cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal Exemplar Channels In High-Multipath Environments

Industrial wireless plays a crucial role in cyber-physical system (CPS) advances for the future vision of smart manufacturing. However, industrial wireless environments are different from each other and are different from home and office environments. Hence, industrial wireless channel modeling is essential for the development of industrial wireless systems. Moreover, millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless bands have a high potential to be used for the high data-rates required for industrial automation reliability, with multiple antennas envisioned to mitigate the high path loss. As a result, in this work, we introduce a machine learning (ML) based exemplar extraction approach on mmWave wireless spatial-channel measurements. The proposed approach processes the measured power-angle-delay-profiles to cluster them into a number of groups with respect to the angle of arrival. Then, an exemplar power-delay-profile (PDP) is extracted to represent each group. The resulting set of exemplars provide a tractable way to conduct mmWave industrial wireless systems testing and evaluation by compactly representing various feature groups. This allows the assessment of wireless equipment over the exemplars without the need to test over all of the different instances of wireless channel paths.
Risk factors for an advanced breast cancer diagnosis within 2 years of a negative mammogram.

BACKGROUND Identifying women at risk for advanced interval cancers would allow better targeting of mammography and supplemental screening. The authors assessed risk factors for advanced breast cancer within 2 years of a negative mammogram. METHODS The authors included 293,520 negative mammograms performed from 2006 to 2015 among 74,736 women. Breast cancers were defined as advanced if they were >2 cm, were >1 cm and triple-negative or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, had positive lymph nodes, or were metastatic. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to evaluate associations of age, breast density, menopause, mammogram type, prior breast biopsy, body mass index (BMI), and a family history of breast cancer with a cancer diagnosis within 2 years of a negative mammogram. Models were stratified by year since a negative mammogram. RESULTS Among 1345 breast cancers, 357 were advanced (26.5%), and 988 (73.5%) were at an early stage. Breast density, prior biopsy, and family history were associated with an increased risk of both advanced and early-stage cancers. Overweight and obese women had a 40% higher risk of early-stage cancer only in year 2 (overweight hazard ratio [HR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.67; P < .001; obese HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.17-1.70; P < .001). Obese women had a 90% increased risk of advanced cancer in year 1 (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.14-3.18; P = .014), and both overweight and obese women had a 40% or greater increased risk in year 2 (overweight HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.14-2.07; P = .005; obese HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.00-2.01; P = .051). CONCLUSIONS A higher BMI was associated with an advanced breast cancer diagnosis within 2 years of a negative mammogram. These results have important implications for risk assessment, screening intervals, and use of supplemental screening.
Costs and Outcomes Comparison of Diabetes Technology Usage Among People With Type 1 or 2 Diabetes Using Rapid-Acting Insulin

Background Does initiation of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or insulin pump lower health care utilization and/or costs? Methods Distinct cohorts of people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) using a blood glucose monitor (BGM), CGM, pump, or CGM with pump were identified from a large claims database. Patients ≥40 years old with 12 months of continuous enrollment before and after the device start date qualified for the study. Outcomes included one-year medical utilization and costs (minus device) for events such as hospitalizations and office visits. Generalized linear models were fitted, controlling for numerous baseline covariates. The Holm method corrected for the multiplicity of hypotheses tested. Results Of the 8235 total patients, the BGM control group was the largest, had the lowest percentage of patients with T1D, and was significantly different from the device groups in most baseline categories. Formally, only two comparisons were statistically significant: Compared with BGM, the pump cohort had greater adjusted first-year total medical and office visit costs. Other secondary outcomes such as days hospitalized, emergency department visits and labs, favored pump. Most endpoints were favorable for CGM. Results for CGM with pump generally were intermediate between CGM and pump alone. Conclusions During a one-year follow-up, unadjusted medical costs of both CGM and pump appear lower than BGM, but multivariable modeling yielded adjusted savings only for CGM use. Economic benefits might be observable sooner for CGMs than for pumps. Generalized linear models fitted to health care utilization event rates produced favorable results for both CGM and pump.
Cellular and Molecular Actions of Juvenile Hormone I. General Considerations and Premetamorphic Actions

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the premetamorphic actions and general consideration of cellular and molecular actions of juvenile hormone (JH). The chapter focuses on the biological role of JH and of the prevailing concepts of the modes of actions of hormones. It also concentrates on the premetamorphic actions of JH and the present understanding of the molecular basis of this action. Juvenile hormone (JH) has been known to be critical for the regulation of both metamorphosis and reproduction in insects. JH has been isolated and chemically identified as a sesquiterpenoid. The biological effects of various JHAs are remarkably similar to those of the natural JHs, allowance being made for differences in effective dose and stability. Extraction of JH from a natural source suggests the use of this hormone as a pesticide, as it can be absorbed through an insect's cuticle and prevent normal development, and would presumably be refractory to development of resistance.
Linear-programmed thermal degradation methane chemical-ionization mass spectrometry: I. Peptidoglycan, cell walls, and related compounds from Bacillus

Abstract Linear-programmed thermal degradation—mass spectrometry was used to study cell wall preparations from gram-positive bacteria of the genus Bacillus and related compounds. Also, a group of strains of Bacillus subtilis grown under various culturing conditions were compared. The temperature-resolved pyrolysis—mass spectra collected for each sample were analyzed. Many ions present in the pyrolysis—mass spectra of large complex biopolymers were found to have the same nominal masses to those found in spectra of related simpler compounds. Results indicate the importance of culture conditions if pyrolysis—mass spectrometry is used to study bacteria. Also, the pyrolysis—mass spectra of cell wall preparations from Bacillus are dominated by aminosugars.
Observables, Calibration, and Effect Algebras

We introduce and study the D-model, which reflects the simplest situation in which one wants to calibrate an observable. We discuss the question of representing the statistics of the D-model in the context of an effect algebra.
A Behavioral View On Firm Response To Ratings: How Positive Recognition Leads To Reductions In Charitable Contributions

While many rating systems incentivize firms to improve their performance, I investigate how positive recognition from external stakeholders can lead to reductions in performance, rather than improvements. Drawing upon behavioral and performance feedback theory, I argue that positive ratings can lead firms to decrease their subsequent performance by reducing uncertainty regarding standards of acceptable or appropriate conduct. Assuming that firms will seek to avoid uncertainty, I propose that such ratings can lead high-performing firms to redefine their aspirations and thus reduce their subsequent performance. I test this main hypothesis, as well as several moderating effects, by examining how firms responded to a rating that evaluated their prior philanthropic efforts. My findings suggest that firms recognized for their generosity were, under certain conditions, more likely to subsequently reduce their philanthropic contributions. From a practical perspective, these results highlight the unintended consequences of social ratings and provide further insight for policy makers and stakeholders interested in motivating improvements in corporate social performance.
Axial Flow Artificial Heart Blood Pumps: A Brief Review

The condition of patients with heart failure often declines even with optimal medical treatment. Heart transplantation has traditionally been the preferred treatment of such patients. The lack of donor organs motivated the development of the Total Artificial Heart in the early 60s and development continues to this day. Early artificial hearts such as the pulsatile devices imitates the natural hearts action but yielded poor results due to their large size, invasiveness, complexity, and need for extracorporeal support connections. While debate has continued over the necessity of pulsatile action, rotary pumps with their smaller size and simpler designs, have been steadily gaining popularity as blood pumps for temporary support of an ailing heart. Newer axial blood pumps incorporate several design features such as magnetically levitated rotors, CFD optimized impeller and diffuser blades, bio-compatible materials, and transcutaneous power transmission. These small and robust pumps such as the Left Ventricle Assist Device play an increasing role for those awaiting a heart transplants. The duration of this “temporary” support has been increasing to the point where LVAD axial pumps are now being considered as a destination therapy in some cases. Here we review the current state of axial blood pumps and compare it with centrifugal and pulsatile blood pumps.
Residential Landlord-Tenant Appeals in the Appellate Term

This article discusses the contours of appellate practice before the Appellate Term in landlord-tenant cases.
Geography as a Great Intellectual Melting Pot and the Preeminent Interdisciplinary Environmental Discipline

As we enter the next century of geographical research, trends are converging that will place the discipline of geography at the forefront of knowledge creation in the environmental sciences, with a...
The incidence of abnormal blood levels of lead in ametropolitan pediatric clinic

Summary 1. Six hundred four children, aged 7 to 60 months, were examined for qualitative urinary coproporphyrin III. 2. Positive coproporphyrin of 2 plus or more was found in 197. 3. Blood lead determinations, x-rayof long bones, hematologic examinations, and a complete history and a careful physical examination were done on all those with positive coproporphyrinuria and in 136 subjects with negative coproporphyrinuria. 4. The mean blood lead for the two group was 0.043 mg. per cent. 5. The upper limit of normal blood lead seems to be 0.05 mg. per cent as at this value and above there was an increase in symptoms and findings ascribed to lead intoxication, though serious lead intoxication can in some individuals occur at lower values. 6. There was no significant difference of blood lead or other findings of lead intoxication in the patients with or without coproporphyrinuria. 7. Abnormal blood lead values were found in 44.4 per cent of the 333 children studied. 8. A history of pica was noted in69.6 per cent of the children with a blood lead of 0.05 mg. per cent or higher. This one finding gave higher correlation with blood lead than any other single test or symptom. 9. These findings suggest that childrenliving in other metropolitan areas where lead paint has been used in the house for many years should be investigated for evidences of lead poisoning.
The Power of Power Politics: From Classical Realism to Neotraditionalism

In this much-expanded edition of his classic study, John Vasquez examines the power of the power politics perspective to dominate inquiry, and evaluates its ability to provide accurate explanations of the fundamental forces underlying world politics. Part I of the book reprints the original 1983 text of The Power of Power Politics. It examines classical realism and quantitative international politics, providing an intellectual history of the discipline and an evaluation of statistical research guided by the realist paradigm. The second part provides six new chapters covering neorealism, post-modernism, the neotraditional research program on balancing, Mearsheimer's analysis of multipolarity and institutionalism, the debate on the end of the Cold War, and neoliberalism. Through the use of comparative case studies these chapters analyse the extent to which the realist paradigm has been progressive (or degenerating), empirically accurate, and remains a relevant and explanatorily powerful theoretical approach for our current era.
A novel transcoding scheme from EVRC to G.729ab

In this present day of Internet and wireless it has become increasingly important to have an interoperable communication between these two systems. It is obvious that at the present environment a direct speech transcoding scheme holds the key for the efficient and seamless transmission of speech communication between the two systems. This paper presents a direct speech transcoding scheme from the CDMA (code division multiple access) standard EVRC (enhanced variable rate codec) to the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) standard G.729ab. The EVRC is developed by Lucent and adopted as TIA/IS 127 standard by TIA (Telecommunications Industries Association). It is the most widely used speech codec for the present CDMA mobile systems. Again, it is also a very competent candidate for the 3rd generation mobile system for speech coding for its high quality. The ITU standard G.729ab is the de facto workhorse for low bit rate speech coding over VOP (voice over packet) networks. The motivation behind this transcoding scheme is to transform the EVRC parameters into the G.729ab parameters directly without going through the whole process of decoding the EVRC parameters and then encoding the resultant synthetic speech using the G.729ab encoder so that it improves the delay characteristics and also the quality of the speech. In the same time this approach also results in considerable savings in computations.
LBIC analysis of thin-film polycrystalline solar cells

Light-beam-induced-current (LBIC) measurements are providing a direct link between the spatial non-uniformities inherent in thin-film polycrystalline solar cells, such as CdTe and CIGS, and the overall performance of these cells. LBIC is uniquely equipped to produce quantitative maps of local quantum efficiency with relative ease. Spatial resolution of 1 m at 1-sun intensity, and return to the same area after other measurements, is routinely achieved. A wavelength range of 638 to 857 nm is available with diode lasers. The LBIC measurements demonstrate that several types of effects that alter cell performance can be traced to specific local-area features. Examples of such effects include defects related to edges, grids, or scribes, spatial variations in alloying, and local changes due to high-temperature stress.
Chalcohalide glasses: I. Synthesis and properties of GeSBr and GeSI glasses

Abstract New families of infrared transmitting glasses were prepared in the ternary GeSBr and GeSI systems. These glasses contain both chalcogen and halogen elements and will be referred to as “chalcohalide glasses”. A series of samples containing different amounts of halogen and chalcogen elements were prepared. Infrared transmittance of the glasses extends up to 10 μm which is comparable to well-known chalcogenide glasses. The density and molar volume increase with the addition of halogen components into binary GeS glasses while glass transition temperatures and refractive indices decrease at the same time. The observed changes in the properties of glasses are in good agreement with a proposed structural model suggesting degradation of the network connectivity by the addition of network-terminating halogen atoms.
Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) Interventions

TOPIC: Evidence-based treatment of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents. PURPOSE: To review the evidence base supporting current interventions for NSSI. SOURCES USED: PubMed searches and ancestry analysis. CONCLUSIONS: All treatments studied-developmental group therapy, individual cognitive-behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy for adolescents-were found to be comparable to the typical treatments offered in the treatment settings where the research was conducted. Additional strategies such as harm reduction have very limited evidence suggesting they may be helpful. A few common interventions including relaxation techniques have extremely limited evidence suggesting they may be perceived as harmful by clients. Language: en
Feynman's path integral. definition without limiting procedure

Feynman's integral is defined with respect to a pseudomeasure on the space of paths: for instance, letC be the space of pathsq:T⊂ℝ → configuration space of the system, letC be the topological dual ofC; then Feynman's integral for a particle of massm in a potentialV can be written where $$S_{\operatorname{int} } (q) = \mathop \smallint \limits_T V(q(t)) dt$$ and wheredw is a pseudomeasure whose Fourier transform is defined by for μ∈C′. Pseudomeasures are discussed; several integrals with respect to pseudomeasures are computed.
Minimalist probes for studying protein dynamics: thioamide quenching of selectively excitable fluorescent amino acids.

Fluorescent probe pairs that can be selectively excited in the presence of Trp and Tyr are of great utility in studying conformational changes in proteins. However, the size of these probe pairs can restrict their incorporation to small portions of a protein sequence where their effects on secondary and tertiary structure can be tolerated. Our findings show that a thioamide bond—a single atom substitution of the peptide backbone—can quench fluorophores that are red-shifted from intrinsic protein fluorescence, such as acridone. Using steady-state and fluorescence lifetime measurements, we further demonstrate that this quenching occurs through a dynamic electron-transfer mechanism. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we apply this technique to monitor unfolding in a model peptide system, the villin headpiece HP35 fragment. Thioamide analogues of the natural amino acids can be placed in a variety of locations in a protein sequence, allowing one to make a large number of measurements to model protein folding.
Breaking out of the black box: a new approach to robot perception

The state of the art in avoiding obstacles using only vision - not sonar or laser rangefinders - is roughly half an hour between collisions. After reviewing the design and failure modes of several current systems, we compare psychology's understanding of perception to current computer/robot perception. There are fundamental differences - which lead to fundamental limitations with current computer perception. The key difference is that robot software is built out of 'black boxes', which have very restricted interactions with each other. In contrast, the human perceptual system is much more integrated. The claim is that a robot that performs any significant task, and does it as well as a person, cannot be created out of 'black boxes.' In fact, it would probably be too interconnected to be designed by hand - instead, tools will be needed to create such designs. To illustrate this idea, we propose to create a visual depth cues at each pixel, as well as depth cues from neighboring pixels and previous depth estimates. Genetic Programming is used to combine these into a new depth estimate. The system learns by predicting both sonar readings and the next image. The design of the system is described, and design decisions are rationalized.
Treatment of the vascular lesions of the face and neck using selective vascular photothermolysis with intense pulse light

Intense pulse light with a flash lamp has been a treatment modality for several years. The technology uses multiple filters capable of treating various types of vascular lesions. An advantage of this diverse machine is the ability to adjust wavelengths through different filters and modify pulse duration and pulse delay. This allows treatment of various vascular lesions of different size and depth. This retrospective study in 44 patients determined the long-term outcomes and efficacy of intense pulse light on vascular lesions of the face, including telangiectasias, rosacea, cavernous hemangioma, and port wine stains. We also evaluated the proportional clearance of the lesion, number of treatments to achieve optimal results, side effects, and patient satisfaction. Patients were followed for an average of 19 months and received an average of 2.9 treatments. In 52% of patients there was over 75% resolution of the lesions. A higher number of treatments resulted in better outcomes without any increase in the side effects. Overall 81% of the patients were totally satisfied with the treatment. Intense pulse light offers an easy and effective way of treating vascular lesions of the face and neck. It has minimal side effects and yields high patient satisfaction.
Fast QR factorization of Vandermonde matrices

Abstract We introduce a fast algorithm for computing the QR factors of a complex column Vandermonde matrix V . The complexity of the algorithm is 5 mn +7 n 2 /2+ O ( m ), where m is the number of rows in V and n is the number of columns (we assume that m > n ). The matrices Q and R may be computed independently if desired. Two special cases for the row Vandermonde matrix (with real elements, or unit magnitude elements) are also studied, and similar results are obtained.
Organization of African green monkey DNA at junctions between α-satellite and other DNA sequences

Abstract Segments of African green monkey DNA containing sequences of the highly reiterated cryptic satellite DNA called α-satellite were selected from a library in λ bacteriophage. This λ library was constructed to enrich for monkey segments that contain (1) irregular regions of α-satellite and (2) α-satellite linked to other monkey sequences. At least 11 of 15 cloned monkey segments between 13 × 103 and 16 × 103 base-pairs in length, selected by hybridization to α-satellite, also include other monkey sequences. In general, α-satellite sequences close to the junctions with non-α-satellite DNA contain an abundance of divergent forms compared to the average frequency of such forms within total α-satellite. Many of the cloned segments are missing some of the HinIII sites that occur once in most monomer units of α-satellite, and likewise several of the cloned segments contain restriction sites that rarely occur in α-satellite as a whole. In some segments HinIII sites occur that are spaced at distances other than the basic multiple of 172 base-pairs. At least one of the cloned segments, however, is composed mainly of typical 172 base-pair long α-satellite monomer units. Several of these cloned DNAs have been mapped by restriction endonuclease digestion and Southern blot analysis and the arrangements of α-satellite and non-α-satellite sequences have been determined. In addition to segments that contain a boundary where satellite meets other types of sequence, some contain two such boundaries and thus satellite flanks a non-α-satellite segment. Further, two different types of non-α-satellite sequence appear to be common to more than one phage, perhaps indicating some recurring organization at boundaries.
Long term changes in patients with hypsarrhythmia-infantile spasms: 505 patients, up to 43 years follow-up.

This study involved 505 patients with the EEG pattern of hypsarrhythmia (H) and clinical attacks of infantile spasms (IS) studied over a 51 year period from 1945 until 1996. The total number of EEGs was 1300 and changes in the EEG and type of clinical seizure were followed for up to 43 yrs in a given patient. Although H and IS usually occur together in a given patient, 15% showed a disparity between the electrographic and clinical pattern, usually within a 6-12 mo period. The duration of H was usually 1 yr, likely in part related to a relatively large number studied before the introduction of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The next pattern after H was usually around 3 yrs of age, often focal discharges on the occipital or temporal areas or bilateral spike and wave complexes. The major changes in the EEG over time were the progressive increase in bilateral spike and wave complexes and temporal lobe discharges, in addition to an increase in other focal discharges at 6-9 yrs of age. Slow waves on the temporal areas and diffuse slowing became prominent in adulthood. The types of clinical attacks that became prominent in adulthood were generalized tonic-clonic and complex partial seizures. Other types of seizures most often occurred between the late teens and early 20's with absence attacks seen especially at 8-10 yrs of age.
On dynamic plastic mode-form solutions

Abstract D iscussion is given of the significance and calculation of dynamic plastic mode-form solutions for small deflections of structures of rigid perfectly-plastic materials subjected to load systems of fixed distribution and magnitude. These solutions have separated form, with velocity the product of a scalar function of time by a vector-valued function of space variables. The relation is shown on the one hand to mode-form solutions for a structure of viscoplastic material, and on the other hand to limit-load solutions for those of perfectly-plastic behavior. Numerical examples are given for circular plates of material obeying the Tresca and Mises laws.
Growth factors in bladder wound healing.

AbstractIntroduction: Surgical and traumatic injuries to the bladder initiate a complex series of biological processes that result in wound healing. This process involves cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation; removal of damaged tissue; and production of extracellular matrix all of which may be controlled by growth factors. In skin, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is induced following incisional injury. We hypothesize that in bladder wound healing KGF and other growth factors are induced to modulate tissue repair.Methods: We have created a model of surgical bladder injury in the rodent. At 12, 24 and 48 hrs and 5 and 7 days after injury, the bladder was bisected and total RNA extracted from the anterior or wounded half and posterior or non-wounded half. Histological analysis of the bladder wound was performed with Mason's Trichrome and immunohistochemistry against smooth muscle alpha actin. RNase protection assays were performed to examine the expression of KGF, transforming growth factor...
Educators’ views of eating disorder prevention programs

Further understanding of educators’ views of eating disorder prevention can further engage them in this effort. No previous studies of educators have used acceptability methodology or compared eating disorder prevention to other prevention efforts. Educators (n = 135) rated the acceptability of five sample programs and provided their opinions about eating disorder and other prevention programs. The results indicated primarily psychoeducational and general well-being programs were most acceptable. Educators-specified trained professionals should implement programs during school hours to male and female junior high students. Although eating disorder prevention was perceived as important, it was not rated as vital as other programs, such as substance abuse prevention.
Atrioventricular Nodal Conduction During Atrial Fibrillation Role of Atrial Input Modification

Background—Posteroseptal ablation of the atrioventricular node (AVN) has been proposed as a means to slow the ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF). The suggested mechanism is elimination of the AVN “slow pathway.” On the basis of the unpredictable success of the procedure, we hypothesize that, in fact, the slow pathway is preserved. Therefore, the slowing of the ventricular rate results from reduced bombardment of the AVN. Methods and Results—In 8 rabbit heart atrial-AVN preparations, cooling of the posterior and/or the anterior AVN approaches revealed nonspecific effects on the slow and fast pathway portions of the AVN conduction curve. In 13 other preparations, simulated AF during posterior cooling (n=6) prolonged the His-His (H-H) intervals but did not reveal specific slow pathway injury. In the remaining 7 preparations, AF was applied before and after posteroseptal surgical cuts. During AF with posterior origin, the cuts resulted in longer mean H-H along with slowing of the AVN bombardment...
Theoretical insights into the functioning of metallopeptidases and their synthetic analogues.

ConspectusThe selective hydrolysis of a peptide or amide bond (−(O═)C–NH−) by a synthetic metallopeptidase is required in a wide range of biological, biotechnological, and industrial applications. In nature, highly specialized enzymes known as proteases and peptidases are used to accomplish this daunting task. Currently, many peptide bond cleaving enzymes and synthetic reagents have been utilized to achieve efficient peptide hydrolysis. However, they possess some serious limitations. To overcome these inadequacies, a variety of metal complexes have been developed that mimic the activities of natural enzymes (metallopeptidases). However, in comparison to metallopeptidases, the hydrolytic reactions facilitated by their existing synthetic analogues are considerably slower and occur with lower catalytic turnover. This could be due to the following reasons: (1) they lack chemical properties of amino acid residues found within enzyme active sites; (2) they contain a higher metal coordination number compared wit...
The epimetallation and carbonation of carbonyl and imino derivatives: Epivanadation route to 2-amino and 2-hydroxy acids ☆

Abstract The feasibility of hydrocarboxylating carbonyl and imino derivatives by the two-step process of epimetallation and carbonation has been demonstrated with the model substrates of 9-fluorenone and 9-fluorenone anil. With lithium vanadium dihydride as the epimetallating agent, such hydrocarboxylation has led to a 75% yield of 9-hydroxy-9-fluorenecarboxylic acid and a 65% yield of 9-(N-phenylamino)-9-fluorenecarboxylic acid, respectively. Some initial success in extending the scope of this reaction to other substrates, such as benzophenone, has been achieved by using other epimetallating agents, like the presumed LiV(CH3)2 and Ti(OPri)2. A brief review of the processes and organic synthetic applications of epimetallation and transfer epimetallation of C–C π-bonds is offered as background.
Postmyotomy recollection of premyotomy symptoms of achalasia is very accurate, supporting longitudinal studies of symptom improvement.

Background Recollection of preoperative symptom frequency and severity may change postoperatively, thus invalidating longitudinal studies. This study was undertaken to compare symptoms of achalasia before myotomy to patients’ postoperative recollection of premyotomy symptoms.
The economic impact of capitated care for high utilizers of public mental health services: The los angeles PARTNERS program experience

Los Angeles PARTNERS, or “people achieving rehabilitation together need empowering respectful support,” is a treatment program that uses capitation to shift risk for treatment costs of high utilizers of public mental health services to private community-based treatment organizations. This analysis reveals two important findings from PARTNERS. First, the economic incentives created by capitation contributed to the disenrollment of PARTNERS clients; furthermore, factors such as not speaking English or Spanish or having schizophrenia increased the probability of disenrollment. Second, analyses of health costs for enrollees in the PARTNERS capitation program suggest that the program did not result in a change in total costs. However, the program increased the use of community-based care and increased treatment costs for clients with lower preprogram costs but decreased costs for the clients with high preprogram costs. These results suggest that future capitation programs for this severely ill population would benefit from using detailed clinical information to determine program eligibility and to set risk-adjusted capitation rates.
Human-directed aggression in the cat.

Feline aggression—between cats or directed at humans—is, after inappropriate elimination and urine-marking behaviors, the second most common reason cats are seen by behavioral specialists. For diagnosis and treatment it is important to determine the motivation for the aggression. The more common causes for human-directed aggression in cats include play, fear, petting intolerance, and redirected aggression. Other causes include pain and maternal behavior. Sexually motivated and status related aggression are much more rare. Treatment includes a combination of behavioral modification, environmental modification, and, in some cases, medication.
Temperature-dependent development and reproduction of the boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Effects of temperature on development, survival, and fecundity of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, were assessed at 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 45, and 46; 65% relative humidity; and a photoperiod of 13:11 (L: D) h. The mortality of boll weevil immature stages was 100% at 12 and decreased to 36.4% as the temperature increased to 25. When the temperature increased from 30 to 45, the mortality of weevils also increased from 50.1% to 100%. From 15 to 35, the boll weevil preimaginal development rate was linearly related to temperature. The average development time of total boll weevil immature lifestages decreased 3.6-fold and the preovipositional period de- creased 3.3-fold when the temperature was increased from 15 to 30. The lower threshold for development was estimated at 10.9, 6.6, 7.0, and 9.0 for eggs, larval, pupal, and total immature stages, respectively, with total thermal time requirement to complete immature stages of 281.8 DD (degree day) (15) and 247.8 DD (35). At 11 and 46, weevil females did not oviposit. Longevity of adult females decreased 4.6-fold with increasing temperatures from15 to 35. Fecundity increased with increasing tempera- tures up to 30 and significantly decreased thereafter. These findings will be useful in creating a temperature-based degree-day model for predicting the occurrence of key life stages in the field. An accurate predictor of a pest s development can be very important in determining sampling protocols, timing insecticide applications, or implementing an inte- grated pest management control strategy targeting susceptible life stages.
The Case of Hope: "Evidence-Based Practice" (EBT) in Action

The fascinating case of Hope as described by one of our senior independent practitioners, Paul Clement (2007), illustrates in a superb manner the integration of evidence-based practice (EBP) into the realities of clinical practice. This commentary presents an analysis of Clement's implementation of EBP in the context of the American Psychological Association's statement on EBP in psychology (APA 2006). Strengths evident in the treatment of this case, as well as shortcomings currently endemic in our profession, are described with a focus on choice of psychological interventions, non-specific factors, and assessment. Finally, this case, representing as it does the "facts on the ground"Â€Â? in the practice of psychotherapy, raises issues about the role of this activity in emerging national healthcare systems and a proposed distinction between "psychological treatments" and "Â€Âœpsychotherapy."Â€Â?
Studies with the Rhenacarborane Cs[Re(CO)3(η5-7,8-C2B9H11)]: Surprising Reactivity with a Range of Metal Ligand Fragments†

The rhenacarborane salt Cs[Re(CO)3(η5-7,8-C2B9H11)] (1) has been synthesized in excellent yield using a new procedure. Treatment of CH2Cl2 solutions of 1 with [RuCl2(PPh3)3] yields the exo-closo co...
Standard versus adaptive monitoring procedures: a commentary

In the standard approach to designing definitive clinical trials, the primary endpoint and test statistic to be used for the primary analysis are specified before trial initiation. The false positive error rate for the null hypothesis and statistical power to detect the targeted size of treatment effect are also specified. Standard monitoring procedures, such as the group sequential guidelines, enable interim monitoring while maintaining the integrity of this approach. In contrast, adaptive monitoring procedures seek to provide flexibility to modify these pre-specified design features during the course of the trial. However, these procedures have several undesirable properties, including lesser statistical efficiency, reduced interpretability of primary outcome results, basing design changes on unreliable interim estimates of efficacy, risks to the integrity and credibility of the trial, loss of flexibility to use emerging results from external sources to alter key design features, and overemphasis of the importance of statistical significance relative to clinical significance.
Chert and its sodium-silicate precursors in sodium-carbonate lakes of East Africa

Chert has formed from two sodium-silicate minerals, magadiite (NaSi7,O13(OH)3·3H2O) and kenyaite (NaSi11O20.5(OH)4·3H2O), in uppermost Pleistocene deposits of lakes Magadi and Natron in Kenya and Tanzania. The chert consists of finely crystalline quartz and characteristically forms nodules of irregular shape with white coatings having reticulate surface patterns. Similar nodules are widespread in lower and middle Pleistocene lacustrine deposits in the vicinity of Lake Magadi, Lake Natron, and Olduvai Gorge. Although magadiite and kenyaite are absent in the lower and middle Pleistocene deposits, the chert in these beds probably formed from a sodium-silicate precursor. All of the chert-bearing sediments were deposited in saline, alkaline lakes rich in dissolved sodium carbonate-bicarbonate. Magadiite (and chert) may form either thin, widespread deposits or localized masses which may be cross-cutting. Thin, widespread layers of magadiite have been precipitated by mixing of silica-rich brine with fresh water in a chemically stratified lake; localized masses may have been formed by interaction of brine with fresher water entering the floor or margin of the lake. Magadiite and kenyaite can alter to chert in contact with sodium-carbonate brine and possibly by leaching with relatively fresh water over a period of 20,000 years or less. The siliceous zeolites clinoptilolite and erionite predominate in trachyte tuffs associated with magadiite and chert; less-siliceous phillipsite predominates in trachyte tuffs of chert-free sequences.
Conceptualizing a corporate environmentalism model

Environmental legislation now looms large in the backdrop of corporate strategy. However, there is still little theoretical work on corporate environmentalism. A conceptual model of corporate environmentalism is proposed here, stressing the effect of information on managerial enthusiasm in responding to the green challenge and on the formalization of strategies and structures to reflect that response. Suggestions on operationalization are advanced and research implications discussed.
Reactivity of seal myoglobins toward hydrogen ions

Abstract The reactivity of seal myoglobin fractions I, II, and V towards hydrogen ions has been studied and compared with that of sperm whale metmyoglobin. Approximately the same number of histidines are masked to H + in fractions I and II and in whale myoglobin, but seal metmyoglobin is more acid-labile than sperm whale metmyoglobin. Two of the unreactive seal myoglobin histidines have been tentatively identified as those corresponding to His-36 and His-93 in sperm whale myoglobin. Comparison of the titration of fraction V with fractions I and II indicates that fraction V myoglobin is missing at least two histidines which are normally exposed to solvent in fractions I and II. In agreement with sperm whale myoglobin, a single tyrosine is masked in fraction I seal myoglobin, and tyrosine-reactivity is similarly affected by heme-removal in the seal and whale proteins. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of fraction I and sperm whale myoglobins indicates that Tyr-151 of the whale protein must titrate normally.
Outcomes of Pancreaticoduodenectomy: Where Should We Focus Our Efforts on Improving Outcomes?

IMPORTANCEChanges in health care reimbursement policy have led to an era in which hospitals are motivated to improve quality of care while simultaneously reducing costs. Research demonstrating the most efficient means to target costs may have a positive effect on patient quality of life and the over
The Edges of Large Earthquakes and the Epicenters of Future Earthquakes: Stress-induced Correlations in Elastodynamic Fault Models

Fault models can generate complex sequences of events from frictional instabilities, even when the material properties are completely uniform along the fault. These complex sequences arise from the heterogeneous stress and strain fields which are produced through the dynamics of repeated ruptures on the fault. Visual inspection of the patterns of events produced in these models shows a striking and ubiquitous feature: future events tend to occur near the edges of where large events died out. In this paper, we explore this feature more deeply. First, using long catalogues generated by the model, we quantify the effect. We show, interestingly, that it is an even larger effect for future small events than it is for future large events. Then, using our ability to directly measure all aspects of the model, we find a physical explanation for our observations by examining the stress fields associated with large events. Looking at the average stress field we see a large stress concentration left at the edge of the large events, out of which the future events emerge. Further, we see the smearing out of the stress concentration as small events occur. This indicates why the epicenters of future small events are more correlated with the edges of large events than are the epicenters of future large events. Finally, we discuss how results from our simple model may be relevant to the more complicated case of the earth.
Cyclic operation of molten-salt thermal energy storage in thermoclines for solar power plants

Abstract The cyclic operation of molten-salt thermal energy storage thermoclines for solar thermal power plants is systematically investigated. A comprehensive, two-temperature model is first developed for the cyclic operation of a thermocline operating with a commercially available molten salt as the heat transfer fluid and quartzite rock as the filler. Volume-averaged mass and momentum equations are employed, with the Brinkman–Forchheimer extension to the Darcy law used to model the porous-medium resistance. Energy equations for the molten salt and the filler are coupled by an interstitial Nusselt number representing the heat transfer between the phases. A finite-volume approach is employed to solve the governing equations. The model is validated against experiments from the literature and then used to systematically study the cyclic behavior of the thermocline thermal storage system. Thermal characteristics including temperature profiles and cycle efficiency are explored. Guidelines are developed for designing the dimensions and molten salt flow rates for solar thermocline systems of different power capacities. The cycle efficiency is found to be improved at smaller melt Reynolds numbers, larger length ratios (molten salt flow distance in a half-cycle to the filler particle diameter) and larger tank heights. The filler particle diameter and the tank volume are found to strongly influence the cycle efficiency.
Verbal Conditioning: Resistance to Extinction as a Function of Reinforcement and Need for Social Approval

In the present study the effects of 8 reinforcements administered under partial and continuous scheduling, with an additional factor of high and low social approval needs based upon scores of the M-C SDS, were investigated. The results indicated no differences as a function of either treatment or groups. In view of the relatively high rate of resistance to extinction shown by the group receiving no reinforcement, it is suggested that further study be made of the possibility of self-reinforcement and the restriction of range which may be imposed upon Ss who receive reinforcement.
Rates of psychotropic medication use in children with ASD compared to presence and severity of problem behaviors

Abstract There is a scarcity of research on the relationship between presence of problem behaviors and psychotropic medication use in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants in the current study were children and adolescents ages 3–17 years who were sorted into four groups: ASD on psychotropic medication ( N = 100), ASD not on psychotropic medication ( N = 147), typically developing on medication ( N = 48), and typically developing not on medication ( N = 168). A one-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to determine the relationship between medication use and rates of internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Post hoc analyses revealed that children with ASD on psychotropic medication evinced significantly more externalizing behaviors than children with ASD not on medication. However, the two groups did not significantly differ on rates of internalizing behaviors. These results suggest that psychotropic medications may often be prescribed to manage externalizing behaviors. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature.
Sound propagation in helium-II in grafoil

Fourth-sound-like propagation in superfluid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ in a grafoil-filled resonator has been observed. The sound velocity was found to be more than an order of magnitude smaller than that of ordinary fourth sound. This significant reduction can be explained by picturing the pore structure in grafoil as an ensemble of coupled Helmholtz resonators.
Emerging 8-Methoxyfluoroquinolone Resistance among Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolates Recovered from Patients with Endophthalmitis

Fluoroquinolones remain the most commonly used antimicrobials for the prevention and management of bacterial endophthalmitis. Coagulase negative Staphylococci are the most frequently recovered pathogens. Increasing resistance among this group has paralleled the presence of methicillin resistant. From 2005 to 2010, we recovered 38 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus epidermidis (MSSE) from endophthalmitis cases at our Institute, including15 (39.5%) isolates resistant to gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin members of the C-8-methoxyfluoroquinolones family. Mutations in the quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDR) of gyr A and par C were determined and correlated with fluoroquinolones minimal inhibitory concentrations using Etests for these 15 MSSE isolates. High-level resistance (MIC >32 μg/ml) to gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin was documented for 46.7% of the MSSE isolates and low-level resistance (MICs 2 to 4 μg/ml) for 53.3%. MIC for ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and ofloxacin was >32 μg/ml for all isolates. The amino acid substitution Ser84Phe in gyr A was found among all isolates. A second mutation in gyr A (Glu88Lys) resulted in high-level resistance to moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin. Almost all (92.8%) isolates presented double point mutations in par C gene at codons 80 and 84 with different combinations. Eighty seven percent of the patients had prior exposure to topical 8-methoxyfluoroquinolones. Prior exposure to the 8- methoxyfluoroquinolones may contribute to the selection of MSSE strains containing multiple mutations in the QRDR of gyr A and par C that results in low- and high-level resistance to these agents.