cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rheology of polymer blends: Simultaneous slippage and entrance pressure loss in the ethylene‐propylene‐diene (EPDM)/viton system

Because the exact nature of the mechanism governing the marked viscosity reduction in the highly incompatible EPDM/“Viton” fluoroelastomer system is not fully understood, a study was undertaken to shed more light on the phenomenon. Interracial. Slippage in the blend has been suggested as the mechanism by which a substantial reduction in the melt viscosities of either component takes place upon addition of a small amount of the other, In the present investigation, a Mooney slip analysis demonstrated wall slippage in the EPDM/Viton system over the shear stress range of 40 kPa to 160 kPa. The capillary surface was examined for evidence of coating by the minor component of the blend (Viton), and 9-fold enrichment was found by elemental analysis. However, on no occasion was pure Viton found. In other experiments, the dynamic linear viscoelastic properties and the transient squeezing flow response of the blend were found to be no different from those of the neat elastomer. In addition, the slip velocity in a capillary (and consequently, the viscosity-lowering effect) was reduced by a factor of 2 to 3 in capillaries with a 90° included entrance angle. It is postulated that the reduction in the flow resistance for the blend is unique to the sharp-entry capillary geometry and results from removal of Viton from the melt in the recirculating flow at the entrance. This material then feeds along the capillary wall, disrupting the already tenuous adhesion of the elastomer to the metal surface.
Urea-hydrolysis in euthermic hibernators and non-hibernators during periods of food availability and deprivation

Abstract 1. 1. Badgers, marmots, white-tailed prairie dogs, black-tailed prairie dogs, Wyoming ground squirrels, thirteen-lined ground squirrels and laboratory rats were monitored for their urea hydrolyzing ability by gut bacterial urease during periods of food availability and food deprivation. 2. 2. There did not appear to be a correlation between an animal's ability to hibernate and to expire 14 CO 2 from hydrolyzed 14 C-urea injected intraperitoneally. 3. 3. In addition, fasting and water deprivation (characteristic of hibernation hypothermic bouts) resulted in a decrease in urea hydrolysis by all species except for the rat. It is speculated that urea hydrolysis may be more directly related to gut bacterial biomass or pH regulation during protein catabolism. 4. 4. The bladder appears to function as a post-renal site for urea uptake and nitrogen conservation.
Integration of Magneto-optical Cerium-doped YIG on Silicon Nitride Films for Nonreciprocal Photonic Devices

Structural, optical and magneto-optical characterization of Cerium-doped YIG (CexY3-xFe5O12), deposited by pulsed laser deposition on silicon nitride films is presented. Growth conditions for garnet crystallization are identified for nonreciprocal photonic functionality.
Effects of Desoxycorticosterone Acetate on 17-Ketosteroid and Pregnanediol Excretions1

In an earlier report, by members of our group, which considered the progesterone-like effect of desoxycorticosterone acetate administered intramuscularly to women, it was observed that no evidence existed that desoxycorticosterone acetate was metabolized into androgenic substances (1). More recently, additional data have been gathered which are relative to this point. Determinations for 17-ketosteroids were made on the urine of 2 patients with Addison's disease who were being treated with desoxycorticosterone acetate. The results of these led to further studies of the administration of this substance to normal individuals. The present communication deals with these studies. The individuals studied were divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1, patients with Addison's disease; group 2, women with intercurrent ovarian failure associated with the absence of uterine bleeding; group 3, normal individuals. Group 1 consisted of 2 patients, a woman aged 32 years and a man aged 39 years, who were hospitalized for...
Selection, Analysis and Preliminary Design of a Steam-Lubricated, Steam-Turbine, Shaft Seal

Steam turbine efficiency can be improved by large diameter, high speed stages, provided seal leakage and friction, and wheel windage losses can be contained. This paper describes analysis and design of a steam-lubricated seal applied to a single stage experimental turbine designed for improved efficiencies over conventional types. Proper performance of the seal is vital to overall turbine performance. The seal is subjected to surface speeds of approximately 75,000 fpm and up to 100 psi pressure differential. A sectored fluid film seal that uses hydrostatic steam secondary seals was found to be the best candidate configuration. The sectored seal is considered optimum for tracking capability, although there are limitations on the amount of collar nutation permitted. A description of the computerized steady-state and dynamic analyses are described in an appendix. Presented at the 25th ASLE Annual Meeting in Chicago, May 4–8, 1970
Mechanism for the formation of PNIPAM/PS core/shell particles

A multi-stage polymerization method was previously used to prepare PNIPAM/PS core/shell particles that exhibited uniform “raspberry-like” structures. In this current study, this polymerization process was carefully investigated in order to elucidate the PS (polystyrene) shell formation mechanism. The results indicated that the “raspberry” structure is due to heterocoagulation of polystyrene domains onto PNIPAM (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)) particle surfaces. Different sizes and numbers of the PS domains can be obtained by varying the styrene feed rate. It was also found that linear PNIPAM may increase the compatibility between PNIPAM and PS polymers. In addition, this heterocoagulation mechanism for forming structured particles was successfully applied to a PNIPAM and Ludox® colloidal silica nanoparticle system where a core/shell structure was also obtained. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40124.
Pharmacogenetics of multigenic disease: Heart disease as an example

We now have a greater understanding of the workings of the human genome as well as a wide assortment of pharmacological and mechanical therapies that clearly improve mortality and quality of life for our patients with cardiovascular disease, but these areas of therapeutics and genomics have essentially advanced independently with little interaction up until recently. Pharmacogenetics is the study of the effect of a medication as it relates to single or defined sets of genes. A major goal will be to integrate the two so that true personalized therapy can be delivered. This review explores the clinical implications of the complex interactions in multigenic disease and pharmacology with examples of atherosclerosis and heart failure. The therapies of today are the direct result of understanding the epidemiological, molecular and genetic basis of cardiovascular disease with the application to clinical practice. The complexity of multigenic disease and the promise of pharmacogenetics will require that we improve on the methods of drug evaluation and this includes the need for new statistical methods, bioinformatics, and novel clinical trial design with sufficient power to detect differences in therapy. There must be a continued effort to apply biological and mechanistic plausibility in understanding disease and pharmacology but openness to new ideas and concepts, especially in understanding the workings of the genome.
The effect of educational test scores on house prices in a model with spatial dependence

Abstract The hedonic modeling literature is rich with analyses of the importance of public school quality on real estate markets. In this paper, spatial dependency is incorporated in a hedonic model based on housing, neighborhood, demographic, and school quality attributes readily available on the Internet for home sales in Howard County, Maryland. The importance of using readily available measures is that perceptions in the public are formed by them. The study also addresses potential omitted variable bias by incorporating school assessment measures over the K-12 grade range. The consideration of spatial dependency in hedonic models is imperative since the findings are sensitive to appropriately modeling the spatial component of home prices. The results indicate that there is consistent and significant evidence of the capitalization of 8th grade test scores and SAT scores in home prices, and inconsistent evidence of the capitalization of 3rd grade test scores. The elasticities of house price with respect to test scores are all in the inelastic range and smaller than those found in other studies. This study provides clear guidance on how to test for spatial heterogeneity and non-normality of error terms before proceeding with hedonic analysis.
Do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders and prognostic models for intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

Objective—Statistical models predicting outcome after intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) include patients irrespective of do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) orders. We built a model to explore how the inclusion of patients with DNAR orders affects IPH prognostic models. Design—Retrospective, observational cohort study from May 2001 until September 2003 Setting—University-affiliated tertiary referral hospital in Seattle, Washington Patients—424 consecutive patients with spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage Measurements—We retrospectively abstracted information from medical records of IPH patients admitted to a single hospital. Using multivariate logistic regression of presenting clinical characteristics, but not DNAR status, we generated a prognostic score for favorable outcome (FO, defined as moderate disability or better at discharge). We compared observed probability of FO with that predicted, stratified by DNAR-status. We then generated a modified prognostic score using only non-DNAR patients. Main Results—Records of 424 patients were reviewed: 44% had FO, 43% had a DNAR-order and 38% died in hospital. Observed and predicted probability of FO agreed well with all patients taken together. Observed probability of FO was significantly higher than predicted in non-DNAR patients and significantly lower in DNAR patients. Results were similar when applying a previously published and validated prognostic score. Our modified prognostic score was no longer pessimistic in non-DNAR patients, but remained overly optimistic in DNAR patients. Conclusions—Although our prognostic model was well calibrated when assessing all IPH patients, predictions were significantly pessimistic in patients without, and optimistic in those with DNAR orders. Such pessimism may drive decisions to make patients DNAR in whom a FO may have been possible, thereby creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. To be most useful in clinical decision-making, IPH prognostic models should be calibrated to large IPH cohorts in whom DNAR orders were not used.
DFT calculations of comparative energetics and ENDOR/Mössbauer properties for two protonation states of the iron dimer cluster of ribonucleotide reductase intermediate X

Two models (I and II) for the active site structure of class-I ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) intermediate X in subunit R2 have been studied in this paper, using broken-symmetry density functional theory (DFT) incorporated with the conductor like screening (COSMO) solvation model and with the finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann self-consistent reaction field (PB-SCRF) calculations. Only one of the bridging groups between the two iron centers is different between model-I and model-II. Model-I contains two mu-oxo bridges, while model-II has one bridging oxo and one bridging hydroxo. These are large active site models including up to the fourth coordination shell H-bonding residues. Mossbauer and ENDOR hyperfine property calculations show that model-I is more likely to represent the active site structure of RNR-X. However, energetically our pK(a) calculations at first highly favored the bridging oxo and hydroxo (in model-II) structure of the diiron center rather than having the di-oxo bridge (in model-I). Since the Arg236 and the nearby Lys42, which are very close to the diiron center, are on the protein surface of RNR-R2, it is highly feasible that one or two anion groups in solution would interact with the positively charged side chains of Arg236 and Lys42. The anion group(s) can be a reductant, phosphate, sulfate, nitrate, and other negatively charged groups existing in biological environments or in the buffer of the experiment. Since sulfate ions certainly exist in the buffer of the ENDOR experiment, we have examined the effect of the sulfate (SO(4)(2-), surrounded by explicit water molecules) H-bonding to the side chain of Arg236. We find that when sulfate interacts with Arg236, the carboxylate group of Asp237 tends to be protonated, and once Asp237 is protonated, the Fe(iii)Fe(iv) center in X favors the di-oxo bridge (model-I). This would explain that the ENDOR observed RNR-X active site structure is likely to be represented by model-I rather than model-II.
Men, blue collar work and drinking: Alcohol use in an industrial subculture

We present the findings of research designed to identify the social and environmental precursors of heavy drinking in a population of white assembly-line workers. Using a primarily qualitative approach, we examine alcohol use in relation to the sociocultural characteristics of individuals' community and workplace environments and their early-life socialization experiences. The sample consists of 30 men--15 heavy drinkers and 15 moderate drinkers--who were drawn from the workforce of a large durable goods manufacturing plant that closed in 1982. Workers' accounts of their own and coworkers' drinking suggest that a heavy drinking subculture existed in the workplace. Within this culture, drinking was a normal part of work life, and served to improve social relationships, reduce boredom and dissatisfaction, and to express solidarity in defiance of management rules and working conditions. Membership in this subculture, we believe, was most important for those men who had no interests or social involvements outside the workplace. We compare the characteristics of workers who chose to join this subculture (the heavy drinkers), with those who did not (moderate drinkers). Factors that predicted involvement in the heavy drinking subculture were: a sociocultural background where heavy male drinking was normative, lack of extra-work social resources, and leisure activities restricted to coworkers and work-related contexts. Conversely, moderate drinkers tended to come from moderate drinking backgrounds, and had considerable community and social group involvements that included family and peer networks to the virtual exclusion of coworkers.
Evaluation of guidelines for safe exposure to continuous noise of moderate and high intensity.

In a 1974 report the Environmental Protection Agency made predictions, based upon extrapolations from the literature, as to what constitutes a 5 dB equal 90th percentile TTS2 curve, i.e., a "safe exposure" curve. However, because of a dearth of data for brief exposures to noise, they were uncertain as to the accuracy of some of their predictions. Therefore, in the present investigation, the TTS2 consequences of brief exposures to noise were systematically evaluated. Specifically, 40 subjects were tested at each of 10 appropriately spaced durations of exposure to noise. The 90th percentile TTS2 at 4000 Hz was determined for each duration of exposure and then a multiple regression equation was fitted to these values. From this equation, a 5 dB equal 90th percentile TTS2 curve was calculated, which represents our predictions as to the trade-offs between noise intensity and duration of exposure necessary to produce 90th percentile TTS2S of 5 dB. A comparison of our predictions to those of the EPA (in the area of uncertainty) suggests that the conservative EPA predictions may be too conservative while the EPA's modified and extended CHABA-criterion predictions (from Nat. Acad. Sci., Nat. Res. Council Committee on Hear., Bioacoustics, Biomechanics) may not be sufficiently conservative. Although our predictions reflect the trends which were actually observed in the present investigation, it would be unreasonable to assume that our predictions are more than "ball park" estimates of reality. They do suggest, though, that in reality a 5 dB equal 90th percentile TTS2 curve would probably be intermediate between the conservative EPA curve and EPA's modified and extended CHABA criterion curves.
A comparison between the mandibles of Romano-British and nineteenth century periods.

The mandibular and tooth dimensions were measured on a total of 210 specimens from Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon and nineteenth century times. The measurements were subsequently compared by means of univariate and multivariate techniques. The results indicated that the mandibular dimensions decreased more than tooth dimensions between Romano-British and nineteenth century periods, but did not discriminate whether such mandibular changes occurred primarily in the ramus or corpus of the mandible.
Scaling symmetry and thermodynamic equilibrium for classical electromagnetic radiation

At present classical physics contains two contradictory groups of derivations of the equilibrium spectrum of random classical electromagnetic radiation. One group of derivations finds Planck's spectrum based upon the use of classical electromagnetic zero-point radiation and fundamental ideas of thermodynamics. The other group of derivations finds the Rayleigh-Jeans spectrum from scattering equilibrium for non-linear mechanical systems in the limit of small charge coupling to radiation. Here we examine the scaling symmetries of classical thermal radiation. We find that, in general, classical mechanical systems do not share the scaling symmetries of thermal radiation. In particular, this is true for the mechanical scattering systems used in the derivations of the Rayleigh-Jeans law. Indeed, relativistic hydrogenlike systems with Coulomb potentials of fixed charge are the only mechanical potential systems which do share the scaling symmetries of thermal radiation. We propose that only these last mechanical systems are allowed in a classical electromagnetic description of nature.
Generalization of the random-walk process

A generalization of the random-walk process is given. To this end, two simple models for "memory functions" are proposed. They are a step-dependent memory (model I) and a site-step-dependent memory (model II). Recursion relations representing the processes are converted to generalized Fokker-Planck equations. Specifically, it is to be noted that the basic equation for model II is the same as the nonlinear equation describing turbulence, or solitons. Based on these model processes, modifications due to memory effects on traveling waves are studied. A method of determining the memory function for model II in concise form is shown.
Tracking radical migration in large hydrogen deficient peptides with covalent labels: facile movement does not equal indiscriminate fragmentation.

Photodissociation of iodo-tyrosine modified peptides yields localized radicals on the tyrosine side chain, which can be further dissociated by collisional activation. We have performed extensive experiments on model peptides, RGYALG, RGYG, and their derivatives, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying backbone fragmentation at tyrosine. Neither acetylation nor deuteration of the tyrosyl phenolic hydrogen significantly affects backbone fragmentation. However, deuterium migration from the tyrosyl β carbon is concomitant with cleavage at tyrosine. Substitution of tyrosine with 4-hydroxyphenylglycine, which does not have β hydrogens, results in almost complete elimination of backbone fragmentation at tyrosine. These results suggest that a radical situated on the β carbon is required for a-type fragmentation in hydrogen-deficient radical peptides. Replacement of the αH of the residue adjacent to tyrosine with methyl groups results in significant diminution of backbone fragmentation. The initial radical abstracts an αH from the adjacent amino acid, which is poised to “rebound” and abstract the βH of tyrosine through a six-membered transition-state. Subsequent β-scission leads to the observed a-type backbone fragment. These results from deuterated peptides clearly reveal that radical migration in peptides can occur and that multiple migrations are not infrequent. Counterintuitively, close examination of all experimental results reveals that the probability for fragmentation at a particular residue is well correlated with thermodynamic radical stability. A-type fragmentation therefore appears to be most likely when favorable thermodynamics are combined with the relevant kinetic control. These results are consistent with ab initio calculations, which demonstrate that barriers to migration are significantly smaller in magnitude than probable dissociation thresholds.
Endoscopic injection of glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen for the treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency in women

Abstract Objectives To determine the clinical efficacy, safety, and durability of endoscopically injected glutaraldehyde cross-linked (GAX) collagen for the treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) in women. Methods Forty-two women with a mean age of 64 years (range, 28 to 88) underwent injection of GAX collagen for ISD. Collagen was injected via a transurethral or periurethral approach. Treatment outcome was based on the change in stress leak point pressures (SLPP) and individual incontinence grades before and after collagen injection. Results With a mean follow-up of 46 months (range, 10 to 66), 83% were cured (n = 17), greatly improved (n = 5), or improved (n = 13), and 17% were unchanged (n = 3) or worse (n = 4). The median number of treatments was 2 (range, 1 to 8). The 22 women greatly improved or cured required a mean of 2.4 collagen injection treatments, whereas the 20 women who were improved, unchanged, or worse had a mean of 4.1 treatments ( P = 0.009). The mean amount of collagen injected per patient was 28.3 cc (range, 2.5 to 85). The group of women who were greatly improved or cured had a mean of 17.5 cc of collagen injected, whereas those who were improved, unchanged, or worse had a mean of 39.5 cc injected ( P = 0.002). Mean pretreatment SLPPs of women improved, greatly improved, or cured versus the women unchanged or worse were not significantly different ( P = 0.015). The 35 women who were improved or cured had a significant increase in mean SLPP of 65.4 cm H 2 O ( P = 0.001) compared to a mean change in SLPP of 14.7 cm H 2 O in those women who were unchanged or worse ( P = 0.038). Conclusions GAX collagen injection for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence secondary to ISD appears to be safe, effective, and durable; hence, it should be considered the treatment of choice in appropriately selected female patients.
Apparent mineralocorticoid excess

Apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME) is a potentially fatal genetic disorder causing severe juvenile hypertension, pre- and postnatal growth failure, hypokalemia and low to undetectable levels of renin and aldosterone. It is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the HSD11B2 gene, which result in a deficiency of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2). The 11β-HSD2 enzyme is responsible for the conversion of cortisol to the inactive metabolite cortisone and, therefore, protects the mineralocorticoid receptors from cortisol intoxication. In 1998, a mild form of this disease was reported, which might represent an important cause of low-renin hypertension. Early and vigilant treatment might prevent or improve the morbidity and mortality of end-organ damage.
Preoperative lower esophageal sphincter pressure has little influence on the outcome of laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia

It is believed that in untreated patients with achalasia, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is almost always hypertensive and a Heller myotomy resolves symptoms by decreasing the LES pressure. The incidence of a normal or hypotensive LES in untreated achalasia patients is unknown. The goals of this study were to determine the incidence of a normal or hypotensive LES in untreated achalasia patients and the outcome of laparoscopic Heller myotomy in achalasia patients with either normal or low LES pressure. Between January 1990 and May 2002, a diagnosis of achalasia was made in 239 patients. Among 109 patients (46%) who had not previously received any form of treatment, 53 patients underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication. Based on the preoperative LES pressure (normal, 14–24 mmHg) they were divided into three groups: group A—four patients (7.5%), LES pressure 24 mmHg. Among the 109 untreated patients, the LES was hypertensive in 49 patients (45%), normal in 29 patients (27%), and hypotensive in 31 patients (28%). The clinical outcome was good among the three groups of patients who underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy, with poor outcome in only approximately 10% in each group. These data show that in 55% of untreated. achalasia patients the LES pressure is either normal or low, and that laparoscopic Heller myotomy usually relieves symptoms regardless of preoperative LES pressure.
Photoionization of helium above the He+(n=2) threshold: Autoionization and final-state symmetry.

The partial cross section, the satellite branching ratio, and the angular-distribution asymmetry parameter for simultaneous photoionization and excitation to the n=2 states of the ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ ion have been measured in the 67.5--90-eV photon-energy range. In the nonresonance regions (67.5 eV\ensuremath{\le}h\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\le}69.5 eV and 75 eV \ensuremath{\le}h\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\le}90 eV), the asymmetry-parameter values have been used to infer the ratio of the 2p cross section to the 2s cross section. These results indicate that the ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$(n=2) satellite is predominantly 2p near threshold, in agreement with the experimental and most of the theoretical results reported to date. In the region below the ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$(n=3) threshold (69.5 eV\ensuremath{\le}h\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\le}73.0 eV), the effects of a series of autoionizing Rydberg levels on the n=2 cross section, branching ratio, and asymmetry parameter have been measured, this being the first detailed measurement of the angular distribution of a satellite over an autoionization resonance. In addition, qualitative information concerning the total cross section and the 1s partial cross section has been obtained for the first member of this series (3s3p), disagreeing with previous experimental and theoretical results for the total cross section, but in agreement with recent photoemission measurements of the 1s cross section. The present results suggest that the qualitative shapes of the total and 1s cross sections over the 3s3p resonance are similar to the profile of the n=2 cross section for this resonance. To illustrate quantitative methods for the interpretation of autoionization phenomena, the derivation from the resonance data of several parameters defining the autoionization process is described.
Land and atmospheric controls on initiation and intensity of moist convection: CAPE dynamics and LCL crossings

The local role that land-atmosphere interactions play in the rainfall process has been often explored by investigating the initiation of moist convection as the top of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) crosses the lifting condensation level (LCL). However, this LCL crossing alone is not a sufficient indicator of the probability and intensity of subsequent convective precipitation, which is instead better characterized by the added consideration of the so-called convective available potential energy (CAPE). In this study, both the LCL crossing and CAPE are jointly considered as the primary indicators of the occurrence and intensity of moist convection in order to analyze the land-atmosphere interactions through a simple soil-plant system and a zero-dimensional mixed-layer model. The approach is explored using the free atmospheric conditions observed at the Central Facility in the Southern Great Plains, where the ABL analysis shows both dry and wet soil can be conducive to early moist convection depending on atmospheric conditions but CAPE always tends to be larger under wetter soil conditions. The combination of the two indicators, LCL crossing and CAPE, further allows us to classify free atmosphere and soil moisture regimes into positive and negative feedback regimes for moist convection.
The motivational effects of task challenge: A laboratory investigation

Abstract The popular hypothesis concerning the effects of job challenge upon performance was investigated in a laboratory setting. The effect of experiencing initial (first assignment) and later (second assignment) task challenge upon subsequent performance and three hypothesized process variables—performance standards, task-related attitudes, and perceptions of skill competence—were examined. The experience of later challenge was found to affect all three process variables. An interaction of initial and later challenge was found upon subjects' performance on a separate, third assignment. Implications for the use of initial and later job challenge as organizational placement strategies and directions for future research are discussed.
CITED1 protein expression suggests Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in high throughput tissue microarray-based study.

Molecular markers of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are relatively unknown. Recently, the CITED1 gene was reported to be greatly upregulated in PTC relative to normal thyroid. The CITED1 protein...
Bacteria-excluding filters for oils.

Various unglazed porcelain and diatomaceous earth candles, sintered glass filters, and asbestos pad filters were studied under prolonged contact with corn oil to determine whether or not such filters were effective. Tests of their physical properties and, especially, of their ability to retain bacteria and spores before and after prolonged contact with the corn oil were performed. The results of these tests are presented.
Diastolic performance assessed by tissue Doppler after pediatric heart transplantation.

Abstract Background Diastolic performance, indexed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), has been reported to predict cellular rejection in adult heart recipients, but the predictive value of TDI after pediatric heart transplantation is unknown. Methods TDI-derived diastolic performance was studied in 37 pediatric (median age 2.54 years) heart recipients in the absence and presence of rejection. Maximum velocities in diastole of the left ventricular posterior wall thinning (diastvelLVPWmax) and medial mitral valve annulus (MVA) were determined in 160 echocardiograms from recipients who experienced either no rejection (Group 1, n = 22) or ≥1 rejection episode(s) (Group 2, n = 14) during the study interval (2 years). There was 1 death in the immediate post-transplant period not included in the analyses. Results The diastvelLVPWmax determined by TDI in Group 1 increased during the first 90 days post-transplant ( r = 0.31; p = 0.05), was heart-rate-dependent (r = 0.591; p p n = 9), diastvelLPWmax, determined by TDI, was lower in infant recipients ( n = 6; 106.5 ± 22 mm/s) than in older recipients ( n = 3; 135 ± 36 mm/s; p = 0.015). With rejection, diastvelLVPWmax, determined by M mode (147 ± 13 vs 104 ± 11 mm/s; p p Conclusions TDI-derived diastvelLVPWmax varied with age at transplant, heart rate and time post-transplant. A decrease in TDI-derived MVA E/A, but not diastvelLVPWmax, can be of additional predictive value in non-invasive surveillance for rejection in pediatric heart recipients.
A system based approach to construct a Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) specific pathway crosstalk network

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is one of the human cancer viruses associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, a dominant AIDS-related tumor of endothelial cells, and several B-cell malignancies. Although much advancements have been made in understanding the mechanism of KSHV, signaling pathways activated during early infection and their functions in virus entry are still unclear. From a system of systems point of view, a pathway can be viewed as a biosystem consisting of group of interacting molecules such as genes and proteins to carry out a specific biological function. We developed a method to determine clusters of functionally related pathway at different time conditions as well as identifying the significant subnetworks. This article is the first known to present a system based analysis to infer a biologically relevant functional network specific to KSHV. Such network may reveal discriminative subnetwork markers for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma.
Pathways to Parental Knowledge: The Role of Family Process and Family Structure

The purpose of the current study was (a) to examine the role of family process on child disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental knowledge and (b) to examine how patterns might differ as a function of family structure. Data for this study were taken from the Flourishing Families Project, which consists of 353 two- and 147 single-parent families with an adolescent child (X age of child = 11.35). Path analysis via structural equation modeling suggested that, for single- and two-parent families, family process was positively and directly related to child disclosure (two-parent only) and parental solicitation, and indirectly related to disclosure and solicitation via adolescents’ externalizing behaviors. In turn, externalizing behaviors, child disclosure, and parental solicitation were all directly related to parental knowledge. Despite mean differences in parenting variables as a function of family structure, findings highlight the importance of family process in promoting parents’ knowledge of their ...
Detecting malicious packet dropping using statistically regular traffic patterns in multihop wireless networks that are not bandwidth limited

Ad hoc networks are gaining presence with the proliferation of cheap wireless devices and the need to keep them connected. Individual applications and larger missions, such as those of tactical sensor networks, require secure data transmission among wireless devices. Security remains a major challenge for such networks. Current protocols employ encryption and authentication techniques for secure message exchange, but given the limitations and innately insecure nature of ad-hoc networks, such mechanisms may not suffice. A security breach can, for example, be a network-level denial-of-service (DoS) attack, passive eavesdropping, or physical layer jamming to degrade communication channels. In a multihop network, an intruder node can degrade communication quality by simply dropping packets that are meant to be relayed (forwarded). The network could then misinterpret the cause of packet loss as congestion instead of malicious activity. In this paper, we suggest that traffic transmission patterns be selected to facilitate verification by a receiver. Such traffic patterns are used in concert with suboptimal MAC that preserves the statistical regularity from hop to hop. This general technique for intrusion detection is therefore suitable for networks that are not bandwidth limited but have strict security requirements, e.g., certain kinds of tactical sensor networks.
Specific Estrogen Binding in Vivo in the R3230AC Mammary Adenocarcinoma of the Rat

The uptake and distribution of estradiol-17β-3H in vitro in the R3230AC rat mammary adenocarcinoma was investigated. This tumor concentrated smaller amounts of estradiol-17β-3H than the uterus or lactating mammary gland. Within 5 min the labeled steroid was bound specifically to a cytoplasmic component sedimenting at ∼8 S on linear sucrose gradients. With time, the radioactivity accumulated in the nuclear fraction extracted in high salt, which sedimented in a poorly defined peak (4 to 5 S) on gradients containing 0.4 m KCl. Addition of 3 m urea to the gradients produced a more clearly defined peak sedimenting at <4 S. By 60 min following a single injection of estradiol-17β-3H, approximately 75% of the specifically bound steroid was found in the nuclear extract. Administration in vivo of estradiol-17β-3H (1 injection of 0.2 µg or 4 injections of 0.1 µg/animal) was never sufficient to saturate the cytoplasmic estrogen binding sites as determined from assays in vitro on the cytosol prepared from tumors labeled in vivo . Qualitatively the interaction of estrogen with the cells of the R3230AC tumor parallels closely the events described for other estrogen target tissues. Differences in some other aspect of estrogen action must account for the lack of dependence of this tumor on estrogen for growth.
Adjuvant Effect of Silica (Tridymite) on Antibody Production.

SummaryCrystalline silica particles (1-3 μ in diameter) were injected intravenously into rabbits and rats. At various intervals from 0 to 90 days the animals were immunized with ovalbumin or horse serum. Antibody production was greatly enhanced in silicatreated animals. The antibody titer was higher when the interval between silica and antigen injection was longer. Many more antibody-containing cells were observed in silica-treated animals. It is suggested that the adjuvant effect of silica is related to the proliferation of immunologically competent cells in the R.E.S. This might play a role in the pathogenesis of silicosis.
Structure‐property relationships for a series of amorphous partially aliphatic polyimides

High molecular weight, soluble, amorphous, partially aliphatic polyimides were successfully synthesized using an ester acid high-temperature solution imidization route, which allows one to control desired glass-transition (T g ) and processing temperatures. This method involves the prereaction of aromatic dianhydrides with ethanol and a tertiary amine catalyst to form ester acids, followed by the addition of diamines. Subsequent thermal reaction forms fully cyclized polyimides. This reaction pathway eliminates the need for anhydrous solvents and overcomes the problem of salt formation commonly observed for nucleophilic, more-basic aliphatic amines when utilizing the traditional polyamic acid synthesis route. The molar ratio of aromatic-to-aliphatic diamines was varied to generate a series of copolyimides with the chosen dianhydride and tailor the physical properties for specific adhesive applications. This series of copolyimides was characterized by their molecular weight, T g , thermal stability, coefficient of thermal expansion, refractive index, and dielectric constant. Structure-property relationships were established. The γ and β sub-T g viscoelastic properties were researched to understand their molecular origins.
Neutron stars and the equation of state.

The static properties of neutron stars are probed using phenomenological equations of state. These properties include the maximum mass, radii, central densities, and binding energies. It is found that quite different equations of state can produce similar neutron stars. Likewise, it is also found that equations of state which are quite similar near saturation density can produce very different neutron stars, since it is the high density behavior which is most important. Symmetric matter results cannot be used to uniquely constrain neutron matter because of model dependence on the symmetry energy.
Skp2 and Skp2B team up against Rb and p53

The Skp2 locus encodes two proteins, Skp2 and Skp2B. The role of Skp2 in the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of key regulators of the retinoblastoma protein pathway has been well established. More recent work from the McCormick's group suggested that Skp2 has an ubiquitin-independent function in the regulation of the p53 pathway. Adding to this observation, we reported that Skp2B also regulates the activity of p53 by degrading a distinct substrate, prohibitin. Since prohibitin has been implicated in the regulation of the Rb pathway, collectively, these observations suggest that Skp2 and Skp2B team up against p53 and Rb.
Model neural prostheses with integrated microfluidics: a potential intervention strategy for controlling reactive cell and tissue responses

Model silicon intracortical probes with microfluidic channels were fabricated and tested to examine the feasibility of using diffusion-mediated delivery to deliver therapeutic agents into the volume of tissue exhibiting reactive responses to implanted devices. Three-dimensional probe structures with microfluidic channels were fabricated using surface micromachining and deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) techniques. In vitro functional tests of devices were performed using fluorescence microscopy to record the transient release of Texas Red labeled transferrin (TR-transferrin) and dextran (TR-dextran) from the microchannels into 1% w/v agarose gel. In vivo performance was characterized by inserting devices loaded with TR-transferrin into the premotor cortex of adult male rats. Brain sections were imaged using confocal microscopy. Diffusion of TR-transferrin into the extracellular space and uptake by cells up to 400 /spl mu/m from the implantation site was observed in brain slices taken 1 h postinsertion. The reactive tissue volume, as indicated by the presence of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), was characterized using immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. The reactive tissue volume extended 600, 800, and 400 /spl mu/m radially from the implantation site at 1 h, 24 h, and 6 weeks following insertion, respectively. These results indicate that diffusion-mediated delivery can be part of an effective intervention strategy for the treatment of reactive tissue responses around chronically implanted intracortical probes.
Polarization in Cells Containing Single-Ion Graft Copolymer Electrolytes

The single-ion conductor, BF 3 -incorporated poly[(oxyethylene)9 methacrylate-ron-lithium methacrylate]-graft-poly(dimethyl siloxane). P(OEM-r-LiMA)-g-PDMS, was used as an electrolyte in cells containing a lithium anode and a thin-film vanadium oxide cathode. Cycle testing revealed an unanticipated high polarization which resulted in a significant drop in capacity compared to that of cells constructed with conventional salt-doped electrolytes produced by the addition of a lithium salt to an uncharged electrolyte poly(oxyethylene)9 methacrylate-graft-polydimethyl siloxane. Impedance spectra obtained from a vanadium oxide symmetric cell fitted with a single-ion electrolyte showed a large resistance associated with the cathode/electrolyte interface. Further battery testing illustrated that the polarization remained even when lithium Inflate was added to the single-ion electrolyte. In contrast, cells consisting of a lithium anode, single-ion electrolyte, and an alloying cathode showed no rise in polarization over what is found in similar cells constructed with a salt-doped electrolyte. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that diffusion of lithium ions into the bulk vanadium oxide may be coulombically hindered by single-ion electrolytes.
Locus of Ownership and Family Involvement in Small Private Firms

The relationship between ownership and family involvement in small businesses is not altogether clear because empirical studies have not distinguished among family ownership, family management, and owner-management in composing their samples. In the present study, a large sample of small private firms is parsed into sub-samples with distinctly different types of owners in order to isolate the effects of locus of ownership. The results show that firms with different locus of ownership behave differently with respect to the extent of involvement by the CEO's relatives as employees, key managers, advisors, and board members. Although owner-managers and sole-proprietors would seem to have more authority than other CEOs to involve family members in the operations of the business, the findings indicate that these self-owned firms have significantly less family involvement than firms owned entirely by relatives of the CEO.
Measuring Community Participation of Adults with Psychiatric Disabilities: Reliability of Two Modes of Data Collection.

Purpose/objective The Americans with Disabilities Act set in motion a series of policies and actions to promote community integration and participation, including for those individuals with psychiatric disabilities. Measuring participation in this population is in its infancy. This study examines the test-retest reliability of two modes of administration of a measure that assesses participation in four social life domains and the extent to which participation is viewed as sufficient and important. Research method/design One hundred and 19 individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression were randomly assigned to either an interviewer- or self-administered method of completing the measure, and filled out the measure again in the same format within 48-72 hr. Results Correlations at the individual participation item and scale levels between the two time points were nearly all in the r = .6-.9 range. Agreement on the importance and sufficiency of their participation was also consistently high. The importance of participation in each area ranged from 36% to 95%, and among these individuals, between 18% and 71% indicated they were not participating as much as desired. Conclusions/implications Community participation of individuals with psychiatric disabilities can be reliably measured using 2 methods of administration as an outcome in rehabilitation research and evaluation studies with this population. These individuals are engaged to varying degrees in a wide-range of participation areas in the community that are important, but most not to the degree that they desire. More intervention efforts are needed to increase the sufficiency of community participation.
End-of-Life Care for Older Patients With Ovarian Cancer Is Intensive Despite High Rates of Hospice Use

Purpose To date, few studies have examined end-of-life care for patients with ovarian cancer. One study documented increased hospice use among older patients with ovarian cancer from 2000 to 2005. We sought to determine whether increased hospice use was associated with less-intensive end-of-life medical care. Patients and Methods We identified 6,956 individuals age ≥ 66 years living in SEER areas who were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer between 1997 and 2007, and died as a result of ovarian cancer by December 2007. We examined changes in medical care during patients' last month of life over time. Results Between 1997 and 2007, hospice use increased significantly, and terminal hospitalizations decreased (both P < .001). However, during this time, we also observed statistically significant increases in intensive care unit admissions, hospitalizations, repeated emergency department visits, and health care transitions (all P ≤ .01). In addition, the proportion of...
Rogue Access Point Based DoS Attacks against 802.11 WLANs

The growing popularity of the 802.11-based Wireless LAN (WLAN) also increases its risk of security attacks. This paper presents an analysis and solution to two Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: Deauthentication flooding (DeauthF) and disassociation flooding (DisassF) attacks. We conducted experiments to understand the impact of the attacks, and applied the Markov chain model to study the transition probabilities under attacks. We then follow the newly proposed 802.11 w standard and implement a solution to prevent the attacks. Our results show that 802.11 w is effective for low rate deauthentication and disassociation attacks but fails to protect against the flooding attacks because it takes significant resources to authenticate frames. We propose an integrated approach to applying traffic pattern filtering (TPF) over 802.11 w to resolve DeauthF and DisassF DoS attacks. The simulation results yields satisfactory performance for the integrated approach.