cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fuel Programming in Pool-Type Research Reactors of Intermediate Power Level

A fuel cycle program is presented for an intermediate power research reactor utilizing fully enriched MTR-type fuel elements. The fuel cycle program is considered at equilibrium after many cycles have past. The program consists of shifting elements from positions of high importance outward to positions of low importance through several paths. The paths are staggered so that only the elements in one path are shifted at the conclusion of a cycle, and only one element is replaced. The method of calculating the fuel remaining in each element is shown utilizing a fractional burn-up factor for each position. Sample calculations are shown for the LPTR with 23 standard elements in the core and a desired burn-up of 15%. A method is proposed to obtain such an equilibrium condition starting with an initial loading of fuel elements having nearly equal fuel loading. (auth)
Frequency-doubled 0.346-μm Nd:YAG laser

An efficient, flashlamp-pumped, room-temperature, 0.946-μm Nd:YAG laser was Q-switched using an acousto-optic modulator and frequency-doubled in a tandem set of BBO crystals to produce 3.5 mj with and efficiency of 0.07.
Pathfinding of Ru-Liner/Cu-Reflow Interconnect Reliability Solution

Ruthenium (Ru) and Copper (Cu) interface promotes void-free Cu gap-fill through a Cu reflow approach. However, reliability issues such as Electromigration (EM) and time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) have delayed industry adoption of Ru liner. Here, we report our findings on two EM improvement approaches and compare them to industry standard Cobalt (Co)-linerlselective-Co-cap-based Cu interconnect. Similar to Co liner, addition of a post chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) selective Co cap did improve EM performance with Ru liner. However, EM equivalence to Co-liner/Co-cap-based Cu interconnect requires the development of a new doped Ru liner in combination with the selective Co cap. We will also discuss the impact of the EM improvement approaches on key parameters of interest such as via resistance, TDDB and provide a technology scorecard.
ξ-completely continuous operators and ξ-Schur Banach spaces

Abstract For each ordinal 0 ⩽ ξ ⩽ ω 1 , we introduce the notion of a ξ-completely continuous operator and prove that for each ordinal 0 ξ ω 1 , the class V ξ of ξ-completely continuous operators is a closed, injective operator ideal which is not surjective, symmetric, or idempotent. We prove that for distinct 0 ⩽ ξ , ζ ⩽ ω 1 , the classes of ξ-completely continuous operators and ζ-completely continuous operators are distinct. We also introduce an ordinal rank v for operators such that v ( A ) = ω 1 if and only if A is completely continuous, and otherwise v ( A ) is the minimum countable ordinal such that A fails to be ξ-completely continuous. We show that there exists an operator A such that v ( A ) = ξ if and only if 1 ⩽ ξ ⩽ ω 1 , and there exists a Banach space X such that v ( I X ) = ξ if and only if there exists an ordinal γ ⩽ ω 1 such that ξ = ω γ . Finally, prove that for every 0 ξ ω 1 , the class { A ∈ L : v ( A ) ⩾ ξ } is Π 1 1 -complete in L , the coding of all operators between separable Banach spaces. This is in contrast to the class V ∩ L , which is Π 2 1 -complete in L .
Presence of Small Screens in Bedrooms Is Associated With Shorter Sleep Duration and Later Bedtimes in Children With Obesity

Abstract Background The presence of small screens in the sleep environment has been associated with shorter sleep duration and later bedtimes in children of normal weight, but the role these devices play in the sleep environment of overweight children is unclear. We sought to examine the association of small screen presence in the sleep environment with sleep behaviors among school-age children with obesity. Methods We surveyed 526 parents of children ages 6 to 12 years old with a body mass index ≥95th percentile who were participating in a randomized trial to treat childhood obesity. Twelve months after enrollment, parents were asked how frequently their child slept with or near a small screen (defined as a cellphone, smartphone, or texting/chat-capable device). We used multivariable linear regression to examine associations of the presence of small screens with sleep duration, waketime, and bedtime. Results Compared with children who rarely/never slept with a small screen in their bedroom, children who did so 1 day or more per week had shorter sleep durations and later bedtimes. After we adjusted for television presence in the bedroom, small screen presence was still associated with shorter sleep duration (–9.9 minutes; P = .02) and later weekday (8.8 minutes; P = .03) and weekend (12.0 minutes; P = .03) bedtimes. Conclusions Children with obesity and a small screen present in their sleep environment have shorter sleep durations and later bedtimes than children who rarely/never sleep with a small screen. Pediatricians should consider inquiring about small screens in the bedroom when counseling on healthy sleep and weight management habits.
Urbanization Alters Swimming Performance of a Stream Fish

Human activities cause many changes in wildlife populations, including phenotypic shifts that represent adaptations to new conditions and influence population dynamics, diversity, and persistence. Although many examples of phenotypic adjustment to anthropogenic disturbance exist, we rarely know the extent to which these changes result from genetic evolution or phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, our understanding of how whole-organism performance changes as a result of habitat alteration is very limited. We tested how urbanization, an important type of global disturbance, influences fish swimming performance in urban streams. Because urban streams have higher water velocities during rain events than rural streams, we tested for increased steady-swimming performance in fish from urbanized watersheds. Across ten populations of wild-caught Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), we found that fish from streams in more urbanized areas exhibited a longer propulsive wavelength and a lower tailbeat frequency, expending lower levels of hydromechanical power during steady swimming. In a laboratory experiment, we reared individuals collected as fry from four populations with different urbanization histories, and found evidence for genetically based differences in swimming kinematics. Laboratory-reared fish derived from urbanized populations exhibited higher locomotor efficiency, matching predictions for adaptation to urban environments. We exposed laboratory-reared Creek Chub from urban and rural populations to artificially increased water velocity for four months and observed that only some populations exhibited plasticity. Urban populations may have lost maladaptive, velocity-induced plasticity in locomotor efficiency that is still present in rural populations. Evolutionary change in freshwater species may represent a widespread yet unrecognized consequence of anthropogenic activity.
Perspectives on the Earlier Use of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease from a Qualitative Study of U.S. Clinicians.

Background In November 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) “of at least four years duration and with a recent onset of motor complications, or motor complications of longer-standing duration that are not adequately controlled with medication.” Although the full implications of this more recent approval are yet to be determined, to date, there are no strict criteria defining appropriate earlier use of DBS. As such, confusion remains regarding the actual meaning of early DBS initiation. To better inform responsive policy, we sought the perspectives of movement disorder neurologists and neurosurgeons regarding the earlier use of DBS. Insights from these clinicians are key to developing appropriate clinical guidelines and determining how early is too early. The objective of this study is to explore attitudes among clinicians toward the earlier use of DBS for PD. Methods Twelve Michigan-based clinicians were interviewed both about DBS referral/use processes and their perspectives regarding the earlier use of DBS in PD. We used a structured interview with closed- and open-ended questions. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a mixed-method approach. Results We found that most clinicians considered earlier use not solely to be time dependent but instead determined by patient symptoms. Only 16.8% were aware of the FDA's recent indication of early use of DBS, with 25% of our respondents being unsure as to whether it should be seen as an early treatment modality. On average, neurologists suggested DBS as the next treatment option, after medications have been exhausted, typically 6 years after diagnosis. Conclusions There remain wide variations in terms of clinicians' parameters for referrals and timing of DBS. Larger studies are needed to support or refute our findings.
TCTAP C-175 Seal the Hole, Not the Vessel!

### Patient Initials or Identifier Number NS ### Relevant Clinical History and Physical Exam 34 years old police lady presented with 3 months history of right lower limb claudication after a complex ventricular tachycardia ablation involving left and right ventricular outflow tracts. The right
Evidence of an Inverse Relationship Between Dietary Potassium Intake and Blood Pressure

Experimental studies have demonstrated that elevation of potassium concentration in the blood affects elements of renal function in ways that are known to be associated with long-term reductions in blood pressure. In a wide range of animal models of hypertension, dietary potassium supplementation has been effective in reducing blood pressure and/or prolonging survival. Potassium supplementation, in many but not all studies, reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects, and dietary modifications that increased potassium intake were found to substantially reduce blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive subjects. In several of the largest population studies of factors associated with hypertension, involving subjects from all parts of the world, potassium intake was reported to be inversely and strongly related to blood pressure. The magnitude of the effect is sufficiently great to warrant recommendation by the authors of some of the studies that potassium supplementation and dietary modification to a higher potassium intake be recommended for hypertensive patients, and for normotensive subjects to reduce their risk of developing hypertension.
Influence of Maternal Prepregnancy Obesity and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain on Maternal and Child Gastrointestinal Microbiome Composition: A Systematic Review.

Background:Maternal obesity is a well-known risk factor for significant obstetric and neonatal complications. The influence of the gastrointestinal microbiome in the setting of maternal obesity dur...
Open Repair of Jejunoileal Atresia

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for repair of jejunoileal atresia as performed by the following approach: open. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: abdominal access, identification of all atretic lesions, resection, anastomosis, and closure with or without diversion.
Bertels Ike, dir. Guerilla Grannies: How to Live in This World . 2012. English, Portuguese, Yao, Nyanja (with English subtitles). 90 minutes. Burgdorf, Switzerland. DNU Films. $398.00. 2012.

Ike Bertels, dir. Guerilla Grannies: How to Live in This World. 2012. English, Portuguese, Yao, Nyanja (with English subtitles). 90 minutes. Burgdorf, Switzerland. DNU Films. $398.00. 2012.As a student, Ike Bertels saw a film that would shape her career. The 1971 documentary Behind the Lines of the British solidarity activist Margaret Dickinson profiled the freedom fighters of FRELIMO, including a cadre of young women who had taken up arms against Portugal's colonial empire. For Bertels the film launched a journey to find and understand these women. The result of this quest is her first feature-length documentary, Guerilla Grannies, which captures the strength, compassion, and conviction of the three now elderly women who inspired a young Dutch filmmaker forty years ago.The three women-Amelia Omar, Monica Chitupila, and Maria Sulilaunited to fight Portuguese colonialism before charting their own paths in postindependence Mozambique. Bertels chronicles their lives through a series of interviews conducted in 1984, on the eve of free elections in 1994, and most recently in 2011. Amelia entered the war as a teenager shortly after having her first child. She now makes a living from the proceeds of her farm supplemented by a pension, but she worries about her son's laziness even as she celebrates her educated daughter's accomplishments. Maria was the ambitious one, attaining the rank of captain and working abroad during the civil war. Having recently experienced a stroke, she lives in Maputo with her son, a bank manager, who credits his mother with helping him achieve a comfortable life. Monica remained in FRELIMO the longest, serving in the Central Committee. Now retired, she raised her children to celebrate revolutionary principles but laments the technocratic direction of the government and the listlessness of her grandson's generation.The lives of these three women provide dramadc testimony to the ideals behind independence and FRELIMO's uneven accomplishments since taking power. Through careful editing, the Film sensitively contrasts the opinions of the young revolutionaries to those held by their older, more world-weary selves. Generally the women seem content with gender advances and the state of education, but they are less sanguine about the political and economic state of the country. Nonetheless, they remain devoted to the party in which they fought, because it has improved the country and provided their children with opportunities that did not exist under Portuguese rule. Filmed with straightforward elegance and a commitment to preserving the voices of its subjects, Guerilla Grannies is a remarkable document of how three principled women understand the trajectory of their lives in the globalized context of postcolonial Mozambique.Bertels's documentary recognizes the unfulfilled promises of FRELIMO, yet in its celebration of the values of these women and their personal strength, it resembles older Films of the revolutionary era. …
Pregnant women's confidence and perceptions on practices related to food safety: A study in Louisiana

Abstract Pregnant women are known as high-risk populations to infectious disease including foodborne illnesses. To protect pregnant women and their fetus from serious consequences of foodborne illness, food safety education is critical. The objective of this study was to measure pregnant women's confidence and perceptions on food safety practices in preparing their own meals at home. Two hundred and twenty-two pregnant women in and around urban area in Louisiana were recruited to complete the survey. Participants indicated high confidence in knowing how to keep foods safe for consumption as well as safe food handling skills. Thermometer using skills, however, were rated lowest, which indicated a gap in food safety education.
Associations of Cardiac, Kidney, and Diabetes Biomarkers With Peripheral Neuropathy among Older Adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background The aim of this study was to assess the association of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnT) and other cardiac, kidney, hyperglycemia, and inflammatory biomarkers with peripheral neuropathy (PN) in a community-based population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 3056 black and white participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study who underwent standardized monofilament PN testing and had measures of cardiac function (hs-cTnT, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP], and growth differentiation factor 15 [GDF15]), kidney function (serum creatinine, cystatin C, β-2 microglobulin, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio), hyperglycemia (fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c [Hb A1c], fructosamine, glycated albumin, 1,5-anhydroglucitol), and inflammation (C-reactive protein) assessed at visit 6 (2016-2017; age 71-94 years). We used logistic regression to assess the associations of these biomarkers (modeled in diabetes-specific tertiles) with PN in older adults with and without diabetes after adjusting for traditional risk factors. Results In total, 33.5% of participants had PN (37.3% with diabetes and 31.9% without diabetes). There was an independent association of hs-cTnT with PN regardless of diabetes status (diabetes T3 vs. T1: odds ratio [OR], 2.15 [95% CI, 1.44-3.22]; no diabetes: OR, 2.31 [95%CI, 1.76-3.03]; P = 0.72 for interaction). Among participants without diabetes, there were also significant associations of NT-proBNP (OR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.08-1.81]) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (OR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.22-1.97]) with PN. Associations of hyperglycemia biomarkers including Hb A1c (OR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.22-2.54]), fructosamine (OR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.19-2.46]), and glycated albumin (OR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.03-2.03]) with PN were significant only among participants with diabetes. Conclusions Overall, hs-cTnT appears to be a global marker of end organ damage, including PN. Laboratory biomarkers may be able to help us identify those individuals with PN.
When it takes a pandemic to help us forget our conflicts

Dear Editor, The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for us to appreciate the importance of collaboration and cooperation among individuals and nations as we all come together to fight this scourge Despite the many human conflicts around the world, our ability to push all else behind when we fight for survival, shows how the human brain is capable of forgetting man-made conflicts when circumstances demand it In a work environment, it can lead to a change in relationship on a long-term basis as there is less of a reason to make up and each remains in their own world
Pervasive Risk Avoidance: Nursing Staff Perceptions of Risk in Person-Centered Care Delivery.

Background and objectives Nursing home (NH) staff perceptions of risks to residents' health and safety are a major barrier to honoring resident preferences, the cornerstone of person-centered care (PCC) delivery. This study explored direct-care nursing staff perceptions of risk (possibilities for harm or loss) associated with honoring residents' preferences for everyday living and care activities. Research design and methods Qualitative, descriptive design using sequential focus group (FG) methodology. Results Participants (N = 27) were mostly female (85%), had more than 3 years of experience (74%), and worked in NHs recently experiencing 6-12 health citations. Content analysis of 12 sequential FGs indicated nursing staff perceptions of risks may impede delivery of person-centered care. This is supported by the overarching theme: pervasive risk avoidance; and subthemes of: staff values, supports for risk-taking, and challenges to honoring preferences. Discussion and implications Development of a multidimensional framework with specific risk engagement measures that account for the unique risk perspectives of nursing staff will contribute significantly to the clinical management of older adult preferences and research on the effectiveness of preference-based PCC delivery in the NH setting.
Composition dependence of cholesterol flip-flop rates in physiological mixtures

Abstract Unbiased, all-atom simulations of mixtures representative of the inner and outer leaflets of a mammalian red blood cell and a synaptic vesicle reveal many cholesterol flip-flop events over the 5 μsec duration of the simulations. Enough events are observed for a direct estimate of the flip-flop rate. Slower rates are found in more ordered membranes, and faster rates in more disordered membranes, consistent with earlier reports in the literature. However, the rates found here are neither as fast as the fastest nor as slow as the slowest rates obtained by previous simulations. The difference likely stems from the compositions studied here, which unlike previous work include exclusively lipids with differing acyl chains, as observed in mammalian lipidomes.
Understanding the hand-gestures using Convolutional Neural Networks and Generative Adversial Networks

In this paper, it is introduced a hand gesture recognition system to recognize the characters in the real time. The system consists of three modules: real time hand tracking, training gesture and gesture recognition using Convolutional Neural Networks. Camshift algorithm and hand blobs analysis for hand tracking are being used to obtain motion descriptors and hand region. It is fairy robust to background cluster and uses skin color for hand gesture tracking and recognition. Furthermore, the techniques have been proposed to improve the performance of the recognition and the accuracy using the approaches like selection of the training images and the adaptive threshold gesture to remove non-gesture pattern that helps to qualify an input pattern as a gesture. In the experiments, it has been tested to the vocabulary of 36 gestures including the alphabets and digits, and results effectiveness of the approach.
Rules of Medical Necessity

Health insurance contracts have long excluded coverage for care that is “experimental” or not “medically necessary.” Historically, insurance policies defined these key terms of coverage using broad standards. For example, “medically necessary” care might be defined as care that is “generally accepted in the medical community.” This contractual structure provided insurers with significant flexibility when making coverage determinations, even though denying coverage could pad their bottom line. For this reason, lawmakers developed various tools to prevent insurers from exploiting their discretion to determine when care was “medically necessary” or “experimental.” These safeguards allowed insureds to challenge coverage denials internally within the insurance company, externally to an independent medical expert, and before courts via a contract law or ERISA cause of action. Additionally, state and federal mandates required insurers to cover specific medically necessary treatments and services. This Article documents a dramatic shift in health insurers’ contracts and practices from a standard-based approach to determining the medical and scientific appropriateness of health care towards a rule-based approach for making these determinations. It shows how health insurers have increasingly made incredibly detailed and specific rules of medical necessity part of their formal contractual obligations to policyholders. The Article then argues that health insurers’ shift from standards to rules for defining medically and scientifically appropriate health care undermines the effectiveness of traditional legal tools designed to constrain the risk of health insurer over-reaching. The Article concludes by exploring reforms that might effectively address the increasing rulification of medical necessity.
Utilizing Latinx Cultural Capital for the Retention and Graduation of Latinx Students in Higher Education

This article uses Yosso's (2005) framework of cultural capital and Matos's (2011, 2015, 2019) findings on cultural capital to examine how these frameworks can be used to recruit and retain Latinx c...
Dirichlet series and series with Stirling numbers

This paper presents a number of identities for Dirichlet series and series with Stirling numbers of the first kind. As coefficients for the Dirichlet series we use Cauchy numbers of the first and second kinds, hyperharmonic numbers, derangement numbers, binomial coefficients, central binomial coefficients, and Catalan numbers.
Multiple Dietary Vitamin K Forms Are Converted to Tissue Menaquinone-4 in Mice.

BACKGROUND "Vitamin K" is a family of structurally-related quinones, phylloquinone (PK) and the menaquinones (MKn), that share a common naphthoquinone ring but vary in sidechain length (n) and saturation. Dietary PK is a biosynthetic precursor to tissue menaquinone-4 (MK4), but little is known about the absorption and metabolism of dietary MKn. OBJECTIVE To characterize absorption and metabolism of dietary MKn relative to PK. METHODS In the 4-week diet study, 10-wk old male and female C57BL/6 mice were pair-fed a vitamin K deficient diet (control) or a diet supplemented with 5.0 μmol/kg total PK, MK4, and/or MK9 (separately and in combination). In the 1-week stable isotope study, 12-wk old mice were pair-fed diets containing 2.2 μmol/kg PK (unlabeled control), 2H7PK, 13C11MK4, 2H7MK7, or 2H7MK9. Vitamin K tissue content was quantified by HPLC and/or LC-MS, and concentrations were compared by sex and diet group using 2-factor ANOVA. RESULTS Regardless of the form(s) of vitamin K provided in the feed, tissue MK4 concentrations did not differ across equimolar supplemented groups in kidney, adipose, reproductive organ, bone, and pancreas, in either males or females in the diet study (all P > 0.05). Isotopic labeling confirmed the naphthoquinone ring of MK4 in tissues originated from the administered dietary PK or MKn. Despite equimolar supplementation, accumulation of the administered dietary form differed across diet groups in small intestinal segments (all P < 0.002) and liver (P < 0.001). Female mice had greater total vitamin K than males in every tissue examined (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Dietary PK, MK4, MK7, and MK9 all served as precursors to tissue MK4 in mice. This study expands our understanding of vitamin K metabolism and supports a common conversion mechanism of all dietary vitamin K forms to MK4. Further investigation of the metabolism and physiological roles of MK4 that may be independent of classical vitamin K function are warranted.
Adolescents' Intimacy with Parents and Friends.

Adolescents' perceived levels of intimacy with their mother, father, and close friend were examined as a function of demographic, family and school, and psychological variables. Students with same-sex friends and greater interest in school reported greater intimacy with their mothers. Students with higher self-esteem, lower depression, and lower risk-taking scores reported greater intimacy with their mothers and fathers. The greatest number of relationships with positive variables involved intimacy with mothers.
Autolysis of Listeria monocytogenes

Autolytic curves of five representative strains of Listeria monocytogenes are described. Of 24 strains so far examined, the majority are unstable in vitro.
Learning-Oriented Assessment in Large-Scale Testing

This paper reports two presentations from the TCCRISLS 2014 which address a newly emerging area of inquiry - the interface between Learning-oriented assessment (LOA) and large-scale summative assessments. The surveyed papers propose that LOA should be introduced into summative testing to help test-takers to demonstrate their best performance. The report will also make links between the papers and the dimensions of Turner and Purpura’s (2015) framework of LOA.
Architectures for polynomial evaluation

A regular architecture is proposed for the evaluation of polynomials of arbitrary degree. Control of the execution is accomplished with cube-type instruction. The time complexity is derived. The basic design is easily adapted to a pipeline structure. The study also shows that the constraint of regularity may make faster algorithms unsuitable for certain implementations. >
Technology and the Changing Idea of News: 2001 U.S. Newspaper Content at the Maturity of Internet 1.0

Continuing prior research on print news, a content analysis provides baseline data on Internet news for 2001. By that year, a point when most of the U.S. press had moved online, the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of stories continued the trends found previously. Stories grew longer and had more explanations of how and why. They emphasized more groups than individuals, and more individuals were officials or outside sources. The changes suggest that news after moving onto Web 1.0 continued its former trajectory, enhancing the professional authority of journalists. But once online, the newspapers began refocusing on local markets and on the idea of connecting events. News stories included many more events and linked them to others in history. And the locations of news stories moved closer to the places where people act as citizens, reversing a century-long trend.
Cost Sharing Among Persons with MS (P4.147)

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of cost-sharing on healthcare utilization among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). BACKGROUND Prior studies suggest that out-of-pocket health care costs are increasing. Although high out-of-pocket costs are undesirable, low out-of-pocket costs may indicate a desirable situation (excellent health insurance) or undesirable situation (deferral of needed health care). An alternate method for analyzing out-of-pocket costs is through cost sharing, a ratio of out-of-pocket costs to total health care costs. DESIGN/METHODS We analyzed the 1996-2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), an annual survey of representative households in the United States. MEPS participants are followed for two years. Out-of-pocket and total costs were expressed in 2013 dollars, adjusting for medical inflation. We constructed models using number of office visits or prescription medications as the dependent variable. The variables of interest were cost-sharing in the prior year, MS, and an interaction term of cost-sharing and MS. The models controlled for age, sex, race, education, insurance, income, perceived health status, and comorbidities. RESULTS There were 146,278 persons without MS and 277 with MS. Expressed in 2013 dollars, the mean out-of-pocket costs were $912 for persons without MS and $3287 for persons with MS. For persons without MS, the cost-sharing ratio was 27% for office visits and 51% for prescription drugs. For persons with MS, the cost-sharing ratio was 19% for office visits, and 38% for prescription drugs. A higher cost-sharing ratio was associated with fewer office visits (p<0.001) and unique medications (p<0.001) in the subsequent year. Cost-sharing among persons with MS had a differentially greater impact (p<0.001) on the number of unique prescription medications among persons without MS. CONCLUSIONS Compared to persons without MS, persons with MS had substantially higher out-of-pocket costs, even though insurers covered a higher proportion of health costs. Given that cost-sharing affects future utilization, we will further explore whether cost-sharing also has an impact on quality of care. Study Supported by: The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Disclosure: Dr. Cheng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dora has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ayad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Langer-Gould has received research support from Biogen Idec and Roche. Dr. Ettner has nothing to disclose.
The relationship between hsp 70 localization and heat resistance

Abstract Using indirect immunofluorescence we have investigated the kinetics of nuclear accumulation and removal of hsp 70 in HA-1 Chinese hamster fibroblasts exposed to elevated temperatures. The kinetics of accumulation of hsp 70 in the nuclei were found to be time/temperature dependent at all temperatures tested (42–45 °C). At a given temperature, the fraction of cells manifesting nuclear localization of hsp 70 increased with exposure time. For a given duration of heating, the fraction of cells manifesting nuclear localization of hsp 70 increased with the temperature. The kinetics of the nuclear accumulation of hsp 70 were similar for normal HA-1 cells, their heat-resistant variants, and transiently thermotolerant cells (triggered by prior exposure to a brief heat shock or to sodium arsenite). Upon return to 37 °C after heat shock, the kinetics of removal of the hsp 70 associated with the nucleus was dependent on the severity of the initial heat challenge. However, for a given heat dose, the decay of nuclear localization of hsp 70 was more rapid in thermotolerant and heatresistant cells than in their normal counterparts. These results suggest that the increased levels of hsp 70 associated with the transient or permanently heat-resistant state may play a direct role in restoring and/or repairing heat-induced nuclear and nucleolar alterations associated with heat-induced cell killing. Furthermore, they also suggest that the heat-resistant state may involve ameliorated repair of heat-induced cellular alterations.
Validating quality breast care: three new validation programs for 2007

Abstract Background Despite advances in treatment and decreases in mortality, high-quality breast care is distributed unevenly across the country. Efforts to measure and monitor the quality of breast care have been initiated for breast centers and breast surgeons. Methods The current efforts to define measures of breast care quality were examined. Each program was defined by their quality indicators, ease of use, and potential problems. Results Three new innovative programs were identified: (1) the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers uses an on-site survey of the structural components of breast center care to offer breast center accreditation; (2) the National Quality Measures for Breast Care (National Consortium of Breast Centers, Inc, Warsaw, IN) uses a confidential online questionnaire of process indicators to offer quality breast center certification; and (3) the American Society of Breast Surgeons program uses a confidential online questionnaire to validate breast surgeon quality. Conclusions Three new programs to validate quality breast care are available in 2007. One or more of these programs likely will be used to validate increased payments for quality care. Breast centers and breast surgeons are advised to consider participation in these programs.
Receptor-Controlled Phosphorylation of α1 Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase Enhances Nitric Oxide-Dependent Cyclic Guanosine 5′-Monophosphate Production in Pituitary Cells

It is generally accepted that G protein-coupled receptors stimulate soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-mediated cGMP production indirectly, by increasing nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in a calcium- and kinase-dependent manner. Here we show that normal and GH3 immortalized pituitary cells expressed α1β1-sGC heterodimer. Activation of adenylyl cyclase by GHRH, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and forskolin increased NO and cGMP levels, and basal and stimulated cGMP production was abolished by inhibition of NO synthase activity. However, activators of adenylyl cyclase were found to enhance this NO-dependent cGMP production even when NO was held constant at basal levels. Receptor-activated cGMP production was mimicked by expression of a constitutive active protein kinase A and was accompanied with phosphorylation of native and recombinant α1-sGC subunit. Addition of a protein kinase A inhibitor, overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of regulatory prot...
Modeling Short-Term Soil−Water Distribution of Aromatic Amines

The applicability of a distributed parameter model for describing the distribution of aniline and α-naphthylamine between soil and aqueous phases at short contact times was assessed. Mass action equations considered in the distributed parameter model were (a) acid dissociation of the protonated organic amine (BH+); (b) sorption of the neutral species (B) to soil organic carbon through the partition coefficient Koc; and (c) ion exchange of the protonated organic amine and inorganic divalent cations (Ca2+ + Mg2+ = D2+). The last reaction was expressed mathematically as separated association reactions for each cation to unoccupied cation exchange sites, with constants KBH and KD. A Gaussian distribution on log KBH values with mode μ and standard deviation σ was employed. The overall model was expressed as a system of two nonlinear equations with two unknown values (BH+ and D2+). The model was evaluated with aniline and α-naphthylamine isotherms measured on three Indiana soils ranging in pH (4.5−7.0) and adde...
Similarity of mRNA phenotypes of morphologically normal macular and peripheral retinal pigment epithelial cells in older human eyes.

PURPOSE. To determine the expression profiles of morphologically normal human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells that originate from the macula and periphery. METHODS. Morphologically normal RPE cells from 15 human globes from donors aged 52 to 82 years old were laser capture microdissected. Total RNA from 5000 cells was SMART amplified, [33]P-labeled, and hybridized to a cDNA array containing 4325 known genes. Expression profiles were analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis, Prediction Analysis of Microarrays (PAM), and Significance Analysis for Microarrays (SAM). Differentially expressed genes were evaluated further by real time RT-PCR. RESULTS. The overall expression profiles of RPE cells from the macula and periphery were similar. Unsupervised and supervised hierarchical cluster analysis showed that patient genotype was a stronger separating factor than topographical location. SAM analysis identified 11 genes that were underexpressed by macular RPE cells. The expression patterns of these 11 genes were confirmed by real time RT-PCR, with 5 genes reaching statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS. Whereas the overall expression profiles were similar between cells from the macula and periphery, subtle differential expression of five genes could contribute to RPE phenotypic differences based on topographic location. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004;45:3291‐3301) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.04-0168
Electronic structure of hydrogen in simple metals

Based on the Hohenberg-Kohn-Sham formalism a fully self-consistent calculation of the electron density distribution around a proton in the metallic density range is presented. The calculation takes into account the first gradient correction to the exchange-correlation potential, hitherto treated only in the local density approximation. Very shallow bound states are found to exist for all metallic densities (${r}_{s}=2.07\ensuremath{-}5$) considered. The physical picture regarding the electronic structure of a proton in the metallic density range is that of an extended ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ion accompanied by an equally extended compensating hole in the uniform electron gas. Assuming that a positive muon (${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}$) constitutes a heavy impurity in an electron gas, the Knight shift at ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}$ site as a function of electron density (${r}_{s}$) has also been calculated and the results are compared with experiment.
Conductance of Dilute Hydrochloric Acid Solutions to 458 K and 1.4 MPa

Electrical conductance measurements were made on dilute solutions of hydrochloric acid to 458 K and 1.4 MPa with a flow instrument. These measurements agree well with those of previous authors. The conductance theory of Fuoss and Hsia as given by Fernandez-Prini (FHFP), was fit to these measurements. It was found that this theory adequately described the present results with a single parameter, the limiting conductance at infinite dilution Λ°(HCl). Within their estimated accuracy, reported literature results of Λ°(HCl) between 264.15 and 579 K and high pressures were found to be represented by a five-parameter equation that was a function of the solvent viscosity, temperature and pressure. This equation along with the FHFP theory permits accurate calculation of the conductance of dilute hydrochloric acid solutions at high temperatures and pressures.
SAR modeling of unbalanced data sets.

Abstract The increased acceptance of SAR approaches to hazard identification has led us to investigate methods to improve the predictive performance of SAR models. In the present study we demonstrate that although on theoretical grounds the ratio of active to inactive chemicals in the learning set should be unity, SAR models can ‚tolerate‘ an unbalanced range in ratios from 3 : 1 (i.e., 75% actives) to 1 : 2 (i.e., 33% actives) and still perform adequately. On the other hand SAR models derived from learning sets with ratios in excess of 4 : 1 (80% actives), even when corrected for the initial ratio do not perform satisfactorily.
P.4.4 BIN1 deficiency in zebrafish results in centronuclear myopathy

Centronuclear myopathies (CNM) are a heterogeneous group of congenital disorders characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and the abnormal centralization of myonuclei. Several genetically distinct forms of CNM have now been described based on age of onset, severity of clinical symptoms, and mode of inheritance. Autosomal recessive centronuclear myopathy (CNM2) presents as moderate to severe weakness at birth or in early childhood and is associated with mutations in the BIN1 gene. BIN1 encodes bridging integrator 1 (BIN1), a protein shown to contribute to membrane remodeling in vitro and to the organization of T-tubules in Drosophila. However, limited progress has been made in the study of BIN1 in vertebrates due to the perinatal lethality that results from the systemic ablation of Bin1 expression in mice. To better understand BIN1 function (s) in vivo and its role in disease pathogenesis, we first created a zebrafish model of CNM2 using morpholino antisense technology. BIN1-deficient zebrafish exhibit morphological abnormalities and significantly impaired motor function early in development. Histopathological changes, such as irregularly positioned nuclei and malformed triads, underlie these outward defects and are consistent with changes in the human disease. This model is also used to introduce a reliable assay for the in vivo characterization of novel BIN1 mutations, and to show that the BIN1 PI-binding domain is not required to rescue the BIN1-deficient phenotype. To screen chemical therapeutics for CNM2, we are now pursuing a targeted knockout of the zebrafish bin1 gene using TALE nucleases. Successful conclusion of these studies will increase general understanding of the basic biology of CNM2, the affected systems, and the mechanisms that lead to skeletal muscle weakness. Identification of small molecules that slow or prevent derangements of skeletal muscle will also set the stage for preclinical testing of new therapies for CNM and related disorders.
Role of the Side Chains in the Activity of Cyclic N-Substituted Glycine Oligomers

Non-natural mimics of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be designed to display chemical moieties analogous to the active side chains of natural peptides, while its abiotic backbone provides protection from proteolytic degradation. A discrete conformational structure of a molecule is commonly accepted to be another prerequisite for potent antimicrobial activity. N-substituted glycine oligomers (peptoids) are among the most promising candidates as potential anti-infectious agents due to their inherent ease of structural optimization. One of the approaches to rigidify the structure of peptoids is to introduce a covalent limitation and make them cyclic. In the present work we investigate the role of side chains of three cyclic peptoids in their interactions with model bacterial and cell membranes. The outer leaflets of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial membranes were modeled with DPPG and Lipid A-Kdo2 monolayers, respectively. The lipid monolayers at the air-liquid interface were studied using constant-pressure insertion assays, epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), synchrotron X-ray reflectivity (XR) and grazing incident-angle diffraction (GID). We have found that both the electrostatic and hydrophobic forces play important roles in defining interactions of the peptoids with anionic lipid monolayers. Peptoids’ aryl side chains are responsible for the hydrophobic interactions and serve as determinants for the differential activity of the peptidomimetics. Our data suggest that bulkier groups promote an enhanced peptoid insertion into the bacterial membrane monolayer mimics. This agrees well with the higher antibacterial activity displayed by these compounds, indicating that bulkier groups, indeed, help peptoids in adopting rigid bioactive conformation.
Addressing the analytical throughput challenges in ADME screening using rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry methodologies.

High-throughput ADME screening for compound drug development properties has become an essential part of the modern drug discovery process, allowing more informed decisions to be made on the best compounds to take forward in the discovery/development process. This however is a time-consuming process requiring multiple tests to be performed, demanding a significant amount of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) instrument time. This article focuses on the use of sub-2 µm porous particle LC coupled to tandem quadrupole MS/MS mass spectrometry for the rapid screening of ADME properties. Using this approach analysis times from 30 s to 1 min were achievable allowing analysis times to be cut by 80%. The use of the small particles coupled to high flow rates allowed for sufficient resolution, even with very short analysis time, to resolve the analytes of interest from similar compounds that would interfere with the assay. The use of dedicated, intelligent, software packages allowed for the user-free generation of MS/MS conditions and the processing of the data. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electric field measurements in noctilucent clouds

[1] Two rockets were flown through noctilucent clouds (NLC) during the Distribution and Role of Particles in the Polar Summer Mesosphere using Coordinated Rocket, Radar, and Lidar Techniques (DROPPS) rocket experiment from Andoya Rocket Range, Norway, in July 1999. Each rocket was equipped with three-axis, double-double, high-impedance Langmuir probes (12 probes each flight) and produced unprecedented resolution of the electric potential distribution around the rockets in and near both a weak NLC (DROPPS1) and a very strong NLC (DROPPS2). Detailed analysis of the vehicle interaction during the weak NLC encounter, in which no large geophysical electric fields were detected [Holzworth et al., 2001], provided a basis for understanding the strong NLC encounter by DROPPS2, where geophysical electric fields reached 3 V m−1. The electric field orientation is shown to be vertically downward. In the case of the strong NLC encounter a layer of excess positive charge at the top of the layer reached a density of 2 pC m−3, deduced from the sharp field gradient. The total integrated potential drop through the NLC was 2 kV.
A multi-period machine assignment problem

Abstract In this paper, a multi-period assignment problem is studied that arises as part of a weekly planning problem at mail processing and distribution centers. These facilities contain a wide variety of automation equipment that is used to cancel, sort, and sequence the mail. The input to the problem is an equipment schedule that indicates the number of machines required for each job or operation during the day. This result is then post-processed by solving a multi-period assignment problem to determine the sequence of operations for each machine. Two criteria are used for this purpose. The first is to minimize the number of startups, and the second is to minimize the number of machines used per operation. The problem is modeled as a 0–1 integer program that can be solved in polynomial time when only the first criterion is considered. To find solutions in general, a two-stage heuristic is developed that always obtains the minimum number of startups, but not necessarily the minimum number of machines per operation. In a comparative study, high quality solutions were routinely provided by the heuristic in negligible time when compared to a commercial branch-and-bound code (Xpress). For most hard instances, the branch-and-bound code was not able to even find continuous solutions within acceptable time limits.