cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chapter 5 – Organofluorine Pharmaceuticals

About one-fifth of the currently marketed pharmaceuticals are organofluorine compounds. Some of the top-selling drugs such as atorvastatin, Crestor, efavirenz, fluoxetine, Ciprobay, fluticasone propionate, Faslodex, ezetimibe, Celebrex, and sitagliptin consist of a fluoroaryl moiety, a gem-difluoromethylene moiety, or a trifluoromethyl moiety. Fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor is a widely used antidepressant drug. Fluorinated drugs such as atorvastatin and ezetimibe are among the top-selling antihypercholesterolemia drugs. Antibacterials, such as flurithromycin have enhanced bioavailability and metabolic stability due to the presence of a fluorine substituent at the metabolically vulnerable site. Mefloquine, a trifluoromethyl-substituted quinine analog, is one of the most successful drugs for treating malaria. This chapter outlines the synthesis and mechanisms of action of fluorinated drugs focusing on the widely used therapeutics, which include antibacterials, antimalarials, antidiabetics, antiinflammatory agents, antihypercholesterolemia drugs, and antiviral drugs.
Pregnant Women with Obesity Have Unique Perceptions About Gestational Weight Gain, Exercise, and Support for Behavior Change.

Introduction Prepregnancy obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) pose health risks to woman and fetus, yet gestational weight management interventions are largely unsuccessful. Little research examines the perceptions of women with obesity about weight gain and exercise. Although women with obesity have different body habitus and life experiences, most studies combine overweight and obese women into one group. Methods We conducted 3 focus groups with pregnant women with obesity to determine perceptions of GWG, exercise, and a proposed behavioral intervention. Results Seventeen women participated in the focus groups including 6 at a birth center and 11 at a federally qualified health center. A key finding was that women with obesity felt stigmatized and perceived pregnancy as a refuge from fat shaming. Participants viewed risks associated with excessive GWG as exaggerated and instead deemed self-assessments of how they feel and look as more reliable measures of maternal and fetal health. Participants reported that quality rather than quantity of food promotes pregnancy health and that restrained eaters put their fetuses at risk. Knowledge gaps emerged related to dissatisfaction with counseling about weight gain guidelines. Although physical activity was endorsed, participants voiced safety concerns about exercise during pregnancy and instead favored walking and routine daily activity. Goal setting, positive messaging, and positive reinforcement were identified as favorable aspects of the proposed behavioral intervention. Discussion Pregnant women with obesity share other pregnant women's perceptions about weight gain and exercise in pregnancy but also have unique perceptions. Pregnant women with obesity in this study reported feeling stigmatized and fearful of being shamed by their health care providers but paradoxically eager for guidance. The findings offer implications for health care counseling and GWG interventions for this population.
The Phenomenal Representation of Size

Suppose that, while you are dreamlessly asleep, the sizes of and distances between all objects in the world are uniformly multiplied. Would you be able to detect this global inflation? Intuitively,...
A New Database for Inferring Public Policy Innovativeness and Diffusion Networks

Despite its rich tradition, there are key limitations to researchers' ability to make generalizable inferences about state policy diffusion. This paper introduces new data and methods to move from empirical analyses of single policies to the analysis of comprehensive populations of policies and rigorously inferred diffusion networks. We have gathered policy adoption data appropriate for estimating policy innovativeness and tracing diffusion ties in a targeted manner (e.g., by policy domain, time period, or policy type) and extended the development of methods necessary to accurately and efficiently infer those ties. Our State Policy Innovation and Diffusion (SPID) database includes 728 different policies coded by topic area. We provide an overview of this new dataset and illustrate two key uses: (1) static and dynamic innovativeness measures and (2) latent diffusion networks that capture common pathways of diffusion between states across policies. The scope of the data allow us to compare patterns in both across policy topic areas. We conclude that these new resources will enable researchers to empirically investigate classes of questions that were difficult or impossible to study previously, but whose roots go back to the origins of the political science policy innovation and diffusion literature.
The Techniques and Merit of Ultrasound in Orthopaedics

In the field of Orthopaedic Surgery, sonographic imaging has recently re-emerged as an effective medium by which to diagnose musculoskeletal pathology. It is advantageous over MRI in that it is low cost, widely available, and allows for a dynamic examination of the musculoskeletal system. It allows for huge potential time-savings in that it can be utilized in the office setting whereas a CT or MRI requires the patient to schedule the imaging procedure and a separate visit to review the results. This chapter provides a concise review of some of the more common indications for ultrasound in the field of orthopaedics.
Impact of group visits for older patients with heart failure on advance care planning outcomes: Preliminary data.

Objective Advance care planning (ACP) is critically important for heart failure patients, yet important challenges exist. Group visits can be a helpful way to engage patients and caregivers in identifying values and preferences for future care in a resource-efficient way. We sought to evaluate the impact of group visits for ACP among older adults with heart failure and their caregivers on ACP-related outcomes. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study evaluating the impact of an ACP group visit for older adults with heart failure and their caregivers on ACP-related outcomes including readiness and self-efficacy. The evidence-based PREPARE for Your Care video-based intervention was used to guide the group visits. Twenty patients and 10 caregivers attended one of the five 90-min group visits led by a trained facilitator. Group visit participants completed pre-, post-, and 1-month follow-up surveys using validated 5-point ACP readiness and self-efficacy scales. Qualitative feedback obtained within 3 days of a group visit was analyzed using a directed content analysis. Results Patient participants had a median age of 78 years. Approximately half were female while caregiver participants were mostly female. Participants were predominantly white. Patient readiness scores improved significantly pre-to-post (+0.53; p = 0.002) but was not sustained at 1-month follow-up. Patient and caregiver self-efficacy showed some improvement pre-to-post but was also not sustained at follow-up. Interviews revealed positive impacts of group visits across the three themes: encouraging reviewing or revisiting prior ACP activities, motivating patients to take direct steps towards ACP, and serving as a "wake-up" call to action. Conclusions Disease-focused group visits may have a short-term effect on ACP outcomes but ongoing touchpoints are likely necessary to sustain ACP over time. The results highlight a need for follow-up ACP conversations after a single group visit. Timing for follow-ups and the ideal person to follow-up ACP conversations needs to be explored.
What accounts for the racial disparity in survival from estrogen receptor-positive, axillary node-negative breast cancer in the United States? An analysis of the SEER-Oncotype database.

6534Background: In a previous analysis of the SEER-Oncotype database (Hoskins, et al. JAMA Oncol, 2021), we reported that among women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, axillary node-negative br...
Optical N-invariant of graphene's topological viscous Hall fluid.

Over the past three decades, graphene has become the prototypical platform for discovering topological phases of matter. Both the Chern $$C\in {\mathbb{Z}}$$ and quantum spin Hall $$\upsilon \in {{\mathbb{Z}}}_{2}$$ insulators were first predicted in graphene, which led to a veritable explosion of research in topological materials. We introduce a new topological classification of two-dimensional matter – the optical N-phases $$N\in {\mathbb{Z}}$$ . This topological quantum number is connected to polarization transport and captured solely by the spatiotemporal dispersion of the susceptibility tensor χ. We verify N ≠ 0 in graphene with the underlying physical mechanism being repulsive Hall viscosity. An experimental probe, evanescent magneto-optic Kerr effect (e-MOKE) spectroscopy, is proposed to explore the N-invariant. We also develop topological circulators by exploiting gapless edge plasmons that are immune to back-scattering and navigate sharp defects with impunity. Our work indicates that graphene with repulsive Hall viscosity is the first candidate material for a topological electromagnetic phase of matter. Graphene is the archetype for realizing two-dimensional topological phases of matter. Here, the authors introduce a new topological classification connected to polarization transport, where the topological number is revealed in the spatiotemporal dispersion of the susceptibility tensor.
The TNT refinement package

The TNT refinement package was created in the late 1970s and its development continued for about 25 years. Its design included many features not present in its contemporaries and allowed for the testing and addition of many novel tools during its lifespan. These include the implementation of stereochemical restraints to molecules in other asymmetric units (both bonded and non-bonded), space-group-optimized fast Fourier transforms, which allowed rapid crystallographic calculations, and a quick and easy method to model the scattering of bulk solvent, which allowed the use of low-resolution data in refinement. TNT is no longer being developed by its original authors but its code has been included in Global Phasing, Ltd's program Buster, where considerable improvements have been made.
UAV-based GSM network for public safety communications

Communications infrastructure can be damaged during natural disasters or terrorist attacks. For example, the 2011 Tsunami in Japan has severely damaged the cellular network infrastructure, which negatively affects search and rescue operations, emergency communications, and coordination among first responders. In this paper, we present an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based software defined radio (SDR) platform which can be rapidly deployed for use in emergency communication scenarios. In particular, the UAVs serve as flying GSM base stations and can provide cellular network coverage to users within their vicinity. The Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP) are used as the SDR equipment, which run OpenBTS software for implementing the GSM technology. We present the design and implementation of the considered platform in this extended abstract.
The Effect of Women in Government on the Idealized Leader: A Comparative, Experimental Analysis

Existing literature on the ideal traits of political officeholders demonstrates that voters tend to prefer leaders with classic masculine traits (e.g., confident, assertive, tough). However, much of this literature is over 10 years old and focused only on the United States; very little comparative work exists on this subject, and what does exist is over 20 years old (i.e., Williams & Best 1990). This paper reinvigorates and updates this debate on voter prejudice through an examination of whether the increased presence of women at all levels of the state has decreased the use of the masculine leader as the ideal in the minds of the voter. In other words, are women in government changing the voters’ expectations about the traits and behavior of the ideal leader? Using the results from an original experiment with over 600 participants performed in both the US and Canada, I demonstrate that the average voter has indeed changed some of their views on what the personality of a leader should be. However, contrary to the literature on the consequences of increased descriptive representation, I also find that there is little evidence that voters are changing their perceptions of women in general; the benefits of increased representation seem to be isolated to women leaders. Therefore, it appears that while the increased proportion of women in office has done wonders for the voters’ perceptions of female leaders, it may be doing little for the perception of women at large.
Perfect Robust Stabilization for SISO Plants with Parametric Uncertainties

In this paper we solve the problem of robust stabilization for SISO systems with real linear-fractional parametric uncertainties. Perfect robust stabilization (PRS) is defined and its connection to 'strong stabilization' is shown. Conditions for PRS in various cases are given.
High performance domain decomposition methods for signal integrity modeling in 3-D interconnects

Advances in interconnect technologies, such as the increase of the number of metal layers and 3-D stacking technique, have paved the way for higher functionality and superior performance while reducing size, power, and cost in modern integrated circuit and packages. However, whether or not the package preserves signal integrity has become a crucial concern for system designers. In this study, a scalable multi-scale full-wave electromagnetic solver is proposed for 3-D circuit/package simulations. The key ideas of the proposed work include: (1) adaptive geometry-aware domain decomposition methods to conquer the geometric complexity of physical domain, by which an arbitrarily complicated interconnect model can be decomposed into a collection of components, the so-called sub-domains; (2) a flexibly hybrid solution strategy, where volume-based differential equation solvers and surface-based integral solvers can be applied to individual sub-domain problems based on local characteristics; and (3) parallel and scalable computational algorithms to reduce the time complexity via high performance computing architectures. The strength and flexibility of the proposed method will be illustrated by means of several product-level package benchmark.
Genetic linkage of a leucine aminopeptidase locus with the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor locus in soybeans

The soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seed leucine aminopeptidase locus (Lap1) was found to be linked to the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor locus (Ti) with a recombination frequency of 15.3 percent +/- 0.9 percent. The two loci are in linkage group 9. Both Lap1 and Ti loci are inherited independently of the flower color locus (W1) in linkage group 8.
Three-field technique for breast treatment using a rotatable half-beam block.

A new three-field technique for the radiation therapy of breast cancer has been developed. Two opposing tangential fields treat the breast, chest wall, and ipsilateral internal mammary lymph nodes. The third, an anterior field, treats the axilla and supraclavicular area. The objective of the technique is to make the posterior geometric edges of the tangential fields coplanar, and also to make their cephalad geometric edges and the caudad geometric edge of the supraclavicular field coplanar. To effect the matching of fields, the technique utilizes a rotatable half-beam shielding block. To simplify the simulation procedure, an exact mathematical solution is given for the required treatment set-up parameters.
Influence of light delivery on photodynamic synovectomy in an antigen-induced arthritis model for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background and Objective Minimally invasive synovectomy techniques have been unsuccessful due to lack of selectivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of photodynamic therapy to destroy diseased synovium in an antigen-induced arthritis model. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Three sets of experiments evaluated the biodistribution and treatment effects of Photofrin (PF) in rabbits with bilateral knee antigen-induced arthritis. The first set of experiments evaluated the biodistribution of PF in articular tissues of 30 rabbits from 6–72 hours after systemic injection of 2 mg/kg. In the second series of experiments, light was delivered to the knee joint via cleaved optical fibers, whereas for the third, light was delivered via a 600 μm diffusion tip fiber. Tissues were harvested at 2 and 4 weeks posttreatment. Results The biodistribution experiments demonstrated maximal uptake in inflamed synovium at 48 hours and a lack of uptake in normal tissues. With bare cleaved fibers, necrosis was observed in one specimen at 2 weeks and was absent in all specimens at 4 weeks. In the third experiment, synovial necrosis was observed in 3 of 7 specimens at 2 weeks and 3 of 8 at 4 weeks. No damage to articular cartilage or periarticular tissues was seen with either mode of light delivery. Conclusion These studies indicate that selective destruction of synovium can be achieved with PF and suggest that optimization of light delivery techniques will play an important role in development of this new technique. Lasers Surg. Med. 22:147–156, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Antecedents of State Test Anxiety

Abstract A structural equation model of relationships among state test anxiety and its possible antecedents was tested in 298 college students who were enrolled in statistics courses. Variables in the model included gender, math ability, trait test anxiety (trait worry and trait emotionality as separate constructs), statistics course anxiety, statistics achievement (scores on midterm exams), and perceived test difficulty and state test anxiety (state worry and state emotionality) measured at the time the final exam was taking place. Female students reported higher trait test anxiety and statistics course anxiety than did males. Math ability had a positive relationship with statistics achievement. Students with low math ability perceived statistics courses as difficult, which in turn strongly influenced their level of statistics course anxiety. Trait worry had a significant direct effect on state worry but not on state emotionality, and the same pattern occurred with trait–state emotionality. Trait worry, but not trait emotionality, was positively related to statistics course anxiety. Students reporting high statistics course anxiety perceived the final exam as difficult; however, neither statistics achievement nor state test anxiety was influenced by statistics course anxiety. Students' perception of statistics course difficulty had an impact on their perception of test difficulty, which in turn had significant direct effects on both state worry and emotionality. As expected, achievement on statistics midterm exams had a direct effect on state worry but not on state emotionality.
Trusting souls: A segmentation of the voting public

When a 30-year decline in the American voters' trust of political office holders and the election process is contrasted to their enduring trust of the democratic form of government, there is strong confirmation of the need to take a multidimensional approach in measuring political trust. To this end, a segmentation scheme based on two well-established political trust measures (i.e., incumbent-based trust and regime-based trust) is proposed. In particular how two specific trust segments differ in terms of the time they spend on various political and election-related activities is examined. Among other things, the findings reveal that the dual-trusting segment (i.e., those who were both regime and incumbent trusting) were substantially more likely than the regime-only trusting segment (i.e., those who were regime trusting and incumbent untrusting) to watch television debates or speeches and have informal discussions with friends and co-workers on topics related to the election. There were no meaningful differences between the two segments when it came to giving or raising funds, or campaigning for a candidate or political party. However, when it came to voting-related decision making, the results suggest that dual-trusting individuals were significantly more likely to spend more than a little time considering how they were going to vote for President, U.S. Senate, and on particular political issues. The article ends with suggestions for future research, as well as some thoughts on how politicians and their advisers might more fully embrace the relational marketing paradigm, especially as it pertains to the connection between elected officials and the voting public. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Envelope Tracking power amplifier optimization for mobile applications

Envelope Tracking (ET) power amplifiers (PA) have been developed for next generation mobile handsets and tablets to improve efficiency. The ET PA provides improved system efficiency at the highest output power levels but does require performance trade-offs which must be considered. This paper will discuss the ET system performance, compare PA technologies and will provide some of the system performance tradeoffs when implementing the ET PA.
Effects of temperature on germination and mitochondrial dehydrogenases in two soybean (Glycine max) cultivars.

The effects of eight germination temperatures from 10°C to 35°C on germination and dehydrogenase activities of two soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivars were investigated after 48 h of seedling growth. Axis fresh weights of cv. Chippewa increased as germination temperature increased from 10°C to 35°C. In contrast, axis fresh weights for the cv. Wells increased more slowly with increasing temperature and reached a maximum at c. 25°C. In general, in vitro activities of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICDH), and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) from the axes of cv. Chippewa correlated well with increases in axis fresh weights. GDH and MDH activities from axes of the cv. Wells also reflected increases in axis fresh weights although the correlation was not as evident as for the cv. Chippewa. NADP-ICDH activity from ‘Wells’ axes was highest at 35°C even though germination was poor at this temperature. GDH and MDH activities from cotyledons of both cultivars were not correlated with axis weight increases. No GDH activity was detected in ‘Wells’ cotyledons from seeds germinated at 35°C.
A Parametrically Constrained Optimization Method for Fitting Sedimentation Velocity Experiments

A method for fitting sedimentation velocity experiments using whole boundary Lamm equation solutions is presented. The method, termed parametrically constrained spectrum analysis (PCSA), provides an optimized approach for simultaneously modeling heterogeneity in size and anisotropy of macromolecular mixtures. The solutions produced by PCSA are particularly useful for modeling polymerizing systems, where a single-valued relationship exists between the molar mass of the growing polymer chain and its corresponding anisotropy. The PCSA uses functional constraints to identify this relationship, and unlike other multidimensional grid methods, assures that only a single molar mass can be associated with a given anisotropy measurement. A description of the PCSA algorithm is presented, as well as several experimental and simulated examples that illustrate its utility and capabilities. The performance advantages of the PCSA method in comparison to other methods are documented. The method has been added to the UltraScan-III software suite, which is available for free download from http://www.ultrascan.uthscsa.edu.
Vibratory Stress Suppression in Turbine Blades Subjected to Aerodynamic Loading

Vibratory stresses are the main cause of failure in gas turbine engines and other rotating machinery components. These stresses must be attenuated to an acceptable level through an efficient process in order to prevent failures in turbine blades. Research [8] has shown that a thin magneto mechanical coating layer can make a significant contribution to the damping and reduction of these vibratory stresses. Previous studies on analyzing the damping characteristics of these coatings for various applications, such as beams and turbine blades, employed general solid mechanics loads. In this study, we numerically compute aerodynamic loads on one and a half stage axial turbine in order to bring more reality to the problem. We employ a three-dimensional finite-volume based solver to simulate the flow in the turbine using SST model to account for turbulence effects. Sliding mesh technique is used to allow the transfer of flow parameters across the sliding rotor/stator interfaces. In order to model a single passage configuration, profile transformation method is used. A free vibration analysis has been performed to obtain natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes to analyze resonance conditions. The computed CFD loads are then applied to an uncoated and coated turbine blade through a finite-element analysis (FEA) package. A forced response analysis is performed at the critical frequencies to obtain vibratory stresses. Numerical results show suppression of vibratory stresses at various low and high frequency vibration modes. The results are benchmarked against published data and closely match the expected outcome. The research presents an effective procedure for suppression of vibratory stresses in gas turbine engine component subjected to real world aerodynamic loading. The new procedure is a significant improvement towards more realistic simulation based solutions for vibration suppression problems.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Measurement of Gases by a Suppressed Conductometric Capillary Electrophoresis Separation System

This paper describes the direct measurement of soluble ionogenic atmospheric gases by a suppressed conductometric capillary electrophoresis separation system (SuCCESS). A small circular wire loop is incorporated at the sampling end of a fused silica capillary located immediately at the tip in the same plane as the capillary. When the loop is dipped into a solution and withdrawn, a liquid film is formed on it. The film is in fluid communication with the capillary and acts as a microreservoir. When the film end is lifted relative to the destination side, all or part of the film contents can be injected into the capillary. To perform gas sampling, a series of automated operations are conducted with a commercial CE instrument modified in a minor fashion : the film-bearing loop is lowered into a sample chamber, and air is sampled for a preset period of time at a preselected flow rate (typically 1 min at 100 cm 3 /min). The capillary is then lifted to introduce an aliquot from the film for analysis and then dipped into the running electrolyte source vial, and electrophoresis is commenced. Under the above sampling conditions, 1 ppb SO 2 can be detected. The system should be applicable for use with other detection modes and nonaqueous electrolytes.
Complete momentum and energy resolved TOF electron spectrometer for time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

Over the last decade, high-resolution Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (ARPES) has emerged as a tool of choice for studying the electronic structure of solids, in particular, strongly correlated complex materials such as cuprate superconductors. In this paper we present the design of a novel time-of-flight based electron analyzer with capability of 2D in momentum space (kx and ky) and all energies (calculated from time of flight) in the third dimension. This analyzer will utilize an improved version of a 2D delay linedetector capable of imaging with<35 mm (700x700 pixels) spatial resolution and better than 120 ps FWHM timing resolution. Electron optics concepts and optimization procedure are considered for achieving an energy resolution less than 1 meV and an angular resolution better than 0.11.
Integrating Delegation into the Policy Theory Literature

Public policy scholars have developed a number of theories of the policymaking process. Their work has come to define what some now refer to as the “policy theory” literature. Our task is to identify theoretical and empirical courses of study that will advance this research program. We limit ourselves to identifying an existing theory that already provides such an advance and discuss some of its theoretical benefits and empirical support. Specifically, we make the case that there exists a well-developed theory of delegation that rivals what we deem to be the best of the existing policy theories. We also suggest that existing theoretical frameworks might benefit from incorporating delegation theory explicitly and conclude that policy research has much to contribute to the development and useful application of delegation models.
Remodeling of Cardiolipin by Phospholipid Transacylation

Mitochondrial cardiolipin (CL) contains unique fatty acid patterns, but it is not known how the characteristic molecular species of CL are formed. We found a novel reaction that transfers acyl groups from phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine to CL in mitochondria of rat liver and human lymphoblasts. Acyl transfer was stimulated by ADP, ATP, and ATPγS, but not by other nucleotides. Coenzyme A stimulated the reaction only in the absence of adenine nucleotides. Free fatty acids were not incorporated into CL under the same incubation condition. The transacylation required addition of exogenous CL or monolyso-CL, whereas dilyso-CL was not a substrate. Transacylase activity was decreased in lymphoblasts from patients with Barth syndrome (tafazzin deletion), and this was accompanied by drastic changes in the molecular composition of CL. In rat liver, where linoleic acid was the most abundant residue of CL, only linoleoyl groups were transferred into CL, but not oleoyl or arachidonoyl groups. We demonstrated complete remodeling of tetraoleoyl-CL to tetralinoleoyl-CL in rat liver mitochondria and identified the intermediates linoleoyl-trioleoyl-CL, dilinoleoyl-dioleoyl-CL, and trilinoleoyl-oleoyl-CL by high-performance liquid chromatography. The data suggest that CL is remodeled by acyl specific phospholipid transacylation and that tafazzin is an acyltransferase involved in this mechanism.
Inpatient complications, mortality, and discharge disposition after surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis: a national perspective

Abstract Background context Information about complications and mortality after surgery for correction of idiopathic scoliosis has been largely derived from single-institution series. Regional or national studies have been lacking. Purpose To report inpatient mortality, complications, and discharge disposition after surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis on a national level. Study design Retrospective cohort study using National Inpatient Sample (NIS) administrative data. Patient sample All patients in the NIS with the primary diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis who underwent a spinal fusion between 1993 and 2002 were included. Outcome measures Inpatient complication rate, mortality rate, and adverse outcome defined by death or discharge to institution other than home. Methods Outcome measures were abstracted from the NIS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the effects of patient and hospital characteristics on outcome measures. Results The NIS was used to identify 51,911 patients who underwent spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis in the United States from 1993 to 2002. The total inhospital complication rate was 14.9% for pediatric patients and 25.1% for adult patients. The inhospital mortality rate was 0.17% and 0.40% for pediatric and adult patients, respectively. Adverse outcome was noted in 2.3% of pediatric patients and 20.4% of adult patients. Pulmonary and postoperative hemorrhages/hematomas were the most common complications reported. Multivariate analysis for complications showed that morbidity was significantly lower for pediatric patients (odds ratio [OR]=0.80; confidence interval [CI]=0.68–0.94) and female patients (OR=0.77; CI=0.68–0.88). Patients with a preoperative comorbidity were 1.53 (CI=1.32–1.76) times more likely to develop a complication. A single postoperative complication increased the mean length of stay by more than 2 days and increased the mortality rate, adverse outcome, and hospital charges significantly. Conclusions We have provided a national perspective on inpatient complications, mortality, and discharge disposition after spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis in the United States. The significant negative effects of postoperative complications on mortality and resource utilization have been demonstrated. Furthermore, we have identified adult age, male gender, and preoperative comorbidity as important risk factors and defined their impact on patient outcomes.
A REVOLUÇÃO SILENCIOSA NA EUROPA: MUDANÇA INTERGERACIONAL NAS SOCIEDADES PÓSINDUSTRIAIS

O presente artigo investiga a hipotese de que houve uma alteracao intergeracional nos valores fundamentais em determinados setores das populacoes de alguns paises da Europa Ocidental desde a II Guerra Mundial; tais valores mudaram da opcao por seguranca economica e ordem social (valores “aquisitivos”) para a expressao intelectual e artistica, bem como por mudancas sociais radicais (valores “pos-burgueses”). A hipotese foi testada por meio da aplicacao de um questionario em diversos grupos sociais. Embora os respondentes “pos-burgueses” sejam de modo geral jovens, o argumento desenvolvido aqui e que nao se trata de uma caracteristica de uma fase de vida mais aberta a mudancas e sem onus familiares e sociais: trata-se, sim, de uma alteracao profunda dos valores, em virtude da afluencia economica caracteristica dos paises da Europa Ocidental apos 1945. Essa mudanca de valores influencia tambem as atividades politicas e as preferencias politico-partidarias, permitindo em particular o surgimento e a afirmacao da “nova esquerda”.
Developmental Origin of Neural Stem Cells: The Glial Cell That Could

Since their identification, there has been tremendous interest in adult neural stem cells, in part based upon their potential therapeutic uses in understanding and treating neurological disorders. But what’s the origin of these cells in the embryo? We outline here the onset of neural specification in the vertebrate embryo and describe the molecular mechanisms regulating patterning of the central nervous system (CNS). We trace the lineage of the multipotential stem cell of the nervous system from embryonic neuroepithelial cell to adult astrocyte-like neural stem cell. As these stem cells emerge throughout development and in the adult, they appear to be predetermined to a specific neuronal or glial fate. Finally, we compare the properties of embryonic stem cell-derived neural stem cells and CNS-derived neural stem cells.
Discordant metabolic actions of insulin in extreme lipodystrophy of childhood

Congenital lipodystrophy includes a group of disorders characterized by total or partial absence of adipose tissue and insulin resistance. In this study we investigated the nature of insulin resistance in an 11-yr-old girl with one form of congenital lipodystrophy. We examined in vivo insulin and glycemic responses to feeding and iv glucose and in vitro amino acid and thymidine incorporation responses of skin fibroblasts to insulin exposure. In addition, we used stable isotope infusions of glucose, glycerol, and amino acids to investigate the in vivo metabolic actions of insulin on carbohydrate, fat, and protein. At 5 yr of age, she first demonstrated clinical glucose intolerance. Her basal insulin levels were normal (129 and 114 pmol/L), but increased markedly (peak values, 1304 and 5045 pmol/L) after iv glucose and a mixed meal. Insulin antibodies were undetectable, and specific [125I]insulin binding to her skin fibroblasts was normal. Both [3H]aminoisobutyric acid transport and [3H]thymidine incorporat...
How river network structure and habitat availability shape the spatial dynamics of larval sea lampreys

The spatial dynamics of many populations are highly contextual in that they depend on the structure of the environment at specific locations or scales. In this paper, we asked how the unique geomorphic structure of each river system might shape the spatial dynamics of larvae of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an anadromous fish species that is invasive and ecologically harmful in the Laurentian Great Lakes. We developed an individual-based model and conducted a series of simulations in which we varied geomorphic structure at two spatial scales (local habitat substrate composition and basin-wide river network shape). We observed three main results: (1) Larval distribution depended on both river network structure and the distribution of larval habitat, but the relative importance of these two factors depended on the basin-wide abundance of larval habitat. (2) Larvae in the model became spatially aggregated over time, and the degree and rate of this aggregation depended on river network structure and the amount and distribution of larval habitat. Larvae aggregated most quickly, and eventually into the smallest number of reaches, in elongated river networks with abundant larval habitat. (3) Total larval population size in a watershed varied with factors that control larval aggregation, i.e. river network structure and amount and distribution of larval habitat, but relationships were strongly nonlinear. In summary, we found that the population dynamics of anadromous lampreys in Great Lakes tributary rivers constitute an interesting and complex ecological system in which some perennial themes of landscape ecology emerge: connectivity, historical process, and the importance of spatial arrangement. Our results overall suggest that the spatial dynamics of larval lampreys might be highly varied from river system to river system across the Great Lakes basin. We discuss how the unique geomorphic structure of each river might inform adaptive management strategies at specific locations and scales.
Theoretical characterization of the "very rapid" Mo(V) species generated in the oxidation of xanthine oxidase.

Density functional theory calculations of the “very rapid” Mo(V) intermediate of xanthine oxidase (XO) result in a square pyramidal geometry with end-on coordination of the model substrate. The Mo−C8 distance is 3.18 A, longer than previously reported from ENDOR experiments (<2.4 A Howes; et al. Biochemistry 1996, 35, 1432; 2.7−2.9 A Mandikandan; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 2658). Theoretical gas-phase isotropic hyperfine coupling constants Aiso(C8) (B3LYP/BSII, 7.68 MHz; B3P86/BSII, 8.64 MHz) compare well with experimental values for the “very rapid” Mo(V) intermediate of XO with xanthine (8.8 MHz, Howes et al.) and 2-hydroxy-6-methylpurine (7.9 MHz, Mandikandan et al.). Absolute values of Aiso of the metal-bound substrate oxygen are similar in magnitude to that of experiment.
Small CPA firm product differentiation in the small business market

Abstract This study investigates the product differentiation factors that major referees use in referring CPA's to small business. Two methodological approaches are developed. The first is a systematic method of cue determination. The second examines the convergence of different judgments to test the external validity of single-system lens model results. The results show that the referees most value good working relationships and technical competence.
Molecular optical air data system (MOADS) prototype II

The Molecular Optical Air Data System (MOADS) is a compact instrument designed to measure aircraft airspeed as well as the density of the air surrounding the aircraft. Other air data products provided by the instrument include density altitude, angle of attack (AOA), angle of side-slip (AOS), and Mach number. MOADS is a direct-detection LIDAR that measures these air data products from fringe images derived from a Fabry-Perot etalon. Determination of airspeed and direction is achieved through three telescopes that view a fixed air volume ahead of the aircraft turbulent flow field. This method reduces the measurement error as compared to traditional measurements made from within this turbulent region. As a direct detection LIDAR instrument, MOADS is capable of collecting both molecular and aerosol LIDAR returns, which allows operation in clear air as well as in aerosol-filled atmospheric regions. A second prototype was designed, built and tested. This MOADS prototype has been validated in a laboratory wind tunnel. Presented here are the airflow velocity measurement results from ground testing and vibration test measurements.
Plant Pectin: A Potential Source for Cancer Suppression

Pectin is a branched polysaccharide present widely in a variety of fruits. It has been of high interes t to cancer biologists due to its involvement in metal/c arcinogen detoxification and its anti-carcinogenic properties. In particular, Citrus Pectin (CP) and M odified Citrus Pectin (MCP) have been shown to have a significant inhibitory role in cancer cell metastas is, invasion, angiogenesis and survival. The intera ctions and inactivation of oncogenes by CP and MCP in prostate, breast, liver, lung, melanoma and multiple myeloma cancers suggest that CP and MCP could play an important role in cancer chemotherapy and chemoprevention. In this review, we focus on the bi ological function of pectin with respect to its pro perties, sources, structure and its potential role in carcin ogen detoxification and cancer suppression.
Interplay of chemical disorder and electronic inhomogeneity in unconventional superconductors

Many of today's forefront materials, such as high-Tc superconductors, doped semiconductors, and colossal magnetoresistance materials, are structurally, chemically and/or electronically inhomogeneous at the nanoscale. Although inhomogeneity can degrade the utility of some materials, defects can also be advantageous. Quite generally, defects can serve as nanoscale probes and facilitate quasiparticle scattering used to extract otherwise inaccessible electronic properties. In superconductors, non-stoichiometric dopants are typically necessary to achieve a high transition temperature, while both structural and chemical defects are used to pin vortices and increase critical current. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has proven to be an ideal technique for studying these processes at the atomic scale. In this perspective, we present an overview of STM studies on chemical disorder in unconventional superconductors, and discuss how dopants, impurities and adatoms may be used to probe, pin or enhance the intrinsic electronic properties of these materials.
Iron metabolism in the erythrophagocytosing Kupffer cell.

Like the peritoneal macrophage, the isolated Kupffer cell is capable of processing and releasing iron acquired by phagocytosis of immunosensitized homologous red blood cells. When erythrophagocytosis is restrained to levels which do not affect cell viability, or less than 1.5 red cells/macrophage (phagocytic index of 150%), over 40% of iron acquired from red cells is released within 24 hr. More active erythrophagocytosis results in greater release of iron but progressive deterioration in cell viability. Iron release is temperature-dependent, the rate at 37° C being nearly 5-fold greater than at 4° C. Inclusion of either desferrioxaminine or apotransferrin in the culture medium augments iron release by 25 to 30%, with both agents together having an almost additive effect. Despite its effect on iron release, apotransferrin is not found in sonicates of Kupffer cells, while desferrioxamine appears to chelate iron within the cells. Ascorbate also enhances iron release, but at the expense of cell viability. Neither chloroquine nor colchicine at concentrations which do not affect cell viability influence iron release. The inflammatory state, characterized by hypoferremia due to impaired processing or release of iron by the reticuloendothelial system, may be modeled in vitro when serum from rats bearing turpentine-induced abscesses is included in the culture medium. Attempts to delineate the humoral agent responsible for this effect have not been successful, iron release being insensitive to the presence of interleukin-1, γ-interferon and tumor necrosis factor.
Transmit aperture processing for nonlinear contrast agent imaging

Nonlinear contrast agents, such as bubbles, are used in ultrasound to enhance backscatter from blood. To increase contrast between these agents and tissue, nonlinear imaging methods, such as harmonic imaging or difference frequency imaging, can be used. For these, power is transmitted at one frequency and received at a different frequency. Nonlinear imaging methods, however, suffer from reduced contrast because of signal transmitted by the array at the receive frequency that linearly reflects off tissue. In this paper, transmit aperture processing is proposed to improve contrast in nonlinear imaging by suppressing signal transmission at the desired receive frequency. A specific method, known as alternate phasing, is presented as an example of this approach. Simulation results show that alternate phasing greatly improves contrast between tissue and bubbles.
Crossing-aware channel routing for photonic waveguides

Silicon photonics technology is progressing at a rapid pace. Despite greatly expanded manufacturing capability, physical design of integrated optical circuits currently lacks the level of automation found in VLSI design. A key component of integrated optic design is waveguide routing; however, unlike VLSI, where signal nets are routed with metal layers and vias, photonic waveguides are fabricated in planar substrates. For many applications, our studies show that the waveguide routing problem can be formulated as planar channel routing. Signal losses become a major factor due to the insertion losses of planar waveguide crossings. Channel routing must therefore take into account these losses. This paper investigates methods for adapting traditional VLSI channel routing techniques for integrated optics - specifically, a technique based on left-edge-style track assignment. We show how incorporating waveguide crossing constraints into the underlying constraint model affects the routing solution, and describe the necessary modifications and extensions to the routing technique to properly exploit optical technology. We implement the channel router, describe the experimental results, and compare the cost of solutions with respect to waveguide crossings, corresponding to signal loss, and channel height.
The effect of higher rural interstate speed limits in alcohol-related accidents

This research analyzes the effect which recent speed limit increases on rural interstate highways have had upon accidents that are alcohol-related. Although there has been considerable work on the separate highway safety effects of higher speed limits and alcohol-related accidents, surprisingly little work has explicitly examined the relationship between them. Based upon extensive county wide data on alcohol-related accidents and several theoretically important determinants of these accidents for the state of Indiana and over the period 1981 through 1989, fixed effects models were estimated. For the state as a whole, the analysis finds that the increase in rural interstate speed limits increased alcohol-related accidents and the magnitude of the effect was statistically significant. In addition, the relaxed speed limit led to a significant redistribution of alcohol-related accidents away from higher speed environments and towards lower speed environments. With few exceptions, this was true for every type of alcohol-related highway accident examined.