cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ascription or Productivity? The Determinants of Departmental Success in the NRC Quality Ratings

Abstract To see what factors explain departmental prestige ratings in sociology, this study assesses the effects of four ascriptive characteristics after holding departmental books, articles weighted by journal selectivity, citations, faculty size, and faculty rank constant. Departments in schools with “State,” “A & M,” or a direction in their name, departments with more female graduate students, and departments in urban public, largely commuter schools do worse on the NRC ratings. Departments with a few well-cited scholars receive lower scores than departments with comparatively equal citation counts across faculty, but departments from the three most prestigious Ivy League institutions receive stronger quality ratings after scholarly accomplishments have been held constant. The results show that both scholarship and ascription influence departmental prestige.
It's how you say it: Physicians' vocal behavior

Abstract The present study was designed to assess evaluations of physicians interacting with patients via the telephone. Observers used ten adjective scales which resulted in three variables: empathic, dominant, and calm. Thirty doctor-patient interactions were presented in two different communication modes: audio-only and typed transcript-only. As predicted, female listeners rated doctors as more empathic dominant, and calm, and communication modes were significantly different with audio segments rated as more empathic, dominant, and calm. Middle phases of the conversation also were evaluated more positively than greeting phases. Significant interactions between temporal phase and mode indicated that audio segments were interpreted more positively during middle phases. Also, female listeners were more sensitive to audio segments. Physicians' amplitude and speech rate were positively correlated with dominance.
Extreme rays for the large cone of hermitian generalized matrix functions

Given a -valued function f with domain , the symmetric group on {1,2,…, m}, we define the generalized matrix function [ f ](⋅), or df (⋅), in the usual way on the set of all m× m complex matrices. Letting denote the set of all m× m positive semi-definite Hermitian matrices we consider the cone K m whose elements are the Hermitian functions such that [ f ]( A)≥0 for all . The extreme rays in K m are fundamental to an understanding of the linear inequalities that result by restricting the generalized matrix functions [ f ](⋅) to the sets . In particular, the resolution of Lieb's permanent dominance conjecture, and certain similar conjectures such as the conjecture of Soules, will likely require identification and careful analysis of these rays. Grone, Merris, and Watkins have shown that the determinant function det(⋅), which is [ f ](...
Bonding at silicon/insulator interfaces

Abstract Various techniques for the spectroscopy of interfaces are discussed such as core level spectroscopy, near-edge absorption, and optical second harmonic generation. The CaF2/Si(111) interface serves as a model for determining electronic states at an interface. A pair of interface states is found, one occupied, the other empty. They represent the bonding (antibonding) combinations of the orbitals that hold the interface together. The interface layer exhibits new properties, e.g., more than twice the band gap of bulk Si. The bonding at complex interfaces, such as SiO2/Si, can also be analyzed using the simple relation between core level shift and oxidation state. Only models with an extended interface are compatible with the observed distribution of intermediate oxidation states.
Mexican Democracy and Its Discontents

This article describes the first stage of a major research project on public opinion and democratic consolidation in Mexico. That project, the Mexico 2006 Panel Study, comprises approximately 7,000 in-depth interviews with ordinary Mexicans over the course of the upcoming presidential campaign. Its purpose is two-fold: (1) to assess the degree to which Mexican political attitudes are supportive of democratic governance, and (2) to understand the role played by voters, politicians, party leaders, and the mass media in shaping Mexico's political agenda. Ultimately, the project aims to assess how faithfully Mexico's new political system can be expected to respond to the desires and beliefs of ordinary citizens.
On q -analogues of partially ordered sets

Abstract We define a notation of an f-q -analogue of a poset P , were f is a function in the incidence algebra of P . In this setting, for given f and q , all f-q -analogues have the same Zeta and characteristic polynomials, and the same Mobius invarints for rank selections. These are q -analogues of the corresponding entities for th eposet P . We describe conditions when P is being shellable implies that its f-q -analogues are also shellable. In such situations, the analogues admit a shelling pulled back in a natural way from one of P , revealing a natural projection from the homology of analogues to that of P . As a by-product we obtain the non-negativity of the coefficients of the Betti polynomial for the analogues and their rank-selected subposets. We discuss the behavior of f-q -analogues with respect to several operations on the function f , the value q , and the poset P . Examples include posets of set partitions, posets of shuffles, semimodular and distributive lattices, and products of chains in particular. This work is an attempt to unify recent approaches to order analogues, and integrates cases studied by Butler; Bjorner and Stanley; and Bennett, Dempsey and Sagan.
Environmental Impacts of Illegal Immigration on the Cleveland National Forest in California

Since the inception of Operation Gatekeeper along the U.S.–Mexico border, there has been an increase in environmental impacts on the Cleveland National Forest, in eastern San Diego County, California. This is almost certainly due to an increase in the number of undocumented immigrants using the area as a gateway to the interior of the United States. In this research, we use the tools of geographic information systems (GIS) to measure the scope and extent of this impact, focusing on the creation of illegal trails and the impact of illegal campsites and campfires on the environment of the Descanso Ranger District within the national forest. Our findings suggest that between the start of Operation Gatekeeper in late 1994 and the end of the study period in 1999, there were 772 meters of new trail created per 1,000 unauthorized immigrants, accompanied by 656 square meters of area disturbed per 1,000 immigrants, fifty kilograms of litter left behind per 1,000 immigrants, eleven illegal campfires per 1,000 immig...
Achieving quality health outcomes through the implementation of a spontaneous awakening and spontaneous breathing trial protocol.

Background Continuous sedation infusions can lead to prolonged treatment with mechanical ventilation (MV), resulting in serious complications. Spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) and spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) are strategies that limit the amount of sedative agents a patient receives and promote extubation. Objective The objective of this performance improvement project was to evaluate the outcomes of an evidence-based practice protocol that included SATs and SBTs on the duration of treatment with MV, ventilator utilization ratio (VUR), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and incidence of self-extubations and reintubations. Methods A convenience sample of 112 discharged patients' medical records was used for this descriptive, comparative secondary data analysis. An evidence-based SAT/SBT practice protocol was designed by a multidisciplinary team and implemented. Three months after the implementation, a retrospective medical record review was conducted to evaluate patient outcomes. Results The median duration of treatment with MV was significantly lower in the postprotocol group (3.8 days vs 2.7 days, U = 1222, Z = -2.013, P = .04, r = 0.19). A significant decrease was found in the VUR (0.68 vs 0.52, U = 2.5, Z = -2.293, P = .02, r = 0.69). No difference was found in the ICU LOS and frequency of self-extubation or reintubation after a self-extubation between the preprotocol and postprotocol groups. Ten of 45 SAT opportunities (22%) and 67 of 130 SBT opportunities (52%) were missed by the nurse or the respiratory therapist. Conclusion The duration of treatment with MV and the VUR were reduced in patients who received the SAT/SBT protocol. The incidence of self-extubation was not different when an SAT was implemented. The ICU LOS was not reduced in patients who received SATs and SBTs.
Energy-release rate and crack kinking in anisotropic brittle solids

Abstract The energy-release rate is calculated for the inception of crack kinking in a general anisotropic solid containing a pre-existing crack. First, the stress intensity factors at the tip of an infinitesimally small kink ( K I ( k ) and K II ( k ) ) and the kink opening displacements (KODs) are numerically calculated by modeling the kink as continuously distributed edge dislocations. The energy-release rate, G kink , is obtained directly by calculating the work required to fully close the kink gap (KOD) and restore the required normal and shear stresses ( σ ωω and σ r ω ) that existed before kinking. This energy-release rate, G kink , is compared with that (denoted by G Irwin ) obtained by applying the Irwin formula in terms of the stress intensity factors K I ( k ) and K II (k) at the tip of the vanishingly small kink, for various kink angles, material properties, material symmetry orientations, and loadings. It is observed that the two methods yield exactly the same value for the rate of energy released, even though G kink corresponds to kink nucleation , whereas G Irwin to kink extension . Therefore, Irwin's formula for the energy-release rate is valid for any kink angle, material anisotropy, and loading condition (any combination of modes I and II), provided that the stress intensity factors in the formula are taken equal to those calculated at the tip of a vanishingly small kink, but not those associated with the stress components σ ωω and σ r ω prior to kinking. For different loading and material symmetry conditions, the energy-release-rate fracture criterion is compared with different stress-based fracture criteria of the fracture-path prediction.
Unfriending on Facebook: factors affecting online relationship termination in social networks and its impact on business

Establishing and maintaining relationships online is becoming ever more important in the expanding global knowledge economy. This study examines factors underlying the termination of relationships in the social networking environment of Facebook and examines how this information may be used to promote virtual business relationships. The results indicate that people use a variety of reasons for terminating virtual relationships which may be broadly clustered into offline and online reasons.
The patient-centered medical home, electronic health records, and quality of care.

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model is being implemented widely, but its effects on quality of care are unclear. This longitudinal study of primary care physicians in a multipayer commun...
The second kringle domain of prothrombin promotes factor Va-mediated prothrombin activation by prothrombinase.

Abstract The incorporation of factor Xa into the prothrombinase complex, factor Xa-factor Va-phospholipid-Ca(II), results in an approximately 105-fold higher rate of substrate activation than that of the enzyme alone. To examine the role of the prothrombin kringle domains in the interaction with prothrombinase we have employed site-directed mutagenesis to produce prothrombin species that lack either the first kringle domain, PT/ΔK1, or the second kringle domain, PT/ΔK2. Previously, we have shown that these proteins are fully carboxylated and that they bind to phospholipid vesicles. In this investigation we demonstrate that cleavage at Arg271-Thr272 and Arg320-Ile321 peptide bonds occurs upon activation with prothrombinase to yield normal thrombin from both PT/ΔK1 and PT/ΔK2. In the absence of factor Va, the Km(app) for the activation of PT/ΔK1, PT/ΔK2, or plasma-derived prothrombin by factor Xa-phospholipid-Ca(II) are equivalent. The Km(app) for the activation of PT/ΔK2 by prothrombinase is approximately 4-5-fold higher than that obtained for plasma-derived prothrombin or PT/ΔK1. These data demonstrate that the prothrombin kringle domains do not contribute significantly to the binding affinity of the substrate-enzyme interaction. In the absence of factor Va, equivalent kcat values were obtained for all of the prothrombin species when they were activated by factor Xa-Ca(II)-phospholipid. In contrast, a 7-fold lower kcat value was obtained for the activation of PT/ΔK2 by prothrombinase as compared with that obtained for plasma prothrombin or PT/ΔK1. Collectively, these data suggest that determinants within the second prothrombin kringle domain interact with factor Va to elicit a significant acceleration in the catalytic rate of substrate turnover. Indeed, in contrast to plasma-derived prothrombin, no direct binding of PT/ΔK2 to factor Va to form the PT/ΔK2factor Va complex could be demonstrated by 90° light scattering.
How do you 'Tube'

In this paper we "reverse-engineer" the YouTube video delivery cloud by building a distributed measurement infrastructure. Through extensive data collection and analysis, we deduce the key design features underlying the YouTube video delivery cloud. The design of the YouTube video delivery cloud consists of three major components: a "flat" video id space, multiple DNS namespaces reflecting a multi-layered logical organization of video servers, and a 3-tier physical cache hierarchy. By mapping the video id space to the logical servers via consistent hashing and cleverly leveraging DNS and HTTP re-direction mechanisms, such a design leads to a scalable, robust and flexible content distribution system.
Epitaph for Szwede Slavic Books

Szwede Slavic Books, the largest Slavic bookstore in the United States, ceased operations in May 2010. However, throughout its operation, the bookstore made an enormous contribution to Slavic culture and Slavic library collections in the United States. In this article, the author introduces the owners, Irena and Jerzy Szwede, and longtime employee Vera Shemelis. Additionally, he discusses the firm, its books, and the special atmosphere of the store.
Borrelia hermsii causing relapsing Fever and uveitis.

Purpose To describe a case of uveitis that is associated with Borrelia hermsii relapsing fever. Design Interventional case report. Methods A 12-year-old boy with two weeks of relapsing fevers 10 days after camping in remote eastern Oregon was examined. Borrelia hermsii immunoglobulin M and G levels were markedly elevated. Intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by four weeks of oral cephuroxime was administered, but the patient developed unilateral floaters and blurred vision in association with anterior and intermediate uveitis. Results Doxycycline was administered for presumed residual infection. Four weeks later, the visual acuity had improved. The anterior chamber was quiet, and topical corticosteroid was tapered successfully. Conclusion Although rare, Borrelia hermsii should be included in the list of spirochetal diseases that are associated with uveitis.
Haemophagocytosis in early congenital syphilis.

A previously healthy male infant developed hepatosplenomegaly, severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia 5 weeks after birth. Marked haemophagocytosis was present in the bone marrow. A typical maculopapular rash suggested early congenital syphilis. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology and by the presence of untreated syphilis in both parents.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Bovine Mastitis Pathogen Mycoplasma californicum Strain ST-6T (ATCC 33461T).

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma californicum is one of several mycoplasmal species associated with bovine mastitis. The complete genome sequence of 793,841 bp has been determined and annotated for the M. californicum ST-6 type strain, providing a resource for the identification of surface antigens and putative pathoadaptive features.
Nucleosides LXXXIII. Synthetic studies on nucleoside antibiotics. 11. Synthesis of methyl 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranoside and -hexopyranosiduronic acid (derivatives related to the carbohydrate moiety of gougerotin)

Abstract Methyl 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-β- D - ribo -hexopyranoside ( 17 ) and its uronic acid ( 19 ) were synthesized via a series of reactions starting from 1,2:5,6-di- O -isopropylidene-3- O -tosyl-α- D -glucofuranose. A method suitable for the large scale preparation of 3,4-dideoxy- 1,2:5,6-di- O -isopropylidene-α- D - erythro -hex-3-enofuranose( 2 ) was devised.
The theoretical foundations of Chinese medicine: systems of correspondence.

Although in the United States the scientific value of acupuncture is only now being clinically evaluated for the first time, needling is only one of a number of therapeutic disciplines which have proved effective in China for over two thousand years and which today provide common remedies for more than one quarter of the world's population. Why, asks Dr. Porkert, shouldn't medical men everywhere have access to the premises and results of this medical knowledge?In this book he presents a coherent and systematic account of Chinese theories--the system of correspondence that underlies all of Chinese medicine--using a new and precise Latin terminology (with English equivalents provided for most terms) that he devised over the past decade. The book is based directly and exclusively on Chinese sources, including recent Chinese secondary literature.Chapter 1 introduces the concepts that are the foundation of the system of correspondences--the polar combination yin-yang, which provides a basis for the analysis of all phenomena into complementary groups, and "wu-hsing, " which Dr. Porkert calls the "Five Evolutive Phases," and which are used to resolve cyclic processes into five temporally and qualitatively distinct parts. In Chapter 2 he takes up concepts which relate the body to the cosmos under the title "Phase Energetics" "(yun-ch'i);" these define meteorological, climatic, and immunological factors in health and disease. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on systems of concepts concerned with the body itself. The author has named these systems orbisiconography, sinarteriology, and foraminology. Orbisiconography "(tsang-hsiang), " the "imagery of functional orbs," describes the relationships of the functional systems within the body. It is not, as Dr. Porkert points out, analogous to but the opposite of Western comparative anatomy. Sinarteriology, the study of energetic conduits "(ching-luo), " and foraminology, the study of sensitive points "(shu-hsueh), " indicate the functional relationships manifested at the body's surface as well as within it. The book's systematic description of these disciplines involved in acupuncture is a powerful antidote to basic misconceptions prevalent in earlier Western writing on the subject.This is Volume III in the MIT East Asian Science series, edited by Nathan Sivin.
How is Science Learning Assessed at the Postsecondary Level? Assessment and Grading Practices in College Biology, Chemistry and Physics

The role of assessment in higher education is gaining importance as accountability requirements intensify and as assessments are increasingly recognized as having potential to improve teaching and learning. During the last two decades, educators have begun implementing a wider variety of assessment types including alternative and student-centered assessment practices. However, few research studies have examined the extent that college science faculty use such practices. This large-scale descriptive study utilized a nationally representative sample of higher education faculty from the US Department of Education to examine the assessment and grading practices of college science faculty from 2 and 4-year higher education institutions. When data was disaggregated by science discipline, statistically significant differences were found among physics, chemistry and biology faculty’s assessment and grading practices. Biology faculty used a larger repertoire of assessment types overall, and used assessments that have potential to enhance the learning process more than chemistry and physics faculty. Physics and chemistry faculty graded on a curve more often and used competency-grading practices less often than biology faculty. Assessment practices that could be considered formative with potential to promote student learning appear to be underutilized by all science faculty.
The comparative boron content of potato leaves and tubers produced under different cultural conditions

Analyses of the potato tuber without corresponding leaf and stem samples give little pertinent information regarding the total ash content or the status of boron nutrition of the plant as a whole. Boron analyses of several varieties of potatoes produced in three regions of Wisconsin under similar cultural treatment have shown the following ranges and averages in micrograms per gram of dry tissue for different parts of the plants: Leaf 20.9–73.8, 38.9; stem 19.0–66.6, 32.2; and tuber 5.5–13.9, 9.2.
Electrical properties of D-T gas from 20 to 26 K☆

Abstract The dielectric constants and electrical conductivities of D-T gas at 20, 23, and 25 K are measured at 1592 Hz from 3 to 200 Vm 2 mol −1 . Tritium concentrations are 0.9, 8.8, and 98.3%. Both electrical quantities increase with density ans saturate above 400 mol m −3 . The gas is a soft dielectric, with an electrical conductivity as high as 300 × 10 −9 Ω m −1 . The saturated vapour conducts as well as the liquid beneath it. The total charge desity in pure tritium gas is about 10 12 mol −1 . Most electrons may react to form tritide ions, but the remaining electrons still carry most of the current.
A Test Method for Assessment of Shear Properties of Thick Composites

Transverse stress-strain constitutive relations are required for structural analysis of thick-section composites. A standard technique for assessment of transverse shear properties is the V-notched beam method. Such technique is based on strain gage measurements which require a large specimen thickness for strain gage placement and impose tight geometry tolerances to minimize variations of strain at the gage location. A full-field strain measurement capability could enable simpler test specimen designs. A method for assessment of shear stress-strain relations using a short-beam shear test and a Digital Image Correlation technique is presented in this work. The Digital Image Correlation technique is based on quantifying locations of a random texture on a surface to measure the surface shape and deformation. V-notched-beam and short-beam shear test results are compared for a glass/epoxy tape composite. To illustrate accuracy of short-beam shear stress calculations, finite element results are obtained. Highly nonlinear interlaminar stress-strain relations are documented.
An asynchronous implementation of the maxlist algorithm

We present an efficient asynchronous VLSI architecture for calculating running maximum or minimum values over a sliding window. Running maximums or minimums are very useful for many signal and image processing tasks. Our architecture performs the calculation using the MAXLIST algorithm. In order to take advantage of the wide delay variations due to data-dependencies and operating conditions, an asynchronous approach is taken to achieve higher performance and lower power. Simulation results demonstrate that our asynchronous architecture is significantly faster than existing and potential synchronous architectures.
The Influence of Reading Content on Students' Perceptions of the Masculinity or Femininity of Reading

This study examined the effect of the content of reading material on students' perceptions of reading as masculine or feminine. Students in this study included 492 pupils (255 females, 237 males) from two suburban school districts. Students were enrolled in kindergarten, grades 2,4, 6, 8, and high school. Students were shown a slide presentation consisting of 60 slides depicting various children's activities including the following reading activities: reading a book, a TV Guide, a mystery book, the newspaper comics, a science book, a dictionary, an animal book, a running book, and a poetry book. The reading slides were interwoven among nonreading activity slides to mask the emphasis of the study. In the slides, only the hands of the children were shown to prevent identification of the child in each slide as male or female. As each slide was shown, students were directed to respond by circling either "boy" or "girl" on their answer sheets. The total responses of "boy"for each reading item were analyzed for male, female, and total students. The percentages of responses of "boy" were generated and chi square analyses were conducted to determine differences between "boy" versus "girl" responses. The data indicated that the content of the reading material affected students' responses. Depending on the sex and grade level of the students, some reading items were viewed as masculine, some as feminine, and one as equally masculine and feminine. The specific content of the reading materials influenced the way in which reading was perceived. During the last fifty years, reading research in the United States has indicated that there are sex differences in reading. In several reading readiness studies and reading achievement studies, sex differences favoring girls have been documented (Balow, 1963;Carroll, 1948;DykstraT Gates, 1961; Samuels, 1943). Further evidence of the existence of sex differences in reading has been found in the
Training in a Clozapine Clinic for Psychiatry Residents: A Plea and Suggestions for Implementation

Objective The authors sought to develop a model educational clinic and curriculum for psychiatric residents, to increase knowledge and comfort about clozapine prescribing. This matters because clozapine is an important evidence-based treatment for refractory schizophrenia that remains underutilized in clinical practice.
An integrative, multi‐scale, genome‐wide model reveals the phenotypic landscape of Escherichia coli

Given the vast behavioral repertoire and biological complexity of even the simplest organisms, accurately predicting phenotypes in novel environments and unveiling their biological organization is a challenging endeavor. Here, we present an integrative modeling methodology that unifies under a common framework the various biological processes and their interactions across multiple layers. We trained this methodology on an extensive normalized compendium for the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, which incorporates gene expression data for genetic and environmental perturbations, transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, and metabolic pathways, as well as growth measurements. Comparison with measured growth and high-throughput data demonstrates the enhanced ability of the integrative model to predict phenotypic outcomes in various environmental and genetic conditions, even in cases where their underlying functions are under-represented in the training set. This work paves the way toward integrative techniques that extract knowledge from a variety of biological data to achieve more than the sum of their parts in the context of prediction, analysis, and redesign of biological systems.
The proportion of mutants in bacterial cultures.

The proportion of mutants in a growing culture of organisms will depend upon ( a ) the rate at which the wild cells produce them (with or without growth), ( b ) the back mutation rate, and ( c ) the growth rates of the wild and mutant cells. If the mutation rate without growth and the back mutation rate are neglected, the growth of a mutant is expressed by See PDF for Equation and the ratio of the mutant to wild by See PDF for Equation in which λ = mutation frequency rate constant, "mutation rate," A = growth rate constant of wild cells W, B = growth rate constant of mutant cells M . If the term [B – (1 – 2λ) A ] is positive, the proportion of mutants increases continuously. If it is negative, the proportion of mutants reaches a constant value See PDF for Equation If mutation is assumed to occur without growth at the rate C , then the corresponding equations are (11), (12), and (14). See PDF for Equation If ( B + C – A ) is negative and t = ∞, See PDF for Equation If C << A , See PDF for Equation
Scaling of growth and life history traits relative to body size, brain size, and metabolic rate in Lorises and Galagos (Lorisidae, primates)

A broad range of variation in body size, brain size, and metabolic rate occurs within the primate family Lorisidae, thus providing an opportunity to examine the relationship of these three parameters to variation in growth and life history traits. Data on adult body weight, gestation length, lactation length, age at first estrus, litter size, and growth parameters were collected from a captive colony of four lorisid species, Loris tardigradus, Nycticebus coucang, Galago crassicaudatus, and G. senegalensis. The data presented here constitute the most complete life history information available for these poorly understood prosimian species. Correlation and allometric analyses were performed to determine the relationships between variables. Among the lorisids studied, adult body weight, adult cranial capacity, and relative cranial capacity did not predict variation in life history traits. Adult basal metabolic rate predicted most of the variability in gestation length, lactation length, and growth parameters. Lorisines differ from similarly sized galagines in having lower basal metabolic rates, slower growth rates, slower developmental rates, and smaller litter sizes, resulting in reduced reproductive potential. This may be a consequence of lorisine adaptation to a diet of toxic insects. Metabolic rate and diet may be among the most important parameters to examine in any study of life history evolution.
A New Multiple Lyapunov Function Approach to Synthesis of Fuzzy Control Systems

This paper studies the problem of control synthesis of a class of continuous nonlinear control systems, described by Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models. Based on linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique, a new design method for stabilizing state feedback controllers is also developed for the class of T-S fuzzy systems via multiple Lyapunov function. A numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Preoperative Chemotherapy Decreases the Need for Re-Excision of Breast Cancers Between 2 and 4 cm Diameter

Introduction It is accepted that preoperative chemotherapy can result in increased breast preservation for breast cancers greater than 4 cm. The benefits of preoperative chemotherapy are less clear, however, for patients who present with smaller tumors and are already candidates for breast-preserving surgery. The goal of this study is to assess the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on breast cancers between 2 and 4 cm diameter.
Consumer Perspectives on the Collaborative Teaching Model Views of Students With and Without LD and Their Parents

Collaborative teaching, or co-teaching, is a service delivery option frequently being selected to support students with learning disabilities (LD) in general education classrooms. Despite a wealth of literature on collaborative teaching, little empirical data exist about this model. Moreover, little is known about the consumers of collaborative classes, that is, students and their parents. This article reports the findings of research employing focus groups to study the perspectives of students with and without LD and their parents regarding collaborative teaching. Responses of students and parents reflect a high level of satisfaction with the model, with students' self-esteem and academic understanding increasing. Concerns include poor communication regarding the model to parents, the need to ensure alternative models when students do not make progress in co-taught classrooms, and lack of continuity of the model across grade levels.
Introduction of European priority review vouchers to encourage development of new medicines for neglected diseases

Every year 1 billion people worldwide are affected by traditionally neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis, and lymphatic filariasis, which impose tremendous public health burdens. Governments, foundations, and drug manufacturers have, however, started to support development of new treatments. European Union Member States have been leaders in implementing so-called push mechanisms (payment for drug development) and pull funding (reward for output), such as the advance market commitment, which creates a market for vaccines by guaranteeing prices. We propose an additional step that could be taken to encourage development of medicines for neglected diseases. A priority review voucher scheme, as is already in place in the USA, would reward a manufacturer that developed a new medicine for neglected diseases with a voucher that could be redeemed for priority review of a future medicine, probably a potential blockbuster drug. Unlike the US system a European voucher would also accelerate pricing and reimbursement decisions. This scheme would be likely to provide substantial benefits to voucher holders, society, and public health organisations.
Shaking Up the System: The Role of Change in Maternal-Adolescent Communication Quality and Adolescent Weight Loss

Objective The association between directly observed mother–adolescent weight-related communication quality and adolescent percent overweight within the context of an adolescent weight control study was examined. Methods As part of a larger study examining the impact of a behavioral weight control intervention that included attention to parent–adolescent communication (Standard Behavioral Treatment þ Enhanced Parenting, SBT þ EP) compared with an efficacious Standard Behavioral Treatment (SBT), 38 mother–adolescent dyads participated in a weight-related videotaped discussion. Discussions were taped and collected pre- and postintervention. Results No significant differences emerged in the quality of mother– adolescent communication between SBT (n ¼ 19) and SBT þ EP (n ¼ 19) participants, nor was baseline mother–adolescent communication quality associated with adolescents’ weight loss in either condition. However, a decline in communication quality was associated with better outcomes for adolescents participating in the SBT group. Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence that a change in mother– adolescent communication is associated with successful weight loss among adolescents.
The role of molecular analysis in the diagnosis and surveillance of pancreatic cystic neoplasms.

Context Molecular analysis of pancreatic cyst fluid obtained by EUS-FNA may increase diagnostic accuracy. We evaluated the utility of cyst-fluid molecular analysis, including mutational analysis of K- ras, loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at tumor suppressor loci, and DNA content in the diagnoses and surveillance of pancreatic cysts. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the Columbia University Pancreas Center database for all patients who underwent EUS/FNA for the evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions followed by surgical resection or surveillance between 2006-2011. We compared accuracy of molecular analysis for mucinous etiology and malignant behavior to cyst-fluid CEA and cytology and surgical pathology in resected tumors. We recorded changes in molecular features over serial encounters in tumors under surveillance. Differences across groups were compared using Student’s t or the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the Fisher’s exact test for binary variables. Results Among 40 resected cysts with intermediate-risk features, molecular characteristics increased the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA (n=11) but identified mucinous cysts less accurately than cyst fluid CEA (P=0.21 vs . 0.03). The combination of a K-ras mutation and ≥2 loss of heterozygosity was highly specific (96%) but insensitive for malignant behavior (50%). Initial data on surveillance (n=16) suggests that molecular changes occur frequently, and do not correlate with changes in cyst size, morphology, or CEA. Conclusions In intermediate-risk pancreatic cysts, the presence of a K- ras mutation or loss of heterozygosity suggests mucinous etiology. K- ras mutation plus ≥2 loss of heterozygosity is strongly associated with malignancy, but sensitivity is low; while the presence of these mutations may be helpful, negative findings are uninformative. Molecular changes are observed in the course of cyst surveillance, which may be significant in long-term follow-up. Image: Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University. New York, NY, USA.
Solar Forcing of Drought Frequency in the Maya Lowlands

We analyzed lake-sediment cores from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, to reconstruct the climate history of the region over the past 2600 years. Time series analysis of sediment proxies, which are sensitive to the changing ratio of evaporation to precipitation (oxygen isotopes and gypsum precipitation), reveal a recurrent pattern of drought with a dominant periodicity of 208 years. This cycle is similar to the documented 206-year period in records of cosmogenic nuclide production (carbon-14 and beryllium-10) that is thought to reflect variations in solar activity. We conclude that a significant component of century-scale variability in Yucatan droughts is explained by solar forcing. Furthermore, some of the maxima in the 208-year drought cycle correspond with discontinuities in Maya cultural evolution, suggesting that the Maya were affected by these bicentennial oscillations in precipitation.
Constrained-film sintering of a gold circuit paste

We studied the constrained-film sintering of a gold circuit paste used in microelectronic packaging applications. Optical techniques were developed to determine the shrinkage profiles of constrained and free films and stresses generated during sintering in the constrained films. Constrained films approximately 60 μm thick were made by multiple screen-printing of the gold paste on rigid alumina substrates, while the free films were obtained by peeling off portions of the gold films from the substrate after binder burnout. Constrained films for stress measurement were made by multiple screen-printing on an oxidized 25 μm thick silicon substrate. Sintering runs were done in a hot stage at temperatures between 650 °C and 900 °C. The densification rates were much lower in the constrained films than those in the free films. The in-plane tensile stresses in the constrained films, determined by wafer curvature measurement, rose rapidly to a maximum level of 510 kPa during the initial stage of sintering and then gradually decreased. The reduction in the sintering potential due to the hydrostatic stress is not large enough to completely account for the retarded densification in constrained films. SEM micrographs of the film microstructures after sintering showed no-significant difference in grain growth kinetics between the constrained and free films. However, the activation energy for densification was found to be very different between the two types of films, 90.1 ± 4.3 kJ/mole for the free film and 188.8 ± 6.7 kJ/mole for the constrained film. We suggest that the retarded densification kinetics in the constrained gold films is due to (i) the reduction in the sintering potential by the hydrostatic stress and (ii) a change in the dominant sintering mechanism from grain-boundary diffusion in the free films to lattice diffusion in the constrained films.
Aerosol Formation in Electrospray Ionization Using a Microfluidic Emitter

This work presents simulation of aerosol formation in electrospray ionization (ESI) using a carbon fiber (CF) emitter. The model predicts droplet fission and trajectories of the droplets in a steady medium, within a monodisperse EHD spray in a Lagrangian framework. The droplet fission is simulated based on the principle of minimum free energy and droplet trajectories are predicted using Lagrangian single-droplet tracking method. The numerical model is validated by comparing model predictions with experimental results. The aerosol formation process using the CF emitter is simulated and results are presented and discussed.
The Knot Polynomials

The underlying knot-theoretic structure developed in this book is a chain of successively weaker invariants of knot type. The sequence of knot polynomials, to which this chapter is devoted, is the last in the chain $$ \begin{gathered} \quad \quad \quad \quad knot\,type\,of\,K \hfill \\ \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \downarrow \hfill \\ presentation\,type\;of\,\pi \left( {{R^3} - K} \right) \hfill \\ \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \downarrow \hfill \\ sequence\,of\,elementary\,ideals \hfill \\ \quad \quad \quad \quad \quad \;\;\; \downarrow \hfill \\ sequence\,of\,knot\,polynomials \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ .
The Effect of 'Check the Box' on U.S. Multinational Tax Rates

This paper examines changes in current foreign effective tax rates for U.S. versus foreign multinational corporations (MNCs) after a U.S. tax change known as check-the-box (CTB) became effective. We find that U.S. MNCs reported current foreign effective tax rates that declined approximately 9 percentage points more than foreign MNCs in the post-CTB period, suggesting that CTB allowed these U.S. firms to engage in more effective foreign tax planning. Because the U.S. taxes foreign income up to the U.S. tax rate when repatriated, we examine whether these foreign tax savings were maintained, or whether they were offset by additional U.S. tax. We find no significant change in U.S. tax rates on foreign income in the post-CTB period suggesting that more foreign earnings were retained offshore after CTB became effective. Thus, CTB likely played a role in maintaining the competitive balance between U.S. and foreign MNCs worldwide effective tax rates as found in prior studies. Finally, given the significant change in foreign effective tax rates, we examine whether investors reacted to CTB announcements, but we do not find a stock price response.
A human capital model of the defense-growth relationship

This paper develops a model to illustrate how human capital investments made by the defense sector impact economic performance. Emphasizing the on-the-job accumulation of human capital during milit...
A model for removing transcranial current stimulation artifacts in concurrently measured EEG

Transcranial current stimulation (tCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has shown promise for studying and improving brain function. It can be applied with low-amplitude direct (tDCS), alternating (tACS) or random noise (tRNS) currents. EEG, with its high temporal resolution, portability, and affordability, offers great advantages in investigating the effects of tCS on brain activity. However, concurrent EEG acquisition and tCS stimulation suffers from the drawback that injected current induces significant artifacts on simultaneously acquired EEG. Furthermore, stimulus-current-induced artifacts in measured voltages have powers that are large compared to that of EEG, in the frequency range of interest for EEG analysis. While simple high-pass filtering of the EEG would eliminate artifacts from tDCS, it is not suitable when stimulating with frequencies in the range of significant EEG activity (1–40 Hz). This occurs both in low-frequency tACS/tRNS and in high-pass filtered tRNS, as even in the latter case substantial power will remain at EEG frequencies. In such cases, attenuating tRNS artifacts in EEG requires a more comprehensive model, such as the one we present here.
DNA polymerase β inhibitors from Baeckea gunniana

Crude plant extracts were surveyed for their ability to inhibit DNA polymerase β. A methyl ethyl ketone extract prepared from Baeckea gunniana was identified as a potent inhibitor of the enzyme. Bi...
Angularly correlated two-electron repulsion operators

The Bohr model for two-electron atoms is modified to include angular correlation effects in an empirical fashion. An extension of the model to two-centers is given. Simple expressions for one- and two-center Coulomb repulsion integrals are derived and compared with semi-empirical approximations.
The Perceived Value of the Specialist Credential in Practice

The purpose of this two-part study was to determine the motivation for seeking specialist certification and the perceived impact of specialist certification in practice. First, all applicants (N = 702) sitting for a specialist examination in February 1989 were surveyed on their motivation for taking the examination. From the 493 responses by examination applicants (70%), the three most reported reasons for earning the specialist credential were to satisfy personal goals, enhance career mobility, and improve salary. A sample of 500 practitioners who earned a specialist certification offered by the Board of Registry were surveyed on the value of this credential in their current positions. Of the specialists who responded, 257 (51 %) reported that the specialty certification was an asset for career mobility, job enhancement, or advancement.
Growth and Characterization of Fept Compound thin Films

FePt alloy films were deposited at 50 and 49°C onto amorphous SiO2 and single crystal [001] MgO and [0001] Al2O3 using DC magnetron cosputtering, resulting in polycrystalline and [001] and [111] epitaxial films, respectively. High temperature deposition resulted in ordered films with the tetragonal Ll structure and out-of-plane magnetic easy axes while low temperature deposition yielded chemically disordered fcc alloys with in-plane easy axes. Significant modification of the magneto-optic Kerr spectrum is observed for ordered relative to disordered alloys for all orientations. The Kerr rotation has a strong orientation dependence for the ordered, but not disordered films.
Some Eriophyid Species (Acarina: Eriophyidae) from Mexico

Eriophyes neopiperis, Aceria neocordiae, A. macatlunis, A. triumfettae , and Acalitus batissimus , all new species, are described and illustrated. The species were collected in a rain forest area about 160 miles south of the Tropic of Cancer in western Mexico.
Gastric acid and pepsin hypersecretion in conscious rabbits.

In conscious, gastric fistula rabbits, gastric acid and pepsin secretion averaged 4.5 +/- 0.1 mmol/h (1.3 mmol.kg-1.h-1) and 4.9 +/- 0.3 IU/h (1.6 IU.kg-1.h-1), respectively; these values represent approximately 40-50% of maximal output. Basal serum gastrin concentrations averaged 24 +/- 4 pg/ml and did not correlate with basal acid secretion. Atropine and vagotomy incompletely inhibited basal acid secretion (by 84 and 50%, respectively) and completely inhibited 2-deoxy-D-glucose-stimulated gastric acid secretion. Atropine and vagotomy similarly inhibited basal pepsin secretion by 50 and 40%, respectively. Ranitidine decreased acid and pepsin secretion, but as with atropine, inhibition was not complete (73 and 37%, respectively). Although omeprazole did not affect pepsin secretion, omeprazole completely inhibited basal acid secretion and elevated postprandial intragastric pH above 5.0. Conscious, gastric fistula rabbits have the highest basal acid and pepsin output among species commonly studied. Both vagal-cholinergic pathways and histamine drive basal acid and pepsin secretion in the rabbit.