cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 19112: Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction is Associated With Lower In-hospital Mortality Compared to Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Nationwide Analysis

Introduction: Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF) and Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) share similar clinical phenotype however might lead to different outcomes. There is limited data comparing the hospitalization outcomes between HFpEF and HFrEF. Hypothesis: Outcomes in patients hospitalized with HFpEF and HFrEF are similar. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using the 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) of adult patients hospitalized with HFpEF or HFrEF as the principal diagnosis. The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, mean length of stay (LOS) and mean total hospital charges. The secondary outcomes included ICU admission, shock, acute respiratory failure, and encounter for palliative care. Multivariable regression analysis was used to adjust for age, gender, race, Charlson Comorbidity Index, median annual income and hospital bed size. Results: A total of 586,510 patients with HFpEF or HFrEF were included in our study, and 46.9% of patients (275,340) were admitted with HFpEF. We found that patients with HFpEF were older (75 vs 70 years) and more likely female (62.6% vs 37.9%) than those with HFrEF (both P ). Compared to patients with HFrEF, patients with HFpEF had lower in-hospital mortality (2.3% vs 2.7%), lower mean LOS (5.2 vs 5.4 days) and lower mean total hospital charges (US$ 38640 vs 48171) (all P ). Similarly, regarding the secondary outcomes, patients with HFpEF had significantly lower rates of ICU admission (odds ratio [OR]: 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.74), shock (OR: 0.39, 95% CI, 0.32-0.49), and encounter for palliative care (OR: 0.68, 95% CI, 0.64-0.73) (all P ). However, the incidence of acute respiratory failure was statistically higher in patients with HFpEF (OR: 1.18, 95% CI, 1.15-1.23). Conclusions: Patients hospitalized with HFpEF had lower in-hospital mortality, shorter length of stay and lower healthcare costs compared to patients with HFrEF.
Choroidal Melanoma: Role of Brachytherapy in Management

The eye is a complex organ made up of the lids, extraocular, and intraocular structures. There is a wide diversity of opinion as to the role for radiation therapy in the management of malignant tumors of the eye. Some authors have stated that all primary intraocular malignant tumors with the exception of retinoblastoma are best treated by surgical techniques (Arnesen and Normes 1975; Ashton and Wybar 1966; del Regiato and Spjut 1977; Jam 1964; Keller 1973; Lederman 1964; Stallard 1966a; Starr and Zimmerman 1962; Winter 1963, 1964). They go on to point out that the only possible reason to irradiate the eye in patients with such lesions would be to preserve vision. Further, it has been stated that irradiation to cancericidal levels may produce an iridocyclitis, resulting in an imbalance between aqueous production and absorption ending in glaucoma. Even given circumstances under which definitive radiation therapy may be pursued, it should be limited to lesions that are located in the posterior half of the eyeball.
Toward a New Agenda For the Philosophy of Mind

Several of the authors in this volume have concentrated on the problem of how to gain insight into the complexities of cognitive processing. Some favor a descriptive analysis of the workings of the mind, emphasizing the necessity of operating from the standpoint of a first person ontology. Others argue for an explanatory analysis of mental function operating from a third person ontology. The former stress the importance of studying “semantic content” thought to be intrinsic to complex “meaning networks” (horizons, schemas, backgrounds, prescriptions, glossaries, and the like). The latter focus on syntax with the aim of formulating such syntax as a computational system capable of replicating the input/output relations which characterize the “inner workings” of a mind.
Comparative Analysis of Reparations for the Holocaust and for the Transatlantic Slave Trade

This article provides a legal and economic comparison of proposed reparations for the Transatlantic Slave Trade and already realized German Holocaust reparations. Neither injustice was legal at the...
Serum 25OHD concentration as a predictor of haemoglobin A1c among adults living in the USA: NHANES 2003 to 2010.

Background Vitamin D status influences glucose metabolism. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations have been inversely associated with type 2 diabetes risk. The optimal serum 25OHD level needed for adequate glycaemic control is unknown. Objective To determine the relationship among serum 25OHD concentrations and degree of glucose regulation using percentage of haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c%). Methods Data for adults ≥ 20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (2003–2010) were included. A binary logistic regression was used for serum 25OHD (nmol/L) as a continuous variable to determine the OR and 95% CI for HbA1c >6.5%, adjusting for sex, race and body mass index (BMI). Measures of serum 25OHD were grouped into quartiles and entered into a binary logistic regression model to determine the OR and 95% CI for HbA1c >6.5% in an adjusted model. Results Across all NHANES cycles, lower serum 25OHD was associated with greater odds of HbA1c ≥ 6.5% when adjusting for sex, race, age and BMI (NHANES 2003–2004 (N=4402): OR 0.985, 95% CI 0.979 to 0.990; NHANES 2005–2006 (N=4409): OR 0.976, 95% CI 0.969 to 0.982; NHANES 2007–2008 (N=4525): OR 0.989, 95% CI 0.984 to 0.993; and NHANES 2009–2010 (N=5660): OR 0.988, 95% CI 0.984 to 0.991). In an adjusted model, the lowest quartile of serum 25OHD (0–41 nmol/L, N=4879) was associated with greater odds of HbA1c ≥ 6.5% compared with the highest quartile (73–260 nmol/L, N=4472), OR 2.37, 95% CI 2.03 to 2.77. The odds of HbA1c ≥ 6.5% were also greater for adults with serum 25OHD considered to be sufficient compared with the highest quartile, OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.56 to 1.61). Conclusion Lower serum 25OHD concentrations are associated with poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%). Sufficient serum 25OHD levels were also associated with poorer blood glucose control. Further research is needed to investigate an optimal serum concentration or threshold to support adequate blood glucose control.
Utility of Stroke Volume Reserve to Evaluate Ventilatory Efficiency in Heart Failure Patients

Introduction The use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to evaluate cardiac limitations in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients is well described. Ventilatory inefficiency or increased VE/VCO2 slope > 34 in HFrEF patients has been shown to correlate with poor prognosis. Ventilatory inefficiency in heart failure is often attributed to increased VD/VT during exercise, presumably due to increased filling pressures and resultant pulmonary congestion. Stroke volume reserve is a novel noninvasive parameter, calculated by response in stroke volume at anaerobic threshold (AT) compared to rest. Previous studies have shown an increase in stroke volume at AT compared to resting value to be greater than or equal to 128% in normal patients. In this study, we utilized stroke volume (SV) reserve to evaluate and better understand ventilatory efficiency in HFrEF patients. Objective The study aimed to utilize SV reserve (SV-AT/SV-rest) to evaluate ventilatory efficiency and changes in VD/VT in HFrEF patients. Based on a combinational derivation of Fick's equation [CO=VO2 / Ca - Cv] and the equation for physiological dead space proportion [VD/VT = 1 - (863xVCO2 / VExPaCO2)], we hypothesized that an inappropriate SV reserve (less than 128%) would correlate with decreased carbon dioxide production at anaerobic threshold (VCO2-AT), decreased oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold, and an increased VE/VCO2 slope. Methods This was a retrospective, cohort analysis of 47 HFrEF patients (EF Results A significant increase in VCO2-AT (0.80 ± 0.32 vs 0.62 ± 0.18, p=0.04) and VO2-AT (11.85 ± 3.22 vs 8.82 ± 1.95, p=0.001) occurred for the appropriate SV reserve cohort compared to the inappropriate SV reserve cohort. VE/VCO2 slope was significantly higher in the inappropriate SV reserve group when compared to the appropriate SV reserve group (34.18 ± 7.86 vs 30.12 ± 4.58, p=0.03). There was an associated increase in VD/VT in the inappropriate SV reserve cohort with exercise. Conclusions In patients with inappropriate stroke volume reserve, the VE/VCO2 slope was elevated above 34 and also correlated with increased VD/VT with exercise. This study is the first to use stroke volume reserve to non-invasively demonstrate inappropriate circulatory response as a potential cause for elevation in VE/VCO2 slope with exercise.
Modern Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Carries Extremely Low Postoperative Infection Risk.

Abstract Background The studies that established historical rates of surgical infection after cholecystectomy predate the modern era of laparoscopy and routine prophylactic antibiotics. Newer studies have reported a much lower incidence of infections in “low-risk” elective, outpatient, laparoscopic cholecystectomies. We investigated the current rate of postoperative infections in these cases within a large, U.S. database. Methods We retrospectively reviewed elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies from the 2016-2017 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Our primary outcome was postoperative surgical site infection; secondary was Clostridium difficile infection. Logistic models evaluated the associations of patient and operation characteristics with these outcomes. Results Surgical infection occurred in 1.0% of cases (293/30,579). C difficile infection occurred in 0.1% (31 cases). In our adjusted multivariable models, other/unknown race/ethnicity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, American Society of Anesthesiologists >2, operative minutes, and wound class 4 were associated with a significantly higher odds of surgical infection; no covariates were significantly associated with C difficile infection. Conclusions In the setting of modern U.S. surgical practice, the incidence of infection after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy is very low, on par with clean cases. Our study identified several patient characteristics that were strongly associated with surgical infection. Many of these are not included as risk factors in current guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis and may help to identify those at higher risk for this rare complication.
When Social Norms Fail

Within online communities, social norms that both set expectations for and regulate behavior can be critical to the overall welfare of the community--particularly in the context of the privacy and safety of its members. For communities where the cost of regulatory failure can be high, it is important to understand both the conditions under which norms might be effective, and when they might fail. As a case study, we consider transformative fandom, a creative community dedicated to reimagining existing media in subversive ways. Due to the vulnerability of many members, this community has strong, longstanding norms to keep its members safe. Through an interview study with 25 fandom participants, we investigate this complex array of implicit norms that have been largely effective over time, but have also begun to break down. Catalysts for these breakdowns include value tensions between sub-communities and an increasing presence of outsiders, though most prominently, we identify a disconnect between the norms the community needs to support and the design of the platforms they occupy.
Wearable multiplexed biosensor system toward continuous monitoring of metabolites

Abstract Comprehensive metabolic panels are the most reliable and common methods for monitoring general physiology in clinical healthcare. Translation of this clinical practice to personal health and wellness tracking requires reliable, non-invasive, miniaturized, ambulatory, and inexpensive systems for continuous measurement of biochemical analytes. We report the design and characterization of a wearable system with a flexible sensor array for non-invasive and continuous monitoring of human biochemistry. The system includes signal conditioning, processing, and transmission parts for continuous measurement of glucose, lactate, pH, and temperature. The system can operate three discrete electrochemical cells. The system draws 15 mA under continuous operation when powered by a 3.7 V 150 mAh battery. The analog front-end of the electrochemical cells has four potentiostats and three multiplexers for multiplexed and parallel readout from twelve working electrodes. Utilization of redundant working electrodes improves the measurement accuracy of sensors by averaging chronoamperometric responses across the array. The operation of the system is demonstrated in vitro by simultaneous measurement of glucose and lactate, pH, and skin temperature. In benchtop measurements, the sensors are shown to have sensitivities of 26.31 μA mM−1·cm−2 for glucose, 1.49 μA mM−1·cm−2 for lactate, 54 mV·pH−1 for pH, and 0.002 °C-1 for temperature. With the custom wearable system, these values were 0.84 ± 0.03 mV μM−1·cm−2 or glucose, 31.87 ± 9.03 mV mM−1·cm−2 for lactate, 57.18 ± 1.43 mV·pH−1 for pH, and 63.4 μV·°C−1 for temperature. This miniaturized wearable system enables future evaluation of temporal changes of the sweat biomarkers.
Individual Differences and the Explanation of Behavior

Individual differences in human behavior are ubiquitous; and many personality psychologists understand their task as including the description and explanation of these differences. But personality psychology is, or at least should be, more than the study of individual differences. On these points, Lamiell and I are apparently in agreement. Lamiell argues that if the goal of personality psychology is, with general psychology, explaining the “...behavior/psychological functioning of individuals” (p. 153), then the study of individual differences as typically pursued by contemporary personality psychologists has little to contribute to the endeavor. On this point, I am unpersuaded; and in my remarks which follow, I shall detail the sources of my skepticism.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Reporting From a Management Control System Perspective

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a response to stakeholder concerns and signals organisational legitimacy. We propose CSR reporting from a comprehensive and integrated management control system perspective. Reporting parameters start with stated people, planet, and profit goals supported by objectives achieved through legal, ethical/moral, economic, and giving practices. Objectives are measured, assessed, and reported through key performance indicators. These objectives are quantified, sufficiently specific, have a timeline, and identify targeted stakeholder group(s). CSR strategy and its reporting are consistent with organisational mission, values, and strategy. CSR, like most business processes, is a dynamic process occurring over time and adjusting to circumstances sometimes involving trade-offs. CSR reporting ideally reflects this process through providing context and visual depictions of goals, practices, and performance evaluation that demonstrate not only a single period in time, but also trends that may present a more complete picture of an organisation’s CSR performance. CSR reporting parameters are proposed. https://doi.org/10.26493/1854-6935.19.127-144
Literacy: Reading (Early Stages)

Literacy is the ability to read and write. Early literacy development consists of a prealphabetic period wherein the child begins to learn about the nature and purpose of print; an alphabetic period wherein the child becomes conversant with the alphabetic code and acquires increasingly functional word identification and text processing skills; and an advanced alphabetic/orthographic period wherein the child masters the alphabetic code and becomes increasingly fluent in word identification and text processing. Keywords: prealphabetic period; alphabetic period; alphabetic/orthographic period; text processing; word recognition; reading and writing difficulties
First principles multiscale modeling of physico-chemical aspects of tribology

We have been developing methods to obtain a fundamental understanding of the physico-chemistry of sliding systems in contact that underlies the materials science and mechanics issues essential to tribology. Advances in theory and methods are now making it practical to consider fully first principles (de novo) predictions of surface and interface structures and their role in determining tribological properties of materials. Despite the progress, there remains an enormous gap between the distances and time scales of quantum mechanics (QM) simulations and the quantitative macroscopic continuum models essential in engineering design of tribosystems. In order to bridge this gap, we use a hierarchy of simulations, beginning with QM, continuing through Molecular Dynamics (MD), then to mesoscale dynamics, to continuum mechanics, and finally to engineering design. A recent advance here is the development of first principles Force Fields (FF) based on QM that allow MD to describe bond breaking, plasticity, and phase transitions. Such FF are being used to extract mesoscale parameters for describing the dislocations for metals and their role in plasticity. Based on these FF, we used steady state nonequilibrium MD (NEMD) to study Crack Initiation and Spallation failure in such systems. We illustrate the atomistic approach to tribology of metal surfaces by determining the shear and friction for Ni(001)/Ni(001) as a function of misorientation. These results suggest that some degree of plasticity occurs even for careful experiments on clean samples. We illustrate the use of NEMD to study the rheology of confined lubricants, considering a system of two oxidized iron surfaces, covered with DTP wear inhibitors, and lubricated with hexadecane. These results illustrate the dramatic effects of nanoconfinement. We illustrate the use of bond dissociation consistent FF, by examining the use of nanotubes as nanotribological probes
Subspace linear prediction approach to extracting poles

It is shown that the conventional linear prediction (LP) methods (including various versions of the Prony method) and the matrix pencil method for extracting poles of data sequences can be unified under a generalized approach called the subspace linear prediction (SLP) approach. The conventional LP methods can be considered as high-order SLP methods, while the matrix pencil method is a first-order SLP method. The authors also discuss a special form of the matrix pencil method for oversampled data. It is observed that, for oversampled data, the noise sensitivity of the least-square Prony method can be significantly improved without using singular value decomposition or other subspace decomposition algorithms. >
Key Attributes of a Successful Physician Order Entry System Implementation in a Multi-hospital Environment

The benefits of computerized physician order entry have been widely recognized, although few institutions have successfully installed these systems. Obstacles to successful implementation are organizational as well as technical. In the spring of 2000, following a 4-year period of planning and customization, a 9-month pilot project, and a 14-month hiatus for year 2000, the Ohio State University Health System extensively implemented physician order entry across inpatient units. Implementation for specialty and community services is targeted for completion in 2002. On implemented units, all orders are processed through the system, with 80 percent being entered by physicians and the rest by nursing or other licensed care providers. The system is deployable across diverse clinical environments, focused on physicians as the primary users, and accepted by clinicians. These are the three criteria by which the authors measured the success of their implementation. They believe that the availability of specialty-specific order sets, the engagement of physician leadership, and a large-scale system implementation were key strategic factors that enabled physician-users to accept a physician order entry system despite significant changes in workflow.
Making People Whole Again: The Constitutionality of Taxing Compensatory Damages for Mental Distress

Until recently, Congress generally excluded tort awards and settlements for personal injuries to individuals from "gross income" and thus exempted them from federal income taxation. The sole test for this exclusion under section l04(a) of the Internal Revenue Code was whether tort recovery for personal injury was involved. Although this recovery could include items as diverse as mental distress and lost income, the nature of the specific elements of the damages award was irrelevant. As a result, this exclusion covered all the elements of tort recovery, including such otherwise taxable items as lost income. Despite debate about the reasons for this approach, it was consistently followed for decades. However, in 1989, Congress began limiting the exclusion. This process began with an amendment to section 104(a) to provide that punitive awards were taxable as income unless they were in connection with a case "involving physical injury or physical sickness." In 1996, section 104(a) was again amended to subject all punitive damages to income taxation. Congress made another fundamental change in 1996 by amending the Code to provide, for the first time, that some compensatory awards for personal injury must be included in income. More specifically, section 104(a) was amended to provide that the traditional exclusion from income of "damages received . . . on account of personal injuries as sickness" did not apply to a victim's claim for "emotional distress" unless the claim had "its origin in a physical injury or physical sickness." Because of this new treatment of damages for mental distress, victims of torts like assault must now pay income tax on any award or settlement that compensates for the psychic trauma from the fear and terror of being assaulted. Though there may be merit in the new approach to punitive damages, the change in the treatment of compensatory damages for mental distress raises serious constitutional questions. Compensatory damages are meant to "make the victim whole again" by restoring the victim to the status quo before the tort. Moreover, damages for mental trauma do not replace something, like lost wages, that would otherwise be income. Thus, it is questionable whether compensation for mental distress constitutes income in any ordinary sense of the term. If these damages are not income, is it constitutional to tax them as such? Addressing this issue requires an examination of the legal framework for taxation of income and of the nature and purpose of compensatory damages for mental trauma. The constitutional framework is addressed in Part I of this Article. Part II summarizes the statutory approach to the taxation of tort damages. The nature of tort damages for mental distress is discussed in Part III. Part IV argues that it is unconstitutional to treat awards for mental distress as income.
Automatic test case generation from Simulink/Stateflow models using model checking

Model-based test generation techniques based on random input generation and guided simulation do not satisfy the demands of high test coverage and completeness guarantees as required by safety-critical applications. Recently, test generation techniques based on model checking have been reported to bridge this gap. To evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques, an in-house tool suite, AutoMOTGen, has been developed for Simulink/Stateflow and applied on real-life case studies at General Motors. This paper outlines the test generation methodology of AutoMOTGen and gives a comparative study with a commercial, primarily random input-based, test generation tool on the same set of examples. The results indicate that in terms of coverage, model checking-based techniques complement the random input-based techniques. In addition, they provide proofs for unreachability that can aid in debugging the models. Therefore, it is recommended that model checking-based tools be utilized to complement and enhance the effectiveness of model-based testing methods in safety-critical systems engineering. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Tumor Induction by Agrobacterium tumefaciens: Specific Transfer of Bacterial Deoxyribonucleic Acid to Plant Tissue

When Agrobacterium tumefaciens cells grown in the presence of tritiated thymidine to label specifically the bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are incubated with carrot root tissue for short periods of time, an appreciable fraction of the label becomes firmly associated with the root tissue. Such association is not observed in identical experiments when A. tumefaciens cell ribonucleic acid or protein are labeled. The extent of the retention of thymidine-derived label from bacterial cells by the root tissue in experiments with A. radiobacter and poorly tumorigenic strains of A. tumefaciens is significantly less than that afforded by tumorigenic strains of A. tumefaciens but greater than the level afforded by Escherichia coli. Transfer of DNA-specific label from A. tumefaciens to carrot root discs is not enhanced by treatments designed to provoke lysis of the bacterial cells, nor is it decreased by addition of deoxyribonuclease or excess unlabeled thymidine to the incubation medium. Bacterial cell-to-plant cell contact is necessary for transfer. Unlabeled A. radiobacter cells decrease in a competitive manner transfer of label when mixed with labeled A. tumefaciens cells. These findings suggest that transfer of DNA from A. tumefaciens to plant tissue after binding of the bacterial cells to specific plant tissue site(s) is a necessary feature of the mechanism by which A. tumefaciens provokes tumors in plants and provides an experimental technique of potentially great value in study of the early steps in the process of tumor induction by A. tumefaciens.
In vitro activity of four fluoroquinolones against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa determined by the E test.

Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and trovafloxacin were tested by the E-test against 100 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ciprofloxacin was the most active of the tested agents with 82% of isolates having a MIC 8). Levofloxacin and trovafloxacin had nearly identical potency: 75% and 76% of the isolates were inhibited by 8 for levofloxacin; 0.19->8 for trovafloxacin). Ofloxacin was the least active of the four quinolones, with 43% of the isolates having a MIC >2 mg/l. All isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin were also resistant to the other agents, i.e. resistance to ciprofloxacin predicted resistance to all the quinolones tested in every case. This data demonstrates that fluoroquinolones are active agents against P. aeruginosa. In vitro susceptibility testing, however, is crucial to assess the resistance pattern in any specific location and for each individual agent.
Limits on ecosystem trophic complexity: insights from ecological network analysis.

Articulating what limits the length of trophic food chains has remained one of the most enduring challenges in ecology. Mere counts of ecosystem species and transfers have not much illumined the issue, in part because magnitudes of trophic transfers vary by orders of magnitude in power-law fashion. We address this issue by creating a suite of measures that extend the basic indexes usually obtained by counting taxa and transfers so as to apply to networks wherein magnitudes vary by orders of magnitude. Application of the extended measures to data on ecosystem trophic networks reveals that the actual complexity of ecosystem webs is far less than usually imagined, because most ecosystem networks consist of a multitude of weak connections dominated by a relatively few strong flows. Although quantitative ecosystem networks may consist of hundreds of nodes and thousands of transfers, they nevertheless behave similarly to simpler representations of systems with fewer than 14 nodes or 40 flows. Both theory and empirical data point to an upper bound on the number of effective trophic levels at about 3–4 links. We suggest that several whole-system processes may be at play in generating these ecosystem limits and regularities.
Evidence far a k−5/3 Law Inertial Range in Mesoscale Two-Dimensional Turbulence

Abstract The observational evidence for k−5/3 law behavior in the atmospheric kinetic energy spectrum is reviewed. This evidence includes the results of atmospheric wind variability studies and the observed scale dependence of atmospheric dispersion. It is concluded that k−5/3 law behavior for time and space scales greater than those that can be three-dimensionally isotropic is probably a manifestation of the two-dimensional reverse-cascading energy inertial range.
Use of JandaJel Resins for Copper Removal in Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) ligands were supported onto JandaJel resins to allow for easy removal of the catalyst complex from the reaction mixture. Compared to divinylbenzene cross-linked resins, JandaJels have increased organic solvent compatibility and site accessibility due to the flexible cross-linker. These resins were chosen as the support in an attempt to obtain fast reaction times, good molecular weight control, and narrow polydispersity. The JandaJel ligands were used in ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene, and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The MMA and DMAEMA polymerizations proceeded quickly to high conversion (>90%) and were well-controlled. The styrene polymerization was sluggish and proceeded only to 63% conversion. Recyclability of the catalyst was demonstrated by reusing the catalyst for a second ATRP reaction. A PMMA-b-PDMAEMA copolymer was also synthesized using JandaJel ligands. After polymerization was complete, the catalyst/ligand complex was eas...
A SEMI-ANALYTICAL MODEL OF TIME DEPENDENT PLASTIC STRAINS INDUCED DURING SHOT PEENING

When a semi-infinite surface is shot peened the in-plane inelastic strains are zero because of compatibility. As a result, the in-plane residual stress and plastic strain are linearly related. These boundary conditions motivate a second order differential equation similar in mathematical form to a modified Kelvin solid model with a strain acceleration term. Solving the resulting equation gives a closed form expression for the plastic strain as a function of time. The plastic strain rate is solved by taking the derivative with respect to time. Comparisons with published finite element data show good agreement and are within 10% for most of the loading and unloading period.
Conceptualizing Instructional Explanation.

Abstract Explanation is described as a distinct form of instructional talk having four characteristics. These characteristics were derived from the qualitative analysis of the verbal interactions of four sets of effective and less effective second-, third-, and fifth-grade teachers studied in each of four different academic years as they taught reading skills and strategies to low-group students. The characteristic properties were identified by comparing the verbal explanation of the effective teachers with the instructional talk of less effective teachers. Excerpts of lesson transcripts are used to illustrate each of the characteristic properties, and implications are suggested for instructional psychology, teacher effectiveness research, and teacher education.
Wechselseitige elektromagnetische Masse und die Struktur des Atoms

1. Die Atomgewichte der ersten 27 Elemente, beginnend mit Helium, sind nicht Vielfache des Atomgewichts von Wasserstoff mit einer ganzen Zahl, wie es sein muste, wenn PROUTS ursprungliche Hypothese in ihrer numerischen Form richtig ware. Dies kann ausgedruckt werden durch die Feststellung, das die Atomgewichte, bezogen auf Wasserstoff, nicht ganze Zahlen sind. Wenn man jedoch diese Atomgewichte kritisch pruft, so findet man, das sie von den entsprechenden ganzen Zahlen um einen fast konstanten Prozentsatz abweichen, das die Abweichung negativ ist und im Mittel den Wert −0.77%, besitzt.
Positive Feedback of NDT80 Expression Ensures Irreversible Meiotic Commitment in Budding Yeast

In budding yeast, meiotic commitment is the irreversible continuation of the developmental path of meiosis. After reaching meiotic commitment, cells finish meiosis and gametogenesis, even in the absence of the meiosis-inducing signal. In contrast, if the meiosis-inducing signal is removed and the mitosis-inducing signal is provided prior to reaching meiotic commitment, cells exit meiosis and return to mitosis. Previous work has shown that cells commit to meiosis after prophase I but before entering the meiotic divisions. Since the Ndt80 transcription factor induces expression of middle meiosis genes necessary for the meiotic divisions, we examined the role of the NDT80 transcriptional network in meiotic commitment. Using a microfluidic approach to analyze single cells, we found that cells commit to meiosis in prometaphase I, after the induction of the Ndt80-dependent genes. Our results showed that high-level expression of NDT80 is important for the timing and irreversibility of meiotic commitment. A modest reduction in NDT80 levels delayed meiotic commitment based on meiotic stages, although the timing of each meiotic stage was similar to that of wildtype cells. A further reduction of NDT80 resulted in the surprising finding of inappropriately uncommitted cells: withdrawal of the meiosis-inducing signal and addition of the mitosis-inducing signal to cells at stages beyond metaphase I caused return to mitosis, leading to multi-nucleate cells. Since Ndt80 enhances its own transcription through positive feedback, we tested whether positive feedback ensured the irreversibility of meiotic commitment. Ablating positive feedback in NDT80 expression resulted in a complete loss of meiotic commitment. These findings suggest that irreversibility of meiotic commitment is a consequence of the NDT80 transcriptional positive feedback loop, which provides the high-level of Ndt80 required for the developmental switch of meiotic commitment. These results also illustrate the importance of irreversible meiotic commitment for maintaining genome integrity by preventing formation of multi-nucleate cells.
The influence of immune complexes, steric effects, and antigen-antigen interactions on the sensitivity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays☆

Serum from mice hyperimmunized with 2,4,6-trinitrophenylated bovine gamma globulin (TNP-BGG) or keyhole limpet hemocyanin have been shown to have enhanced binding to several ligands unrelated to the antigen used for immunization. Addition of the immunizing antigen to the serum can result in increased binding to unrelated ligands and to the polyvinyl chloride surface of microtiter wells in solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In a competitive binding assay using TNP-BGG-hyperimmune serum adsorbed to the microtiter well followed by an alkaline phosphatase conjugate of BGG in the presence or absence of TNP-BSA, substantial inhibition of BGG binding is seen. Steric hindrance appears to be the major cause of such inhibition since addition of hapten alone has little effect on BGG binding. An antigen-antigen interaction between KLH and TNP is also detectable. Immune complex formation, steric effects, and antigen-antigen interactions potentially have substantial influences on ELISA sensitivity and must be considered as possible sources of artifact in these assays.
An Analytical Solution of the Ideal-Fluid Thermocline

Abstract An exact analytical solution for the ideal-fluid thermocline is discussed. The solution is calculated from the specified functional relations: for the ventilated thermocline it is a linear functional relation between the potential thickness and the Bernoulli function, and for the unventilated thermocline the potential thickness is a constant. The solution satisfies the most important dynamic constraints—the Sverdrup relation and other boundary conditions. For any given Ekman pumping field, the surface density that satisfies the a priori specified potential thickness function is calculated as part of the solution. Climate variability induced by surface cooling/heating is inferred from the construction of the Green function. It is shown that for the model based on the special functional form discussed in this paper, the cooling-induced anomaly is in the form of the second dynamic thermocline mode that has a zero-crossing in the middle of the thermocline, resembling the second baroclinic mode define...
Sample Preparation and High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Deoxyribonucleoside Triphosphates in Individual Rat Embryos

A rapid, robust, and sensitive method has been developed to measure concentrations of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates in individual, day 14 rat embryos by modifying and optimizing existing methods for cellular extracts. Significant changes include: (i) oxidative degradation of ribonucleoside triphosphates using methylamine at lower pH (decreased from 6.5 to 4.0) to improve poor HPLC peak shape of early eluting nucleotides; (ii) glass fiber disc solid-phase extraction of the reaction mixture, which dramatically reduces impurities that interfere with nucleotide measurement, eliminates the necessity of column regeneration, and allows mobile phase recycling; and (iii) lower ionic strength (reduced from 0.4 to 0.26 or 0.12 M ammonium phosphate) and higher pH (increased from 3.25 to 5.55 or 6.98, respectively) mobile phase, conditions which are less destructive to the column's bonded phase and silica support, thereby contributing to longer column life. Enhancements include: (i) filtration of the sample prior to HPLC injection and addition of an in-line filter, guard column, and saturating precolumn of silica in the mobile phase flow, which aids substantially in extending column life and improves chromatographic stability, and (ii) inclusion of an internal standard to correct for mechanical losses. Limits of determination at a signal to noise ratio of 6:1 range from 5.5 to 12 pmol on-column or 0.41 to 0.87 pmol/mg of embryonic tissue depending on the specific nucleotide. Recoveries are quantitative for all nucleotides, and interassay variabilities are between 5 and 7% when quantified by peak height. The method has also been applied successfully to analysis of murine erythroleukemic cell cultures and this, when coupled with the embryo results, suggests its general utility.
New sheet molding compound resins from soybean oil. I. Synthesis and characterization

Abstract Thermosetting resins were synthesized from soybean oil, which are suited to sheet molding compound (SMC) applications. It was achieved by introducing acid functionality and C C groups onto triglyceride molecules. The acid groups can react with divalent metallic oxides and/or hydroxides to form the sheet, while C C groups undergo free radical polymerization. An acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), which has an average of 3.4 acrylates per triglyceride, was used as starting material. The hydroxyl groups on AESO reacted with maleic anhydride (MA) to render acid groups on the molecule. The resulting monomer was then copolymerized with 33 wt% styrene to form rigid polymers. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed storage moduli ( E ′) for these polymers ranging from 1.9 to 2.2 GPa at room temperature, and the glass transition temperatures ( T g ) in the range of 100–115 °C. Both the E ′ and T g were increased by increasing the molar ratio of MA to AESO, and the transition from the glassy to the rubbery state was broadened by increasing the amount of MA. The effect of styrene as a comonomer was also examined, and a final formulation for SMC was optimized. The resulting resins exhibited appropriate viscosity during the SMC thickening process.
The Kaiser's Voters: Electors and Elections in Imperial Germany

List of tables List of figures Acknowledgements Introduction Part I. The Parties: 1. The Social Democrats 2. The minority parties 3. The 'national' parties Part II. The Elections: 4. The Bismarckian elections 5. The Wilhelmine elections 6. A century of democratic elections Appendix Bibliography.
The Hedonic Value of Hospitality Consumption: Evidence From Spring Break Experiences

Many hospitality products and services are hedonically driven consumption. However, the hedonic value of the hospitality consumption—that is, how much pleasure, utility or enjoyment a consumption experience can bring—is not thoroughly understood. This study examines the hedonic aspect of a hospitality consumption experience at its preconsumption, consumption, and postconsumption phases. Results from a repeated-measure, quasiexperimental study about spring break experiences show that the perceived hedonic value (predicted, experienced, and remembered) of a hospitality consumption experience is dynamic over the course of the experience. Specifically, predicted hedonic value is largely a function of temporal distance to a hospitality experience and demonstrates an upward pattern as the date draws near. Results also reveal that the experienced hedonic value is the lowest among the hedonic value ratings captured at seven different points of time over the course of the total consumption experience. Furthermore,...
Issues and voting in the European elections 1989

: After a discussion of the role of ‘issues’ in models of voting behaviour, this article focuses on the degree of homogeneity of issue evaluations on the one hand and the match between issue evaluations and vote choice on the other. Three major conclusions emerge from cross-national comparative analyses. First, and quite generally, a large segment of the national electorates does not perceive any particular party as best able to handle any of the problems they personally feel most important. Second, when particular parties are considered as best able to handle the problems seen as most important, then uniform - or homogeneous - evaluations outnumber more varied choices by far. And third, overall vote intention matches the competence evaluation much more often than not. These results give little support for the cognitive, rational choice approach to issue voting, but, still issue competence evaluations may be more than merely a reflection of affective ties.
Improved rovibrational constants and frequency tables for the normal laser bands of 12C16O2

Abstract New frequency difference measurements between Doppler-free stabilized laser lines in the 9.4- and 10.4-μm bands of 12C16O2, including high-J and across-the-band-center measurements, have made significant improvements in the rovibrational constants. The absolute frequencies were referred to the methane stabilized 3.39-μm HeNe laser. Frequency tables generated from these constants have absolute uncertainties of less than two parts in 1010 and are about a factor of 10 better than older tables. In addition, the laser lines PI(50) in 13C16O2 and RII(26) in 13C18O2, which were used as reference lines in recent visible laser frequency measurements, were also measured to about the same accuracy.
The effect of ozone and high temperature on polymer degradation in polymer core composite conductors

Abstract The next generation High Temperature Low Sag Polymer Core Composite Conductors can experience harsh in-service environments including high temperature and highly concentrated ozone. In some extreme cases, it is possible that the conductors will experience temperatures of up to 180 °C and ozone concentrations as high as 1% (10,000 ppm). Therefore, the goal of this work was to understand the degradation mechanisms in a high temperature epoxy, which could be used in the conductors at temperatures as high as 140 °C in the presence of 1% ozone. Then, the combined aging data for the epoxy were compared to the aging results from room temperature aging in 1% ozone and aging in air at 140 and 180 °C. In addition, important but limited aging testing was also performed on a set of PCCC rods to verify some of the observations from the neat resin experiments. It was determined that the mass loss, volumetric shrinkage, and flexural strength reductions of the epoxy aged at 140 °C were driven almost entirely by temperature and that the effect of 1% ozone at that temperature can be thought of as insignificant for aging times up to 90 days. The composite rods displayed postcuring at 140 °C and were also unaffected by the presence of ozone at aging time lengths of 90 days. Up to this time aging the polymer and composite specimens in atmospheric 180 °C resulted in the most drastic changes in both physical and mechanical properties, except viscoelasticity where the polymer specimens aged at 140 °C with 1% ozone showed the greatest increase in the storage modulus. The least amount of degradation to the materials was found to occur after aging at room temperature in 1% ozone.
Denileukin diftitox for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/mycosis fungoides (CTCL/MF) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder which can present as an indolent or as an aggressive process involv- ing skin, lymph nodes, and blood. In stages IA, IB and IIA, it is usually managed with topical medications and phototherapy. If there is progression despite application of these treatments, or if the patient presents with a higher stage of disease, systemic chemotherapy or retinoids, rexinoids, biologic response modifi ers are often necessary. Consequently, patients are often treated with a sequence of modalities and drugs. Denileukin diftitox (DD, Ontak ® ) is a targeted immunotoxin which has biological activity against malignancies expressing the IL-2 receptor. In addition to its unique mechanism of action, DD has a toxicity profi le which does not overlap with most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. CTCL/MF has been found be particularly susceptible to treatment with this agent. This review will describe the development DD, its proposed mechanism of action, the clinical trials which identifi ed its utility in the treatment of CTCL/MF, the common toxicities encountered with this agent, and the management of these toxicities. In addition the incorporation of DD in the sequential treatment of CTCL/MF and data suggesting potential combination therapies employing this novel agent will be discussed.
Controlling surfaces and interfaces with functional polymers: Preparation and functionalization of dendritic–linear block copolymers via metal catalyzed “living” free radical polymerization

The preparation and chemical modification of dendritic–linear block copolymers with surface functionalized dendritic components are presented. Isophthalate ester-functionalized dendrons featuring benzylic halide groups at their focal points have been used for the metal catalyzed “living” radical polymerization of styrene. The molecular weight of the dendritic–linear block copolymers determined by MALDI-TOF and Size Exclusion Chromatography was found to be accurately controlled up to molecular weights of ca. 30,000 a.m.u., with polydispersities less than 1.2. Subsequent functional group modifications of the peripheral ethyl ester groups of the dendritic block have been successfully carried out leading to carboxylic acids, butyl amides, benzyl alcohols, benzyl halides, and also accelerated generation growth via transesterification with a first generation dendritic alcohol. Several of these new dendritic–linear block copolymers exhibit interesting aggregation characteristics as evidenced by 1H-NMR spectroscopic studies. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1–10, 1998