cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Which Patients Require More Care after Hospital Discharge? An Analysis of Post-Acute Care Use among Elderly Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery.

Background The use of post-acute care is common among the elderly and accounts for $62 billion in annual Medicare expenditures. However, little is known about post-acute care use after surgery. Study Design Data were merged between the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) and Medicare claims for 2005 to 2008. Post-acute care use, including skilled nursing facilities (SNF), inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF), and home health care (HHC) were analyzed for 3 operations: colectomy, pancreatectomy, and open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Controlling for both preoperative risk factors and the occurrence of postoperative complications, we used multinomial logistic regression to estimate the odds of use for each type of post-acute care after elective surgery compared with home discharge. Results Post-acute care was used frequently for patients undergoing colectomy (40.0%; total n = 10,932), pancreatectomy (46.0%; total n = 2,144), and open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (44.9%; total n = 1,736). Home health was the most frequently reported post-acute care service for each operation (range 23.2% to 31.5%) followed by SNF (range 12.0% to 15.0%), and then by IRF (range 2.5% to 5.4%). The majority of patients with at least 1 inpatient complication were discharged to post-acute care (range 58.6% for open AAA repair to 64.4% for colectomy). In multivariable analysis, specific preoperative risk factors, including advanced age, poor functional status, and inpatient complications were significantly associated with increased risk-adjusted odds of discharge to post-acute care for each operation studied. Conclusions Among elderly patients, post-acute care use is frequent after surgery and is significantly associated with several preoperative risk factors and postoperative inpatient complications. Further work is needed to ensure that post-acute care services are used appropriately and cost-effectively.
Predictors of Outcome in Patients with Spinal Cord Ischemia after Open Aortic Repair

Spinal cord ischemia is a potentially devastating complication of thoracic aortic surgery. However, predictors of outcome have not been well characterized. The study objective was to generate a prognostic score that accurately stratifies patient outcomes, aiding in future management and planning. A retrospective review of 224 consecutive open thoracic aortic surgeries identified patients with spinal cord ischemia, defined as changes on intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and/or paraparesis/paraplegia postoperatively. The outcome of interest was poor outcome, defined as death or discharge with a lower extremity motor score ≤40, indicating impaired ambulation. Demographic and clinical characteristics were tested in univariate analyses and significant factors were incorporated in multivariate modeling to determine independent predictors of poor outcome. Seventy-five patients were identified with spinal cord ischemia, of which 43(57 %) had poor outcomes including 28(37 %) that died prior to discharge. Factors associated with poor outcome in univariate analysis included absent lumbar CSF drain (p = 0.03), surgical repair that crossed the diaphragm (p = 0.002), permanent intraoperative SSEP change (p = 0.02), postoperative renal failure (p = 0.004), paraplegia (p = 0.001), and concomitant stroke (p = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, surgical repair crossing the diaphragm (OR 4.8, CI 1.4–16.7, p = 0.02), paraplegia (OR 4.5, CI 1.4–14.0, p = 0.01), and renal failure (OR 6.1, CI 1.7–21.2, p = 0.005) were independently associated with poor outcome. Patients with transient intraoperative neurophysiologic changes were least likely to have poor outcome when compared to patients with no or permanent SSEP changes, and those not monitored (p = 0.03). Development of spinal cord ischemia with thoracic aortic repair often leads to death or disability. Characteristics known at the time of event can accurately predict the likelihood of poor outcome.
Surface modification of polyamide fibers and films using atmospheric plasmas

Abstract In this work, polyamide (Nylon 6) fibers and films were treated under atmospheric pressure glow discharges (APGD) and the effects on the morphology and chemistry of the material were studied. The fibers were plasma treated with N 2 , C 2 H 2 in He for (0.6–9.6) s at a frequency of 90 kHz, leading to the functionalization of the surface through the addition of new reactive chemical groups such as –COOH and –OH and changing the energy, chemical composition and wettability of the surface. Surface characteristics were examined via contact angle measurements, XPS, and SEM. Wettability tests revealed the improvement of the hydrophilic character of the surface as the water contact angle measured after the plasma treatments significantly decreased. The corresponding changes of the total surface energy were evaluated with a dynamic contact angle analysis system revealing a significant increase due to the exposure that can be mainly attributed to the increase of its polar component. Preliminary XPS results show a significant increase in oxygen content with the addition of carboxylic and hydroxylic groups and a decrease in the carbon content of the surface. Most importantly, the plasma modified nylon fibers and films exhibit a stable wetting behavior, even for weeks after being treated, suggesting that it is a promising technique to minimize aging phenomena.
The role of constraints in Hebbian learning

Models of unsupervised, correlation-based (Hebbian) synaptic plasticity are typically unstable: either all synapses grow until each reaches the maximum allowed strength, or all synapses decay to zero strength. A common method of avoiding these outcomes is to use a constraint that conserves or limits the total synaptic strength over a cell. We study the dynamic effects of such constraints. Two methods of enforcing a constraint are distinguished, multiplicative and subtractive. For otherwise linear learning rules, multiplicative enforcement of a constraint results in dynamics that converge to the principal eigenvector of the operator determining unconstrained synaptic development. Subtractive enforcement, in contrast, typically leads to a final state in which almost all synaptic strengths reach either the maximum or minimum allowed value. This final state is often dominated by weight configurations other than the principal eigenvector of the unconstrained operator. Multiplicative enforcement yields a "graded" receptive field in which most mutually correlated inputs are represented, whereas subtractive enforcement yields a receptive field that is "sharpened" to a subset of maximally correlated inputs. If two equivalent input populations (e.g., two eyes) innervate a common target, multiplicative enforcement prevents their segregation (ocular dominance segregation) when the two populations are weakly correlated; whereas subtractive enforcement allows segregation under these circumstances. These results may be used to understand constraints both over output cells and over input cells. A variety of rules that can implement constrained dynamics are discussed.
Theoretical Study of Nuclear-Spin-Lattice Relaxation via Paramagnetic Centers

The effect of paramagnetic impurities with local moments on the nuclear-spin-lattice relaxation is studied by using the method of Blume and Hubbard. An average over random impurities is taken on the equations of motion for nuclear and electron spins in the low-concentration limit. An integral equation for the electron-spin correlation function is obtained and solved self-consistently. The correlation function behaves like $\mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}{(\frac{t}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1}})}^{2}]$ for small $t$, $\mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}(\frac{t}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{2}})]$ for intermediate $t$, and $\mathrm{exp}[\ensuremath{-}{(\frac{t}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{3}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}]$ for large $t$. The nuclear-spin correlation function is calculated from the electron-spin correlation function. The dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time on the concentration of impurities, magnetic field; and temperature is obtained. Our calculations are discussed in terms of results obtained from the phenomenological approach.
Convergent or divergent? Teacher questions to three‐year‐old children in day care 1

Open‐ended, divergent questions have been found to be important for children's cognitive and language development. However, there is a paucity of research concerning the types of questions that teachers ask in day care centers that serve primarily children from low‐income families. In this study, the types of teachers’ questions to 50 three‐year‐olds [25 boys and 25 girls] from low‐income families were analyzed. The total sample of 36‐42 month‐old children was observed in 10 day care centers. Each child was observed for 80 minutes across five typical day care settings. All of the “true” questions were coded as convergent or divergent, and the children's responses to these questions were analyzed. There were a total of 667 “true” questions asked during approximately 70 hours of observation. For both boys and girls, 88#pc of the questions were convergent and 12#pc divergent. The children were equally compliant to convergent and divergent questions. These day care children were overwhelmingly asked convergen...
Synergistic action of glucagon and insulin in regulation of hepatic regeneration.

Abstract Rats eviscerated of portal splanchnic organs and deprived of a portal blood supply were maintained by continuous intravenous infusion; when given only electrolytes and glucose they were capable of a regenerative response to partial hepatectomy, as evidenced by a significant rise in the rate of hepatic DNA synthesis, but this response was delayed by about 24 hr and diminished by about two-thirds in comparison to normal controls. Addition of insulin (with glucose) or glucagon (with FreAmine) had little effect when given separately. In combination, however, the two hormones were capable of fully restoring the DNA biosynthetic rate to normal, even when the start of the hormone treatment was delayed for 6–7 hr after the partial hepatectomy. The modest but significant regenerative activity inducible in the near total absence of pancreatic hormones, and the non-deleterious effect of delaying insulin and glucagon treatment for 6–7 hr in eviscerated rats, both suggest that, despite the profound influence of these hormones, additional hormonal or humoral agents may be involved in the initial activation of hepatic regeneration. The precipitous fall in portal vein insulin levels to near zero that we observed during the first several hours of regeneration in normal (non-eviscerated) rats further supports this view, as does the preliminary finding that infusion of insulin and glucagon into eviscerated but non-hepatectomized control rats failed even minimally to excite DNA synthesis in intact livers. Thus, although there is a likelihood that other agents may serve to initiate and even to sustain regeneration, the pancreatic hormones, acting in synergy, appear to be the major regulators of the rate and possibly also of the magnitude of the proliferative process.
Entanglement and decoherence in near-critical qubit chains

We study the problem of environmentally induced decoherence in a near-critical one-dimensional system of $N\ensuremath{\gg}1$ coupled qubits. Using the Jordan-Wigner fermion representation of the qubit operators we identify the decoherence rates relevant for the two-qubit reduced density matrix. We find that a desirable onset of massive shared entanglement in the near-critical regime comes at the expense of decoherence, which also tends to increase as the system is tuned towards criticality. Our results reveal rather contradictory general requirements that future designs of a qubit-chain-based quantum information processor will need to satisfy.
Kinase inhibitors and the case for CH…O hydrogen bonds in protein–ligand binding

Although the hydrogen bond is known to be an important mediator of intermolecular interactions, there has yet to be an analysis of the role of CH...O hydrogen bonds in protein-ligand complexes. In this work, we present evidence for such nonstandard hydrogen bonds from a survey of aromatic ligands in 184 kinase crystal structures and 358 high-resolution structures from the Protein Data Bank. CH groups adjacent to the positively charged nitrogen of nicotinamide exhibit geometric preferences strongly suggestive of hydrogen bonding interactions, as do heterocyclic CH groups in kinase ligands, while other aromatic CH groups do not exhibit these characteristics. Ab initio calculations reveal a considerable range of CH...O hydrogen bonding potentials among different aromatic ring systems, with nicotinamide and heterocycles preferred in kinase inhibitors showing particularly favorable interactions. These results provide compelling evidence for the existence of CH...O hydrogen bonds in protein-ligand interactions, as well as information on the relative strength of various aromatic CH donors. Such knowledge will be of considerable value in protein modeling, ligand design, and structure-activity analysis.
Diary Reports of Concerns in Mothers of Infant Siblings of Children with Autism Across the First Year of Life

We examined the home-based concerns reported by mothers of infant siblings of children with autism across the first year of life. At all three ages measured, mothers of high-risk infants were significantly more likely than mothers of low-risk infants to report language, social communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior concerns but were not more likely to report general, medically based concerns. At 6 and 9 months of age, maternal concerns were poorly related to infant or family variables. At 12 months of age, there were moderate correlations between maternal concerns and infant behavior, and concerns were associated with the proband's autism symptoms and mothers' concurrent depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the need to examine high-risk infants' development in the family context.
Physics of Melt Extraction: Theory, Implications and Applications

This paper presents a general overview of flow in deformable porous media with emphasis on melt extraction processes beneath mid-ocean ridges. Using a series of simple model problems, we show that the equations governing magma migration have two fundamentally different modes of behaviour. Compressible two-phase flow governs the separation of melt from the solid and forms a nonlinear wave equation that allows melt to propagate in solitary waves. Incompressible two-phase flow governs small-scale mantle convection driven by lateral variations in melt content. The behaviour of both compressible and incompressible matrix deformation is demonstrated in the context of mid-ocean ridges to show that both mechanisms may explain the observation of the narrowness of ridge volcanism. These results also suggest that melt extraction is an inherently time dependent process that may account for the timing, volume and chemistry of volcanism.
Zippier zaps: faster electrostatics calculations

Macromolecular modeling techniques have contributed enormously to our understanding of macromolecular structures and their relationships to biological function. As computers become more and more powerful, modeling should become a truly predictive science, offering insights into structurefunction relationships in systems where a single, static structure is an insufficient description, and providing guidance for the rational design of drugs and engineered macromolecules. For modeling methods to realize their full potential as predictive tools, they must be as accurate as possible. In this issue, Oberoi and Allewell (1) present a method that offers significant improvements in the speed and accuracy of the treatment of molecular electrostatics, which is currently the largest source of error in the most common quantitative modeling algorithms (energy minimization, molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo). The independent development of this same approach was recently reported by Holst and Saied (2). Electrostatic interactions are often modeled with a modified Coulombic approximation. Coulomb's law is the solution to Poisson's equation around a point charge in the case of a homogeneous system with a uniform dielectric constant. This is inappropriate for a macromolecule under physiological conditions, because the macromolecule has a low dielectric constant (-2-4), and it is surrounded by a solution with a high dielectric constant (-80) and containing mobile ions. In this case, the proper mathematical treatment of electrostatic interactions requires the solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation (PBE). The PBE does not have analytical solutions except for very simple geometries, so numerical methods are reuses the finite difference method, pioneered by Warwicker and Watson (3) and extended and improved by efforts in many laboratories over the past decade. Finite differences have been applied to both the complete nonlinear form of the PBE and the linearized PBE, a frequently used approximation. (The linearized PBE makes the approximation sinh(x) = x, x being the ratio of the electrostatic energy of a unit test charge to the thermal energy,
N-benzyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD 198) activates protein kinase C-δ holoenzyme to trigger mitochondrial depolarization and cytochrome c release independently of permeability transition pore opening and Ca2+ influx

Unlike nuclear-targeted anthracyclines, the extranuclear-targeted doxorubicin congener, N-benzyladriamycin-14-valerate (AD 198), does not interfere with normal topoisomerase II activity, but binds to the C1b regulatory domain of conventional and novel isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC). The resulting interaction leads to enzyme activation and rapid apoptosis in a variety of mammalian cell lines through a pathway involving mitochondrial events such as membrane depolarization (Deltapsim) and cytochrome c release. Unlike other triggers of apoptosis, AD 198-mediated apoptosis is unimpeded by the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. We have further examined AD 198-induced apoptosis in 32D.3 mouse myeloid cells to determine how the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 are circumvented. The PKC-delta inhibitor, rottlerin, and transfection with a transdominant-negative PKC-delta expression vector both inhibit AD 198 cytotoxicity through inhibition of Deltapsim and cytochrome c release. While the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK blocks AD 198-induced PKC-delta cleavage, however, it does not inhibit Deltapsim and cytochrome c release, indicating that AD 198 induces PKC-delta holoenzyme activation to achieve apoptotic mitochondrial effects. AD 198-mediated Deltapsim and cytochrome c release are also unaffected by cellular treatment with either the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex (PTPC) inhibitor cyclosporin A or the Ca chelators EGTA and BAPTA-AM. These results suggest that AD 198 activates PKC-delta holoenzyme, resulting in Deltapsim and cytochrome c release through a mechanism that is independent of both PTPC activation and Ca flux across the mitochondria. PTPC-independent mitochondrial activation by AD 198 is consistent with the inability of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL expression to block AD 198-induced apoptosis.
Further considerations of the astigmatism error associated with off-axis alignment of an LDA-probe

Off-axis alignment of an LDA-probe in internal flow measurement is always associated with the appearance of astigmatism and this may have a large effect on the measurement accuracy. In addition to the earlier investigations reported by Zhang and Eisele (1995a, 1996) it is shown that the improper off-axis alignment of the probe leads to separation of laser beams in the formation of the measurement volume. Quantitative calculations made in this paper give a sound basis for estimating this separation and the results imply that the error arising from beam separation is very serious both for LDA- and for PDA-measurements. In addition, the analysis in Sect. 3 reveals that the reduction of the data rate from astigmatism due to off-axis alignment of the probe depends on the focal length of the receiving optics. This relationship has been validated by experiment.
BRCA testing uptake and participation in ovarian cancer prevention in women at risk for an inherited ovarian cancer susceptibility

The aim of this study was to assess BRCA testing uptake in women with a family history suggestive of an inherited ovarian cancer risk, and to evaluate their participation in preventive measures including bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), screening with transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) and serum CA125, and chemoprevention with oral contraceptives (OCPs). From January 1998 through June 1999, 112 women received genetic risk assessment and counseling regarding a possible inherited susceptibility to ovarian and related cancers. 62% were Jewish and 42% had a history of breast cancer. Of these 112 women, 72% elected to participate in BRCA testing; deleterious mutations were identified in 22% (18/81). Jewish patients represented 79% of the subjects who chose to undergo testing, and included 93% (64/69) of all Jewish patients. Only 40% (17/43) of non-Jewish patients chose testing. Almost all (89%) of the 18 deleterious mutations identified were in Jewish patients; 25% (16/64) of Jews who were tested had deleterious mutations compared to only 12% (2/17) of non-Jews. Jewish patients were more likely than non-Jews to have a personal history of breast cancer, 52% (33/69) compared to 26% (11/43), p<0.03. Follow-up regarding participation in preventive services was available for 18 of 22 women seen in the past 3 years who had both intact ovaries and deleterious BRCA mutations. 10 of the 18 women underwent BSO, and 7 are participating in TVUS and CA125 and/or are taking OCPs for ovarian cancer prevention. Only 3 women had been participating in ovarian cancer screening prior to their genetic consultation, and none were taking OCPs for chemoprevention. Age and personal history of breast cancer did not distinguish between those who did and did not elect BSO. 9 of the 13 Jewish women (69%) with a BRCA mutation had BSO, as did 1 of 2 non-Jewish women. These preliminary data suggest that women with BRCA mutations participate in appropriate preventive strategies for ovarian cancer; most choosing prophylactic BSO. Jewish patients were more likely to undergo BRCA testing than non-Jewish patients; this might be due to the increased mutation detection rate and reduced cost of testing. Thus at this time, genetic risk assessment and testing appears to be most beneficial for Jewish women at risk for an inherited susceptibility to ovarian cancer.
GRIN-Optics-Based Hyperspectral Imaging Micro-Sensor

By utilizing diffractive, refractive and graded-index optics technology, a miniature (1 mm x 1 mm x 2 mm) Computer-Tomography Imaging Spectrometer (CTIS) sensor has been designed with 16 independent optical channels working in a snap-shot mode for hyper-spectral imaging. The designed prototype covers a 400~700 nm wavelength range. One optical channel has been fabricated and characterized. By azimuthally rotating this optical channel along the optical axis and collecting different dispersed images to simulate the full sensor read-out, the full hyperspectral detection scheme has been demonstrated.
Abstract 3884: DNA mismatch repair defects, MSI, does not play major role in colon carcinogenesis in young African Americans

Back ground: African Americans (AAs) are known to display a higher rate and even earlier age of colorectal cancer (CRC) than in the general population. Genetically, 10-12% microsatellite instability (MSI) cases involved in CRC development. However, if it occurs below the age of 50 it could be suspicious of Lynch syndrome. Aims and methods: We aimed to assess the role of MSI in pathogenesis of sporadic colorectal cancer in young African American. The CRC patients in this study were less than 50 years and referred to Howard University Hospital from 2005 to 2008. The medical records (n=50) as well as the pathology reports were reviewed. The MSI status was assessed in a multiplex PCR targeting 5 markers: BAT25, BAT26, NR21, NR27 and NR24. The PCR products were analysed in an Applied Biosystems Gene Scan 3130 machine. Samples with two or more instable markers were labeled MSI-H, with one instable marker: MSI-L and no stable marker: MSS. The presence or absence of expression of four DNA MMR proteins: MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 and MSH6 were evaluated using immunohistochemistry on a Tissue Microarray (TMA, n=26, duplicate) consisting (stage1: 3; stage 2: 6; stage3: 5; stage4: 4).TMA IHC staining were read by two different pathologists who were not aware of the patient clinical status and were scored thus in an objective manner. Two patients were MSI-L and one MSI-H. The response to 5-FU based therapy was reported. Results: Twenty six patients [age, median: 44.5; age range: 26-49; male, 17 (65.4%)] were enrolled in the study. Seven out of 13 available data had family history of CRC. Fourteen CRC cases were left sided. MSI analysis revealed that out of 24 patients: one was MSI-H and two were MIS-L and the rest were MSS. The MSI high patient and one of the MSI low had family history of CRC. MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 and MSH6 were not expressed in 7 (26.9%), 1 (3.8%), 0 (0%) and 5 (19.2%) of tumors, respectively. IHC confirmed the MSI-H tumor. There was a recurrence with lung and brain metastases at 72 months in one of the MSI-L patients following adjuvant chemotherapy with 5 Fluorouracil and Leucovorin. Discussion: Our results show that MSI is not a major pathway in tumorgenesis of sporadic CRCs in young AAs and we may need to study chromosomal instability or CpG Island methylator phenotype as alternative pathways which occur in African Americans and make them present the disease at younger age and advanced stage. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3884. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3884
An extension of the Riggs projection colorimeter

A method for the construction and calculation of CIE chromaticity coordinates from a simple and inexpensive projection colorimeter is presented. The device allows variation along the dimensions of hue, saturation, and brightness and specification of these variations in terms of chromaticity coordinates, dominant wavelength, relative luminance, and excitation purity.
Determination of gossypol enantiomers in plasma after administration of racemate using high-performance liquid chromatography with precolumn chemical derivatisation.

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with precolumn chemical derivatisation was developed for the determination of gossypol enantiomers in plasma, after administration of the racemate. Racemic gossypol acetic acid in plasma was extracted into acetonitrile and analysed using a reversed-phase column and a coulometric detector in the redox mode. To separate the enantiomers, 30 μl of the chiral derivatising reagent, ( R )-(−)-2-amino-1-propanol (50 mg/ml) and 15 μl of 20% (v/v) acetic acid were added to the acetonitrile layer which was then heated at 60°C for 100 min. The mobile phase used to resolve the derivatised enantiomers was 0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 3.5)-acetonitrile (38:62, v/v). At a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min, the retention times for derivatised (+)-gossypol and (−)-gossypol were 4.0 and 7.8 min, respectively. Two cancer patients received 10 mg racemic gossypol acetic acid three times a day. In one patient, the racemic, (+)- and (−)-gossypol acetic acid plasma concentrations after 65 days of therapy were 317,213 and 104 ng/ml, respectively. In the other patient, these values were 362,210 and 152 ng/ml, respectively, after a week of therapy. This represents, to our knowledge, the first determination of the individual enantiomer levels of gossypol after administration of the racemate.
Intrinsic Organization of Serial Lists

Twenty-four Ss learned four 12-item serial lists. One list was composed of consonants, another of numbers, another of 6 numbers followed by 6 consonants, and another of 3 numbers followed by 3 consonants followed by 3 names of months followed by 3 color names. S saw the entire list and then responded orally. The criterion was one perfect trial. By a Duncan Multiple-range F test every mean was different from each other mean (p < .05). In another experiment 16 Ss learned 2 lists (each containing 4 categories of items). In one list the members of the categories were grouped together; in the other they were not. The mean number of trials to criterion was different by a t test (p < .001).
Intellectual capital or signal? The effects of scientists on alliance formation in knowledge-intensive industries

Abstract Hiring employees with advanced education, training, and experience has been a prevalent human resource practice in dynamic science-based industries, and a growing body of literature has demonstrated the importance of scientists in such fields. Little research has attempted to distinguish the functional from the symbolic roles of scientists, however. We develop an integrative theoretical framework to separate the productive and legitimating effects of scientists on strategic alliance formation of firms. Results from a longitudinal analysis of more than 300 U.S. biotechnology firms between 1988 and 1999 suggest a positive relationship between ratio of scientists and R&D alliance partners as well as a positive relationship with finance alliance partners. Scientists influence partner attraction more strongly for firms that are less-well-connected, and they become less prominent in fostering finance ties as the industry practice of partnership becomes more institutionalized. We conclude that scientists serve more than just a research function in knowledge-intensive industries. Implications for building interorganizational networks and managing human resources in such industries are discussed.
Challenges in linguistically and culturally diverse elementary settings with math instruction using learning technologies

This research effort reports the findings of an empirical study focusing on the ways in which technological tools are implemented specifically in mathematics education in a Title I school. The purpose was to identify the perspectives and actions of the school’s mathematics specialist and the multi-graded (grades 2–3) classroom teacher as they attempted to deliver instruction with technology for both English Language Learners1 (ELL) and non-ELL students. Findings showed that a critical factor in access to mathematics education and technology for ELL students in a multi-graded 2–3 classroom in a Title I (K-5) school setting was language. Although potentially powerful technologies—analog (concrete objects) and digital (software) were used, many ELL students could not access the content solely because of language difficulties. Teachers used the concrete objects as modeling tools, to reveal students’ thinking, and for communication of foundational mathematics. Conversely, the software used served none of these functions because the available software did not do the kinds of things the manipulatives did, teachers’ knowledge of exemplary software was insufficient, the school used an impoverished model of technology integration, and teachers were constrained by the school district’s policies of English immersion for ELL students.
Visible light photocatalysis with platinized rutile TiO2 for aqueous organic oxidation.

Platinized rutile TiO2 samples containing varying concentrations of Pt were synthesized using Kemira (KE, BET surface area 50 m2/g, from Finland), and Toto HT0270 (HT, BET surface area 2.9 m2/g, from Japan) as the starting materials by solution mixing followed by sintering the precursors. Photocatalytic activities were established for phenol oxidation under visible light (wavelength >400 nm). Our results show optimal performance for 8 wt % platinized KE (8 wt % Pt/KE) and 1/2 wt % platinized HT rutile samples. The specific roles of O2 and visible light were examined using the 8 wt % Pt/KE sample in either N2 gas ambient or no illumination. Separately, 8 wt % platinized SiO2 was tested to compare its performance with that of platinized rutile TiO2. Several other chemicals containing different functional groups (formic acid, salicylic acid, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, diethyl phosphoramidate) were selected for photooxidation tests with 1/2 wt % platinized HT rutile. X-ray diffraction reveals Pt m...
Sources of anisotropy in rare earth and actinide exchange interactions

Abstract Over a period of time we have been developing techniques to evaluate the fundamental interactions for correlated f-electron systems, such as band-f hybridization and band-f coulomb exchange, on the basis of absolute first principle calculations. In this work, we apply the same technique to evaluate the evolution of f-electron behavior from heavy rare earths to light rare earths to actinides. We will discuss how the degree of localization of the f-electrons affects their hybridization and coulomb exchange interaction with the non-f band electrons, and how this influences the two-ion exchange interaction and magnetic ordering. Our calculations are for XSb where X - Ce, Nd, Tb, Er, Yb, U and for CeTe and UTe. The treatment that we present provides a generalization of RKKY theory as it was developed for electronic systems by T. Kasuya and by K. Yosida to the situation where the itinerant component has unquenched orbital angular momentum. The results we so obtain will be compared to results obtained from spin-and-orbitally polarized band theory.
The employment, utilization, and earnings of physician extenders.

Abstract This paper reports some of the findings of an on-going research project on physician extenders (P.E.s). Data were collected between 1971 and 1973 utilizing an air mail survey, sent to Physician Assistants, Medex, and Nurse Practitioners. Included in this report is information on the distribution of physician extenders' tasks among patient care, laboratory work, clerical duties, and teaching responsibilities, as well as a discussion of their salary levels. A regression model is employed to analyze the affect the time spent by the physician extender in patient care either directly or indirectly supervised by a physician. A separate analysis of the determinants of the earnings of P.E.s is also presented. The results indicate that the physician extenders spend more of their time in patient care when working closely with three or fewer physicians in general medicine. Also, the amount of time in patient care under the indirect supervision of the physician is higher in general medicine and rural areas. The earnings function indicates that health experience prior to training as a physician extender, employment in a hospital, a public health clinic, or in a rural area has a positive impact on earnings.
Commercial and PET radioisotope manufacturing with a medical cyclotron

Abstract Mount Sinai has extensive experience in producing radionuclides for commercial sales and for incorporation into radiopharmaceuticals, including PET. Currently, an attempt is being made to supply radiochemicals to radiopharmaceutical manufacturers outside the hospital, to prepare radiopharmaceuticals for in-house use, and to prepare PET radiopharmaceuticals, such as 2-[F-18] FDG, for outside sales. This use for both commercial and PET manufacturing is atypical for a hospital-based cyclotron. To accomplish PET radiopharmaceutical sales, the hospital operates a nuclear pharmacy. A review of operational details for the past several years shows a continuing dependence on commercial sales which is reflected in research and developmental aspects and in staffing. Developmental efforts have centered primarily on radionuclide production, target development, and radiochemical processing optimization.
Outcomes of Morbidly Obese Patients Receiving Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A Nationwide Analysis

Background Critically ill, morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 ) are at high risk of respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). It is not clear if outcomes of critically ill, obese patients are affected by obesity. Due to limited cardiopulmonary reserve, they may have poor outcomes. However, literature to this effect is limited and conflicted. Methods We used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2004 to 2008 to examine the outcomes of morbidly obese people receiving IMV and compared them to nonobese people. We identified hospitalizations requiring IMV and morbid obesity using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Primary outcomes studied were inhospital mortality, rates of prolonged mechanical ventilation (≥ 96 h), and tracheostomy. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounding variables. We also examined outcomes stratified by number of organs failing. Results Of all hospitalized, morbidly obese people, 2.9% underwent IMV. Mean age, comorbidity score, and severity of illness were lower in morbidly obese people. The adjusted mortality was not significantly different in morbidly obese people (OR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.74-1.06). When stratified by severity of disease, there was a stepwise increase in risk for mortality among morbidly obese people relative to nonobese people (range: OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.58-1.01 for only respiratory failure, to OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.11-15.3 for four or more organs failing). Rates of prolonged mechanical ventilation were similar, but rate of tracheostomy (OR 2.19; 95% CI, 1.77-2.69) was significantly higher in patients who were morbidly obese. Conclusions Morbidly obese people undergoing IMV have a similar risk for death as nonobese people if only respiratory failure is present. When more organs fail, morbidly obese people have increased risk for mortality compared with nonobese people.
Family Burden and Adaptation During the Initial Year After Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

Objective. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to long-term behavioral and cognitive deficits in children. However, little is known about the burden and psychosocial morbidity of pediatric TBI for families. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that moderate and severe TBI in children has more adverse consequences than orthopedic trauma. Design. The sample was comprised of children between the ages of 6 and 12 recruited from hospital trauma and inpatient units including 53 with severe TBI, 56 with moderate TBI, and 80 with orthopedic injuries not involving central nervous system insult. Measures of injury-related burden, parental distress, and family functioning were administered to the child9s primary caregiver at baseline assessment conducted soon after injury and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Multivariate repeated measures analysis of covariance was used to examine group differences in these outcomes over time. Results. Caregivers in the severe TBI group reported significantly higher levels of family burden, injury-related stress, and parental psychological symptoms than caregivers in the orthopedic injury group (ORTHO). The groups did not differ with respect to marital distress. Caregivers in the severe TBI group were significantly more likely than caregivers in the ORTHO group to exceed the clinical cutoff on the Brief Symptom Inventory and to report clinically significant levels of family dysfunction at follow-up. Conclusions. The findings suggest that severe TBI is a source of considerable caregiver morbidity, even when compared with other traumatic injuries. Caregivers in the severe TBI group had persistent stress associated with the child9s injury, as well as the reactions of other family members, and a relative risk of clinically significant psychological symptoms nearly twice that of the ORTHO comparison group. These findings underscore the need for interventions that facilitate family adaptation after pediatric TBI.
Propeller modelling effects on interior noise in cylindrical cavities with application to active control

The coupling of a vibrating finite elastic cylinder and its interior cavity, closed with rigid end caps, is examined. Results are presented for several types of excitation including a point force, a single external acoustic monopole, and an array of external monopoles. Modal spectra are examined for a frequency range typical of the harmonic noise produced by advanced turbo-props. The effect of frequency and source distribution on modal content is presented. Significant interface modal filtering, which would have a beneficial impact on an active system for reducing interior noise, was found to occur for all cases. Some preliminary experimental data for a stiffened, composite cylinder are presented and discussed.
How do growth cones grow

Abstract As the leading tips of neurites, growth cones steer neurites over long distances through diverse terrains, choose among different regions of the nervous system, and, most importantly, make synaptic contacts onto specific target cells. Two recent reports have examined growth cone behavior from novel vantage points: the interplay between cytoskeleton and substrate adhesion during neurite outgrowth 1 , and the relationship between rates of outgrowth and growth cone morphology at different stages of neuronal differentiation 2 . These studies shed light on the relative contribution of substratum adhesion and cytoskeletal components in controlling the form of the growth cone, and how that form in turn might reflect neuronal maturation.
WE-G-18C-01: Novel Method for Geometrically Undistorted B0 Inhomogeneity Field Map Estimation and Image Correction

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a method to estimate undistorted B0 inhomogeneity field maps of MRI and to correct susceptibility-induced geometrical and intensity distortions in clinical images in order to support precision RT planning. Methods: The proposed method consisted of two major steps. First, undistorted B0 inhomogeneity field maps and images were estimated from k-space data of a 3D dual gradient-echo (GRE) acquisition using a novel joint reconstruction algorithm. After linearizing the cost function that includes two spatial regularizations, the algorithm iteratively estimated the undistorted field maps and images. Second, clinical images acquired with a low readout-bandwidth in the same imaging session, e.g., 180 Hz/pixel in clinical brain T1-weighted images, were corrected for geometrical and intensity distortions by using the undistorted field map. The method was evaluated through simulation, and studies of a geometric phantom with air-water interfaces and human brain on a 3T scanner. Results: Simulation showed that our method reduced field map errors (RMS and maximum error) in the undistorted field maps ten-fold compared to the distorted ones, and geometric and intensity artifacts in the jointly reconstructed images. In the phantom study, the 2-mm distortion near the air-water interface was fully corrected using the undistorted field map, but only partially corrected using the distorted field map with approximately 1-mm residual distortion. In the patient study, there was >2 mm distortion near the sinus in the distorted field map. The geometrically accurate field map obtained by our method resulted in improved correction of geometry and intensity in both GRE and clinical T1-weighted images at the air/tissue interface. Conclusion: Our method can correct geometrical distortion in clinical images, create a geometrical accurate image template, or provide a means for quality assurance of individual patient images, to enable MRI as a primary modality in precision RT planning. Work supported by: NIH R01 EB016079
Social Determinants and Heat Shock Protein-70 Among African American and Non-Hispanic White Women With Atherosclerosis A Pilot Study

African American(AA)womenarenearlytwiceaslikelyasnon-HispanicWhite(NHW)womentodevelopatherosclerosisassociated with cardiovascular disease. Compelling evidence demonstrates that stress-related biomarkers, such as heat shock protein-70 (HSP70), are associated with increased atherosclerosis risk. Yet little is known about how social factors such as perceived discrimination, subjective social status, and socioeconomic status contribute to the levels of these biomarkers in women with atherosclerosis. The aims of this pilot study were to (1) describe perceived everyday discrimination, subjective social status, perceived stress, and HSP70 level in AA and NHW women diagnosed with coronary or carotid artery disease requiring inter- vention and (2) determine the extent to which perceived discrimination, subjective social status, and perceived stress are associated with HSP70 level, controlling for age, education, and race. The sample for this cross-sectional, descriptive pilot study consisted of 10 AA and 21 NHW women admitted to the hospital for elective percutaneous cardiac intervention or carotid endarterectomy. Participants completed questionnaires measuring psychosocial variables and provided blood samples for analysis of HSP70. Race, age, education, perceived stress, perceived discrimination, and subjective social status significantly (p ¼ .022) explained 34% of the variance in HSP70 levels. However, only subjective social status (p ¼ .031) and AA race (p ¼ .031) were significant independent predictors of HSP70 levels, with lower subjective social status and AA race associated with higher HSP70. Although larger studies are needed to confirm these results, findings imply that race and subjective social status may play an important role in predicting stress biomarker levels.
Determining motor carrier backhaul markets

Abstract Deregulation of the motor carrier industry has provided shippers and carriers considerable latitude in how transportation services are arranged. Today, purchasing of transportation can be treated much like any other industrial marketing service. Perhaps, the greatest potential for improvements in transportation savings lies in the area of decreased empty backhauls. This article presents a procedure for developing an information system to increase the number of backhaul loads achieved by shippers using either private, common, or contract carriage. Actual samples of two companies that have implemented this system are also presented.
Band Spectrum of Antimony Oxide

I HAVE obtained and measured a large number of bands extending from λ3250 to λ6700 in the spectrum of the flame surrounding the antimony arc in air. Some of the bands were previously obtained by Eder and Valenta with different salts of antimony introduced into an oxy-coal-gas flame. So far, their vibration quantum analysis has not been attempted. Some of these bands have now been classified and there are at least three systems, with origins approximately at 29619 cm.−1, 26480 cm.−1, and 24203 cm.−1. The origins of the remaining systems have not yet been correctly ascertained. The bands show a doublet structure consistent with the fact that their emitter is the neutral antimony oxide molecule.
Marginality and narratives of success: the Jenni Rivera story

Jenni Rivera was a singer, radio and television personality, whose sudden death at the age of 43 made her the subject of intense coverage in both Spanish and English-language media. This paper explores her rise from the southern California Mexican-American working class to growing cross-national celebrity in terms of a success narrative valorising Rivera’s struggles as a poor, minority single mother and victim of male violence and infidelity. Like other celebrities before her, Rivera presented the friendships, language and symbols of her background as the bases of her character and of her critique of the very market-driven social networks and values that she embraced in her quest for fame. The work of Sennett and Cobb, Bourdieu and Granovetter and studies of working-class celebrity narratives are examined to understand the ways in which Rivera and others have created and managed this complex and often contradictory story of success.