cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory Course as Research

A research-based inorganic chemistry laboratory course is described. Using the defined protocol of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), students undertake a self-designed research project to identify new catalysts for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane. Students select ligands and metals, prepare and characterize catalysts precursors, develop protocols for catalysts, and screen catalyst precursors. These activities are designed to align with the five components of a CURE (research activities, discovery, relevance, collaboration, and iteration), and this course is presented as one model from which individuals can develop CUREs at their own institutions. The students were assessed with the CURE survey, which showed gains in both research activities and understanding the nature of science.
Multicasting techniques in mobile ad hoc networks

This chapter gives a general survey of multicast protocols in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). After giving a brief summary of two multicast protocols in wired networks--shortest path multicast tree protocol and core-based tree multicast protocol -- we point out limitations of these protocols when they are applied in the highly dynamic environment of MANETs. Four multicast protocols -- On-Demand Multicast Routing Protocol (ODMRP), Multicast Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector Routing Protocol (Multcast AODV), Forwarding Group Multicast Protocol (FGMP), and Core-Assisted Mesh Protocol -- are discussed in detail with a focus on how the limitations of multicast protocols in wired networks are overcome. A brief overview of other multicast protocols in MANETs is provided. The chapter ends with two important related issues: QoS multicast and reliable multicast in MANETs.
A Pulsed NMR Study of Transient and Persistent Molecular Order in Nematic Liquid Crystals

The proton absorption spectrum of a typical nematic liquid crystal shows one or more well separated pairs of lines arising from the large dipolar interaction of protons on the phenyl rings. Because these interactions have cylindrical symmetry with respect to the nematic director, observation of the splittings gives a direct measure of the orientation of the director with respect to the magnetic field. Experiments are reported in which pulsed NMR techniques were used to determine persistent molecular order and orientation in response to applied electric fields. From these experiments it was possible to determine the temperature dependence of the flow alignment angle for PAA. These data show the first evidence of flow alignment in the super-cooled nematic state. In addition studies of CBEOA yielded information about the time evolution of molecular order and orientation in response to the sudden application of an electric field.
The intermediate filament protein peripherin is a marker for cerebellar climbing fibres

Immunocytochemical staining with antibodies to the class III intermediate filament protein peripherin reveals discrete subpopulations of neurons and nerve fibres throughout the rat central nervous system. Some of these fibres enter the cerebellar granular and molecular layers. Here we use light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and confocal fluorescence microscopy to identify the peripherin positive fibres in the molecular layer of the cerebella of various mammals. (1) The peripherin positive fibres in the molecular layer have morphological attributes of climbing fibres, and peripherin positive fibres are also detected in the olivo-cerebellar tract. Furthermore peripherin positive neurons can be seen in the inferior olive, from which climbing fibres originate. (2) The peripherin positive molecular layer fibres rapidly degenerate in rats treated with 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP), a reagent which destroys neurons in the inferior olive, and the time course of degeneration of these mirrors that previously described for 3-AP induced destruction of climbing fibres. (3) Cerebella of other mammal species tested (mouse, rabbit, pig, cow and human) revealed a similar peripherin staining pattern in the cerebellum, including fibres in the molecular layer with the morphology of climbing fibres. (4) We also noted peripherin positive spinocerebellar and vestibulocerebellar mossy fibres in the cerebellar granular layer of folia known to receive these inputs. (5) A subset of perivascular nerve fibres are also peripherin positive. These results show that peripherin is a useful marker for mammalian cerebellar climbing fibres, and that a subset of morphologically distinct cerebellar mossy fibres are also peripherin positive.
A V-to-F substitution in SK2 channels causes Ca2+ hypersensitivity and improves locomotion in a C. elegans ALS model

Small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels mediate medium afterhyperpolarization in the neurons and play a key role in the regulation of neuronal excitability. SK channels are potential drug targets for ataxia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). SK channels are activated exclusively by the Ca2+-bound calmodulin. Previously, we identified an intrinsically disordered fragment that is essential for the mechanical coupling between Ca2+/calmodulin binding and channel opening. Here, we report that substitution of a valine to phenylalanine (V407F) in the intrinsically disordered fragment caused a ~6 fold increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of SK2-a channels. This substitution resulted in a novel interaction between the ectopic phenylalanine and M411, which stabilized PIP2-interacting residue K405, and subsequently enhanced Ca2+ sensitivity. Also, equivalent valine to phenylalanine substitutions in SK1 or SK3 channels conferred Ca2+ hypersensitivity. An equivalent phenylalanine substitution in the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) SK2 ortholog kcnl-2 partially rescued locomotion defects in an existing C. elegans ALS model, in which human SOD1G85R is expressed at high levels in neurons, confirming that this phenylalanine substitution impacts channel function in vivo. This work for the first time provides a critical reagent for future studies: an SK channel that is hypersensitive to Ca2+ with increased activity in vivo.
Modeling the Growth Kinetics and Substrate Utilization of a TCE-Degrading Microorganism

Development of practical methods for microbiological treatment of contaminated groundwater requires a quantitative understanding of the degradation process. We have developed a generalized model of microbial activity that couples growth kinetics to primary substrate utilization and contaminant disappearance. The model incorporates chemical limiting factors and accounts for the toxic effects of the contaminant itself. It has been coupled directly to an existing model of groundwater hydrogeochemistry and can be used to predict biological activity and contaminant degradation in a contaminated plume.
Surface adsorption of Nordic aquatic fulvic acid on amine-functionalized and non-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have the potential to be released into the environment and to then adsorb natural organic matter. Understanding the molecular–surface interactions that drive the kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption process is an important goal in developing models that accurately predict the fate and transport of these porous nanomaterials. Motivated by this goal, the adsorption of Nordic aquatic fulvic acid on amine functionalized and non-functionalized MSNs as a function of pH (3, 6 and 8) was studied using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. According to these results, carboxylic acid functional groups of Nordic aquatic fulvic acid and the amine functional groups on the functionalized MSNs play key roles in the adsorption process. Quantitative measurements were conducted using thermogravimetric analysis to determine the surface coverage of fulvic acid on the MSNs. The fulvic acid adsorption was pH dependent and decreased with increasing pH. Amine-functionalized MSNs exhibited a higher adsorption capacity of fulvic acid compared to the non-functionalized nanoparticles under all conditions. Furthermore, zeta potential measurements showed the impact of fulvic acid adsorption on the surface charge for these MSNs. Strikingly, the surface charge changed upon fulvic acid adsorption for amine-functionalized MSNs but remained constant for the unfunctionalized MSNs. Reasons for these differences and the overall environmental implications of this study are discussed.
Repair Strategies for Mobile Storage Systems

We study the data reliability problem for devices forming a dynamic distributed storage system. Such systems are commonplace in traditional cloud storage applications where storage node failures and updates are frequent. We consider the application of regenerating codes for file maintenance. Such codes require lower bandwidth to regenerate lost data fragments compared to file replication or reconstruction. We investigate threshold-based repair strategies where data repair is initiated after a threshold number of data fragments have been lost. We show that at a low departure-to-repair rate regime, in which repairs are initiated after several nodes have left the system outperforms if repairs are initiated after a single node departure. This optimality is reversed when the node turnover is high. We further compare distributed and centralized repair strategies and derive the optimal repair threshold for minimizing the average repair cost per unit of time. In addition, we examine cooperative repair strategies and show performance improvements. We investigate several models for the time needed for node repair including a simple fixed time model and a more realistic model that takes into account the number of repaired nodes. Finally, an extended model where additional failures are allowed during the repair process is investigated.
Working Together: A Process to Support Teachers in Increasing Specific Praise Statements:

Structured and frequent teacher-delivered praise is an evidence-based component of classroom management. High rates of teacher-delivered praise have positive effects on student behavior. These posi...
CRISPR-Cas9 mutated pregnane x receptor (pxr) retains pregnenolone-induced expression of cytochrome p450 family 3, subfamily A, polypeptide 65 (cyp3a65) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae.

Abstract Pregnane x receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor that regulates transcriptional responses to drug or xenobiotic exposure in many vertebrate species. One key response is the induction of cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) transcription. PXR is a promiscuous receptor activated by a wide range of ligands that can differ across species, making functional studies on its role in the chemical defensome, most relevant when approached in a species-specific manner. Genetic knockout studies in mammals have shown a requirement for PXR in ligand-dependent activation of CYP3A expression or reporter gene activity. Transient knockdown in zebrafish revealed a similar requirement, however it is not known what the effect of a genetic knockout would be in the zebrafish model. Here, we report on generation of two zebrafish lines each carrying a genetic deletion in the pxr coding region, predicted to result in loss of a functional gene product. To our surprise zebrafish larvae, homozygous for either of the pxr mutant alleles, retain their ability to induce cyp3a65 mRNA expression following exposure to the established zebrafish Pxr ligand, pregnenolone (PN). Thus, zebrafish carrying pxr alleles with sizable deletions in either the DNA binding or the ligand binding domains do not yield a loss-of-function phenotype, suggesting that a compensatory mechanism is responsible for cyp3a65 induction. Two alternative possibilities are that Pxr is not required for the effect or that truncated yet functional mutant Pxr is sufficient for the effect.
Development of a Scalable Process for CI-1020, A Novel Endothelin Antagonist1

The process development of a route for preparing CI-1020 on pilot-plant scale is described in 55% overall yield. Hydrocyanation conditions are described which use acetone cyanohydrin catalyzed by tetramethylammonium hydroxide and which provide the desired ketonitrile intermediate (4) in 85% yield with excellent quality. The penultimate intermediate (7), a hydroxybutenolide, is prepared in a two-step process using an aldol condensation followed by acid-catalyzed ring closure to give product in 86.8% yield. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) (8) is prepared by ring-opening of the hydroxybutenolide with sodium carbonate to provide the sodium salt. The use of ReactIR to monitor the API reaction is described. ReactIR was required to determine an endpoint for the reaction. The use of chromatographic analysis to determine the endpoint was not possible. The API and the penultimate hydroxybutenolide are not separable by chromatographic methods.
A pilot study assessing the addition of a Quit and Winprogram to pharmacist-led intensive smoking cessationtherapy in a predominantly underserved, minority population

INTRODUCTION Quit and Win programs (QW p=0.04) and Fagerstrom score (OR=0.71; p<0.01) were significant predictors of quitting. CONCLUSIONS The addition of Q&W to intensive smoking cessation services increased clinic referrals and numerically improved cessation rates, although this difference was not statistically significant, possibly due to high attrition of the study.
Probing Heterogeneity in Bovine Enamel Composition through Nanoscale Chemical Imaging using Atom Probe Tomography

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine the heterogeneity in chemical composition of bovine enamel using atom probe tomography, and thereby evaluate the suitability of bovine enamel as a substitute for human enamel in in vitro dental research. Design Enamel samples from extracted bovine incisor teeth were first sectioned using a diamond saw and then milled into needle-like samples ( Results For the first time, the atomic-level composition and clustering of major constituents and impurities within bovine enamel were determined and imaged. We discovered that the chemical composition of bovine enamel is spatially inhomogeneous at the atomic scale. The average bulk Ca/P ratio, ∼1.4, was in agreement with previously reported literature values from alternative conventional methods. When assessed locally at the atomic scale, the Ca/P ratio varied between 1.1 and 2.03. We also discovered that the Mg impurities were significantly segregated throughout the enamel, and such clustering influenced the variation of Ca/P ratios. The increase in Mg concentrations, near the Mg clusters, correlated with increased Ca and decreased P concentrations. Conclusion The presented findings of variability in local composition should be taken into account when interpreting dental research results from bovine enamel.
Pulmonary Coagulation in the Pathogenesis of Trauma-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Trauma is associated with both activation of coagulation and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Activation of the extrinsic coagulation cascade occurs both systemically (intravascularly) and within the lung (intraalveolar), even after nonpulmonary trauma. Pulmonary coagulation is associated with the development and severity of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), representing a potential therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of trauma-associated ARDS. This chapter explores the unique pathophysiology of trauma-associated ARDS and how induction of pulmonary coagulation/inhibition of fibrinolysis may drive ARDS after trauma. Preclinical investigations of pulmonary tissue factor activation, impairment of endogenous anticoagulation pathways, and fibrinolysis inhibition reveal a substantial complexity of signaling, potentially explaining the largely negative results of trials of coagulation-targeted therapeutics in traumatic and nontraumatic critical illness. Understanding this mechanistic and phenotypic complexity of pulmonary coagulation identifies opportunities to improve future studies in trauma- and nontrauma-associated ARDS.
Dynamic Response Thresholds: Heterogeneous Ranges Allow Specialization While Mitigating Convergence to Sink States

We argue that heterogeneous threshold ranges allow agents in a decentralized swarm to effectively adapt thresholds in response to dynamic task demands while avoiding the pitfalls of positive feedback sinks. Dynamic response thresholds allow agents to dynamically evolve specializations which can improve the responsiveness and stability of a swarm. Dynamic thresholds that adapt in response to previous experience, however, are vulnerable to getting stuck in sink states due to the positive feedback nature of such systems. We show that heterogeneous threshold ranges result in comparable task allocation and improved stability as compared to homogeneous threshold ranges, and that simple static random thresholds should be considered in situations where agent resources are plentiful.
Media in the New Democracies of Postcommunist Eastern Europe

Growing up in Bulgaria during the “transition” years, as a then fifteen-year old, I spent the summer of 1990 queuing up at the neighborhood newsstand waiting for the daily delivery of freshly printed newspapers. Shortages of goods, including food and gasoline, caused long lines in front of many stores, but the crowd waiting at the kiosk was eager to read about the latest political developments, and especially popular were the newspapers published by the newly established opposition parties. While there was no scarcity of political news via television and radio, there was always something special about the print media, much of which, including entertainment weeklies, were such a novelty. Twenty or so years later, I spent another summer among newspapers, in the archives of the National Library in Sofia, poring through the pages and — with no digitization of archives — collecting photographs of news articles published before each of the national legislative elections since 1990. Much has changed in the media environment since then, yet the study of media in post-communist societies and especially its relations to voters, parties, and politics in general is still in its infancy.
Rate capability and Ragone plots for phase change thermal energy storage

Phase change materials can improve the efficiency of energy systems by time shifting or reducing peak thermal loads. The value of a phase change material is defined by its energy and power density—the total available storage capacity and the speed at which it can be accessed. These are influenced by material properties but cannot be defined with these properties alone. Here we show the close link between energy and power density by developing thermal rate capability and Ragone plots, a framework widely used to describe the trade-off between energy and power in electrochemical storage systems (that is, batteries). Our results elucidate how material properties, geometry and operating conditions influence the performance of phase change thermal storage. This research sets a clear framework for comparing thermal storage materials and devices and can be used by researchers and designers to increase clean energy use with storage. Phase change materials are promising for thermal energy storage yet their practical potential is challenging to assess. Here, using an analogy with batteries, Woods et al. use the thermal rate capability and Ragone plots to evaluate trade-offs in energy storage density and power density in thermal storage devices.
Runs to Banks: The Role of Cash Sweeps During Market Downturns

Sweep deposits from brokerage firms to banks vary inversely with the stock market. When the stock market declines, retail investors reduce risk and sell stocks, with the proceeds typically swept out of brokerage firms and into banks. This result holds for monthly data obtained from a large brokerage firm with affiliated banks and for estimated aggregate quarterly data for sweep deposits across banks. Overall, sweep deposits are a primary driver backing the inverse relation between total bank deposits and the stock market, and are not destabilizing, but instead stabilizing for banks as households reduce risk by converting stock to cash during periods of high stress. They also play a role in the bank lending channel by providing additional funds for loan commitments or credit lines during stressful periods. Absent the recent innovation of sweep deposits swept from brokerage firms to banks, client cash would reside on the balance sheets of brokerage firms and invested in short-dated Treasuries and comparable low-risk securities. Lastly, we find support for the deposits channel in monetary policy, namely that sweep deposits of brokerage clients have a high elasticity to the Federal Funds rate, holding the stock market constant.
Human radiation exposures (occupational, medical, environmental, and radiation incidents) and vascular dysfunction

Abstract The Life Span Study of Japanese atomic bomb survivors as well as data collected from healthcare and radiation industry workers present evidence linking radiation-induced vascular injury to delayed pathologies in different organs. These findings are echoed in studies of radiation accident survivors as well as irradiated animal experiments, which implicate radiation-induced dysfunction in endothelial cells as a leading cause of tissue disorders and organ failure. Despite the central role of the vascular dysfunction in radiation-induced pathologies, significant gaps exist in understanding the disease processes and progression, as well as the advancement of approaches to mitigate radiation vascular injury. This chapter provides an overview of the history of human exposures and their relevance to vascular dysfunction, a brief discussion of pathways and potential biomarkers for radiation-induced endothelial damage, and potential intervention strategies to address these kinds of radiation injuries.
Creating Cultural and Historical Imaginaries in Physical Space: Worldbuilding in Chinese Theme Parks

Theme parks are fascinating texts built on spatial narratives and detailed storyworlds. Worldbuilding and subcreation are literal in these spaces, but they likewise contain symbolic experiences that represent cultural and historical imaginaries. China is one of the largest markets in the global theme park industry. The design ethos in many parks is to represent fantasy versions of reality or depict cultural beliefs. This article offers analysis of examples in Chinese parks that signify simulated place or culture (for example, Splendid China’s parks), a romanticized historical time (the Songcheng parks), local stories (Sunac Land parks), and national cultural stories (the Fantawild Oriental Heritage model). Each of these spaces presents narratives and immersive environments that have the power to engage visitors on physical, sensual, conceptual, and emotional levels. They are second worlds to play in, imagine in, and to consume fantasy in while also providing a shifting model of theme park experience.
Nano-enabled delivery of diverse payloads across complex biological barriers

Complex biological barriers are major obstacles for preventing and treating disease. Nanocarriers are designed to overcome such obstacles by enhancing drug delivery through physiochemical barriers and improving therapeutic indices. This review critically examines both biological barriers and nanocarrier payloads for a variety of drug delivery applications. A spectrum of nanocarriers is discussed that have been successfully developed for improving tissue penetration for preventing or treating a range of infectious, inflammatory, and degenerative diseases.
PCA-Based Method for Detecting Integrity Attacks on Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Electric utilities are in the process of installing millions of smart meters around the world, to help improve their power delivery service. Although many of these meters come equipped with encrypted communications, they may potentially be vulnerable to cyber intrusion attempts. These attempts may be aimed at stealing electricity, or destabilizing the electricity market system. Therefore, there is a need for an additional layer of verification to detect these intrusion attempts. In this paper, we propose an anomaly detection method that uniquely combines Principal Component Analysis PCA and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise DBSCAN to verify the integrity of the smart meter measurements. Anomalies are deviations from the normal electricity consumption behavior. This behavior is modeled using a large, open database of smart meter readings obtained from a real deployment. We provide quantitative arguments that describe design choices for this method and use false-data injections to quantitatively compare this method with another method described in related work.
Hyperplane Arrangements, Parking Functions and Tree Inversions

A (real) hyperplane arrangement is a discrete set of hyperplanes in ℝn. We will be concerned with hyperplane arrangements that “interpolate” between two well-known arrangements: (1) the set B n of hyperplanes xi = xj, for 1 ≤ i < j ≤ n, and (2) the set B n of hyperplanes xi = xj = m, for 1 ≤ i < j ≤ n and m ∈ ℤ. The arrangement B n is known as the braid arrangement or the reflection arrangement of type An−1 (i. e., the set of reflecting hyperplanes of the symmetric group Open image in new window which is the Coxeter group of type An−1). Similarly, B n is the affine braid arrangement or reflection arrangement of type б n i. e., the set of reflecting hyperplanes of the affine Weyl group Open image in new window of type A n .
Enhanced Employment of the Xanthophyll Cycle and Thermal Energy Dissipation in Spinach Exposed to High Light and N Stress

The involvement of the xanthophyll cycle in photoprotection of N-deficient spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv Nobel) was investigated. Spinach plants were fertilized with 14 mM nitrate (control, high N) versus 0.5 mM (low N) fertilizer, and grown under both high- and low-light conditions. Plants were characterized from measurements of photosynthetic oxygen exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as carotenoid and cholorophyll analysis. Compared with the high-N plants, the low-N plants showed a lower capacity for photosynthesis and a lower chlorophyll content, as well as a lower rate of photosystem II photosynthetic electron transport and a corresponding increase in thermal energy dissipation activity measured as nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching. The low-N plants displayed a greater fraction of the total xanthophyll cycle pool as zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin at midday, and an increase in the ratio of xanthophyll cycle pigments to total chlorophyll. These results indicate that under N limitation both the light-collecting system and the photosynthetic rate decrease. However, the increased dissipation of excess energy shows that there is excess light absorbed at midday. We conclude that spinach responds to N limitation by a combination of decreased light collection and increased thermal dissipation involving the xanthophyll cycle.
Selective damage to dopaminergic transporters following exposure to the brominated flame retardant, HBCDD

Abstract Over the last several decades, the use of halogenated organic compounds has become the cause of environmental and human health concerns. Of particular notoriety has been the establishment of the neurotoxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The subsequent banning of PBDEs has led to greatly increased use of 1,2,5,6,9,10-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD, also known as HBCD) as a flame retardant in consumer products. The physiochemical similarities between HBCDD and PBDEs suggest that HBCDD may also be neurotoxic to the dopamine system, which is specifically damaged in Parkinson disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to assess the neurotoxicity of HBCDD on the nigrostriatal dopamine system using an in vitro and in vivo approach. We demonstrate that exposure to HBCDD (0–25 μM) for 24 h causes significant cell death in the SK-N-SH catecholaminergic cell line, as well as reductions in the growth and viability of TH + primary cultured neurons at lower concentrations (0–10 μM) after 72 h of treatment. Assessment of the in vivo neurotoxicity of HBCDD (25 mg/kg for 30 days) resulted in significant reductions in the expression of the striatal dopamine transporter and vesicular monoamine transporter 2, both of which are integral in mediating dopamine homeostasis and neurotransmission in the dopamine circuit. However, no changes were seen in the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the dopamine terminal, or striatal levels of dopamine. To date, these are the first data to demonstrate that exposure to HBCDD disrupts the nigrostriatal dopamine system. Given these results and the ubiquitous nature of HBCDD in the environment, its possible role as an environmental risk factor for PD should be further investigated.
Steam Generator Leak Detection in Liquid-Metal Fast Breeder Reactors by Chemical Methods

Chemical methods are the primary means for detecting steam generator leaks in liquid-metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) systems. Both hydrogen and oxygen detectors may be used for this purpose. Dif...
Die Pervertierung des menschlichen Potentials

Als Thema dieses Kapitels kann die Anwendung psychologischen Wissens auf soziale Probleme angesehen werden. An Beispielen wird eine psychologische Betrachtungsweise demonstriert und die enge Verknupfung von Grundlagenforschung mit praktischen Problemen aufgewiesen.
Techniques for designing efficient parallel graph algorithms for SMPs and multicore processors

Graphproblemsarefindingincreasingapplications inhighperformance computing disciplines. Although many regular problems can be solved efficiently in parallel, obtaining efficient implementations for irregular graph problems remains a challenge. We propose techniques for designing and implementing efficient parallel algorithms for graph problems on symmetric multiprocessors and chip multiprocessors with a case study of parallel tree and connectivity algorithms. The problems we study represent a wide range of irregular problems that have fast theoretic parallel algorithms but no known efficient parallel implementations that achieve speedup without serious restricting assumptions about the inputs. We believe our techniques will be of practical impact in solving large-scale graph problems.
A model for planning health care in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Treatment modalities of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients include in-center dialysis, home dialysis, and kidney transplant. We present a model to account for all aspects of modality use to aid in planning regional facilities. Five years of data for 979 patients on dialysis in Wisconsin between 1970 and 1975 are used. The model shows movement (transit probabilities) from one modality to another, eg, transition from in-center dialysis to transplantation, and data were used to derive all transitional probabilities characterizing patient movement from one modality to another. Model and probabilities were used to predict number of patients in each modality in 1976, and the model was used to predict number of patients in each treatment modality through 1990. These figures may be used for planning regional facilities. Extrapolation of this model and derived probabilities for nationwide projections may be possible. ( Arch Intern Med 138:1783-1786, 1978)
Obesity and Mobility in Advancing Age: Mechanisms and Interventions to Preserve Independent Mobility

Obesity and aging adversely affect musculoskeletal health and functional independence through common physiological pathways. Muscle quality and strength decline as muscle issues become infiltrated with fat. Inflammation, insulin resistance and anabolic hormonal deficits develop. Musculoskeletal disease develops over time, causing painful movement. Muscle cell regenerative capacity also declines. The collective result is onset of mobility disability. Pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia may exacerbate disability and accelerate muscle strength loss and overall fat accumulation. Interventional strategies to prevent mobility disability in the aging, obese population should be multifaceted. Long term success with independent mobility is probable when interventions include weight and pain management techniques, support and coaching, strengthening exercise for lower extremity and thoracic musculature, and special nutritional considerations to promote preservation of muscle mass.
Dual four-point functions

The properties of a phenomenologically useful dual amplitude and its similarity with composite-particle scattering amplitudes are discussed. (AIP)
The Use of Image Intensifies with Streamer Chambers

Publisher Summary Extensive and promising investigations on the streamer chamber and its associated elaborate ultra-high potential pulsing techniques have been conducted both in the Soviet Union and at CERN. However, the intrinsic low-light output of the streamer mechanism limits the usefulness of the chamber as a practical research tool in this form. A streamer chamber consists of a volume of neon and/or helium gas near one atmosphere pressure confined between two parallel electrodes. The image intensifier tubes are used in an electrostatically focused RCA C73491 three-stage tube with a l-in. S-20 cathode and a l-in. P-11 phosphor anode. During the course of investigation, the image tube has been operating with 50-kV total accelerating potential, about 12 kV on the first stage and 19 kV on each of the last two stages. Typical interactions and scatterings in or near the chamber at various streamer length settings are illustrated in the chapter. In each picture unrelated tracks are superimposed to illustrate the consistency of streamer length.
Real Time Flutter Monitoring System for Turbomachinery

A fiber optic laser probe based system is described for real time monitoring of flutter in rotating turbomachinery. The digital flutter monitoring system is designed for continuous processing of blade tip timing data at a rate of 10 MB/s. A USB2.0 interface provides un-interrupted real time processing of the data. The blade tip arrival times are measured with a 50 MHz bscillator and a 24-bit pipelined counter architecture. A graphical user interface provides on-line interrogation of any blade tip from any light probe sensor. Alternatively, data from all blades can be superimposed into a single composite scatter plot displaying the vibration amplitude of each blade. A hardware platform was developed to simulate a seventy two bladed turbine operating at 15,000 rpm. Blade tip responses from three light probes were generated in an infinite loop, providing reproducible and controlled conditions for testing the vibration monitoring system. Time interval measurements were consistently made with a single count error in a 24-bit count vector. Real time testing was done using a two blade rotor mounted in an evacuated chamber at the Spin Rig Facility at the NASA Glen Research Center. The shaft in this facility was suspended by two radial magnetic bearings and the nonsynchronous vibration was communicated to the blades through the magnetic bearing. The shaft motion was much smaller than the blade vibratory amplitude, realistically simulating flutter vibrations. Nonsynchronous vibratory amplitudes for the first mode were of the order of twenty mils and for the second mode of the order of a few mils.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Modeling and simulation of AlN bulk sublimation growth systems

In this paper, we have developed a numerical model to simulate two AlN sublimation growth systems. Temperature distributions in the growth cell for resistance and induction heating systems are presented and compared. The growth rate has been predicted and compared with experimental data. An anisotropic thermomechanical stress model is also developed to predict the thermal stress distribution in the as-grown crystal, with or without contact with the crucible wall.
An Evaluation of an High Temperature Blackbody As a Working Standard of Spectral Radiance

For those interested in measuring the spectral radiance of high-intensity arcs, especially in the ultraviolet region, the 3000°C blackbody has several advantages over the conventional tungsten ribbon filament standard of spectral radiance. At a wavelength of 250 nm, it is between two and three orders of magnitude more intense and could have 30% to 40% less uncertainty in its spectral radiance. Moreover, by using the blackbody, measurements could be extended to wavelengths shorter than 250 nm. On the other hand, the intensity advantage of the blackbody can be nearly eliminated by operating and calibrating a tungsten standard-type lamp well over its rated current. Tests have shown that the stability of these lamps operated at 45 A and 50 A is suitable for calibration purposes.
Advanced hybrid coronary revascularization with robotic totally endoscopic triple bypass surgery and left main percutaneous intervention

CLINICAL SUMMARY The patient, a 57-year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction, left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stent, and occluded right coronary artery, automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation, was seen because of ventricular tachycardia, acute non–ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, and automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator discharge. Workup identified anteroapical ischemia, complex 70% stenosis involving the distal left main coronary artery (LMCA) and all 3 major subbranch ostia, and 30% in-stent restenosis of the LAD stent. Hybrid coronary revascularization was planned, including 3-vessel, all-arterial TECAB targeting the LAD, left circumflex coronary artery, and right posterior descending coronary artery systems with staged stenting of the distal LMCA and ramus. In the operating room, left ventricular ejection fraction was 20%; however, this was considered to be reversible because outpatient left ventricular ejection fraction was 45% and implantation of a prophylactic intraaortic balloon pump resulted in significant improvement. With the da Vinci telemanipulation system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, Calif), bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) were harvested with simultaneous harvesting of the left radial artery. An end to side right ITA–radial artery Y anastomosis was created with robotic endoscopic
Prevalence and risk factors associated with hepatitis C in ED patients.

Abstract The objective of this study was to measure the prevalence of and identify risk factors associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in emergency department (ED) patients. Adults presenting to an urban university teaching hospital, having blood drawn as part of their routine evaluation, had an extra tube drawn and tested for HCV. English-speaking adults consenting to participate in the survey portion of the study were administered an in-depth risk factor questionnaire. A case-control analysis was used to identify risk factors in HCV+ compared with HCV− subjects. Contingency table analyses using the Fisher exact test, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used for risk factor identification. Of 223 blood samples, 38 (17%) were positive for antibodies for HCV. One hundred twenty-one subjects (54%) agreed to the risk factor survey, 18 (15%) of whom were HCV+. Of the 18 HCV+ survey participants, 12 new diagnoses of HCV were made. A history of injection drug use was the most significant risk factor associated with HCV (OR 858.5, CI 61.8-22,026.5). A high prevalence of HCV is found in selected urban ED patients. Most of these patients have a constellation of risk factors including a history of injection drug use. Efforts to identify at risk patients for serologic testing and follow-up should be initiated. Identifying undiagnosed HCV can lead to interventions to decrease transmission as well as reduce the morbidity and mortality of disease. (Am J Emerg Med 2002;20:476-480. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)
Manuscript in preparation for Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Bumble bee pollen foraging regulation: role of pollen quality, storage levels, and odor

The regulation of protein collection through pollen foraging plays an important role in pollination and in the life of bee colonies that adjust their foraging to natural variation in pollen protein quality and temporal availability. Bumble bees occupy a wide range of habitats from the Nearctic to the Tropics in which they play an important role as pollinators. However, little is known about how a bumble bee colony regulates pollen collection. We manipulated protein quality and colony pollen stores in lab-reared colonies of the native North American bumble bee, Bombus impatiens. We debut evidence that bumble bee colony foraging levels and pollen storage behavior are tuned to the protein quality (range tested: 17–30% protein by dry mass) of pollen collected by foragers and to the amount of stored pollen inside the colony. Pollen foraging levels (number of bees exiting the nest) significantly increased by 55%, and the frequency with which foragers stored pollen in pots significantly increased by 233% for pollen with higher compared to lower protein quality. The number of foragers exiting the nest significantly decreased (by 28%) when we added one pollen load equivalent each 5 min to already high intranidal pollen stores. In addition, pollen odor pumped into the nest is sufficient to increase the number of exiting foragers by 27%. Foragers directly inspected pollen pots at a constant rate over 24 h, presumably to assess pollen levels. Thus, pollen stores can act as an information center regulating colony-level foraging according to pollen protein quality and colony need.
Evaluation of Pimobendan and N-Terminal Probrain Natriuretic Peptide in the Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease in Dogs

Background: Pimobendan is a positive inotrope and vasodilator that may be useful in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease. Hypothesis: Pimobendan decreases the severity of PHT measured echocardiographically and improves quality-of-life scores. Changes in N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations will reflect improvement in severity of PHT. Animals: Ten client-owned dogs with peak tricuspid regurgitant flow velocity (TRFV) ≥3.5 m/s. Methods: Prospective short-term, double-blinded, crossover design, with a long-term, open-label component. Short term, dogs were randomly allocated to receive either placebo or pimobendan (0.18–0.3 mg/kg PO q12 h) for 14 days. After a 1-week washout, they received the alternative treatment for 14 days, followed by pimobendan open-label for 8 weeks. Results: Short-term comparison: peak TRFV decreased in all dogs on pimobendan compared with placebo from a median of 4.40 (range, 3.2–5.6) to 3.75 (range, 2.4–4.8) m/s (P < .0001). NT-proBNP concentration decreased after treatment with pimobendan from a median of 2,143 (range, 450–3,981) to 1,329 (range, 123–2,411) pmol/L (P= .0009). All dogs improved their quality-of-life score (P= .006). In the long-term comparisons, peak TRFV decreased in all dogs from a median of 4.28 (range, 3.5–5.7) to 3.52 (range, 2.4–5.0) m/s (P < .0001). No significant changes in NT-proBNP or quality-of-life scores were detected. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Pimobendan lowered severity of measurable PHT, improved quality-of-life scores, and decreased NT-proBNP concentrations short-term. Long term, only the reduction in TRFV was maintained.
The Effect of Granulocyte-colony Stimulating Factor on Rotator Cuff Healing After Injury and Repair

Background The failure rate of tendon-bone healing after repair of rotator cuff tears remains high. A variety of biologic- and cell-based therapies aimed at improving rotator cuff healing have been investigated, and stem cell-based techniques have become increasingly more common. However, most studies have focused on the implantation of exogenous cells, which introduces higher risk and cost. We aimed to improve rotator cuff healing by inducing endogenous stem cell mobilization with systemic administration of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF).
Approach to equilibrium of a quantum-mechanical system

A path-integral formalism is used to describe a quantum system weakly coupled to a heat bath. The heat bath is described by a set of harmonic oscillators, which can be integrated out of the functional integral. The remaining functional integral shows how the quantum system approaches thermal equilibrium.
Grading Facial Nerve Function Following Combined Static and Mimetic Surgical Techniques.

Objective To present a grading scale to assess the functional recovery of the facial nerve in patients who have undergone mimetic and static surgical techniques for facial reanimation. Study design This is a proposed new facial nerve grading system that will be demonstrated with specific case presentations. All patients underwent a variety of neural grafting, microvascular free-flap reconstruction, or surgical static procedures. Results The proposed facial nerve grading scale is one that has not been described previously in the literature and is applicable to a unique patient population. Its ease of use in this patient population will allow otolaryngologists to assess facial recovery accurately and quickly in cases where the facial nerve is not anatomically intact. Conclusion The proposed facial recovery grading scale provides an efficient means of grading facial recovery for a unique group of patients who previously could not be followed. The proposed scale is practical and easy to use in a clinical setting.
Early outcome of window like repair and valveless RV to PA connection for type one truncus arteriosus

Back ground Repair of truncus arteriosus represents a surgical challenge. Many technical modifications were added to improve the surgical outcome, decrease complications and decrease the incidence of re operations especially regarding the RV to PA connections with the consideration of absence or limited number of valved biological conduits in most of our centers in Egypt. Patients and methods Over the last six months 4 patients with TA type 1underwent total surgical repair with window like technique (without separation of the short main pulmonary trunk from the main trunk) and valveless RV to PA connection except one that was done using contegra due to severe PH as the patient was 6 months old. Results Early results of this limited number of patients’ reveals satisfactory results with no in hospital mortality, acceptable ICU and hospital stay and early post-operative echocardiographic study apart from clinically tolerated moderate PR. Conclusion Window like repair of TA and valveless RV to PA connection reveals satisfactory early outcome and considered as good alternatives for the classic techniques utilizing valved biological conduits especially when limited resources are obstacles for repair of this category of complex lesions.