cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations Between Selected State Laws and Teenagers' Drinking and Driving Behaviors

BACKGROUND: We examined the associations between selected state-level graduated driving licensing (GDL) laws and use-and-lose laws (laws that allow for the suspension of a driver's license for underage alcohol violations including purchase, possession, or consumption) with individual-level alcohol-related traffic risk behaviors among high school youth. METHODS: Logistic regression models with fixed effects for state were used to examine the associations between the selected state-level laws and drinking and driving behaviors youth aged 16 to 17 years (obtained from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS); responses dichotomized as "0 times" or "1 or more times") over an extended period of time (1999 to 2009). RESULTS: A total of 11.7% of students reported having driven after drinking any alcohol and 28.2% reported riding in a car with a driver who had been drinking on 1 or more occasions in the past 30 days. Restrictive GDL laws and use-and-lose laws were associated with decreased driving after drinking any alcohol and riding in a car with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: Restrictive GDL and use-and-lose laws may help to bolster societal expectations and values about the hazards of drinking and driving behaviors and are therefore partly responsible for the decline in these alcohol-related traffic risk behaviors. Language: en
Breast health of US women religious (nuns).

: Breast cancer is a major health problem and concern of women religious in the USA. Although they have been identified as a high-risk population, only a limited number of breast health studies have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore breast-related health practices (breast self-examination [BSE], clinical breast examination [CBE], and mammography) of women religious residing in the United States. A survey design was used to collect a national sample. The probability sample consisted of 1,615 women religious between the ages of 24 and 99 (mean age = 64.5). Nearly 71% of the respondents reported performing BSE; 22.7% monthly. Sixty-nine percent of participants reported having a mammogram within the past year. Nearly 70% of the respondents reported having had a CBE within the past year. Several factors for not performing BSE or having mammogram are described by this population. Findings suggest a need for increase engagement by women religious in breast-related health practices.
Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics: Coherence in Context

Modern cavity quantum electrodynamics (cavity QED) illuminates the most fundamental aspects of coherence and decoherence in quantum mechanics. Experiments on atoms in cavities can be described by elementary models but reveal intriguing subtleties of the interplay of coherent dynamics with external couplings. Recent activity in this area has pioneered powerful new approaches to the study of quantum coherence and has fueled the growth of quantum information science. In years to come, the purview of cavity QED will continue to grow as researchers build on a rich infrastructure to attack some of the most pressing open questions in micro- and mesoscopic physics.
Investigation of grain boundary chemistry in Al-Li 2195 welds using Auger electron spectroscopy

Al-Li alloy 2195 is a low-density material with high fracture toughness that is particularly well-suited for aerospace systems. It will replace Al-Cu alloy 2219 in the Super Light Weight Tank (SLWT), a modified version of the external tank being developed for the Space Shuttle to support Space Station deployment. Recent efforts have focused on joining 2195 with variable polarity plasma arc welding, as well as repairing 2195 welds with tungsten inert gas techniques. During this study, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) was used to examine grain boundary chemistry in 2195 welds. Results indicated that weld integrity depends on whether (and how much) the grain boundaries are covered with thin films comprised of a mixture of discontinuous Al2O3 in Al (Al/Al2O3), which form during weld solidification. O was probably introduced as a contaminant in the shielding gases, occurring at low levels considered negligible for Al alloys that do not contain Li. However, oxidation kinetics in 2195 are increased by Li enrichment of small quantities of Al2O3, further enhancing thin film formation at the grain boundaries. Al2O3 can ultimately occupy sufficient grain boundary area to degrade the material's mechanical properties, producing negative effects that are compounded by the cumulative heat input of multi-pass repair welding.
A modification of the certainty measure to handle subnormal distributions

Abstract We suggest a modification of the definition of certainty associated with a possibility distribution so that we are assured that the certainty measure is always less than or equal to the possibility measure even in the face of subnormal distributions. We note that when the possibility distribution is normal this new definition reduces to the original definition of certainty. We use this new measure along with the definition of possibility measure to obtain measures of belief and plausibility in the fact of fuzzy information in the Mathematical Theory of Evidence.
How adoption of reading textbooks works in Kentucky: Some problems and some solutions

T he process Kentucky folIowed in 1983 for the adoption of reading programs is the topic of this article. We attempt to describe how the process was organized, some of the major problems the adoption committees faced, how the committees attempted to solve these problems, and how it all ended. But first, we begin with general descriptions of textbook adoption and reading programs. The process used to make decisions about textbooks is important because it determines which textbooks will be used in classrooms--in individual schools, in school districts, and in many cases, entire states. How a textbook adoption process is carried out depends, in part, upon the state in which the adoption is taking place. In Kentucky and 23 other states a number of textbooks are selected by a committee (usually appointed by the chief state ofricer), and put on a list of state-approved textbooks. Local school districts within these "adoption states" must select textbooks from this list if they are to use state funds to purchase their books. In other states, described by publisher's sales people as "open territories," the selection of textbooks is carried out by committees representing either an entire school district, a group of
The 150-hour rule as a barrier to entering public accountancy

In many states, CPA licensure now requires 150 credit hours of college coursework thereby adding an extra semester or year of schooling beyond typical undergraduate degree requirements. Thus, the “150-hour rule” should increase the cost of becoming a CPA and, consequently, reduce the supply of new CPAs. We test this hypothesis using panel data on the number of first-time candidates for the CPA exam in each state over the years 1985 to 2002. We find that the imposition of the 150-hour education requirement reduces the number of candidates sitting for the CPA exam by 60 percent and that the “grandfathering” provisions of the 150-hour rule produce a substantial transitory increase in the number of candidates sitting for the exam in the year prior to the rule’s effective date. Examination of candidates’ pass rates on the exam also finds behavior consistent with the hypothesis that the 150-hour rule is a barrier to entry.
A Tyrosine-sulfated Peptide Derived from the Heavy-chain CDR3 Region of an HIV-1-neutralizing Antibody Binds gp120 and Inhibits HIV-1 Infection

Sulfated tyrosines at the amino terminus of the principal HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5 play a critical role in its ability to bind the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and mediate HIV-1 entry. Human antibodies that recognize the CCR5-binding region of gp120 are also modified by tyrosine sulfation, which is necessary for their ability to neutralize HIV-1. Here we demonstrate that a sulfated peptide derived from the CDR3 region of one of these antibodies, E51, can efficiently bind gp120. Association of this peptide, pE51, with gp120 requires tyrosine sulfation and is enhanced by, but not dependent on, CD4. Alteration of any of four pE51 tyrosines, or alteration of gp120 residues 420, 421, or 422, critical for association with CCR5, prevents gp120 association with pE51. pE51 neutralizes HIV-1 more effectively than peptides based on the CCR5 amino terminus and may be useful as a fusion partner with other protein inhibitors of HIV-1 entry. Our data provide further insight into the association of the CCR5 amino terminus with gp120, show that a conserved, sulfate-binding region of gp120 is accessible to inhibitors in the absence of CD4, and suggest that soluble mimetics of CCR5 can be more effective than previously appreciated.
Fluvoxamine impairs single-dose caffeine clearance without altering caffeine pharmacodynamics.

Background Coadministration of fluvoxamine impairs the clearance of caffeine and prolongs its elimination half-life, which is attributable to inhibition of CYP1A2 by fluvoxamine. The clinical importance of this interaction is not established. Aim To evaluate the effects of fluvoxamine on the kinetics and dynamics of single doses of caffeine. Methods Seven healthy subjects received single 250 mg doses of caffeine (or matching placebo) together with fluvoxamine (four doses of 100 mg over 2 days) or with matching placebo in a double-blind, four-way crossover study. For 24 h after caffeine or placebo administration, plasma caffeine and fluvoxamine concentrations were determined. Psychomotor performance, sedation, and electroencephalographic (EEG) ‘beta’ frequency activity were also assessed. Results Fluvoxamine significantly reduced apparent oral clearance of caffeine (105 vs. 9.1 mL min−1, P < 0.01; mean difference: 95.7 mL min−1, 95% CI: 54.9–135.6), and prolonged its elimination half-life (4.9 vs. 56 h, P < 0.01; mean difference: 51 h, 95% CI: 26–76). Caffeine produced CNS-stimulating effects compared with placebo. However, psychomotor performance, alertness, or EEG effects attributable to caffeine were not augmented by coadministration of fluvoxamine. Conclusions Fluvoxamine greatly impaired caffeine clearance, but without detectable changes in caffeine pharmacodynamics. However, this study does not rule out possible adverse effects due to extensive accumulation of caffeine with daily ingestion in fluvoxamine-treated individuals.
Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Guide Referral for Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

The aim of this study was to determine if adult patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot are being referred for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) earlier on the basis of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) parameters despite the absence of CMR-based recommendations in the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association joint guidelines. Variables defined by the guidelines were analyzed in conjunction with CMR-based parameters across 3 groups defined by the release of the guidelines: (1) patients referred before the guidelines, (2) patients referred 0 to 3 years after the guidelines, and (3) patients referred ≥3 years after the guidelines. Seventy-nine patients were identified. No significant trend was observed in guideline-defined variables. Significant trends in indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume (p = 0.034), indexed right ventricular end-systolic volume (p = 0.001), and the right ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.005) were observed across groups. By multivariate regression, patients who underwent PVR ≥3 years after the release of the guidelines had a 29 ml/m 2 smaller indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume (p = 0.01) and a 33 ml/m 2 smaller indexed right ventricular end-systolic volume (p
Regulation of expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is mediated by cAMP in rat Leydig cells and H540 rat Leydig tumor cells

Abstract Leydig cells isolated from testes of adult rats have a relatively high level of expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5→4isomerase (3βHSD) in primary culture. Agents which increase the intracellular levels of cAMP such as forskolin, dibutyryl cAMP, and LH can positively regulate the expression of 3βHSD in Leydig cells in vitro. The effects of these agents are manifest at several levels and include increases in (1) 3βHSD activity, (2) the cellular levels of immunoreactive 3βHSD, (3) the rate of synthesis of 3βHSD, and (4) the cellular levels of 3βHSD mRNA which can be readily translated into 3βHSD in vitro. Two rat Leydig tumor cell lines which are steroidogenically active, H540 and R2C cells, also have a relatively high level of expression of 3βHSD. Forskolin can positively regulate the expression of 3βHSD in H540 Leydig tumor cells in which steroidogenesis is responsive to increases in intracellular cAMP, but it has no effect on 3βHSD in R2C Leydig tumor cells in which steroidogenesis is unresponsive to increases in intracellular cAMP. These results clearly support the hypothesis that cAMP mediates transcriptional regulation of 3βHSD in Leydig cells. The implication of these in vitro studies is that, in vivo, LH is required to maintain optimal levels of expression of the gene encoding testicular 3βHSD.
Pathobiological characterization of low-pathogenicity H5 avian influenza viruses of diverse origins in chickens, ducks and turkeys

We undertook one of the most comprehensive studies on the replication and intraspecies transmission characteristics of low-pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in ducks, chickens and turkeys. Our results indicated that most of these isolates could replicate and be transmitted in poultry without inducing clinical disease. However, differences in transmission to contact control birds were noted, emphasizing the importance of having contact control cage mates in biological characterization experiments. Ducks supported the replication of viruses of wild aquatic bird origin in their respiratory and digestive tracts equally well. The viruses from wild aquatic birds were not effectively transmitted among chickens. In contrast, the wild-bird isolates and viruses of domestic bird origin from live-bird markets and commercial poultry operations replicated and were transmitted more efficiently in turkeys than in chickens or ducks. We also found a lower minimal infectious dose requirement for infection of turkeys compared to chickens and ducks. Our data support an important role of turkeys as being more susceptible hosts for avian influenza viruses than domestic ducks and chickens. These results highlight the role of turkeys as intermediate or bridging hosts in the transmission of influenza viruses from wild birds to land-based domestic poultry or among different land-based bird species.
Angle-resolved photoemission evidence for a Gd(0001) surface state

Abstract From angle resolved photoemission we have observed a surface state on Gd(0001) near the Fermi energy in the vicinity of Γ in agreement with a recently calculated band structure. This surface state is of prominent character (Δ 1 ) at Γ . The observation of this surface state can be correlated with the development of the gadolinium bulk band structure which occurs with increasing film thickness as gadolinium films are grown on W(110).
Criteria for correction of all aberrations with quadratic field dependence

Aberrations of imaging systems can be described using a polynomial expansion of the dependence on field position. Aberrations on axis and those with linear field dependence can be calculated and controlled using Fermat's principle and the Abbe Sine Condition. We now present a powerful new set of relationships that fully describe the aberrations that depend on the second power of the field. A simple set of equations, derived using Hamilton's characteristic functions, which we call the Pupil Astigmatism Criteria, use on-axis behavior to evaluate and control all aberrations with quadratic field dependence and arbitrary dependence on the pupil. These relations are explained, validated, and applied to design optical systems that are free of all quadratic field dependent aberrations.
Oral ibuprofen: Evaluation of its effect on peritendinous adhesions and the breaking strength of a tenorrhaphy

In a study of 21 primates, treatment with oral ibuprofen significantly reduced the force required for tendon gliding following flexor tendon injury in zone 11. Tendons that were partially lacerated but not repaired required less force for tendon motion than those repaired. Ibuprofen also reduced the breaking strength of completely divided and repaired extensor tendons. The addition of a piece of chromic suture buried across the extensor tenorrhaphy site significantly increased the breaking strength of the repair in control and treated animals alike. These findings were observed at 4 and 6 weeks after tendon injury and repair. No adverse reactions to the medication were observed.
Sound penetration into a hard-backed rigid porous layer: Theory and experiments

This study examines the sound field within a hard-backed rigid porous medium due to an airborne source. The total sound field can be approximated by two terms: A transmitted wave component arriving at the receiver directly through the porous interface, and a second transmitted wave component reflected from the rigid backing plane before reaching the receiver. These two components can be expressed in an integral form that is amenable to further analyses. A standard saddle path method is applied to evaluate the integral analytically, leading to a uniform asymptotic solution that allows the prediction of the sound field within the rigid porous medium. The validity of the asymptotic formula is verified by comparison with the numerical results computed by a more accurate wave-based numerical scheme. The asymptotic solution is shown to provide a convenient means of rapid and accurate computations of sound field within the rigid porous medium. The accuracy of the numerical solutions is further confirmed by comparison with indoor experimental results. The measurement data and theoretical predictions suggest that when the receiver is located near the bottom of the hard-backed layer, the reflection of the refracted wave gives rise to a significant contribution to the total sound field.
Laser capture microdissected mucosa versus whole tissue specimens for assessment of radiation-induced dynamic molecular and pathway changes in the small intestine.

Background The intestinal mucosa is the compartment that sustains the most severe injury in response to radiation and is therefore of primary interest. The use of whole gut extracts for analysis of gene expression may confound important changes in the mucosa. On the other hand, laser capture microdissection (LCM) is hampered by the unstable nature of RNA and by a more complicated collection process. This study assessed, in parallel samples from a validated radiation model, the indications for use of LCM for intestinal gene expression analysis. Methodology/Principal Findings RNA was extracted from mouse whole intestine and from mucosa by LCM at baseline and 4 h, 24 h, and 3.5 d after total body irradiation and subjected to microarray analysis. Among mucosal genes that were altered > = 2-fold, less than 7% were present in the whole gut at 4 and 24 h, and 25% at 3.5 d. As expected, pathway analysis of mucosal LCM samples showed that radiation activated the coagulation system, lymphocyte apoptosis, and tight junction signaling, and caused extensive up-regulation of cell cycle and DNA damage repair pathways. Using similar stringent criteria, regulation of these pathways, with exception of the p53 pathway, was undetectable in the whole gut. Radiation induced a dramatic increase of caspase14 and ectodysplasin A2 receptor (Eda2r), a TNFα receptor, in both types of samples. Conclusions/Significance LCM-isolated mucosal specimens should be used to study cellular injury, cell cycle control, and DNA damage repair pathways. The remarkable increase of caspase14 and Eda2r suggests a novel role for these genes in regulating intestinal radiation injury. Comparative gene expression data from complex tissues should be interpreted with caution.
17O NMR spectroscopy of 4‐substituted pyridine N‐oxides: Substituent and solvent effects

The 17O chemical shifts for 4-substituted pyridine N-oxides at natural abundance were measured in acetonitrile at 50°C. Electron withdrawing groups caused deshielding and electron donating groups caused shielding of the 17O resonance. The data are correlated with 17O chemical shifts of substituted anisoles by DSP treatment and with ionization potentials. The chemical shift range for the substituents (methoxy to nitro) is exceptionally large (102 ppm). The 17O signal of the pyridine N-oxides is substantially shifted in aqueous solution; the differences in chemical shifts between acetonitrile and water for the nitro, parent and methoxy compounds are 85, 75 and 59 ppm, respectively.
Photocatalytic activity of PANI loaded coordination polymer composite materials: Photoresponse region extension and quantum yields enhancement via the loading of PANI nanofibers on surface of coordination polymer

Abstract To enhance photocatalytic property of coordination polymer in visible light region, polyaniline (PANI) loaded coordination polymer photocatalyst was synthesized through in-situ chemical oxidation of aniline on the surface of coordination polymer. The photocatalytic activity of PANI loaded coordination polymer composite material for degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was investigated. Compared with pure coordination polymer photocatalyst, which can decompose RhB merely under UV light irradiation, PANI loaded coordination polymer photocatalyst displays more excellent photocatalytic activity in visible light region. Furthermore, PANI loaded coordination polymer photocatalyst exhibits outstanding stability during the degradation of RhB.
Congress Examines Efforts to Search for Life in the Universe

“It is not hyperbolic to suggest that scientists could very well discover extraterrestrial intelligence within 2 decades' time or less, given resources to conduct the search,” Seth Shostak, senior astronomer with the SETI Institute, in Mountain View, Calif., testified at a 21 May congressional hearing held by the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He pointed to the progress in extrasolar planet discovery made possible by NASA's Kepler space telescope, the enormous number of potential planets in the Milky Way and other galaxies, the increasing power of digital electronics to find and sort out radio and other signals, and other work related to exoplanets and astrobiology. It was the committee's third hearing on astrobiology and the search for life in the universe in roughly 1 year.
Statistical description of strong turbulence distributions

Abstract Several experiments have observed an exponential distribution in both electric field E and time t for the probability distribution of strongly turbulent Langmuir fields, P ( E, t ). To explain these statistics, instead of assuming a dynamical picture, one can work backward from the observed statistical P ( E, t ) to find implied characteristics of underlying interactions. A general Fokker-Planck treatment of P ( E, t ) time evolution suggests that the interactions are nearly “elastic” in E . This significantly constrains the basic interactions.
Welfare reform and child well-being

Abstract This paper uses data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to examine how the pre- and post-1996 welfare reforms influence measures of children's well-being. Despite a large body of research relating welfare reform policies to family structure, employment, and income, fewer studies have used econometric methods on data from multiple states to examine how changes in welfare policies in the pre- and post-TANF periods have influenced children. The results from this study have the potential to shed light on whether policy choices adopted by states are related to children's well-being. Overall, the results do not show evidence that state welfare policies are systematically associated with parenting behavior or child outcomes.
Reduction of myocardial injury with verapamil before aortic cross-clamping

Abstract The effect of verapamil administered before aortic crossclamping was assessed in 40 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Myocardial protection consisted of cold blood potassium cardioplegia, topical ice slush, and moderate (28 °C) systemic hypothermia. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group 1 (18 patients) received verapamil (0.1 mg/kg up to 10 mg) intravenously three to five minutes before aortic crossclamping; group 2 (22 patients) did not (control). Myocardial injury was assessed by cumulative release of the cardiac-specific noenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) after release of the aortic cross-clamp. Release of CK-MB was significantly lower in the verapamil group (44.9 ± 6.2 versus 72.2 ± 9.0 IU at 24.5 hours, p = 0.005). Calculated total infarct size was also lower in the verapamil group (6.0 ± 0.9 versus 8.9 ± 1.0 g-Eq, p = 0.035). Individual CK-MB release curves showed either one or two peaks. The two-peak pattern was more frequent in control patients (18 of 21 control patients versus 6 of 18 verapamil patients, p = 0.001) and was associated with a larger infarct size. Atrioventricular pacing was not required in any verapamil patient, but was needed in 1 control patient. We conclude that verapamil administered before aortic cross-clamping protects against myocardial injury during coronary artery bypass grafting with no increase in the incidence of atrioventricular block.
The Historical Catalina Hernández: Inhabiting the Topoi of Femininst Historiography

This article asserts the viability of key topoi in feminist historiography: first, to establish presence for everyday women rhetors, and second, to explore ramifications of their positioning within variant historical narratives. Catalina Hernandez was one of six European women recruited to Christianize indigenous girls immediately following the military conquest of Mexico. Her letter to the civic judicial council seeking autonomy for her community of women teachers was perceived as sufficiently dangerous to warrant its deletion from the historical record and the subsequent “disappearance” of the writer herself; only excerpted accounts of Catalina's writing remain. I seek the historical Catalina Hernandez in the sophistic mode, assaying four motives and four contexts for the production and reception of her letter.
Sporophytes and Gametophytes of Polytrichaceae from the Campanian (Late Cretaceous) of Georgia, U. S. A.

A new genus and species (Eopolytrichum antiquum) of the moss family Polytrichaceae are described for fossil sporophyte capsules and associated gametophytes from the early Campanian (Late Cretaceous) Buffalo Creek Member of the Gaillard Formation in central Georgia, U.S.A. The capsules show diagnostic features of the Polytrichaceae but differ from those of all extant genera. The capsules are terete in cross section, somewhat dorsiventrally flattened, and have a swollen, asymmetrical apophysis and mammillose exothecium. Stomatal complexes, each surrounded by a ring of subsidiary cells, are confined to the apophysis. The operculum is tall and dome shaped, but the calyptra and beak of the operculum are not preserved. The remains of a peristomial membrane are present around the rim of the capsule after the operculum has dehisced, but peristome teeth are absent, and the epiphragm is retained in the operculum. Spores are alete, spherical, and echinulate. Associated sterile and fertile gametophytes have leaves wi...
Performance of packet-switched WDM broadcast networks with multicast traffic

In this paper, we analyze the performance of a packet-switched broadcast-and-select all-optical network with N nodes and W wavelengths. We model the network as an N X N space- division time-slotted packet switch. We consider the effects of the input queueing dynamics on the network performance, and present a queueing analysis of networks supporting multicast traffic with fanout splitting. We obtain the maximum supportable throughput as a function of the network size, the number of wavelengths, and the multicast size. The average multicast packet delay is evaluated as a function of network and traffic parameters. It is found that increasing the number of wavelengths beyond 40% - 60% of the number of nodes results in little improvement in network performance. We also study a second switching scheme that yields higher overall network throughput at the expense of introducing packet dropping.
Diffusion in a Power-Law fluid: a mathematical study

Abstract A mathematical model was constructed for calculating the diffusion coefficient of a solute in a non-Newtonian liquid. The model assumes that a tracer solution is centrally injected into a Power- Law fluid flowing laminarly through a circular pipe. The resulting Sturm—Liouville problem was solved by series expansion on a digital computer, but limitations in the computer storage restricted accurate results to the central low-shear-rate portion of the tube. These results are sufficient to calculate the diffusion coefficient at zero shear rate, but if the diffusion coefficient varies with shear rate, more terms in the expansion must be evaluated.
TU‐SAM‐BRB‐03: CE ‐ Therapy SAMs

External beam three‐dimensional conformai accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) provides a non‐invasive approach for a select group of patients for delivering hypo‐fractionated breast radiation therapy to the area most at‐risk for breast cancer recurrence. Use of linear accelerator generated radiation beams yields more homogeneous coverage of the target volume than afforded by any HDR approach. However, more tissue must be treated to account for uncertainties in cavity location and margins for patient setup. There are several external beam treatment techniques used clinically today: 3D‐CRT (as described by NSABP B39/RTOG 0413 protocol), the MGH method and the NYU prone system. This lecture will provide a rationale for external beam APBI, discuss the various planning techniques and present clinical results. Learning Objectives: 1. Gain basic knowledge of external beam APBI. 2. Review the planning techniques popular today. 3. Learn the challenges and limiting factors of 3D‐CRT APBI.
Ein Konzept und seine Umsetzung: Graphen gestern, heute und morgen

In den vergangenen Jahren ist das Interesse an Graphen sprunghaft angestiegen. Ahnliche Materialien wurden allerdings schon im Jahr 1962 ausgehend von Graphenoxid erhalten, und chemische Modifikationen von Graphit sind sogar schon seit 1840 bekannt. Indem wir die faszinierenden Entwicklungen bei der Synthese und Charakterisierung von Graphen nachvollziehen, wollen wir hier zeigen, wie sich die Geschichte der Graphen-Chemie in den spannenden aktuellen Forschungsarbeiten fortsetzt. Auf diesem Gebiet warten noch viele Aufgaben – auch solche, die in technologischer Hinsicht von groster Bedeutung sind.
Endoscopic Resection of Colloid Cysts: Use of a Dual-Instrument Technique and an Anterolateral Approach

Objective Endoscopic approaches are increasingly utilized to treat third ventricular colloid cysts but have been associated with lower rates of complete cyst wall resection. Our objective was to assess the results of colloid cyst resection via an anterolateral endoscopic approach with a dual-instrument technique, with an emphasis on completeness of cyst wall resection. Methods A retrospective review of the senior author’s experience with 22 colloid cysts treated with endoscopic resection since 2004 was performed. Initial cyst size, completeness of resection, postoperative radiographic residual, recurrence at follow-up, need for reoperation, and neurologic morbidity were assessed. All cysts were approached from an anterolateral trajectory with two instruments working in concert through a single endoscope. Results Of 22 patients, near-total resection was obtained in 95%. In 3 cases, a very small, radiographically occult residual was left. Complete cyst wall resection was therefore obtained in 18 (82%). There were no cases of recurrence at follow-up in any patient. No patients required craniotomy or underwent re-resection. Fifteen of 16 (94%) patients with long-term clinical follow-up remained stable or improved. Conclusion High rates of complete colloid cyst resection, with low morbidity, are possible with an anterolateral endoscopic approach with dual-instrument technique. These results support the findings of other endoscopists that show how technical modifications to traditional endoscopic approaches can produce favorable results.
A New Plankton Sampler for Coral Reefs

. A new self-contained Horizontal Plankton Sampler (HOPLASA) collects near-reef plankton that is not captured by conventional net tows and emergence traps. An electrical motor-propeller assembly inside a large acrylic cylinder drives water past an in-line flowmeter and through a rigidly attached plankton net. When positioned in the coral reef environment this sampling gear filters known quantities of bottom water. Larvae and developmental stages of many invertebrates and some fishes that never migrate to upper water layers but constitute an important fraction of the food chain are captured. Larvae of sponges, corals, and gorgonians, the most important animal reef builders, are obtained live and undamaged and can be cultured in the laboratory for identification after metamorphosis.
Some useful discrete variable representations for problems in time-dependent and time-independent quantum mechanics

Abstract We develop a simple, yet powerful approach to constructing discrete variable representations for the solution of quantum mechanical problems by focusing on properties of the underlying basis set. Two examples, one involving fixed-node boundary conditions and the other periodic boundary conditions, are explicitly derived and applied to a problem in spherical polar coordinates with azimuthal symmetry. These two DVRs have equally spaced points and equal weights.
Plasminogen activator activity in human endometrial carcinoma

Abstract Plasminogen activator activity (PAA) has been proposed as an indicator of aggressiveness of tumors and has been shown to be hormonally modulated. To test this hypotheses in human endometrial carcinoma, tumor expiants were assayed for PAA secretion and the results correlated with histopathologic criteria of aggressiveness. The effect of medroxy-progesterone acetate (MPA) on PAA secretion was also investigated. Lower levels of PAA were found to be associated with tumors displaying aggressive tendencies. MPA generally decreased PAA secretion. No apparent correlation was found between estrogen or progesterone receptor concentrations and PAA levels.
Regional Anesthesia for Pain Relief in Children.

Managing pain in children is a complex area that requires an understanding of the unique challenges offered by this young population. Regional anesthesia is emerging as an adjunct to pain management in children, particularly in the perioperative arena.The following article will assist the practitioner with the management of pain in children through regional techniques. Prior to the presentation of the regional techniques, an overview is presented to address the neurodevelopment of the child, the pharmacologic concerns in the younger patients, and the assessment of pain in the different age groups. Several of the commonly performed regional blocks with appropriate dosing guidelines are reviewed, with an emphasis on blocks that are more unique to the pediatric population.
Health-related variables and functional fitness among older adults.

This study assesses the functional fitness of a convenient sample of older adults (>70 years), to examine correlations between functional fitness and several other health-related variables and to compare with criterion performance data as established by Rikli and Jones (2001). One hundred and seven community-dwelling older adults with an average age of 78.36 ± 5.60 years performed the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) and responded to several health-related questionnaires. The SFT scores were similar to the scores in the low-active group data published by Rikli and Jones (1999b). There was a strong correlation between the 30-second arm curl and the 2-minute step-in-place (r = .54, p < .01). More than one-half of the participants performed in the normal range or above normal range, according to the criterion performance data. This demonstrates a high level of functional fitness.
Designing a fast-igniting catalytic converter system

Through analysis and numerical simulation, the late lightoff (∼ 3 min) of the current automobile catalytic converter is attributed to a downstream ignition phenomenon that is unstable to flow-rate fluctuations. A design is proposed which incorporates a stable and thermally efficient leading-edge ignition. The key feature involves diverting a small portion of exhaust gas through a bypass stream, which contains an electric preheater and a preigniter, during startup. This allows the preheater to utilize a low power input using the existing battery and yet raise the gas temperature beyond a precise minimum that rapidly lights off the entire preigniter. The hot preigniter is then used to light off the main catalytic converter. Removal of the bypass after complete ignition preserves the preigniter catalyst, a major advantage. The optimal design is shown to lightoff within 10 s and reduce pollution by almost 90% over current designs and thus meet ultra low emission vehicle (ULEV) standards.
Optimal articulation strategy for a microfabricated gecko-inspired controllable adhesive

The articulation of gecko-inspired synthetic adhesives has received less attention than fiber geometry and fabrication method in the literature. In this paper, systematic variation of approach angle, shear length, and retraction angle have been performed to find the influence of articulation and suggest the ideal relationship between articulation and geometry. The results show similar adhesion and shear forces using angled approaches when compared to common vertical approaches. The first systematic approach angle variation resulted in significantly reduced preload forces and an adhesion force to preload ratio, μ', of up to 17. This value surpasses that of the adhesive structures found on the Tokay gecko while retaining high adhesion forces.
The oligodendrocyte-specific G protein-coupled receptor GPR17 is a cell-intrinsic timer of myelination.

Here, Chen et al. describe the role of the G protein–coupled receptor GPR17 in oligodendrocytes and show that it acts as a negative regulator of oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination.
Aryl hydroxylation of diclofop by a cytochrome P450 dependent monooxygenase from wheat

Abstract In tolerant wheat, diclofop metabolism in vivo was rapid (33% in 6 hr) and was sensitive to cytochrome P450 inhibitors (CO, tetcyclasis, and 1-aminobenzotriazole). Microsomal fractions from etiolated wheat seedling shoots were shown to support the in vitro hydroxylation of diclofop in the presence of molecular oxygen and NADPH. Enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by tetcyclasis, but showed less sensitivity to 1-aminobenzotriazole and CO. The major enzymatic reaction product in vitro was isolated and identified by HPLC and electron impact mass spectrometry as the NIH shift product, 2-[4-(2,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenoxy)phenoxy]propanoic acid. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.4, a Vmax of 5.7 nmol/mg protein · h, and an apparent Km of 41.6 μM.
On the strong perfect graph conjecture

A graph G is perfect if for every induced subgraph H of G the chromatic number χ(H) equals the largest number ω(H) of pairwise adjacent vertices in H. Berge's famous Strong Perfect Graph Conjecture asserts that a graph G is perfect if and only if neither G nor its complement G¯ contains an odd chordless cycle of length at least 5. Its resolution has eluded researchers for more than 20 years. We prove that the conjecture is true for a class of graphs that we describe by forbidden configurations.
Band mapping of the model insulator Sr2CuO2Cl2—Dispersion of a single hole in an antiferromagnetic background

Abstract We report angle resolved photoemission measurements on Sr 2 CuO 2 Cl 2 , an insulating layered copper oxide. We map the energy-momentum dispersion of the highest energy band. We find that the width of this band is consistent with calculations based on variations of the Hubbard model. The dispersion in some directions and the position of the valence band maximum at ( π 2 , π 2 ) match predictions of the t − J model. However the overall shape of the band differs from these predictions. A comparison of our data with spectra previously reported on metallic samples leads to surprising new suggestions for the phenomenology of doping.
Graphite furnace hydride preconcentration and subsequent detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract Preconcentration of multi-element volatile hydrides in a graphite furnace and the subsequent determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a relatively new method for elemental analysis. This method offers several advantages over direct hydride generation sample introduction. In this technique the excess hydrogen generated as a by-product of the reduction of the analytes was not introduced into the plasma with the analytes, thus giving the plasma greater stability. The hydrides of arsenic, bismuth, and tellurium were trapped in the presence of metallic palladium inside the graphite tube of an electrothermal vaporization unit, and subsequently determined by the ICP-MS in a single run. The linearity obtained using this method was limited to a sub-ng/ml concentration range. The preliminary limit of detection calculated for arsenic is 0.002 ng ml −1 , this value was based on the slope value of the linear portion of the calibration curve. Effectiveness of the trapping method was determined by analysis of a standard reference material.
How Teams Work—Or Don’t—In Primary Care: A Field Study On Internal Medicine Practices

We conducted a field study in three primary care practices representing different practice types: a solo practice; a certified patient-centered medical home; and a multiphysician, multispecialty practice connected to a local university. All three practices shared a common culture in the way that practice members related to each other. In each instance, the practice team operated in separate social “silos,” isolating physicians from each other and from the rest of the practice staff. We concluded that current practice structures are primarily focused on supporting physicians’ hectic routines and have trouble accommodating the diversity of patients’ needs. For practices to succeed in managing diverse patients and in helping them understand and manage their own health, it will be critical to break down the silos and organize teams with shared roles and responsibilities.
Solvent-free surface modification by initiated chemical vapor deposition to render plasma bonding capabilities to surfaces

A versatile solvent-free method for surface modification of various materials including both metals and polymers is described. Strong irreversible bonds were formed when substrates modified by initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) of poly(1,3,5-trivinyltrimethylcyclotrisiloxane) or poly(V3D3) and exposed to an oxygen plasma were brought into contact with plasma-treated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The strength of these bonds was quantified by burst pressure testing microfluidic channels in the PDMS. The burst pressures of PDMS bonded to various coated substrates were in some cases comparable to that of PDMS bonded directly to PDMS. In addition, porous PTFE membrane coated with poly(V3D3) was successfully bonded to a PDMS microfluidic device and withstood pressures of over 300 mmHg. Bond strength was shown to correlate with surface roughness and quality of the bond between the coating and substrate. This work paves a methodology to fabricate microfluidic devices that include a specifically tailored membrane. Furthermore, the bonded devices exhibited hydrolytic stability; no dramatic change was observed even after immersion in water at room temperature over a period of 10 days.
Some Trace‐Element Contents of Biotite, Btt‐1, and Hornblende, Hbl‐I, by Semiquantitative Spectrographic Analysis and by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Some trace-element contents of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) samples, biotite Btt-1 and hornblende Hbl-1, were determined by both computerized semi-quantitative spectrographic analysis and instrumental neutron activation analysis. An equal number of portions of the Centre de Recherches Petrographiques et Geochimiques (CRPG) samples, biotite Mica-Fe and phlogopite Mica-Mg, were randomized with portions of the USGS samples and analyzed simultaneously to allow direct comparisons of trace elements in the biotites. Mica-Fe has concentrations of Cs, Hf, Ta and Zn that are greater by factors of 3 or more than those in Btt- 1. Although the Co contents of the two biotites are nearly equal, the amounts of Cr, Sc, La and the rare earth elements are significantly greater in Btt-1. Mica-Mg contains larger amounts of Cs and Rb than does Hbl-1, whereas the Cr content of Hbl-1 is 15 times that of Mica-Mg. Btt-1 and Hbl-1 may be useful as comparison samples for the analysis of biotites and hornblendes after other data are available.
Impact of the Urban Heat Island on Light Duty Vehicle Emissions for the Phoenix, AZ Area

ABSTRACT The sustainability of our planet is impacted as regions are transformed from rural to urban engineered infrastructures resulting in alterations at the surface and atmosphere. These changes are manifested in urban areas experiencing increased temperatures with respect to their rural counterparts, known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect. The impact of the UHI on light duty gasoline vehicle emissions was modeled using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) MOBILE6 model. It is shown that the impact on exhaust running emissions as a yearly total is very small while evaporative emissions and starting emissions are increased and decreased throughout the year, respectively.
Nerve growth factor-induced differentiation does not alter the biochemical properties of a mutant prion protein expressed in PC12 cells.

Abstract : Insertional and point mutations in the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP) are responsible for familial prion diseases. We have previously generated lines of Chinese hamster ovary cells that express PrP molecules carrying pathogenic mutations, and found that the mutant proteins display several biochemical properties reminiscent of PrPSc, the infectious isoform of PrP. To analyze the properties and effects of mutant PrP molecules expressed in cells with a neuronal phenotype, we have constructed stably transfected lines of PC12 cells that synthesize a PrP molecule carrying a nine-octapeptide insertion. We report here that this mutant PrP acquires scrapie-like properties, including detergent insolubility, protease resistance, and resistance to phospholipase cleavage of its glycolipid anchor. A detergent-insoluble and phospholipase-resistant form of the mutant protein is also released spontaneously into conditioned medium. These scrapie-like biochemical properties are quantitatively similar to those seen in Chinese hamster ovary cells and are not affected by differentiation of the PC12 cells into sympathetic neurons by nerve growth factor. Moreover, there is no detectable effect of mutant PrP expression on the morphology or viability of the cells in either the differentiated or undifferentiated state. These results indicate that conversion of mutant PrP into a PrPSc-like form does not depend critically on the cellular context, and they suggest that mutant PrP expressed in cultured cells, even those having the phenotype of differentiated neurons, is not neurotoxic.