cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survey-based Work System Assessment to Facilitate Large-scale Dissemination of Healthcare Quality Improvement Programs.

Introduction The dissemination of quality improvement (QI) interventions to a broader range of healthcare settings requires a proactive assessment of local work systems and processes. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a survey-based work system assessment (WSA) tool to facilitate the dissemination of a program for optimizing blood culture (BC) use. Methods Informed by findings from an onsite, interview-based WSA at 2 hospitals, a 50-item WSA survey was devised and administrated to 15 hospitals participating in a QI collaborative. WSA survey data were summarized, shared, and discussed with individual hospitals to inform the adaptation and implementation of the BC program. Physician champions leading the local QI team assessed the use of the WSA survey by completing an 8-item survey. Results A total of 347 clinicians completed the WSA survey, and physician champions at 12 hospitals evaluated the use of the WSA survey. Both the WSA survey data and the evaluation of the WSA survey showed that the survey-based WSA tool could help participating hospitals understand their current BC ordering practices and identify potential barriers to implementing the program from the perspectives of different clinicians. Conclusions We demonstrated how a survey-based tool could be used to facilitate WSA in the dissemination of a program for improving BC use to a multisite collaborative. A survey-based WSA tool can be used to facilitate future large-scale intervention dissemination efforts.
Thermal Non-Equilibrium Flows in Three Space Dimensions

We study the equations describing the motion of a thermal non-equilibrium gas in three space dimensions. It is a hyperbolic system of six equations with a relaxation term. The dissipation mechanism induced by the relaxation is weak in the sense that the Shizuta-Kawashima criterion is violated. This implies that a perturbation of a constant equilibrium state consists of two parts: one decays in time while the other stays. In fact, the entropy wave grows weakly along the particle path as the process is irreversible. We study thermal properties related to the well-posedness of the nonlinear system. We also obtain a detailed pointwise estimate on the Green’s function for the Cauchy problem when the system is linearized around an equilibrium constant state. The Green’s function provides a complete picture of the wave pattern, with an exact and explicit leading term. Comparing with existing results for one dimensional flows, our results reveal a new feature of three dimensional flows: not only does the entropy wave not decay, but the velocity also contains a non-decaying part, strongly coupled with its decaying one. The new feature is supported by the second order approximation via the Chapman-Enskog expansions, which are the Navier-Stokes equations with vanished shear viscosity and heat conductivity.
Robotics System Process and Concept for On-orbit Assembly for Potential Mars Sample Return

Proposed Mars Sample Return (MSR) missions would require on-orbit assembly of containment vessels to meet backward Planetary Protection requirements and transfer of the sample container through various stations and positions. Some operations would have to be performed autonomously, and others would require ground-in-loop decision-making stages and verification processes. One concept design for an Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) Capture, Contain, and Return System (CCRS) Transfer Mechanism (TM) is a multi-Degree of Freedom (DOF) manipulator that utilizes a passive End Effector (EE) to assist in containment vessel assembly. To converge on a feasible design, a robotic system process has been instantiated. This process is composed of three main phases: robotic problem definition (operating environment, operations/functions, system goals), robotic solution selection (trade studies on the number of degrees of freedom, number of mechanisms, types of mechanisms), robotic solution design, implementation, and verification and validation (kinematic configuration, robotic and kinematic analysis and topology optimization of components). As a final product of this process, a half-scale functional prototype of the TM was developed to demonstrate the end-to-end operation capability.
Abstract C130: The cultural experiences of gender and sexual minorities accessing preventative breast cancer screenings: Making medical settings more inclusive to increase uptake

In analyzing the cultural obstacles that gender and sexual minorities (GSM), specifically gender-nonconforming women and transpeople, face when accessing preventative breast cancer screenings, I have uncovered various intersections that are in play. The primary feature for this particular study is specific female body parts, the breasts, which may or may not produce conflicted feelings for GSM. Other intersections include gender performances, sex, race, and sexuality, along with educational status and economic status (which facilitates gaining health insurance) in terms of the importance, affordability, and understanding of breast cancer screenings. This is all done with the backdrop of a terrifying and deadly disease without early detection. GSM are the most underserved within this realm of medicine, and it is my contention that there are specific cultural obstacles causing this. Recently, there has been growing evidence that gender-nonconforming women and transpeople access breast screenings less often than their counterparts (Hiestand, Horne & Levitt, 2007; Wang, Griffiths & Grande, 2017, 2018; Barefoot, Warren & Smalley, 2017; Bazzi, Whorms, King & Potter, 2015; Tabaac, Sutter, Wall & Baker, 2018); however, as of yet, there have been no large-scale analyses to determine exactly what the cultural features are that are causing obstacles for these two groups in getting breast cancer screenings. Themes have emerged from my initial interviews for this project that will guide the much larger study. The underlying cultural features specific to GSM accessing medical settings as well as these themes that have emerged from the data will be the focus of my presentation. Citation Format: Kristi Tredway. The cultural experiences of gender and sexual minorities accessing preventative breast cancer screenings: Making medical settings more inclusive to increase uptake [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr C130.
Biomarkers, Clinical Features, and Rechallenge for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Renal Immune-Related Adverse Events.

Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in treating several cancers; however, acute kidney injury (AKI) can occur as part as an immune-related adverse event (iRAE). Biomarkers at the time of AKI diagnosis may help determine whether they are ICI- related and guide therapeutic strategies. Methods In this retrospective study, we reviewed patients with cancer treated with ICI therapy between 2014 and 2020 who developed AKI (defined as a ≥1.5-fold increase in serum creatinine [SCr]) that was attributed to ICI (ICI-AKI) and compared them with an adjudicated non–ICI-AKI group. Clinical and laboratory features, including SCr, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and urine retinol binding protein/urine creatinine (uRBP/Cr) levels at AKI event were evaluated. Results There were 37 patients with ICI-AKI and 13 non–ICI-AKI referents in the cohort for analysis. At time of AKI, SCr, CRP, and uRBP/Cr were significantly higher in the ICI-AKI compared with the non–ICI-AKI patients (median [interquartile range (IQR)] SCr 2.0 [1.7, 2.9] vs. 1.5 [1.3, 1.6] mg/dl, serum CRP 54.0 [33.7, 90.0] vs. 3.5 [3.0, 7.9] mg/l, and uRBP/Cr 1927 [1174, 46,522] vs. 233 [127, 989] μg/g Cr, respectively, P Conclusion Our findings suggest that serum CRP and uRBP/Cr may help to differentiate AKI due to ICI from other causes.
PCNA inhibition enhances the cytotoxicity of β-lapachone in NQO1-Positive cancer cells by augmentation of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage.

Abstract β-Lapachone is a classic quinone-containing antitumor NQO1-bioactivatable drug that directly kills NQO1-overexpressing cancer cells. However, the clinical applications of β-lapachone are primarily limited by its high toxicity and modest lethality. To overcome this side effect and expand the therapeutic utility of β-lapachone, we demonstrate the effects of a novel combination therapy including β-lapachone and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) inhibitor T2 amino alcohol (T2AA) on various NQO1+ cancer cells. PCNA has DNA clamp processivity activity mediated by encircling double-stranded DNA to recruit proteins involved in DNA replication and DNA repair. In this study, we found that compared to monotherapy, a nontoxic dose of the T2AA synergized with a sublethal dose of β-lapachone in an NQO1-dependent manner and that combination therapy prevented DNA repair, increased double-strand break (DSB) formation and promoted programmed necrosis and G1 phase cell cycle arrest. We further determined that combination therapy enhanced antitumor efficacy and prolonged survival in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenografts model. Our findings show novel evidence for a new therapeutic approach that combines of β-lapachone treatment with PCNA inhibition that is highly effective in treating NQO1+ solid tumor cells.
Exploring the Deformation Mechanics of Coal Ribs Using the Distinct Element Modeling Approach

Understanding coal rib geomechanics is essential for improving rib stability and eliminating fatality and injury trends due to rib failures. There are presently no standardized rib control practices available in most countries. In light of this observed dearth, this investigation aims to improve understanding of rib failure mechanisms using the distinct element modeling (DEM) technique. DEM is chosen because of its superior advantage to explicitly represent discontinuities and their constitutive behaviors, besides that of the intact rock matrix. To analyze the rib stability, a numerical monitoring protocol is implemented to monitor the deformation characteristics of the coal rock mass as its strength is gradually reduced and the deformation and safety factors are established. A number of scenarios were considered in the modeling process, including a non-cleated rib, a cleated rib, and the interaction between support and coal mass. The main conclusions drawn from the study were that the rib failure process initiated with tensile and shear cracks which coalesced to form predominantly sub-parallel tensile fractures to the rib line; and joints and defects in the rib limit fracture development and propagation. The depth of fracture was found to be ~ 1.14 m for the cleated rib and ~ 1.40 m for the non-cleated rib. The depth of softening (DOS) for the cleated and non-cleated ribs was ~ 1.80 m and ~ 1.60 m, respectively. Also, the results demonstrated the capability of DEM-based bonded block models (BBM) in explicitly capturing the rock and support interactions which makes this solution to be suitable for investigating coal rib stability and support requirements.
Protecting Both Sides of the Conversation: Towards a Clear International Standard for Hate Speech Regulation

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution represents a wholehearted commitment to an individual’s right to free expression.1 Historically, the Supreme Court has permitted the abridgment of that right only in very particular circumstances. In the majority of its decisions, the Court has adopted a speechprotective stance, prioritizing an individual’s contribution to the common marketplace of ideas over government intervention.2 The notion is that the addition of any idea, even if it is disfavored, outlandish, or small-minded, to society helps to preserve an atmosphere of robust public debate.3 The international community, in contrast, is warier of the externalities that accompany unchecked free expression and has, as
Rapid post-mortem maturation of diatom silica oxygen isotope values

[1] Oxygen isotope values of diatom silica (δ18Odiatom) are increasingly used as paleoclimate proxies; however, the magnitude and timing of post-mortem alteration of δ18Odiatom values has been unclear. In freshwater diatom silica from a human-made pond in northern New Mexico, post-mortem alteration of δ18Odiatom values occurs within one year of sediment burial. Diatom silica collected antemortem has an average δ18Odiatom value of 21.5‰ (VSMOW, σ = 1.3, n = 23), whereas diatom silica from two sediment cores from the same freshwater environment records significantly higher δ18Odiatom values (28.9‰, σ = 0.8, n = 13). The difference in ante- and post-mortem δ18Odiatom values indicate post-mortem alteration of diatom silica oxygen that results in a >7‰ increase in δ18O values. This study demonstrates that δ18Odiatom values reach mature values within 0.5 years of frustule death. Initial diatom δ18O values that record growing conditions are rapidly overwritten during silica maturation, and the mature diatom δ18O values approach isotopic equilibrium for quartz-water. The rapid post-mortem alteration of diatom δ18O values explains much of the disparate data regarding silica-water fractionation for diatom silica and has a profound effect on the use of diatom silica δ18O values as a paleoclimate proxy in lacustrine and marine environments.
Knowledge or Knowledges

Knowledge is a ghost to social scientists. It spooks their work. For them, it is a subject unlike any other. Knowledge, to be sure, is what they, the social ones, like all other scientists, produce. Some people in the hu manities may still search for truth, or truths, but scientists produce knowl edge. Yet, unlike the more normatively respectable scientists, social scientists understand that their knowledge is forever haunted by the mys terious circumstances of its origins and passings away. Knowledge of the social produced by social beings is never, nor can it ever be, what it seems. It arises necessarily out of the experiences its producers have as members of the social orders they study. For this very reason, its factual certitude withers to a relative wisp nearly as soon as it is born. Knowledge of the social by social beings is a subject that, by its very nature, frightens the knower because it cannot, or will not, be con tained by the more comfortable methods and categories of science. This is why so many sociologists, a good number of political scientists, and even some academic psychologists and economists will cash their pay checks in the name of an official department of social science, while, in their work a-day lives, they disavow the rules and ideals of science itself, seeking in stead the gentler comfort of methods borrowed from history, ethnography, philosophy, even literary criticism. Among the social sciences, no discipline has been more troubled than sociology by the question of knowledge, which is why, no doubt, it has spon sored (though improperly named) a subspecialty, the sociology of knowl edge. One supposes that Karl Mannheim, the first modern codifier of the sociology of knowledge?no less than Karl Marx, who first defined the so ciological troubles of knowledge?would be annoyed to learn that the sub ject of their concerns has become a formal subject of professional expertise
Multiprocessors and other parallel systems - an introduction and overview

The evolution of hardware organization is traced from early uniprocessor systems with no parallelism through several stages of both single and multiple computer systems each providing a higher degree of concurrency. A multiprocessor is then defined as a specific class of system organization in terms of both its hardware and software characteristics. The basic hardware organizations used for the interconnection of the functional units in a multiprocessor are discussed as well as the organization of other parallel systems, such as associative, array, and pipeline processors. Three types of operating systems for multiprocessors are discussed and the problem of software support for exploiting parallelism in program structure is introduced.
Mechanics of the Nucleus

The nucleus is the distinguishing feature of eukaryotic cells. Until recently, it was often considered simply as a unique compartment containing the genetic information of the cell and associated machinery, without much attention to its structure and mechanical properties. This article provides compelling examples that illustrate how specific nuclear structures are associated with important cellular functions, and how defects in nuclear mechanics can cause a multitude of human diseases. During differentiation, embryonic stem cells modify their nuclear envelope composition and chromatin structure, resulting in stiffer nuclei that reflect decreased transcriptional plasticity. In contrast, neutrophils have evolved characteristic lobulated nuclei that increase their physical plasticity, enabling passage through narrow tissue spaces in their response to inflammation. Research on diverse cell types further demonstrates how induced nuclear deformations during cellular compression or stretch can modulate cellular function. Pathological examples of disturbed nuclear mechanics include the many diseases caused by mutations in the nuclear envelope proteins lamin A/C and associated proteins, as well as cancer cells that are often characterized by abnormal nuclear morphology. In this article, we will focus on determining the functional relationship between nuclear mechanics and cellular (dys-)function, describing the molecular changes associated with physiological and pathological examples, the resulting defects in nuclear mechanics, and the effects on cellular function. New insights into the close relationship between nuclear mechanics and cellular organization and function will yield a better understanding of normal biology and will offer new clues into therapeutic approaches to the various diseases associated with defective nuclear mechanics.
Memoir as Contemplative Practice for Peace and Justice

12.00 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} In this paper we examine the relationship between mindfulness, memoir, and critical pedagogy. We propose that memoir links critical pedagogy and contemplative practice, furthering the goals of both. This proposal is rooted in an analysis of three years’ worth of memoirs prepared by students in a Peace and Justice Studies course. Our study shows that the pedagogical strategy we have employed assists students’ increased self-awareness as well as insight regarding their inter-connectedness with other living beings. Both the study and contemplative practice of memoir root this awareness in the specific places, relationships, and situations that form our students' lives. Students are thus situated for deeper reflection regarding the ways their own lives are linked with the destiny of a much larger world reality, and specifically, with questions of peace and justice.
On Planar Five-bar Motion Generation with a Driver Torque Constraint

In motion generation, the objective is to calculate the mechanism parameters required to achieve or approximate a set of prescribed rigid-body positions. This work introduces a new design constraint that considers driving link static torque for a given rigid-body load. By incorporating this new constraint into a conventional planar five-bar motion generation model, planar five-bar mechanisms are synthesized to not only achieve prescribed rigid-body positions, but also satisfy maximum driver torque for a given rigid-body load.
Effect of feeding on circulating micronutrient concentrations in the Burmese python (Python molurus).

Abstract Burmese pythons ( Python molurus ) regulate digestive performance and metabolism with the ingestion of each meal. To explore the python's postprandial responses, we monitored the concentrations of blood micronutrients and homocysteine during fasting and for 15 days after feeding. Plasma folate concentrations peaked with a 270% increase over fasting levels 3 days after feeding, whereas plasma B-12 peaked with a 66% increase within 1 day. Erythrocyte folate concentrations were highest 15 days after feeding with a 44% increase. The major plasma folate was 5-methyltetrahydrofolate during fasting and was non-5-methyltetrahydrofolate during digestion, whereas erythrocytes contained polyglutamyl forms of non-5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Plasma homocysteine concentrations peaked with a 56% increase 3 days after feeding, and were markedly greater than those of mammals. Plasma zinc and copper did not change significantly. Plasma zinc concentrations were 20 times greater than plasma copper and approximately 30 times higher than those of mammals. Pythons showed a significant postprandial decline of 25% in hematocrit. Plasma pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (coenzyme form of vitamin B-6) was not detected probably due to its tight protein binding. Most micronutrient concentrations appear to plateau 3 days after feeding, suggesting that pythons have relatively rapid homeostasis of micronutrients despite the ingestion of large meals.
Cardiac amyloidosis causing cardiac dysfunction: Analysis of 54 necropsy patients

Abstract Clinical and morphologic findings are described in 54 necropsy patients (32 men [59%]) aged 21 to 97 years (mean 64) with cardiac amyloid deposits extensive enough to cause fatal cardiac dysfunction. Chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) was present in 46 (85%). The duration of CHF, known in 39 patients, ranged from 1 to 108 months (mean 18) and lasted ≤ 12 months in 25 patients (64%). All 8 patients without CHF died suddenly and unexpectedly. Systemic arterial pressures were recorded in the last 3 months of life in 43 patients: the peak indirect systolic pressure was ≤ 130 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure At necropsy, the hearts ranged in weight from 300 to 900 g (mean 554), and all but 1 had a “rubbery,” noncompliant consistency. In addition to their presence in myocardial interstitium (53 patients) and in intramural coronary arteries (54 patients), amyloid deposits were present grossly in mural endocardium in all 54 patients and in valvular endocardium in 46 (85% ). The cardiac ventricles were not dilated in 43 patients (80%), but both atria were dilated in all 54 patients. Intracardiac thrombi were present in 14 patients (26% ). Cardiac amyloidosis must be considered in any elderly patient with chronic CHF unassociated with chest pain when blood pressure is normal and the electrocardiogram discloses low voltage and a pattern of “healed myocardial infarction.”
MediaMime: after-the-fact authoring annotation system for an e-learning environment

Studies have shown that e-Learning is one of the fasted growing trends in higher education. This evolving trend can be classified with respect to the underlying structure and content of these environments. Of particular note is an e-Learning environment which is structured asynchronously and whose content is based solely on an electronic medium. In such environments, classes may never actually meet and the only form of delivery may be via an electronic lecture system. Given this environment, how do we maintain the benefits of the traditional classroom setting while still offering students the flexibility they may need in having the asynchronous environment in the first place? Furthermore, given an electronic-only delivery mechanism, how can both the student and the instructor tailor e-Learning content to suit their needs. We propose a flexible media-rich instructional method which: 1) facilitates collaboration in an asynchronous, electronic lecture environment and 2) supports the context-based, post-production augmentation and exchange of user-defined supplements which allows an author to refine and tailor e-Learning content.
The identification of a set by successive intersections

This paper is concerned with the identification of an unknown subset S of a known set A by selecting a sequence A 1 , A 2 , A 3 ,…, of subsets of A and establishing, after each selection, whether or not S ∩ A k is empty. The central problem is to devise a selection algorithm which would result in correct identification of S with the least expected number of A k 's. The main result of this paper is a selection algorithm which, under certain conditions, is considerably superior to the “naive selection algorithm” (where each A k consists of a different element of A ), and whose performance is quite close to an upper bound arrived at via information-theoretic consideration. The conditions for this high performance are: Small value of p (the probability of any element of A being in S ), say p ⩽ 0.1, and a large cardinality n of A , say n ⩾ 10/ p .
A scaling theory for the size distribution of emitted dust aerosols suggests climate models underestimate the size of the global dust cycle.

Abstract Mineral dust aerosols impact Earth’s radiation budget through interactions with clouds, ecosystems, and radiation, which constitutes a substantial uncertainty in understanding past and predicting future climate changes. One of the causes of this large uncertainty is that the size distribution of emitted dust aerosols is poorly understood. The present study shows that regional and global circulation models (GCMs) overestimate the emitted fraction of clay aerosols (< 2 μm diameter) by a factor of ∼2–8 relative to measurements. This discrepancy is resolved by deriving a simple theoretical expression of the emitted dust size distribution that is in excellent agreement with measurements. This expression is based on the physics of the scale-invariant fragmentation of brittle materials, which is shown to be applicable to dust emission. Because clay aerosols produce a strong radiative cooling, the overestimation of the clay fraction causes GCMs to also overestimate the radiative cooling of a given quantity of emitted dust. On local and regional scales, this affects the magnitude and possibly the sign of the dust radiative forcing, with implications for numerical weather forecasting and regional climate predictions in dusty regions. On a global scale, the dust cycle in most GCMs is tuned to match radiative measurements, such that the overestimation of the radiative cooling of a given quantity of emitted dust has likely caused GCMs to underestimate the global dust emission rate. This implies that the deposition flux of dust and its fertilizing effects on ecosystems may be substantially larger than thought.
Comparative susceptibilities of insect cell lines to infection by the occlusion-body derived phenotype of baculoviruses

Twelve insect cell lines from six species were tested for susceptibility to baculovirus infection by occlusion-derived virus (ODV) phenotype through the use of a typical endpoint assay procedure. ODV from three nucleopolyhedroviruses were prepared by alkali treatment (sodium carbonate) of occlusion bodies (OBs) and the virus preparations were titered on various cell lines. More than a four-log difference was realized for each of theses viruses between the various cell lines. The TN368 line from Trichoplusia ni was only marginally susceptible to ODV from each virus, showing only 3-6 infectious units (IU) per million OBs while the gypsy moth line, LdEp was most susceptible, realizing more than 100,000 IU/million OBs. The other lines tested showed various levels of susceptibility between these two extremes and also varied between the three viruses tested. In additional tests, the ODV were treated with trypsin prior to application to the cells. With most cell lines, this treatment increased the infectivity of each virus by 2-10-fold. Exceptions to this trend included the gypsy moth LdEp line, on which the trypsinized ODV from two of the viruses were slightly less infectious than each virus without trypsin, and the TN-368 line, on which the trypsinized ODV was 5,000-75,000 times more infectious. The variable results of trypsinized virus on the different lines are probably due to the levels of endogenous protease activity in the various lines, but the mode of action of the trypsin has not been elucidated. Ultimately, the variable response of cell lines to ODV of different viruses, and the variable effects of trypsin on the ODV may lead to an improved understanding of the infection process of this virus phenotype as well as factors relating to baculovirus host range.
Role of chiral auxiliaries in the type 2 intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction. Influence on diastereoselectivity

Abstract The incorporation of a chiral auxiliary as part of a disposable tether in the type 2 intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition leads to a pair of diastereomers. Separation of the diastereomers and tether removal yields enantiomerically pure cyclohexanes and decalins.
MECHANISM OF STRONG METAL-SUPPORT INTERACTION IN Ni/TiO2

Abstract Catalytic CO hydrogenation reactions were performed on several differently prepared Ni TiO 2 (100) and TiO X Ni (111) model catalysts at 190 °C, PH2 = 60 Torr and (PCO = 20 Torr). It was found that hydrogen reduction at 500 °C before or after Ni deposition on TiO2(100) always results in an enhanced steady-state methanation activity, accompanied by a lower surface carbon level. The ethylene/methane ratio, however, is independent of such treatments and is always about twice that from Ni(111). XPS studies showed that Ni TiO 2 catalysts prepared by different methods have similar surface Ti3+ concentration. The TiO X Ni (111) catalyst has a methanation activity and ethylene/methane ratio similar to Ni TiO 2 (100) at an optimum titanium coverage of 8% of a monolayer. Based on these results, we propose one model for strong metal-support interaction in which the presence of titania on the metal surface induced by high-temperature treatment and the possible incorporation of surface or subsurface hydrogen act synergistically to modify and maintain the activity of titania-supported catalysts.
Collagen loss in the stunned myocardium.

BACKGROUND This study was performed to biochemically assess and quantify the previously observed ultrastructural alterations in the collagen matrix of stunned myocardium. METHODS AND RESULTS The stunned myocardium was produced in 13 mongrel dogs by a series of 12 coronary artery occlusions of 5 minutes followed by 10-minute reperfusion periods, with a final reperfusion period of 90 minutes. Regional systolic function in the stunned myocardium was 17% of control. Relative end-diastolic length in the stunned region increased up to 8%. There was a nonuniform transmural loss of collagen. Hydroxyproline in the stunned endocardium was not different from control. The stunned midwall and epicardium demonstrated 12.5% (p less than 0.05) and 14.6% (p less than 0.005) decreases, respectively. All transmural layers in the stunned myocardium had significant increases in collagenase activity before procollagenase activation, averaging a 73.6% increase (p less than 0.025). Complete activation of all procollagenase forms with aminophenylmercuric acetate revealed no differences in fully activated collagenase between the stunned and normal regions. The lysosomal enzymes, elastase and cathepsin G, were not different between stunned and normal zone tissue. These results would tend to exclude exogenous sources of protease in the stunned myocardium at the 90-minute final reperfusion time frame. Collagen fibers were isolated from the stunned and normal zone tissue and underwent dansyl chloride reaction. Stunned collagen fibers had 9% greater dansyl labeling, suggesting greater numbers of exposed N-terminal amino acid residues on the fiber and compatible with greater enzymatic cleavage activity on the stunned collagen matrix. Tissue water content was consistently greater in the stunned region compared to the normal: a uniform transmural increase of approximately 1.7%. CONCLUSIONS The stunned myocardium is characterized by both systolic dysfunction and diastolic expansion or dilatation. Endogenous procollagenase is activated by the ischemic process leading to degradation of the extracellular matrix. The underlying mechanisms may be relevant in ischemic enlargement of the heart and cardiomyopathy.
Comparative compressibilities of silicate spinels: Anomalous behavior of (Mg,Fe)2SiO4

Compressibilities of five silicate spinels, including γ-Mg2SiO4, γ-Fe2SiO4, Ni2SiO4 and two ferromagnesian compositions, were determined on crystals positioned in the same high-pressure mount. Subjection of all crystals simultaneously to the same pressure revealed differences in compressibility that resulted from compositional differences. Ferromagnesian silicate spinels showed an anomalous 13 percent increase in bulk modulus with increasing iron content, from Mg2SiO4 (184 gigapascals) to Fe2SiO4 (207 gigapascals). This result suggests that ferrous iron and magnesium, which behave similarly under crustal conditions, are chemically more distinct at high pressures characteristic of the transition zone and lower mantle.
Determination of arsenic in glycerine by flow injection, hydride generation and inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract The determination of low concentrations of arsenic in glycerine is investigated with flow injection for the introduction of analyte and tetrahydroborate reagent for arsine generation, separation in a vapor-liquid flow cell, and inductively-coupled plasma/atomic emission spectrometry (i.c.p./a.e.s.). Peak areas are used to quantify arsenic in the concentration range 0.12–3.0 μg ml −1 . Peak areas for prepared standards exhibited average deviations of about 1.4% for this concentration range. The slope and intercept for a least- squares fit of area (nanocoulombs) vs. concentration (μg ml −1 ) were 10.9 ± 0.17 and 0.46 ± 0.3, respectively.
Heat transfer in annular passages—hydrodynamically developed turbulent flow with arbitrarily prescribed heat flux

Abstract The problem of turbulent flow heat transfer in a concentric circular tube annulus with fully developed velocity profile and constant heat rate per unit of length is considered. Experimentally obtained solutions are presented for the thermal entry length for a fluid with Pr = 0·7. Asymptotic solutions (fully developed velocity and temperature profiles) are developed for a wide range of radius ratio, Reynolds number, and Prandtl number. The solutions are based on empirical velocity and eddy diffusivity profiles, and the validity of the solutions is demonstrated experimentally for Pr = 0·7. A superposition method is demonstrated for solving the problem of asymmetric heating from the two surfaces of an annulus, and experimental data on asymmetric heating are presented which are in excellent agreement with the analysis. This paper is the third in a series (1, 2) culminating a four year study of heat transfer in annular passages.
Favorable impact of stents after emergent coronary artery bypass for failed angioplasty.

Abstract Background . This study was undertaken to determine the impact of the use and availability of coronary stents on outcomes in patients requiring emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery following a failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods . Patients were divided into two groups based on the year of their CABG for a failed PTCA and the availability of stents: group 1, 1992 to 1994, stents not available (n = 34); and group 2, 1995 to 1997, stents available (n = 26). Results . CABG patients in the group where stents were not available were more likely to have had an abrupt coronary occlusion (26 of 34 versus 3 of 26; p p p Conclusions . Stents have had a favorable impact on patients requiring an emergent CABG following a failed PTCA.
Thermodynamics and Phase Relationships of Transition Metal-Sulfur Systems: II. The Nickel­ Sulfur System

The thermodynamic activity of sulfur in the β1-Ni3S2, β2-Ni4S3, γ-Ni6S5 and δ-NiS phases was determined as a function of composition over the temperature interval, 823 to 1023 K, using a gas equilibration technique. The data obtained in the present study as well as those reported in the literature are evaluated to yield thermodynamic equations of state for all the intermediate phases. Several forms of the Ni-S phase diagram are presented. The previously reported “Ni3S2” phase was found to consist of two phases designated as β1-Ni3S2 and β2-Ni4S3 in the present study.
A rational finite element method based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation

The NURBS method is widely used for representing the geometry of engineering and physics systems in computer aided design (CAD) software. However, no finite element formulations currently used in computer aided analysis (CAA) can produce complex geometry identical to NURBS representations. Most contemporary finite element methods, in fact, are at best only crudely capable of representing the complex shapes that can be represented using NURBS. However, finite elements based on the nonlinear absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) are known to utilize similar shape functions to those employed in Bezier and B-spline representations of geometry. In order to facilitate the integration of computer aided design and analysis (ICADA), this investigation proposes the creation of a new finite element formulation based on the ANCF that utilizes rational polynomials for shape functions. This will lead to the new rational absolute nodal coordinate formulation (RANCF). To demonstrate the feasibility of developing RANCF finite elements, it is shown that rational cubic Bezier curve elements can be converted through a simple coordinate transformation into a rational ANCF form, in which the coordinates are the nodal positions at the end points of the element and the gradient vectors at those nodal points. Furthermore, it is shown that because a cubic NURBS curve can be converted to a series of rational cubic Bezier elements that such a NURBS curve can be converted into a series of these RANCF elements. This investigation only proposes the kinematic description of this new RANCF element. The full development of the nonlinear dynamic equations of motion as well as the development of fully parameterized RANCF finite elements will be explored in future investigations.
Dynamic Processes in [16]Annulene: Möbius Bond-Shifting Routes to Configuration Change

Density functional and ab initio methods have been used to study the mechanisms for key dynamic processes of the experimentally known S4-symmetric [16]annulene (1a). Using BH&HLYP/6-311+G** and B3LYP/6-311+G**, we located two viable stepwise pathways with computed energy barriers (Ea = 8−10 kcal/mol) for conformational automerization of 1a, in agreement with experimental data. The transition states connecting these conformational minima have Mobius topology and serve as starting points for non-degenerate π-bond shifting (configuration change) via Mobius aromatic transition states. The key transition state, TS1−2, that connects the two isomers of [16]annulene (CTCTCTCT, 1 → CTCTTCTT, 2) has an energy, relative to the S4 isomer, that ranged from 6.9 kcal/mol (B3LYP/6-311+G**) to 16.7 kcal/mol (BH&HLYP/6-311+G**), bracketing the experimental barrier. At our best level of theory, CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ(est), this barrier is 13.7 kcal/mol. Several other Mobius bond-shifting transition states, as well as Mobius topolo...
Anticholinergic drugs and health-related quality of life in older adults with dementia.

Abstract Objectives To examine the association between the use of anticholinergic drugs and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among community-dwelling older adults with dementia. Methods This was a retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study of older adults aged 65 years and above diagnosed with dementia using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data. Anticholinergic drug exposure was measured using the Anticholinergic Drug Scale. The HRQoL measures of interest were Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS). Two separate unweighted multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association of anticholinergic drugs with PCS and MCS, while adjusting for other factors and baseline HRQoL measures. Results The study included 112 patients with dementia; 15.18% of whom used anticholinergic drugs. The majority of the patients were between the ages of 65 and 79 years (53%), women (57%), and had poor or low family income (65%). After controlling for other factors and baseline HRQoL, anticholinergic drug use was associated with 7.48 unit reductions in PCS ( P Conclusion Anticholinergic drugs are associated with reduced PCS of HRQoL in older adults with dementia. The study findings suggest the need for carefully monitoring the health status of elderly patients when prescribing anticholinergic agents in this vulnerable population.
The Expected Number of k-Faces of a Voronoi Diagram

Abstract The asymptotic behavior of the expected number of faces of all dimensions of the Voronoi diagram of n independent, uniformly distributed sites in R d is investigated. It is shown that, when k and d are fixed and n grows without bound, the expected number of k -dimensional faces grows as C k,d n . Further, for fixed k as d grows without bound, there exist constants α k such that C k,d = O (α d k ). Numerical estimates of C k,d are given for small values of k and d .
Revised Formulation of the Phenomenological Interacting Boson Approximation

Previous interacting-boson-approximation studies of deformed nuclei have used different forms of the quadrupole operator in the Hamiltonian and $E2$ operators. A revised formalism is proposed which employs consistent operators and embodies a simpler Hamiltonian. It yields improved agreement with the data for deformed nuclei, a number of parameter-free predictions for transition regions, a specific form of the O(6) limit which agrees with that found empirically, and a closer relation to the neutron-proton version of the model, IBA-2.
Primeval galaxies: Predicted luminosities

Absorption by gas and dust in circumstellar Hii regions within primeval galaxies could seriously depress the far-ultraviolet continuum radiation emitted by primeval galaxies. This effect might account for the failure of Partridge (1974) and Davis and Wilkinson (1974) to detect the redshifted radiation from primeval galaxies at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. A primeval galaxy becomes very bright only during the final stages of contraction. Provided that dust can form by the time the primeval galaxy reaches peak luminosity, a significant fraction of the stellar far-ultraviolet radiation is converted into far-infrared. Thus an appropriate spectral region to search for the redshifted integrated background from primeval galaxies lies between 350 μ, where the 2.7 K microwave background radiation becomes important, and 150 μ, where other extragalactic discrete sources, such as nearby galactic nuclei, may contribute. The expected IR flux is calculated with Kaufman's (1975) model for the star formation rate in the contracting galaxy. Letz p be the redshift andT g the grain temperature when the primeval galaxy becomes very bright. Unlessz p≲10 orT g is fairly high, the intensity of the far-infrared radiation from primeval galaxies would be dominated by the high frequency tail of the 2.7 K microwave background. On the other hand, if dust is unimportant, we determine the spectral energy distribution of a primeval galaxy emitted in the range 912 A to 2050 A; we find that the luminosities are not very sensitive to the dependence of effective temperatures on metal abundance.
Correlation of substance P-induced desensitization with substance P amino terminal metabolites in the mouse spinal cord.

Abstract Intrathecal injection of mice with substance P (SP) or its C-terminal fragments results in a behavioral syndrome characterized by reciprocal caudally directed biting and scratching. Repeated injection of SP, but not SP C-terminal fragments, results in a decrease in the intensity of, or desensitization to, these SP-induced behaviors. Peptidase inhibitors, phosphoramidon (PH), bacitracin (BAC), diprotin A (DPA) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI OR SQ20881), together with [ 3 H]SP, were used to investigate the possible accumulation of tritiated N-terminal metabolites in the mouse spinal cord in vivo during the development of desensitization to SP. SP N-terminal metabolites in the spinal cord were quantified by reverse-phase HPLC. The magnitude of SP-induced desensitization correlated well (r=.95) with total SP N-terminal metabolites recovered from the spinal cords of the same mice studied in vivo. The magnitude of SP-induced desensitization was also found to be negatively correlated (r=.95) with total recovered intact [ 3 H]SP. The rank order of potency of the peptidase inhibitors in decreasing the magnitude of SP-induced desensitization was BAC = PH >> ACEI > DPA. The order of potency for in vitro inhibition of SP metabolism using synaptic membrane-derived peptidases was BAC > PH >> ACEI. These results support the hypothesis that desensitization to SP-induced behaviors depends, at least in part, on the concentration of SP N-terminal metabolites in the spinal cord.