cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Change in the Ankle Brachial Index with Exercise.

Objective A 20% or greater decrease in the ankle brachial index (ABI) with exercise is suggestive of peripheral artery disease (PAD), and could identify patients with an increased mortality risk. The predictors of a change in the ABI with exercise have received little attention. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis. Two hundred and sixty five participants of the San Diego Population Study with a resting ABI between 0.90 and 1.10 performed 50 heel raises and immediately had their ABIs measured again. The relationship between the change in the ABI with exercise and multiple potential risk prediction variables were examined using linear regression. In addition, the categorical percent change in the ABI with exercise was analysed by multinomial logistic regression. Results The mean age of participants was 71.8 years, and 80.4% were female. At rest, the average ABI was 1.04 (SD 0.04) before and 0.94 (SD 0.13) after exercise; a mean decrease of 9.5%. In analyses of ABI change as a continuous variable, higher age, any smoking history, and a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were associated with a significant decrease in the ABI with exercise (p = .01, .04, and .03, respectively). Categorical analyses of the risk factors associated with a 20% or greater ABI decrease with exercise confirmed these results. Congestive heart failure was associated with an increased ABI with exercise (p = .04) in continuous ABI change analyses only. Conclusions Older age, a positive history of smoking, and a history of COPD were independently and significantly associated with a greater ABI decrease with exercise. These risk variables may help identify persons with subclinical PAD.
Preliminary esophageal microbiome studies prompt important scientific questions.

Analysis of the esophageal microbiome remains a new field of research. Two hypothesis-generating papers published in the current issue of the Journal go beyond characterizing the esophageal microbiome in Barrett’s esophagus or eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Snider et al. suggest that the salivary microbiome can be used as a screening tool for Barrett’s esophagus, and Arias et al. demonstrates abnormal expression of Toll-like receptors and innate immune effector proteins in patients with active EoE. We discuss these findings, raise fundamental questions about microbiome studies, and offer ideas for future studies.
Inherited Trust of Information: A Preliminary Scale Development

In today's environment of commoditization of services, accountants must create value in their tangible product - information. This research is the first step in developing a measure of inherited trust of information, a multidimensional construct comprised of belief, confidence, and risk. A better understanding of how users trust information provides a tool by which accountants may evaluate users' perceptions, identify opportunities to enhance relationships, and create a psychological justification for their additional efforts, increases in scope, and related fees.
Reduction of bisulfite by the trithionate pathway by cell extracts from Desulfotomaculumnigrificans

Bisulfite was reduced to sulfide by cell extracts of Desulfotomaculum nigrificans. When trithionate was added to reaction mixtures reducing bisulfite, sulfide formation was inhibited with accumulation of thiosulfate. The thiosulfate reductase activity of cell extracts was found to be inhibited by trithionate. Trithionate alone was reduced to thiosulfate and purified bisulfite reductase (P582) was not affected by trithionate. It is concluded that the pathway for bisulfite reduction in Dt. nigrificans includes trithionate and thiosulfate as intermediate compounds.
Remembering and Telling: A Developmental Story

AbstractThe relation of narrative to the onset of autobiographical memory in early childhood is considered from the perspective of three sources of narrativity: (a) event knowledge, (b) parental talk about past and future events, and (c) knowl-edge of story schemata. Evidence from work on children's scripts and episodic memory indicates that both general and specific event knowledge is well estab-lished by 3 years of age. Evidence from the monologues of a 2 year old (Emily) indicated that parental talk about past and future events was available as a model for the child to use to formulate her own memories and anticipations in verbal form, and that she did indeed produce coherent accounts of past happenings and future activities based on, but going beyond, these models. By 3 years, however, Emily—and most children observed—could tell a good story about her own life's events, but did not recount a fictional story that had been read to her in the same coherent narrative mode. Both good memories and good stories seem to be based on representations of events influenced by parental models of narrative-type talk. (Psychology)
An Interprofessional Standardized Patient Case for Improving Collaboration, Shared Accountability, and Respect in Team-Based Family Discussions

Introduction The science of patient safety demonstrates that good communication is essential for effective interprofessional collaboration. Methods We created a low-stakes, formative assessment wit...
Transpulmonary Gradient as a Predictor of Outcomes after Heart Transplantation

Purpose Transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) – the difference between mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure – is increased in left-heart conditions associated pulmonary venous congestion. This is a risk factor for right heart failure after heart transplantation (HT). We assessed the clinical significance of TPG by assessing its role in predicting hospital length of stay (LOS) and survival after HT. Methods We queried the UNOS database from 1987 to 2017, and included adults with complete TPG data who underwent HT. Re-transplant patients were excluded. Eligible patients were divided into low ( 15) TPG. We compared demographics, mean hospital LOS, and extended LOS (LOS >14 days) with Wilcoxon and Chi-square-test. Survival time, as well as 5-year and 10-year survival was evaluated with Kaplan-Meir and compared between groups with Log-rank tests. Results Our sample consisted of 38,243 patients. Low and high TPG groups varied with respect to certain demographics. Median survival was higher in the low TPG group (145 vs 133 months in high TPG group, p Conclusion High TPG was associated with a lower survival and a longer hospital LOS after HT. Future work should expand on these findings and explore factors such as whether survival and LOS differences relate to post-transplant right ventricular failure, which requires prolonged inotropic support and can also affect overall survival.
Comprehensive left ventricular myocardial deformation assessment in children with Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVE Children with Kawasaki disease (KD) with persistent coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) can develop chronic vasculopathy and subsequent myocardial ischemia. Early detection of this process is challenging. Myocardial deformation analysis can detect early alterations in myocardial performance. We aim to determine whether there are differences in myocardial deformation between KD patients with and without CAAs. DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study of 123 echocardiograms performed on 103 children with KD. Myocardial deformation was measured with two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE). The echocardiograms were divided into groups according to the KD phase in which they were performed: acute, subacute, and convalescent/chronic. The convalescent/chronic phase group was then divided based on the presence or absence of CAAs. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), global longitudinal strain rate (GLSSR), global circumferential strain (GCS), global circumferential systolic strain rate (GCSSR), peak torsion, and torsion rate were measured. RESULTS The numbers of echocardiograms analyzed in each of the KD phase groups were: 31 acute, 25 subacute, and 67 convalescent/chronic. Myocardial deformation was within normal limits in all groups. However, GLSSR, GCSSR, peak torsion, and torsion rate were lower in the convalescent/chronic phase group than in the acute phase group (mean, -1.37 ± 0.24 vs -1.55 ± 0.21 1/s; -1.63 ± 0.27 vs -1.84 ± 0.35 1/s; 2.49 ± 1.13 vs 3.41 ± 2.60 °/cm, and 21.97 ± 8.36 vs 26.69 ± 10.86 °/cm/s; P < .05 for all). The convalescent/chronic phase subgroup with CAAs had lower GLSSR and GCSSR than the subgroup without CAAs (mean, -1.23 ± 0.22 vs -1.42 ± 0.22 1/s; -1.46 ± 0.25 vs -1.68 ± 0.26 1/s, P < .05 for both). CONCLUSIONS Children in the convalescent/chronic phase of KD have a subtle decrease in strain rate when compared to the acute phase, although within the normal range. This decrease is more pronounced in children with CAAs than those without CAAs. Longitudinal studies are needed to discern whether low-normal strain rate predicts decreased myocardial function in the long term.
FLOOD-PLAIN DELINEATION USING MULTISPECTRAL DATA ANALYSIS

The paper explores the application of a remote sensing technique that may permit the determination of flood-plain areas without the extensive work associated with existing techniques. Multispectral scanner data were simulated by utilizing the density differences in a color-infrared transparency for a section of the Navasota River, Texas. The transparency was taken from a low-flying aircraft and covered an area approximating a square mile. The simulated data were processed by an automatic classification technique previously developed in the remote sensing field. The technique used involves the application of the maximum likelihood rule in order to categorize the data being processed. An attempt was made to distinguish between areas known to be in the flood plain and those outside. A reasonabke correlation was found between boundaries based on computer-processed multispectral data and those produced by techniques currently in use.
Initial Postoperative Hemoglobin Values and Clinical Outcomes in Transfused Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND Intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is common, yet transfusion strategies remain controversial as pretransfusion hemoglobin triggers are difficult to utilize during acute bleeding. Alternatively, postoperative hemoglobin values may provide useful information regarding transfusion practices, though optimal targets remain undefined. METHODS This is a single-center observational cohort study of adults receiving allogeneic RBCs during noncardiac surgery from 2010 through 2014. Multivariable regression analyses adjusting for patient illness, laboratory derangements, and surgical features were used to assess relationships between initial postoperative hemoglobin values and a primary outcome of hospital-free days. RESULTS A total of 8060 patients were included. Those with initial postoperative hemoglobin <7.5 or ≥11.5 g/dL had decreased hospital-free days [mean (95% confidence interval [CI]), -1.45 (-2.50 to -0.41) and -0.83 (-1.42 to -0.24), respectively] compared to a reference range of 9.5-10.4 g/dL (overall P value .003). For those with hemoglobin <7.5 g/dL, the odds (95% CI) for secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury (AKI) 1.43 (1.03-1.99), mortality 2.10 (1.18-3.74), and cerebral ischemia 3.12 (1.08-9.01). The odds for postoperative mechanical ventilation with hemoglobin ≥11.5 g/dL were 1.33 (1.07-1.65). Secondary outcome associations were not significant after multiple comparisons adjustment (Bonferroni P < .0056). CONCLUSIONS In transfused patients, postoperative hemoglobin values between 7.5 and 11.5 g/dL were associated with superior outcomes compared to more extreme values. This range may represent a target for intraoperative transfusions, particularly during active bleeding when pretransfusion hemoglobin thresholds may be impractical or inaccurate. Given similar outcomes within this range, targeting hemoglobin at the lower aspect may be preferable, though prospective validation is warranted.
First as Tragedy, Then as Farce: WEB Du Bois, Left-Wing Radicalism, and the Problem of Interracial Labor Unionism:

This article identifies and systemically analyzes a “core assumption” of WEB Du Bois’s social and political thought: the assumption that class-based, interracial cooperation among white and Black w...
Escaping Saddle Points for Zeroth-order Non-convex Optimization using Estimated Gradient Descent

Gradient descent and its variants are widely used in machine learning. However, oracle access of gradient may not be available in many applications, limiting the direct use of gradient descent. This paper proposes a method of estimating gradient to perform gradient descent, that converges to a second-order stationary point for general non-convex optimization problems. Beyond the first-order stationary properties, the second-order stationary properties are important in machine learning applications to achieve better performance. We show that the proposed model-free non-convex optimization algorithm returns an e-second-order stationary point with $\tilde O\left( {\frac{{{d^{2 + \frac{\theta }{2}}}}}{{{\varepsilon ^{8 + \theta }}}}} \right)$ queries of the function for any arbitrary θ > 0.
The reactions $\pi\pi \rightarrow \pi\pi$ π π → π π and $\gamma\gamma \rightarrow \pi\pi$ γ γ → π π in $\chi$ χ PT with an isosinglet scalar resonance

The lowest-lying resonance in the QCD spectrum is the $ 0^{++}$ isoscalar $ \sigma$ -meson, also known as the $ f_{0}(500)$ . We augment SU(2) chiral perturbation theory ( $ \chi$ PT) by including the $ \sigma$ -meson as an additional explicit degree of freedom, as proposed by Soto, Talavera, and Tarrus and others. In this effective field theory, denoted $ \chi$ PTS, the $ \sigma$ -meson’s well-established mass and decay width are not sufficient to properly renormalize its self energy. At $ O(p^{4})$ another low-energy constant appears in the dressed $ \sigma$ -meson propagator; we adjust it so that the isoscalar pion-pion scattering length is also reproduced. We compare the resulting amplitudes for the $ \pi\pi\rightarrow\pi\pi$ and $ \gamma\gamma\rightarrow\pi\pi$ reactions to data from threshold through the energies at which the $ \sigma$ -meson resonance affects observables. The leading-order (LO) $ \pi \pi$ amplitude reproduces the $ \sigma$ -meson pole position, the isoscalar $ \pi \pi$ scattering lengths and $ \pi \pi$ scattering and $ \gamma\gamma\rightarrow\pi\pi$ data up to $ \sqrt{s} \approx 0.5$ GeV. It also yields a $ \gamma\gamma\rightarrow\pi\pi$ amplitude that obeys the Ward identity. The value obtained for the $ \pi^{0}$ polarizability is, however, only slightly larger than that obtained in standard $ \chi$ PT.
Review of Scabies Infestation and Selected Common Cutaneous Infections.

1. Ross Brockman, DO* 2. Sabra Leitenberger, MD* 1. *Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR * Abbreviations: CDC: : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CLIA: : Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 CNS: : central nervous system EH: : eczema herpeticum FDA: : Food and Drug Administration GABHS: : group A β -hemolytic Streptococcus HFMD: : hand-foot-mouth disease HSV: : herpes simplex virus MC: : molluscum contagiosum PCR: : polymerase chain reaction Scabies is a common infestation of childhood but it can have an atypical appearance during infancy, with exuberant inflammation and pustules. We review the diagnosis and management of scabies, with emphasis on issues specific to the pediatric population. There is a wide range of infections that can also cause pustules in early childhood, and several of the most common are highlighted in this article to help the clinician differentiate these entities and select appropriate treatment strategies based on best-available evidence. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize the variable presentation of scabies in infants, children, and immunosuppressed individuals. 2. Understand best-practice strategies for treating scabies, including that the first-line medication is permethrin 5% cream and all household contacts should be treated. 3. Inflammation of molluscum lesions is often related to immune response and imminent clearance. 4. Topical corticosteroids may be used to treat underlying dermatitis in eczema herpeticum, provided the patient is receiving adequate systemic antiviral treatment. 5. Atypical presentations of hand-foot-mouth disease can mimic eczema herpeticum. 6. Onychomadesis may occur after hand-foot-mouth disease. In this article, scabies infestation in infants and young children is covered in detail. In addition, the following common diagnoses with infectious etiologies that can also cause widespread pustules in children are reviewed: molluscum contagiosum, 2 manifestations of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections (eczema herpeticum [EH] and neonatal HSV), hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), and impetigo. Tips on how to recognize these entities, information on pathophysiology, and treatment updates are reviewed herein and summarized in the Table. It is important to consider that a full differential diagnosis of a pustular rash in children may additionally include many other infectious and noninfectious etiologies. …
‘Marston wrote his father-in-law’s preachings, and his father-in-law his comedies’: Of Obedience, or Ecclesiastical Unity and the Dating of The Malcontent

The point of Jonson’s joke, that ‘Marston wrote his father-in-law’s preachings, and his father-in-law his comedies’ has never been explained. The discovery that the father-in-law, William Wilkes, quotes directly from The Malcontent in his Of Obedience, or Ecclesiastical Unity reveals an important context of the play, the puritan push for church reform from the beginning of James’s reign, culminating in the 1604 Hamp­ton Court conference and the subsequent removal of nonconformists from the clergy. Wilkes and Marston were at one in resisting puritan ‘innovation’. This reference dates the play within the first year of the reign, probably to early 1604.
A Quantum Circuit Obfuscation Methodology for Security and Privacy.

Optimization of quantum circuits using an efficient compiler is key to its success for NISQ computers. Several 3rd party compilers are evolving to offer improved performance for large quantum circuits. These 3rd parties, or just a certain release of an otherwise trustworthy compiler, may possibly be untrusted and this could lead to an adversary to Reverse Engineer (RE) the quantum circuit for extracting sensitive aspects e.g., circuit topology, program, and its properties. In this paper, we propose obfuscation of quantum circuits to hide the functionality. Quantum circuits have inherent margin between correct and incorrect outputs. Therefore, obfuscation (i.e., corruption of functionality) by inserting dummy gates is nontrivial. We insert dummy SWAP gates one at a time for maximum corruption of functionality before sending the quantum circuit to an untrusted compiler. If an untrusted party clones the design, they get incorrect functionality. The designer removes the dummy SWAP gate post-compilation to restore the correct functionality. Compared to a classical counterpart, the quantum chip does not reveal the circuit functionality. Therefore, an adversary cannot guess the SWAP gate and location/validate using an oracle model. Evaluation of realistic quantum circuit with/without SWAP insertion is impossible in classical computers. Therefore, we propose a metric-based SWAP gate insertion process. The objective of the metric is to ensure maximum corruption of functionality measured using Total Variation Distance (TVD). The proposed approach is validated using IBM default noisy simulation model. Our metric-based approach predicts the SWAP position to achieve TVD of upto 50%, and performs 7.5% better than average TVD, and performs within 12.3% of the best obtainable TVD for the benchmarks. We obtain an overhead of < 5% for the number of gates and circuit depth after SWAP addition.
High Frequency Trading and Dark Pools: An Interview with John Succo

John Succo received a graduate degree in finance, with a concentration in option pricing theory, from Indiana University in 1984. After this, he went to work at Morgan Stanley. There, as a principal and head of index and structured product trading, he helped develop dispersion methodology for trading and managing derivative risks, which greatly increased the company’s liquidity and — consequently — its application of derivative products in asset-liability management. In 1996, Mr. Succo joined Lehman Brothers and ran its derivative trading division. In 2001, he jointly founded Vicis Capital, a hedge fund with a macro thesis concentrating in volatility extraction and pricing by opportunistically trading derivative instruments. By 2008, Vicis had become one of the world’s largest hedge funds, investing $5.5 billion and with offices located in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Vicis produced positive returns every year, including the universally difficult 2008. Vicis was liquidated in 2009 due to massive withdrawals from cash-strapped investors. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Succo and discuss his incredible career. Of particular note, we concentrated on high frequency trading and the phenomenon of dark pools.
Model Predictive Control of an Arm Inductor-less MMC-based DC SST

A model predictive controller is proposed for an arm inductor-less MMC-based DC-DC solid-state transformer operating under interleaved phase-shifted square-wave modulation. The controller is based on an advanced dynamic model of the DC SST such that a closed-form solution of the underlying optimization problem is derived. The proposed converter achieves inductor-less current control and uses model-based linear regulators to generate current references. Simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the controller performance.
Behavioral phenotyping of Zip8 393T-KI mice for in vivo study of schizophrenia pathogenesis

Genetic studies have informed on the genetic landscape of schizophrenia, and the next challenge is to link the genetic associations to mechanistic studies. A common single nucleotide polymorphism in the zinc and manganese transporter ZIP8 (rs13107325; ZIP8 A391T) is a top candidate to prioritize for functional studies because it is a missense mutation that results in hypomorphic protein function. With this goal, we have established a mouse model (Zip8 393T-knock-in (KI)), and here, we report the results of brain necropsy and initial behavioral phenotyping experiments in the KI mice using open field testing, elevated plus maze, Y-maze, and trace fear conditioning. Overall, male, homozygous KI mice may exhibit subtle defects in cognition and spatial learning, otherwise the baseline testing supports minimal behavioral differences between wild-type and Zip8 393T-KI mice. There were no genotype-specific alterations of gross or microscopic neuroanatomy. These experiments are important to establish the baseline characteristics of the Zip8 393T-KI mice that may be perturbed in animal models of schizophrenia and position the Zip8 393T-KI mouse as an important model for translational studies of schizophrenia pathogenesis.
Advances in disinfection techniques for water reuse

Publisher Summary Disinfection is the inactivation or destruction of micro-organisms that cause disease. Disease-causing pathogenic micro-organisms include viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. Although many common wastewater treatment processes reduce the concentration of microbial pathogens, it is necessary to provide a final disinfection process that ensures safe levels of pathogens. All the disinfection treatment methods that include either chemical agents or physical treatment methods are much more effective when applied to wastewater already subjected to the processes of flocculation and filtration. The latter processes reduce the chemical demand for chemical disinfectants or increase the path length of disinfecting radiation for physical treatment methods. Disinfection of wastewater is necessary to protect water quality for subsequent use. The latter would include possible use downstream as a source of public water supply or irrigating crops. Another option is the internal reuse or recycling of treated wastewater within a given industry, such as food processing. Wastewater reuse is commonly applied to the irrigation of agricultural crops. Unfortunately, the potential for disease transmission with untreated wastewater is significant, especially, if it is used to irrigate leafy vegetables. This chapter presents that wastewater disinfection of resistant microbes can be achieved with other treatment options, including chlorine dioxide, ozone, and UV radiation. It also discusses the continuous disinfection process and reactor design, scale-up, and modeling procedures for both chemical and physical disinfection methods. It further explains the common disinfection methods and other techniques.
5 Glycosidases and Glycosyltransferases

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the kinetics and mechanism of glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. Despite an increasingly diverse range of reported glycosidases and glycosyltransferases, only a small number have been studied, primarily hen egg-white lysozyme and Escherichia coli lacZ β-galactosidase. The enzymes have provided information on catalytic mechanisms and correlations with solution chemistry. Most mechanism data come from enzymes that catalyze the reaction with retention of anomer configuration—that is, reactions in which the glycosyl donor and product have the same anomeric form. As expected, but not necessarily required, the enzyme reactions commonly proceed through a discrete glycosyl–enzyme intermediate. Two significant amino acid groups are generally involved: (1) a carboxylate that stabilizes the glycosyl–enzyme and (2) an amino acid that serves as a general acid catalyst to protonate the glycoside oxygen. An equilibrium between the covalent and noncovalent forms of the intermediate has been considered for several glycosidases. The much greater stability of the covalent complex would bias the equilibrium in that direction, but the actual productive form of the transition state in the transfer of the glycosyl intermediate to an acceptor cannot be generalized.
Structural Biology of Peptides and Proteins in Synthetic Membrane Environments by Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structural biology of peptides and proteins in synthetic membrane environments by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The utility of both orientation and distance constraints has been demonstrated for membrane proteins and polypeptides. The methods have been developed to the point, where illuminating biochemical information has been obtained. There remains considerable work ahead to make the methods more generally applicable through the use of naturally abundant nuclei or uniformly labeled sites. The uniqueness of NMR as a form of spectroscopy is found in the inherent sensitivity of the technique to the nuclear environments. Unlike UV/Vis spectroscopy, which is sensitive to certain infrequent atomic clusters, NMR can be used to study all the atomic sites in a biological macromolecule. Not only is solid state NMR effective for describing the structural detail, high resolution dynamics characterizations are leading to important and novel functional understanding. Through high-resolution structure the details of peptide-solvent interactions will be forthcoming. This too will lead to the functional understanding at a very fundamental biophysical level. Finally, it is important to recognize that this information is being obtained from just the protein systems, for which a new approach for structural elucidation was needed; proteins in an anisotropic environment.
Measuring the Nation's Economy: An Industry Perspective: A Primer on BEA's Industry Accounts

This paper introduces new users to the basics of the U.S. industry economic accounts. It provides an overview of each of BEAs industry accounts and how they may be used to answer a variety of questions about the U.S. economy, industry activity, and the flow of goods and services throughout the economy.
Ethacrynic acid and furosemide. Diuretic and hemodynamic effects and clinical uses.

Abstract Ethacrynic acid and furosemide are the most potent diuretic agents currently available. Although the evidence for a proximal tubular site of action is conflicting, the main action of both agents is inhibition of sodium reabsorption along the ascending loop of Henle. Acute administration of ethacrynic acid and furosemide may produce a transient slight increase in both glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow, which is followed by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow with diuresis and dehydration. In patients who do not have congestive heart failure, acute administration of either drug results in a decrease in plasma volume, central venous pressure and cardiac index, and an increase in arteriovenous oxygen differences. In patients with severe congestive heart failure, plasma volume and central venous pressure fall, but cardiac index increases and arteriovenous oxygen difference narrows. Both drugs have rapid and short duration of diuretic action and wide and steep dose-response curves. Therefore, both drugs can be used in patients with mild to severe congestive heart failure or fluid retention. Both drugs are also effective despite the presence of hypoalbuminemia, acid-base and electrolyte imbalance and a low glomerular filtration rate. Therefore, refractoriness to either agent is unusual in the absence of severe renal failure. Neither drug has been widely used for antihypertensive therapy. No marked difference in antihypertensive potency from that of standard thiazide drugs has been noted. Both drugs are especially useful in those patients with severe hypertension who have concomitant renal failure or congestive heart failure. In this group of patients they help to maintain adequate urinary output and potentiate other antihypertensive drugs. Despite the potent diuretic action of both drugs, side effects are relatively infrequent. However, close monitoring of diuretic response, and acid-base and electrolyte status is recommended.
Are duty drawbacks on exports worth the hassle

. Many countries use duty drawbacks on exports, yet there is no consensus whether countries should embrace or abandon them. The answer depends on countries' development priorities and economic conditions. An increase in the drawback has a positive impact on export competitiveness, but the welfare effect is ambiguous. A welfare increase is more likely if the economy is small with high input tariffs, low initial drawback, low administrative costs and tariff leakages. In China duty drawback removal after meeting its WTO commitments improves welfare, but hurts economic efficiency, export competitiveness, and real incomes. Further liberalization can mitigate these negative effects. Plusieurs pays utilisent ce genre de rabais de tarifs douaniers, mais il n'y a pas de consensus a savoir si on doit supporter ces mesures ou les abandonner. La reponse depend des conditions economiques et des priorites de developpement des divers pays. Un accroissement de ces reductions a un effet positif sur la competitivite des exportations, mais ses effets sur le niveau de bien-etre sont ambigus. Un effet de bien-etre positif est plus probable si l'economie est petite et a des hauts tarifs sur les intrants, de faibles rabais, des couts administratifs faibles, et peu de fuites. En Chine, l'elimination de ces rabais, en accord avec les engagements exiges par l'OMC, a ameliore le niveau de bien-etre, mais a eu un effet negatif sur l'efficacite, la competitive des exportations, et les revenus reels. Une liberalisation accrue peut attenuer ces effets negatifs.
The Role of Emotions and Assumptions in Culturally Responsive Financial Education Practice in a Capitalist Economy.

This chapter discusses some of the assumptions of financial education, and then considers the role of emotions, beliefs, and attitudes in culturally responsive financial education practice.
On bifurcation for variational problems

In this lecture we would like to present a bifurcation theorem for problems having a variational structure. It generalizes earlier results by Rabinowitz [5], Bohme [1] and Marino [4]. If one combines our result with a recent result of Maddocks [3] one can discuss global stability assignments for a given branch of solutions. Before we present our theorem in section II, we want to describe this application to stability analysis. Further applications to problems in mathematical physics may be found in Maddocks’ paper [3].
Integrating Financial Literacy Concepts into the Introductory Financial Accounting Course

Financial illiteracy is a growing problem in this country and college students are amongst those not knowing enough about personal finance. However, few colleges and universities require or offer a course in personal finance, but we believe accounting educators are uniquely qualified to improve their students’ financial literacy. This paper describes an effective and efficient way to introduce some basic personal finance concepts to freshman business students in a Financial Accounting course while minimizing class time. In addition, the assignments require an active writing learning approach which addresses the numerous calls for incorporation of writing assignments into the business school curriculum. The assignments improved students’ interest in personal finance, made connections to the Financial Accounting course creating a more interesting and relevant course, and provides a rewarding teaching experience for instructors. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Parallel Learning of Reading and Writing in Early Childhood

Parallel Learning of Reading and Writing in Early Childhood explores why it�s important to provide a balanced language learning environment for young children and offers approaches for children to practice and explore language. Writing � a different but parallel process � can open the door to reading, and an effective writing approach in the home and early childhood classrooms leads to the development of phonemic awareness, understanding of phonetic principles, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Durability of Resistance to Puccinia Striiformis in North American Wheat Cultivars

Resistance to stripe rust (yellow rust) in North American wheat cultivars is primarily of two types, seedling resistance and high-temperature, adult-plant (HTAP) resistance. The seedling resistance is characterized by race specificity and low infection types at all stages of plant growth and at a wide range of temperatures. The inheritance of 33 different genes for seedling resistance to Puccinia striiformis has been determined for 26 wheat cultivars. Of the 33 genes, 21 have not been previously named.
Occurrence and Distribution of Interdental Gingival Clefts following Orthodontic Movement into Bicuspid Extraction Sites

Forty patients in active retention following orthodontic tooth movement into premolar extraction sites were examined for the occurrence and distribution of interdental gingival clefts, defined as an invagination of interproximal tissue with definite mesial and distal peaks having a depth of at least 1 mm. Fourteen of the forty orthodontic patients demonstrated clefts in one or more of the premolar extraction sites. No clefts were observed in premolar areas of orthodontic patients who did not require premolar extraction or in patients without previous orthodontic treatment. Interdental clefts occurred most frequently at the buccal aspect of mandibular first premolar extraction sites. The presence of the cleft appears to have clinical implications, both in terms of orthodontic relapse, and maintenance of gingival health.
Measurement of monovalent and polyvalent carbohydrate-lectin binding by back-scattering interferometry.

Carbohydrate-protein binding is important to many areas of biochemistry. Back-scattering interferometry (BSI) is shown here to be a convenient and sensitive method for obtaining quantitative information about the strengths and selectivities of such interactions. The surfaces of glass microfluidic channels were covalently modified with extravidin, to which biotinylated lectins were subsequently attached by incubation and washing. The binding of unmodified carbohydrates to the resulting avidin-immobilized lectins was monitored by BSI. Dose-response curves, generated within several minutes and highly reproducible in multiple wash/measure cycles, provided adsorption coefficients that showed mannose to bind to concanavalin A with 3.7 times greater affinity than glucose, in line with literature values. Galactose was found to bind selectively and with similar affinity to the lectin BS-1. The avidities of polyvalent sugar-coated virus particles for immobilized conA were far higher than monovalent glycans, with increases of 60–200 fold per glycan when arrayed on the exterior surface of cowpea mosaic virus or bacteriophage Qβ. Sugar-functionalized PAMAM dendrimers showed size-dependent adsorption consistent with the expected density of lectins on the surface. The sensitivity of BSI matches or exceeds that of surface plasmon resonance and quartz crystal microbalance techniques, and differs in its sensitivity to the number of binding events rather than changes in mass. Its operational simplicity, generality, and the near-native conditions under which the target binding proteins are immobilized make it an attractive method for the quantitative characterization of the binding functions of lectins and other proteins.
Electrooptic sampling of freely propagating terahertz fields

The electrooptic measurement of freely-propagating, subpicosecond pulsed electromagnetic waves (terahertz fields) are presented. A LiTaO3 crystal was used as a sensor head and achieved subpicosecond temporal resolution and 22 mVcm−1Hz−1/2 field sensitivity. The flat frequency response from the electrooptic crystals permitted the detection of radiation with ultrawide bandwidth and overcame previous limitations imposed by the resonant structure of photoconductive dipole antennas.
What to do with an OND in Business Studies

(1977). What to do with an OND in Business Studies? Journal of Further and Higher Education: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 63-67.
Creating Labels for Invented Foods as Innovative Method to Learn Nutrition Labeling Regulations

Abstract Dietetic educators are continually challenged to develop new and exciting ways to teach nutrition principles, as well as, current regulations and labeling standards used in this field. Students taking a Special Topics: Legislative Issues course, were asked to create marketable food items with theoretical ingredients packaged in compliance with labeling regulations discussed in class. Projects were evaluated based on creativity, potential consumer interest, realistic ingredients, calculation accuracy and compliance with labeling statements and regulations. Food label design, including title ("Statement of Identity"), net weight, ingredient list, Nutrition Facts Panel, serving size, and other display features and terms had to meet labeling requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (PDA). Foods such as F8 fruit juice beverage, Jen and Berry's Ovo-Vegetarian Swirl Ice Cream, Fruitello, Raspberry Silk Soup, Dried-a-Fruit bars, Vital Fluids and Stories Cereal were example food and label creations/One student prepared Buzy Bee bars for class sampling! This project proved to be an excellent application of labeling principles learned in class and also required students to consider the design and marketing of food items. A further step would entail taste testing in the school food laboratory. This project could also be used to teach nutrition and labeling regulations at the secondary school level, and would be a fun way for students to use their creativity to learn about marketing and nutrition.
Clarification and Decontamination of Poultry Chiller Water for Recycling

Abstract The chilling operation in poultry processing involves dipping birds in slush ice for rapid removal of body heat. The United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) permits recycling of reconditioned chiller water to meet fresh water intake requirements, thereby reducing refrigeration, water use, and liquid waste effluent. Laboratory scale filtration experiments used four types of perlite filter aids applied as a precoat and as body feed (filter aid mixed with the water entering the filter). Results showed that rate of filtrate flow dropped rapidly regardless of type used. Rapid filtrate flow lasted only 20 min from the start of a cycle, suggesting that the frequent cycling and application of a fresh filter aid precoat with each cycle would use large quantities of filter aid. Mean filtration rate defined as the ratio of filtrate volume to length of filtration cycle at a cycle time of 20 min was 24.1 L/min (m2 filter area) when the finest filter aid was used. Use of this filter aid also resulted in filtrate clarity and total aerobic count reduction, which were consistently within the range specified under FSIS guidelines for recycling. Mean filtrate flow during a 20-min cycle was 39.8 L/min (m2 filter area) when a slightly coarser filter aid was used; filtrate clarification was adequate. However, total microbial reduction sometimes fell below 60%, suggesting possible use only when microbicides are added to the reconditioned water prior to recycling.
Channel-facilitated membrane transport: Constructive role of particle attraction to the channel pore

We approach channel-facilitated membrane transport using a stochastic model based on considerations of particle diffusion inside the channel pore. This model allows us to rationalize the experimental observation that metabolite-specific biological channels exhibit affinities to their metabolites. We demonstrate that there is an optimal attractive interaction between the channel and the particle that maximizes the particle flux through the channel. A model in which the translocating solute jumps between neighboring binding sites is also analyzed. It is shown that the results predicted by the diffusion model can be recovered from the analysis of the binding-site model in a special limiting case. The binding-site model also describes the flux through a narrow channel where molecules cannot jump one over the other, and the regime of single-file diffusion is realized.
Imagine no religion: Heretical disgust, anger and the symbolic purity of mind

Immoral actions, including physical/sexual (e.g., incest) and social (e.g., unfairness) taboos, are often described as disgusting. But what about immoral thoughts, more specifically, thoughts that violate religious beliefs? Do heretical thoughts taint the purity of mind? The present research examined heretical disgust using self-report measures and facial electromyography. Religious thought violations consistently elicited both self-reported disgust and anger. Feelings of disgust also predicted harsh moral judgement, independent of anger, and were mediated by feelings of "contamination". However, religious thought violations were not associated with a disgust facial expression (i.e., levator labii muscle activity) that was elicited by physically disgusting stimuli. We conclude that people (especially more religious people) do feel disgust in response to heretical thoughts that is meaningfully distinct from anger as a moral emotion. However, heretical disgust is not embodied in a physical disgust response. Rather, disgust has a symbolic moral value that marks heretical thoughts as harmful and aversive.
Application of statistical dynamical diffraction theory to highly defective ion implanted SiGe heterostructures

The statistical dynamical diffraction theory (SDDT) provides a method for performing high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) analyses from materials that contain high levels of structural imperfection. SDDT is implemented by combining kinematical and dynamical diffraction formalisms into a single framework through the inclusion of two parameters (a static Debye–Waller factor and a correlation length) that can provide an adjustable coupling between the kinematic and dynamic extremes. Typically one of the prominent difficulties in implementing SDDT is the mathematical complexities that are characteristic of this theory. Recently we have demonstrated a simplified realization of SDDT [Shreeman and Matyi, J. Appl. Crystallogr. 43, 550 (2010)] that preserves the essential features of the theory while allowing it to be applied to a variety of structures. Here we show the viability of this approach by fitting various experimental HRXRD data from highly defective and partially relaxed Si0.70Ge0.30 ion implanted heterostructures. This study demonstrates the capabilities the SDDT theory provides for HRXRD analyses of highly defective semiconductor materials.
An Empirical Study of the Casual Relationship Between IT Investment and Firm Performance

The promise of increased competitive advantage has been the driving force behind the large-scale investment in information technology IT over the last three decades. There is a continuing debate among executives and academics as to the measurable benefits of this investment. The return on investment ROI and other performance measures reported in the academic literature indicate conflicting empirical findings. Many previous studies have based their conclusions on the statistical correlation between IT capital investment and firm performance data of the same time period. In this study we argue that the causal relationship between IT investment and firm performance could not be reliably established through concurrent IT and performance data. We further submit that it would be more convincing to infer causality if the IT investments in the preceding years are significantly correlated with the performance of a firm in the subsequent year. Using the Granger causality models and three samples of firm level financial data, we found no statistical evidence that IT investments have caused the improvement of financial performance of the firms in the samples. On the contrary, the causal models suggest that improved financial performance over consecutive years may have contributed to the increase of IT investment in the subsequent year. Implications of these findings, as well as directions for future studies, are discussed.
Effects of Saltwater Intrusion and Flow Diversion on Reproductive Success of Striped Bass in the Savannah River Estuary

Abstract Spawning by striped bass Morone saxatilis in the Savannah River estuary was monitored in 1986–1989 to determine effects of elevated salinity and altered channel morphology on reproductive success. A tide gate and its attendant channel modifications displaced the salt wedge (salinity >0.5‰) upriver and altered the pathways and rates of water flow in the estuary. Average densities of striped bass eggs at sites sampled in 1989 were 0.5–11.0% of levels reported in the late 1970s. All recently spawned eggs (< 10 h old) were found where salinity was 0.5‰ or less, an indication that adults select freshwater sites for spawning. A hypothesis of consistent recruitment failure in the 1980s is supported by parallel declines in abundance of eggs and adults on the spawning grounds, the lack of any detectable upriver displacement of spawning activity, and the low abundance of eggs in 1988–1989 despite the freshwater conditions prevalent at the historic spawning sites. Studies that used floats to simulate rates ...