cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physicians' duty of compassion.

This is a time of change in American healthcare. Market forces are restructuring local delivery systems around competing managed care networks. Many leading proposals for healthcare reform intend a reshaping of the national healthcare marketplace itself. Periods of change create an opportunity to reassess traditional values and practices. Such reassessments can be used to help insure that current innovations and proposed reforms preserve and strengthen the best in the traditions of medicine. A legitimate focus of concern in the medical and medical ethics community has been the effect of these delivery system changes on the physician-patient relationship. For example, will the future American healthcare system support and encourage compassion by physicians? Suppose it does not. Would something of significant moral value have been lost? More pointedly, would a system that undervalued or frustrated physician compassion be incompatible with the moral obligations of physicians? In order to address these questions, we examine the meaning of compassion and the role it should play in the physician-patient relationship. We argue that compassion is a duty of all physicians. Because this is so, we believe that changes in the healthcare system must be judged, in part, by how well they protect and encourage compassionate conduct by physicians.
RNA CoMPASS: a dual approach for pathogen and host transcriptome analysis of RNA-seq datasets.

High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has become an instrumental assay for the analysis of multiple aspects of an organism's transcriptome. Further, the analysis of a biological specimen's associated microbiome can also be performed using RNA-seq data and this application is gaining interest in the scientific community. There are many existing bioinformatics tools designed for analysis and visualization of transcriptome data. Despite the availability of an array of next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis tools, the analysis of RNA-seq data sets poses a challenge for many biomedical researchers who are not familiar with command-line tools. Here we present RNA CoMPASS, a comprehensive RNA-seq analysis pipeline for the simultaneous analysis of transcriptomes and metatranscriptomes from diverse biological specimens. RNA CoMPASS leverages existing tools and parallel computing technology to facilitate the analysis of even very large datasets. RNA CoMPASS has a web-based graphical user interface with intrinsic queuing to control a distributed computational pipeline. RNA CoMPASS was evaluated by analyzing RNA-seq data sets from 45 B-cell samples. Twenty-two of these samples were derived from lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) generated by the infection of naive B-cells with the Epstein Barr virus (EBV), while another 23 samples were derived from Burkitt's lymphomas (BL), some of which arose in part through infection with EBV. Appropriately, RNA CoMPASS identified EBV in all LCLs and in a fraction of the BLs. Cluster analysis of the human transcriptome component of the RNA CoMPASS output clearly separated the BLs (which have a germinal center-like phenotype) from the LCLs (which have a blast-like phenotype) with evidence of activated MYC signaling and lower interferon and NF-kB signaling in the BLs. Together, this analysis illustrates the utility of RNA CoMPASS in the simultaneous analysis of transcriptome and metatranscriptome data. RNA CoMPASS is freely available at http://rnacompass.sourceforge.net/.
Formulation of a Markovian model of the major processing delays of the VUCC DECsystem-1099

For several years there has been widespread interest in optimizing time sharing system performance through the analysis of probability models. In this paper the construction of a simple closed Markovian model of the Vanderbilt University Computer Center DECsystem-1099 is discussed and such a model is presented. The steps which remain in the development of the model - i.e., parameterization, verification, validation, and the use of the model for prediction - are discussed and methods for implementing these steps are proposed.
Soluble rare earth and actinide species in seawater

Abstract To test the value of geochemical speciation models, the solubilities of Nd(III), Th(IV), and U(VI) (as uranyl) in seawater have been calculated. The calculations do not include sorption processes on suspended particulate matter. The calculated values agree well with observed concentrations of Nd(III), underestimate the concentration of Th(IV) and overestimate that of uranyl. The possible implications of these observations are discussed.
The impact of product substitution on retail merchandising

Abstract We analyze the impact of product substitution on two key aspects of retail merchandising: order quantities and expected profits. To perform this analysis, we extend the basic news-vendor model to include the possibility that a product with surplus inventory can be used as a substitute for out of stock products. This extension requires a definition and an approximation for the resulting effective demand under substitution. A service rate heuristic is developed to solve the extended problem. The performance of this heuristic is evaluated using an upper bound generated by solving the associated Lagrangian dual problem. Our analysis suggests that this heuristic provides a tractable and accurate method to determine order quantities and expected profits under substitution. We apply this heuristic to examine how the level of demand uncertainty and correlation, and the degree of substitution between products affect order quantities and expected profits under substitutable demand. In addition, we use the heuristic to better understand the mechanism by which substitution improves expected profits.
Predictors and incidence of central diabetes insipidus after endoscopic pituitary surgery.

OBJECTIVE: With the advent of minimally invasive endoscopic pituitary surgery, there has been concern that the technique may be associated with higher rates of complications such as diabetes insipidus (DI) than traditional approaches, particularly early in a center's experience. We report the incidence and predictors of diabetes insipidus in patients after endoscopic transnasal resection (minimally invasive pituitary surgery) of pituitary lesions. METHODS: Data were collected from hospital and clinic records on the first 119 consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic pituitary surgery at our center. RESULTS: The rate of postoperative diabetes insipidus is low in patients undergoing minimally invasive pituitary surgery (permanent, 2.7%; transient, 13.6%). Factors, associated with development of DI after minimally invasive pituitary surgery include Rathke's cleft cyst histology intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, and previous nonendoscopic lesion resection. Elevated, serum sodium (>145 mmol/L) within the first 5 days postoperatively has a high sensitivity (87.5%), specificity (83.5%), and negative predictive value (99.5%) for permanent postoperative DI development. CONCLUSION: Transitioning from microscopic to endoscopic pituitary surgery can be achieved with a low incidence of DI. An elevated serum sodium level in the first 5 postoperative days using standard monitoring can predict the chance of developing permanent DI. Patients having no elevated serum sodium measurements, defined as >145 mmol/L, in the first 5 days postoperatively will rarely, if ever, develop permanent DI, thereby validating short postoperative inpatient stays with minimal risk of readmission for DI management. Those with a single serum sodium measurement greater than 145 mmol/L have a 15% risk of of developing Permanent DI.
Molecular and Functional Signature of Heart Hypertrophy During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the heart develops a reversible physiological hypertrophic growth in response to mechanical stress and increased cardiac output; however, underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we investigated pregnancy-related changes in heart structure, function, and gene expression of known markers of pathological hypertrophy and cell stretching in mice hearts. In late pregnancy, hearts show eccentric hypertrophy, as expected for a response to volume overload, with normal left ventricular diastolic function and a moderate reduction in systolic function. Pregnancy-related physiological heart hypertrophy does not induce expression changes of known markers of pathological hypertrophy like: alpha- and beta-myosin heavy chain, atrial natriuretic factor, phospholamban, and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. Instead, it induces the remodeling of Kv4.3 channel and increased c-Src tyrosine kinase activity, a stretch-responsive kinase. Cardiac Kv4.3 channel gene expression was downregulated by approximately 3- to 5-fold, both at the mRNA and protein levels, and was paralleled by a reduction in transient outward K+ currents, a longer action potential and by prolongation of the QT interval. Downregulation of cardiac Kv4.3 transcripts was mimicked by estrogen treatment in ovariectomized mice, and was prevented by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. c-Src activity increased by approximately 2-fold in late pregnancy and after estrogen treatment. We propose that, in addition to mechanical stress, the rise of estrogen toward the end of pregnancy contributes to pregnancy-related heart hypertrophy by increased c-Src activity and that the rise of estrogen is one factor that down regulates cardiac Kv4.3 gene expression providing a molecular correlate for a longer QT interval in pregnancy.
Passive Intermodulation Distortion in Antennas

An analytic formulation of passive intermodulation distortion (PIM) in antennas is presented for PIM introduced by electro-thermal modulation of conductivity by current-related losses. A silver rectangular patch antenna was fabricated using a sapphire substrate isolating the thermal process from other possible sources. Two-tone testing at 990 MHz using a sweep of the tone separation from 3 Hz to 100 kHz is reported. Both transmitted and reflected PIM are characterized using a high dynamic range two-tone test system incorporating an analog canceler achieving a dynamic range of 125 dB at 1-Hz tone separation for reflection measurements, and 100 dB at 10-Hz tone separation for transmission measurements with each tone set to 32.3 dBm.
Coherent quantum processes in thermal and nonequilibrium environments

In this article, we describe recent work on investigating the role of the environment in influencing coherent quantum dynamics. We review numerical methodology based on a semiclassical limit of the quantum Liouville equation for simulating quantum coherent processes using classical-like molecular dynamics simulation and ensemble averaging and apply the approach to simulate vibrational dephasing of I 2 in cryogenic rare gas matrices and the quantum vibrations of OH stretches of HOD in D 2 O.We then describe a simple analytic and numerical model that highlights novel behavior that can be exhibited by quantum coherent processes in the presence of an environment that is not at thermal equilibrium.© 2012Wiley Periodicals,Inc.
2-fluoro-3-nitroaniline and 2-fluoro-1,3-phenylenediamine

Abstract 2-Fluoro-3-nitroaniline (I), erroneously reported in the literature, has been synthesized by partial reduction of 2-fluoro-1,3-dinitrobenzene (II). Total reduction of (II) gives 2-fluoro-1,3-phenylenediamine (V). The NMR parameters of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (IV), 2-fluoro-5-nitroaniline (III) and compounds (I), (II) and (V) are reported.
A new analysis of the transistor phase-shift oscillator

The relationship between transistor parameters and circuit characteristics of an RC phase-shift oscillator is analysed by flow-graph and root-locus techniques. Exact formulae and approximations for the starting frequencies of three- and four-section RC phase-shift oscillators are derived. Prediction of the operating frequency for a given current gain is presented graphically and compared with experimental results.
Mechanical ventilation-induced oxidative stress in the diaphragm

Prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) results in oxidative damage in the diaphragm; however, it is unclear whether this MV-induced oxidative injury occurs rapidly or develops slowly over time. Furt...
Fabrication and characterization of semiconductor microlens arrays

Small fast lenslet arrays have been fabricated in GaP and lnP substrates. These semiconductors have high refractive indices (n3) and are transparent at A. 0. 55 p. m and 0. 93 jim respectively. Diffractioniimited performance has been obtained from small-diameter (''60-130 pin) f/1 refractive lenslet arrays fabricated by the mass transport process. These lenslets are ideal for use with diode laser sources and can be readily included in monolithic integration schemes. An example of each of these applications is presented. Binary diffractive lenslets fabricated in lnP are also described. The need for small fast high quality lenslets has become apparent over the last few years with the development of diode laser sources and in particular diode laser arrays. Since diode lasers typically have a beam divergence of several tens of degrees collimating the output beams generally leads to greatly improved far-field patterns. The preferred substrate for lenslet fabrication has been fused silica on which both diffractive1 and refractive2 lenslets have been investigated with good results. However the small index of refraction of quartz (n . 5) can present problems with high aspect ratio features such as the outer rings of Fresnel zone plates. In this paper we describe the fabrication and performance of f/I microlenses fabricated on semiconductors where n" 3. Binary Fresnel lenslets were fabricated in lnP by wet etching while InP and GaP were used to fabricate refractive lenslets
Thermal behaviour of polyphosphazenes in relation to structure

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry has been employed to characterize polyphosphazene homopolymers. Thermal analysis provided a qualitative and quantitative description of the magnitude of the enthalpies of transition at T g , T (1) and T m and the relative change in these temperatures with heating, cooling and time of annealing. Aryloxy and alkoxy homopolymers were investigated. Changes in morphology and crystallinity were correlated with thermodynamic parameters to provide a basic understanding of mesophase formation and the conditions which influence the behaviour of these flexible liquid crystal-forming macromolecules which have considerable potential technologically.
Cation modulation of synaptosomal respiration.

— Synaptosomes were prepared from the cerebral cortex of the adult rat by a rapid technique, involving the use of centrifugation in a Ficoll-sucrose discontinuous gradient. Adequate respiratory control ratios were obtained with glutamate and succinate plus rotenone. The addition of Na+ to the incubation medium stimulated synaptosomal, State-4 respiration, with a half-maximal response at 15 mM Na+. The stimulation by Na+ was inhibited by atractylate, oligomycin, ouabain or EDTA. A cooperative interaction between Na+ and low concentrations of Mg2+ was observed. A significant proportion (39 per cent) of the total Na-K ATPase (EC 3.6.1.4) activity in the discontinuous gradient was localized in the synaptosomal fraction. In the absence of exogenous Mg2+, Na+ induced a 64 per cent stimulation of the synaptosomal ATPase activity which was sensitive to ouabain. Such stimulation of ATP hydrolysis would account for the formation of increased amounts of ADP, with consequent recycling to ATP through adequately controlled oxidative phosphorylation. These observations demonstrate a significant role for transmembrane cationic gradients in the control of synaptosomal respiration and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The preparation exhibits moderate respiratory control and should prove useful in studies of integrated mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and neuronal membrane function.
Successful use of an older ionic contrast media in a patient with systemic hypersensitivity to ioxilan

Results A 78-year-old female with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis via arteriovenous fistula, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia was evaluated for recurrent fever and rash after receiving CM for a fistulogram. She had received prednisone prophylactically for reactions associated with ioxilan administration on two prior fistulograms. These reactions consisted of diffuse erythematous rash preceded by fever that started 2-4 hours after contrast administration and lasted several days. After receiving pretreatment with prednisone and diphenhydramine, she received her most recent dose of ioxilan (70 mL) for a fistulogram and developed fever and diffuse erythematous rash (2 and 4 hours post injection, respectively). The fever lasted 3 days and the rash subsequently desquamated involving the arms, trunk, neck and face. Her skin fully re-epithelialized 2 weeks later. She had negative skin prick tests and negative patch tests to ioxilan, iothalamate, and iohexol. She subsequently underwent challenge with 10 mL of intravenous iothalamate and was observed for 4 hours without incident. Later, she underwent fistulogram with iothalamate and tolerated it without adverse reactions. Conclusions Hypersensitivity reactions are generally much less common with non-ionic CM compared to older ionic CM. However, for DHRs, reaction rates between ionic CM and non-ionic CM are similar. Successful administration of different CM selected based on skin tests has been reported for patients with previous DHRs to specific CM. In our case, skin testing was non-diagnostic, and we hypothesized that the distinct chemical structures of these agents would make immunological cross-reactivity unlikely. Indeed this patient who was repeatedly reactive to the non-ionic lowosmolal CM ioxilan, subsequently tolerated the ionic hyperosmolal CM iothalamate. We conclude that different epitopes involved in DHRs to CM may be suggested based on differing chemical structure and ionicity. Further research is needed regarding both the cross-reactivity and cross-tolerance of various CM in DHRs, especially in CM skin-test negative patients.
Unifying theories of learning and economic decision making

Knowledge plays an important role in the process of growth by choosing the right things to do (supporting the selection systems of technologies) and by doing the right things better (the understanding and execution of an implemented technology). Two fundamental challenges to the process are: (i) how one acquires more knowledge, and (ii) how one translates the knowledge gained into action. These are shared issues for learning theorists and economists. Both learning theorists and economists recognize that there are constraints on learning leading to the way the knowledge is managed over time. Both fields are interested in cognitive growth, how it happens and how best to manage it to enhance outcomes. This paper seeks to explicate the points of intersection between cognitive and economic sciences so that the shared concepts and language can be used in a meaningful way to start the dialogue between the two fields as we enhance our understanding of learning and decisions to learn. This is accomplished by focus...
Supporting the Global Arrays PGAS Model Using MPI One-Sided Communication

The industry-standard Message Passing Interface (MPI) provides one-sided communication functionality and is available on virtually every parallel computing system. However, it is believed that MPI's one-sided model is not rich enough to support higher-level global address space parallel programming models. We present the first successful application of MPI one-sided communication as a runtime system for a PGAS model, Global Arrays (GA). This work has an immediate impact on users of GA applications, such as NW Chem, who often must wait several months to a year or more before GA becomes available on a new architecture. We explore challenges present in the application of MPI-2 to PGAS models and motivate new features in the upcoming MPI-3 standard. The performance of our system is evaluated on several popular high-performance computing architectures through communication benchmarking and application benchmarking using the NW Chem computational chemistry suite.
On the capacity of DS-CDMA systems in a Nakagami multipath channel

The coherence reception of direct-sequence/code-division multiple-access (DS/CDMA) signals in a multipath fading channel is considered. The channel model assumes independent paths with Nakagami fading statistics; this model includes the Rayleigh channel as a special case and is a reasonable model for a frequency-selective fading channel. The bit error rate (BER) performance of a RAKE receiver under various multipath fading conditions is derived and evaluated. The results indicate that, when channel coding is used, over 40 users may access the channel (assuming a processing gain of 127) simultaneously under typical fading conditions, and can achieve a BER of 0.001 with an average received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per bit of 5 dB. >
Favorable impact of an infection control network on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals

Objective. To describe an infection control network (the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network [DICON]) and its impact on nosocomial infection rates in community hospitals. Design. Prospective cohort study of rates of nosocomial infections and exposures of employees to bloodborne pathogens in hospitals during the first 3 years of their affiliation with DICON. Attributable cost and mortality estimates were obtained from published studies. Setting. Twelve community hospitals in North Carolina and Virginia. Results. During the first 3 years of hospital affiliation with DICON, annual rates of nosocomial bloodstream infections at study hospitals decreased by 23% ( \documentclass{aastex} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{bm} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pifont} \usepackage{stmaryrd} \usepackage{textcomp} \usepackage{portland,xspace} \usepackage{amsmath,amsxtra} \usepackage[OT2,OT1]{fontenc} \newcommand\cyr{ \renewcommand\rmdefault{wncyr} \renewcommand\sfdefault{wn...
Collaborative in-network processing for target tracking

This paper presents a class of signal processing techniques for collaborative signal processing in ad hoc sensor networks, focusing on a vehicle tracking application. In particular, we study two types of commonly used sensors--acoustic-amplitude sensors for target distance estimation and direction-of-arrival sensors for bearing estimation--and investigate how networks of such sensors can collaborate to extract useful information with minimal resource usage. The information-driven sensor collaboration has several advantages: tracking is distributed, and the network is energy-efficient, activated only on a when-needed basis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach to target tracking using both simulation and field data.
Color-coded patient-specific physical models of congenital heart disease

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to develop and apply new physical heart defect models (PHDMs) that are patient-specific and color-coded with an optimized map. Design/methodology/approach – Heart defect anatomies were segmented from medical images and reconstructed to form virtual models, which were then color-coded and rapid prototyped. The resulting PHDMs were used in a medical educational study to evaluate their pedagogical efficacy and in clinical case studies to investigate their utility in surgical planning. Findings – A growing library of 36 PHDMs (including the most common defects) was generated. Results from the educational study showed that the PHDMs enabled uniquely effective learning, and the clinical case studies indicated that the models added value as surgical planning aids. Research limitations/implications – The education study involved a limited number of students, so future work should consider a larger sample size. The clinical case studies favored use of the PHDMs in surgical p...
Convenient Test Using a Combination of Chelating Agents for Detection of Metallo-β-Lactamases in the Clinical Laboratory

Although transmissible metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are a serious threat to beta-lactam antibiotic therapy, the CLSI currently does not recommend testing methods for the detection of MBLs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of double-disk tests (DDTs) by using disks containing a combination of the chelators 2-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and Tris-EDTA (TE) to detect MBLs. Sixteen isolates (4 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, 6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, 1 Serratia marcescens isolate, 1 Aeromonas hydrophila isolate, 1 Aeromonas veronii isolate, 2 Chryseobacterium meningosepticum isolates, and 1 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolate) producing IMP-1, IMP-1-like, IMP-18, GIM-1, SPM-1, VIM-2, VIM-2-like, and chromosomal MBLs and 20 isolates (7 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, 3 Escherichia coli isolates, 5 Enterobacter cloacae isolates, 2 S. marcescens isolates, 1 Proteus mirabilis isolate, and 2 A. baumannii isolates) producing non-MBL carbapenemases, AmpC beta-lactamases, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases were tested. The DDT method was evaluated by using four types of chelator disks (TE, high-strength TE, MPA, and TE plus 20 microl of MPA [at various concentrations]) and the beta-lactams imipenem (IPM), meropenem (MEM), ertapenem (ERT), and ceftazidime (CAZ). DDTs with IPM and a TE disk supplemented with 1:320 MPA detected all MBLs and yielded no false-positive results. Some, but not all, MBL producers were detected in IPM-based tests involving the single chelator TE or MPA alone or by ERT- or CAZ-based tests. IPM-based tests with MPA concentrations other than 1:320 and all MEM-based tests had suboptimal sensitivities or specificities. DDT with IPM and a TE disk supplemented with 20 microl of 1:320 MPA appears to be convenient for the detection of MBLs in the clinical laboratory.
Outside the Head and Outside Individualism-Collectivism Further Meta-Analyses of Cultural Products

Cultural differences and similarities can be documented not only at the level of the psyche (people’s motivations, beliefs, emotions, or cognitions) but also via shared, tangible representations of culture (such as advertising, texts, architecture, and so on). In this report, the authors present the results of some exploratory meta-analyses of cultural products. Data were sufficient to analyze a variety of cultural traits: positivity, modernity, high (vs. low) context, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance, as well as other dimensions. Thus, this article documents cultural products that measured traits other than individualism-collectivism, the trait the authors analyzed in an earlier article. The data reinforce the value of studying cultural products and fit with recent calls to branch out from the familiar, individualism-collectivism construct into new axes of cultural difference.
A study of diversification strategies for the quadratic assignment problem

Abstract Diversification strategies can be used to enhance general heuristic search procedures such as tabu search, genetic algorithms, and simulated annealing. These strategies are especially relevant to searches that, starting from a particular point, explore a solution path until new exploitable regions are inaccessible, and a new starting point becomes necessary. To date, no one has studied the effect of applying diversification methods independently of other metastrategic components, to identify their power and limitations. In this paper we develop diversification strategies and apply them to the quadratic assignment problem (QAP). We show that these strategies alone succeed in finding high quality solutions to reasonably large QAP instances reported in the literature. We also describe how our diversification strategies can be easily incorporated within general solution frameworks.
Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation

The discovery of insulin in 1922 changed the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) forever. Insulin was the first effective therapy for type 1 DM; however, its success engendered a terrible paradox for patients with this disease. The use of insulin transformed type 1 DM from a rapidly fatal
Practical, practice, and policy relevant trials.

There is a well-documented gap between research and practice in diabetes and many other chronic illnesses. This gap is due, in part, to limitations of the research database. Different types of clinical trials have recently been called for that address issues central to clinicians, administrative decision makers, and policy makers. Such “practical clinical trials” that are conducted in multiple heterogeneous settings offer great potential. They include diverse patient populations, study clinically relevant and feasible interventions, and assess multiple outcomes. In this article, examples of these trials are provided, and design features that will facilitate clinical and policy decision making are summarized.
The Collagen Repeat Sequence Is a Determinant of the Degree of Herpesvirus Saimiri STP Transforming Activity

Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) is divided into three subgroups, A, B, and C, based on sequence divergence at the left end of genomic DNA in which the saimiri transforming protein (STP) resides. Subgroup A and C strains transform primary common marmoset lymphocytes to interleukin-2-independent growth, whereas subgroup B strains do not. To investigate the nononcogenic phenotype of the subgroup B viruses, STP genes from seven subgroup B virus isolates were cloned and sequenced. Consistent with the lack of oncogenic activity of HVS subgroup B viruses, STP-B was deficient for transforming activity in rodent fibroblast cells. Sequence comparison reveals that STP-B lacks the signal-transducing modules found in STP proteins of the other subgroups, collagen repeats and an authentic SH2 binding motif. Substitution mutations demonstrated that the lack of collagen repeats but not an SH2 binding motif contributed to the nontransforming phenotype of STP-B. Introduction of the collagen repeat sequence induced oligomerization of STP-B, resulting in activation of NF-κB activity and deregulation of cell growth control. These results demonstrate that the collagen repeat sequence is a determinant of the degree of HVS STP transforming activity.
Thermal performance of wall assemblies with low emissivity

In wall systems, airspaces can increase thermal resistance if a reflective material such as foil with low emissivity is installed in a furred-airspace assembly. In this article, the present model, hygIRC-C, was used to investigate the steady-state thermal resistance of wall assemblies that incorporate foil adhered to expanded polystyrene foam in a furred assembly. To investigate the effect of the furring orientation, the furring was installed horizontally and vertically and compared to walls with no furring. For wall with vertical furring, the three-dimensional version of the present model was used to capture the three-dimensional effect of the thermal bridges. Because the foil emissivity can be affected by dust accumulation and/or water vapor condensation on the foil surface, consideration was given to investigate the effect of both varying foil emissivity and outdoor temperature on the thermal performance of the various wall specimens. The results showed that the thermal resistance (R-value) of the refe...
Effect of Temperature on Sporulation and Infectivity of Podosphaera macularis on Humulus lupulus

Peetz, A. B., Mahaffee, W. F., and Gent, D. H. 2009. Effect of temperature on sporulation and infectivity of Podosphaera macularis on Humulus lupulus. Plant Dis. 93:281-286. Hop powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera macularis, can result in complete crop loss and requires numerous fungicide applications for effective management. To assess the impact of temperature on the production of infective conidia, 10-day-old sporulating colonies were exposed to 18, 30, 33, 36, 39, and 42°C for 6 h, and then incubated at 18°C for 18 h. Conidia were harvested, inoculated onto hop plants, incubated at 18°C for 10 days, and then lesions/cm 2 of leaf area was determined. Disease was significantly reduced at temperatures ≥30°C with a nonlinear response in the production of infective conidia (P < 0.0001). Temperature effects on sporulation of P. macularis were examined using a custom impaction conidia sampler in growth chambers programmed at constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C, or 18°C before and after ramping to 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, and 38°C for 6 h. The effect of constant temperature on sporulation was best described by a nonlinear thermodynamic model (P = 0.0001) with maximal production near 25°C. Exposure to fluctuating temperatures produced a curvilinear response in sporulation (P = 0.0122) with maximum production near 25°C. These data indicate that inoculum availability is reduced when ambient temperature exceeds 30°C and that modeling inoculum availability could help further refine current disease forecasting models.
Limited-Liability Contracts with Earnings Management

Numerous principal-agent situations of interest to accounting involve limited liability by the agent. We explore this issue when the outcome is mutually observable (MOC) and when it is not and the contract is based instead on the agent's report (NCC). We find that when outcome is not observable, the effect of limited liability depends on the level of limited liability: when low ? no effect; when medium ? the principal fine-tunes payments based on a post-outcome imperfect public signal to compensate for the loss in flexibility caused by the agent's limited liability; when high ? the agent's expected utility exceeds his reservation utility level and the public signal's use is limited. Next, we invoke the revelation principle and examine an incentive-compatible contract (RPC). Interestingly, RPC coincides with MOC when the limited liability is low and resembles NCC when limited liability is either medium or high. In addition, the impact of limited liability on the demand for earnings management is examined.
The Consumer Price Index and Consumer Well-Being: Developing a Fair Measure

This article explores the far-reaching implications of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on the consumer well-being. There has been much debate recently regarding the CPI. It has been claimed that it ...
Technical aspects of privacy protection

Laws now in effect in the United States grant certain privacy rights to individual citizens vis-a-vis federal agencies, state government agencies in several states, and certain organizations in the private sector that maintain personal information on them in automated record-keeping systems. Pending are bills to extend privacy protection to the entire private sector. Implementation of privacy protection requirements involves numerous technical considerations that are discussed in this paper. Unless these technical aspects and their limitations are taken into account when the privacy protection requirements are legislated, implementation of the requirements may turn out to be technically infeasible or economically unacceptable and, correspondingly, protection provided may be largely illusory.
Immunization of rabbits against Pasteurella multocida using a commercial swine vaccine.

Elaboration of heat-labile toxin (PMT) is an important virulence factor in some isolates of Pasteurella multocida from rabbits. Previously, we reported that immunization with inactivated PMT (IPMT) stimulated protective immunity to challenges from PMT. To test the hypothesis that immunization with a commercial swine vaccine containing IPMT stimulates similar protective immunity, groups of five rabbits were inoculated twice intramuscularly (i.m.), 10 days apart, with 0.5 ml of sterile saline or a commercial swine P. multocida bacterin-toxoid (BT). In addition, a group was inoculated intranasally with 5 microg of IPMT. Serum and nasal lavage samples were taken on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 after initial immunization and assayed by ELISA for anti-PMT antibody. Serum IgG and nasal lavage IgA were detectable by day 14 in BT and IPMT-immunized rabbits, but not in the saline controls. Groups of similarly inoculated rabbits were then challenged intranasally with 28 microg of PMT 21 days after initial immunization, and necropsied 7 days later, along with control challenged and non-challenged rabbits. Histological lesion severity was graded on a numerical scale. Non-immunized and saline, challenged controls developed more severe pneumonia, pleuritis, nasal turbinate atrophy and testicular atrophy than IPMT and BT-immunized rabbits. The results confirm the hypothesis that immunization with a commercial swine P. multocida BT confers protective immunity in rabbits against challenges from PMT.
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism U.S. National Report, 1967”1971 Fifteenth General Assembly, IUGG: Magnetic Surveys

As a result of increased survey activities by satellites and marine vessels, it is likely that more geomagnetic data have been recorded in the past 4 years than in any previous 4-year interval. From marine magnetic surveys, measurements of total intensity have provided data that have contributed significantly to the newer concepts of sea-floor spreading and continental drift [Allan, 1969]. Magnetic measurements in the oceans will continue to be a major tool in the exploration of the sea floor and its underlying crust and mantle.
Simulating probabilistic by deterministic algebraic computation trees

A probabilistic algebraic computation tree (probabilistic ACT) which recognizes L ⊂ Rn in expected time T, and which gives the wrong answer with probability ⩽ ϵ < 12, can be simulated by a deterministic ACT in O(T2n) steps. The same result holds for linear search algorithms (LSAs). The result for ACTs establishes a weaker version of results previously shown by the author for LSAs, namely that LSAs can only be slightly sped up by their nondeterministic versions. This paper shows that ACTs can only be slightly sped up by their probabilistic versions. The result for LSAs solves a problem posed by Snir (1983). He found an example where probabilistic LSAs are faster than deterministic ones and asked how large this gap can be.
The willingness of family members of critically ill adults to learn the coping technique of imagery.

Critical care nurses face the challenge of helping anxious families cope with the critical illness of one of their members. The purposes of this exploratory descriptive pilot study were to identify whether adult family members of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) patients were willing and able to learn imagery during the time of their family member’s critical illness, and which factors facilitate the learning. Of the 139 persons invited, 26 (18.7%) indicated willingness to participate, but only 10 participants completed both learning sessions. All 10 subjects achieved increased relaxation with the imaging. Facilitators of their learning were the quiet environment, the investigator’s voice, and the breathing aspect of the technique. Those who participated found imagery beneficial, but further study is needed regarding the basis of both willingness and reluctance to learn relaxation techniques such as imagery to assist with coping during the SICU vigil.
Oxford recovery housing: Length of stay correlated with improved outcomes for women previously involved with the criminal justice system.

ABSTRACTBackground: Housing plays a crucial role in providing resources for and aiding an individual's reentry into the community following incarceration and substance use treatment. As such, this study examined the influence of recovery homes on a sample of former female substance-using women with criminal justice involvement. Methods: Two hundred women who had been involved with the criminal justice system within the preceding 2 years were recruited from multiple sites in metropolitan Chicago. These women were assigned to either 1 of 2 conditions: Oxford House (OH) recovery homes or usual aftercare (UA). Results: Those with longer stays in OH (6 months or more) had better outcomes in terms of alcohol and drug use, employment, and self-efficacy than those with shorter stays. Outcomes for those who stayed in OH were not appreciably different than the UA condition on substance use and employment, but fewer deaths occurred for those in the OH condition. Conclusions: Findings suggest that length of stay of 6...
Coagulation concepts update

OBJECTIVE. Since the previous comprehensive radiology review on coagulation concepts that was done in 1990, many studies have been published in the medical and surgical literature that can guide the approach of a radiology practice. The purpose of this article is to provide an analysis of these works, updating the radiologist on proper use and interpretation of coagulation assessment tools, medications that modify the hemostatic system, and the use of transfusions prior to interventions.CONCLUSION. The basic tools for coagulation assessment have not changed; however, results from subspecialty research have suggested ways in which the use of these tools can be modified and streamlined to safely reduce time and expense for the patient and the health care system.
Finding Optimal Targets for Change Agents: A Computer Simulation of Innovation Diffusion

We introduce a diffusion of innovation model based on a network threshold approach. Realistic network and threshold data were gathered regarding the diffusion of new software tools within part of a large organization. Novel model features are a second threshold for innovation rejection and a memory that allows actors to take trends into account. Computer simulations produce expected outcomes, such as the S-shaped diffusion curve, but also diffusion breakdown and oscillations. We define and compute the quality of change agent targets in terms of the impact targeted actors have on the diffusion process. Our simulations reveal considerable variance in the quality of actors as change agent targets. Certain actors can be singled out as especially important to the diffusion process. Small changes in the distribution of thresholds and changes in some parameters, such as the sensitivity for trends, lead to significant changes in the target quality measure. To illustrate these interdependencies we outline how the impact of an actor targeted by a change agent spreads through the network. We thus can explain why a good change agent target does not necessarily need to be an opinion leader. Simulations comparing the effectiveness of randomly selected targets versus a group of good change agent targets indicate that the selection of good targets can accelerate innovation diffusion.
Race, Sex, and Helping in the Marketplace1

In a field study of helping behavior carried out in 48 “convenience” grocery stores, customers tried to purchase for $1.00 a product clearly labeled as costing from $1.15 to $1.50. Amount of help by white clerks (allowing the purchase for $1.00) varied as a function of sex of customer and race of customer. Black male customers were helped least often. Neither the dress of the customers (casually-dressed or well-dressed) nor the racial makeup of the store's clientele was significantly related to helping. Implications of these findings for concepts of same-race bias and “reverse discrimination” in helping are discussed.
A mixed methods study of graduate students' self-determined motivation in synchronous hybrid learning environments

Abstract The purpose of this multiphase mixed methods study was to apply Deci and Ryan's (1985) self-determination theory in an investigation of the relationships among students' need satisfaction, motivation, and achievement in synchronous hybrid learning environments (i.e., simultaneously teaching on-campus and online students using webconferencing). The results from Survey 1 indicated that online students reported significantly lower levels of relatedness than their on-campus counterparts. Follow-up interviews were conducted with purposefully chosen students and faculty members. The findings suggested that four themes impact synchronous hybrid learning: peer relatedness, technology influence, instructor impact, and program structure. In vivo quotations were used to develop a scale to assess participants' self-efficacy of relatedness development. Survey 2 data indicated that the new scale had good psychometric quality and that students reported significantly greater levels of self-efficacy for relatedness development with classmates in their same attendance mode than with peers in the opposite format.
Overdoses of psychotherapeutic drugs.

Widespread use of the newer central nervous system depressants and stimulants has resulted in many instances of overdoses, either accidentally by children or purposely by adults. While many of the general principles of treatment of poisoning with these drugs are the same as for older sedatives and stimulants, some problems are different.
Impact of Petty Tyranny on Alienation from Work: Role of Self-Esteem and Power-Distance

Petty tyranny is the leadership type where leaders lord their power on others mainly on their subordinates. The main purpose of this study is to check the relationship between petty tyranny and work alienation through self esteem in the health sector of Pakistan. The model of the present study proposes that petty tyranny leads to work alienation impacting the self esteem level. The other purpose of the study is to check whether power distance acts as a moderator affecting the direct relation of petty tyranny and work alienation or not. The data for the present study is collected from the health sector of Pakistan. Adopted questionnaires are used for data collection and the sample size is 203. Results show that self esteem mediates the relationship between petty tyranny and work alienation. However, the study shows some unusual and unexpected results for power distance in the health sector of Pakistan. According to the results, power distance does not moderate the relationship between petty tyranny and work alienation. The possible reason can be that in Pakistan people consider tyrannical leader as role models and they consider leaders tyrannical behavior as a normal behavior, therefore the high power distance culture neither increases nor decreases the affect of petty tyranny on work alienation.
Optimizing Process Parameters of Epoxidized Sucrose Soyate Synthesis for Industrial Scale Production

There is a growing need to produce epoxidized sucrose soyate (ESS) at an industrial scale for large-scale applications in coatings and material science. Industrial scale production of ESS requires optimization of the process conditions to minimize cost without compromising resin quality. Therefore, a robust model was developed that predicts the conversion of double bonds to oxirane under different process scenarios. Data for the model were obtained by epoxidizing 30 g batches of sucrose soyate at three reactor temperatures (55, 60, and 65 °C), three molar ratios of acetic acid to oil unsaturation (0.25:1, 0.375:1, and 0.5:1), three molar ratios of H2O2 to oil unsaturation (1:1, 1.5:1, and 2:1), three catalyst amounts (1.5, 3.75, and 6 g), and three reaction times (3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 h). The model was highly significant with an adjusted R2 of 97.6% and predicted R2 of 96.8%. The root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of 0.54 showed that the model was a good fit in predicting optimal epoxidation conditions at differ...
Modeling negative cooperativity in streptavidin adsorption onto biotinylated microtubules.

The nanoscale architecture of binding sites can result in complex binding kinetics. Here, the adsorption of streptavidin and neutravidin to biotinylated microtubules is found to exhibit negative co...