cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential Savings Associated with Drug Substitution in Medicare Part D: The Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) Study

Drug substitution is a promising approach to reducing medication costs. To calculate the potential savings in a Medicare Part D plan from generic or therapeutic substitution for commonly prescribed drugs. Cross-sectional, simulation analysis. Low-income subsidy (LIS) beneficiaries (n = 145,056) and non low-income subsidy (non-LIS) beneficiaries (n = 1,040,030) enrolled in a large, national Part D health insurer in 2007 and eligible for a possible substitution. Using administrative data from 2007, we identified claims filled for brand-name drugs for which a direct generic substitute was available. We also identified the 50 highest cost drugs separately for LIS and non-LIS beneficiaries, and reached consensus on which drugs had possible therapeutic substitutes (27 for LIS, 30 for non-LIS). For each possible substitution, we used average daily costs of the original and substitute drugs to calculate the potential out-of-pocket savings, health plan savings, and when applicable, savings for the government/LIS subsidy. Overall, 39 % of LIS beneficiaries and 51 % of non-LIS beneficiaries were eligible for a generic and/or therapeutic substitution. Generic substitutions resulted in an average annual savings of $160 in the case of LIS beneficiaries and $127 in the case of non-LIS beneficiaries. Therapeutic substitutions resulted in an average annual savings of $452 in the case of LIS beneficiaries and $389 in the case of non-LIS beneficiaries. Our findings indicate that drug substitution, particularly therapeutic substitution, could result in significant cost savings. There is a need for additional studies evaluating the acceptability of therapeutic substitution interventions within Medicare Part D.
Study of the Ordered Magnetic State of Copper Formate Tetrahydrate by Antiferromagnetic Resonance

A brief account of antiferromagnetic-resonance (AFMR) measurements in single crystals of monoclinic Cu${(\mathrm{HCOO})}_{2}$.4${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O has been reported, and it was shown that a model of weak ferromagnetism of the easy-plane type is not consistent with the data. This paper presents in detail the AFMR data and includes calculations of the AFMR modes and the magnetization based on assuming that Cu${(\mathrm{HCOO})}_{2}$4${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O is very nearly an antiferromagnet in zero magnetic field. AFMR measurements have been made between 1.4 and 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. Resonance transitions have been observed at 9 GHz, from 32 to 36 GHz, from 50 to 80 GHz, and from 107 to 124 GHz in magnetic fields up to 26 kOe. From the angular dependence of the field positions of the resonance transitions, a set of "principal axes" ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}b{c}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ of the magnetic crystal have been determined. ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$, the antiferromagnetic axis, is shown to be 8.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} away from the $a$ axis toward the $c$ axis. The AFMR modes and the magnetization have been calculated on a two-sublattice model, based on a bilinear exchange interaction, assuming ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ as the antiferromagnetic axis, $b$ as the intermediate axis, and ${c}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ as the hard axis. This calculation is an extension of one by Cinader by including the hard-plane anisotropy and an anisotropic antisymmetric $g$-tensor. It is found that a magnetic field (perpendicular to ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$) larger than a critical field induces a weak ferromagnetic state. The calculation also shows that both antisymmetric exchange and the antisymmetric Zeeman interaction contribute to the effective canting fields. For the ${c}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$-axis case, the calculations are in good agreement (except for a constant gap in the low-frequency mode above 5.3 kOe) with the data and an effective canting field ${{H}_{\mathrm{DM}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}=84$ kOe is obtained. For the $b$ axis, the experiment indicates an instability in the antiferromagnetic axis at 5.3 kOe. The calculations also suggest an instability in the antiferromagnetic axis if a second effective canting field ${{h}_{\mathrm{DM}}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ is negative; however, a quantitative fit to the AFMR modes has not been possible. A simplified calculation for the ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$ axis is in fair agreement with some of the ${a}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$-axis data. The temperature dependence of the low-frequency zero-field mode is found to deviate substantially from the prediction of the molecular field approximation. A temperature-dependent contribution to the AFMR line-width of ${T}^{3.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2}$ is found.
Synthesis and biological studies of new lipid-soluble cisplatin analogues entrapped in liposomes.

A series of highly lipophilic platinum(II) complexes of the type cis-[(RNH2)2PtX2] have been synthesized, where R = ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, or neopentyl and X = either long-chain carboxylate, such as decanoate (C10), laurate (C12), myristate (C14), heptadecanoate (C17), stearate (C18), nonadecanoate (C19), or 2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropylcarboxylate, or branched-chain carboxylate, such as neopentanoate, neohexanoate, neoheptanoate, neononanoate, or neodecanoate. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopic techniques. The platinum complexes were entrapped in multilamellar vesicles composed of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) at a 7:3 molar ratio and tested for antitumor activity. The entrapment efficiency of liposomal platinum (L-Pt) complexes ranged from 60 to 100%. The percentage of T/C obtained after a single i.p. injection of the optimal dose of L-Pt complexes tested against L1210 leukemia ranged from 90 to 125%. These L-Pt preparations did not show significant antitumor activity in mice.
Hepatic gene expression after direct DNA injection

Abstract The liver is an attractive target tissue for gene therapy. Current techniques which may be useful for in vivo hepatic gene delivery include viral vectors such as retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses, and non-viral methods including liposome/DNA complexes, peptide/DNA complexes, dendrimer delivery and direct injection of DNA. While, previous studies have suggested that genes cannot be delivered to liver tissue by direct DNA injection, this review focuses on the factors that lead to significant gene expression in liver, as compared to other tissues, after direct injection of plasmid DNA. Several factors are discussed, including injection technique, DNA dose, DNA diluent and enhancement of transfected gene expression by dexamethasone administration. The current limitations and potential uses of direct DNA injection into liver are reviewed. Direct DNA injection is currently a reliable, reproducible and simple alternative for hepatic gene transduction that provides a tool for molecular research and may have future potential for therapeutic gene delivery.
Gap Filling Activities of Pseudomonas DNA Ligase D (LigD) Polymerase and Functional Interactions of LigD with the DNA End-binding Ku Protein

Many bacterial pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have a nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) system of DNA double strand break (DSB) repair driven by Ku and DNA ligase D (LigD). LigD is a multifunctional enzyme composed of a ligase domain fused to an autonomous polymerase module (POL) that adds ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides to DSB ends and primer-templates. LigD POL and the eukaryal NHEJ polymerase λ are thought to bridge broken DNA ends via contacts with a duplex DNA segment downstream of the primer terminus, a scenario analogous to gap repair. Here, we characterized the gap repair activity of Pseudomonas LigD POL, which is more efficient than simple templated primer extension and relies on a 5′-phosphate group on the distal gap strand end to confer apparent processivity in filling gaps of 3 or 4 nucleotides. Mutations of the His-553, Arg-556, and Lys-566 side chains implicated in DNA 5′-phosphate binding eliminate the preferential filling of 5′-phosphate gaps. Mutating Phe-603, which is imputed to stack on the nucleobase of the template strand that includes the 1st bp of the downstream gap duplex segment, selectively affects incorporation of the final gap-closing nucleotide. We find that Pseudomonas Ku stimulates POL-catalyzed ribonucleotide addition to a plasmid DSB end and promotes plasmid end joining by full-length Pseudomonas LigD. A series of incremental truncations from the C terminus of the 293-amino acid Ku polypeptide identifies Ku-(1–229) as sufficient for homodimerization and LigD stimulation. The slightly longer Ku-(1–253) homodimer forms stable complexes at both ends of linear plasmid DNA that protect the DSBs from digestion by 5′- and 3′-exonucleases.
Structural Analysis of the Conformational Flexibility of Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligands and Their Analogues

Database analysis and molecular mechanics were used to determine the conformational flexibility of tridentate scorpionate ligands. The tris(pyrazolyl)methane and tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands act like molecular vises, opening their tripodal structure for larger metals and closing around smaller metal ions. Tris(3-tert-butylpyrazolyl)methane has significant preference for larger metal ions than its unsubstituted parent compound. Tris(pyrazolyl)methanes and tris(pyrazolyl)borates have similar conformational flexibilities. Placing sterically hindered groups on the central carbon or boron has only a minor effect on the geometry of the tris(pyrazolyl)methanes and tris(pyrazolyl)borates. However, it does influence the flexibility of the ligands, particularly when they have to open far from their ideal geometry, which commonly occurs.
Short period seismology

Abstract Short period seismology is in a transition period from the 1-D earth model (in which properties vary only with depth) to the 3-D model. Theory and methods are well established for the 1-D model. The methods for handling the travel time data using the 3-D model have been developed recently for both forward and inverse problems. The methods for wave forms and spectra in the 3-D model are still in a rudimentary stage. Stochastic approaches in earth structure modeling are useful particularly for short period waves for which the data are usually not sufficient for a deterministic interpretation.
Left Ventricular Shape Deformation and Mitral Valve Prolapse in Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) has been described in patients with right ventricular pressure or volume overload. The frequency of this phenomenon and its relationship to left ventricular shape and mitral valve annulus size, as well as its reversibility in chronic pulmonary hypertension, are poorly understood. We have observed an increased frequency of MVP in a patient population with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension that often resolves after thromboendarterectomy and reduction of pulmonary hypertension. To further evaluate the relationship between MVP and left ventricular shape in pulmonary hypertension, we studied 51 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Echocardiographic features including interventricular septal position, as measured by an eccentricity index, left ventricular size, and several mitral valve annulus dimensions were evaluated prior to surgery and during the postoperative hospitalization period. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure was elevated for all patients prior to surgery, 87 ± 21 mmHg (mean ± SD). Twelve patients (23.5%) had MVP before surgery, which resolved in ten patients postoperatively. In addition, one patient whose pulmonary hypertension improved little, developed MVP postoperatively. Those patients with MVP had a greater pulmonary artery pressure preoperatively than those without MVP (102 ±19 vs 84 ±21 mmHg). The eccentricity index for those patients with MVP (1.68±0.2) was greater than for those with no MVP (1.53 ± 0.37). No significant differences were noted between groups with MVP and without MVP according to all mitral annulus dimensions or left ventricular chamber areas. Postoperatively, eccentricity index decreased significantly in both those with MVP and without MVP (1.29 ± 0.18 and 1.20 ± 0.15, respectively) as did pulmonary artery systolic pressure (67± 22 and 47 ± 13 mmHg, respectively). Mitral valve prolapse in chronic pulmonary hypertension occurs frequently and is noted particularly in those patients with the most severe pulmonary hypertension. It appears that deformation of the left ventricle is associated with echocardiographic MVP and that reduction of pulmonary hypertension reverses this deformation and allows for resolution of MVP.
Constraining neutron-star tidal Love numbers with gravitational-wave detectors

Ground-based gravitational wave detectors may be able to constrain the nuclear equation of state using the early, low frequency portion of the signal of detected neutron star--neutron star inspirals. In this early adiabatic regime, the influence of a neutron star's internal structure on the phase of the waveform depends only on a single parameter $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ of the star related to its tidal Love number, namely, the ratio of the induced quadrupole moment to the perturbing tidal gravitational field. We analyze the information obtainable from gravitational wave frequencies smaller than a cutoff frequency of 400 Hz, where corrections to the internal-structure signal are less than 10%. For an inspiral of two nonspinning $1.4{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ neutron stars at a distance of 50 Megaparsecs, LIGO II detectors will be able to constrain $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ to $\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\le}2.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{37}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{g}\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{2}$ with 90% confidence. Fully relativistic stellar models show that the corresponding constraint on radius $R$ for $1.4{M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ neutron stars would be $R\ensuremath{\le}13.6\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{km}$ (15.3 km) for a $n=0.5$ ($n=1.0$) polytrope with equation of state $p\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{1+1/n}$.
Accounting for Evil and Cruelty: Is to Explain to Condone?

Analysts of evil and violence express the concern that to explain harmdoing may result in a condoning attitude toward perpetrators. An examination of research relevant to this hypothesis suggests that there are a variety of cognitive and affective processes that may produce a relatively condoning attitude toward perpetrators as a result of explaining their actions. Evidence from 3 exploratory studies supported the exonerating effects of explanations. Participants generating explicit explanations of harmdoing displayed a more condoning attitude toward pelpetrators than did those forming impressions of perpetrators without first explaining the acts. Participants reading social-psychological explanations of harmdoing also judged the researcher to be more condoning of perpetrators than those reading dispositional explanations of the same behavior. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Risks and benefits in health care: the view from economics.

This paper discusses the meaning of the term risk from the economic perspective. It argues that some consumer decisions about insurance and the use of medical care are consistent with the economic model, but many are not. When decisions are inconsistent, real-world democratic governments’ ability to intervene is limited by politicians’ desire to please voters. The choice of incomplete insurance coverage in private markets is often said to present a case for governmental intervention, but the choice of insurance design in the Medicare drug benefit shows that the political process also may fail to select insurance that is optimal from an economic viewpoint.
A Simple Nebulizer for an Inductively Coupled Plasma System

Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sources have provided the analytical spectroscopist with a relatively simple means of performing quantitative analyses at very low concentration levels. Pneumatic solution nebulizers employed with ICP systems are a frequent source of problems. Presently available nebulizers demand that sample solutions contain a low percentage of dissolved solids and that there be no suspended solids which may cause flow restrictions or blockage. Many times, samples having one or both of these limitations require analysis. Although the samples themselves are not ideal for ICP analysis the concentration levels sought make this analytical method attractive, and an effort to find a nebulizer suitable for solutions with high percentages of dissolved solids and/or suspended solids was begun.
The sun and the moon in cross-cultural perspective

The practical and symbolic significance of the sun and the moon was coded for a world sample of societies. Methods included use of the eHRAF World Cultures (hereafter eHRAF) Word Search function and the coding of relevant eHRAF materials. The sun, objectively of greater importance than the moon for many aspects of human existence, was expected to be ethnographically more prominent than the moon, and this was found in 55 of 60 cases. There was also a strong tendency for ethnographic mentions of the moon to be made in connection with magico-religious ideas, whereas statements about the sun tended to be more equally divided between the magico-religious and techno-econo-environmental domains. In exploratory investigation, it was found that both sun and moon were frequently mentioned in the ethnographies of foraging societies, which in turn were found to be at the low end of a scale of cultural complexity. Discussion centered on interpretation of the findings and on suggestions for further research.
Solvent effects in nonpolar solvents: Radical anion reactions

Abstract Dimer radical anions, formed by anion—molecule reactions between octafluoronaphthalene and 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene and their respective radical anions, are observed in n-hexane solvent. The radical anions are characterized by their EPR spectra obtained by the time-resolved fluorescence-detected magnetic resonance technique. In toluene solvent the dimer anions are not formed. Rapid electron-exchange reactions occur instead in at least one case. Possible reasons why the solvent affects the anion reaction mechanism are discussed.
Relative efficiency of Gaussian stochastic process sampling procedures

Various methods for sampling stationary, Gaussian stochastic processes are investigated and compared with an emphasis on applications to processes with power law energy spectra. Several approaches are considered, including a Riemann summation using left endpoints, the use of random wave numbers to sample a the spectrum in proportion to the energy it contains, and a combination of the two. The Fourier-wavelet method of Elliott et al. is investigated and compared with other methods, all of which are evaluated in terms of their ability to sample the stochastic process over a large number of decades for a given computational cost. The Fourier-wavelet method has accuracy which increases linearly with the computational complexity, while the accuracy of the other methods grows logarithmically. For the Kolmogorov spectrum, a hybrid quadrature method is as efficient as the Fourier-wavelet method, if no more than eight decades of accuracy are required. The effectiveness of this hybrid method wanes when one samples fields whose energy spectrum decays more rapidly near the origin. The Fourier-wavelet method has roughly the same behavior independently of the exponent of the power law. The Fourier-wavelet method returns samples which are Gaussian over the range of values where the structure function is well approximated. By contrast, (multi-point) Gaussianity may be lost at the smaller length scales when one uses methods with random wave numbers.
Rho Kinase Pathway Alterations in the Brain and Leukocytes in Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin gene. Therapeutic approaches targeting mutant huntingtin (mtHtt) or its downstream toxic consequences are under development, including Rho kinase pathway inhibition. We investigated the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of Rho kinase pathway genes, including RhoA (Ras homolog family member A), ROCK1 (Rho-associated kinase1), PRK2 (protein kinase C-related protein kinase 2), Profilin1, cofilin1, MYPT1 (myosin phosphatase target subunit 1), and LIMK1 (LIM domain kinase 1) in HD human blood leukocytes, postmortem brain, and in R6/2 HD mouse brain tissue using qPCR. RhoA, ROCK1, PRK2, Profilin1, cofilin1, and MYPT1 were significantly increased in HD blood compared to controls. In frontal cortex of HD postmortem brain tissue, the expression of RhoA, ROCK1, PRK2, Profilin1, and MYPT1 were also significantly increased. In the brain from 4-week-old R6/2 mice, the expression of Rock1, Prk2, Cofilin1, and MYPT1 was significantly increased while RhoA, Rock1, Profilin1, Cofilin1, and Mypt1 were increased and Limk1 mRNA decreased in 13-week-old R6/2 mice. Western blot analysis using human postmortem tissues for ROCK1 and Profilin1 demonstrated significantly increased protein levels, which correlated with the mRNA increases. Collectively, we have shown the panel of Rho kinase pathway genes to be highly altered in human HD blood, postmortem brain tissue, and in R6/2 mice. These studies confirm that HD upregulates the Rho kinase pathway and identifies mRNAs that could serve as peripheral markers in HD patients and translational markers in HD mouse models.
Acid-induced gelation properties of heated whey protein–pectin soluble complex (Part I): Effect of initial pH

Abstract Heated whey protein and pectin soluble complexes were formed at near neutral pH (6.2–7.0) by heating the mixtures (5% w/w protein and 0.05–0.5% w/w pectin) at 85 °C for 30 min, and acid-induced gels were formed by addition of glucono-delta-lactone. Gel properties were characterized by large and small deformation and microstructural analysis as well as water holding capacity and turbidity measurements. Gel properties were compared to those made from whey protein polymers and pectin where proteins were heated alone to form the polymers and mixed with pectin before acid-induced gelation. Both small and large deformation results showed that gels made by heated soluble complexes at pH 7.0 had significantly improved gel strength than the traditional polymer and pectin gels (polymer/pectin gels). No difference in gel strength was observed between complex gels and polymer/pectin gels when solutions were heated at pH 6.5 or pH 6.2. However, complex gels showed significantly improved water holding capacity at all pH values, especially at higher pectin concentrations. The enhanced electrostatic interactions between whey proteins and pectin during heating led to finer gel microstructure formation with less porosity and smoother gel network compared to polymer/pectin gels which had limited interaction between the biopolymers. The interaction between protein and pectin increased with lowering the initial pH of the soluble complexes. As a result, a change from a coarse strand, phase separated to a homogenous microstructure upon lowering the initial pH from 7.0 to 6.2 was observed for complex gels.
The Maximum Allowable Time Step for the Shallow Water α Model and Its Relation to Time-Implicit Differencing

Abstract This work investigates the numerical time stability of the Lagrangian-averaged shallow water α model (SW-α). The main result is an analytical estimate for the maximum allowable time step. This estimate shows that as the grid is refined the time step becomes independent of the mesh spacing and instead depends on the length scale, α, a parameter of the model. The α model achieves this result through changes in the equations of motion that reduce the frequency of the linear waves at high wavenumbers. This type of reduction in the frequency of high-wavenumber waves is also a characteristic of time-implicit numerical methods. Consequently, an analogy is drawn between the two by comparing the numerical method's modified equation to the partial differential equation of the α model. Fourier analysis and numerical simulations are also used to compare a third-order Adams–Bashforth α model simulation to the well-known implicit numerical method of Dukowicz and Smith.
Effects of residual copper selenide on CuInGaSe 2 solar cells

Large grain and copper-poor CuInGaSe 2 (CIGS) film is preferred to fabricate high efficiency solar cells. However, the degradation caused by excess copper selenide (Cu 2−x Se) is still a problem. This study investigates the formation and behavior of excess CuxSe and further compares the cell performances between typical copper-poor and copper-rich solar cells. As the excess Cu 2−x Se can not be exhaust during the growth, the excess Cu 2−x Se fully surrounded by the polycrystalline CIGS grain. The CIGS film with excess Cu 2−x Se would result in serious shunt paths and poor PN junction. A short circuit in the copper-rich CIGS solar cells can be attributed to the conductive Cu 2−x Se. For high efficiency cells, the best way is to exhaust Cu 2−x Se during the growth. Or otherwise a dense CIGS film with chemical treatments is necessary to avoid the negative effects of the excess Cu 2−x Se.
Interaction of Xenopus TFIIIC with a 5S RNA gene

Abstract Using fractionated Xenopus transcription factors we have identified and characterized a unique protein-DNA complex formed between TFIIIA, TFIIIC and a 5S RNA gene. The formation of this complex was blocked by specific competitor DNAs and by the inactivation of TFIIIC using two different methods. In addition, TFIIIC activity was retained when the complexes were affinity purified using a reversibly immobilized DNA template. The TFIII(A+C)-5S RNA gene complex has a distinct electrophoretic mobility on band-shift gels and a unique DNase I footprint. The characteristic feature of the DNase I footprint is a TFIIIC-dependent extension of the TFIIIA footprint an additional 25 bp toward the 5' end of the gene. This indicates a direct interaction between Xenopus TFIIIC and the template DNA.
Solubility parameter and window diagram optimization methods for the reversed-phase chromatographic optimization of complex hydroxyl aromatic mixtures

Abstract The solubility parameter and window diagram optimization methods were compared for optimizing ternary mobile phases for the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of complex aromatic mixtures. The study revealed that the solubility parameter method predicted a much better optimum mobile phase composition for a monohydroxyl mixture. Also, the solubility parameter method predicted a better optimum mobile phase for a dihydroxyl mixture. However, the window diagram method gave two optima, and one of the optima was identical to the optimum obtained by the solubility parameter approach. It was also found that the solubility parameter method reduced uncertainties for secondary mobile phase optima. The differences obtained with the two methods can be attributed to the dissimilarity of the optimization criterion used in each method.
Small Specimen Strain Measurement by Moiré Fringes

The moire fringe technique of strain analysis was applied to small beams of resin restorative materials. The feasibility of using this technique on small dental materials specimens was established.
Theoretical modeling of relaxation dynamics in gold nanorod-dye assemblies for fluorescence enhancement

Using metal nanostructures to concentrate optical-frequency electric fields has garnered significant interest in the literature. For example, by combining an organic dye with a nanorod whose plasmon resonance frequency overalps the fluorescence maximum of the dye, a significant enhancement in the fluorescence quantum yield can be observed. The prevalent theory for describing such an enhancement is kinetic and ascribed to an increase in the intrinsic rate of fluorescence, while the rate of non-radiative decay remains constant. Analysis of the literature will reveal that systems exhibiting fluorescence enhancement also show an alteration of the Stokes shift. The traditional kinetic description of plasmon-enhanced fluorescence cannot explain the origin of this shift. Using the well-known theory developed by Onsager and Debye and applied to solvochromism, it will be shown that it is possible to model plasmon-enhanced fluorescence not as an increase in the intrinsic rate of fluorescence, but by a perturbation of the equilibrium, photoexcited dipole moment of an emitter coupled to a gold nanorod. This theory is different from the well-known Gersten-Nitzan model and offers an explanation of the altered Stokes shift in plasmon-enhanced fluorescence systems.
Diatomic melting curves to very high pressure.

Using new high-temperature diamond-anvil-cell designs, together with a variety of optical techniques, we have measured the melting curves of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ to 18.0 GPa, ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ to 16.3 GPa, and ${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ 2.5 GPa. One triple point is found on the ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ curve and two on the ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ curve. A simple ``effective rotation'' model of librational motions in the solid is used to obtain good theoretical fits to the experimental curves.
The Tousled gene in A. thaliana encodes a protein kinase homolog that is required for leaf and flower development

Mutation at the TOUSLED locus of A. thaliana results in a complex phenotype, the most dramatic aspect of which being the abnormal flowers produced in mutant plants. tsl flowers show a random loss of floral organs, and organ development is impaired. The TSL gene appears to be required in the floral meristem for correct initiation of floral organ primordia and for proper development of organ primordia. Loss of TSL function also affects flowering time and leaf morphology. Using a mutation derived by T-DNA insertion mutagenesis, we have cloned the TSL gene and found that it encodes a protein kinase homolog with a novel N-terminal domain. This protein kinase gene identifies a novel signaling/regulatory pathway used during development in Arabidopsis.
A stochastic collocation approach to Bayesian inference in inverse problems

We present an efficient numerical strategy for the Bayesian solution of inverse problems. Stochastic collocation methods, based on generalized polynomial chaos (gPC), are used to construct a polynomial approximation of the forward solution over the support of the prior distribution. This approximation then defines a surrogate posterior probability density that can be evaluated repeatedly at minimal computational cost. The ability to simulate a large number of samples from the posterior distribution results in very accurate estimates of the inverse solution and its associated uncertainty. Combined with high accuracy of the gPC-based forward solver, the new algorithm can provide great efficiency in practical applications. A rigorous error analysis of the algorithm is conducted, where we establish convergence of the approximate posterior to the true posterior and obtain an estimate of the convergence rate. It is proved that fast (exponential) convergence of the gPC forward solution yields similarly fast (exponential) convergence of the posterior. The numerical strategy and the predicted convergence rates are then demonstrated on nonlinear inverse problems of varying smoothness and dimension. AMS subject classifications: 41A10, 60H35, 65C30, 65C50
Global Maladaptive Schemas, Negative Life Events, and Psychological Distress

The relationship between maladaptive self-schemas, negative life events, and psychological distress was assessed. The model tested was based on Young's (J. Young, 1990) diathesis–stress conceptualization of maladaptive schemas, which are believed to represent the cognitive diathesis underlying Axis II personality pathology. Young's model predicts that schemas are chronically activated in individuals with maladaptive schemas. Therefore, the experience of salient negative life events is less likely to exacerbate the level of distress experienced by those having maladaptive schemas. A nonclinical sample (N = 93) was assessed using the Schema Questionnaire (SQ), a measure of maladaptive self-schemas, a measure of negative life events, and several measures of psychological distress. Support was found for this prediction indicated by a Schema × Negative Life Events interaction in which the distress level of High SQ participants was less affected by negative life events compared to Low SQ participants.
Macular edema secondary to occulusion of the retinal veins

Occlusion of the central and branch retinal veins causes macular edema by provoking increased venous pressure which is transmitted to the perifoveal capillaries. Damage to the perifoveal capillary endothelium results in leakage with macular edema. The severity of the retinal findings (i.e., macular hemorrhages, macular edema, etc.) is determined by the location, completeness, duration, and evolution of the obstruction (i.e., recanalization of a thrombus). Spontaneous remission of macular edema secondary to either a partial central or branch occlusion carries a relative good visual prognosis. Chronic macular edema secondary to occlusion of either central or branch veins is associated with a relatively poor visual prognosis. In selected cases, paramacular photocoagulation can reverse chronic macular edema and result in visual improvement.
DM1 Interpreting and Using Costeffectiveness Results

The objective of public policy decision making is to choose the set of interventions that maximize the net benefit to society. Given a set of mutually exclusive interventions, the one with the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio is not necessarily the one that maximizes net benefit. Thus, a treatment with a higher cost-effectiveness ratio compared to baseline may result in higher net benefits if its incremental cost-effectiveness is less than the dollar value of the outcome. In this presentation we describe how to use cost-effectiveness results to determine the intervention that maximizes net benefit. We also show how cost-effectiveness results can be used to determine threshold values for the benefit than another. We then examine the effect of budget constraints on this decision making problem. We also present a graphical means of representing cost-effectiveness results that allow for easy interpretation and use of the results. We describe a simple rule for identifying the net benefit maximizing intervention from this graph. We will illustrate the issue discussed using examples from the medical literature. This workshop should be beneficial to health care decision makers who have to interpret cost-effectiveness results and incorporate them in their decision making process.
An empirical investigation of the likelihood ratio test when the boundary condition is violated

In this paper we consider the distribution of the likelihood ratio test associated with some important hypotheses arising in testing for appropriate parametric distributions. The comparisons are based on Monte Carlo simulations with 1000 replications. Samples of size 25,50, and 100 are used. The results of this simulation study confirm the sensitivity of the distribution of the likelihood ratio test to the validity of the regularity condition concerning the boundary of the parameter space.
Comparison of conventional and synchrotron X-ray structure determinations of the adduct 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (1/1) and a conventional X-ray structure determination of 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene monohydrate.

The X-ray structure of 1,2,4,5-tetra­hydroxy­benzene (benzene-1,2,4,5-tetrol) monohydrate, C6H6O4·H2O, (I), reveals columns of 1,2,4,5-tetra­hydroxy­benzene parallel to the b axis that are separated by 3.364 (12) and 3.453 (11) A. Molecules in adjacent columns are tilted relative to each other by 27.78 (8)°. Water mol­ecules fill the channels between the columns and are involved in hydrogen-bonding interactions with the 1,2,4,5-tetra­hydroxy­benzene mol­ecules. The crystal structure of the adduct 1,2,4,5-tetra­hydroxy­benzene–2,5-di­hydroxy-1,4-benzo­quinone (1/1), C6H6O4·C6H4O4, (II), reveals alternating mol­ecules of 1,2,4,5-tetra­hydroxy­benzene and 2,5-di­hydroxy-1,4-benzo­quinone (both lying on inversion centers), and a zigzag hydrogen-bonded network connecting mol­ecules in three dimensions. For compound (II), the conventional X-ray determination, (IIa), is in very good agreement with the synchrotron X-ray determination, (IIb). When differences in data collection temperatures are taken into account, even the displacement parameters are in very good agreement.
The Contributions of Rex Stockton to the Field of Group Work: Implications and Applications

ABSTRACT Rex Stockton is internationally known for his work in group counseling and group counselor education. He is one of the founding members of the Association for Specialists in Group Work. This editorial introduces and outlines this special issue of The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, which examines Stockton's research, teaching methods, and service to the field of group counseling.
Rapid and Thiol-Specific High-Throughput Assay for Simultaneous Relative Quantification of Total Thiols, Protein Thiols, and Nonprotein Thiols in Cells

Thiol groups in biological molecules play a significant role in various physiological functions and pathological conditions. Thiols are divided into two major groups: protein thiols and nonprotein thiols. Numerous methods have been reported for thiol assays. Most of these methods have been developed for glutathione, the principal nonprotein thiol, despite the fact that cellular protein thiols are more abundant than glutathione. Further, these methods usually involve a process of biological sample preparation followed by a separation method, and they are time-consuming. We reported previously a series of thiol-specific fluorogenic benzofurazan sulfides. These nonfluorescent benzofurazan sulfides react rapidly and specifically with a thiol to form a strong fluorescent thiol adduct. The rapid reaction, thiol-specific and fluorogenic nature of the sulfides successfully yielded an application of one of the sulfides for relative quantitation of total thiols in live cells through fluorescence microscopy. In this...
The effect of hydroxyapatite presence on the degree of conversion and polymerization rate in a model self-etching adhesive.

Objective The effect of hydroxyapatite (HAp) content on photopolymerization of a model self-etching adhesive was studied by using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FT-IR) spectroscopy.
THE PERMEABILITY OF GLOMERULAR CAPILLARIES TO GRADED DEXTRANS : Identification of the Basement Membrane as the Primary Filtration Barrier

Graded dextrans have been used as tracers to identify the primary permeability barrier(s) to macromolecules among the structural elements (endothelium, mesangium, basement membrane, epithelium) of the glomerular capillary wall. Three narrow-range fractions of specified molecular weights and Einstein-Stokes radii (ESR) were prepared by gel filtration: (a) 32,000 mol wt, ESR = 38 A; (b) 62,000 mol wt, ESR = 55 A; and (c) 125,000 mol wt, ESR = 78 A. These fractions are known to be extensively filtered, filtered in only small amounts, and largely retained, respectively, by the glomerular capillaries. Tracer solutions were infused i.v. into Wistar-Furth rats, and the left kidney was fixed after 5 min to 4 h. The preparations behaved as predicted: initially, all three fractions appeared in the urinary spaces, with 32,000 > 62,000 » 125,000. The smallest fraction was totally cleared from the blood and urinary spaces by 2.5 h, whereas the intermediate and largest fractions were retained in the circulation at high concentrations up to 4 h. With all fractions, when particles occurred in high concentration in the capillary lumina, they were present in similarly high concentrations in the endothelial fenestrae and inner (subendothelial) portions of the basement membrane, but there was a sharp drop in their concentration at this level—i.e., between the inner, looser portions of the basement membrane and its outer, more compact portions. With the two largest fractions, accumulation of particles occurred against the basement membrane in the mesangial regions with time. No accumulation was seen with any of the fractions in the epithelial slits or against the slit membranes. Dextran was also seen in phagosomes in mesangial cells, and in absorption droplets in the glomerular and proximal tubule epithelium. It is concluded that the basement membrane is the main glomerular permeability barrier to dextrans, and (since their behavior is known to be similar) to proteins of comparable dimensions (40,000–200,000 mol wt). The findings are discussed in relation to previous work using electron-opaque tracers to localize the glomerular permeability barrier and in relation to models proposed for the functions of the various glomerular structural elements.
Spectral signal space projection algorithm for frequency domain MEG and EEG denoising, whitening, and source imaging.

Abstract MEG and EEG data contain additive correlated noise generated by environmental and physiological sources. To suppress this type of spatially coloured noise, source estimation is often performed with spatial whitening based on a measured or estimated noise covariance matrix. However, artifacts that span relatively small noise subspaces, such as cardiac, ocular, and muscle artifacts, are often explicitly removed by a variety of denoising methods (e.g., signal space projection) before source imaging. Here, we introduce a new approach, the spectral signal space projection (S3P) algorithm, in which time–frequency (TF)-specific spatial projectors are designed and applied to the noisy TF-transformed data, and whitened source estimation is performed in the TF domain. The approach can be used to derive spectral variants of all linear time domain whitened source estimation algorithms. The denoised sensor and source time series are obtained by the corresponding inverse TF-transform. The method is evaluated and compared with existing subspace projection and signal separation techniques using experimental data. Altogether, S3P provides an expanded framework for MEG/EEG data denoising and whitened source imaging in both the time and frequency/scale domains.
Global properties of the Xenopus blastula are mediated by a high-resistance epithelial seal☆

Abstract The extensive electrical coupling observed in Xenopus blastulae reflects the presence of a high-resistance surface epithelial seal. Elimination of the seal by insertion of a melted-tip glass microcapillary between surface blastomeres allows us to characterize both the electrical properties of the intact seal and to describe its restoration as wound healing occurs, after the capillary is withdrawn. We have distinguished the transepithelial and intercellular components of coupling before and after elimination of the seal, and find coupling ratios to be substantially reduced when this occurs. This result indicates that current spread through gap junctions is localized, and that much of the global coupling observed in intact blastulae is through the blastocoel. It suggests that longitudinal ionic gradients could exist in the early Xenopus embryo. In addition, as the epithelial seal is disrupted we observe a hyperpolarization in surface blastomeres which indicates the presence of a positive blastocoel potential of approximately 20 mV.
A Utilitarian Approach to the Concept of Equality in Public Expenditures

I. The formal statement of the model and the analysis of input equality, 410. —H. Output equality, 411. —III. The case of objectively measurable outputs, 413. — IV. Comments, 415.
Rapid and quantitative DNA analysis of genetic mutations for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) using magnetic/luminescent nanoparticles

Rapid and accurate detection of genetic mutations based on nanotechnology would provide substantial advances in detection of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a disease whose current methods of detection are cumbersome due to the large size and duplication of the mutated gene. In this study, a nanotechnology-based DNA assay was developed for detection of SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in a feline autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) model which can readily be adapted to diagnosis of human ADPKD type 1. Europium and terbium phosphors were doped into gadolinium crystal hosts with a magnetic core, providing stable luminescence and the possibility of magnetic manipulations in a solution-based assay. A hybridization-in-solution DNA assay was optimized for feline PKD gene SNP detection using genomic DNA extracted from feline kidney tissue and blood. This assay showed a substantial differentiation between PKD and control specimens. The nanotechnology-based DNA assay is attractive from the viewpoint of rapid availability, simple methodology, and cost reduction for clinical use to detect mutations involved in human ADPKD and other genetic diseases.
Fracture toughness of yttria-stabilized zirconia sintered in conventional and microwave ovens

Statement of problem The fabrication of zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2 ) dental prosthetic substructures requires an extended sintering process (8 to 10 hours) in a conventional oven. Microwave sintering is a shorter process (2 hours) than conventional sintering. Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the fracture toughness of 3 mol % Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 sintered in a conventional or microwave oven. Material and methods Partially sintered ZrO 2 specimens from 3 manufacturers, KaVo, Lava 3M, and Crystal HS were milled (KaVo Everest engine) and randomly divided into 2 groups: conventional sintering and microwave sintering (n=16 per group). The specimens were sintered according to the manufacturers' recommendations and stored in artificial saliva for 10 days. Fracture toughness was determined by using a 4-point bend test, and load to fracture was recorded. Mean fracture toughness for each material was calculated. A 2-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey HDS post hoc test was used to assess the significance of sintering and material effects on fracture toughness, including an interaction between the 2 factors (α=.05). Results The 2-way ANOVA suggested a significant main effect for ZrO 2 manufacturer ( P 2 (5.85 MPa·m 1/2 ±1.29) was significantly higher than for Lava 3M (5.19 MPa·m 1/2 ±0.47) and Crystal HS (4.94 MPa·m 1/2 ±0.66) ( P P >.05). The main effect of the sintering process (Conventional [5.30 MPa·m 1/2 ±1.00] or Microwave [5.36 MPa·m 1/2 ±0.92]) was not significant ( P =.76), and there was no interaction between sintering and ZrO 2 manufacturer ( P =.91). Conclusions Based on the results of this study, no statistically significant difference was observed in the fracture toughness of ZrO 2 sintered in microwave or conventional ovens.
Single-Molecule Imaging of Platinum Ligand Exchange Reaction Reveals Reactivity Distribution

Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy provided information about the real-time distribution of chemical reactivity on silicon oxide supports at the solution−surface interface, at a level of detail which would be unavailable from a traditional ensemble technique or from a technique that imaged the static physical properties of the surface. Chemical reactions on the surface were found to be uncorrelated; that is, the chemical reaction of one metal complex did not influence the location of a future chemical reaction of another metal complex.