cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing sleep in children with autism spectrum disorders: a multidimensional approach.

Study objectives To relate parentally reported sleep concerns in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to polysomnographic (PSG) findings and measures of daytime behavior and autism symptomatology. Design Cross-sectional study involving validated questionnaires, sleep histories and diaries, 2 nights of PSG, and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). Setting Vanderbilt University General Clinical Research Center Sleep Core. Participants 21 children with ASD and 10 typically developing (TD) children, aged 4-10 years. Children were free of psychotropic medications, with no history of mental retardation or epileptic seizures. Interventions N/A. Measurements and results Children with ASD were defined as "good sleepers" (10 children) and "poor sleepers" (11 children) on the basis of parental report; the age-comparable TD children were all reported by their parents to be good sleepers. Poor sleepers with ASD showed prolonged sleep latency and decreased sleep efficiency on night 1 of PSG and differed on insomnia-related subscales of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ; increased sleep onset delay and decreased sleep duration). The good sleepers with ASD did not differ from the TD children in sleep architecture or on CSHQ domains. As compared with ASD good sleepers, the ASD poor sleepers also had higher scores related to affective problems on the Child Behavior Checklist and more problems with reciprocal social interaction on the ADOS. Conclusions Parentally reported sleep concerns of insomnia in children with ASD are substantiated by validated sleep questionnaires and by PSG. Furthermore, good sleepers with ASD showed fewer affective problems and better social interactions than ASD poor sleepers.
The Equity Risk Premium in 2013

We analyze the history of the equity risk premium from surveys of U.S. Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) conducted every quarter from June 2000 to December 2012. The risk premium is the expected 10-year S&P 500 return relative to a 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield. While the risk premium sharply increased during the financial crisis peaking in February 2009, the premium has decreased to a level of 3.83% which is only slightly higher than the long-term average. However, the total market return forecast is at a historical low of 5.46%. The survey also provides measures of crosssectional disagreement about the risk premium, skewness, and a measure of individual uncertainty. Consistent with the last four quarters of surveys, CFOs see more downside risks than upside risks. In addition, w e find that dispersion of beliefs is above the long-term average as well as individual uncertainty. We also present evidence on the determinants of the long-run risk premium. Our analysis suggests the level of the risk premium closely tracks both market volatility (reflected in the VIX index) as well as credit spreads. However, the most recent data show a divergence between VIX and the risk premium.
Application of Mathematics in the Representation of Images: From Geometry to Set Theory

Mathematics has long been applied to images, especially in a number of ways that rely on categorizing visible properties not just geometrically, that is, spatially, but also algebraically or quantitatively. In Part 1 I have discussed how fuzzy set theory has been applied to the empirical (Zadeh) and conceptual (Smith) understanding of linguistic vagueness as a quantitative, conceptually precise model of categorization practices. Visual description and experience take meaningful place only within the context set by a perceptual system. From a categorization standpoint, it makes sense to claim that linguistic and visual indeterminacy and vagueness are inseparable. As a result, the same formal approaches should be, at least heuristically, and have been applied to images, and this in two different ways I call synthetic and analytic.
OBSERVED VERSUS PREDICTED CARDIOVASCULAR EVENT RATES IN PRIMARY PREVENTION DIABETIC PATIENTS RECEIVING HIGH-INTENSITY STATINS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Background: Diabetic patients receiving high-intensity statins represent a high-risk subgroup for cardiovascular (CV) events. The observed CV event risk in this patient group might not align with the predicted risk from published risk equations. Methods: We compared observed to predicted CV event
A Moldable Nanocomposite Hydrogel Composed of a Mussel‐Inspired Polymer and a Nanosilicate as a Fit‐to‐Shape Tissue Sealant

The engineering of bioadhesives to bind and conform to the complex contour of tissue surfaces remains a challenge. We have developed a novel moldable nanocomposite hydrogel by combining dopamine-modified poly(ethylene glycol) and the nanosilicate Laponite, without the use of cytotoxic oxidants. The hydrogel transitioned from a reversibly cross-linked network formed by dopamine-Laponite interfacial interactions to a covalently cross-linked network through the slow autoxidation and cross-linking of catechol moieties. Initially, the hydrogel could be remolded to different shapes, could recover from large strain deformation, and could be injected through a syringe to adhere to the convex contour of a tissue surface. With time, the hydrogel solidified to adopt the new shape and sealed defects on the tissue. This fit-to-shape sealant has potential in sealing tissues with non-flat geometries, such as a sutured anastomosis.
Differences in salaries of physician assistants in the USA by race, ethnicity and sex.

ObjectivesData from the Academy of American Physician Assistants have suggested there are no differences in salaries by race and ethnic group. Our objective was to compare salaries of physician ass...
Mechanical Analysis of Single Myocyte Contraction in a 3D Elastic Matrix

Objective: Excessive mechanical stress in myocardium, arising from various genetic or acquired pathological conditions, leads to arrhythmias and heart failure, yet little is known about the mechano-chemo-transduction (MCT) mechanisms at the single cell level that underlie heart disease development. Recently we developed a novel Cell-in-Gel system by embedding isolated live myocytes in a constraining hydrogel, in order to study MCT mechanisms under well-defined mechanical afterload.Methods: Here we present a mechanical model and analysis of a single contracting myocyte embedded in an infinite elastic matrix, which is an exact closed-form 3D elasticity solution based on the classical Eshelby Inclusion problem.Results: The model enables quick parametric studies to gain insight into expected trends. (1) The fractional shortening of a myocyte is dependent on its geometric aspect ratio and the stiffness of the surrounding gel. A typical cardiomyocyte is able to contract only 20% of its load-free fractional shortening in a gel of similar stiffness. (2) The stress state is multi-axial and uniform within the cell. (3) The traction on the cell surface, however, is highly non-uniform with a maximum near the ends, suggesting that mechanosensors on the cell surface will experience various degrees of normal and shear stresses under certain pathological conditions (infarction, fibrosis or asynchronous contraction).Conclusions: The mechanical model provides a baseline prediction of the contractile response of the myocyte during contraction in-gel, assuming the cell is a purely elastic object. Preliminary experimental data show stronger than predicted (baseline) contractility under afterload, and the model allows quantification of this enhancement of contractility (by up-regulation of Ca2+ transients related to the Anrep effect). Thus, our analyses will quantitatively inform ongoing studies of the MCT mechanisms that link mechanical stress to cardiac function and remodeling in health and disease.
Design for Delay Fault Testability

This chapter presents design techniques to improve the delay fault testability. Since in many designs, the coverage for path delay faults is un-acceptably low, most of the research in this area has concentrated on improving the path delay fault testability. Path delay fault testability can be defined with respect to several factors: the number of faults to be tested, the number of tests that need to be applied to test all path delay faults, the number of faults that can be guaranteed to be detected independent of delays outside the target path, etc. This chapter describes design for testability techniques such as test point insertion and use of partial scan as well as techniques for resynthesizing the circuit such that its path delay fault testability is improved.
Control Measures for Hepatitis B Problems in Dentistry

Infection with hepatitis B virus is a recognized occupational hazard of dentistry (1). There is considerable anecdotal evidence to support this; for example, most dentists, even if they have not been infected themselves, personally know other dentists or dental assistants who have been ill with this infection. The occupational nature of hepatitis B virus infection in dental personnel is also supported by the greater frequency of antibody to hepatitis B among dentists (and physicians) as compared with lawyers (professionals of similar socioeconomic status without occupational clinical contact), and by the gradual increase of the frequency of hepatitis B antibody in dentists (and physicians) to a maximum of about 20% over the normal span of dental and medical practice (2). Among dentists, the highest frequency of hepatitis B antibody occurs in oral surgeons and periodontists, with lower frequencies among general practitioners and pedodontists. The annual percentage increment of new infections for dentists and physicians is about 0.5, the increment for blood donors from the general population being about 0.087.
Deploying Pest Resistance in Genetically-limited Forest Plantations: Developing Ecologically-based Strategies for Managing Risk

Deployment of genetically-based insect pest resistance in large-scale and intensively managed forest plantations requires ecological understanding to achieve sustainability. The problems of pest depravation and biotype evolution, and the emergence of new pests can be managed through the use of a well-designed variety of resistance and susceptibility factors. These must be selected based upon their ecological and genetic interaction with the pests of concern, and not merely through the use of a probability assessment of intolerable pest damage. The deployment of pest resistance mechanisms that do not foster uni-directional genetic selection is especially important. There must be greater coordination of pest-tree studies with tree genetic improvement programs, and the development of operational resistance screening methods, for insect resistance to be widely used in forest management activities.
Evaluation of a brief dermatologist-delivered intervention vs usual care on sun protection behavior

Importance Despite receiving dermatologic care, many patients with or without a history of skin cancer either do not use sun protection or fail to use it in an effective manner. Objective To examine the association of a brief dermatologist-delivered intervention vs usual care with patient satisfaction and sun protection behavior. Design, Setting, and Participants A longitudinal controlled cohort study among adults receiving dermatology care was conducted from April 25 to November 6, 2017, at 2 dermatologic clinic sites within a Northeastern health care system to compare outcomes associated with the intervention with that of usual care on 1- and 3-month patient outcomes. The sample consisted primarily of non-Hispanic white patients aged 21 to 65 years. Participants were assigned to the intervention group (n = 77) or the control group (n = 82) based on the site location of their dermatologists. Interventions The intervention ( Main Outcomes and Measures First, patient’s satisfaction with the dermatologist’s communication was assessed. Second, the association of the intervention with changing sun protection behavior of the patient was examined. Results Patients in the intervention group (46 women and 31 men; mean [SD] age, 52.4 [9.6] years) rated dermatologist-patient communication more positive compared with patients in the control group (59 women and 23 men; mean [SD] age, 51.4 [11.3 years]). Eighteen percent (14 of 77) of patients in the intervention group reported 1 or more sunburns 1 month after the intervention compared with 35% (29 of 82) of patients in the control group (P = .01). No differences in report of sunburns were seen at the 3-month follow-up. Patients in the intervention group reported increased use of sunscreen across 3 months (face: intervention, increased 12% and controls, decreased 4%;P = .001; body: intervention, increased 12% and controls, decreased 1%;P = .02; reapplication: intervention, increased 15% and controls, remained stable;P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance The intervention was delivered by dermatologists after minimal standardized training and resulted in a higher level of satisfaction with dermatologist-patient communication and improved sun protection behavior among patients across several months.
Requiring Reasonable Comp from a Corp

This Article considers whether a reasonable compensation requirement can be applied when a corporation makes no payment in any form to the shareholder-employee, and the implications of this question for changes under the 2017 Tax Legislation.
How do the expectations of patients compare with their surgeons regarding outcomes of periacetabular osteotomy

Our objective was to determine the frequency and strength of agreement between patients and their surgeons on preoperative expectations of the outcomes of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) surgery. We also sought to determine whether patient preoperative function and pain levels were associated with patients' and surgeons' expectations and to identify the motivating factors for patients to undergo PAO. Two surgeons and their combined 68 patients preoperatively completed 4-point Likert-scales rating their expectations of improvement in six domains representing different hip symptoms after surgery. Domains included pain, stiffness, locking, stability, walking ability and athletic ability. Concordance between patient and surgeon expectation was evaluated by the percent of exact and partial agreement. Correlation analyses were performed to investigate associations between expectations of improvement and patient factors. Exact agreement between patients and surgeons ranged from 18.2% (stiffness) to 55.9% (pain) and partial agreement between patients and surgeons ranged from 48.5% (stiffness) to 100% (pain). Patients with higher UCLA scores tended to have lower surgeon expectations of improving walking ability (r = -0.34; P = 0.007) but higher expectations for improved athletic ability (r = 0.25; P = 0.04), and surgeons anticipated more improvement in walking for patients with higher stiffness (r = 0.31, P = 0.01) and pain (r = 0.38, P = 0.002). Similarly, patients with higher Short Form-12 physical component summary had lower surgeon expectations of improvement in walking ability (r = -0.40, P = 0.002) and stiffness (r = -0.35, P = 0.006). In the most domains there was frequent discrepancy between patient and surgeon expectations, with patients being more optimistic than their surgeons in every domain. For the pain domain, patients and surgeons had similar expectations.
A multi-objective model for optimizing staffing across geographically distributed patient-centered medical homes

AbstractAs demand for medical services increases, it may become necessary to centralize provision of medical care, particularly specialty services, to certain locations within a geographic region. ...
S.E. Gontarski. Revisioning Beckett: Samuel Beckett’s Decadent Turn.

These wide-ranging essays on Samuel Beckett cover the career of Stanley Gontarski. Personally acquainted with Beckett, he offers an original thesis by foregrounding Beckett’s subversive side, manif...
The use of self-retained, cryopreserved amniotic membrane for the treatment of Sjögren syndrome: a case series.

Purpose To determine whether signs and symptoms of ocular surface disease improve after placement of a self-retained, cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) in patients with Sjogren syndrome (SS). Methods The medical records of SS patients who received a self-retained CAM implant (Prokera or Prokera Slim; TissueTech Inc, Doral, FL) for the treatment of ocular surface disease between August 2012 and August 2016 at a single, large academic institution were reviewed retrospectively. Visual acuity, results of slit-lamp examination of the cornea and conjunctiva, and dry eye symptoms, were evaluated before and after CAM insertion. Results A total of 6 eyes of 6 patients (all female; mean age, 62.5 ± 13.0 years [range, 49-86 years]) were included. All patients were on topical medications at the time of the study and had signs of ocular surface dryness. There were reductions in corneal and/or conjunctival staining in 5 eyes (83%) after the CAM dissolved. All patients who completed therapy (5/5) experienced a relapse in their signs and symptoms within 1 month of removal of the CAM, with an average time to relapse of 24.6 days. Mean follow-up time was 54.5 days. Foreign body sensation and blurred vision were the most common complaints associated with the CAM implant. Conclusions In this small case series, self-retained CAM implantation was found to be beneficial in SS patients with ocular surface disease that is refractory to standard therapies; however, we found that the effects were temporary. Future larger studies are needed to confirm these benefits.
Trends in Regional Nodal Management of Breast Cancer Patients with Low Nodal Burden

American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 confirms the safety of omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and regional nodal irradiation (RNI) in breast cancer patients with one to two positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), without compromising disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In contrast, the NCIC MA20 trial showed improved DFS in node-positive patients undergoing ALND and RNI. We sought to examine how these data have influenced the management of patients with limited nodal burden. Using the National Cancer Database, patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 and who met the criteria for Z0011 were identified. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with practice patterns. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of ALND and RNI with OS. Omission of ALND in Z0011-eligible patients reached 89.2% in 2015. This Z0011-compliant group was more likely to undergo RNI compared with the non-compliant group (36.4% vs. 31.3%; p < 0.05), with RNI increasing to 43.8% by 2015. Factors associated with the use of RNI included later year of diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–2.1], hormone receptor-negative tumor (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4), grade 3 tumor (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3), treatment at a non-academic site (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3) and two versus one positive SLN (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.8–2.2). With 43 months median follow-up, RNI was not associated with improved OS. Since the publication of Z0011, the omission of ALND has become widespread; however nearly half of these women now receive RNI. The optimal radiation therapy approach for this low nodal burden population warrants further study.
Afro-Latin American Documentary Resistance from the Pacific Coast: How Voces de Resistencia (2017) Changes the Landscapes of Aesthetics, Academia/Community Collaboration, and Black Feminist Activism During the Colombian “Peace Process”

Voces de Resistencia, Capitulo 1, is a short documentary film with an original soundtrack composed and performed by Black Colombian female folk a cappella chorus, or alabadoras. The multimedia product makes use of Black feminist pedagogy and resistance: it portrays a silenced and oppressed group in Bojaya, Colombia. The focus on alabadoras singers and composers promotes self-definition and exposes the power of self-determination in songwriting, an a cappella chorus performance, and documentary filmmaking.
A case series of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance and COVID-19.

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) is a pre‐malignant clonal plasma cell disorder, with 25 to 30% life‐long risk of progression to multiple myeloma (MM).1 It is usually asymptomatic, but infrequently associated with several serious conditions, such as neuropathies, glomerulonephritis, and acquired angioedema.2 Moreover, a higher risk of infection and deep venous thrombosis has been reported in patients with MGUS.3,4
Relationships between parent and adolescent/young adult mental health among Hispanic and non-Hispanic childhood cancer survivors

To examine associations between parents and adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors’ (CCS) mental health, and differences by Hispanic ethnicity. Participants were 129 CCS (Mage ...
cDNA microarray analysis of gene expression profiles in a metastatic model of human colorectal cancer

1725 Tumour metastasis represents the most lethal aspect of cancer. This multi-stage process depends on alterations in the expression of many key players including cell adhesion molecules and proteolytic enzymes. Gene expression profiling using microarray technology has become a valuable tool to elucidating the molecular basis of metastasis and almost every aspect of cancer biology. We have previously established and characterised a panel of human colon cancer cell lines of varying invasive and metastatic abilities from the primary human colon adenocarcinoma cell line SW480 and its lymph node metastatic derivative SW620. The SW480 cells were also stably transfected with the cDNA for matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) and MMP-9 (new cell lines: SW480M7 and SW480M9 respectively). The aim of our study was to identify metastasis specific genes in colorectal cancer and the role that MMP-7 and MMP-9 play in metastasis. A 39,360-element human cDNA microarray was used to examine and compare the differential gene expression profiles in these cell lines. RNA from three different and independent preparations was DNase treated, reverse transcribed, labelled, and hybridised according to TIGR protocols. To minimise false positives dye-swap replication and ‘self vs. self’ controls were carried out. Images were acquired by ScanArray Express 2.0 software (Packard Bioscience) and quantified using Quantarray 3.0 software (Packard Bioscience). Analysis of gene expression data by Genespring 6 (Silicon Genetics) software revealed that 233 genes were significantly up regulated (> 2-fold, p
Gender differences in the relationship between social support and strain and mortality among a national sample of adults

We assessed gender differences in the relationship between mortality and social support, strain, and affectual solidarity received from family, friends and spouses. Data of 6259 adults from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) survey were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards were used to assess relationships between mortality and support, strain, and affectual solidarity and whether the associations varied by gender. Support from family, friends, and spouses/partners and friend affectual solidarity were associated with lower mortality in the total sample. Friend strain was associated with higher mortality in the total sample. Family support and family, friend, and spouse affectual solidarity were associated with lower mortality in women. Friend and spouse strain were associated with a higher mortality for women. Support from friends, family and spouse are beneficial for reducing mortality in men and women. Friend and spouse strain are targets for minimizing mortality risk in women.
Non-random Study Attrition: Assessing Correction Techniques and the Magnitude of Bias in a Longitudinal Study of Reentry from Prison

Longitudinal data offer many advantages to criminological research yet suffer from attrition, namely in the form of sample selection bias. Attrition may undermine reaching valid inferences by introducing systematic differences between the retained and attrited samples. We explored (1) if attrition biases correlates of recidivism, (2) the magnitude of bias, and (3) how well methods of correction account for such bias. Using data from the LoneStar Project, a representative longitudinal sample of reentering men in Texas, we examined correlates of recidivism using official measures of recidivism under four sample conditions: full sample, listwise deleted sample, multiply imputed sample, and two-stage corrected sample. We compare and contrast the results regressing rearrest on a range of covariates derived from a pre-release baseline interview across the four sample conditions. Attrition bias was present in 44% of variables and null hypothesis significance tests differed for the correlates of recidivism in the full and retained samples. The bias was substantial, altering effect sizes for recidivism by a factor as large as 1.6. Neither the Heckman correction nor multiple imputation adequately corrected for bias. Instead, results from listwise deletion most closely mirrored the results of the full sample with 89% concordance. It is vital that researchers examine attrition-based selection bias and recognize the implications it has on their data when generating evidence of theoretical, policy, or practical significance. We outline best practices for examining the magnitude of attrition and analyzing longitudinal data affected by sample selection.
POESÍA Y MUNDO (EN) COMÚN: VOCES POÉTICAS DE LA REVUELTA

Resumen: Desde la pregunta por como operan, en clave social y de genero, los lenguajes de la poesia y la protesta, y que funcion desempena en el espacio publico el caracter desapropiativo de sus practicas, este trabajo ahonda en la produccion colectiva de una serie de escrituras ciudadanas que, en el marco del “estallido social”, expresan su deseo por una nueva constitucion para Chile. En especifico, se centra en el volumen (re)constitucion poetica desde los aportes que hacen las escritoras Daniela Catrileo, Begona Ugalde y Elvira Hernandez, quienes junto con adherir a la demanda publica desarrollan una mirada critica del modelo de mercado y la autoria a partir del regimen estetico de las producciones simbolicas contemporaneas que, en colectivo, discuten y disputan su derecho a la palabra. Abstract: From the question of how the languages of poetry and protest operate, in a social and gender perspective, and what role the non-appropriation of their practices plays in the public space, this work delves into the collective production of a series of writings citizens who, within the framework of the “estallido social”, express their desire for a new Constitution for Chile. Specifically, it focuses on the (re)constitucion poetica’ volume from the contributions made by the writers Daniela Catrileo, Begona Ugalde and Elvira Hernandez, who, along with adhering to the public demand, develop a critical view of the market model and authorship from the aesthetic regime of contemporary symbolic productions that collectively discuss and dispute their right to speak.
Chemical Hydrography of the South Atlantic During the Last Glacial Maximum: Cd vs. δ13C

There has been a major contradiction between benthic foraminiferal Cd/Ca and δ13C data concerning the labile nutrient chemistry of the Southern Ocean during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Cd data indicates that LGM South Atlantic nutrient concentrations were as low as they are today, indicative of a persistent influx of nutrient-depleted North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW). δ13C data indicates that LGM South Atlantic nutrient concentrations were much higher than at present (even higher than anywhere else in the ocean at that time), and these data have been interpreted as signifying the complete shutdown of the export of NADW into the global ocean. This paper examines both true geochemical differences and various confounding foraminiferal artifacts for both tracers. While many different processes and artifacts affect both tracers in the margin, we conclude the discrepancy is mainly due to the „Mackensen Effect“of low foraminiferal δ13C as a result of high carbon flux to the sediments, and that LGM Atlantic Sector Southern Ocean nutrient concentrations remained similar to the levels encountered today.
Philosophy and the Politics of Unreason

Stephen Holmes has presented a lecture full of good ideas and genuine common sense.1 If I were in a position to hire him as deputy secretary of state for policy and planning, I would. Over the past few years, he has produced a number of pieces that identify the errors and dangers in arguments made by the Bush administration and its supporters.2 He writes in praise of the rule of law, drawing our attention to the institutional wisdom embodied in our traditions of constitutional governance. Since these arguments all seem so reasonable, I always come back to the question: why does our government continue to act in ways that are so unreasonable? The answer, I will argue, is because reason is not the only measure of political action. Although Holmes, for the most part, avoids overt partisan critique, critics have received his essays in just that manner. Regardless of how objectively pragmatic any commentator tries to be, the issues at hand are inevitably understood as political. There is no neutral position from which one can offer an analysis of the facts of the matter, because the language of reason is the language of political critique in American life.4 We, meaning the political opposition, think that everything is clear. Because of the allure of reason, we come away feeling that were we in office we would do better. A longer view, however, suggests that we might not.
An Investigative Alternative to Single-Species Dissection in the Introductory Biology Laboratory.

Dissections of single species (e.g., fetal pig) are a common student learning activity in introductory biology courses. Such dissections demonstrate location of anatomical parts and provide dissection practice but provide less opportunity for student critical thinking, numeracy and demonstration of the scientific method. A comparative anatomy lab was implemented over two years at a small, rural, private, liberal arts college. Students dissected their choice of five vertebrate species, mastered the location, function and gross evolution of the digestive and cardiovascular systems, and analyzed intestinal length and heart mass among sets of species. Instructors and students reported significantly more collaboration and reflective learning than in other exercises. The comparative approach highlights several evolutionary trends and created testable data at an equivalent cost to previous fetal pig dissections.
Kinetics of cathodic reduction of adsorbed material: The reduction of midazolam at mercury electrodes

Abstract The reduction at the mercury electrode of midazolam, (7-chloro-5-(O-fluorophenyl)-3H-(2'-methylimidazo) [1,5-a][1,4]-benzodiazepine has been examined by means of pulse voltammetry with a graphical method of analysis of the data. Midazolam undergoes irreversible charge transfer coupled with protonation, along with strong, potential-dependent adsorption. The reduction of adsorbed material is first order, the current being an exponentially decreasing function of time and also a double exponential function of potential. This functional form gives rise to pronounced peaks in the normal pulse voltammetric response, which can be analyzed by graphical methods to yield surface concentration and kinetic parameters. Over the narrow range of conditions where the data are free from artifact, the value of the rate constant, referenced to E = −0.6 V vs. SCE, is 0.010±0.005 s−1, and the value of the charge transfer coefficient is 0.67±0.06. The corresponding values for diffusing material are 1.43 (±0.14) × 10−7 cm s and 0.94±0.01. The diffusion coefficient of midazolam in 0.1 M acetate buffer, pH 4.8, is 2.9 × 10−6 cm 2 s .
Above the glass ceiling: When are women and racial/ethnic minorities promoted to CEO?

Using a dataset of all CEO transitions in Fortune 500 companies over a 15-year period, we analyze mechanisms that shape the promotion probabilities and leadership tenure of women and racial/ethnic minority CEOs. Consistent with the theory of the glass cliff, we find that occupational minorities—defined as white women and men and women of color—are more likely than white men to be promoted CEO of weakly performing firms. Though we find no significant differences in tenure length between occupational minorities and white men, we find that when firm performance declines during the tenure of occupational minority CEOs, these leaders are likely to be replaced by white men. We term this phenomenon the “savior effect.” © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automatic pipeting attachment for the Van Slyke manometric apparatus for CO2 determination.

An automatic pipeting device has been attached to the Van Slyke manometric apparatus for the determination of CO2. It has proved to be accurate, requires a small sample of serum, and is self-cleaning and rapid.
Altered phospholipid metabolism in Escherichia coli accompanying killing by disrupted granulocytes.

The effect of bactericidal concentrations of disrupted rabbit granulocytes and of partially purified granulocyte fractions on phospholipid metabolism by Escherichia coli has been investigated. Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that, during and after killing of E. coli by granulocytes, bacterial macromolecular synthesis continues. Similarly, despite almost complete loss of viability within 15 min, incorporation of [1-14C]palmitate, [2-14C]glycerol, and [1-14C]acetate into E. coli phospholipids, in the presence of granulocyte preparations, remains the same as in control E. coli populations for at least 1 h. Incorporation of [1-14C]oleate into E. coli phospholipids is actually stimulated during the first 60 min of incubation in the presence of granulocyte preparations (more than twofold at 30 min and 40% at 60 min). With all labeled lipid precursors, bactericidal granulocyte preparations cause a relative increase in the labeling of E. coli cardiolipin, with a corresponding drop in labeled phosphatidyl-glycerol. Labeled lyso-compounds accumulate in the presence of granulocyte preparations when [1-14C]palmitate, but not when [1-14C]oleate is the labeled precursor. Since oleate occurs mainly in the 2-acyl position of E. coli phospholipids, whereas at least 50% of palmitate occurs in the 1 position, it appears that a phospholipase A2 acts on the E. coli phospholipids. These various effects are also seen when E. coli are exposed to highly purified granulocyte preparations that possess potent bactericidal and phospholipase A2 activities. We speculate that this phospholipase A2 in the granulocyte preparations stimulates oleate but not palmitate incorporation by initiating increased turnover of the fatty acid in the 2-acyl position of E. coli phospholipids, causing formation of 1-acyl lyso-compounds likely to be preferentially reacylated with unsaturated fatty acids.
The effects of channel width tapering on the power dissipation of serially connected MOSFETs

Transistor channel width tapering in serial MOSFET chains is shown to decrease the propagation delay, power dissipation, and physical area of VLSI circuits. Tapering is the process of decreasing the size of each MOSFET transistor width along a serial chain such that the largest transistor is connected to the power supply and the smallest is connected to the output node. It is demonstrated that, in many cases, tapering decreases delay and changes the shape of the output waveform such that the time during which a load inverter is conducting short-circuit current is reduced. This decrease in short-circuit current also occurs in many cases where tapering does not offer a speed advantage. Dynamic CV/sup 2/f power dissipation of the serial chain is reduced. This behavior permits a designer to trade-off speed for a reduction in short-circuit and dynamic power dissipation, a trade-off not normally available with untapered chains. >
Situating Sexual Harassment in the Broader Context of Interpersonal Violence: Research, Theory, and Policy Implications

Although sexual harassment has been discussed as a form of interpersonal violence, little research has systematically examined both the empirical and theoretical links between sexual harassment and interpersonal violence. We review survey research data that establishes sexual harassment as a form of revictimization from earlier instances of interpersonal violence, such as child sexual abuse and intimate partner violence as well as ways that sexual harassment and interpersonal violence can mutually co-occur, such as from dissolved workplace romances or as an escalation from one form of violence to another. Bronfrenbrenner's and Grauerholz's ecological frameworks for understanding interpersonal violence and revictimization from several levels of analysis are invoked to understand the many ways that sexual harassment and interpersonal violence are linked. We further discuss organizational theories of sexual harassment and Routine Activities Theory as frameworks for guiding research in these areas. The review pays particular attention to surveys of multiple forms of sexual victimization, including sexual harassment, documented by the U.S. Military as well as the Military's efforts to comprehensively address these problems.
Concentration field measurements within isolated turbulent puffs

The structure of passive scalar concentration field within isolated turbulent puffs was measured using the planar laser Mie scattering technique. Puffs were generated by injecting seeded air through a 5-mm-diameter nozzle into a chamber with a weak air co-flow. The injection time and volume was varied by the use of a fast-response solenoid valve. Puffs were examined in the range of 25-55 diameters downstream of the nozzle. The Reynolds number based on the average velocity and nozzle diameter was 5000. The results indicate that as the injection volume increases, puffs evolve from a spherical geometry to that with a tail. The half-width of radial concentration profiles through the puff center decrease as the injection volume increases. On the other hand, the puff length in the axial direction increases with the injection volume. The volume of ambient fluid entrained by the puff, and normalized by the injected volume, decreases with increasing injection volume.
Convergence analysis for maximum likelihood-based reliability estimation from subsystem and full system tests

A recent paper (Spall, 2009) introduced a method for estimating the reliability of a complex system based on a combination of full system and subsystem (and/or component or other) tests. It is assumed that the system is composed of multiple subsystems, where the subsystems may be arranged in series, parallel (i.e., redundant), combination series/parallel, or other mode. Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is used to estimate the overall system reliability based on this fusion of multiple sources of information. The MLE approach is well suited to providing asymptotic or finite-sample confidence bounds through the use of Fisher information or bootstrap Monte Carlo-based sampling. This paper provides essential convergence theory for the method of Spall (2009).
The potential in a two-electron atom.

Potential-energy surfaces V(r/sub 2/,theta/sub 12/Vertical Barr/sub 1/ = zeta) representing the potential energy seen by one electron given that the other electron is fixed at zeta are presented graphically for He and H/sup -/ in both Cartesian and cylindrical polar representations. These pictures are an aid in visualizing the attractive and repulsive forces which influence the dynamics of the electrons in these systems. They also help to draw the distinction between the potentials around negative ions and neutral atoms. Similar plots of the pseudopotentials of the alkaline-earth atoms show why these quasi-two-electron species tend to behave more like linear triatomic molecules than like a system of two independent electrons in orbits about a nucleus. Finally, conditional probability distributions rho(r/sub 2/,theta/sub 12/Vertical Barr/sub 1/ = zeta) are presented along with their corresponding V(r/sub 2/,theta/sub 12/Vertical Barr/sub 1/ = zeta) to illustrate these points.
Common Property Institutions and Sustainable Governance of Resources

Abstract The literature on common property-based resource management comprises many important studies that seek to specify the conditions under which groups of users will self-organize and sustainably govern resources upon which they depend. Using three of the more comprehensive such studies, and with an extensive review of writings on the commons, this paper demonstrates that the enterprise of generating lists of conditions under which commons are governed sustainably is a flawed and impossibly costly research task. For a way out, the paper examines the relative merits of statistical, comparative, and case study approaches to studying the commons. It ends with a plea for careful research design and sample selection, construction of causal mechanisms, and a shift toward comparative and statistical rather than single-case analyses. Such steps are necessary for a coherent, empirically-relevant theory of the commons.
Vaporization chemistry in the gallium-sulfur system

Abstract Various attempts were made to reproduce the anomalous variation in vapor composition with decreasing temperature of gallium sulfide (Ga 2 S 3 ), first observed by Roberts and Searcy (RS) as an increase in the partial pressure of Ga 2 S(g). The simultaneous Knudsen and torsion (Volmer) effusion method was applied in the range 1095–1284 K to stoichiometric, sulfur-rich, and gallium-rich samples prepared by two methods. In every case, effusion experiments resulted in room-temperature residues of α-Ga 2 S 3 . The anomalous phenomenon of RS was never observed in this work, but the results, along with a survey of the literature, made it possible to establish conditions necessary for its observation. With samples of normal size, of cross section of around 1 cm 2 , the key factor is a small effective area of the effusion orifice, namely 2 . The possibility is presented that the type of chemical reaction taking place during vaporization can depend on orifice area; the range of literature values of ΔH⊖(298 K) for vaporization of Ga 2 S 3 (s) (645–661 kJ mol −1 ) may be related to such an effect.
Band gap narrowing of titanium oxide semiconductors by noncompensated anion-cation codoping for enhanced visible-light photoactivity.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is widely recognized as one of the most promising photocatalysts for solar energy utilization and environmental cleanup, but because of its wide bandgap, pure TiO2 can only absorbs ultraviolet light, which represents 4% of the solar spectrum1-6. Here we establish a conceptually novel approach, termed non-compensated n-p codoping, to narrow the bandgap of TiO2 and shift the optical response into the visible spectral range where a much larger fraction of the solar spectrum can be captured. The concept embodies two key ingredients: The electrostatic attraction within the n-p dopant pair enhances the thermodynamic and kinetic solubility in substitutional doping, and the non-compensated nature ensures the creation of broadened intermediate electronic states that effectively narrow the bandgap. The concept is demonstrated quantitatively within first-principles density functional theory. The experimental evidence for bandgap narrowing is obtained in the forms of direct measurements of the density of states by scanning tunneling spectroscopy, dramatically redshifted and increased optical absorbance, and enhanced photoactivity manifested by efficient hole-electron separation in the visible spectral region. These findings represent the first crucial steps toward development of a new class of titania-based photocatalysts with greatly enhanced efficiency of solar energy conversion facilitating environmentally friendly applications ofrenewablemore » energy.« less
Renal cancer: molecular mechanisms and newer therapeutic options

Renal cell carcinomas account for 80-85% of all primary renal neoplasms. Recent identification of VHL, c-met and TSC as candidate genes mutated in various types of renal carcinomas has greatly enhanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of renal carcinomas and has provided novel therapeutic options for patients with renal cancer. Furthermore, developments in angiogenesis and in tumor immunology have given us additional treatment modalities for cancer patients, especially those with renal cancer. This review highlights the genetic abnormalities seen in renal cell carcinomas and reviews current and future therapeutic options.
Modeling temperature dependent kinetic isotope effects for hydrogen transfer in a series of soybean lipoxygenase mutants: The effect of anharmonicity upon transfer distance

Soybean lipoxygenase-1 (SLO) catalyzes the oxidation of linoleic acid. The rate-limiting step in this transformation is the net abstraction of the pro-S hydrogen atom from the center of the 1,5-pentadienyl moiety in linoleic acid. The large deuterium kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for this step appears in the first order rate constant (Dkcat = 81 ± 5 at T = 25 °C). Furthermore, the KIE and the rate for protium abstraction are weakly temperature dependent (EA,D − EA,H = 0.9 ± 0.2 kcal/mol and EA,H = 2.1 ± 0.2 kcal/mol, respectively). Mutations at a hydrophobic site about 13 A from the active site Fe(III), Ile553, induce a marked temperature dependence that varies roughly in accordance with the degree to which the residue is changed in bulk from the wild type Ile. While the temperature dependence for these mutants varies from the wild type enzyme, the magnitude of the KIE at 25 °C is on the same order of magnitude. A hydrogen tunneling model [Kuznetsov, A.M., Ulstrup, J. Can. J. Chem. 77 (1999) 1085–1096] is utilized to model the KIE temperature profiles for the wild type SLO and each Ile553 mutant. Hydrogenic wavefunctions are modeled using harmonic oscillators and Morse oscillators in order to explore the effects of anharmonicity upon computed kinetic observables used to characterize this hydrogen transfer.
Chelate effects in sulfate binding by amide/urea-based ligands.

The influence of chelate and mini-chelate effects on sulfate binding was explored for six amide-, amide/amine-, urea-, and urea/amine-based ligands. Two of the urea-based hosts were selective for SO42− in water-mixed DMSO-d6 systems. Results indicated that the mini-chelate effect provided by a single urea group with two NH binding sites appears to provide enhanced binding over two amide groups. Furthermore, additional urea binding sites incorporated into the host framework appeared to overcome to some extent competing hydration effects with increasing water content.
Tricin from alfalfa—isolation and physiological activity

Tricin was isolated from the press juice of fresh alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) and identified by comparing its physical and chemical properties to authentic material. Tricin caused smooth muscle relaxation when in contact with isolated guinea pig intestinal strips but did not produce bloat in sheep. It exhibited only slight activity as an antioxidant, measured by the protection of epinephrine from oxidation. The activity of tricin as an estrogen was slight.