cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inside the interdisciplinary team experiences of hospice social workers.

Abstract Interdisciplinary teamwork is the foundation for the delivery of hospice care. This project interviewed 23 hospice social workers by telephone to explore their experiences with hospice team collaboration. Two research questions were explored: (1) What do social workers perceive as the strengths of interdisciplinary collaboration and (2) What are the challenges for social workers on interdisciplinary hospice teams? Participants identified issues related to team process, administrative processes, and barriers to effective team collaboration. Collaboration was said to be fostered by good communication, trust, roles, joint visitation, respect, team building activities, and administrative interest and support. Challenges to collaboration included large caseloads, a focus on the medical model, limited visits, personality and team conflict. Opportunities for improved collaboration between social workers and hospice team members exist through active evaluation of collaboration and strategic initiatives a...
A New Approach for Minimizing Power Losses and Improving Voltage Profile

This paper presents a new method for minimizing transmission line losses and improving voltage profile in a given system by adjusting control variables, i.e., tap position of transformers and reactive power injection of VAR sources. Transmission losses are considered as a function of voltage increments. The control variables and voltage increments are related by a modified Jacobian matrix. Linear Programming (LP) is used to calculate the voltage increments which minimize the transmission losses, and the adjustments of control variables are obtained by a modified Jacobian matrix. Since this method does not need any matrix inversion, it will save computational time and memory space.
The visual control of aimed hand movements to stationary and moving targets

Abstract The present study attempted to determine if during short-duration movements visual feedback can be processed in order to make adjustments to changes in the environment. The effect that varying the importance of monitoring target position has on the relative importance of vision of hand and vision of target (Carlton 1981a; Whiting and Cockerill 1974) was also examined. Subjects performed short-(150 ms) and longer-duration (330 ms) aimed hand movements under four visual feedback conditions (lights-on/lights-off by target-on/target-off) to stationary and moving targets. For the lights-off and target-off conditions, the lights and target, respectively, were extinguished 50 ms after movement initiation. For all moving-target conditions, the target started to move as the movement was initiated. Subjects were able to process visual information in 165 ms, as movement endpoints were biased in the direction of target motion for movements of this duration. Removing visual feedback 50 ms after movement initiation did not alter this finding. Subjects performed equally well with target and lights on or off, independent of whether the target remained stationary or moved. Presumably, during the first 50 ms of the movement subjects received sufficient visual information to aid in movement control.
Supplementary motor area seizures presenting as stumbling episodes

A healthy young boy presented with brief stumbling episodes of recent onset. Evaluation with prolonged EEG-video monitoring led to the diagnosis of supplementary motor area epilepsy. Focal seizures arising from the medial fronto-parietal cortex may present unusual diagnostic pitfalls in their clinical semeiology as well as their EEG characteristics.
Model for Contact Angles and Hysteresis on Rough and Ultraphobic Surfaces

Very rough surfaces can suspend small water drops, prevent wetting, and cause contact angles to approach 180°. A criterion based on contact line density is proposed for predicting the conditions that produce these ultrahydrophobic surfaces, where, above a critical value, drops are suspended by asperities. Critical values of the contact line density can be calculated from contact angles, asperity shape, and information about the contact liquid, such as density and surface tension. The criterion was found to correctly predict suspension for several model surfaces prepared by lithography techniques. Apparent contact angles from suspended and collapsed drops also were modeled by accounting for rough edges and employing a linear average of contact angle along the perimeter of the drop, rather than an area average of cosine. This linear model suggests that, for suspended drops, both advancing and receding angles should increase. Alternatively, for drops that have collapsed over surface asperities, advancing con...
Heart tissue contains small and large aggregates of ferritin subunits

Abstract Ferritin purified from horse heart and applied to nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis migrated as a single band that stained for both iron and protein. This ferritin contained almost equal amounts of fast- and slow-sedimenting components of 58 S and 3–7 S, which could be separated on sucrose density gradients. Iron removal reduced the sedimentation coefficient of the fast-sedimenting ferritin to 18 S, and sedimentation equilibrium gave a molecular weight 650,000, with some preparations containing ferritin of 500,000 molecular weight as well. Sedimentation rates of the 3 S and 7 S ferritins were not affected by iron removal, and sedimentation equilibrium data were consistent with Mr 40,000 and 180,000, respectively. Preparations of ferritin extracted from horse spleen contained only 67 S (holo) or 16 S (apo) ferritin and no slow-sedimenting species. When examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, all of the ferritins contained the usual H and L subunits (23 and 20 kDa, respectively), but the slow-sedimenting (3 S and 7 S) heart apoferritins also contained appreciable quantities (ca 25%) of three larger subunits of 42, 55, and 65 kDa. All the subunits reacted positively in Western blots to polyclonal antibodies made against specially purified large heart or spleen ferritins containing only 20- and 23-kDa subunits. Similar results were obtained for ferritins from rat heart. The results indicate that mammalian heart tissue is peculiar not just in having an abnormally large iron-rich ferritin but also in having iron-poor ferritins of much lower molecular weight, partly composed of larger subunits.
Automated approach to couple solubility with final pH and crystallinity for pharmaceutical discovery compounds

The design and validation of a novel high-throughput system for thermodynamic solubility determination requiring only 5 mg of sample is described. The system uses a sintered nickel filter assembly to recover excess solids from saturated solutions for rapid crystallinity assessment via powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Moreover, the system measures the pH of filtrates to provide a final pH value with the solubility measurement. The limit of detection for the UV-vis plate reader used on this system is approximately 0.001 mg/ml, while the practical upper limit is approximately 3 mg/mL. The solubility measurements of 60 proprietary Pfizer compounds were used to validate the nickel filter assembly against a more conventional polyvinylidenedifluoride (PVDF) filter. Additionally, a comparison was made between a subset of 10 compounds run on the automated system and a more traditional shake-flask method employing HPLC analysis. In both cases, a favorable comparison was obtained.
The Shielding Effectiveness of Composite Media - a Parametric Analysis Supporting an Engineering Perspective

This paper is presented as an example of a parametric approach that may be applied to engineering the radio and microwave properties of composite materials in the context of providing electromagnetic shielding capability. In this case, the composites are formed by a conductive filler component embedded within an insulating material. The effective electromagnetic (permittivity) properties of the composite are modeled under the quasistatic approximation using the McLachlan general effective medium model, which enables the impact of the percolation (insulator-conductor) transition to be explored. Composites within the transition region exhibit a power-law nature to their effective material properties. The power-law exponents may take a range of values above a limiting value set by the dimensionality of the filler particle network within the composite and with the assumption of a perfectly random distribution of filler particles. In practice, the values of the power-law exponents depend on the chemical interactions between the constituents, the processing conditions and the nature of the inter-particle charge transport. The paper demonstrates the implications of different values of power-law exponent in the context of the trade-off between shielding effectiveness and composite thickness.
Nutrition in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Objectives To review the prevalence of nutrition-related complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by patients with cancer, to discuss nutrition issues commonly raised by cancer survivors, and to describe how the oncology health care practitioner can best address these issues. Data Sources Journal articles, texts, and personal oncology nutrition clinical experience. Conclusion The interest in and use of special diets and nutrition-related CAM is prevalent in oncology patients. While some nutrition interventions may offer benefit, not all are without risk. Implications for Nursing Practice Every patient must be assessed for the use of special diets and nutrition-related CAM, any use must be documented, and the person counseled about the pros and cons of these approaches.
Demand Management and Exchange Rate Policy: The Italian Experience: A Comment on Tullio

THE MAIN INTEREST-besides the purely theoretical one-in discussing Tullio's paper1 lies in the fact that it contains implicit and explicit policy recipes for the Italian economy. Therefore, the theoretical and empirical perplexities that the model gives rise to are well worth discussing. Section I contains the discussion of theoretical aspects, while Section II discusses estimation results and simulations. Reference is made to equation numbers as they appear in Tullio's paper, and his symbology is used throughout.
On the Relationship between Nonstoichiometry and Passivity Breakdown in Ultrathin Oxides: Combined Depth-Dependent Spectroscopy, Mott−Schottky Analysis, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies

Understanding the relationship between nonstoichiometry and physical properties of ultrathin oxides is of great importance from both scientific and technological aspects. A specific example includes the onset of passivity breakdown in an ultrathin oxide film in aqueous medium leading to the onset of corrosion. In this work, using the model system of ultrathin oxide of alumina on aluminum synthesized by natural oxidation and photon-assisted oxidation processes, we demonstrate a direct correlation between passivity and quality of the oxide film quantitatively. Depth-dependent high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) have been performed to characterize the physical and chemical properties of the oxide films, while detailed impedance measurements and Mott−Schottky studies have been performed to understand electronic transport. Combined NRA and TEM analysis reveal an 18% increase in oxygen density (for oxide films with n...
The Unit Proof and the Input Proof in Theorem Proving

A resolution in which one of the two parent clauses is a unit clause is called a unit resolution, whereas a resolution in which one of the two parent clauses is an original input clause is called an input resolution. A unit (input) proof is a deduction of the empty clause s such that every resolution in the deduction is a unit (input) resolution. It is proved in the paper that a set S of clauses containing its unit factors has a unit proof if and only if S has an input proof. A LISP program implementing unit resolution is described and results of experiments are given.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy as a cause of progression of weakness in antibody positive myasthenia gravis

Many neuromuscular conditions cause bulbar and limb weakness, and when several conditions coexist they present additional diagnostic challenges. Here we describe a case of a 45-year-old woman with antibody positive myasthenia gravis since age 16, who then develops treatment-resistant weakness due to genetically proven oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. We conclude that the development of treatment-resistant weakness in myasthenia gravis should spur further work up for other neuromuscular disorders including oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.
AGE SPAN CHALLENGES: ADHERENCE IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY

Objectives To review published literature to determine what is known about adherence to oral antineoplastic agents in children with cancer, to identify adherence-related challenges, and to examine the implications of these challenges for clinical practice. Data Sources Published literature identified through the MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. Conclusion Oral antineoplastic agents are frequently used in childhood cancer treatment; supportive care regimens for children with cancer also rely heavily on the administration of oral medications. Adherence in pediatric oncology is a complex process involving both parent and child, and requires knowledge and understanding of proper and safe home medication administration in the context of multiple developmental and behavioral concerns that may change over time. Implications for Nursing Practice Nurses play an important role in adherence by providing patient and family education and psychosocial support targeted to the child’s diagnosis, developmental stage, and specifics of the child’s treatment regimen.
Elemental analysis in a phase-separated glass by stem X-ray microanalysis

Abstract A scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer is applied to make a high spatial resolution (∼100 A) composition analysis of a phase-separated glass with a composition 10 Na2O · 10 CaO · 80 SiO2 (mol.%). Droplets of 1000–1500 A in diameter are formed within a matrix region of the glass heat-treated at 850°C for 1 h. Characteristic X-ray spectra are obtained from each of the droplet and the matrix phases. CaKα-, CaKβ- and SiKα-peaks are found in the spectrum from the matrix phase, while only the SiKα-peak is observed in the spectrum from the droplet phase. From the intensities of CaKα- and SiKα-peaks, the concentration ratio of CaO to SiO2, CaO/SiO2, in the matrix phase, is found to be (11 ± 2)%, which is in good agreement with that obtained from the immiscibility boundary curve.
The effects of temporal waveform upon temporal darkness enhancement

Temporal darkness enhancement refers to the finding that decremental flashes of 50–140 msec appear darker than longer flash decrements. The present experiment determined the effects of temporal waveform upon darkness enhancement by obtaining darkness judgments for flashes that had abrupt onset/abrupt offset, abrupt onset/gradual offset, gradual onset/abrupt offset, and gradual onset/gradual offset. Temporal darkness enhancement was found only for flashes that had abrupt onsets regardless of offset waveform. These results are discussed in terms of the role of transients in the coding of perceived darkness.
Buck-passers' negative thesis

Buck-passers about value accept two theses about value, a negative thesis and a positive. The negative thesis is that the fact that something is valuable is not itself a reason to promote or appreciate it. The positive thesis is that the fact that something is valuable consists in the fact that there are other reasons to promote or appreciate it. Buck-passers suppose that the negative thesis follows from the positive one, and sometimes insist on it as if it is the central part of their view. But as I'll explain here, what we say about the negative thesis is orthogonal to what we say about the positive one.
Bayesian learning and convergence to Nash equilibria without common priors

Consider an infinitely repeated game where each player is characterized by a “type” which may be unknown to the other players in the game. Suppose further that each player's belief about others is independent of that player's type. Impose an absolute continuity condition on the ex ante beliefs of players (weaker than mutual absolute continuity). Then any limit point of beliefs of players about the future of the game conditional on the past lies in the set of Nash or Subjective equilibria.
Anticholinergics in Palliative Medicine: An Update

Anticholinergics, or antimuscarinic drugs, are drugs that competitively inhibit the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors, leading to a blockade of the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system at sites where overactivity can lead to increased symptom burden. Successful blockade of the parasympathetic nervous system ultimately leads to decreased production of secretions in the salivary, bronchial, and gastrointestinal tracts. These effects are often used for several symptoms that originate due to parasympathetic nervous system overactivity, such as the "death rattle" and malignant bowel obstruction. Anticholinergic agents are divided into either tertiary amines or quaternary ammonium compounds, which differ in their ability to cross into the central nervous system. Quaternary compounds do not cross into the central nervous system and have a different adverse effect profile than the tertiary amines. The purpose of this review is to highlight anticholinergic agents, their pharmacology, and an evidence-based assessment of their role in palliative care.
Hypoalbuminemia in hemodialyzed end stage renal disease patients: risk factors and relationships - a 2 year single center study

Malnutrition affects 1/3 of hemodialysis patients and associates with a higher risk of morbidity and mortality. Serum albumin is a marker of nutrition and inflammation, and predicts mortality, particularly when <3.8 g/dL. This study was performed to identify risk factors for hypoalbuminemia (<3.8 g/dL) and the particular temporal relationship and strength of association between protein intake (nPCR) and serum albumin when confounding variables are taken into account. Demographic, clinical, and dialysis-related data of 57 ESRD patients on hemodialysis over 24 months in 6 temporal segments were analyzed with serum albumin as a continuous, and categorical outcome (with 3.8 g/dl as cut-off) variable , against 13 potential independent variables [4 demographic factors, 3 nutrition-related, and 5 morbidity-related parameters, and % urea reduction ratio (URR)]. The temporal relationships between albumin and nPCR were analyzed for the concurrent & 3 subsequent months in each temporal segment. The impact of nPCR on serum albumin (p < 0.05) was significant but with no discernible temporal relationship. Advancing age, longer vintage, female gender, diabetes mellitus, nPCR, serum phosphate and ferritin had significant correlation with albumin <3.8 g/dl (p < 0.05). Serum phosphate levels correlated positively, and fever, bacteremia, hospital stay and weight loss negatively, with mean serum albumin but did not negate the effect of nPCR. Regression analysis showed that mean albumin associated with nPCR, fever, hospital stay, bacteremia, dialysis vintage, age, sex, and diabetes mellitus; and that an albumin level of <3.8 g/dl associated with age, female sex, diabetes, lower nPCR, and higher ferritin. Suggested target albumin levels were not met in elderly, female, and diabetic patients. The association of nPCR with albumin was not nullified by confounding demographic or morbidity-related factors. nPCR had no demonstrable temporal relationship with albumin.
Equality, responsibility, and justice as seen from a utilitarian perspective

A liberal democratic society must find a proper balance between respect for the basic equality of all human beings and respect for individual differences, including respect for individual excellence. Excessively equalitarian attitudes can be a major obstacle in accomplishing this. I first discuss the highly detrimental effects that such attitudes have had on American primary and secondary education. Then I discuss Rawls's suggestion to replace the traditional common-sense conception of justice, which he calls thesystem of liberal equality, with a much more equalitarian conception, which he calls thesystem of democratic equality. I argue that Rawls's conception of justice would be highly detrimental to society because it would needlessly discourage talented people from using their talents for the benefit of society.
A Structured Light Range Imaging System Using a Moving Correlation Code

We describe a system which produces a dense accu- rate range image using 8 consecutive frames of camera data in conjunction with a special projector. A proto- type has been built and tested, and yields a typical range error of about 0.2mm at 2 meters range with a baseline just over one meter. The camera is directed at a scene, along with a stripe projector consisting of a thin light source (xenon tube and slit) on the axis of a turntable, and a binary mask conforming to a cylinder coaxial with this. The mask has alternate opaque and transparent stripes parallel to the axis. It forms a sequence in which each sub- sequence of given length n (8 here) is different. No lens is used in the projector, deliberately smooth- ing the resulting illumination in a shadowing process. In operation, the turntable rotates, and images are taken at uniform angular intervals for several consecu- tive frames. In the consecutive frames, a given pixel records samples of the brightness of a fixed surface point. The vector consisting of those samples, when normalized, is unique to the place in the sequence from which it came, thus enabling the computation, via a fast indexing process, of the 3D position of the surface point. The code is similar to a DeBruijn sequence, but modified to reduce range error. Several types of calibra- tion and error compensation were used to produce an accurate range image.
Selective reactions of transition metals and their complexes

Abstract Mechanistic features of selective catalytic hydrogenation reactions of alkynes and of aromatic hydrocarbons are discussed. Catalysts considered include molecular mononuclear transition metal complexes, dinuclear complexes, clusters, and also metal surfaces. Particular attention is given to competitive reaction systems based on alkyne-alkene and on arene-alkene reaction mixtures.
Association of codon 108/158 catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism with the psychiatric manifestations of velo-cardio-facial syndrome

Velo-cardio-facial-syndrome (VCFS) is a common congenital disorder associated with typical facial appearance, cleft palate, cardiac defects, and learning disabilities. The majority of patients have an interstitial deletion on chromosome 22q11. In addition to physical abnormalities, a variety of psychiatric illnesses have been reported in patients with VCFS, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The psychiatric manifestations of VCFS could be due to haploin-sufficiency of a gene(s) within 22q11. One candidate that has been mapped to this region is catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). We recently identified a polymorphism in the COMT gene that leads to a valine-->methionine substitution at amino acid 158 of the membrane-bound form of the enzyme. Homozygosity for COMT158met leads to a 3-4-fold reduction in enzymatic activity, compared with homozygotes for COMT158val. We now report that in a population of patients with VCFS, there is an apparent association between the low-activity allele, COMT158met, and the development of bipolar spectrum disorder, and in particular, a rapid-cycling form.
FEMP's O & M Best Practices Guide: A Guide to Achieving Operational Efficiency

ABSTRACT The Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP's) Operations and Maintenance Best Practices Guide (O&M BPG) highlights O&M programs targeting energy efficiency, which are estimated to save 5 percent to 20 percent on energy bills without a significant capital investment. Depending on the federal site, these savings can represent thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, and many can be achieved with minimal cash outlays. In addition to energy/resource savings, a well-run O&M program will: • Increase the safety of all staff because properly maintained equipment is safer equipment. • Ensure the comfort, health, and safety of building occupants through properly functioning equipment, providing a healthy indoor environment. • Confirm the design life expectancy of equipment is achieved. • Facilitate compliance with federal legislation such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. The focus of this guide is to provide the federal O&M/energy manager and practitioner with information an...
Photoinduced Nonlinear Effects in Optical Glass Fibers

Photoinduced periodic structures in silica glass fibers doped with germanium and phosphorous will be discussed.
Occurrence and Properties of Enzymes Associated with Mevalonic Acid Synthesis in the Orange

SUMMARY —Active enzyme preparations were obtained from mature orange fruit in a quest for the various enzymes associated with terpenoid synthesis. These preparations were examined systematically for the presence of enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway to mevalonic acid. Orange fruit was shown to contain acetyl-CoA synthetase (EC.6.2.1.1) forming acetyl coenzyme A from acetate. It also contained the iodoacetamide-sensitive acetoacetyl-CoA thlolase (EC.2.3.1.9) the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of acetoacetyl coenzyme A. Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase (EC.4.1.3.5) and the corresponding reductase (EC.1.1.1.34), however, were not found in preparations from orange fruit. Nonetheless, acetoacetyl coenzyme A, formed by the thiolase, was further metabolized in the mature fruit via 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (EC.1.1.1.35), a constituent enzyme in lipid biosynthesis. These results suggest that mature orange fruit derives mevalonic acid or other necessary basic intermediates for terpenoid biosynthesis from other sources.
Masculinity, femininity, academic performance, and health: Further evidence concerning the androgyny controversy1

Spence and Helmreich's (1978) claim that individual differences in four components of achievement motivation (mastery, work, competitiveness, and personal unconcern) are attributable to masculinity and femininity rather than to gender was generally supported, with one exception: Masculinity was associated with competitiveness for males but not for females. Furthermore, competitive women were more likely than noncompetitive women to have mental and physical health problems, but there was no such difference for males. In general, masculinity emerged as a beneficial constellation of traits for both males and females, correlating negatively with achievement conflicts and stress symptoms, and positively with mastery and work. Femininity, on the other hand, appeared to be a detrimental cluster of traits for both sexes, at least in terms of academic performance and health. Implications for the controversial concept of androgyny were discussed, and it was suggested that, in the future, research inspired by an ideal conception of adult behavior confront the ideal directly rather than describe it in terms of the traditional concepts of masculinity and femininity. Any such research effort will have to deal with the pivotal role of competitiveness.
Color-octet quarkonium production at the Z pole.

The direct production rate of {ital J}/{psi} via the color-octet mechanism is calculated at the {ital Z} resonance. The color-octet production process {ital Z}{r_arrow}{ital J}/{psi}{bar {ital qq}} is shown to have a substantial branching ratio as well as a distinctive energy spectrum, which can be used as a powerful tool to distinguish from the color-singlet direct production of the {ital J}/{psi}. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING AND SURVEILLANCE: CLINICAL GUIDELINES AND RATIONALE-UPDATE BASED ON NEW EVIDENCE

We have updated guidelines for screening for colorectal cancer. The original guidelines were prepared by a panel convened by the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and published in 1997 under the sponsorship of a consortium of gastroenterology societies. Since then, much has changed, both in the research rature and in the clinical context. The present report summarizes new developments in this field and suggests how they should change practice. As with the previous version, these guidelines offer screening options and encourage the physician and patient to decide together which is the best approach for them. The guidelines also take into account not only the effectiveness of screening but also the risks, inconvenience, and cost of the various approaches. These guidelines differ from those published in 1997 in several ways: we recommend against rehydrating fecal occult blood tests; the screening interval for double contrast barium enema has been shortened to 5 years; colonoscopy is the preferred test for the diagnostic investigation of patients with findings on screening and for screening patients with a family history of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer; recommendations for people with a family history of colorectal cancer make greater use of risk stratification; and guidelines for genetic testing are included. Guidelines for surveillance are also included. Follow-up of postpolypectomy patients relies now on colonoscopy, and the first follow-up examination has been lengthened from 3 to 5 years for low-risk patients. If this were adopted nationally, surveillance resources could be shifted to screening and diagnosis. Promising new screening tests (virtual colonoscopy and tests for altered DNA in stool) are in development but are not yet ready for use outside of research studies. Despite a consensus among expert groups on the effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer, screening rates remain low. Improvement depends on changes in patients' attitudes, physicians' behaviors, insurance coverage, and the surveillance and reminder systems necessary to support screening programs.
Testing Two Theoretical Explanations for the Attraction-Enhancing Effects of Self-Disclosure.

The study investigated the differential ability of similarity theory and social exchange theory to predict the effects of self-disclosure in a counseling versus a friendship encounter The participants were 80 undergraduates. A 2 (counseling or friendship) × 2 (positive or negative disclosure) × 2 (relevant or irrelevant disclosure) design was used in which participants rated the videotaped self-disclosure of an individual in an initial dyadic encounter. Unequivocal support was not obtained for either of the theories, but relationship context (counselor vs. peer) influenced the effects of disclosure as measured on counselor-peer and relationship characteristics. A unique feature of the study was the use of the Client Reactions System (CRS) to measure participants' immediate reactions to self-disclosure. The CRS demonstrated both relationship context and valence of disclosure (positive or negative) effects.
The Urea Denaturation of α-Chymotrypsin THE EFFECT OF pH ON REVERSIBLE AND IRREVERSIBLE INACTIVATION

SUMMARY In 8.0 M urea, chymotrypsin activity is rapidly lost at any pH and leads to a mixture of reversibly and irreversibly inactivated molecules. Determination of the activity remaining after dilu- tion at approximately pH 3 showed that irreversible inactivation was instantaneous and maximal at an enzyme-urea incubation pH 7.5; above or below this pH, inactivation decreased and was zero below pH 5.5. The recovery of activity was dependent on the initial pH of exposure to urea. From the concentration dependence of this type of inactivation, the formation of inactive aggregates by intermolecular bonding was suggested to occur. Dilution of the enzyme-urea solution at a pH greater than 3 increased the inactivation. This additional inactivation, rela- tive to that obtained by dilution at approximately pH 3, was a constant fraction of the remaining enzyme activity. In this case, intramolecular bonding was postulated to interfere with renaturation. Inactivation by either mechanism showed an approximate bell-shaped dependence on pH with a maximum near 7.5. This suggests that charge neutralization reactions or hydrogen bond- ing, or both, may be involved in both types of irreversible in- activation mechanisms. By either kinetic analysis, variation the test substrate, or active site assay, chymotrypsin exposed to 8.0
The Impact of Surgical Volume on Racial Disparity in Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between surgeon volume and patient outcomes among different race ethnicities undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery. The nationwide inpatient sample was used to identify all thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy admissions from 2003 to 2009, using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure codes. Race, demographic, and clinical characteristics of patients were collected, along with surgeon volume, to predict the length of stay (LOS), complication rates, mortality, and total charges by racial group, using univariate and multivariate analyses. A total of 106,314 thyroid and parathyroid surgeries were included in the current analysis. Of these patients, 54 % were Caucasian, 11 % African American, 7 % Hispanic, and 3 % Asian. Mean LOS was longer for African American patients (4 ± 8.7 days) than for Caucasians (2.3 ± 5.5 days) [p 100 cases) volume surgeons compared with Caucasians—45 versus 49 %, and 16 versus 19 %, respectively (p < 0.001). Higher surgeon volume was associated with improved outcomes (p < 0.001). Racial disparity in all investigated outcomes was still significantly evident even after stratification by surgeon volume. Higher surgeon volume is associated with improved patient outcomes. However, our data suggests that the observed racial disparities in thyroid and parathyroid surgery go beyond access to quality healthcare providers.
Glenohumeral joint rotation range of motion in competitive swimmers

Much research has examined shoulder range of motion adaptations in overhead-unilateral athletes. Based on the void examining overhead-bilateral athletes, especially competitive swimmers, we examined shoulder external rotation, isolated internal rotation, composite internal rotation, and total arc of motion range of motion of competitive swimmers. The range of motion of registered competitive swimmers (n = 144, age = 12-61 years) was compared by limb (dominant, non-dominant), sex, and age group (youth, high school, college, masters). Significantly (P < 0.05) greater dominant external rotation was observed for both men and women high school and college swimmers, youth women swimmers, and men masters swimmers compared with the non-dominant limb. The isolated internal rotation (glenohumeral rotation), composite internal rotation (glenohumeral rotation plus scapulothoracic protraction), and total arc of motion (external rotation plus composite internal rotation) of the non-dominant limb was significantly greater than that of the dominant limb by sex and age group. Youth and high school swimmers demonstrated significantly greater composite internal rotation than college and masters swimmers. Youth swimmers displayed significantly greater total arc of motion than all other age groups. These data will aid in the interpretation of shoulder range of motion values in competitive swimmers during preseason screenings, injury evaluations and post-rehabilitation programmes, with the results suggesting that differences exist in bilateral external rotation, isolated internal rotation, composite internal rotation, and total arc of motion range of motion.
Longitudinal Analysis of Dietary Patterns in Chinese Adults from 1991 to 2009

In the present study, we aimed to identify the changes or stability in the structure of dietary patterns and tracking, trends and factors related to the adherence to these dietary patterns in China from 1991 to 2009. We analysed dietary data collected during seven waves of the China Health and Nutrition Survey and included 9253 adults with complete dietary data for three or more waves. Dietary intake assessment was carried out over a 3 d period with 24 h recalls and a household food inventory. Using factor analysis in each wave, we found that the structure of the two dietary patterns identified remained stable over the studied period. The traditional southern dietary pattern was characterised by high intakes of rice, fresh leafy vegetables, low-fat red meat, pork, organ meats, poultry and fish/seafood and low intakes of wheat flour and maize/coarse grains and the modern high-wheat dietary pattern was characterised by high intakes of wheat buns/breads, cakes/cookies/pastries, deep-fried wheat, nuts/seeds, starchy root/tuber products, fruits, eggs/egg products, soya milk, animal-based milk and instant noodles/frozen dumplings. Temporal tracking (maintenance of a relative position over time) was higher for the traditional southern dietary pattern, whereas adherence to the modern high-wheat dietary pattern had an upward trend over time. Higher income, education and urbanicity levels were positively associated with both the dietary patterns, but the association became weaker in the later years. These results suggest that even in the context of rapid economic changes in China, the way people chose to combine their foods remained relatively stable. However, the increasing popularity of the modern high-wheat dietary pattern, a pattern associated with several energy-dense foods, is a cause of concern.
DECISION MAKING IN SOFTWARE PROJECTS: A CONTROL THEORY PERSPECTIVE

Software projects are difficult to control given their complexity, intangibility and dynamic nature. Control theory has been applied in several domains in management. Control theory can provide a useful framework for understanding the learning and adaptive processes involved in managing software projects. Software project management can be understood as a goal driven activity with a hierarchy of goal structure. This research draws upon control theory to propose a hierarchy of control in software project management. Specifically, within this hierarchy of control, the level of project decision making is elaborated and propositions on managerial attention allocation, the role of mental models, feedback and decision strategies are put forth. Further research should test these propositions empirically.
Functional modification of biodegradable polyesters through a chemoselective approach: application to biomaterial surfaces

This paper presents an overview of functional modifications of synthetic aliphatic polyesters and a new synthetic route to graft functional moieties onto the polyester backbone by a chemoselective approach. Aminooxy groups react efficiently and selectively with ketones or aldehydes to form oxime linkages under mild reaction conditions without catalysts, even in the presence of other functional groups. Chemoselective coupling of aminooxy-terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) onto ketone-bearing poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) was exploited to prepare comb-shaped copolymers that exhibit cell resistance when the PEO content is above 30 wt%. The free hydroxyl groups of PEO chain ends allowed further incorporation of cell signaling peptides including the sequence RGD. The results show chemoselective coupling to be a promising general route for introducing functional pendant groups onto most polyesters obtained by ring-opening polymerization without backbone degradation. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry
The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes: An Overview

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the major public health threats in the United States today, reaching epidemic rates. Epidemiological evidence suggests a strong link between obesity and the risk of developing diabetes. Increasing evidence demonstrates that lifestyle interventions can significantly delay or possibly prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in persons with increased risk. Despite these findings, there remain important barriers to the translation of this research to the public health. These include identifying persons with an increased risk for developing the disease and the lack of easily accessible, cost-effective intervention programs. At least one study, however, has effectively implemented an evidenced-based intervention in community settings, suggesting that it may be possible to develop a model for the national scalability of primary prevention in the United States.
On answering the question Where do I start in order to solve a new problem involving interval type-2 fuzzy sets?

This paper, which is tutorial in nature, demonstrates how the Embedded Sets Representation Theorem (RT) for a general type-2 fuzzy set (T2 FS), when specialized to an interval (I)T2 FS, can be used as the starting point to solve many diverse problems that involve IT2 FSs. The problems considered are: set theoretic operations, centroid, uncertainty measures, similarity, inference engine computations for Mamdani IT2 fuzzy logic systems, linguistic weighted average, person membership function approach to type-2 fuzzistics, and Interval Approach to type-2 fuzzistics. Each solution obtained from the RT is a structural solution but is not a practical computational solution, however, the latter are always found from the former. It is this author's recommendation that one should use the RT as a starting point whenever solving a new problem involving IT2 FSs because it has had such great success in solving so many such problems in the past, and it answers the question ''Where do I start in order to solve a new problem involving IT2 FSs?''
Use of ultrasonography to characterize ovarian status in chicken

Much research has been conducted to investigate the effects of environmental and nutritional treatments on ovarian development in poultry. However, to investigate the ovary, the hen must be killed, and thus, lifelong egg production can only be inferred. To date, the ability to noninvasively determine ovarian status has not been available. Improvements in ultrasound technology now make it possible to observe ovarian condition in vivo, thereby allowing for repeated sampling of the same bird over an entire egg production cycle. In the current study, large yellow follicles (LYF; diameter greater than 10 mm) were characterized in broiler breeder hens using Aloka ultrasound diagnostic equipment. Ultrasound images were used to determine the number and diameter of the LYF as well as the presence of an egg in the oviduct. Immediately following ultrasonography, hens were killed and dissected to determine the number and diameter of LYF. From the ultrasound images, the number of LYF +/- 1 was predicted with 96.3% accuracy in Experiment 1 and 93.3% accuracy in Experiment 2. Diameter measurements were used to classify follicles hierarchically. Of the birds determined via dissection to have multiple hierarchies, 77.8% were identified with ultrasound. All regressing or regressed ovaries were correctly identified with ultrasound.
Reaction of η5-cyclopentadienylbis(triphenylphosphine)cobalt(I) with alkadiynes. Preparation and reactions of bicyclic cobalt metallocycles and a stable trimethylsilyl-substituted mono-complexed alkadiyne. Comments on the mechanism of cobalt-catalyzed alkyne cooligomerization

Abstract Reactions of η5-cyclopentadienylbis(triphenylphosphine)cobalt(I) (5) with several 2,n-alkadiynes (2) were investigated. Each of these reactions leads initially to a material in which one of the acetylene functional groups is π-coordinated to cobalt; this complex then undergoes conversion to a metallocycle. In cases where the two acetylene functions are connected by three- and four-carbon bridges (2b, 2c), metallocycles formed by intramolecular reaction of two acetylene functions in the same molecule may be isolated. In cases where the acetylene functions are joined by larger or smaller bridges, the reactions are more complex, and both inter- and intramolecular metallocycles are formed. Reactions of 5 with 1,8-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,7-octadiyne (16) gives an isolable crystalline mono-acetylene complex (17), this material is stable in the solid state but undergoes conversion to metallocycle (18) in benzene solution. The relationship of these results to the mechanism of the CpCo(CO)2-catalyzed benzocycloalkene synthesis is discussed; it is suggested that intramolecular metallocycles are intermediates in reactions leading to benzocyclopentanes and -cyclohexenes, but intermolecular metallocycles are probably involved in reactions leading to benzocyclobutenes.
Nonuniversal GUT corrections to the soft terms and their implications in supergravity models

Potentially large nonuniversal corrections to the soft supersymmetry-breaking parameters arise from their evolution between the Planck and the grand-unification scales. We detail typical patterns of nonuniversality in GUT models, as well as elaborate on their propagation to the weak scale and on their low-energy implications. Possible corrections to the different scalar quark and lepton masses and the Higgs and the gaugino-Higgsino sector parameters are described in detail, and new allowed regions of the parameter space are pointed out. In particular, the patterns studied often lead to heavier Higgsinos and t scalars. One-loop GUT threshold corrections to the soft parameters are also discussed and shown to be important.
Summer melt regulates winter glacier flow speeds throughout Alaska

[1] Predicting how climate change will affect glacier and ice sheet flow speeds remains a large hurdle toward accurate sea level rise forecasting. Increases in surface melt rates are known to accelerate glacier flow in summer, whereas in winter, flow speeds are believed to be relatively invariant. Here we show that wintertime flow speeds on nearly all major glaciers throughout Alaska are not only variable but are inversely related to melt from preceding summers. For each additional meter of summertime melt, we observe an 11% decrease in wintertime velocity on glaciers of all sizes, geometries, climates, and bed types. This dynamic occurs because interannual differences in summertime melt affect how much water is retained in the subglacial system during winter. The ubiquity of the dynamic indicates it occurs globally on glaciers and ice sheets not frozen to their beds and thus constitutes a new mechanism affecting sea level rise projections.