cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The balance of deletion and regulation in allograft tolerance

Although the precise mechanisms involved in the establishment and maintenance of peripheral allograft tolerance are still not fully understood, it is now clear that acquisition of transplantation tolerance is an active, highly regulated, multistep process. According to the pool size model of allograft tolerance, the allograft outcome, rejection, or tolerance, often depends on the balance between cytopathic and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Although both deletion and regulation play important roles in allograft tolerance, our recent studies showed that the quantitative details for each mechanism differ from model to model. Therefore, we hypothesize that there is a delicate balance between deletion and regulation in allograft tolerance. In a model of allograft tolerance in which the deletional mechanism plays a dominant role, e.g. tolerance produced via creation of mixed chimeras, the regulatory mechanism, albeit sometimes present, is far less important. Whilst in a model in which the regulation mechanism plays a critical role, e.g. donor-specific transfusion plus MR1-induced allograft tolerance, a deletional mechanism lowers the threshold for effective Treg action.
Prevalence of Emotional Impairment in the Mildly Handicapped Attending a Transitional Vocational Program

One hundred fifty-three individuals with mild mental retardation and borderline intellectual functioning who attended a transitional vocational program were evaluated for behavior indicative of emotional dysfunction and personality disorders. Based upon the multiaxial criteria of DSM-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980), 80, or 53%, were diagnosed as meeting Axis I criteria for a clinical syndrome. Twenty-seven, or 17.6%, of the clients enrolled met the DSM-III criteria for an Axis II diagnosis, which involve more severe personality or developmental disorders. These findings are similar to epidemiological investigations conducted in community, hospital, and outpatient mental health settings for the mentally retarded. Behavior that indicates emotional pathology in individuals with mild retardation and borderline intellectual functioning has a great impact upon meeting the goals of transitional programs and fostering community acceptance.
Magnetomechanical Ratios and Spin and Orbital Moments for Ni-Cu Alloys

Magnetomechanical ratios (${g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) have been measured for eight different Ni-Cu alloys in the range 0-30.68-at.% copper. Values of ${g}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ decrease linearly with increasing Cu composition to about 24-at.% Cu and then drop off more rapidly. The results have been combined with saturation magnetization measurements from the literature to obtain values of the orbital and the spin contribution to the average moments. Based upon a short-range-order magnetic model the local electronic orbital moment is found to be $\ensuremath{\sim}0.05$ ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ for all combinations of nearest and second-nearest neighbors.
The application of some basic inequalities for entropy

This paper is part of a general study of efficient information selection, storage and processing. It is assumed that the information is contained in binary time series generated by a stochastic source. The main problem is to determine how to approximate the statistical properties of this information source by lower order probability distributions. First, it is determined what restrictions are imposed by known lower order probability distributions on the higher order distributions which are to be determined or estimated. This study suggests an optimal way to estimate the higher order distributions. In the second part the entropy changes which occur in going from lower to higher order probability distributions are studied. The upper and lower bounds for the entropy of the higher order distributions are computed in terms of the entropies of the lower order distributions. These results allow the computation of the “strength” of the conditions which are imposed on the higher order distribution and are not induced by the lower order ones. From this one can compute the importance of knowing the higher order probability distributions for information processing. In conclusion, these results are applied to a coding problem to determine the delay required before encoding a message in order to achieve a prescribed fraction of the optimal comparison given by Shannon's coding theorem.
Medial paraspinal muscle electromyography: techniques of examination.

Abstract We describe two techniques, developed through cadaveric dissections, for the electromyographic examination of the lumbar interspinal muscles and medial lumbar multifidi. Previous anatomic studies have indicated that these medial paraspinal muscles share unisegmental innervation by a single nerve root. Electromyography of these muscles may therefore improve the localization of lumbosacral radiculopathy. The ability of the two techniques to achieve appropriate needle placement was confirmed using percutaneous injection of colored latex into cadavers. The safety and feasibility of the techniques were confirmed in healthy volunteers. Further studies are underway in subjects with lumbosacral radiculopathy to determine the clinical utility of these techniques.
Aromatase inhibitors--mechanisms of steroidal inhibitors.

Inhibition of aromatase has been an attractive approach for examining the roles of estrogen biosynthesis in various physiological or pathological processes. Effective aromatase inhibitors can serve as potential therapeutic agents for controlling estrogen-dependent diseases such as hormone-dependent breast cancer. Investigations on the development of aromatase inhibitors have therefore expanded greatly in the past two decades. Numerous steroidal agents have been developed that have high affinities for the aromatase enzyme complex and exhibit either competitive inhibition, irreversible inhibition, or mechanism-based (enzyme-activated) inhibition. Mechanism-based inhibitors have distinct advantages in drug design, since these inhibitors are highly enzyme specific, produce prolonged inhibition, and exhibit minimal toxicities.
Angiographic correlates of recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia in chronic ischemic heart disease.

Abstract We report the angiographic studies of 53 consecutive patients with angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) and recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia occurring at least 6 weeks remote from an acute myocardial infarction. Triple-vessel disease was present in 25 patients (47%), double-vessel disease in 19 patients (36%), and single-vessel disease in nine patients (17%). All patients with single-vessel disease had left anterior descending coronary artery obstruction. Patients under 50 years old had significantly fewer diseased vessels than those over 50 years old (1.4 vs 2.4 vessels diseased; p
The Impact of Density Dependence, Sociopolitical Legitimation and Competitive Intensity on Self-Help/Mutual-Aid Formation

Density-dependent and density-independent legitimation and competition are used to explain the evolution of self-help/mutual-aid (1955—2000), a long-lived population of health movement organizations. While previous research suggests the importance of both kinds of measures, this paper shows that better specification of density-independent sociopolitical legitimation and competitive intensity improves understanding of organizational and institutional factors affecting organizational formation. Sociopolitical legitimation, for instance, has a beneficial impact on self-help/mutual-aid formation, but later depresses founding rates because identity enclosure hinders new entries. Implications for further studies of identity, legitimation and competition are discussed.
An Advanced Analytical Chemistry Experiment Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, MATLAB, and Chemometrics to Predict Biodiesel Blend Percent Composition.

We present a laboratory experiment for an advanced analytical chemistry course where we first focus on the chemometric technique partial least-squares (PLS) analysis applied to one-dimensional (1D) total-ion-current gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-TIC) separations of biodiesel blends. Then, we focus on n-way PLS (n-PLS) applied to two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC−MS) separations of biodiesel blends. The purpose of the experiment is to determine the percent composition, by volume, of biodiesel in an unknown blend of biodiesel and conventional diesel. A secondary goal is to compare the prediction results of the PLS model to the n-PLS model to see if there is an advantage to analyzing multiple dimensions. The instructor initially creates a PLS model and an n-PLS model using separations of standard biodiesel blends where the percent compositions are known and vary from 0% to 20%. Then, the student collects the GC-TIC and GC−MS chromatograms of an unknown biodiesel blend to regress onto PLS and n-PLS models and discover the percent composition of the unknown sample.
Nucleoside transporters in the disposition and targeting of nucleoside analogs in the kidney.

Abstract Systemic disposition of nucleosides and nucleoside analogs is dependent on renal handling of these compounds. There are five known, functionally characterized nucleoside transporters with varying substrate specificities for nucleosides: concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNT1–CNT3; Solute Carrier (SLC) 28A1–28A3), which mediate the intracellular flux of nucleosides, and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENT1–ENT2; SLC29A1–SLC29A2), which mediate bi-directional facilitated diffusion of nucleosides. All five of these transporters are expressed in the kidney. Concentrative nucleoside transporters primarily localize to the apical membrane of renal epithelial cells while equilibrative nucleoside transporters primarily localize to the basolateral membrane. These transporters work in concert to mediate reabsorptive flux of naturally occurring nucleosides and nucleoside analogs. In addition, equilibrative transporters also participate in secretory flux of some nucleoside analogs. Nucleoside transporters also serve in the targeting of nucleoside analog therapies to renal tumors. This review examines the role that these transporters play in renal disposition of nucleosides and nucleoside analogs in both systemic and kidney-specific therapies.
Outcomes following single-session radiosurgery for high-grade intracranial arteriovenous malformations

AbstractIntroduction. The management of Spetzler–Martin Grade-IV and -V arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is controversial due to their uncertain natural history, the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with microsurgical resection, and the relatively low rate of successful obliteration from less invasive approaches such as radiosurgery and embolization. We present our radiosurgical results for high-grade AVMs. Methods. We identified all patients with Spetzler–Martin Grade-IV and -V AVMs treated with single-session radiosurgery at the University of Virginia between 1989 and 2009. Patients with less than 2 years of follow-up without obliteration were excluded. This yielded 110 patients with a median age 27.6 years. The median AVM volume was 5.7 cc and prescription dose was 19 Gy. The median radiographic and clinical follow-up intervals were 88 and 97 months, respectively. Results. Complete AVM obliteration was identified on MRI only in 11 patients (10%) and confirmed by DSA in 38 patients (34%...
Fermentation of D-xylose-1-C14 by Fusarium lini Bolley.

Abstract Resting cells of the fungus Fusarium lini Bolley (FlB) ferment one mole of d -xylose to equimolar quantities of carbon dioxide, ethyl alcohol, and acetic acid. This is in contrast to growing cultures which have been reported to yield only ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide in a ratio of 1:2. When FlB fermented d -xylose-1-C 14 , only the acetic acid methyl carbon was found to contain appreciable tracer. This is in agreement with pentose dissimilation by Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus pento-aceticus and indicates that molds as well as bacteria cleave the pentose chain into C 2 and C 3 fragments. It is pointed out that if ribulose 5-phosphate is the compound cleaved, then the enzyme catalyzing the cleavage is probably not transketolase.
Artificial reefs of waste material for habitat improvement

Abstract The variety of fish and other marine life in an area can be increased by providing hard surfaces for encrusting fauna and shelter from predators. Artificial reefs have been constructed to do this in a number of places and two birds are killed with one stone as the reefs are made of scrap which would otherwise litter the landscape.
MEMBRANE TOPOLOGY OF S2P, A PROTEIN REQUIRED FOR INTRAMEMBRANOUS CLEAVAGE OF STEROL REGULATORY ELEMENT-BINDING PROTEINS

In sterol-depleted mammalian cells, a two-step proteolytic process releases the NH(2)-terminal domains of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) from membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These domains translocate into the nucleus, where they activate genes of cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis. The SREBPs are oriented in the membrane in a hairpin fashion, with the NH(2)- and COOH-terminal domains facing the cytosol and a single hydrophilic loop projecting into the lumen. The first cleavage occurs at Site-1 within the ER lumen to generate an intermediate that is subsequently released from the membrane by cleavage at Site-2, which lies within the first transmembrane domain. A membrane protein, designated S2P, a putative zinc metalloprotease, is required for this cleavage. Here, we use protease protection and glycosylation site mapping to define the topology of S2P in ER membranes. Both the NH(2) and COOH termini of S2P face the cytosol. Most of S2P is hydrophobic and appears to be buried in the membrane. All three of the long hydrophilic sequences of S2P can be glycosylated, indicating that they all project into the lumen. The HEIGH sequence of S2P, which contains two potential zinc-coordinating residues, is contained within a long hydrophobic segment. Aspartic acid 467, located approximately 300 residues away from the HEIGH sequence, appears to provide the third coordinating residue for the active site zinc. This residue, too, is located in a hydrophobic sequence. The hydrophobicity of these sequences suggests that the active site of S2P is located within the membrane in an ideal position to cleave its target, a Leu-Cys bond in the first transmembrane helix of SREBPs.
Molecular Simulations of the Dynamics of Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not possess well-defined three-dimensional structures in solution under physiological conditions. We develop all-atom, united-atom, and coarse-grained Langevin dynamics simulations for the IDPs α-, β-, and γ-synuclein and microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) that include geometric, attractive hydrophobic, and screened electrostatic interactions and are calibrated to the inter-residue separations measured in recent smFRET experiments. We find that all four proteins are disordered with conformational statistics that are intermediate between random walk and collapsed globule behavior and demonstrate close resemblance to the known experimental data. We find that the hydrophobic interactions strongly influence the dynamics of these proteins, and electrostatics only play a role when charges fluctuate over more than several residues as for MAPT. We also investigate the propensity of α-synuclein and MAPT to aggregate and form oligomers, and compare to our previous results with α-synuclein monomers.
Relative Photoactivities of Iodonium Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)gallates Measured by Fluorescence Probe Techniques

A series of iodonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)gallate photoinitiators were employed to catalyze the photopolymerization of three typical epoxy resins. Rates of photoacid release were compared using Quinaldine Red as acid indicator in either acetonitrile or ethanol. A new fluorescence probe technique was successfully employed to follow the cross-linking kinetics of the epoxysilicone oligomer in real time. The results show that these new salts are the most soluble, most reactive photoinitiators with the desirable stability in monomer formulations in this family.
Self-esteem, personal traits, and college women's life goals

Abstract Questionnaires that assessed self-esteem, life goals, and selected personal characteristics were completed by 118 women enrolled at a selective liberal arts college. The women were remarkably nontraditional in terms of their educational goals and career goals, and relatively traditional in terms of plans for marriage and motherhood. Using stepwise multiple regression analyses to determine the traits that predict nontraditional goals, the data indicate that age, grade, religious upbringing and affiliation, college major, enrollment in Women's Studies courses, and mothers' educational attainment are all significant predictors. Fathers' educational attainment, parents' occupations, and women's birth order and self-esteem are not related to the goals assessed.
Look Who's Pointing Now: Cautions Related to the Clinical Use of Facilitated Communication.

This article focuses on three factors related to the use of facilitated communication (FC), all of which constitute possible reasons for caution by speech-language pathologists who are considering this technique for individuals with severe communication impairments. First, problems with the theoretical bases of FC are discussed, especially those attributing the success of this method to its ability to target individuals' underlying difficulties with apraxia, word finding, and social-emotional challenges. A case is made that there is insufficient evidence to support claims that FC overrides such problems. The notion of the method unlocking communication and related skills from otherwise competent individuals is also questioned. Next, the subject of candidacy is discussed. Special attention is called to the absence of criteria for initiating, maintaining, modifying, and terminating this approach. Finally, outcomes of the method are summarized. Discrepancies between qualitative and experimental investigation...
Relationship of fluid intake to voluntary micturitions and urinary incontinence in women

This retrospective study investigated the relationship between the volume of oral fluid intake and the frequency of voluntary micturitions and urinary incontinent episodes. The sample consisted of 126 community-dwelling women who were age 55 years or older, ambulatory, mentally intact, and participants in a clinical trial on behavioral management for urinary incontinence. All subjects kept fluid and urinary diaries for 1 week. Analyses of Pearson's correlation coefficients between mean daily oral fluid volume intake and mean daily diurnal and nocturnal micturitions and urinary incontinent episodes were performed in women with sphincteric incompetence alone (N = 89), and those with detrusor instability with or without concomitant sphincteric incompetence (N = 37). The results indicated only weak positive correlations between fluid intake and voluntary micturitions. Similar weak positive correlations were observed with incontinent episodes even after controlling for the effect of diuretic use or urodynamic characterization. Modest positive relationships between fluid intake and the urinary variables were found in subjects with pure sphincteric incompetence. No correlations were found in subjects with detrusor instability. Additional analyses of these relationships suggests that fluid intake may have different effects based on the severity of the incontinence syndrome, and that these effects may vary by pathophysiologic condition. We conclude that the volume of fluid intake does not strongly influence voluntary micturition patterns or frequency of urinary incontinent episodes in community-dwelling women.
Nickel(II) and manganese(II) 1D chain coordination polymers with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylato anions

Abstract Five new coordination complexes were synthesized under ambient conditions in water, or water/ethanol by combining a Mn2+ or Ni2+ salt with BTEC and an imidazole derivative forming [Mn(Him)4(H2O)2][Mn(BTEC)(Him)2(H2O)2]·4H2O (1), [Ni(Him)4(H2O)2][Ni(BTEC)(Him)2(H2O)2]·4H2O (2), [2-MeH2im]2[Mn(BTEC)(H2O)4]·5H2O (3), [Mn(4-MeHim)6][Mn(BTEC)(H2O)4]·H2O (4), and [Mn2(BTEC)(HBzim)4(H2O)6]·2H2O (5) (BTEC=1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate; Him=imidazole; 2-MeH2im=2-methylimidazolium; 4-MeHim=4-methylimidazole; HBzim=benzimidazole). Complexes 1–5 were characterized by TGA, FT-IR, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1–5 all crystallize in the triclinic space group P1. Complexes 1–4 are coordination polymers, possessing 1D linear chain structures, while complex 5 is a discrete bimetallic complex. The anionic linear 1D chains in 1–4 are comprised of BTEC ligands that bridge between metal atoms. The cations are either metal complexes (1, 2 and 4) or protonated 2-MeHim (3), which has a lower pKb.
Research Note: Incidence, Number, and Serotypes of Salmonella on Frozen Broiler Chickens at Retail

Abstract Two similar trials were conducted to evaluate broiler carcasses at retail for incidence, number, and serotypes of salmonellae. Twelve frozen carcasses were purchased from each of three retail outlets on two sampling days. Two of the brands purchased were produced and processed conventionally, but the third brand was produced and processed under organic conditions. The frozen carcasses were tempered to 4.4 C prior to microbiological sampling. All carcasses were sampled using a mechanical shaker and 100 mL of sterile water. Recovered rinse fluid was evaluated for levels of salmonellae using a three-tube most probable number technique. All recovered Salmonella isolates were serotyped using the Kauffmann-White scheme. Incidence rates across the three brands ranged from 17 to 50%, with most probable number of salmonellae per 100mL of recovered rinse fluid ranging from 5 to 34 organisms. Serotypes recovered include Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella paratyphi, and Salmonella arizonae.
Biographical Sketch: James Stephen Ewing, MD (1844–1943)

This biographical sketch on James Ewing corresponds to the historic text, The Classic: The Modern Attitude Toward Traumatic Cancer (1935), available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-011-2235-x.
Enhancement of film condensation

Abstract Since 1981, significant advances have been made in understanding the mechanism of enhanced film condensation on finned surfaces - for plates and horizontal tubes. The key advances involve understanding the role that surface tension force plays in draining the condensate from the fins, and in retaining condensate within the interfin region of finned tubes. This understanding has culminated in the development of analytical models for predicting the condensation rate on horizontal integral fin tubes and on banks of integral fin tubes. The models have been validated for both low and high surface tension fluids. In addition, data have been obtained to established the “row effect” on several high performance integral fin tube geometries. High performance fin geometries have been identified, as well as techniques to model currently used fin geometries. Models have been developed to predict condensate retention, and to account for the effect of drainage strips. This paper summarizes the key advances that have occurred since 1981.
Infectivity of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema scapterisci (Nematoda : Steinernematidae)

Abstract Infectivity of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema scapterisci to a range of insect species was evaluated using the standard petri dish/filter paper assay. The nematodes infected and reproduced in insects in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera, but some insects were resistant. Resistent insects were the coleopteran larva Leptinotarsa texana, the dermapteran adult earwig Forficula auricularia, the orthopteran adult Periplaneta americana, and the lepidopteran pupae Spodoptera exigua. S. scapterisci from two geographical areas (Argentina and Uruguay) infected and reproduced equally in the last-instar wax moth Galleria mellonella . The nematodes were more pathogenic to G. mellonella larvae than to the adult house cricket Acheta domesticus with the LC50 (median lethal concentration) for A. domesticus being 38 times higher than that for G. mellonella. The host finding tactic of S. scapterisci appears to be similar to that of Steinernema carpocapsae wherein a large proportion of infective juveniles ambush hosts. In a sand-based assay, temperature affected the infectivity (penetration ability and insect mortality) of both S. scapterisci and S. carpocapsae, S. scapterisci being more infective at higher temperatures than S. carpocapsae. The optimum temperature for nematode penetration and establishment in G. mellonella larvae was 24°C for S. carpocapsae and 32°C for S. scapterisci. Temperature also affected the rate of G. mellonella mortality by the nematodes; compared with S. carpocapsae, S. scapterisci killed hosts slowly. In water, S. scapterisci survived and retained infectivity during the 16-week test period; however, percentage survival was greater at 10 and 25°C than at 4°C. The greater infectivity, development, reproduction, and storage stability of S. scapterisci at relatively higher temperatures indicate their probable adaptation to warm climates. It is concluded that the wide experimental host range, characteristic of entomopathogenic nematodes, also holds true for S. scapterisci.
Validity and reliability of the revised convergence insufficiency symptom survey in adults.

Purpose: To assess the validity and reliability of the revised Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey (CISS) in adults aged 19–30 years. The CISS was developed to be the primary outcome measure for studies evaluating various treatments for convergence insufficiency (CI). Methods: CISS mean scores from adults with symptomatic CI and adults with normal binocular vision (NBV) were compared to assess the survey's validity. Adults with symptomatic CI were given the CISS twice to evaluate reliability, which was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement. Results: Forty-six adults with CI and 46 adults with NBV participated in the study. The mean CISS score for the CI group was 37.3 (S.D. = 9.3) and 11.0 (S.D. = 8.2) for the NBV group. These mean values were significantly different (p < 0.0001). Good discrimination (sensitivity = 97.8%, specificity = 87%) was obtained using a score of 21 or higher. For the CI group the ICC was 0.885 (95% CI of 0.798, 0.936) and the 95% limits of agreement were −9.0 to 7.6. Conclusions: Adults with symptomatic CI had a significantly higher CISS score than adults with NBV. The results of the study demonstrate that the CISS is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used clinically or as an outcome measure for research studies of adults with CI.
Width-Packing Heuristic for Grouping in Two-Dimensional Irregular Shapes Cutting Stock Problem

This paper investigates cutting stock problem with fixed number of weakly heterogeneous shapes and multiple open-dimension stock sheets having fixed width and variable length with the objective of minimizing the stock sheet wastage. The research is based on the hypothesis that creating groups of shapes and mapping the generated groups on heterogeneous stock sheets leads to improved utilization, compared to using single stock sheet. A width-packing heuristic for shapes grouping has been proposed, which generates feasible groups considering width margin of stock sheet along with length and overlap margin of shapes. The groups are mapped onto stock sheets using column generation method by replicating each shape in the group multiple times such that aggregate length of all shapes in group results in minimum trim loss along the length. Linear programming approach is used to select the minimum number of stock sheet layouts that can fulfill the quantity requirements of shapes. Comparison with the existing commercial system shows that the proposed technique achieves up to 3 % improved utilization for all input samples where rectangular enclosure utilization of shapes is high.
Capturing the influence of surface constraints in small and thin samples using polycrystalline plasticity theory

A rate-dependent, single-crystal plasticity model for face-centred cubic crystal structures has been implemented into a large strain elastic - plastic, finite-element code to examine the mechanical influence of the reduced surface constraints of relatively small polycrystalline aggregates. The implemented model simulates deformation of a polycrystal composed of cubic grains where each grain is a single finite element. Mechanical constraint is varied by changing (a) specimen thickness and (b) specimen volume, relative to grain size. Numerical uniaxial tensile tests have been performed to a strain level of 0.01. Direct and statistical examination of the model results revealed the reduced flow stress of grains at specimen surfaces, edges and corners. The results of these simulations are in good agreement with previous experimental studies which suggest that 5 - 10 grains across the minimum dimension of a structure are necessary to approximate true continuum polycrystalline response.
Risk Factors for Unplanned Readmissions in Older Adult Trauma Patients in Washington State: A Competing Risk Analysis

Background Hospital readmission is a significant contributor to increasing health care use related to caring for older trauma patients. This study was undertaken with the following aims: determine the proportion of older adult trauma patients who experience unplanned readmission, as well as risk factors for these readmissions and identify the most common readmission diagnoses among these patients. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of trauma patients age 55 years and older who survived their hospitalization at a statewide trauma center between 2009 and 2010. Linking 3 statewide databases, nonelective readmission rates were calculated for 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after index discharge. Competing risk regression was used to determine risk factors for readmission and account for the competing risk of dying without first being readmitted. Subhazard ratios (SHR) are reported, indicating the relative risk of readmission by 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. Results The cumulative readmission rates for the 14,536 participants were 7.9%, 18.9%, and 25.2% at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year, respectively. In multivariable models, the strongest risk factors for readmission at 1 year (based on magnitude of SHR) were severe head injury (adjusted SHR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.24−1.73) and disposition to a skilled nursing facility (SHR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.39−1.71). The diagnoses most commonly associated with readmission were atrial fibrillation, anemia, and congestive heart failure. Conclusions In this statewide study, unplanned readmissions after older adult trauma occurred frequently up to 1 year after discharge, particularly for patients who sustained severe head trauma and who could not be discharged home independently. Examining common readmission diagnoses might inform the development of interventions to prevent unplanned readmissions.
The Modern Design of Experiments for Configuration Aerodynamics: A Case Study

The effects of slowly varying and persisting covariate effects on the accuracy and precision of experimental result is reviewed, as is the rationale for run-order randomization as a quality assurance tactic employed in the Modern Design of Experiments (MDOE) to defend against such effects. Considerable analytical complexity is introduced by restrictions on randomization in configuration aerodynamics tests because they involve hard-to-change configuration variables that cannot be randomized conveniently. Tradeoffs are examined between quality and productivity associated with varying degrees of rigor in accounting for such randomization restrictions. Certain characteristics of a configuration aerodynamics test are considered that may justify a relaxed accounting for randomization restrictions to achieve a significant reduction in analytical complexity with a comparably negligible adverse impact on the validity of the experimental results.
Behavior of wave functions in smooth aperiodic potentials: Anderson localization in the continuum.

The behavior of solutions of one-dimensional Schr\"odinger equations with aperiodic bounded potentials is studied. By analyzing the properties of the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin series, it is shown that, for a potential with an appropriate soft cutoff of its fluctuation spectrum, the high-energy eigenfunctions are extended states. In the sharp-cutoff limit, the energy of the mobility edge becomes infinite. The asymptotic behavior of the solutions near the mobility edge is obtained. The results may be thought of as arising from momentum, energy, and current conservation. An extension to almost periodic potentials and to higher dimensions is proposed.
SU-C-213AB-05: IMRT QA Using R&V Data, Treatment Records, and a Second Treatment Planning System

Purpose: Traditional patient‐specific IMRT QA measurements are labor intensive and consume machine time. Calculation‐based IMRT QA methods typically are not comprehensive. We have developed a comprehensive calculation‐based IMRT QA method to detect uncertainties introduced by the initial dose calculation, the data transfer through the RV for the Tx plan were 100.0 (s=0.1), 99.9 (s=0.6), and 96.0 (s=4.6); and for the vTPS plan were 99.3 (s=0.6), 97.2 (s=1.5), and 79.0 (s=8.6). The average ratio of the mean dose for all target volumes in the RV, Tx, and vTPS plans to the clinical value was 0.999 (s=0.001), 1.008 (s=0.006), and 0.991 (s=0.009). The average calculation‐to‐measurement ratios were 0.997 (s=0.014), 0.997 (s=0.014), 1.004 (s=0.015), and 0.991 (s=0.016) for clinical, RV, TR, and vTPS plans. Conclusions: Together with mechanical and dosimetric QA of the treatment unit, our methods for calculative‐based IMRT QA promise to minimize the need for patient‐ specific QA measurements by indentifying outliers in need of further review. Research sponsored by Philips Medical Systems
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of High Energy Cascades in Iron

A series of high-energy, up to 20 keV, displacement cascades in iron have been investigated for times up to 200 ps at 100 K using the method of molecular dynamics simulation. Thesimulations were carried out using the MOLDY code and a modified version of the many-bodyinteratomic potential developed by Finnis and Sinclair. The paper focuses on those results obtained at the highest energies, 10 and 20 keV. The results indicate that the fraction of the Frenkel pairs surviving in-cascade recombination remains fairly high in iron and that the fraction of the surviving point defects that cluster is lower than in materials such as copper. In particular, vacancy clustering appears to be inhibited in iron. Some of the interstitial clusters were observed to exhibit an unexpectedly complex, three-dimensional morphology. The observations are discussed in terms of their relevance to microstructural evolution and mechanical property changes in irradiated iron-based alloys.
Effects of sulfenyl, sulfinyl and sulfonyl groups on acidities and homolytic bond dissociation energies of adjacent C—H and N—H bonds

Acidities and bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the N–H bond in two phenylsulfenylamides, PhSNHBz and PhSNH-t-Bu, and four phenylsulfenylanilides, 4-GC6H4NHSPh, where G = MeO, H, Br and CN, were measured in order to compare the effects of substituents on acidities and BDEs of N—H bonds with those of C—H bonds. The effects of PhS groups on acidities and BDEs in a series of C—H acids were found to be comparable to those on acidities and BDEs of PhS in a similar series of N—H acids. Comparisons were also made of the effects of changing the oxidation state of sulfur in the series PhS, PhSO and PhSO2 on the acidities and BDEs of adjacent N—H and C—H bonds in weak acids. Hammett-type plots of pKHA values for phenyl benzyl sulfones (4-GC6H4CH2SO2Ph) and phenylsulfenylanilides (4-GC6H4NHSPh) were linear vs σp− values. A linear plot was obtained and explained for a plot of BDE of the N—H bonds in remotely substituted phenylsulfonylanilides with σ+ values. Plots of BDEs vs Eox(A−) were also linear for 4-substituted phenylsulfenylanilides (4-GC6H4NHSPh), phenylsulfonylanilides (4-GC6H4NHSO2Ph) and phenyl benzyl sulfones (4-GC6H4CH2SO2Ph). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A pipelined binary tree as a case study on designing efficient circuits for an FPGA in a bram aware design

Designing circuits for FPGAs involves challenges often distinct from designing circuits for ASICs. We describe efforts to convert a pattern counting circuit architecture, based on a pipelined binary tree and originally designed for ASIC implementation, into a circuit suitable for FPGAs. The original architecture, when mapped to a Spartan 3e FPGA, could process 10 million patterns per second and handle up to 4,096 patterns. The modified architecture could instead process 100 million patterns per second and handle up to 32,768 patterns, representing a 10x performance improvement and a 4x efficiency improvement. The redesign involved partitioning large memories into smaller ones at the expense of redundant control logic. Through this and other case studies, design patterns may emerge that aid designers in building high-performance efficient circuits for FPGAs
The geo-effectiveness of interplanetary small-scale magnetic fluxropes

Abstract The geo-effectiveness of Interplanetary small-scale magnetic flux ropes (ISMFRs) are studied using multiple satellites (ACE, WIND, Geotail, Cluster, THEMIS, and geosynchronous spacecraft) and ground magnetometers. We identified 16 ISMFR events during 2007–2008 that had in situ observations of the near-Earth upstream solar wind in addition to observations from ACE and Wind at 1 AU, and observations from multiple spacecraft in the inner magnetosphere. All the upstream solar wind (and in many cases magnetosheath) satellite observations showed very similar flux rope signatures indicating that the flux rope propagates from 1 AU through the bow shock. Thirteen of the 16 events were associated with substorm activity while nine of them appeared to trigger isolated substorm onsets. Combined with earlier published databases of ISMFRs from 1995 to 2005, we also examined the geo-effectiveness using 1-min AE/AL indices. We found more than half of these events (73/141) were associated with substorms, while the rest were associated with quiet geomagnetic activity periods. Of the 73 substorm-related ISMFRs, 32 events had IMF B z polarity signatures from south to north (SN), 31 from north to south (NS), and 10 were identified as B y bipolar signature events. A superposed epoch analysis indicates that the timing of the substorm activity related to the ISMFRs is different between SN- and NS-events. Most of the ISMFRs associated with quiet geomagnetic activity were either B y bipolar signature events or accompanied with complex B z and B y signatures. This study demonstrates that ISMFR with IMF B z polarity signatures drive substorms, but not geomagnetic storms.
An exploratory empirical note on the impact of labour market freedom on the female labour force participation rate in the US

The purpose of this exploratory empirical note is to provide at least preliminary insight into whether a greater degree of labour market freedom (LABMKTFREE) elicits an increase in the female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) in the US. Initial empirical support for this hypothesis is provided in this study since the estimated coefficient on the LABMKTFREE index is positive and statistically significant at the 5% level. This result implies that, other things held the same, the higher the LABMKTFREE index, the greater the FLFPR. Indeed, the findings imply that a 1% increase in the LABMKTFREE index would lead to a 0.294% increase in the FLFPR.
Suppression of Vehicle-induced Bridge Vibration Using Tuned Mass Damper:

This paper focused on a numerical model for vehicle-induced bridge vibrations controlled with a tuned mass damper (TMD) system, taking road surface conditions into account. A computer program was developed to study the possible effectiveness of the TMD for suppressing the vibration of bridges under vehicle loads. Then, a comprehensive investigation was conducted on different bridges under two vehicle load patterns, i.e. two trucks moving side by side or several trucks passing over the bridge in a traffic flow. It was found that the additional damping provided by the TMD results in a reduction of the maximum dynamic displacement for both free and forced vibrations. On the other hand, for all the bridges investigated in this study, the reduction of acceleration is also significant. More generally speaking, it can be concluded that for the same TMD installed on the same bridge, it is more effective for cases with trucks passing over the bridge in traffic flow than for cases with only one truck. Such a study ...
ITEM RESPONSE THEORY

Few would doubt that researchers at ETS have contributed more to the general topic of item response theory (IRT) than individuals from any other institution. In this chapter, we review most of those contributions, dividing them into sections by decades of publication. The history of IRT begins before the seminal volume by Lord and Novick (Statistical Theories of Mental Test Scores, Addison-Wesley, Reading, 1968) and ETS researchers were central contributors to those developments, beginning with early work by Fred Lord and Bert Green in the 1950s. The chapter traces a wide range of contributions through the decades, ending with recent work that produced models involving complex latent variable structures and multiple dimensions.
Next-generation digital forensics

The digital forensics community requires new tools and strategies for the rapid turnaround of large forensic targets.
Enhanced dissolution of cinnabar (mercuric sulfide) by dissolved organic matter isolated from the Florida Everglades

Organic matter isolated from the Florida Everglades caused a dramatic increase in mercury release (up to 35 μM total dissolved mercury) from cinnabar (HgS), a solid with limited solubility. Hydrophobic (a mixture of both humic and fulvic) acids dissolved more mercury than hydrophilic acids and other nonacid fractions of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Cinnabar dissolution by isolated organic matter and natural water samples was inhibited by cations such as Ca2+. Dissolution was independent of oxygen content in experimental solutions. Dissolution experiments conducted in DI water (pH = 6.0) had no detectable (<2.5 nM) dissolved mercury. The presence of various inorganic (chloride, sulfate, or sulfide) and organic ligands (salicylic acid, acetic acid, EDTA, or cysteine) did not enhance the dissolution of mercury from the mineral. Aromatic carbon content in the isolates (determined by 13C NMR) correlated positively with enhanced cinnabar dissolution. ζ-potential measurements indicated sorption of negatively ...
The metabolism of 6-aminochrysene in the rat

Abstract The absorption, distribution and excretion of 6 -aminochrysene- 5 , 6 - 14 C were investigated in rats. The highest concentration of radioactivity in the organs at 48 hr after an i. p. dose were in the liver and kidneys. Only 12% of the administered radioactivity was recovered in the urine and 56% from the feces during a ten day period. Up to 42% of the dose was excreted in the bile during 48 hours. The major biliary metabolite of 6 -aminochrysene was the N-glucuronide of 6 -aminochrysene. 12 -Hydroxy- 6 -acetylaminochrysene was present in the urine as a glucuronide and in unconjugated form in the feces.
Academic medicine's choices in an era of reform.

Academic medicine is once more face-to-face with health care reform, which this time is being seriously debated and will at least be the subject of legislation. There is the possibility that the coming changes could unintentionally injure academic medicine; that is why academic medicine's leaders must be participants and constructive contributors to the discussion rather than simply being critics. The author describes the economic, social, and educational forces that have led to the present reform proposals, indicates the main proposals that are being made to respond to these forces, and states ways that academic medicine can effectively change to meet the coming reforms. For example, curriculum content can change (e.g., revise courses to strengthen the bridge between the basic and clinical sciences); there can be more public health emphasis; the educational structure can change (e.g., continue to modify the sites for clinical education); and academic medicine's philosophy can change (e.g., broadening the acute-care, biologically-based medical approach). The author also discusses risks of the proposed reforms to academic medicine (e.g., stagnant support of basic research; political pressures for the distribution of resources for prevention services research and other reforms; decrease in the support available for hospitals' examination of clinical activities), and emphasizes that academic medicine's traditional inertia is one of the greatest risks in the coming years. In conclusion, the author proposes that the university become the base of the medical school and that the health system become the base of the university hospital; an interactive federated relationship between medical schools and hospitals will allow academic medicine to stay flexible enough to effectively meet the coming changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Primary desmoplastic small round cell tumor of the femur

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare malignant neoplasm typically involving the abdominal cavity of a young male. Extra-abdominal occurrence of this tumor is very rare. We report a 10-year-old girl with primary DSRCT arising within the left femur. The patient presented with knee pain, and radiological findings were strongly suggestive of osteogenic sarcoma. In addition to the typical microscopic appearance and immunophenotype, RT-PCR demonstrated the chimeric transcript of EWS-WT1, which is diagnostic of DSRCT. Pulmonary metastases were present at initial staging studies, but no abdominal or pelvic lesion was present. Despite chemotherapy and complete tumor excision, the patient developed progressive lung and bone metastases and died 3 years after initial presentation. This is the second reported case of primary DSRCT of bone with genetic confirmation.
Project Advocacy and the Estimate at Completion Problem

Abstract According to some authors, an accurate estimate of a contract's completion cost is not always tolerated by project managers, especially when the estimate may jeopardize the project. Instead, less accurate but more optimistic estimates are supported as the “most likely” completion cost. This paper provides evidence that supports this observation. Using data from sixty-four completed defense contracts, cumulative cost and schedule performance indices were used to estimate contract completion costs, termed “Estimates at Completion” (EACs). These index-based estimates were then compared to estimates supported by contractor and government project managers. Results showed that the average EAC derived from the cumulative cost performance index (EACcpi) was a floor to the final cost. Results also showed that the estimates supported by the contractor and government were highly correlated to the EACcpi and less correlated to higher, more accurate index-based estimates.