarce resource to meet customers' demands that are observed sequentially. An allocation policy that seeks to maximize profit may lead to inequitable distributions among customers. Our work in a nonprofit setting solves the sequential resource allocation problem with an objective function aimed at equitable and effective service. We define service in terms of fill rate the ratio of the allocated amount to observed demand and develop an objective function to maximize the expected minimum fill rate among customers, which balances equity in fill rates with effectiveness in the use of resources low waste. Through a dynamic programming framework, we characterize the structure of the optimal allocation policy for a given sequence of customers when demand follows continuous probability distributions. We use that optimal structure to develop a heuristic allocation policy for instances with discrete demand distribution. In addition, we identify customer demand properties to consider when sequencing customer visits to optimize the fill rate objective. For both inventory allocation and customer sequencing decisions, the proposed heuristic methods yield near-optimal solutions.
Youth suicide: prevention through risk management

Abstract Risk factors for childhood and adolescent suicidal behavior are reviewed to point out important issues to focus suicide prevention strategies. Youth and family psychopathology involving suicidal behavior, violence, psychiatric disorders, including major depression, substance abuse, and psychosis, are the most significant risk factors for youth suicide and non-fatal suicidal acts. The availability of lethal means to commit suicide, especially guns and firearms, is a significant risk factor for youths, especially those without psychiatric disorders. Traits of impulsivity and cognitive concerns related to hopelessness and poor social adjustment increase suicide risk. Demographic characteristics, especially gender, age, and race/ethnicity, are associated with higher youth suicide rates. Contextual issues, including media exposure to suicide presentations and exposure to suicide of a peer or relative, increase the likelihood for suicidal ideation or suicidal acts. Prevention strategies should aim to decrease these risk factors by reliable methods of identification of risk factors, which can be targets for effective interventions.
Model for Steady State Coupled Transport in Xylem and Phloem

Knowledge of water potentials throughout the xylem and phloem elements is required for understanding effects of water stress on transport of water, solutes, and carbohydrates in plants. The interaction between water potentials in xylem and phloem is of particular concern. This knowledge is difficult to obtain through experimentation but insights can be gained by means of computer programs based on mathematical statements of the processes involved. A steady state transport model was developed to gain better understanding of this interaction. The model consists of a set of equations developed from compartmental analysis of coupled xylem and phloem transport in plant roots, stems, and leaves. The set of equations is solved using a Newton-Raphson iterative procedure. Simulations with user specified air temperature, relative humidity, water potential at the root surface, and carbohydrate concentrations in leaf and root as input variables show the effect of water stress on rate of xylem and phloem transport at six points in time during a 1 d cycle of changing air temperature and relative humidity. Maintenance of phloem pressure gradients is shown to be very sensitive to changing environmental conditions. Using user specified input, xylem and phloem transport rates were highest at midday. At 1800 h the xylem and phloem transport rates were 83 and 30% of maximum rates that occurred for both rates at 1200 h. The model provides a basis for conceptual analysis of effects of water stress on the food distribution in plants. Further development requires a systematic sensitivity analysis and comparison with experimental results. Studies were supported in part by the Corvallis, Oregon Environ. Res. Lab. of the EPA.
Floral nectar sugar composition and pollinator type among new world genera in tribe Antirrhineae (Scrophulariaceae)

The floral nectar sugar compositions of 20 New World species from 10 genera and of five interspecific hybrids in tribe Antirrhineae have been analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Species are pollinated by short-tongued bees, long-tongued bees, and hummingbirds. Ornithophily represents the derived condition in the tribe and has arisen independently in subtribes Maurandyinae and Gambeliinae. All nectars analyzed are sucrose-dominant or -rich, except for the hexose-rich nectar of Mohavea breviflora. Despite the predominance of sucrose, floral nectar sugars from species pollinated by different pollen vectors have characteristic constituents. Nectar sugars from flowers visited by hummingbirds average 76.2% sucrose and have compositions remarkably similar to hummingbird nectars analyzed in previous studies of unrelated species. Long-tongued bee nectars average 87% sucrose and differ from shorttongued bee nectars which have the lowest mean sucrose percentage (40.2%). The association of sugar constituent types and principal pollinators is concordant with previous data and supports hypotheses conceming pollinator preferences and the adaptive significance of certain nectar sugar compositions. Within this adaptive framework, phylogenetic constraint is also operative and may explain the predominance of sucrose in nectar sugars, similarities in sugar composition among hummingbird nectars in subtribes Maurandyinae and Gambeliinae, and the similarity of nectar from Galvezia leucantha (long-tongued bee-pollinated) to hummingbird-pollinated species also in subtribe Gambeliinae.
Structural infinitesimal perturbation analysis (SIPA) for derivative estimation of discrete-event dynamic systems

In this paper we present an algorithm for derivative estimation of discrete-event dynamic systems (DED's). This algorithm is applicable to derivative estimation with respect to most structural parameters in DED's. It extends the applicability of existing perturbation analysis techniques (including infinitesimal perturbation analysis) on structural parameters. Furthermore, it offers an alternative approach to derivative estimation in DED's which sheds additional light on discrete-event simulation. Finally, unifying relationships with existing techniques are discussed. >
Incorporation of C14-Orotic Acid and C14-Amino Acid into Pigeon Pancreas Slices Following Cholinergic Stimulation.

SummaryIt is found that the rate of synthesis of RNA is increased in the pigeon pancreas following cholinergic stimulation. This increase occurs in the first hour following stimulation. There is also an increase in the rate of protein synthesis following cholinergic stimulation. Both of these results, while in agreement with current theories of protein synthesis, are in disagreement with previously published work on the cholinergic stimulation of the pigeon pancreas.
Multiplexed concentration quantification using isotopic surface‐enhanced resonance Raman scattering

The recently developed isotopically edited internal standard approach for surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) based chemical quantification is extended to demonstrate multiplexed detection of four different isotopic variants of a single chromophore. More specifically, it is shown that rhodamine-6G (R6G) with 0, 2, 4, or 6 deuterium substitutions may be reliably quantified in either two- or three-component mixtures. Thus, one isotopic species of known concentration may be used as an internal standard to determine the concentrations of two other isotopic components in a mixture. The concentrations of isotopic R6G SERRS chromophores are determined using partial least squares calibration and shown to yield a predictive accuracy of about ± 10% of the total R6G concentration (over 1–50 nM concentration range). These results set the stage for the use of such isotopic variants as tags for the SERRS/SERS quantitation of mixtures containing proteins, peptides, and other compounds. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of human footsteps utilizing multi-axial seismic fusion

This paper introduces a method of enhancing an unattended ground sensor (UGS) system's classification capability of humans via seismic signatures while subsequently discriminating these events from a range of other sources of seismic activity. Previous studies have been performed to consistently discriminate between human and animal signatures using cadence analysis. The studies performed herein will expand upon this methodology by improving both the success rate of such methods as well as the effective range of classification. This is accomplished by fusing multiple seismic axes in real-time to separate impulsive events from environmental noise. Additionally, features can be extracted from the fused axes to gather more advanced information about the source of a seismic event. Compared to more basic cadence determination algorithms, the proposed method substantially improves the detection range and correct classification of humans and significantly decreases false classifications due to animals and ambient conditions.