cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM-WEIGHTED SIVERS ASYMMETRY IN SEMI-INCLUSIVE DEEP INELASTIC SCATTERING AT NEXT-TO-LEADING ORDER

We summarize the results of a recent study of next-to-leading order perturbative QCD corrections to the transverse momentum-weighted Sivers asymmetry in semi-inclusive hadron production in lepton-proton deep inelastic scattering. The corresponding differential cross section is evaluated as a convolution of a twist-three quark-gluon correlation function, often referred to as Qiu-Sterman function, the usual unpolarized fragmentation function, and a hard coefficient function. By studying the collinear divergence structure, we identify the evolution kernel for the Qiu-Sterman function. The hard coefficient function, which is finite and free of any divergence, is evaluated at one-loop order.
Cognitive characteristics of suicidal and nonsuicidal psychiatric inpatients

While various studies have examined cognitive characteristics of suicidal individuals, few have studied attitudes and belief systems; yet these are perhaps the most common foci in the contemporary practice of cognitive forms of therapy. In this study, suicidal and nonsuicidal psychiatric inpatients were administered the Beck Depression Inventory, Hopelessness Scale, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, and Irrational Beliefs Test. Suicidal patients scored significantly higher on all measures except the Beck Depression Inventory. Examination of Irrational Beliefs Test subscale scores indicated that patients' beliefs about the role of cognition in their unhappiness may be especially important. Implications of these results for the development of cognitive interventions specifically designed for suicidal individuals are discussed.
The effects of vascularity and cyclosporin A on the mechanical properties of canine fibular autografts.

Abstract We studied the biomechanical behavior of orthotopic canine autografts as influenced by vascularized supply and the administration of cyclosporin A at three months and six months post-surgery. The model was the proximal 8 cm of the fibula in young adult dogs. In vascularized grafts, blood supply was re-established by microvascular re-anastamosis. Experimental controls were sham-operated and unoperated bones. Mid-graft test sections were subjected to loading-to-failure in torsion to determine the strength and stiffness. In both three- and six-month groups, vascularized grafts were significantly stronger and stiffer than contralateral nonvascularized grafts. Vascularized grafts were not significantly different from sham-operated bones. A 30-day regimen of cyclosporin A was found to have no measurable effect on mechanical properties for any individual treatment group. The results indicate that re-established blood supply can be a major factor in maintaining the mechanical integrity in large-segment cortical autografts.
A Review of America's Religious Institutions' Utilization of Information Communication Technologies in Shaping Social Policy and Governance

Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) are vital tools that religious organizations pervasively utilize in the United States of America (USA) to shape social issues, influence social policy and participate in governance. This paper articulates the different methods of deploying ICTs by religious organizations toward social justice and human development in the USA from historical to contemporary times. Furthermore, the article highlights the nexus of intervention strategies and ICTs to address social problems such as poverty, unemployment, child abuse, human trafficking, and environmental issues. Contemporary ICTs applications such as twitter, Facebook, blogs, online communities and classical media outlets such as television, satellite communications and radios used by religious organization in influencing governance will be examined. Implications for teaching, practice and future research are delineated.
Matching graft to recipient by predicted survival: can this be an acceptable strategy to improve utilization of deceased donor kidneys?

Abstract A new kidney allocation scheme is needed to address the current shortage of deceased donor kidneys for transplantation in the United States. With this goal in mind, we have derived a novel utility-based system to balance supply and demand. Our system uses a North American–based recipient risk score and the deceased donor score to maximize the total number of years of renal allograft function as a means to improve allocation of kidneys from deceased donors. Essentially, donor renal allografts are matched to a wait-listed candidate with similar predicted survival, which poses an ethical issue. However, this novel utility-based system is practical and could improve deceased donor renal allocation by minimizing both waste and need for retransplantation.
Morphological changes and depressed phagocytic efficiency in Dictyostelium amoebae treated with toxic concentrations of cadmium.

Abstract The morphology and phagocytic efficiency of Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae exposed to cadmium was investigated at two Cd concentrations: a low toxic concentration—7 × 10−5 m , and a high toxic concentration—2 × 10−4 m . Both concentrations inhibited growth completely; however, only in the culture containing a high toxic concentration of cadmium were severe ultrastructural anomalies observed, notably, nucleolar changes and autophagic vacuolar formation. Using biological indices we conclude that the high concentration of cadmium was lethal and that morphological changes associated with this dose of cadmium may be secondary to cell death. In contrast, amoebae treated with a low toxic but nonlethal concentration of Cd showed an altered size distribution of cytoplasmic vacuoles and a decreased phagocytic efficiency. Cultures whose growth was completely inhibited with cobalt were also examined, as were untreated control cultures. By 24 hr Cdtreated amoebae showed a 20% decrease in the cytoplasmic mean-vacuolar diameter and a 69% decrease in phagocytic efficiency whereas Co and untreated controls showed no significant decrease in the cytoplasmic mean-vacuolar diameter. Phagocytic efficiency was only slightly diminished by Co. Changes in vacuolar profiles had been shown earlier to be related to membrane utilization in Dictyostelium amoebae. Cd at low toxic concentrations affects membrane function in Dictyostelium amoebae.
Follow-up treatment for osteoporosis after fracture

Studies of the management of osteoporosis in older women who have had hip or wrist fractures have found underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the disease. Few such studies have been conducted in the United States, however, and most studies have been confined to a subset of the treatments currently available to treat osteoporosis. Mail surveys were sent to 381 women between 50 and 84 years of age who had been treated for a hip or wrist fracture at a large northeast US teaching hospital between October 1, 1998, and September 30, 2000. These surveys included questions about osteoporosis risk factors and physician treatment both before and after the index fracture. Of 381 surveys mailed, 70 were returned because of an invalid address or by a relative because a patient was deceased. Of the remaining 311 surveys, 147 completed responses were received. Fifty-two percent of respondents reported having received either a prescription or a recommendation for a nonprescription medication used to treat osteoporosis before the fracture. After fracture, 60% of subjects were advised to take any osteoporosis medication, and 42% of were advised to take a prescription medication. Of women reporting no treatment advice before fracture, 33% reported treatment after. Twenty-four percent of patients reported a change in treatment after fracture versus before. No significant differences in treatment were found according to fracture history, maternal history of fracture, or maternal history of osteoporosis. Both prescription and nonprescription treatment prevalence after fracture were lower than expected, and there was only a small change in reported treatment prevalence after fracture versus before. There was also little difference in treatment prevalence based on risk factors for osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures. A sizeable opportunity exists for intervention to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures for patients who have a history of fracture.
Ice Thickness by Shear Wave Propagation

Because of the lack of success in using normal incident reflected acoustic longitudinal waves for sea ice thickness measurements and the time consuming process entailed by refraction acoustic ice thickness measurements, a method of ice thickness measurement was tried using normal incident reflected acoustic shear waves or "S" waves. This technique was used for sea ice measurements off Pt. Barrow, Alaska during the summer of 1971.
Effect of flooding of soil on growth and subsequent responses of Taxodium distichum seedlings to SO2

Abstract Unflooded and flooded, twelve-week-old Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich seedlings were grown for eight weeks in a growth chamber and then exposed to 0, 0·5, 1·10 or 1·5 μl litre −1 SO 2 for 48 h. The seedlings were grown in the glasshouse for an additional six weeks. Flooding with stagnant water decreased the rate of height growth, needle initiation and expansion, and dry weight increment of leaves and roots, but not stems. Flooding of unfumigated seedlings for an additional six weeks also significantly reduced dry weight increment of stems. The greater reduction in root growth over shoot growth in flooded seedlings will tend to create leaf water deficits and predispose seedlings to drought injury when the flood waters recede. Exposure to SO 2 at 1·0 μl litre −1 or higher concentration reduced growth in both previously unflooded or flooded seedlings, but growth was reduced more in the unflooded seedlings which absorbed more S. Growth of seedlings was reduced more by flooding than by SO 2 . A significant flooding-SO 2 interaction on dry weight increment of leaves, but not roots or stems, was shown. The effects of flooding and SO 2 on growth differed when based on analysis of dry weight increment or relative growth rates of seedlings. The need for greater standardisation of methods of determining plant responses to pollution is emphasized.
Similarity of bacteriocins of Streptococcus mutans from mother and infant.

Abstract Bacteriocin typing has been used as an epidemiological tool for tracing bacterial infections in man. The production of bacteriocins by 120 Streptococcus mutans isolates from 4 mother-infant pairs was studied to test the likelihood of maternal transmission of this species. The patterns of inhibition were sufficiently different to allow differentiation of the 120 isolates into 42 bacteriocin types. The bacteriocin codes of isolates within one pair did not correspond to the codes of strains isolated from any other pair examined. The number of infant strains (per 10 infant isolates) matching maternal strains within each mother-infant pair were 5 10 , 10 10 , 7 10 , and 9 10 for each of the pairs respectively. The results demonstrated significant intra-pair homogeneity of Strep. mutans strains based on bacteriocin production.
Conservative configuration dependent loads on bounded surfaces

What are necessary and sufficient conditions, on a configuration dependent load distributed over a bounded surface, in order that it admit a complementary boundary load, such that the surface load and the boundary load together have a potential?
Physical and mental health outcomes of women in nonviolent, unilaterally violent, and mutually violent relationships.

UNLABELLED Despite equivocal findings on whether men or women are more violent, the negative impact of violence is greatest for women. To determine how gender asymmetry in perpetration affects women's health status, we conducted a study in two phases with 835 African American, Euro-American, and Mexican American low-income women in Project HOW Health Outcomes of Women. In Phase 1, we used severity and frequency of women's and male partners' violence to create six groups: nonviolent (NV), uni-directional male (UM) perpetrator, uni-directional female (UF) perpetrator and, when both partners were violent, symmetrical (SYM), male primary perpetrator (MPP), and female primary perpetrator (FPP). The MPP group sustained the most threats, violence, sexual aggression, and psychological abuse. They also reported the most fear. Injury was highest in the MPP and FPP groups. In Phase 2, we examined group differences in women's health status over time for 535 participants, who completed five annual interviews. Surprisingly, women's health in the MPP and FPP violence groups was similar and generally worse than if violence was uni-directional.
Antisense oligonucleotide suppression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger activity in primary neurons from rat brain

Abstract An antisense (AS) oligodeoxynucleotide based on a conserved sequence in the three isoforms of the Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger (NCX) was used to decrease expression of this Ca 2+ transporter in primary neuronal cultures. Two AS oligo applications decreased NCX activity by ∼40% within 12–24 h, and neither sense (S) or missense (MS) oligos altered NCX activity. The reduced NCX expression was confirmed by immunoblots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Resting [Ca 2+ ] i levels were 20% higher in AS-treated neurons and showed a slower return to baseline levels following activation of Ca 2+ influx by N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA). These results suggest that NCX plays a significant role in maintaining neuronal Ca 2+ homeostasis and in restoring baseline Ca 2+ levels following depolarization.
Studies of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase catalyzed allylic isomerization: A one-base or two-base mechanism?

Acyl-CoA dehydrogenases are flavoproteins that catalyze the conversion of a fatty acyl thioester substrate to the corresponding α,β-enoyl-CoA product. It has been well established that a glutamate residue in the active site [e.g., E367 in short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) of Megasphaera elsdenii] is responsible for the initial α-proton abstraction. Early studies have also shown that this class of enzymes is capable of catalyzing γ-H abstraction to afford the allylic isomerization between α,β- and β,γ-enone thioesters and/or inactivation by 2- or 3-acetylenic acyl-CoA derivatives. Although a dual role has been proposed for the glutamate residue in both α- and γ-deprotonation, the existence of a second active-site basic group to mediate the observed reactions occurring at γ-C remains a feasible mechanism. In an attempt to discern between these two possibilities, we have prepared a few oxirane-containing acyl-CoA derivatives aimed at trapping active-site bases in the vicinity of the α- and/or γ-C. It...
Modification of radiation-induced damage to bone marrow stem cells by dose rate, dose fractionation, and prior exposure to cytoxan as judged by the survival of CFUs: Application to bone marrow transplantation (BMT)

Abstract The relative importance of the effects of dose rate, dose fractionation, and prior exposure to Cytoxan on the recovery of cells in the bone marrow, following conditioning for BMT, remains controversial. Traditionally, bone marrow stem cells and leukemic cells have been considered as having a limited ability to repair radiation-induced damage following total body irradiation (TBI) compared to cells of the lung (the dose-limiting tissue for TBI). We examined the survival response of the bone marrow stem cells of mice (CFU s ) at three TBI dose rates (0.47, 0.25 and 0.08 Gy/min). The radiation response of CFU s (compilation D 0 = 0.75 Gy) was independent of dose rate. One TBI dose fractionation was chosen: two fractions per day, separated by 6 hours, for 3 days. The radiation survival curve of CFU s showed a compilation D 0 of 1.09 Gy, compared to 0.75 Gy for the one-fraction case. The recovery of CFU s following 2 days of Cytoxan demonstrated an "overshoot," whereas recovery of CFU s was incomplete, even by day 23, following the initiation of the complete conditioning regimen of Cytoxan plus TBI. These data demonstrate no significant effect of dose rate, at least in the range 0.08 to 0.48 Gy/min, on the survival of CFU s following either single or six fractionated TBI doses. However, the statistically significant difference in the D 0 of CFU s in going from one to six fractions has direct application to bone marrow transplantation techniques. Moreover, Cytoxan, at least at 200 mg/kg for 2 days, prior to TBI, appears to have only a marginal modifying effect on the eventual recovery of CFU s .
On Procreative Responsibility in Assisted and Collaborative Reproduction

It is common practice to regard participants in assisted and collaborative reproduction (gamete donors, embryologists, fertility doctors, etc.) as simply providing a desired biological product or medical service. These agents are not procreators in the ordinary sense, nor do they stand in any kind of meaningful parental relation to the resulting offspring. This paper challenges the common view by defending a principle of procreative responsibility and then demonstrating that this standard applies as much to those who provide reproductive assistance in the form of medical services or gametes, as it does to coital reproducers or intending parents. Drawing on vocabulary from the common law tradition, I suggest that it may be helpful to refer to the various participants in assisted and collaborative reproduction (ACR) as accessories to procreation. Referring to the participants in ACR as accessories to procreation highlights the fact that these agents are not just providing medical services or products. They are participating in a supply chain designed to bring about new persons. I conclude by arguing that regulative standards in the fertility industry should be structured such that they permit, facilitate, and encourage agents to satisfy the requirements of procreative responsibility.
Induction-, test-, and comparison-figure interactions under illusion and figural aftereffect conditions

Ganz (1966a, b) has argued that an induction figure will displace a test figure placed near it under both illusion and figural aftereffect conditions. The data from Experiments I and II show that most of the illusion produced by the figures studied by Ganz results from an interaction between the comparison and induction figures. The data from Experiment III suggest that both the test and comparison figures interact with the induction figure under figural aftereffect conditions. Although the induction-test figure interactions do not contradict Ganz’s model, the induction-comparison figure interactions cannot be explained by it. The data also suggest that researchers should be extremely cautious in drawing conclusions about the processes underlying illusions and figural aftereffects unless they are confident that there is no interaction between the induction and comparison figures.
Studies of hyperthyroidism IV. The behavior of the epidermal mitochondria and the pigment in frog tadpoles under conditions of thyroid-accelerated metamorphosis and of regeneration following wound infliction

In the epidermal cells of green-frog tadpoles (Rana clamitans) there are present coarse, conspicuous mitochondrial threads. In the dorsal body regions, epidermal cells of the middle layers also contain pigment granules, grouped in crescentic masses in the distal portions of the cells. Administration of thyroid extract results in permanent disappearance of the mitochondrial threads and disappearance to a large extent of the epidermal pigment granules. Processes of cellular dedifferentiation and proliferation occur rapidly over widespread areas, the mitochondria undergoing intracellular resorption. A new type of epidermis is developed containing many cutaneous glands, adapted for the approaching terrestrial life. Wound infliction induces similar processes of cellular dedifferentiation and proliferation in the epidermis in the immediate vicinity of the wound. Cells in this region lose their mitochondrial threads by intracellular resorption, and there is also some disappearance of pigment granules. The new epidermal cells in the early stages of regeneration produce neither mitochondrial threads nor pigment. This condition is not permanent, however, and in the later stages the larval characteristics appear again, both mitochondrial threads and pigment being redifferentiated. In the hyperthyroid animals there is also a significant mobilization of mesenchymal chromatophores, correlated to some extent with the loss of epidermal pigment. The significance of epidermal changes is discussed with reference to cutaneous abnormalities associated with hyperthyroid and hypothyroid conditions.
Effects of alloxan-diabetes on the sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system in dog hearts.

Abstract The effects of alloxan-diabetes on the partial reaction of (Na++K+)-ATPase, K+-activated para-nitrophenylphosphatase, and on ouabain binding were studied in isolated adult dog heart myocytes. The Km of K+-activated para-nitrophenylphosphatase for K+ activation was increased from 2.5 to 7.7 mM with no change in Vmax. The Scatchard plots for ouabain binding between control and diabetic animals were indistinguishable. These results indicate that in acute diabetes induced by alloxan, the number of Na+-K+ pumping sites in the heart is not altered but the affinity of the system for K+ is decreased. It is suggested that the decrease in K+ affinity of the (Na++K+)-ATPase enzyme system is at least in part responsible for the altered K+ homeostasis in the diabetic state.
Reducing operative blood loss during hepatic surgery: from the middle ages to the space age.

Blood loss can occur in any surgical procedure. However, certain types of surgery, e.g., hepatic resection, are associated with blood loss of a magnitude that frequently leads to the need for transfusion. In the following sections, we will examine some devices and technical approaches that can help reduce transfusion need both in general and in specific areas of surgery. We have chosen hepatic surgery to highlight advances made in recent years, because it is a procedure traditionally associated with high blood loss and transfusion need. Most of the approaches we discuss are useful in other types of surgery. The surgeon must understand at the outset that basic surgical principles must be followed in all operations in order to achieve success (Table 1). These include careful attention to detail, careful perioperative planning, gentle tissue handling, precise anatomic dissection with meticulous technique, adequate exposure, and asepsis. Without these, even the most technically advanced surgical technique is doomed to failure.
Expression of chick and yeast β-tubulin-encoding genes in insect cells

Abstract A chick cDNA encoding the β2 isotype of tubulin (β2Tub) was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector designed to produce unfused proteins, and several recombinant viruses (re-viruses) were isolated. Immunoblotting studies of homogenates of insect cells infected with re-virus showed a 50-kDa protein that reacted with antibodies specific for βTub. Cells infected with the re-virus appeared to contain much higher levels of βTub than uninfected control cells, perhaps as much as five- to tenfold higher. Isotype-specific antibody for β2Tub showed little reaction in uninfected cells or cells infected with wild-type virus; strong reaction was found with cells infected with re-virus. Analysis by gel filtration of extracts of cells infected with re-virus showed that almost all βTub eluted in the column void volume, suggesting that it was aggregated or associated with other cell proteins. Recombinant baculoviruses producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae βTub were also isolated. Immunoblotting studies using antibodies specific for yeast βTub showed a 50-kDa protein which was absent in uninfected cells or cells infected with wt virus. Immunofluorescence studies suggest that yeast βTub is incorporated poorly, if at all, into the insect cell cytoskeleton.
Physical and Verbal Assaults Behind Bars Does Military Experience Matter

Returning military troops have garnered attention, but there is little focus on veterans in the correctional setting. Approximately 11% of U.S. inmates are veterans, and there are striking similari...
Autos, Alcohol, and Adolescence: Forgotten Concerns and Overlooked Linkages

Research, education and prevention efforts dealing with adolescent alcohol use and traffic safety have been focused almost exclusively upon the phenomenon of drinking and driving. Such focus has unfortunately led to a general disregard of other equally important behaviors related to alcohol and automobile use. Of particular concern in this paper is the existence of a group of adolescents who ride with a drinking driver but do not drink and drive themselves. In an attempt to socially locate and better understand this segment of the population, we compare this group to those who both drink and drive and ride with a drinking driver, and those who do neither. Specific attention is given to selected socio-demographic characteristics and alcohol related attitudes and behaviors as group discriminating factors. In addition, the findings suggest that the practice of riding with a drinking driver may be causally linked to the eventual practice of drinking and driving.
The Care Transitions Intervention: A Patient-Centered Approach to Ensuring Effective Transfers Between Sites of Geriatric Care

During an episode of illness, older patients may receive care in multiple settings; often resulting in fragmented care and poorly-executed care transitions. The negative consequences of fragmented care include duplication of services; inappropriate or conflicting care recommendations, medication errors, patient/caregiver distress, and higher costs of care. Despite the critical need to reduce fragmented care in this population, few interventions have been developed to assist older patients and their family members in making smooth transitions. This article introduces a patient-centered interdisciplinary team intervention designed to improve transitions across sites of geriatric care.
Software industry entry strategies for developing countries: A “walking on two legs” proposition

Abstract Two themes run through the following analysis. First, countries without a relatively active and up-to-date software sector will find it increasingly difficult to “catch up” in terms of capital outlays, labor, skills, and the growing importance of technology changes, organization and management in software production. They will not have, for example, software management experience to undertake increasingly large and complex software development projects; a quality consciousness; and the institutional and support infrastructure for marketing and forming product development alliances with dominant international firms in the sector. Second, the learning curves for domestic and international market activities are quite different, the domestic software market being an important base for skills, experience and establishing a track record that may later be applied to exports. Two developing countries — India and Brazil — have used different development strategies for their software industries and, as could be expected, with disparate results. Both the Brazilian and the Indian software industries are trying to“walk on one leg,” the domestic leg in the case of Brazil and the export leg in the case of India. Both countries have at least some potential for moving to a two-legged model. Assessment of these two industries suggests that countries need to pay more attention to domestic opportunities, since these have high returns in terms of gaining experience and innovation in software production, and provide training that allows a broadening of software exports.
Two phosphodiesterases from ustilago maydis share structural and biochemical properties with non-fungal phosphodiesterases.

The dependence of Protein Kinase A (PKA) activity on cAMP levels is an important facet of the dimorphic switch between budding and filamentous growth as well as for pathogenicity in some fungi. To better understand these processes in the pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis, we characterized the structure and biochemical functions of two phosphodiesterase (PDE) genes. Phosphodiesterases are enzymes involved in cAMP turnover and thus, contribute to the regulation of the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. Two predicted homologues of PDEs were identified in the genome of U. maydis and hypothesized to be involved in cAMP turnover, thus regulating activity of the PKA catalytic subunit. Both umpde1 and umpde2 genes contain domains associated with phosphodiesterase activity predicted by InterPro analysis. Biochemical characterization of recombinantly produced UmPde1 (U. maydis Phosphodiesterase I) and UmPde2 demonstrated that both enzymes have phosphodiesterase activity in vitro, yet neither was inhibited by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX. Moreover, UmPde1 is specific for cAMP, while UmPde2 has broader substrate specificity, utilizing cAMP and cGMP as substrates. In addition, UmPde2 was also found to have nucleotide phosphatase activity that was higher with GMP compared to AMP. These results demonstrate that UmPde1 is a bona fide phosphodiesterase, while UmPde2 has more general activity as a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and/or GMP/AMP phosphatase. Thus, UmPde1 and UmPde2 likely have important roles in cell morphology and development and share some characteristics with a variety of non-fungal phosphodiesterases.
Rate of electron transfer between vanadium (V) and Vanadium (IV) by nuclear magnetic resonance

The rate of electron exchange between vanadium (IV) and vanadium (V) in acid solutions containing chloride ion has been measured from a study of 51V nuclear resonance line broadening. It is found that the rate of electron transfer is first order in vanadium (IV) and second order in vanadium (V) and that the rate constant for the exchange reaction in 6·5 F acid solutions is k = 1·5 × 106 I2/mole2sec. In the solutions studied the lifetimes between the electron transfer events were in the range 0·81−14·7 × 10−4 sec for vanadium (V), and in the range 1·0–6·7 × 10−5 sec for vanadium (IV).
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in Bicarbonate Hemodialysis

Calcium carbonate has been observed to precipitate in the fluid pathway of dialysate delivery systems dispensing bicarbonate-containing dialysates. Such precipitation can occlude the fluid pathway, leading to system malfunction and increased maintenance requirements. We show that commercial supplies of sodium bicarbonate are contaminated by trace amounts of sodium carbonate. This contamination may result in immediate precipitation of calcium carbonate on formulation of the dialysate, since bicarbonate-containing dialysates, as formulated, are metastable with respect to calcium carbonate. Sparging of the bicarbonate-containing concentrate with carbon dioxide converts any carbonate to bicarbonate, thus avoiding the formation of precipitates on addition of calcium ions.
Lipotoxicity and the Development of Heart Failure: Moving from Mouse to Man

Intracardiac lipid accumulation can cause heart failure. A study in Journal of Clinical Investigation (Son et al., 2010) found that cardiac-specific PPARγ overexpression caused heart failure with intracardiac triglyceride accumulation. Overexpressing PPARγ on a PPARα−/− background improved cardiac function, suggesting that specific lipid metabolites and lipid packaging determine cardiac lipotoxicity.
Changing practice patterns for breast cancer radiation therapy with clinical pathways: An analysis of hypofractionation in a large, integrated cancer center network.

Abstract Purpose Hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HF-WBI) following breast conserving surgery has produced excellent outcomes, but utilization remains limited. We evaluated the impact of a clinical pathway in the adoption of HF-WBI in a large, integrated radiation oncology network. Methods and materials We identified patients aged ≥70 years treated for breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ. Patients treated with palliative intent, accelerated partial breast radiation, following mastectomy, or with axillary nodal, supraclavicular, or internal mammary fields were excluded. HF-WBI was defined as ≤20 fractions with a dose/fraction ≥2.5 Gy. Multivariate analysis identified variables associated with increased HF-WBI utilization. Results We identified 2426 patients meeting inclusion criteria. HF-WBI utilization increased significantly from 6.5% (22.0% academic, 2.0% community) before pathway modification to 33.8% afterwards (68.5% academic, 25.3% community, P P P Conclusions We found that our implementation of clinical pathways substantially increased adoption of HF-WBI for breast cancer. We found no significant change in utilization of HF-WBI among community physicians following publication of a seminal trial for HF-WBI until after clinical pathway implementation, which increased the use of HF-WBI by 20-fold. Clinical pathways may be effective in changing practice patterns, disseminating evidence, and realizing health care savings.
New insights on the nature of two-dimensional polarons in semiconducting polymers: infrared absorption in poly(3-hexylthiophene).

Infrared absorption of positively charged polarons in conjugated polymer chains and π-stacked aggregates is investigated theoretically, employing a Holstein-based Hamiltonian which treats electronic coupling, electron-vibrational coupling, and disorder on equal footing. The spectra evaluated from the Hamiltonian expressed in a one- and two-particle basis set are essentially exact, insofar as the main, aromatic-quinoidal vibrational mode is treated fully nonadiabatically. Diagonal and off-diagonal (“paracrystalline”) disorder are resolved along the polymer axis (x) and the aggregate stacking axis (y). Disorder along the polymer axis selectively attenuates the x-polarized spectrum, which is dominated by the polaron peak P1. Disorder along the stacking axis selectively attenuates the y-polarized spectrum, which is dominated by the lower-energy charge-transfer peak, DP1. Calculated spectra are in excellent agreement with the measured induced-absorption and charge-modulation spectra, reproducing the peak positions and relative peak intensities within a line shape rich in vibronic structure. Our nonadiabatic approach predicts the existence of a weak, x-polarized peak P0, slightly blueshifted from DP1. The peak is intrinsic to single polymer chains and appears in a region of the spectrum where narrow infrared active vibrational modes have been observed in nonaggregated conjugated polymers. The polaron responsible for P0 is composed mainly of two-particle wave functions and cannot be accounted for in the more conventional adiabatic treatments.
Sleep and aging.

Synthesis of studies of sleep and aging show major increases occur in nighttime awakening and major decreases occur in sleep depth over the life span. Fatigue and drowsiness during the day, with increased napping, and earlier bedtimes, are also prevalent in the elderly. Interventions that impact these sleep variables, as well as sleep variables that change less dramatically, are needed. All indications are that the promotion of restorative sleep and daytime well-being in older adults will continue to be an important part of nursing practice affecting even more people as the population ages. Although nurses have only begun to identify and study interventions that promote sleep in nursing environments, nursing is in a position to make major contributions to the health and well-being of older adults who experience sleep disruption, especially sleep disruptions secondary to illness and aging.
Computed tomography of traumatic dislocation of the lens

Various conditions, particularly trauma, can cause dislocation of the lens. The characteristic findings of this condition are easily demonstrated with computed tomography, which is the examination of choice. This is illustrated by the three cases in this report, which includes discussion of the various ophthalmologic and imaging aspects.
The Protease Inhibitor, α1-Antichymotrypsin, Is a Component of the Brain Amyloid Deposits in Normal Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature and the origin of the Alzheimer's disease amyloid deposits. We used an amyloid antiserum to screen a human liver expression library. A positive clone was sequenced and found to code for the serine protease inhibitor α1-antichymotrypsin, an acute phase serum protein. Thus, this protein is a second component of the brain amyloid in addition to the β-protein. In order to determine whether the inhibitor originated from the serum or was made in the brain, we performed Northern blots on tissue from control and Alzheimer brain and found that α1-antichymotrypsin RNA is present in the brain and that the diseased brain contained larger amounts than the controls. Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization show the astrocytes to produce the inhibitor, mainly around senile plaques, α1-antichymotryp-sin is only associated with the amyloid deposits of the β-protein kind in normal aging of man and monkeys, Alzheimer's, Down's syndrome and hereditary cerebral hem...
Paternity and inheritance of wealth

One of the oldest conjectures in anthropology is that men transfer wealth to their sister's son when the biological paternity of their ‘own’ children is in doubt1–12. Because maternity is certain, a man is necessarily related to his sister's son and his brother (see Fig. 1). It is argued here that relatedness to male heirs can be assured by passing wealth to sister's sons or down a line of brothers, whether the prevailing kinship system reckons those brothers matrilineally or patrilineally. It is also argued that when several transfers of wealth are considered, a man's likelihood of being cuckolded need not be unrealistically high13 for his successive matrilineal heirs to be more related to him than his successive patrilineal heirs (see Fig. 2). Cross-cultural data on sister's son/brother inheritance14 and frequency of extramarital sex for females15 support the hypothesis that men tend to transmit wealth to their sister's son and/or brother when the probability that their putative children are their genetic children is relatively low.
Metabolic Inhibitor(s) in Fractions of Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) Detected by in vitro Rumen Fermentation Technique

SummaryCellulose digestion determined by the in vitro rumen fermentation technique was used as a criterion to detect the presence of metabolic inhibitor (s) in various fractions of orchardgrass. The metabolic inhibitor is extractable with hot detergent, hot alkali-detergent, and azeotropic solution of meth-anol and acetone. The inhibitor appeared to be more concentrated in relatively low cellulose-digestibility orchardgrass than relatively high cellulose-digestibility orchard-grass.Supported in part by grants from Moorman Manufacturing Co., Quincy, III., and Nat. Inst. Health Grant GM 08732.
Concept for a pipe-traversing robot

This document describes the design of a concept for a pipe-traversing robot and its end-product. The purpose of this document is to describe a design and fabrication of a robot capable of traversing a dryer ventilation system in order to clean it. Speed, effectiveness, weight, and cost were all major criteria used during the design process. The primary goal for this robot is to reduce the number of annual house fires that occur as a result of improperly maintained dryer ventilation systems.
Management of Empyema Cavity With the Vacuum-Assisted Closure Device

Management of empyema after pulmonary resection remains a challenging problem. Along with mandatory drainage of the thoracic cavity and investigations to rule out bronchopleural fistula, a reliable method of thoracic cavity closure is needed. The open thoracic window and Eloesser flap techniques rarely represent definitive therapy. Muscle flap and thoracoplasty procedures may provide well-vascularized tissue to close bronchopleural fistula and obliterate the empyema cavity, but they are quite complex and involve significant patient morbidity. We report a case of empyema without bronchopleural fistula after lobectomy in which the vacuum-assisted closure device was used to achieve complete wound healing after open drainage.
Direct Inhibition of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complex III by Cell-permeable Ceramide

Abstract Ceramide is a lipid second messenger that mediates the effects of tumor necrosis factor α and other agents on cell growth and differentiation. Ceramide is believed to actvia activation of protein phosphatase, proline-directed protein kinase, or protein kinase C. Tumor necrosis factor α-induced common pathway of apoptosis is associated with an early impairment of mitochondria. Herein, we demonstrate that ceramide can directly inhibit mitochondrial respiratory chain function. In isolated mitochondria, a rapid decline of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the presence of N-acetylsphingosine (C2-ceramide), a synthetic cell-permeable ceramide analog. An investigation of the site of ceramide action revealed that the activity of respiratory chain complex III is reduced by C2-ceramide with half-maximum effect at 5–7 μm. In contrast,N-acetylsphinganine (C2-dihydroceramide), which lacks a functionally critical double bond and is ineffective in cells, did not alter mitochondrial respiration or complex III activity. We suggest that these in vitro observations may set the stage for identifying a novel mechanism of regulation of mitochondrial function in vivo.
A coarse-grained model for the mechanical behavior of multi-layer graphene

Abstract Graphene is the strongest and highest weight-to-surface ratio material known, rendering it an excellent building block for nanocomposites. Multi-layer graphene (MLG) assemblies have intriguing mechanical properties distinct from the monolayer that remain poorly understood due to spatiotemporal limitations of experimental observations and atomistic modeling. To address this issue, here we establish a coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) model of graphene using a strain energy conservation approach. The model is able to quantitatively reproduce graphene’s mechanical response in the elastic and fracture regimes. The hexagonal symmetry of graphene’s honeycomb lattice is conserved, and therefore the anisotropy in the non-linear large-deformation regime between the zigzag and armchair directions is preserved. The superlubricity effect, namely the strong orientational dependence of the shear rigidity between graphene layers, is also captured. We demonstrate the applicability of the model by reproducing recent experimental nanoindentation results in silico . Our model overcomes the limitations of current CG-MD approaches, in accurately predicting the fracture properties, the interlayer shear response, and the intrinsic anisotropy of MLG. Additionally, our fast, transferable force-field can be straightforwardly combined with existing coarse-grained models of polymers and proteins to predict the meso-scale behavior of hybrid carbon nanomaterials.
Spectrum of coronary artery disease in idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

The spectrum of coronary arterial involvement is described in 42 patients with hemodynamically proved idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Of nine patients with significant coronary arterial involvement, six had atheromatous disease and three had coronary arterial anomalies. The hemodynamic and clinical features of patients with coronary arterial involvement did not differ significantly from those of patients with normal coronary arteries. Neither the severity nor the character of the chest pain distinguished those patients with coronary disease. The diagnostic electrocardiographic features of myocardial infarction classically seen in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis were not present in the 9 patients with coronary arterial involvement but were found in 8 of the 33 patients with normal coronary arteries. The data demonstrate a significant incidence of coronary arterial involvement in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis after age 45 years.
Corporate Tax‐Planning Effectiveness: The Role of Compensation‐Based Incentives

This study investigates whether compensating chief executive officers and business‐unit managers using after‐tax accounting‐based performance measures leads to lower effective tax rates, the empirical surrogate used for tax‐planning effectiveness. Utilizing proprietary compensation data obtained in a survey of corporate executives, the relation between effective tax rates and after‐tax performance measures is modeled and estimated using a two‐step approach that corrects for the endogeneity bias associated with firms' decisions to compensate managers on a pre‐ versus after‐tax basis. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that compensating business‐unit managers, but not chief executive officers, on an after‐tax basis leads to lower effective tax rates.
Dynamic scaling approach to glass formation

Experimental data for the temperature dependence of relaxation times are used to argue that the dynamic scaling form, with relaxation time diverging at the critical temperature ${T}_{c}$ as $(T\ensuremath{-}{T}_{c}{)}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\nu}z},$ is superior to the classical Vogel form. This observation leads us to propose that glass formation can be described by a simple mean-field limit of a phase transition. The order parameter is the fraction of all space that has sufficient free volume to allow substantial motion, and grows logarithmically above ${T}_{c}.$ Diffusion of this free volume creates random walk clusters that have cooperatively rearranged. We show that the distribution of cooperatively moving clusters must have a Fisher exponent $\ensuremath{\tau}=2.$ Dynamic scaling predicts a power law for the relaxation modulus $G(t)\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{\ensuremath{-}2/z},$ where z is the dynamic critical exponent relating the relaxation time of a cluster to its size. Andrade creep, universally observed for all glass-forming materials, suggests $z=6.$ Experimental data on the temperature dependence of viscosity and relaxation time of glass-forming liquids suggest that the exponent \ensuremath{\nu} describing the correlation length divergence in this simple scaling picture is not always universal. Polymers appear to universally have $\ensuremath{\nu}z=9$ (making $\ensuremath{\nu}=\frac{3}{2}).$ However, other glass-formers have unphysically large values of $\ensuremath{\nu}z,$ suggesting that the availability of free volume is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for motion in these liquids. Such considerations lead us to assert that $\ensuremath{\nu}z=9$ is in fact universal for all glass- forming liquids, but an energetic barrier to motion must also be overcome for strong glasses.
Organocopper‐catalyzed living radical polymerization initiated with aromatic sulfonyl chlorides

The living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated from aromatic sulfonyl chlorides and catalyzed by the new catalytic systems CuSBu/bpy CuSPh/bpy and CuCCPh/bpy (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) is described. For a target degree of polymerization of 200, lowering the ratio of catalyst to sulfonyl chloride group from 1/1 to 0.25/1 mol/mol decreases the values of the experimental rate constant of polymerization from 5.12 × 10−2, 2.4 × 10−2, and 1.87 × 10−2 min−1 to 1.8 × 10−3, 4.9 × 10−3, and 4.2 × 10−3 min−1 for CuSBu, CuSPh, and CuCCPh, respectively, whereas the corresponding initiator efficiency increases from 62 to 99%. The external orders of reaction in the catalyst are 0.79 for CuSPh, 0.88 for CuCCPh, and 1.64 for CuSBu. A mechanistic interpretation that involves the in situ generation of, most likely, the real catalyst CuCl, starting from combinations of CuSBu, CuSPh, and CuCCPh and sulfonyl chloride or alkyl halide growing species, is suggested. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4353–4361, 2000