cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Screening for Acute IKr Block Is Insufficient to Detect Torsades de Pointes Liability Role of Late Sodium Current

Background New drugs are routinely screened for IKr blocking properties thought to predict QT prolonging and arrhythmogenic liability. However, recent data suggest that chronic (hours) drug exposure to phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors used in cancer can prolong QT by inhibiting potassium currents and increasing late sodium current (INa-L) in cardiomyocytes. We tested the extent to which IKr blockers with known QT liability generate arrhythmias through this pathway. Methods and results Acute exposure to dofetilide, an IKr blocker without other recognized electropharmacologic actions, produced no change in ion currents or action potentials in adult mouse cardiomyocytes, which lack IKr. By contrast, 2 to 48 hours of exposure to the drug generated arrhythmogenic afterdepolarizations and ≥15-fold increases in INa-L. Including phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, a downstream effector for the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, in the pipette inhibited these effects. INa-L was also increased, and inhibitable by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate, with hours of dofetilide exposure in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with SCN5A, encoding sodium current. Cardiomyocytes from dofetilide-treated mice similarly demonstrated increased INa-L and afterdepolarizations. Other agents with variable IKr-blocking potencies and arrhythmia liability produced a range of effects on INa-L, from marked increases (E-4031, d-sotalol, thioridazine, and erythromycin) to little or no effect (haloperidol, moxifloxacin, and verapamil). Conclusions Some but not all drugs designated as arrhythmogenic IKr blockers can generate arrhythmias by augmenting INa-L through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway. These data identify a potential mechanism for individual susceptibility to proarrhythmia and highlight the need for a new paradigm to screen drugs for QT prolonging and arrhythmogenic liability.
Risk and injury severity of obese child passengers in motor vehicle crashes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk and injury severity on the regional body (head, neck, and chest) of obese children in frontal motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). METHODS: No physical surrogates (i.e., crash dummies) for obese children were available, and experiments on pediatric cadavers were generally not feasible. Therefore, computational models of obese children using medical imaging processing and state-of-the-art modeling techniques were developed. A hybrid modeling technique was used to integrate the finite element model for torso fat layer into the standard multibody model to represent various levels of obese children for 3- and 6-year-old age groups. The models were used to investigate injury severity under various crash scenarios through model simulations. RESULTS: The head injury criterion and chest acceleration were observed to increase as body mass index (BMI) increased. Meanwhile, no such correlations were found between BMI and neck injury and chest deformation. Forward head and torso excursions were observed to increase as obesity increased, owing to the momentum effect of greater body mass. CONCLUSIONS: Obese children appeared to have greater risks for head and chest injuries than do their non-obese counterparts in frontal MVCs, owing to higher head and chest accelerations induced by greater body excursion. Language: en
Forgiveness as a Mediator of the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence

Bowen Family Systems Theory and Social Learning Theory served as a framework for examining the potential role of offspring maternal forgiveness in the intergenerational transmission (IGT) of violence. Using 285 emerging adults, we tested the hypotheses that higher accounts of witnessed interpersonal violence perpetrated by either parent would relate to increased reports of dating violence, and that offspring's capacity to forgive mothers for current transgressions would mediate this relationship. Witnessing interpersonal violence perpetrated by either parent significantly related to offspring dating violence perpetration and victimization. In addition, witnessing violence perpetrated by either parent significantly related to offspring dating violence perpetration, via offspring's capacity to forgive. Contrary to expectation, offspring's capacity to forgive mothers did not mediate the link between father-perpetrated violence and dating violence victimization; however, it did serve as mediator in the association between mother-perpetrated violence and offspring dating violence victimization. Overall, the findings suggest that witnessing violence perpetrated by either parent explains a portion of the variance in offspring dating violence indirectly through offspring's capacity to forgive mothers for current transgressions. The present study contributes to previous research on the IGT of violence by identifying forgiveness as a mechanism in which intimate partner violence is transmitted generationally. Implications and future directions are discussed for researchers and clinicians.
Octreotide: A long-acting inhibitor of endogenous hormone secretion for human metabolic investigations

Octreotide is a recently available, FDA-approved, long-acting analog of somatostatin. The efficacy and tolerability of octreotide were evaluated in a series of protocols in healthy volunteers to assess its suitability for use in clinical investigations involving short-term inhibition of endogenous hormone secretion. Prolonged (270 minutes) hyperglycemic clamps were used to assess octreotide-mediated suppression of glucose-stimulated endogenous insulin secretion. Compared with a saline-control infusion, octreotide (30 ng/kg/min) suppressed stimulated insulin (P < .0001) and C-peptide (P < .0001) concentrations to basal levels. During insulin-induced hypoglycemia (plasma glucose < 40 mg/dL), octreotide (30 ng/kg/min) effectively suppressed the secretion of glucagon (P < .05) and growth hormone (P < .0005). In islet cell clamp studies, octreotide (30 ng/kg/min) suppressed C-peptide (P < .001), glucagon (P < .01), and growth hormone concentrations to below basal (fasting) levels in all subjects. Subsequent infusion of exogenous insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone resulted in predictable and stable concentrations of each hormone during octreotide-mediated suppression of their endogenous secretion. Consistent with the long half-life of octreotide (approximately 90 minutes), the concentrations of all three hormones remained suppressed below basal levels throughout a 60-minute observation period following the termination of octreotide infusion. In separate high-dose octreotide infusion studies, octreotide (60 ng/kg/min) did not produce any apparent additional metabolic effects, but was associated with an unacceptable degree of gastrointestinal side effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Kinetics of n-butoxy and 2-pentoxy isomerization and detection of primary products by infrared cavity ringdown spectroscopy

The primary products of n-butoxy and 2-pentoxy isomerization in the presence and absence of O2 have been detected using pulsed laser photolysis-cavity ringdown spectroscopy (PLP-CRDS). Alkoxy radicals n-butoxy and 2-pentoxy were generated by photolysis of alkyl nitrite precursors (n-butyl nitrite or 2-pentyl nitrite, respectively), and the isomerization products with and without O2 were detected by infrared cavity ringdown spectroscopy 20 μs after the photolysis. We report the mid-IR OH stretch (ν1) absorption spectra for δ-HO-1-C4H8•, δ-HO-1-C4H8OO•, δ-HO-1-C5H10•, and δ-HO-1-C5H10OO•. The observed ν1 bands are similar in position and shape to the related alcohols (n-butanol and 2-pentanol), although the HOROO• absorption is slightly stronger than the HOR• absorption. We determined the rate of isomerization relative to reaction with O2 for the n-butoxy and 2-pentoxy radicals by measuring the relative ν1 absorbance of HOROO• as a function of [O2]. At 295 K and 670 Torr of N2 or N2/O2, we found rate consta...
Loss of B-Cell Translocation Gene-2 in Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Carcinoma Is Associated with Tumor Grade and Overexpression of Cyclin D1 Protein

The B-cell translocation gene-2 (BTG2) is present in the nuclei of epithelial cells in many tissues, including the mammary gland where its expression is regulated during glandular proliferation and differentiation in pregnancy. In immortalized mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cells, BTG2 protein localized predominantly to the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. The highly conserved domains (BTG boxes A, B, and C) were required for regulating localization, suppression of cyclin D1 and growth inhibitory function of BTG2. Expression analysis of BTG2 protein in human breast carcinoma (n = 148) revealed the loss of nuclear expression in 46% of tumors, whereas it was readily detectable in the nuclei of adjacent normal glands. Loss of nuclear BTG2 expression in estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha)-positive breast tumors correlated significantly with increased histologic grade and tumor size. Consistent with its ability to suppress cyclin D1 transcription, loss of nuclear BTG2 expression in ER-positive breast carcinomas showed a significant correlation with cyclin D1 protein overexpression, suggesting that loss of BTG2 may be a factor involved in deregulating cyclin D1 expression in human breast cancer.
Total elbow arthroplasty after interposition arthroplasty for elbow arthritis.

Background: Interposition arthroplasty is an option for the treatment of arthritis of the elbow. Conversion to a total elbow arthroplasty can be considered later, when the patient reaches a suitable age. We investigated the results of conversion of an interpositional elbow arthroplasty to a semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasty in a series of patients. Methods: The results of twelve consecutive linked semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasties in twelve patients who had had a prior interposition arthroplasty for the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the elbow were evaluated at an average of ten years postoperatively. The average age at the time of the total elbow arthroplasty was fifty years, and the average interval from the interposition arthroplasty to the total elbow arthroplasty was 9.9 years. Pain and elbow performance as measured with the Mayo Elbow Performance Score were assessed in a retrospective chart review and an evaluation of questionnaires, and postoperative radiographs were reviewed. Results: At the time of the latest follow-up, postoperative pain was rated as mild or none in ten of the twelve patients, and the result was rated as subjectively satisfactory in ten patients. The average Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 32.1 points (range, 10 to 70 points) preoperatively to 80.4 points (range, 40 to 100 points) postoperatively (p < 0.001). According to these objective criteria, there were three excellent, six good, one fair, and two poor results. All of the elbows were stable following the arthroplasty. Radiographs demonstrated a well-fixed prosthesis in all but one patient who had extensive osteolysis at the site of the humeral component. One other patient had radiographic evidence of bushing wear. Both of these patients required revision procedures. Conclusions: Semiconstrained total elbow arthroplasty can be performed successfully in patients with a prior interposition arthroplasty. Reliable pain relief and a satisfactory result can be achieved in most patients. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Should we wait? Network externalities and electronic billing adoption

The study examines the adoption of electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP) technology solutions. EBPP continues to grow and has a huge potential for becoming a multi-billion dollar e-commerce industry. The adoption configuration is quite interesting because it involves four stakeholders: billers, bill consolidators, banks and consumers. In this case, banks and bill consolidators compete against each other to act as an intermediary between billers and consumers. Network externalities play a significant role since the more billers that adopt the technology, the more consumers are willing to use the services. The analysis is based on the welfare economics concept of finding the socially optimum adoption configuration and the resulting adoption pattern in a market with sponsored technologies. The results show that because of expected network externalities, billers are more likely to adopt the existing technology early, despite the fact that the next technology might be superior to the current one. When the higher costs of early adoption are taken into account, the model shows that billers are more willing to wait, ceteris paribus.
Learning environment, motivation, and achievement in high school science

In a study of the relationship between high school students' perceptions of their science learning environments and their motivation, learning strategies, and achievement, 377 students in 22 introductory science classrooms completed surveys in the fall and spring of their ninth-grade year. Hierarchical linear regression was used to model the effects of variables at both the classroom and individual level simultaneously. High intraclass agreement (indicated by high parameter reliability) on all classroom environment measures indicated that students shared perceptions of the classroom learning environment. Controlling for other factors, shared perceptions that only the most able could succeed in science classrooms and that instruction was fast-paced and focused on correct answers negatively predicted science achievement, as measured on a districtwide curriculum-linked test. Shared perceptions that classrooms focused on understanding and independent thinking positively predicted students' self-reported satisfaction with learning. Implications of these results for both teaching and research into classroom environments are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 40: 347–368, 2003
A BOUNDARY-LAYER PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH MAGNETOGASDYNAMIC CHANNEL FLOW

Flow in a channel as a possible means of energy extraction or addition is considered in connection with the motion of electrically conducting fluids through electric and magnetic fields. The analysis, based on the one-dimensional approximation, excludes the effects of viscous stresses and heat flux. The results are restricted to the necessary conditions for the existence of a class of similarity solutions to a particular set of boundary-layer equations for compressible flow.
The Collaborative Management of Information Problems in Hospitals

With the rapid emergence of health information technologies (HIT) in hospitals, it is important to understand how the design of these systems affects the communication of patient information and the collaboration of hospital teams. HIT systems can provide benefits to the patient-care process, but they do not always address serious information problems. In some cases, the design and use of HIT systems can cause additional information problems. Therefore, this qualitative study seeks to understand how hospital teams identify and manage these information problems, and how information problems impact the collaborative activities of the hospital team
An Integral Evolution Formula for the Wave Equation

We present a new time-symmetric evolution formula for the scalar wave equation. It is simply related to the classical D'Alembert or spherical means representations, but applies equally well in two space dimensions. It can be used to develop stable, robust numerical schemes on irregular meshes.
Looking for a Struggle: Exploring the Emotions of a Middle School Reader

The purpose of this case study was to explore a middle school student's emotions in the tutoring context in order to better understand the “struggles” faced by a struggling reader. Through cognitive explanations of emotions, the researcher identified aspects of tutoring that influenced Mitchell's feelings of enjoyment, pride, and success. These included having opportunities to make choices, participating in activities that were personally relevant, working within his instructional level, and having opportunities to experience success. Through social explanations of emotions, the researcher identified aspects of schooling that influenced Mitchell's feelings of struggle. These included feeling frustrated by the social comparisons made at school and feeling alienated from teachers. The researcher concluded that it is possible to create contexts in which struggling readers experience success and begin to redefine themselves.
Effects of stress management on clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To examine the effects of stress-management training on clinical outcomes in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Patients with RA (n = 141) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a stress management group, an attention control group, or a standard care control group. The stress management and the attention control groups received a 10-w eek intervention followed by an additional 15-m onth maintenance phase. Results. The stress management group showed statistically significant improvements on measures of helplessness, self-efficacy, coping, pain, and health status. Selected beneficial effects were still detectable at the 15-m onth followup evaluation. Conclusion. The data indicated that stress management interventions are capable of producing important clinical benefits for persons with RA.
Cox’s America: caste, race, and the problem of culture

Cox’s assertion that American race relations were rooted in capitalist class antagonisms and their colonial and imperialist pretensions went against many of the dominant theories about race relations in the United States at the time he began publishing, as well as those that became dominant leading into the early 1960s independence moments in the larger British West Indian territories. Originally published in 1948, Cox’s Caste, Class, and Race is perhaps most appropriately positioned within what we might see as a deconstructionist impetus, best instantiated by C.L.R. James and Eric Williams; an impetus that would like the Americas within a common analytic frame. In positioning Cox alongside his better-known Caribbeanist colleagues, this paper nevertheless parses the American context in which his theoretical apparatus was being developed – the development in sociology of the “race relations” paradigm and the anthropological emphasis on racism and segregation – in order to gain a more profound appreciation ...
Correlated responses of blood coagulation and prothrombin times to selection for body weight.

Abstract Concomitant changes in unselected traits resulting from selection for a particular trait are considered correlated responses. The theory of correlated responses and computational procedures are discussed in Falconer (1960). Reported here are correlated responses of blood coagulation and plasma prothrombin times in F9 and F10 generation White Rock females selected for high and low body wieght at eight weeks of age (Siegel, 1962). Chicks, in both generations, were removed from the hatcher on the 22nd day of incubation, pedigreed, and reared in floor pens. Body weights were obtained at eight weeks of age and coagulation and prothrombin times were measured at 18 weeks by the methods of Quick (1959). Thromboplastin preparations were made from brain tissue of chickens by the acetone dehydration method (Quick, 1959). A completely randomized design was used for comparisons between lines within generations. All data for the calculation of realized genetic correlations (Falconer, 1954) were from…
Manipulating temporal dependencies in compressed video data with applications to compressed-domain processing of MPEG video

The ability to manipulate the temporal dependencies in coded video data is important for a number of compressed domain video processing tasks. This paper formulates the general problem and examines it in the context of MPEG. This is used to develop a method for performing frame conversions in MPEG coded video data. These frame conversions are used to develop compressed-domain video processing algorithms for performing temporal mode conversion, frame-by-frame reverse play, and frame-accurate splicing.
The evolving evidence for the efficacy and safety of charged particle therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma-a commentary.

Qi and coauthors (1) present a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes and toxicity for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with charged particle therapy (CPT) or photon-based radiation therapy [conventional radiotherapy (CRT) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)]. Due to a lack of randomized data comparing these two modalities, the authors utilize data collected from 70 observational studies to draw the conclusion that CPT offers superior survival outcomes compared to CRT and decreased toxicity compared to both CRT and SBRT. The authors conclude that these data may provide evidence for an advantage of CPT in HCC radiation treatment, although definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. They acknowledge the lack of high-quality data and bias inherent in the comparison of observational studies and recommend additional prospective trials comparing these modalities.
CERAMIC MONOLITHIC SUBSTRATES - STATE OF THE ART

The state of the art of producing ceramic monolithic substrates for automotive converters is reviewed. The requirements for the substrates, that is, thermal shock resistance, stability, strength, proposity, softening temperature, thermal expansion and size tolerances are discussed, as well as the capability of manufacturers to meet the specifications. The primary production problems center around edge and corner chips and web thickness variations which occur in production and processing. /GMRL/
How Traditional and Minority Religions Fare in the Courts: Empirical Evidence from Religious Liberty Cases

When the call of religious conscience and the demand of public expectations meet at the crossroad of the public square, the enduring myth is that members of minority religious groups face a decidedly uphill battle in securing accommodation for or even tolerance of unconventional religious practices, expression, or values from the courts. By contrast, so the conventional wisdom has it, traditional Christian believers may anticipate a more hospitable welcome from the judiciary when asserting claims of conscience or religious liberty. Based upon a recent empirical study of religious liberty decisions in the federal courts, the proposition that minority religions experience a significantly lower success rate was found to be without empirical support, at least in the modern era and in the lower federal courts. Just as importantly, the myth that members of outsider faiths fail at a disproportionate rate proves to be only half of the story. In fact, counter to the popular narrative, adherents to traditionalist Christian faiths, notably Roman Catholics and Baptists, proved to be the ones who enter the courthouse doors at a distinct disadvantage. The thesis of this essay is as follows: when compared with other religious claimants, when examined within the particular venue of the federal courts, when evaluated in the context of other potentially influential variables, and when evaluated through data drawn from recent litigation controversies, the hypothesis that minority religious adherents are more likely to lose and that the Christian faithful are more likely to win religious liberty claims is of doubtful continuing validity. Accordingly, as the new century unfolds, the more interesting inquiry may be why those whose religious practices and values fit most comfortably within the mainstream Christian tradition find themselves with a higher hill to climb than people of unconventional beliefs when seeking judicial exemption from secular regulation or judicial recognition of expression and equality rights. Is our nation's concept of religious liberty sufficient robust to encompass those whose claims of conscience may directly challenge the cherished orthodoxies of modern secular liberalism?
Spiro hypervalent iodine(III)-mediated radiofluorination of non-activated and hindered aromatics

3 Objectives Radiolabeling of non-activated aromatics is not easily achieved by nucleophilic aromatic fluorination. The goal of this study was to develop a one-step and regiospecific 18F-fluorination method for (hetero)aromatics bearing electron-rich and/or sterically hindered substituents under metal-free conditions using spiro hypervalent iodine(III)-based precursors. Methods Azeotropically dried [18F]Et4NF (3 mCi) was resolubilized in DMF (400 μL), followed by addition of the respective spiroiodine(III) precursor (2 mg). The reaction was carried out at 120 °C for 10 min. Fluorine incorporation and product identities were determined by radioTLC and HPLC (n≥3). Fifteen substrates with diverse chemical scaffolds (18F-building blocks and radiotracers) were successfully labeled and key compounds were isolated. Results Using 4-[18F]fluorobiphenyl as a testing platform, eleven iodine(III) auxiliaries were explored as precursors. A spiroiodine(III) precursor (stable solid) afforded the highest incorporation yield (85±3%). With this spiro auxiliary, various non-activated aromatics (15 examples) were labeled in high yields. Representative examples include 2-[18F]fluoro-1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene (56%), 4-bromo-1-[18F]fluoro-2-methoxybenzene (56%), 1-[18F]fluoro-6-methyl-3-nitrobenzene (32%), 3-[18F]fluoro N-acetylaniline (17%), 6-[18F]fluoroindoline (34%), and 6-[18F]fluorophenyl alanine (55%). 4-[18F]Fluorobenzyl azide, a useful reagent for click chemistry, was synthesized in one-step and isolated with 28±8% uncorrected radiochemical yield and specific activity >100 mCi/μmol relative to only 3 mCi of starting [18F]fluoride in 45 min. Conclusions Spiroiodine(III) based precursors offer a one-step and regiospecific methodology to radiolabel non-activated and sterically hindered aromatic compounds with [18F]fluoride. Fifteen substrates were efficiently radiolabeled including the building block 4-[18F]fluorobenzyl azide. Applications of this technology to prepare new radiopharmaceuticals will be presented.
Layout Optimization of a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facility Using Inherent Safety Principles

This paper presents a layout optimization methodology for the topside deck of a floating liquefied natural gas facility (FLNG) using inherent safety principles. Natural gas is emerging as a clean energy, and a large amount of natural gas exists in the proven offshore area, thus making it an energy source with huge potential in today's and the future market. FLNG facilities tap natural gas from an offshore well by floating, compressing it into liquefied natural gas (LNG), and offloading it to LNG carriers after temporary storage. In addition, FLNG facilities enable long-distance as well as multilocation transportation. The FLNG facility requires compact design due to limited space and high construction costs and thus faces a more challenging situation where the design has to concurrently guarantee economic profits and a safe operational environment. Therefore, the layout of the topside deck, which includes production, storage, and other functions, plays a paramount role in designing an FLNG facility. This paper optimizes the layout of an FLNG topside deck by implementing inherent safety principles. The objective is to design a topside deck layout which achieves the largest extent of inherent safety with optimal costs. The details of the principles and their application for layout optimization are also provided. © 2016 by ASME.
Aging and Episodic Memory: Are Elderly Adults Less Likely To Make Connections Between Target and Contextual Information?

The hypothesis that elderly individuals are less likely than young adults to connect target and contextual information was tested. Young and elderly adults were presented with a number of slides, each of which contained a word superimposed in the center of a background picture of a landscape or cityscape. Half of the subjects were told to remember the words and half were told to remember the word-and-background pairs. All subjects were then tested for their recognition memory of the word-and-background pairs. The results indicate that elderly adults have greater difficulty than young adults remembering the connections between words and background pictures but that this occurs whether the pictures are target information or contextual information. Therefore, the results of this study provide no support for the notion that elderly adults have a specific contextual encoding deficit.
Rite of Passage—A Contemporary Study

T HE social development of the individual involves, in all societies, a series of welldefined stages, each of which is characterized by its own pattern of obligations, privileges, and types of relationships with his fellows. Passage from one stage to another involves corresponding changes in the individual's habitual interaction system. To facilitate such passages and to restore equilibrium after the more critical ones, various peoples develop group techniques which take the form of commemorative ceremonial rites. Such rites are commonly designated as Rites of Passage, a term first introduced by Van Gennep.1 He states that these rites have a common purpose, whether they be ceremonies surrounding birth, social puberty, engagement, marriage, or death: they are vehicles to "allow the individual to pass from one fixed situation to another equally fixed."2 And, he continues, since they have a common purpose, they also have common techniques and stages, though their details vary considerably. The stages into which all rites of passage are divided are three: rites of separation (from the old situation); rites of transition; and rites of assimilation (into the new situation). As an addition to other studies, made in more primitive cultures, and conceived as operating on a general social basis, this article presents the study of a rite of passage in contemporary America, and one limited to the upper part of the class structure. It is a study of the formal debut, marking the introduction of young girls into society. Many of the details attendant to this rite vary from one region to another in the United States. For this reason, it should be stated that what is herein presented is for the most part representative of introduction into Philadelphia society.3
Synthesis of Cationic Polyacrylamide P(AM/MAPD)

Cationic polyacrylamide P(AM/MAPD) was prepared by the radical copolymerization of acrylamide(AM) and 1-methacryloyloxypropyl-3-decylimidazolium chloride(MAPD-Cl).The as-synthesized product was characterized by IR and proved to be the target product.Synthetic conditions were optimized with the single factor optimization coupled with the response surface methodology(RSM).Based on the results of single factor optimization,mass fraction of monomer,reaction temperature,initiator concentration,and time were obtained and compared with those using RSM method.A mathematic model of the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer was established,and the optimized conditions are as follows: 25.41% of mass fraction of monomer,0.03% of mass fraction of initiator(NaHSO3-(NH4)2S2O4),26.43 ℃ reaction temperature,10 h reaction time.In addition,the intrinsic viscosity for polymer is 12.56 dL/g.
The Application of Modern Educational Technique in the Teaching of Physics

The application of modern educational technique in the teaching of physics can help explain the concepts, principles, law, improve the teaching quality of physical experiment, foster students' practical ability and further the development of students' psychological quality.
Improved survival after coronary artery surgery in patients with extensive coronary artery disease.

Survival in patients with ischemic heart disease is closely related to the extent of coronary artery obstruction as determined angiographically. One hundred forty-nine consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery from November, 1971, to October, 1974. There were 2 late cardiac deaths, 1 late noncardiac death, and 1 hospital death, an operative mortality rate of 0.7 per cent and a total mortality rate of 2.7 per cent. Coronary angiograms were scored according to the method of Friesinger, Page, and Ross.1 Fifty-four per cent (80/149) had scores of 10 or greater. Cumulative survival was analyzed according to life-table techniques; in the 80 surgically managed patients with scores of 10 or greater, survival at 3 years was 98 per cent. Friesinger's 47 nonoperated patients with similar angiographic scores had a 3 year cumulative survival of 68 per cent. Although this study compares different groups, the surgical series was composed of older patients (mean age 52 as compared to 44 years), includes 22 patients operated on urgently for preinfarction angina pectoris, and includes 18 patients with abnormal ventricular function. These data suggest that coronary artery bypass surgery can favorably influence prognosis in patients with severe coronary artery disease.
Estimating Parameters for the PVsyst Version 6 Photovoltaic Module Performance Model

We present an algorithm to determine parameters for the photovoltaic module perf ormance model encoded in the software package PVsyst(TM) version 6. Our method operates on current - voltage (I - V) measured over a range of irradiance and temperature conditions. We describe the method and illustrate its steps using data for a 36 cell crystalli ne silicon module. We qualitatively compare our method with one other technique for estimating parameters for the PVsyst(TM) version 6 model .
Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation Has Taken Its TOLL.

Pre-Metastatic Niches (PMNs) result from communications between primary tumors and the microenvironment of future distant metastasis via tumor-derived factors. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Liu et al. show that TLR3 activation in lung epithelial cells by tumor exosomal RNAs triggers neutrophil recruitment, which contributes to PMN formation and metastasis.
Nation und Emotion: Europäische Befindlichkeiten

As rationally and effectively the program of the nation has been helping to establish economically and politically the European modern age since the late 18th century on one hand, as emotionally it works then on the other hand and at the same time as an esthetic and cultural conception. Since in the light of cultural imaginations and value horizons the nation is, as it were, anthropologized. So it takes as a global life world model of identity and loyalty the place of the religion having alone been able before to mobilize collective feelings and practices in a similarly intensive way. In these reflections/considerations is therefore asked for the topicality/actuality of this historical connection of nation and emotion in Europe changed after 1989, but also for possibilities of emancipation of the national from its historical model - as simply one of the many possibilities to get in a useful relation with the social environment as well as with history.
The Computer in Speech–Language Pathology: A Review of the Literature

This chapter presents a perspective in regard to using computers in speech and language pathology. A review of the literature on computer utilization in communication disorders is, overall, an experience that is reassuring to the professional in the field. From the beginning, computer utilization in communication disorders has been marked by a satisfying blend of creativity and common sense. This has been, in large measure, because of the fact that the developments have been initiated by people within the field. The field of education has been criticized widely for the generally poor quality of the educational software that currently exists in the marketplace. Much of it was the result of the software developed by computer programmers who knew a great deal about computers, but very little about the learning process. One of the greatest strengths of the computer is its capacity for retaining large amounts of information. Creating, storing, and retrieving information are critical to almost all phases of a clinical or administrative operation. It concludes that the field of communication disorders has been fortunate to have the right mixture of professional involvement, support from the professional association, and involvement of materials publishers in the initial stages of software development. If the trend continues, the profession will find itself among the leaders in service providers in the behavioral sciences.
On the road from Bethany

> “A Harley Road King, definitely the bike Jesus would ride …” > > — Father Mark Giordani, at the blessing of the bikes, The New York Times > Christmas Eve, I had the graveyard shift. > > Rhythmic thump of litter wheels rushing > > down the hall; they’d brought him in > > red lights
Previously undescribed vitamin D C-3 epimer occurs in substantial amounts in the blood of cats.

ObjectivesThe aim of this report is to describe the identification of a novel vitamin D metabolite, a C-3, alpha-epimer of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (3-epi-25(OH)D3), in serum and plasma extracts o...
Money and the Theory of Money Income

This chapter discusses the way in which the level and movements of the supply of and demand for money affect the level and movements of money income. The quantity theory of money was originally an explanation of the average price level of nonmonetary goods and services. The fundamental proposition of monetary theory is that nominal income must adjust until it reaches a value at which the demand for nominal cash balances equals the stock of money made available by the authorities and banks. If the real demand for money is fixed and real output is given, then the adjustment of money income to an equilibrium level is brought about by changes in prices, the equilibrium level of which must equal the ratio of the nominal money supply to the demand for real cash balances. Under these conditions, changes in the money supply cause proportional changes in the equilibrium price level and in nominal income. Comparison of the monetary theory of income with the income−expenditure model shows that equilibrium in the latter is based upon equilibrium in the former. In both theories, equilibrium requires a stable money demand function and a given stock of money.
Quasi optimum PI controller tuning rules for a grid-connected three phase AC to DC PWM rectifier

Abstract Controller tuning is deemed to be critical when dealing with the voltage oriented control (VOC) as it ultimately defines the system performance. This paper contributes to the tuning issue associated with VOC in three key points. Firstly, an algebraic solution (i.e. PI-parameters) based on the first-order-plus-time-delay (FOPTD) approximations of the plant dynamics is developed, along with approximating relationships and methodology. Secondly, a non-linear multi-criteria optimization algorithm, with PI-controller parameters being the decision variables, is developed in order to achieve the optimum disturbance rejection. The cost function employs a weighted-sum criterion to account for two sources of disturbances: grid voltage sag/dip and load current disturbances, which affect the regulated dc voltage. Simulation results suggest a quasi-optimum system performance, in terms of minimum integral time absolute of the error (ITAE) performance index of the dc-bus voltage, using the FOPTD tuning parameters. Hence, the developed FOPTD approximations demonstrate an accurate linear approximation. Thirdly and consequently, analytic tuning rules for the PI-controllers are proposed. The proposed rules provide quasi-optimum PI-parameters by direct substitution of system parameters in the tuning formulae, rather than solving complex algebraic equations as in the FOPTD tuning approach. The obtained results are verified experimentally.
The 2008 Wall Street Crash: A Failed Organizational Response to Complexity

In the period since the 2008 Wall Street crash, little consensus has emerged on its causes or actions to prevent a recurrence. Our capability for rational decision making was overwhelmed. Viewing the entire financial system as a huge, richly interconnected organization suggests that its structure and associated management practices are suited for a far simpler environment. An organization that is large relative to its environment and sufficiently complex to require the coordination of specialized expertise cannot function by enabling decision makers to respond only to local demands. The resulting inability to recognize critical interdependencies and the nature of their risk makes periodic catastrophic failure likely. Specifically, compartmentalization of information, influence, and reward creates a myopic decision environment in which individual decision makers are unlikely to make effective or ethical decisions. Useful criteria for evaluating solutions can be suggested by considering the interaction of two factors: limited human information processing capability and the effect of motivation on information processing. Taken together, they suggest that human information processing is both limited and opportunistic. We cannot process all information available and the information selected for processing narrows to that needed to achieve salient rewards. Because of this, the organization's reward practices and their effect on motivation are a critical variable. Large financial rewards contingent upon short term, local, simplistic measures inevitably narrow the focus of decision maker's attention to a small part of the system. In contrast, dominant intrinsic motivation is rooted in awareness of, and responsibility for, broader outcomes. Each type of motivation differs in its requirements for sharing of information, influence, and reward. These, in turn, determine the adaptability of the organization to complexity and change. While this has significant ethical implications, its logic rests on the limitations of human information processing and motivation. Aligning human motivation and information flow to the demands of a complex, turbulent financial environment is the challenge we must meet to prevent further cataclysms.
Relationship between residual atheroma burden and neointimal growth in patients undergoing stenting: analysis of the atherectomy before MULTI-LINK improves lumen gain and clinical outcomes trial intravascular ultrasound substudy.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between quantitative volumetric and cross-sectional measures of residual atheroma burden and neointimal growth after coronary stenting. Background Previous intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) studies have demonstrated a correlation between residual atheroma burden and neointimal growth after coronary stenting. However, postmortem studies contradict this finding. Methods The study population included 34 patients who underwent IVUS six to eight months after stent placement, including 26 patients who underwent IVUS immediately after stent placement and at six to eight months follow-up. Using manual planimetry, the lumen cross-sectional area (LA), stent cross-sectional area (SA) and external elastic membrane cross-sectional area (EEM) were measured at 1-mm intervals after the procedure and at follow-up. Percent neointimal area (NA) and atheroma area (AA) were calculated as: percent neointimal area = ([SA − LA]/SA) × 100; percent AA = ([EEM − SA]/EEM) × 100 in the entire cross section and in individual quadrants. Postinterventional atheroma volume and neointimal volume at follow-up were calculated using Simpsons’s rule. Results In pooled analyses using all cross sections and cross-sectional quadrants, there was a weak correlation between percent AA and NA (r = 0.11 and 0.12, respectively). Analysis in individual patients demonstrated no significant relationship between total or quadrant measurements of percent AA and NA (p = 0.47 and 0.4, respectively). No relationship between atheroma volume postintervention and neointimal volume at follow-up was observed (r = 0.1, p = 0.62). Conclusions This study failed to demonstrate a clinically significant relationship between quantitative volumetric and cross-sectional measures of residual atheroma burden and subsequent neointimal growth.
mTORC1 impedes osteoclast differentiation via calcineurin and NFATc1

Rapamycins are immunosuppressant and anti-cancer drugs that inhibit the kinase mTOR. Clinically, they often cause bone pain, bone necrosis, and high bone turnover, yet the mechanisms are unclear. Here we show that mTORC1 activity is high in osteoclast precursors but downregulated upon RANKL treatment. Loss-of-function genetic models reveal that while early Raptor deletion in hematopoietic stem cells blunts osteoclastogenesis due to compromised proliferation/survival, late Raptor deletion in osteoclast precursors instead augments osteoclastogenesis. Gain-of-function genetic models by TSC1 deletion in HSCs or osteoclast precursors cause constitutive mTORC1 activation, impairing osteoclastogenesis. Pharmacologically, rapamycin treatment at low but clinically relevant doses exacerbates osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, leading to bone loss. Mechanistically, RANKL inactivates mTORC1 via calcineurin-mediated mTORC1 dephosphorylation, consequently activating NFATc1 by reducing mTORC1-mediated NFATc1 phosphorylation. These findings uncover biphasic roles of mTORC1 in osteoclastogenesis, dosage-dependent effects of rapamycin on bone, and a previously unrecognized calcineurin-mTORC1-NFATc1 phosphorylation-regulatory signaling cascade.
The Microtubule Cytoskeleton in Normal and Transformed Cells in Vitro

Cell transformation in vitro is usually accompanied by alterations in morphology and growth properties which may be related directly or indirectly to malignancy. Although the initial lesion of transformation probably involves the interaction of a carcinogen with the cell genome, subsequent expression of the mutagenic event is manifested in altered cell shape, alterations in motility, spreading, and adhesive properties, loss of density-dependent growth control, loss of anchorage dependence and changes in cell surface properties. Recent evidence has suggested that many aspects of transformation may relate to changes in a delicate system of cytoplasmic microfilaments and microtubules known collectively as the cytoskeleton (Edelman 1976; Nicolson 1976). Components of the cytoskeleton play a major role in the regulation of cell form (Porter 1966; Nicolson 1976), and both microtubules and microfilaments have been shown to be involved in cell motility (Porter 1966; Allison 1973) and substrate attachment (Goldman and Follett 1970; Pollack and Rifkin 1975; Miller et al. 1977). Also, the modulation of cell surface proteins is regulated to a large extent by submembranous assemblies of microtubules and microfilaments (Edelman 1976).
Creativity Support Systems

Creativity support systems (CSSs) aid companies in finding ways to differentiate themselves by examining their current paradigm and improving or modifying the paradigm in a fundamentally new way. The four key factors involved in the execution of creative acts are the four Ps: person, process, press, and product. Each of these four factors plays an active role in how CSSs should be designed and utilized. The cognitive process of creativity starts in the mind of individuals to formulate the problem and produce ideas. At the individual level, a CSS can be used to present a variety of stimuli to the individual in an effort to break cognitive inertia and to help stimulate dissimilar memory chunks or frames. Various creative processes and techniques can be supported and implemented in a CSS. The creative press or environment is the context in which creative ideas are produced and explored. When a CSS is introduced to the creative process, it brings in its own internal environment comprising of the technology’s spirit and its structural features. The creative product can be measured by the quality, the novelty, degree of originality, feasibility, appropriateness, or usefulness of the idea. As organizations strive to produce creative products, CSS tools, with their potential to enhance or modify the creative output of an individual or group, become increasingly called upon to aid in this goal.