cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Grey Model(1,1)on Incidence Trends of the Syphilis in Yunnan

Objective To forecast the incidence trend of syphilis in Yunnan province,and provide references for preventive measures.Methods According to syphilis incidence in Yunnan province from 2001to 2010,the predictive mode was established under grey system theory.Results The grey forecast model was X(k+1)=4.0042e0.2785k-3.2813.The goodness-of-fit test indicated that the precision was qualified(C=0.1050.35,P=1)and the grey model was capable of forecasting incidence trend of syphilis.Conclusion The predictive results demonstrated that the incidence of syphilis will increase by 23.23% per year in Yunnan province from 2011to 2014.Pertinent efforts should be taken to strengthen the comprehensive preventive and control measures for syphilis,such as health education,therapy management and so on.
Branching Processes with Migration in Random Environments

Branching processes with migration in random environments are introduced in this paper.Its Markov propertity、conditional generating function and conditional expectation on random environments are obtained.Also the properties of conditional expectations on random environments of the number of particles migrating in each generation and that of descendants produced by a single particle in each generation are discussed.
The last millennium climate reanalysis project: Framework and first results

An “offline” approach to DA is used, where static ensemble samples are drawn from existing CMIP climate-model simulations to serve as the prior estimate of climate variables. We use linear, univariate forward models (“proxy system models (PSMs)”) that map climate variables to proxy measurements by fitting proxy data to 2 m air temperature from gridded instrumental temperature data; the linear PSMs are then used to predict proxy values from the prior estimate. Results for the LMR are compared against six gridded instrumental temperature data sets and 25% of the proxy records are withheld from assimilation for independent verification. Results show broad agreement with previous reconstructions of Northern Hemisphere mean 2 m air temperature, with millennial-scale cooling, a multicentennial warm period around 1000 C.E., and a cold period coincident with the Little Ice Age (circa 1450–1800 C.E.). Verification against gridded instrumental data sets during 1880–2000 C.E. reveals greatest skill in the tropics and lowest skill over Northern Hemisphere land areas. Verification against independent proxy records indicates substantial improvement relative to the model (prior) data without proxy assimilation. As an illustrative example, we present multivariate reconstructed fields for a singular event, the 1808/1809 “mystery” volcanic eruption, which reveal global cooling that is strongly enhanced locally due to the presence of the Pacific-North America wave pattern in the 500 hPa geopotential height field.
Rediscovering Don Swanson: the Past, Present and Future of Literature-Based Discovery.

Feature representation is one of the key issues in data clustering. The existing feature representation of scientific data is not sufficient, which to some extent affects the result of scientific data clustering. Therefore, the paper proposes a concept of composite text description (CTD) and a CTD-based feature representation method for biomedical scientific data. The method mainly uses different feature weight algorisms to represent candidate features based on two types of data sources respectively, combines and finally strengthens the two feature sets. Experiments show that comparing with traditional methods, the feature representation method is more effective than traditional methods and can significantly improve the performance of biomedcial data clustering.
My Headache Is Gone, But My Leg Now Hurts

This case discusses the pharmacokinetic interaction between methysergide and erythromycin resulting in vasospasm. Methysergide is a cytochrome P450 3A4 substrate and erythromycin is a 3A4 inhibitor.
Ca current facilitation during postrest recovery depends on Ca entry.

Whole cell Ca current (ICa) recovery after periods of rest was examined in voltage-clamped rabbit ventricular myocytes with Na and K currents suppressed. To evaluate rest-dependent changes in ICa i...
Gate slow transients in GaAs MESFETs-causes, cures, and impact on circuits

Gate slow transient (or gate lag) in GaAs MESFETs were investigated and found to be responsible for pulse narrowing and loss of transmitted pulses in long inverter chains. Gate transients are caused by surface states near the edges of the gate. Gate transients can be drastically reduced in recessed gate MESFETs by controlling the gate trough geometry so that gates fit tightly in the bottom of the trough. Doping level and passivation also affect gate lag, although they are of less importance than trough geometry. Isolation technique and subchannel material structure do not strongly affect gate lag. Dispersion of FET output conductance is also found to be independent of gate lag. >
Evaluation of an ozonation system for reduced waste sludge generation.

The ultimate disposal of biosolids has been and continues to be one of the most expensive problems faced by wastewater utilities. Previous work has shown that the waste sludge generation in an activated sludge plant can be reduced by promoting cryptic growth conditions (i.e., biomass growth on intracellular products). For this purpose, excess biosolids from a continuous flow activated sludge system were solubilized using ozone as the cell lysing agent, and then returned to the aeration tank. The results of these preliminary studies indicate that the proposed process configuration has the potential to reduce the waste sludge production by 40% to 60%. In the present research, the details of the ozonation process is further investigated to determine the maximum solubilization efficiency. For this purpose, a number of variables such as the solids concentration in the excess sludge, ozonation time, and ozonation dosage rate are studied.
A phase II multicenter study evaluating combination immunotherapy with pembrolizumab and peginterferon alfa-2b for advanced cholangiocarcinoma.

TPS507Background: No effective therapy is available for patients (pts) with advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CC) after disease progression on first-line chemotherapy. In Phase I studies, pembrolizumab (pem) showed activity in pts with advanced CC. Interferon alpha-2b was shown to increase tumor immune infiltrates. In order to improve the response rate (RR) of pts with CC to pem, we propose to combine sylatron with pem in an open-label, single-arm, multicenter Phase II study. Methods: To be eligible for study, pts must have CC, manifesting as either intrahepatic, extrahepatic or gallbladder cancer that is unresectable, metastatic, and has either failed to respond to or demonstrated progression on frontline chemotherapy. Forty-four pts will be enrolled on study to receive SC sylatron (200 mg) weekly for 12 weeks, and IV pem (200mg) once every 3 weeks, starting on week 4 (at the same time as the 4th dose of sylatron), until pts experience disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, or withdraw consent. CT scan...
Reliability of velocity measurements made by monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tools in fast formations

ABSTRACTThe accuracy of velocity measurements made using a monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling (ALWD) measurement tool is influenced by the eccentering of the tool due to complex drill string movements. We have used the velocity of collar flexural mode (at the source frequency range) as a reference and classified the fast formations into (1) fast-fast (FF) formations with compressional velocity far larger than the collar flexural velocity and (2) slow-fast (SF) formations with compressional velocity approaching that of the collar flexural velocity. We use a 3D finite-difference method to simulate the response of an eccentered monopole ALWD tool with different eccentering magnitudes (offsets) for the two types of formations to facilitate better interpretation of velocity measurements made in an actual drilling environment. We find that the collar extensional mode, existing in the centralized and eccentered tool cases, only affects the formation P-wave measurement and can be eliminated by using an isol...
INDIAN BUSINESSMEN IN KENYA DURING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: A CASE STUDY

Despite a fairly extensive secondary literature on Indians in . East Africa, there remains a number of significant gaps in our knowledge of their activities. In the most studied field, the political arena, internal. Indian politics, especially on the . caste/community level, have been totally ignored. Similarly, the economic role of Indians in East Africa has been presented only in the most general terms and we still do not have a clear understanding of the actual activities of individuals and their firms. There is a pressing need for specific studies. One of the more interesting and impotant phenomena of Indian behavior in East Africa is the relationship between social networks, in' particular those of caste and kin, and economic activities. To grasp better the nature of these linkages, the dissertation focuses on one caste, the Visa Oshwal Community in Kenya (popularly known as "Shahs"), as a case study, and within this community on two family groups. Asa micro-analysis, it is very much concerned with the activities and motivations of specific individuals. Using these two families as a starting point, I was able to "work outward" along kinship lines, including marriage, and contact every major commercial and industrial firm of the caste. In addition, interviews were One of the more interesting and impotant phenomena of Indian behavior in East Africa is the relationship between social networks, in' particular those of caste and kin, and economic activities. To grasp better the nature of these linkages, the dissertation focuses on one caste, the Visa Oshwal Community in Kenya (popularly known as "Shahs"), as a case study, and within this community on two family groups. Asa micro-analysis, it is very much concerned with the activities and motivations of specific individuals. Using these two families as a starting point, I was able to "work outward" along kinship lines, including marriage, and contact every major commercial and industrial firm of the caste. In addition, interviews wereconducted with a number of other people, primarily Indians, from many communities and occupations
Low-cost metamaterial-on-paper chemical sensor

We present a disposable low cost paper-based sensor for sensing chemicals based on their intrinsic dielectric properties. The sensor is based on resonance shift in metamaerials from the change in capacitance of each resonator unit cell. Key novelty in the design is the implementation of metamaterial on ubiquitous paper substrate. This metamaterial-on-paper sensor is fabricated in a totally cleanroom-free process using wax and screen printing. Wax patterning enables creation of microfluidic channels to deliver samples to each resonator in an array. We demonstrate sensing of liquids: Oil, methanol, glycerol and water each having average resonance frequency shift of 1.12, 4.12, 8.76 and 11.63 gigahertz from a center frequency of 95 GHz respectively. Being label-free, this approach can be used to sense most chemicals based on their dielectric constants.
Developmental Neurotoxicity of General Anesthetics

Abstract Many studies using laboratory animals have demonstrated that exposure to general anesthesia during critical periods of development can be harmful to the immature brain. In particular, preclinical studies have shown that developmental exposure to general anesthetics results in widespread neuronal cell death, as well as long-term deficits in cognitive function. Nevertheless, the ability of general anesthetics to produce similar effects in humans has not been proven. Although many retrospective observational studies in humans have shown an association between developmental exposure to anesthesia and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, other studies have not. To clarify this relationship, continuing clinical investigations are underway. Likewise, preclinical studies are continuing to explore the potential mechanisms of action responsible for anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity, as well as to identify effective prevention and treatment strategies. This research aims to shed further light upon the phenomenon, allowing for the development of ameliorative or preventative strategies leading to best practice guidance for the protection of public health.
Providing Additional "Muscle" for Older Adults Through Optimal Influenza Vaccine Selection.

Immunization is the best strategy to protect individuals from influenza; however, older adults tend to respond less favorably to vaccines because of immunosenescence. The Centers for Disease Contro...
Engineering Identity Development: A Review of the Higher Education Literature

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to appraise and synthesize the current scholarship pertaining to engineering identity development within the higher education context and create recommendations for future scholarship within engineering education. A review of the literature concluded that research on engineering identity development has increased over the past ten years, has been conducted primarily with qualitative methods, and has been primarily limited to academic communities focused on mathematics, science, and engineering education. In addition, current scholarship reflected that most of the work in this area has focused on the learning contexts and experiences of women and underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities with less focus on men, international, or graduate students. Future scholarship in this area should focus on expanding forms of engineering identity frameworks and focus to facilitate greater understanding of engineering identity development.
Tuning of search of the problem space for geometry proofs

In planning a proof, a student searches through a space of inferences leading forward from the givens of the problem and backward from the to-be-proven statement. One dimension of growth of expertise is that students become more tuned in the search of this problem space. This can be shown to result from the application of various learning operators to production embodiments of the inference rules. Rules are evaluated after the solution of a problem according to whether they led to or led away from the solution. Rules that contributed to a solution are strengthened and an attempt is made to formulate general versions of these rules that will apply in other situations. Rules that led away from the solution are weakened and a discrimination process is evoked to try to add features to the rules that will try to restrict them to the correct circumstances of application. Composition is a learning process that collapses successful sequences of rule operations into single macro-rule productions. There is also a process that converts the backward reasoning rules formed by composition into forward reasoning rules. The effect of these learning processes is to put into production conditions tests for problem features that are heunstically predictive of the rule's success.
From Dispute Resolution to Peacemaking: A Review of Collaborative Divorce Handbook: Helping Families Without Going to Court by Forrest S. Mosten

Collaborative law is “a voluntary, contractually based alternative dispute resolution process for parties who seek to negotiate a resolution of their matter rather than having a ruling imposed upon them by a court or arbitrator.” Collaborative practice may be seen as merely the newest branch of the growing Alternative Dispute Resolution tree. But that view would underestimate its potential impact and mistake its aims. Collaborative lawyers such as Forrest S. Mosten challenge the dictum that negotiation must occur “in the shadow of the law.” Collaborative practitioners find legalistic prescription too confining in their - and their clients’ - search for real-world solutions to the legal, financial, and emotional dilemmas which arise during family dissolution and reorganization. Collaborative practice aims to radically alter the culture of lawyering and knock the ground out from under the major premises of the adversarial system. Collaborative Law is, in short, subversive. That word implies an undermining and an upheaval. But of what? Of the fundamental idea that the client brings the lawyer a problem for the lawyer to solve. Mosten targets his audience of “potential collaborative professionals,” advising them to reject “adversarial jousting” and devote themselves instead to fostering client empowerment. Mosten is well aware that clients - especially those in the grip of the raging emotions which often fuel the break-up of a family - may not be in the best psychological position to use empowerment wisely. But he insists that the best role for counsel to play in this maelstrom is to foster the client’s development of “a rational sense of self to overcome fierce and long-held reactive emotions” toward his or her spouse. Indeed, the attorney should not only model good lawyering but also teach effective client behavior. “People are not born clients,” and the role of a client seeking his or her best interests (instead of one simply pushing positions) needs to be learned. The best teacher, Mosten believes, is a collaborative lawyer. His Collaborative Divorce Handbook provides a step-by-step guide to the concepts, tools, and strategies needed to enter or improve upon collaborative practice. But, more significantly, Mosten’s text provides a compelling call to re-center legal practice around the client in a fundamentally different way.
Evaluation of heparin prophylaxis protocol on deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in traumatic brain injury

There is currently no accepted standard for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) prophylaxis in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of implementing a subcutaneous heparin prophylaxis protocol for patients with TBI that began in our hospital as of June 2009. In our retrospective cohort study, we examined 3812 TBI records between January 2007 and December 2011. A significant reduction in the risk of DVT/PE development was not demonstrated by comparing DVT and PE incidences before and after protocol implementation. A clear trend between heparin use and DVT occurrence could not be determined from a review of TBI records after June 2009. The use of heparin after initiation of our protocol among operative TBI cases without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) based on admission head computed tomography was 58 per cent. ICH complication from heparin prophylaxis was 10.6 per cent for patients with TBI with ICH on admission (five of 47 cases) compared with 0.7 per cent for those without ICH on admission (four of 535 cases).
Generation planning for electric power utilities under market uncertainties: a real options approach

The generation business in the U.S. is currently undergoing a transition from a regulated monopoly toward an uncertain, competitive market. Under the competitive market, the price of electric power as well as the corresponding revenue may be much less certain than before. These market uncertainties have increased the significance of two critical factors in generation planning. These factors are financial risks and managerial flexibilities. In order to quantitatively and objectively address these two factors in generation planning, in this dissertation, we design and analyze a series of mathematical models based on the real options approach for generation planning. Hence, this dissertation can be viewed as a comprehensive study of the real options approach in generation planning. The dissertation begins with a simple multiple-project single-option model based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing formula. This is followed by a single-project multipleoption model based on geometric Brownian motion process, binomial lattice, and backward dynamic programming. Next, we design and analyze sophisticated multiple-project multiple-option models where the market values of the projects are assumed to be correlated. As before, we employ the backward dynamic programming over the lattice to determine the optimal options for the multiple projects and the corresponding values of the investment. Also, we investigate the roles of the correlation coefficients among projects in decision making and the value of an option. In addition, we construct and analyze a traditional generation planning model that incorporates forced customer outage costs and forced utility outage costs. By incorporating
THEORIZING THE PRESENT MOMENT : DEBATES BETWEEN MODERN AND POSTMODERN THEORY

The postmodern turn in social theory has unleashed furious debates about the proper methods, models, concepts, and politics that we need to make sense of and respond to the turbulent transformations within contemporary theory and society. Advocates of modern theories and politics such as Marxism, liberalism, or feminism continue to argue that classical models provide the best optic and tools to understand and intervene in the contemporary situation; and there continue to be Weberians, Durkheimians, Parsonsians, Habermasians, pragmatists and others who argue that we are still in the era of modernity and that classical modern theories and politics continue to be salient during the present era. Some postmodern theorists, by contrast, argue that modern theories and politics are obsolete in the current situation, that we have entered a new postmodern condition that requires new theories and politics.'
A Review of “Doing Couples Therapy Craft and Creativity in Work With Intimate Partners”

Robert Taibbi has written a clear, comprehensive, and straightforward guide to navigating the often turbulent waters of couples therapy. It is valuable as a text for therapists in training, as a to...
An artificial neural network approach for wafer dicing saw quality prediction

Abstract The wafer dicing saw is a critical process of the semiconductor IC assembly manufacturing, where chipping and cracking can damage internal circuits and result in device failure. This article applies back propagation neural networks to learn and analyze data transmitted from the machine sensors for predictive purposes. Experimental results show that neural network processing provides prediction accuracy of 75%. The results can be monitored during real-time machine operation. If predictive values exceed a certain specification, an alarm can be triggered to prevent product loss, thus increasing production efficiency.
Team Approach: Role of Medical and Surgical Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Hand and Wrist.

Treatment of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis affecting the hand and wrist can be a challenging endeavor. Optimal management for best outcomes includes careful collaboration between providers managing the medical treatment of the disease, therapists, hand surgeons, and the patient.In this revie
What is Christian Democracy?: Politics, Religion and Ideology

Christian Democratic actors and thinkers have been at the forefront of many of the twentieth century's key political battles - from the construction of the international human rights regime, through the process of European integration and the creation of postwar welfare regimes, to Latin American development policies during the Cold War. Yet their core ideas remain largely unknown, especially in the English-speaking world. Combining conceptual and historical approaches, Carlo Invernizzi Accetti traces the development of this ideology in the thought and writings of some of its key intellectual and political exponents, from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. In so doing he sheds light on a number of important contemporary issues, from the question of the appropriate place of religion in presumptively 'secular' liberal-democratic regimes, to the normative resources available for building a political response to the recent rise of far-right populism.
Brain Timing Associated with Long-Term Memory

Learning Objectives • To understand the timing and location of brain activity associated with recollection and familiarity. • To contrast the evidence on both sides of the scientific debate about activity that has been associated with familiarity. • To describe what is meant by synchronous activity and how such activity indicates two brain regions interact. • To list the three frequency bands of brain activity associated with long-term memory. The large majority of human neuroscience research on long-term memory has focused on identifying the spatial locations of activity associated with this process (see Chapter 3). Although the temporal dimension of brain activity is often ignored, this does not mean that brain activity is static across time. In reality, brain activity changes rapidly across time, and the temporal dynamics of activity must be tracked to understand the brain mechanisms underlying memory. This chapter focuses on the timing of brain activity associated with long-term memory. As discussed previously (see Chapters 1 and 3), recollection refers to retrieval of detailed information, whereas familiarity refers to retrieval of non-detailed information. The chapter begins by introducing event-related potential (ERP) activations (see Chapter 2) that have been associated with familiarity and recollection (section 4.1). Familiarity has been associated with activity in frontal brain regions that occurs within 300 to 500 milliseconds after stimulus onset, while recollection has been associated with activity in parietal brain regions that occurs within 500 to 800 milliseconds after stimulus onset. In section 4.2, a scientific debate that has focused on the ERP activity associated with familiarity is discussed. In section 4.3, it is shown that synchronous activity in two different brain regions (i.e., activation timecourses that increase and decrease together) indicates that these regions interact. Such synchronous activity between regions during long-term memory typically occurs within specific frequency bands of activity including the theta frequency band (4 to 8 cycles per second, i.e., Hertz), the alpha frequency band (8 to 12 Hertz), and the gamma frequency band (greater than 30 Hertz). Theta activity reflects the interaction between the hippocampus and cortical regions during long-term memory, alpha activity reflects inhibition of cortical regions, and gamma activity reflects processing of features in different cortical regions that are combined to create a unified memory.
Psychosocial Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: An Integrative Review :

Background: Adolescents and young adults with cancer sit in a precarious position facing an increasing cancer incidence while incidence in other age groups has been declining. A cancer diagnosis at this age imposes undue distress in a demographic with limited coping resources creating psychosocial needs that differ from children and older adults. Addressing psychosocial needs early in the cancer trajectory is postulated as an approach to address distress, improve quality of life, and promote optimal outcomes from therapy. The purpose of this review is to identify current successful approaches to psychosocial care in adolescents and young adults receiving therapy for cancer. Method: An integrative review of publications identified through six relevant databases was conducted. Thematic analysis was performed to identify types of interventions followed by assessment of publication level of evidence, quality, and a critique of the effectiveness of interventions. Findings: A total of 6,292 articles were identified and 17 met inclusion criteria for this review. Thematic analysis and critique identified six themes for intervention approaches with mixed outcomes: creative expression, promoting peer interactions, individual coaching, employing technology, promoting physical activity, and clinical interactions. Discussion: Adolescent and young adult psychosocial needs while receiving treatment are complex and best addressed with the involvement of an interdisciplinary team. Effective interventions include those that have been tailored to the patient and consider the individual's developmental stage. Interventions that promote autonomy and decision making, provide privacy, are executed in individual sessions, and facilitate social/peer interactions have been more successful in improving psychosocial outcomes.
Risk of Infection in Thumb Carpometacarpal Surgery After Corticosteroid Injection.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients who had an intra-articular corticosteroid injection into the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint for the treatment of arthritis within the 3 months before CMC joint arthroplasty or arthrodesis were at increased risk for wound complication/infection and/or repeat surgery for wound complication/infection in comparison with patients who did not receive an injection within 6 months or who received an injection between 3 and 6 months before surgery. Methods We identified 5,046 patients in the Humana claims database who underwent surgery for CMC joint arthritis. The patients were stratified into 3 groups: (1) no thumb injection within 6 months of CMC joint surgery, (2) thumb injection between 3 and 6 months before CMC joint surgery, and (3) thumb injection within 3 months before CMC joint surgery. The primary outcome was wound complication/infection within 90 days after surgery. The secondary outcome was repeat surgery for wound complication/infection within 90 days after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between the timing of injection and wound complication/infection and repeat surgery for wound complication/infection. Results The rates of wound complication/infection within 90 days after surgery were similar among the 3 study groups. However, patients who received an intra-articular corticosteroid injection within 3 months before surgery had a 2.2 times greater likelihood of repeat surgery for a wound complication/infection compared with patients who did not have an injection within 6 months before surgery. Conclusions Patients who receive an intra-articular corticosteroid injection within the 3 months before surgery for CMC joint arthritis may be at increased risk of repeat surgery to treat a wound complication/infection in the 90-day postoperative period . Type of study/level of evidence Prognostic II.
Procalcitonin to Predict Severity of Acute Cholangitis and Need for Urgent Biliary Decompression: Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract Background Serum Procalcitonin (PCT) has been reported as a potential biomarker to predict the severity of acute cholangitis (AC) or the need for urgent biliary decompression. This study aimed to identify and summarize the existing research about the serum PCT and the severity of AC, and to find gaps where future studies can be targeted towards. Methods Following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were searched for all peer-reviewed articles with relevant keywords including “cholangitis” and “procalcitonin” from their inception to July 13, 2021. Results We identified six studies. All the studies employed case-control design and aimed to evaluate the usefulness of serum PCT to predict the severity of AC with key identified outcomes. While potential cut-off values of serum PCT for severe AC ranged from 1.8–3.1 ng/mL, studies used different severity criteria and the definition of urgent biliary decompression. No studies proposed cut-off PCT values for the need for urgent biliary decompression. Conclusion This scoping review identified that the current level of evidence regarding the usefulness of serum PCT in assessing the severity of AC. Further clinical research is warranted with a focus on standardized outcome measures employing prospective or experimental designs.
Nurse practitioners' inability to prescribe buprenorphine: Limitations of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000

Purpose: To identify the limitations of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) and to discuss the merits of one possible solution: granting nurse practitioners (NPs) the authority to prescribe buprenorphine. Data sources: The DATA 2000 and related literature. Conclusions: Abuse of prescription opioid medications is a significant economic and public health burden. Buprenorphine is a highly effective medication that is used in the outpatient treatment of opioid-dependent patients. However, the DATA 2000 permits only physicians to prescribe this medication, substantially reducing patient access to potentially life-sustaining treatment. Implications for practice: Like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, addiction is a chronic condition that can be treated with lifestyle modifications, patient education, and appropriate medication. NPs are highly effective caregivers to patients with chronic disease. Granting NPs prescriptive authority for buprenorphine will improve access to treatment and patient outcomes. It will also enhance NP autonomy and authority, especially in states in which NPs practice independently.
Artificial pacing of the human heart: its contribution to the understanding of the arrhythmias.

Abstract Nineteen different disturbances of impulse formation or impulse conduction, or both, are pointed out; they were elucidated by artificial pacing, some in conjunction with the recording of His bundle electrograms. The following 8 are discussed in some detail and illustrated by representative electrocardiograms: (1) depression of impulse formation and conduction after premature stimulation; (2) complete atrioventricular (A-V) dissociation during partial (first or second degree) A-V block; (3) and (4) concealed conduction in the A-V bundle and in the bundle branch system (its different role in type I and type II block); (5) unidirectional A-V block (dependence of its manifestation oh the rate relationship of the atria and ventricles); (6) supernormal phase of conduction in type II A-V block (enhancing effect of concealed retrograde [V-A] conduction on antegrade [A-V] conduction); (7) parasystole (fixed coupling as a result of “reversed” coupling); and (8) reciprocating tachycardia (point of reflection of the retrograde impulse below the atria).
Navigating the graphical user interface (GUI) by the visually impaired computer user

The use of modern computers by the visually handicapped has become more difficult over the past few years. In earlier systems the user interface was a simple character based environment. In those systems, simple devices like screen readers, braille output and speech synthesizers were effective. Current systems now run Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) which have rendered these simple aids almost use-less. What has become an enabling technology for the sighted computer user is rapidly becoming a disabling technology for the visually impaired.
Of men in mice: the success and promise of humanized mouse models for human malaria parasite infections.

Summary Forty percent of people worldwide are at risk of malaria infection, and despite control efforts it remains the most deadly parasitic disease. Unfor- tunately, rapid discovery and development of new interventions for malaria are hindered by the lack of small animal models that support the complex life cycles of the main parasite species infecting humans. Such tools must accommodate human parasite tropism for human tissue. Mouse models with human tissue developed to date have already enhanced our knowledge of human parasites, and are useful tools for assessing anti-parasitic inter- ventions. Although these systems are imperfect, their continued refinement will likely broaden their utility. Some of the malaria parasite's interactions with human hepatocytes and human erythrocytes can already be modelled with available humanized mouse systems. However, interactions with other relevant human tissues such as the skin and immune system, as well as most transitions between life cycle stages in vivo will require refine- ment of existing humanized mouse models. Here, we review the recent successes achieved in mod- elling human malaria parasite biology in human- ized mice, and discuss how these models have potential to become a valuable part of the toolbox used for understanding the biology of, and devel- opment of interventions to, malaria.
Scaling relations for $2$D-percolation

We prove that the relations 2D-percolation hold for the usual critical exponents for 2D-percolation, provided the exponents δ andv exist. Even without the last assumption various relations (inequalities) are obtained for the singular behavior near the critical point of the correlation length, the percolation probability, and the average cluster size. We show that in our models the above critical exponents have the same value for approach ofp to the critical probability from above and from below.
The Treatment of Cyanide Poisoning in Children

The widely published schedule for the treatment of cyanide poisoning by the nitrite thiosulfate method of Chen is based on adult work and is potentially lethal for children under 25 kg in weight. Unless a dose of sodium nitrite appropriate for the amount of hemoglobin in the child is chosen, lethal methemoglobinemia may result. The dose of NaNO2 for children with a hemoglobin of 12 gm/100 ml is 10 mg/kg per body weight immediately and 5 mg/kg repeated within 30 minutes if necessary.
Using multimedia courseware in engineering education

The paper presents the use of multimedia tools in teaching engineering courses. In particular we discuss the use of "courseware" in conducting classroom teaching for the first electrical engineering circuits course. Some of the questions and/or concerns that have been raised regarding the use of a courseware package and advantages and disadvantages of using such an approach including the developer's comments and students' reactions are included. A brief summary of the steps required to produce courseware is also provided. The results presented are based on an ongoing project that has been partially funded by the Pennsylvania State University and Lenohard Engineering Center of Excellence. The courseware modules are a series of executable files that can be used in a Windows environment. They also provide links to other useful software packages such as PSPICE and MATLAB. Various examples utilizing these programs are included in the package. A working courseware example is also presented.
Agent-oriented epistemic reasoning: subjective conditions of knowledge and belief

This paper introduces a formal system Σ of subjective epistemic reasoning that encodes a method of reasoning with conditions of knowledge and belief. The conditions are subjective in that they are taken from the perspective of an agent's perception of his own state of knowledge or belief with respect to his observable world. Belief is measured along a series of linguistic degrees, e.g., strongly believes, fairly confidently believes, somewhat disbelieves, etc., and knowledge is taken as unequivocal belief. The system employs a novel, dual-leveled language that follows fuzzy logic by interpreting the logical or and and as the arithmetical max and min. Numerous properties of Σ, illustrating its intuitive appeal for the intended purpose, are derived.
A low-tech introduction to operating systems

Operating systems can be taught using DOS as the basis for an introductory course. This approach is both practical and pedagogically sound. It leads to a course which is valuable both as a terminal course on operating systems and as the basis for further theoretical study. It is possible to use DOS as an environment for teaching rudiments of multitasking.
Using case-parent triads to estimate relative risks associated with a candidate haplotype.

Summary Estimating haplotype relative risks in a family-based study is complicated by phase ambiguity and the many parameters needed to quantify relative risks for all possible diplotypes. This problem becomes manageable if a particular haplotype has been implicated previously as relevant to risk. We fit log-linear models to estimate the risks associated with a candidate haplotype relative to the aggregate of other haplotypes. Our approach uses existing haplotype-reconstruction algorithms but requires assumptions about the distribution of haplotypes among triads in the source population. We consider three levels of stringency for those assumptions: Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE), random mating, and no assumptions at all. We assessed our method's performance through simulations encompassing a range of risk haplotype frequencies, missing data patterns, and relative risks for either offspring or maternal genetic effects. The unconstrained model provides robustness to bias from population structure but requires excessively large sample sizes unless there are few haplotypes. Assuming HWE accommodates many more haplotypes but sacrifices robustness. The model assuming random mating is intermediate, both in the number of haplotypes it can handle and in robustness. To illustrate, we reanalyze data from a study of orofacial clefts to investigate a 9-SNP candidate haplotype of the IRF6 gene.
Utilization effect of integrating a chest radiography room into a thoracic surgery ward.

Purpose Bedside chest radiography (CXR) represents a substantial fraction of the volume of medical imaging for inpatient health care facilities. However, its image quality is limited compared with posterior-anterior/lateral (PA/LAT) acquisitions taken in radiographic rooms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of bedside CXR and other chest imaging modalities before and after placing a radiography room within a thoracic surgical inpatient ward. Methods All patient admissions (n = 3,852) to the thoracic surgical units between April 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010, were retrospectively identified. All chest imaging tests performed for these patients, including CT scans, MRI, ultrasound, and bedside and PA/LAT radiography, were counted. The primary outcome measure was chest imaging utilization, defined as the number of chest examinations per admission, before and after the establishment of the digital radiography room on January 10, 2010. Statistical analysis was performed using an independent-samples t test to evaluate changes in chest imaging utilization. Results A 2.61-fold increase in the number of PA/LAT CXR studies per admission ( P P Conclusions Establishing a radiography room physically within thoracic surgery units or in close proximity can significantly shift CXR utilization from bedside to PA/LAT acquisitions, which may enable opportunities for improvement in efficiency, quality, and safety in patient care.
Lowering the Basement Floor: From Community Colleges to the For-Profit Revolution

For-profit colleges have become a major force in higher education. They claim to offer a career-oriented practical education that is an alternative to community and four-year colleges. Often they fail to provide what they promise. Rather than being a new alternative, for-profits are the new basement floor of education, offering substandard educations at inflated prices. The primacy of profit motives and especially financialization means that for-profits are more like a financial instrument of neoliberal policies than educational institutions. Fueled by the reliance on federal student loans for operations expenses, educational aims are secondary to advertising and recruitment of a continuing supply of students without much regard for graduation rates. They appeal to first-generation students and recent immigrants with little information about higher education or the job market.
Holmium laser for stone management

The efficiency and safety profile of the holmium laser has made this tool a versatile multi-purpose instrument for use in the endoscopic treatment of a wide variety of urologic disorders, in particular urinary calculi. Herein we review holmium laser physics, current endourologic laser lithotripsy applications, and the performance of new low power holmium laser devices.
Multimodal Switching of Conformation and Solubility in Homocysteine Derived Polypeptides

We report the design and synthesis of poly(S-alkyl-L-homocysteine)s, which were found to be a new class of readily prepared, multiresponsive polymers that possess the unprecedented ability to respond in different ways to different stimuli, either through a change in chain conformation or in water solubility. The responsive properties of these materials are also effected under mild conditions and are completely reversible for all pathways. The key components of these polymers are the incorporation of water solubilizing alkyl functional groups that are integrated with precisely positioned, multiresponsive thioether linkages. This promising system allows multimodal switching of polypeptide properties to obtain desirable features, such as coupled responses to multiple external inputs.
Effect of pressure on sulfate ion association in sea water

Abstract The effect of pressure on the association of Mg2+, Ca2+ and Na+ with SO42− in seawater is estimated from partial molal volume data. The results indicate that the concentration of the ion-pair MgSO4° in seawater decreases with increasing pressure as expected, rather than increasing as estimated by Kester and Pytkowicz (1970).
Sequence Heterogeneity of Nef Transcripts in HIV-1-Infected Subjects at Different Stages of Disease

Abstract Nef transcripts were analyzed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 10 HIV-1-infected subjects with 9-822 CD4+ lymphocytes/cu mm, including 4 individuals with a probable common source infection. There was no relationship between the phylogenetic position of the various nef sequences and the disease state of the person from whom they were derived. The nef open reading frame was disrupted in all three clones from only 1 subject. Functional analyses of a representative clone from each of the remaining 9 subjects showed that all nef alleles were capable of CD4 cell surface down-regulation, but only three nef alleles suppressed the induction of IL-2 transcription.
Effects of Predators and Injury over Different Time Scales in the Damselfly Ischnura posita (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Sublethal appendage injury or loss has been shown to alter many behaviors of animals, including foraging and predation avoidance. But most studies of this phenomenon to date have been short-term in scope, and longer term studies may produce different results as seen in some studies on predator effects. Larval damselflies routinely autotomize their caudal lamellae and encounter predators, making them ideal for comparisons of short-term and longer term effects of appendage loss and predator exposure. In this study, I examined activity and foraging of larval Ischnura posita (Hagen) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae), testing for effects of lamella loss and predator cues both in the short term (1 h) and the longer term (8 d). I predicted that both predators and injury would decrease activity and foraging for a short time and that these effects would diminish over time. Results indicated that only the most severe injuries affected foraging, delaying first prey capture when no predator was present; but injury did not affect total prey caught. In the 1-h experiment, damselflies had lower activity in the presence of predator cues, with no effect of injury, whereas the 8-day experiment showed no effect of predator cues on activity. I did not find a major effect of injury or predator cues on activity or foraging of larval damselflies; no effects were detectable over the entire 8-d study. I conclude that the ecological implications of such injuries in nature may often be negligible.