cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Upper mantle dissipation of long-period shear phases

Abstract The dissipation of long-period shear waves in the Earth's upper mantle was studied with data from 14 events recorded by three-component, long-period seismographs at LASA. For each component two steered beams were formed, one for S and sS phases and a second for ScS and sScS phases. The beamed data were filtered and rotated using a polarization filter to obtain the vertical, radial, and transverse components. The amplitudes measured on the rotated components were corrected for instrument response, and (sScS/sS)/(ScS/S) amplitude ratios were calculated. There are certain advantages in calculating this ratio. It eliminates the source radiation pattern, effects of geometric spreading, and Q of the mantle below the hypocenter. It also eliminates the effects of reflection coefficients at the free surface and the core-mantle boundary, and emphasizes the transmission effects in the upper mantle. The measured amplitude ratios vary from ∼1 for shallow events to about ∼2.8 for events up to 600 km depth. The Q μ distribution of the PREM model could not explain the depth effect on the amplitude ratios. An unusually low Q model of the upper mantle is required. This study strengthens an earlier suggestion of anisotropic back-scattering by the low-velocity zone.
The 10-Second Stroke: A Case Report

Background Acute infarction is detected in a third of patients undergoing diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) with clinically suspected transient ischemic attack. The longer symptoms are present, the more likely an infarct will be identified on DW-MRI. Events as short as 10 minutes have been reported in association with a DW-MRI lesion. Methods We present a case of an otherwise healthy man with a 10-second episode of neurologic dysfunction associated with DW-MRI lesions from a cardioembolic source. Results The atypical symptoms and lack of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease made his diagnosis easy to miss. Conclusions Early DW-MRI may be of benefit beyond clinical judgment in patients with fleeting symptoms of neurologic dysfunction.
Evidence for hippocampal calcium channel regulation by PKC based on comparison of diacylglycerols and phorbol esters

Studies using phorbol esters imply that hippocampal Ca2+ channels are regulated by protein kinase C (PKC); however concerns have been raised because in some circumstances phorbol esters have non-specific effects on ion channels. We have tested the hypothesis that PKC modulates Ca2+ channel activity in hippocampal neurons by conducting a detailed comparison of the effects of the diacylglycerols, diC8 and OAG, with those of the phorbol ester, PDBu, on whole-cell and single-channel Ca2+ currents. Close similarity of action of these different activators would support the hypothesis. We found that, like PDBu, the diacylglycerols (DAGs) suppressed whole-cell Ba2+ current (IBa) in a dose-dependent and reversible manner and caused a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of steady-state IBa inactivation. Suppression of IBa by diC8 and OAG was not mimicked by an enzymatically inactive diacylglycerol isomer, EGD. The effects of both PDBu and DAGs could be blocked by a specific peptide inhibitor of PKC, and both types of activator depressed IBa when it was recorded in the nystatin perforated-patch mode. In single-channel recordings, DAGs enhanced L-type Ca2+ channel activity in a manner indistinguishable from that of PDBu. Finally, DAGs as well as PDBu markedly increased spontaneous synaptic activity in tissue-cultured hippocampal neurons. The numerous similarities between the effects of DAGs and PDBu strongly support the general conclusion that PKC mediates the effects of these activators and the specific conclusion that PKC modulates Ca2+ channel activity in hippocampal neurons.
U.S. INCOME, SAVING, AND WEALTH, 1929—1969

The objective of this paper is to present income and expenditure accounts, accumulation accounts, and the asset side of the wealth accounts for the U.S. private national economy in current and constant prices. These accounts are integrated with the production and factor outlay accounts for the U.S. private domestic economy in current and constant prices given in our earlier papers. Taken together, these accounts constitute a complete accounting system in current and constant prices for the private sector of the U.S. economy. Our complete accounting system incorporates a new concept of the standard of living, defined as the ratio of the quantity index of gross private national expenditures to the quantity index of gross private national consumer receipts. Our concept of the standard of living is similar but not identical to our concept of total factor productivity. Changes in the private standard of living reflect both changes in total factor productivity and changes in the proportion of the total product consumed in the public sector.
Competing values leadership: quadrant roles and personality traits

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to validate the number and order of leadership roles and identify the personality traits which trigger the choice of leadership roles.Design/methodology/approach – A survey addressing classification and measurement questions in each of the competing values framework (CVF) quadrants was administered to a sample of managerial leaders across organizations. Multidimensional scaling representing the underlying CVF dimensions in a spatial arrangement was conducted with input derived from LISREL, which was also used to test the degree‐of‐fit between the CVF roles and quadrants as well as to examine the relationships between personality traits and leadership roles.Findings – The results produced a remarkable synthesis of two separate fields of study within a single competing quadrants grid confirming the causal paths from traits to the compressed CVF latent variables.Research limitations/implications – This study raises important questions about the causal effects of persona...
Identification of a Saccharomyces Gene,LCB3, Necessary for Incorporation of Exogenous Long Chain Bases into Sphingolipids

To identify genes necessary for sphingolipid synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae we developed a procedure to enrich for mutants unable to incorporate exogenous long chain base into sphingolipids. We show here that a mutant strain, AG84-3, isolated by using the enrichment procedure, makes sphingolipids from endogenously synthesized but not from exogenously supplied long chain base. A gene termed LCB3 (YJL134W, GenBank designation X87371x21), which complements the long chain base utilization defect of strain AG84-3, was isolated from a genomic DNA library. The gene is predicted to encode a protein with multiple membrane-spanning domains and a COOH-terminal glycosylphosphatidylinositiol cleavage/attachment site. Deletion of thelcb3 gene in a wild type genetic background reduces the rate of exogenous long chain base incorporation into sphingolipids and makes the host strain more resistant to growth inhibition by long chain bases. Only one protein in current data bases, the S. cerevisiae open-reading frame YKR053C, whose function is unknown, shows homology to the Lcb3 protein. The two proteins are not, however, functional homologs because deletion of theYKR053C open reading frame does not impair long chain base utilization or enhance resistance of cells to growth inhibition by long chain bases. Based upon these data we hypothesize that the Lcb3 protein is a plasma membrane transporter capable of transporting sphingoid long chain bases into cells. It is the first candidate for such a transporter and the first member of what appears to be a new class of membrane-bound proteins.
A multiobjective, multi-level heuristic for dynamic resource constrained scheduling problems

Abstract The problem of planning, scheduling, and controlling manufacturing operations over time where constraints on available resources exist e.g. (workstations, labor, facilities, materials and equipment) is a difficult mathematical programming problem. The Resource Constrained Scheduling Problem (RCSP) as it is often referred to, is known to be NP-complete which necessitates the creation of heuristics. In this paper, a multi-level, multi-priority schema is presented which enables the user to deal with static environments but places special emphasis on quasi-dynamic scheduling environments. The polynomial time and space complexity of the heuristic together with the computational experience demonstrate the effectiveness of the quasi-dynamic heuristic.
The history of radiation use in medicine

Introduction Radiation was discovered just slightly more than a century ago, with a profound effect on both industry and medicine. Several notable scientists were key in bringing radiation to the forefront. Methods Historical review of scientists who played key roles in the discovery of radiation and its use in medicine are reviewed. Results Wilhelm Roentgen, Henri Becquerel, and Marie and Pierre Curie's work is reviewed. The field of radiation safety was born to protect those handling radiation in addition to patients who received radiation for medical purposes. Conclusion Radiation use in medicine continues to evolve after notable discoveries by Nobel Prize-winning scientists.
Correlation of PET images of metabolism, proliferation and hypoxia to characterize tumor phenotype in patients with cancer of the oropharynx

Abstract Spatial organization of tumor phenotype is of great interest to radiotherapy target definition and outcome prediction. We characterized tumor phenotype in patients with cancers of the oropharynx through voxel-based correlation of PET images of metabolism, proliferation, and hypoxia. Methods Patients with oropharyngeal cancer received 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT, 18 F-fluorothymidine (FLT) PET/CT, and 61 Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (Cu-ATSM) PET/CT. Images were co-registered and standardized uptake values (SUV) were calculated for all modalities. Voxel-based correlation was evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficient in tumor regions. Additionally, sensitivity studies were performed to quantify the effects of image segmentation, registration, noise, and segmentation on R . Results On average, FDG PET and FLT PET images were most highly correlated ( R FDG:FLT =0.76, range 0.53–0.85), while Cu-ATSM PET showed greater heterogeneity in correlation to other tracers ( R FDG:Cu-ATSM =0.64, range 0.51–0.79; R FLT:Cu-ATSM =0.61, range 0.21–0.80). Of the tested parameters, correlation was most sensitive to image registration. Misregistration of one voxel lead to Δ R FDG =0.25, Δ R FLT =0.39, and Δ R Cu-ATSM =0.27. Image noise and reconstruction also had quantitative effects on correlation. No significant quantitative differences were found between GTV, expanded GTV, or CTV regions. Conclusions Voxel-based correlation represents a first step into understanding spatial organization of tumor phenotype. These results have implications for radiotherapy target definition and provide a framework to test outcome prediction based on pretherapy distribution of phenotype.
Direct determination of radiation damage profiles in the order-disorder alloy Pt3Co irradiated with low-energy (500–2500 eV) Ne+ ions☆

Abstract A new approach was developed, employing the field-on microscope technique, to determine directly radiation damage profiles in order-disorder alloys; the approach was applied to Pt3Co. The experiment consisted of irradiating in situ, at 30 K, Pt3Co specimens with low-energy (500–2500 eV) Ne+ ions. The specimens were subsequently dissected on an atom-by-atom basis employing the pulse field-evaporation technique. The latter procedure made it possible to determine the change in the Bragg-Williams long-range order parameter (S) as a function of distance from the irradiated surface. The measurement of δSd, where the subscript indicates damage, versus distance (x) constituted a radiation damage profile; the depth resolution of this profile was ≈2 A . The mean depth of damage ( x d ) varied from ≈9 to 20 A and the standard deviation or straggling (δx) varied from ≈6 to 18 A as the implantation energy was increased from 500 to 2500 eV. The radiation damage profiles have also been used to determine the effective stopping power of Ne in Pt3Co.
Identity Dub: The Paradoxes of an Indian American Youth Subculture (New York Mix)

The crowd thickens on the small dance floor at S.O.B.'s, a world music club and the venue of Bhangra Basement, the first regular bhangra night at a mainstream club in New York, hosted by the ubiquitous DJ Rekha. The insistent beat of the dhol, the percussion base of the traditional North Indian folk dance known as bhangra in Punjab, pounds out over the techno and reggae tracks reverberating amidst the tightly packed bodies. Shoulders shrug and arms flail in semblances of bhangra moves, here, far from the wheat fields of the Punjab, far from the Californian orchards where early Punjabi migrants first settled in the early 20th century. Tonight, most faces are various shades of South Asian, but there are a few African Americans and whites getting down on the dance floor, too, for this is one of the few bhangra club nights that draws a noticeably racially mixed crowd. One of the past Bhangra Basement events featured a booth with mehndi, lacy designs in henna, traced on palms by a young white woman riding the current fascination with Indian "body art." On this night, there is an appearance by a live dhol drummer "all the way from Lahore," his yellow turban and sequined kurta presumably authenticating the Indian elements of this musical fusion. The drummer has an astonished, if delighted, expression on his face, as if simultaneously bewildered and excited by his performance for a frenzied crowd of young South Asian professionals and party goers, women in hip huggers twisting their arms in movements learned partly from Hindi films and partly from other bhangra nights like this, perhaps in college or at the Indian remix music parties that began springing up six or seven years ago. A young turbaned Sikh man leaps onto the stage beside the sweating musician, spinning and bouncing with acrobatic, break-dance-like agility. Jumping back into the crowd, he is joined by another young Sikh man, and as the crowd parts in a rapt circle, the two men circle around each other in exuberantly coordinated precision. Then three young women who have various degrees of classical dance training come forth, challenging
UNUSUAL LACK OF INTERNAL MOBILITY AND FAST OVERALL TUMBLING IN OXIDIZED FLAVODOXIN FROM ANACYSTIS NIDULANS

Abstract Anacystis nidulans flavodoxin, an electron-transfer protein containing a flavin mononucleotide (FMN) molecule as its prosthetic group, has a redox potential for the oxidized/semiquinone equilibrium close to that of free flavin. Whereas the redox potential for the semiquinone/hydroquinone equilibrium is more negative. To gain an understanding of the contribution of mobility to redox potential modulation, we studied the backbone mobility of the oxidized A. nidulans flavodoxin at pH 6.6, 303 K by 15 N NMR relaxation measurements. The spin-lattice relaxation rate constants ( R N ( N z ) = 1/ T 1 ), spin-spin relaxation rate constants ( R N ( N x,y ) = 1/ T 2 ) and 1 H- 15 N nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE) were obtained for 143 of the 166 protonated backbone 15 N nuclei and for the FMN N3 nucleus without ambiguity. The 15 N T 1 , T 2 and NOE data were analyzed by reduced spectral density mapping, and the so-called model-free approach. In contrast to most other proteins studied with 15 N relaxation experiments, we found an almost complete absence of internal mobility. The overall correlation time of this 169-residue flavodoxin (>19 kDa) is significantly shorter (7.4 to 7.8 ns) than that of other proteins of this size, suggesting that the absence of internal mobility is correlated with faster overall rotational diffusion. The uniformity of the motional parameters along the backbone is in strong contrast to the crystallographic B -factors, which vary significantly along the sequence in this and other flavodoxins. The NMR relaxation parameters are primarily sensitive to rotational diffusive motions of the N-H bond vectors, while the crystallographic B -factors would be sensitive to translational internal motions as well. However, the large B -factors in this protein may originate from crystal packing and crystal lattice disorder. The relatively fast overall tumbling results in sharp NMR resonances. Hence, much larger proteins with such favorable dynamic behavior could be excellent candidates for studies by NMR.
Molecular dynamics simulation of the Johari-Goldstein relaxation in a molecular liquid.

Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to investigate the reorientational motion of a rigid (fixed bond length), asymmetric diatomic molecule in the liquid and glassy states. In the latter the molecule reorients via large-angle jumps, which we identify with the Johari-Goldstein (JG) dynamics. This relaxation process has a broad distribution of relaxation times, and at least deeply in the glassy state, the mobility of a given molecule remains fixed over time; that is, there is no dynamic exchange among molecules. Interestingly, the JG relaxation time for a molecule does not depend on the local density, although the nonergodicity factor is weakly correlated with the packing efficiency of neighboring molecules. In the liquid state the intensity of the JG process increases significantly, eventually subsuming the slower \ensuremath{\alpha} relaxation. This evolution of the JG motion into structural relaxation underlies the correlation of many properties of the JG and \ensuremath{\alpha} dynamics.
Draft Genome Sequence of Paenibacillus polymyxa OSY-DF, Which Coproduces a Lantibiotic, Paenibacillin, and Polymyxin E1

Paenibacillus polymyxa OSY-DF is a Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium isolated from a fermented vegetable food. This bacterial strain displays potent antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, attributed to the production of the lantibiotic paenibacillin and the colistin peptide polymyxin E1. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Paenibacillus polymyxa OSY-DF.
Characterization of a new glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant: GGPD central city

Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency is the most common disease-producing enzyme deficiency in man. This paper describes a new glucose-6-phosphate-dehy-drogenase variant discovered during the evaluation of an episode of acute hemolytic anemia in a 62-year-old black male, which was temporally related to the ingestion of Tolbutamide. The hemolysis resolved within 10 days despite continuation of Tolbutamide. The erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase activity was significantly decreased, and its electrophoretic mobility was indistinguishable from wild type enzyme, though faster on starch gel with tris, borate, and phosphate buffers. The enzyme had a biphasic pH optimum reduced Km for G-6-P and NADP, decreased utilization of deamino-NADP, and reduced Ki for NADPH. Because the kinetic properties of this enzyme were unique, we have designated it as G6PD Central City.
Fibronectin at a glance.

Fibronectin (FN) mediates a wide variety of cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) and plays important roles in cell adhesion, migration, growth and differentiation ( [Mosher, 1989][1]; [Carsons, 1989][2]; [Hynes, 1990][3]; [Yamada and Clark, 1996][4]). FN is widely expressed by
Enhanced heat transfer rocket combustor technology component hot-fire test results

The evaluation of a method for enhancing combustor hot-gas wall heat extraction by using hot-fire tests of a rocket engine combustor calorimeter with hot-gas wall ribs is presented. The capability for enhanced heat extraction is required to increase available turbine drive energy for high chamber pressure operation, and therefore higher overall expander cycle engine performance. Determination of the rib effectiveness for incorporation into the design of a high-performance combustor for an advanced expander cycle combustor intended for use in an orbital transfer vehicle or advanced space engine, was the objective of these tests.
Surgical fidelity: comparing the microscope and the endoscope

Both the microscope and the endoscope are widely used as visualization tools in neurosurgery; however, surgical dexterity when operating with each may differ. The aim of this study was to compare the surgical fidelity when using each of these visualization tools. Junior residents and expert surgeons performed standardized motor tasks under microscopic and endoscopic visualization. Demerits for inaccuracy and time needed to complete the tasks were used to compare the surgeons’ performance with the microscope and the endoscope. The participants also performed a motor task under direct vision using different instruments to evaluate whether the shape of the instrument had any impact on the surgical fidelity. For the junior residents, the number of demerits accrued was lower with the microscope than with the endoscope, and the time needed to complete the tasks was also lower with the microscope. There was no difference in the number of demerits between the microscopic and the endoscopic experts, but the microscopic expert completed the task in a shorter time. There was no difference in demerits or performance time when comparing a short, straight instrument and a longer, bayoneted one. For junior residents, surgical fidelity is higher with the microscope than with the endoscope. This difference vanishes with experience, but a slower speed of execution is observed with endoscopic visualization, both in junior and expert surgeons.
Fragility in mixed alkali tellurites

Abstract Linear viscoelastic stress relaxation and calorimetric measurements were performed on a series of mixed alkali tellurite glasses of composition 0.3([xNa2O+(1−x)Li2O])+0.7TeO2 at temperatures near and above the glass transition temperature, Tg. The stress relaxation data were well described by the stretched exponential function, G(t)=G0exp[−(t/τ)β], where τ is the relaxation time, β is the distribution of relaxation times and G0 is the high frequency modulus. The fragility, determined from the temperature dependence of τ, exhibited a minimum in the middle of the mixed alkali composition. A possible connection between the kinetic and the thermodynamic dimensions of this system was established, wherein the heat capacity change at the Tg, ΔCp(Tg), and the fragility are correlated.
Selective Identification of Hedgehog Pathway Antagonists by Direct Analysis of Smoothened Ciliary Translocation

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling promotes tumorigenesis. The accumulation of the membrane protein Smoothened (Smo) within the primary cilium (PC) is a key event in Hh signal transduction, and many pharmacological inhibitors identified to date target Smo's actions. Smo ciliary translocation is inhibited by some pathway antagonists, while others promote ciliary accumulation, an outcome that can lead to a hypersensitive state on renewal of Hh signaling. To identify novel inhibitory compounds acting on the critical mechanistic transition of Smo accumulation, we established a high content screen to directly analyze Smo ciliary translocation. Screening thousands of compounds from annotated libraries of approved drugs and other agents, we identified several new classes of compounds that block Sonic hedgehog-driven Smo localization within the PC. Selective analysis was conducted on two classes of Smo antagonists. One of these, DY131, appears to inhibit Smo signaling through a common binding site shared by previously reported Smo agonists and antagonists. Antagonism by this class of compound is competed by high doses of Smo-binding agonists such as SAG and impaired by a mutation that generates a ligand-independent, oncogenic form of Smo (SmoM2). In contrast, a second antagonist of Smo accumulation within the PC, SMANT, was less sensitive to SAG-mediated competition and inhibited SmoM2 at concentrations similar to those that inhibit wild-type Smo. Our observations identify important differences among Hh antagonists and the potential for development of novel therapeutic approaches against mutant forms of Smo that are resistant to current therapeutic strategies.
Application of full-chip optical proximity correction for sub-60-nm memory device in polarized illumination

As the design rule shrinks to its natural limit, reduction in lithography process margin and high Critical Dimension (CD) error gives rise to use of many Resolution Enhancement Techniques (RET). Recently, one the popular RET method to solve the above problem is polarized illumination. It is used to enhance the reduced lithography process margin and enhance CD uniformity. Polarization lithography basically uses one sided polarized light source. Therefore process margin increases for smaller design rule patterns. In this paper, we will present the results for polarized illumination based Optical proximity Correction (OPC) for sub-60nm memory device. First, models for polarization based and un-polarization based method will be compared for its model accuracy. Second, the process margin improvement for polarized and un-polarized illumination will be compared and analyzed for poly layer of sub-60nm memory device. Finally, method for further enhancing CD error within 5% for polarized OPC model will be discussed.
Schwannomas of the Foot and Ankle: A Technical Report

The present technical report provides a detailed description of open surgical resection of peripheral nerve sheath tumors in the foot and ankle. We present 3 cases to illustrate important differences in the technique based on the presentation, anatomic location, and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring findings. It is important for surgeons to understand that surgical excision of many peripheral nerve sheath tumors can be undertaken without en bloc resection of the entire nerve trunk.
Altered intestinal motility in leptin-deficient obese mice.

Introduction Leptin is produced by adipocytes and causes satiety by regulating hypothalamic neurotransmission and energy expenditure. Leptin functions through the active long form of its receptor, which is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract, including the vagal neurons concerned with small intestinal motility. However, the role of leptin in small intestinal motility is poorly understood. Therefore, we hypothesized that leptin-deficient ( Lep ob ) obese mice would have altered small intestinal response to neurotransmitters and transit time. Materials and methods Responses of jejunal and ileal segments from lean control and leptin-deficient obese animals to acetylcholine (ACh) and cholecystokinin (CCK) were determined in an organ bath. In addition, gastric emptying was determined as the amount of gavaged liquid diet remaining in the stomach after 1 h, and intestinal transit time was determined by calculating the geometric center (GC) of passage of a fluorescent-labeled marker. Results Leptin deficiency resulted in increased jejunal responses to CCK ( P versus 91%, P versus 8.4, P versus 1.5, P Conclusions These studies indicate that leptin-deficient ( Lep ob ) obese mice have an increased jejunal response to CCK as well as an increased proximal intestinal transit, but an overall decrease in small intestinal transit.
Improving Outcomes of Preeclampsia in California: From Review of Maternal Death to Quality Care Collaboratives

Childbearing Poster Presentation Objective To describe characteristics of women in California who died from preeclampsia/eclampsia in 2002 to 2004, identify contributing factors and quality improvement opportunities, and report on process and outcome measures from a multihospital, statewide learning collaborative that implemented a Maternity Care Improvement Preeclampsia Toolkit. Design In 2004, the California Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division developed an enhanced surveillance method to identify maternal deaths from administrative data; women's abstracted medical records were reviewed by an expert committee to determine causes of death and opportunities for prevention. Setting Data were collected as part of the California Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (CA-PAMR) and from CA-PAMR committee determination after case review. Data collection included classification of pregnancy-relatedness, contributing factors, and quality improvement opportunities. Learning Collaborative participants submitted process and outcomes measures related to the implementation of the Preeclampsia Toolkit. Sample Cases of pregnancy-related deaths (145) from preeclampsia/eclampsia in California between 2002 and 2004 from 26 hospitals in a statewide learning collaborative. Methods Mixed methods analysis was conducted of the CA-PAMR data; Learning Collaborative data were analyzed using frequency and trend charts. Results After case review, 145 maternal deaths from 2002 to 2004 were determined to be pregnancy-related. Preeclampsia was the second leading cause of death accounting for 17% of all pregnancy-related deaths in 2002 to 2004. The women who died from preeclampsia in California from 2002 to 2004 were more likely to be Hispanic, multiparous, and have normal body mass index (BMI) compared to women who died of other pregnancy-related causes. Nearly all ( n = 24/25) of these deaths were determined to have some degree of preventability, with half having a good-to-strong chance. Analysis of the opportunities to improve quality and reduce preventable maternal deaths revealed themes related to the need for recognition and response to clinical triggers (i.e., warning signs) in clinical status and care coordination. Learning collaborative participants reported increased levels of awareness and education regarding the importance of treating severe hypertension in pregnant women as a result of debriefing activity. Sites improved methods for medical chart documentation and coding, and overall data quality improvements as they apply to women with hypertensive disorders, including preeclampsia. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Implementation of the Preeclampsia Toolkit in the multihospital, statewide Learning Collaborative is intended to reduce rates of severe maternal morbidity and prolonged postpartum length of stay. Learning Collaborative participants who adopted the Toolkit showed measurable improvement in the ability of their sites to respond to this leading cause of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality.
Exciton Percolation, Tunneling and ThermaIization

Abstract New experimental data are presented for triplet and singlet naphthalene exciton transport in ternary molecular crystals: isotopic mixed guest-host systems with a small added amount of sensor (supertrap). The focus is on the effects of the following parameters: Time, temperature, concentration and energy denominators (for guest-host, guest-guest, and guest-sensor energy levels). We find that, under the proper conditions, both singlet and triplet measurements are consistent with a dynamic exciton percolation model, i.e. where a guest cluster is defined by the extent of long-range exciton-superexchange (tunneling) interactions, and where the interaction cut-off is determined by the overall time available for transport (i.e., the lifetime of the excitation). The roles of temperature, lattice heterogeneity, and suggested models involving an Anderson-Mott mobility edge are discussed. We also emphasize the distinction between intra and inter-domain energy transfer and discuss the localization vs. deloca...
Where does preoperative erythropoietin therapy count? A mathematical perspective.

BACKGROUND: The administration of erythropoietin (EPO) can be used to increase a patient's hematocrit (Hct) in the preoperative period and thus possibly preclude the need for allogeneic red cells. However, the exact effect on the postoperative Hct of a given rise in Hct in the preoperative period (and on the avoidance of allogeneic blood) has not been thoroughly evaluated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Equations were developed on the basis of previously described relationships that allowed the assessment of the impact of a given preoperative Hct increase on the postoperative Hct under a variety of clinical situations. RESULTS: Equations were derived that related the change in preoperative Hct after the administration of EPO to the final Hct after a given blood loss. In a typical example (blood volume = 5000 mL, pre-EPO Hct of 40%, post-EPO Hct of 45% after blood losses of 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 mL), an additional 205, 168, 137, 112, 92, and 75 mL of red cells, respectively, would be present postoperatively over the volume in the same patient who did not receive EPO. For a smaller patient, such as a child (blood volume, 2500 mL), an additional 17 mL (5000-mL blood loss) to 83 mL (1000-mL blood loss) of red cells would be present postoperatively. Hemodilution and EPO act synergistically to yield additional postoperative red cell volume. CONCLUSION: The use of preoperative EPO with a preoperative increase in Hct results in an increased postoperative Hct after a surgical blood loss. Such a postoperative increase is a function of the volume of blood lost and the patient's blood volume but is independent of the patient's initial Hct. The final postoperative red cell volume increase associated with a preoperative increase in Hct of 1 to 5 percent is limited, however (generally equivalent to a fraction of 1 unit of allogeneic blood). Much of the increase in the patient's Hct vanishes at higher blood losses, and this therapy is most effective with blood loss of >4000 mL. EPO therapy alone may be most effectively used in patients with mild anemia who are undergoing routine surgical procedures that commonly require blood transfusion.
Voting on a constitution: Implications for democracy in Kenya

Abstract In November 2005, Kenya held its first-ever national referendum on a proposed constitution. After a contentious review process, 58% of voters rejected the final document. It is common in the analysis of Kenyan politics to rely on ethnic explanations; indeed, the referendum results cannot be understood without exploring ethnic cleavages in Kenyan society. However, an exclusive focus on ethnicity obscures other factors that influenced voters, including the controversial process of drafting the constitution, the mobilisation efforts of the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns, and the perceived performance of the government. In the end, the referendum was seen as a positive step toward democratic consolidation in Kenya and raised hopes for the future. For the second time in three years, voters rejected the preference of the sitting government, which respected the results. Hopes were dashed, though, when irregularities marred the 2007 election and the announcement of contested results sparked a wave of violence....
Absence of low-temperature phase transitions in epitaxial BaTiO 3 thin films

We have studied phase transitions in epitaxial ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ thin films by Raman spectroscopy. The films are found to remain in a single ferroelectric phase over the temperature range from 5 to 325 K. The low-temperature phase transitions characteristic of bulk ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ (tetragonal-orthorhombic-rhombohedral) are absent in the films. X-ray diffraction shows that the ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ films are under tensile strain due to the thermal expansion mismatch with the buffer layer. A phase-field calculation of the phase diagram and domain structures in ${\mathrm{BaTiO}}_{3}$ thin films predicts, without any priori assumption, that an orthorhombic phase with in-plane polarization is the thermodynamically stable phase for such values of tensile strain and temperature, consistent with the experimental Raman results.
Virial coefficients for argon, methane, nitrogen, and xenon

The second, third, and fourth virial coefficients for argon, methane, nitrogen, and xenon have been established by various methods to satisfy experimental compressibility data and also to satisfy graphical computations of the property deviation relationships of Δuo and Δho.
Growth of (Hg,Cd)Te from Te-rich solutions

Mercury cadmium telluride has successfully been grown from tellurium rich solutions. Solution growth offers a number of advantages over other thin film and bulk growth techniques, e.g. purification, thin film and bulk growth, low dislocation density, and inexpensive growth equipment. The principal solution growth techniques that have received the most attention for (Hg,Cd)Te so far have been liquid phase epitaxy(LPE), the traveling heater method(THM) and the solid state recrystallization(SSR) process. These techniques have provided very high quality material for various device structures. The solid state recrystallization process, the traveling heater method and liquid phase epitaxy are reviewed and their similarities described.
LAST OF THE DINOSAURS? BIG WEAPONS, BIG SCIENCE, AND THE AMERICAN STATE FROM HIROSHIMA TO THE END OF THE COLD WAR

This article examines the origins and recent crises in linkages between big science, big weapons, and the U.S. state during and after the cold war. We examine the sources of legitimacy of military ...
Pyridine nucleotide dependent metallodehydrogenases

The enzymes which form catalytically active, dissociable complexes with DPN1 or TPN have been studied intensively for the past 25 years. The chemical nature and reactions of the coenzymes [Singer and Kearney 1954 (a)], the methods of isolation of the enzymes (Colowick and Kaplan 1955), their enzymatic and physical characteristics [Singer and Kearney 1954 (b)], and the stereospecificity of the hydrogen transfer incident to the catalytic interaction between enzyme-coenzyme complex and substrate (Vennesland and Westheimer 1954; Vennesland 1955, 1956; Gutfreund 1959) have all been the subject of numerous excellent and exhaustive reviews. These topics, therefore, will not be treated in extenso here.
Plasma homocysteine levels increase in women during psychological stress

Homocysteine is an amino acid that has been strongly associated with vascular disease. Plasma homocysteine concentrations are known to vary with dietary patterns and to decrease with exogenous estrogen use, but no other behavioral factors have been examined as potential modifiers of this risk factor. Because psychological stress has also been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that acute psychological stress induces elevations in plasma homocysteine concentrations. A secondary aim was to test potential differences in response between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Thirty-four healthy women, one-half of whom were naturally postmenopausal with no hormone replacement, participated in this study. The psychological stressors included standard mental arithmetic and speech stressors. Blood samples were taken prior to, during, and after the stressors, and heart rate and blood pressure were also monitored. Results indicated significant elevations in plasma homocysteine during acute psychological stress, with a return to baseline concentrations during recovery. The pattern of findings for blood pressure and heart rate was similar, suggesting that the rise in homocysteine concentrations may have been sympathetically-mediated. No effects of menopausal status or endogenous estrogens were found. The findings provide preliminary evidence that plasma homocysteine may be an important factor in the relationship between psychological stress and risk for heart disease.
Reasons underlying interhospital transfers to an academic medical intensive care unit.

Abstract Purpose Interhospital critical care transfers are common, yet few studies address the underlying reasons for transfers. We examined clinician and patient/surrogate perceptions about interhospital transfers and assessed their agreement on these transfers. Materials and methods This is a mixed-mode survey of 3 major stakeholders in interhospital transfers to an academic medical intensive care unit from August 2007 to April 2008. Results Sixty-two hospitals transferred 138 patients during the study period. Response rates varied among stakeholders (accepting physician, 90%; referring physicians, 20%; patients/surrogates, 33%). All 3 groups frequently endorsed quality of care and need for a specific test/procedure as important. Referring hospital reputation and quality were rarely endorsed. Accepting physicians and patients/surrogates substantially agreed on the need for a specific test ( κ = 0.70) and increased survival ( κ = 0.78) but, otherwise, had fair to poor agreement. Referring physicians and patients/surrogates rarely agreed and sometimes disagreed greater than expected by chance ( κ κ = 0.96) but agreed less on patient satisfaction at the referring hospital ( κ = 0.37) and referring hospital reputation ( κ = 0.35). Conclusions Stakeholders do not always agree on the reasons for critical care transfers. Efforts to improve communication are warranted to ensure informed patient choices.
Multiple resource leveling in construction systems through variation of activity intensities

The resource leveling problem for a construction system producing a stream of output units is considered. The system is modeled using a critical-path-analysis activity network, from which an extended network is developed for an integrated planning effort of all output units. Activity intensity variables are defined which measure activity demand rates for resources and consequent activity durations for the production of each output unit. A heuristic approach consisting of an iterative nonlinear programming procedure is presented which computes activity durations (intensities) for the minimization of resource capacity costs subject to meeting construction due dates. The application to a major ship overhaul project is described, in which the procedure was used to level workloads of the various labor–trade shops.
A statistical approach to the evaluation of covariate effects on the receiver operating characteristic curves of diagnostic tests in glaucoma.

Purpose To describe an approach for the evaluation of covariate effects on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and to apply this methodology to the investigation of the effects of disease severity and age on the diagnostic performance of frequency doubling technology (FDT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) visual function tests for glaucoma detection. Methods The study included 370 eyes of 211 participants, with 174 eyes of 110 patients having glaucomatous optic neuropathy and 196 eyes of 101 subjects being normal. All patients underwent visual function testing with FDT 24-2 Humphrey Matrix and SAP SITA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA). Disease severity was evaluated by the amount of neuroretinal rim loss assessed by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. An ROC regression model was fitted to evaluate the influence of disease severity and age on the diagnostic performance of the pattern SD (PSD) index from FDT 24-2 and SAP SITA. Results After adjustment for age, the areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) for SAP SITA PSD for 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% loss of neuroretinal rim area were 0.638, 0.756, 0.852, and 0.920, respectively. Corresponding values for FDT 24-2 PSD were 0.766, 0.857, 0.922, and 0.962. For 10% and 30% rim loss, FDT 24-2 PSD had a significantly larger AUC than did SAP SITA PSD. Conclusions A regression methodology to evaluate covariate effects on ROC curves can be useful for assessment of diagnostic tests in glaucoma. Using the proposed methodology, a significantly better performance of FDT 24-2 compared to SAP SITA for diagnosis of early glaucoma was demonstrated.
Pitch-based processing of carbon-carbon composites

Abstract A microstructural approach was used to study the process mechanisms limiting the efficiency of pitch-based composite fabrication, which should have advantages of low cost and high carbon yield with a graphitizable matrix. The microstructural framework is established by mesophase mechanisms active in the final stages of liquid phase pyrolysis. The formation of mesophase in fiber bundles and 3D preforms, for various fibers and pitches, and as affected by pressure, displayed common patterns of wetting, mesophase alignment on fiber substrates, and disclination structures. Mesophase bloating by pyrolysis gases can expel matrix from the preform, and the need was seen for a means to fix the mesophase in place before carbonization. An oxidation process, similar to that used in the stabilization of mesophase fiber, was found to be applicable in depth to mesophase-impregnated preforms because a network of access porosity in the matrix results from the mismatch of thermal expansivities of fiber and mesophase. The successful application of oxidation processing to 2D preforms, which are particularly vulnerable to bloating in the direction lacking reinforcement, showed that high-pressure carbonization is not required for pitch-based processing. With a method for matrix stabilization in hand, process development may turn to use of the flow capability of mesophase pitch to impregnate the fiber preform.
Genotype-phenotype correlations for SLC26A4-related deafness

Pendred syndrome (PS) and non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) are two recessive disorders characterized by the association of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with inner ear malformations that range from isolated EVA to Mondini Dysplasia, a complex malformation that includes a cochlear dysplasia and EVA. Mutations in the SLC26A4 gene, coding for the protein pendrin, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of both disorders. In order to determine whether SLC26A4 genotypes can be correlated to the complexity and severity of the phenotypes, we ascertained 1,506 deaf patients. Inner ear abnormalities were present in 474 patients (32%). Mutation screening of SLC26A4 detected two mutations in 16% of patients, one mutation in 19% of patients and zero mutation in 65% of patients. When the distribution of SLC26A4 genotypes was compared across phenotypes, a statistically significant difference was found between PS patients and non-syndromic EVA-Mondini patients (P = 0.005), as well as between EVA patients and Mondini patients (P = 0.0003). There was a correlation between phenotypic complexity of inner ear malformations and genetic heterogeneity--PS patients have the most severe phenotype and the most homogeneous etiology while EVA patients have the least severe phenotype and the most heterogeneous etiology. For all patients, variability in the degree of hearing loss is seen across genotypes implicating other genetic and/or environmental factors in the pathogenesis of the PS-Mondini-EVA disease spectrum.
Filtration fraction and its implications for radionuclide renography using diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid and mercaptoacetyltriglycine.

Purpose:Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were determined in 92 patients to calculate filtration fraction (GFR/EFPR) and evaluate its change in renal diseases. This information was used as the rationale for a renogram protocol using DTPA (to estimate GFR) and MA
Treatment of Genital Herpes

Oral acyclovir has been used successfully to treat and prevent symptomatic episodes of genital herpes simplex virus infection. Daily suppressive therapy has proven to be safe and effective when used continuously for periods as long as 4 years. Several new regimens have been shown to be effective and are likely to be more convenient for patients than previous schedules. In vitro resistance to acyclovir does not appear to be associated with clinical failure of treatment in immunocompetent hosts, but available data are limited and concerns remain. Failure of treatment in cases due to acyclovir-resistant strains has been reported in immunocompromised patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. The safety of acyclovir use by pregnant women has not been established. The value of acyclovir for the prevention of mucocutaneous ulcerations in asymptomatic persons or for the prevention of primary infections is unknown. Judicious use of acyclovir only by persons with clinically apparent infections is warranted at the present time.