cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Diversity of Contemporary Environmentalism: Time for a New Paradigm

The New Environmental Paradigm scale (NEP) is the most widely used measure of environmental attitudes globally, consisting of 15 unidimensional question items. Given the increased diversification of the environment movement in the 40 years since the NEP was introduced, this study used quantitative and qualitative methodologies to explore environmentalism’s heterogeneity and suggest areas in which the NEP might be modified. We fielded short surveys containing the NEP question items, and conducted in-depth, open-ended repertory grid interviews to supplement the survey data and minimize the priming influence of the researchers. Participants, despite harboring strong pro-environmental attitudes, expressed heterogeneous responses to the NEP question items. During the interview process, participants suggested a wide range of solutions to environmental problems, differentiating them on the basis of cost, scale, exigence, and agency. Despite expressing skepticism of technology in the survey data, green technologies proved salient in the repertory grid interviews. Differential analysis by age suggested attitudinal differences, but statistical significance was stymied by the small sample size. The results indicate that while aspects of the NEP remain theoretically relevant and analytically powerful, other components merit re-examination. The mixed methodologies suggest that repertory grid interviews can add depth and provide direction for construct development in traditional survey data collection. Further research could operationalize these findings with the goal of establishing a valid and reliable measure that expresses the diversity of contemporary pro-environmental attitudes.
Evaluating Public Health Interventions: 7. Let the Subject Matter Choose the Effect Measure: Ratio, Difference, or Something Else Entirely

We define measures of effect used in public health evaluations, which include the risk difference and the risk ratio, the population-attributable risk, years of life lost or gained, disability-adjusted life years, quality-adjusted life years, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Except for the risk ratio, all of these are absolute effect measures. For constructing externally generalizable absolute measures of effect when there is superior fit of the multiplicative model, we suggest using the multiplicative model to estimate relative risks, which will often be obtained in simple linear form with no interactions, and then converting these to the desired absolute measure. The externally generalizable absolute measure of effect can be obtained by suitably standardizing to the risk factor distribution of the population to which the results are to be generalized. External generalizability will often be compromised when absolute measures are computed from study populations with risk factor distributions different from those of the population to whom the results are to be generalized, even when these risk factors are not confounders of the intervention effect.
Confucian reflective commitment and free expression

As Confucian political thought is adapted to modern circumstances, the question of free expression merits more attention. Most contemporary Confucian political theorists accept a right to political...
Trophic Behaviour and Related Community Feeding Activities of Heterotrophic Marine Protists

As a consequence of their evolutionary diversity in form and function the protista of aquatic ecosystems exhibit a great variety of complex trophodynamic interactions, which confounds attempts to produce gross estimates of their in situ feeding rates. It is our view that studies of trophic behaviour at species and taxon level and quantification of community ingestion rates, are needed to develop an understanding of how food webs operate. New behavioral observations (e.g. veil/pallium feeding in dinoflagellates, Gaines and Taylor 1984, Jacobson and Anderson 1986, or small, aloricate planktonic ciliates feeding on bacteria, Sherr and Sherr 1987) suggest possible directions for future quantitative studies.
Optimizing replacement decisions for Finnish dairy herds.

Rajala-Schultz PJ, Grohn YT, Allore HG: Optimizing replacement Decisions for Finnish Dairy Herds. Acta vet. scand. 2000, 41, 185–198. – The purposes of the study were to determine how “an optimal herd” would be structured with respect to its calving pattern, average herdlife and calving interval, and to evaluate how sensitive the optimal solution was to changes in input prices, which reflected the situation in Finland in 1998. The study used Finnish input values in an optimization model developed for dairy cow insemination and replacement decisions. The objective of the optimization model was to maximize the expected net present value from present and replacement cows over a given decision horizon. In the optimal solution, the average net revenues per cow were highest in December and lowest in July, due to seasonal milk pricing. Based on the expected net present value of a replacement heifer over the decision horizon, calving in September was optimal. In the optimal solution, an average calving interval was 363 days and average herdlife after first calving was 48.2 months (i.e., approximately 4 complete lactations). However, there was a marked seasonal variation in the length of a calving interval (it being longest in spring and early summer) that can be explained by the goal of having more cows calving in the fall. This, in turn, was due to seasonal milk pricing and higher production in the fall. In the optimal solution, total replacement percentage was 26, with the highest frequency of voluntary culling occurring at the end of the year. Seasonal patterns in calving and replacement frequencies by calendar month and variation in calving interval length or herdlife did not change meaningfully (<1%–2% change in the output variables) with changes in calf, carcass or feed prices. When the price of a replacement heifer decreased, average herdlife was shorter and replacement percentage increased. When the price increased, the effect was the opposite.
Role of Finite-Amplitude Eddies and Mixing in the Life Cycle of Stratospheric Sudden Warmings

AbstractDespite the advances in theories and data availability since the first observation of stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs) in the 1950s, some dynamical aspects of SSWs remain elusive, inclu...
Assessment of the Heineke-Mikulicz anoplasty for skin level postoperative anal strictures and congenital anal stenosis.

Abstract Introduction Acquired skin-level strictures following posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP) and some rare cases of congenital anal stenosis can be managed using a Heineke–Mikulicz like anoplasty (HMA). We hypothesized that this procedure was an effective, safe, and durable outpatient procedure in select patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent HMA for skin level strictures following PSARP or for certain congenital anal stenoses from 2014 to 2017. Results Twenty-eight patients (19 males, 9 females) with a mean age of 5.8 years (range 0.5–24.4) underwent HMA. Twenty-six had a prior PSARP, of which 18 were redo, and 8 were primary procedures. Two patients had congenital skin level anal stenosis. The mean follow up was 1.0 years (range 0.4–2.9). The average preprocedure anal size was Hegar 8, which after HMA increased 8 Hegar sizes to 16 (95% CI 7–9, p Conclusion HMA is a safe procedure for skin-level anal strictures following PSARP (primary and redo) and can also be used in some rare cases of congenital anal stenosis. Long-term follow up to determine the restricture rate is ongoing. A plan to do an HMA if a stricture develops may offer an alternative to routine anal dilations, particularly after a redo PSARP in an older child. Type of study Case series. Level of evidence Level IV.
Electrocatalytic Study of the Oxygen Reduction Reaction at Gold Nanoparticles in the Absence and Presence of Interactions with SnOx Supports

Here we report that density functional theory (DFT) can be used to accurately predict how Au nanoparticle (NP) catalysts cooperate with SnOx (x = 1.9 or 2.0) supports to carry out the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Specifically, dendrimers were used to encapsulate AuNPs and prevent their interactions with the underlying SnOx supports. After removal of the dendrimers, however, the AuNPs are brought into direct contact with the support and hence feel its effect. The results show that both SnO1.9 and SnO2.0 supports strongly enhance the electrocatalytic properties of AuNPs for the ORR. In the case of AuNP interaction with a SnO1.9 support, the number of electrons involved in the ORR (neff) increases from 2.1 ± 0.2 to 2.9 ± 0.1 following removal of the dendrimers, indicating an increased preference for the desired four-electron product (water), while the overpotential decreases by 0.32 V. Similarly, direct interactions between AuNPs and a SnO2.0 support result in an increase in neff from 2.2 ± 0.1 to 3.1 ± ...
Governmental and Academic Efforts to Advance the Field of Pharmacogenomics

Abstract With the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 came significant interest in elucidating genetic contributors to drug response. Data from projects such as the International HapMap Project, 1000 Genomes Project, and the ENCyclopedia Of DNA Elements (ENCODE) allowed pharmacogenomics studies to extend beyond a candidate-gene focus. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs), enriched with data from the 1000 Genomes Project, have led to discoveries of previously unsuspected genes linked to drug response. In addition, next-generation sequencing and many clinical implementation projects are ongoing to further our knowledge of pharmacogenomics. Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have invested significant resources toward further advancing the field of pharmacogenomics. This chapter will discuss efforts by Academia, the NIH, the FDA, and non-U.S. regulatory agencies to promote pharmacogenomics research, encourage the integration of genetic data in the drug-development process, and address the scientific and regulatory challenges associated with clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics data.
Initial assessment of neuro pressure gradients in carotid stenosis using 3D printed patient-specific phantoms

Purpose: Investigate the use of neuro pressure gradients (NPG) to assess the impact of carotid artery disease on distal flow conditions using 3D printed patient-specific phantoms. Materials and Methods: Seven patients (five various degrees of carotid artery disease, two healthy) underwent 320- detector row CT angiography (Aquilion ONE, Canon Medical Systems). The internal carotid, vertebral, basilar arteries, as well as the Circle of Willis, middle cerebral arteries (MCA), anterior cerebral arteries (ACA), and posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) were segmented using a Vitrea workstation (Vital Images). The patient anatomy was manipulated in Autodesk Meshmixer and each phantom was 3D printed using material that simulates the compliance of vasculature, Tango+, using a Stratasys Eden260V printer. Phantoms were connected in a pulsatile flow loop with physiological flow rates. Distal resistance was manipulated to simulate physiological conditions. The pressure was measured in the proximal internal carotid arteries and the distal right and left MCA to calculate the neuro pressure gradient (NPG). Results: All seven phantoms were successfully tested in the simulated physiological flow loop. Neuro pressure gradients (NPG) were measured in each phantom and demonstrated a dependence on percent stenosis and Circle of Willis anatomy. NPG ranged -0.67 to 1.10 mmHg/cm and moderately correlated with the stenosis grade and location, and the Circle of Willis configuration. Conclusions: We have successfully assessed the feasibility of measuring NPG in 3D printed patient-specific neurovasculature phantoms with carotid artery disease.
MRI predictors of tumor-positive margins after breast-conserving surgery

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of tumor-positive surgical margins after breast-conserving surgery on dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive women who underwent DCE MRI before breast-conserving surgery from 2005 to 2014. Patient demographics, indication for surgery, MRI findings, biopsy pathology results, and surgical outcomes were reviewed. The unpaired t-test and chi-square test were used to compare the positive and negative margins groups. Results 554 women (mean age, 56; range, 26–90) underwent DCE MRI before 575 breast-conserving surgeries for invasive carcinoma (n = 473) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 102). Positive margins requiring re-excision occurred in 19.7% (93/473) of surgeries for invasive carcinoma and 31.4% (32/102) of surgeries for DCIS. For invasive carcinoma surgeries, positive margins were more common when MRI demonstrated the finding of non-mass enhancement (NME) rather than the finding of enhancing mass (33.8% [22/65] versus 16.9% [61/360], p Conclusion For invasive carcinoma surgeries, positive margins are associated with NME on MRI, larger tumor size on MRI, and lobular histology at core biopsy. These findings may be used to predict which patients are at risk for positive margins after breast-conserving surgery.
Generation of monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages using tumor-conditioned media provides a novel method to study tumor-associated macrophages in vitro

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are expanded and exhibit tumor-promoting properties within the tumor microenvironment. Current methods to study TAM have not been replicated across cancer types and often do not include exogenous growth factors from the tumor, a key factor in TAM differentiation in vivo. In this study, an in vitro method to generate monocyte- derived TAM using tumor- conditioned media (TCM) and a cytokine cocktail containing IL-4, IL-10, and M-CSF was utilized to study the phenotype, morphology, and function of TAM across multiple cancer types. TCM was generated from two breast cancer cell lines and an Epstein-Barr virus-positive lymphoma cell line. The properties of in vitro generated TAM were compared to in vitro generated M1 and M2- like macrophages and TAM isolated from patients with cancer. TAM generated in this fashion displayed an increase in CD163/CD206 co-expression compared to M2- like macrophages (87 and 36%, respectively). TAM generated in vitro exhibited increased transcript levels of the functional markers IL-6, IL-10, CCL2, c-Myc, iNOS, and arginase compared to in vitro generated M2-like macrophages. Functionally, in vitro generated TAM inhibited the proliferation of T cells (47% decrease from M1-like macrophages) and the production of IFN-γ by natural killer cells was inhibited (44%) when co-cultured with TAM. Furthermore, in vitro generated TAM secreted soluble factors that promote the growth and survival of tumor cells. Limited access to patient TAM highlights the need for methods to generate TAM in vitro. Our data confirm that monocyte-derived TAM can be generated reliably using TCM plus the cytokine cocktail of IL-4, IL-10, and M-CSF. Given the ability of TAM to inhibit immune cell function, continued study of methods to deplete or deactivate TAM in the setting of cancer are warranted.
Death Associated With Nadolol for Infantile Hemangioma: A Case for Improving Safety

Nadolol is a β-adrenergic antagonist that has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. It has been suggested that this drug may have fewer side effects compared with the gold standard therapy, propranolol, because it does not exhibit membrane-stabilizing effects and has little ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. However, the pharmacokinetics and safety of nadolol in infants are not well understood, potentially making this therapy dangerous. β-adrenergic antagonist toxicity causes bradycardia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, and even death. We report a case of a 10-week-old girl who was started on nadolol for infantile hemangioma, died 7 weeks later, and was found to have an elevated postmortem cardiac blood nadolol level of 0.94 mg/L. The infant had no bowel movements for 10 days before her death, which we hypothesize contributed to nadolol toxicity. Pharmacokinetics studies show a large fraction of oral nadolol either remains in the feces unchanged or is excreted into feces via the biliary system, allowing continued absorption over time in infants who stool infrequently. Propranolol may be a safer therapy overall. Not only does it have a shorter half-life, but propranolol is hepatically metabolized and renally eliminated, allowing for less drug accumulation in healthy infants with variable stooling patterns. We suggest that if nadolol is selected for therapy, pediatricians should instruct parents to monitor their infants’ bowel movements closely and encourage early intervention in the event of decreased stooling. This intervention may greatly improve the safety of nadolol in this vulnerable patient population.
Learning EV Placement Factors with Social Welfare and Economic Variation Modeling

The past few years have witnessed significant growth on the possession rate of electric vehicles (EV). Such growth urgently requires well-designed plans on charging station placement for sustainable EV growth. Existing solutions ignore many practical factors and lack a systematic method prioritizing them. Through constructive learning, we propose an urban EV charging station planning method with the deployment of levelized cost. This method incorporates four practical costs, considering the convexification of the constraints, economic parameter variation, and the interconnected electric and transportation networks. To better quantify the charging demand, the nested logit model is deployed. Meanwhile, we relate the public information of house prices with EV growth when assigning the weights. Furthermore, we also design the software that enables EV charging station placement. Numerical results reveal the trade-off in EV charger planning, as well as a promising system-level optimization performance.
Predicting Lodging Demand Trends in the U.S. Hotel Industry

Future economic trends in the U.S. hotel industry are often discussed and debated at hotel investment conferences and elsewhere, typically without discussion of the underlying economic indicators t...
55. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ASK: ASSESSING PEDIATRIC RESIDENTS CURRENT PRACTICES AND COMFORT LEVELS REGARDING SCREENING FOR GANG INITIATION

Background Gang violence is a problem across the United States, with as many as 1 million youth identified as gang members and over 400,000 children initiated into gangs each year. The negative impact of gang membership on a child's health and well-being has been well documented, though a national survey revealed that most pediatricians never or rarely screen for youth violence. Methods We utilized an 18-item survey that consisted of 3 components: Knowledge, Current Practice, and Beliefs About Pediatrician's Role. This was sent electronically to pediatric residents, internal medicine/pediatric residents and adolescent medicine fellows at 17 residency programs in 7 of the largest US cities. Each participant received compensation for completion of the survey with a small-value electronic gift card. Results Of the 206 responses received, 50% of participants reported currently completing their residency training in Chicago, while 27% were in New York and 21% in Los Angeles. While 95% (n = 196) reported believing that gang violence is a problem in the city they are completing residency, 85% (n = 176) stated they do not routinely screen patients and families for the possibility of gang participation. Additionally, 62% (n = 128) of responders stated that they are “a little uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” assessing risks for gang violence among children and families, while 58% (n = 119) reported being “a little uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable” discussing gang violence with families. Conclusion Our data demonstrates that a majority of residents surveyed are not routinely screening for risk factors of gang initiation or gang violence, and many do not feel comfortable having these discussions with patients or families. This identifies an important educational gap and provides an opportunity to develop a specific, targeted curriculum for pediatric trainees regarding screening for gang violence.
Right and left-sided infective endocarditis in an IV drug abuser.

Infective endocarditis (IE) involving multiple cardiac valves is uncommon and has more risk of complications. We present an interesting case of infective endocarditis involving both aortic and tric...
Histopathologic findings in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor predict response to radiotherapy and overall survival.

Background Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is an aggressive and poorly understood malignant neoplasm. Even in the setting of multimodal therapy, the clinical course of MPNST is frequently marked by metastatic conversion and poor overall prognosis, with optimal treatment paradigms for this rare tumor unknown. Methods We reviewed the medical records and histopathology of 54 consecutive patients who were treated at University of California San Francisco between 1990 and 2018. Results Our cohort consisted of 24 male and 30 female patients (median age 38 years). Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre Le Cancer (FNCLCC) sarcoma grading criteria segregated patients into groups with differences in overall survival (OS) (P = .02). Increasing Ki-67 labeling index was associated with poor OS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.36 per 10%, P = .0002). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering-based immunohistochemical staining patterns identified 2 subgroups of tumors with differences in H3K27me3, Neurofibromin, S100, SOX10, p16, and EGFR immunoreactivity. In our cohort, cluster status was associated with improved locoregional failure-free rate (P = .004) in response to radiation. Conclusions Our results lend support to the FNCLCC sarcoma grading criteria as a prognostic scheme for MPNST, although few cases of grade 1 were included. Further, we identify increased Ki-67 labeling as a strong predictor of poor OS from MPNST. Finally, we identify a subset of MPNSTs with a predictive immunohistochemical profile that has improved local control with adjuvant radiotherapy. These data provide insights into the grading and therapy for patients with MPNST, although further studies are needed for independent validation.
Models of Community-Based Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical care that treats the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. This care is based on the patient’s needs and not their prognosis. Community-based palliative care is defined as palliative care delivered outside of the hospital setting. According to a report by the Center to Advance Palliative Care, there is an increased interest in healthcare organizations providing palliative care in the community to meet the needs of patients with serious illness who are neither hospitalized nor ready or eligible for hospice. Community-based palliative care has opened the door for better access to specially trained teams of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together with the patient’s medical team in order to add an extra layer of support for patients and their families and improve their quality of life. Availability of services in the community settings can include office practices, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, and patients’ homes. Several studies show that community palliative care reduces hospital and emergency department visits, lowers acute care costs, and improves care continuity, quality of life, and survival outcomes.
Sex and Gender Attributes in Rock Art in Six Counties in Utah

This study evaluates the ways gender and women’s roles are interpreted in rock art in Utah. Six counties in Utah were evaluated - Box Elder, Carbon, Juab, Millard, Tooele, and Utah. Along with a review of relevant literature, the study drew on rock art site forms to review any indication of sex/gender attributes. Images and drawings proved to be the most beneficial in explaining how different symbols could indicate sex and gender attributes found among rock art. Though some rock art is easier to decipher, most is open to interpretation and requires extensive knowledge of the culture along with ethnographic analysis. Understanding how gender is portrayed in rock art can give light as to how gender relations worked within a prehistoric society. This research can help in the “de-gendering” of archaeology and provide a different point of view to utilize when studying rock art. It may also aid in dismantling ethnocentric views within the field and contributing to non-archaeological sex and gender studies within different cultural contexts.
Bank Herding and Systemic Risk

This paper studies the relation between bank herding and financial system stability. I develop a set of bank-specific, time-varying measures of herding in asset, liability, and off-balance sheet (OBS) portfolios and empirically examine the relation between bank herding and systemic risk contribution. I find that for large banks, asset herding is associated with lower, liability herding is associated with higher, and OBS herding does not have a significant relation with systemic risk contribution. During crises, the relation of asset herding is stronger, the relation of liability herding is weaker, and the relation of OBS herding remains insignificant. I find that the “too-many-to-fail” effect contributes to the negative relation between bank herding and systemic risk contribution.
The Role of Alcohol-Related Behavioral Risk in the Design of HIV Prevention Interventions in the Era of Antiretrovirals: Alcohol Challenge Studies and Research Agenda.

HIV/AIDS remains a significant health threat and alcohol is a robust contributing factor. After 25 years of alcohol challenge studies investigating alcohol-related behavioral risk (ARBR), much has been learned delineating how drinking influences sexual transmission. We examine this research and consider its relevance for interventions in the era of antiretrovirals. We consider prototypic alcohol challenge methods, illustrative findings, and prevention/intervention implications, noting three perspectives: (a) scale up/extend existing interventions, including identifying under-targeted risk groups and intersecting with PrEP/PEP interventions; (b) modify existing interventions by cultivating psychoeducational content related to alcohol expectancies, alcohol myopia, sexual arousal, risk perception, sexual abdication, and condom use resistance; and (c) innovate new interventions through Science of Behavior Change approaches and repurposing ARBR paradigms. Finally, we suggest research directions concluding that until HIV incidence diminishes significantly, psychosocial interventions addressing the nexus of alcohol use, sexual transmission, and adherence to biomedical protocols will be an important priority.
TinyFedTL: Federated Transfer Learning on Tiny Devices.

TinyML has rose to popularity in an era where data is everywhere. However, the data that is in most demand is subject to strict privacy and security guarantees. In addition, the deployment of TinyML hardware in the real world has significant memory and communication constraints that traditional ML fails to address. In light of these challenges, we present TinyFedTL, the first implementation of federated transfer learning on a resource-constrained microcontroller.
Adaptive Pre-Synchronization and Discrete-Time Implementation for Unified Virtual Oscillator Control

Unified virtual oscillator controller (uVOC) is a nonlinear time-domain controller which offers robust synchronization and enhanced fault ride-through for grid-following (GFL) and grid-forming (GFM) converters without the need for switching to a back-up controller. An adaptive pre-synchronization method is proposed for uVOC to enable smooth start-up and seamless connection to an existing grid/network with non-nominal frequency and/or voltage magnitude at the point of coupling (PoC). Furthermore, we evaluate the efficacy of different discretization methods for discrete-time (DT) implementation of the nonlinear dynamics of uVOC and demonstrate that zero-order-hold (ZOH) discretization fails at sampling frequencies up to tens of kHz. DT implementation of uVOC using second-order Runge-Kutta method is presented, which offers a reasonsable compromise between computational overhead and discretization accuracy. In addition, an inductor (L) or an inductor-capacitor-inductor (LCL) type input filter used in typical voltage source converter (VSC) applications leads to voltage deviation at the converter output terminal depending on the power flow. A terminal voltage compensator (TVC) for such voltage deviation is proposed. The efficacy of the proposed methods are demonstrated through laboratory hardware experiments.
GaAs quantum dot solar cell under concentrated radiation

Effects of concentrated solar radiation on photovoltaic performance are investigated in well-developed GaAs quantum dot (QD) solar cells with 1-Sun efficiencies of 18%–19%. In these devices, the conversion processes are enhanced by nanoscale potential barriers and/or AlGaAs atomically thin barriers around QDs, which prevent photoelectron capture to QDs. Under concentrated radiation, the short circuit current increases proportionally to the concentration and the open circuit voltage shows the logarithmic increase. In the range up to hundred Suns, the contributions of QDs to the photocurrent are proportional to the light concentration. The ideality factors of 1.1–1.3 found from the VOC-Sun characteristics demonstrate effective suppression of recombination processes in barrier-separated QDs. The conversion efficiency shows the wide maximum in the range of 40–90 Suns and reaches 21.6%. Detailed analysis of I-V-Sun characteristics shows that at low intensities, the series resistance decreases inversely proport...
Ion Scattering Study of the W(001)-(5x1)-C Surface

There have been several investigations of the surface of carburized W(100), and various models for its structure have been proposed. It is known that the surface exhibits a sequence of LEED patterns with increasing C coverage which can be indexed as p(1×1), c(2×2), c(3√2x√2)-R45° and p(5×1) [1,2,3]. Most authors agree that the c(2×2) and c(3√2 x √2)-R45° patterns are due to ordered C over layers with coverages near 1/2 and 2/3 mono layers, respectively. The p(5×1), accompanied by domains of p(1×5), can be formed by large exposures of ethylene at elevated temperature, and it is stable at temperatures up to 2000K and high pressures of hydrocarbon [1]. Because of this stability and the fact that heavily carburized polycrystalline W forms α-W2C, OLLIS and BOUDART [1] proposed that the p(5×1) LEED pattern is due to the formation of an over layer of α-W2C(0001). It was assumed that a coincidence occurs between the thin distorted hexagonal over layer and the W(001) substrate leading to the (5x1) pattern. BENZIGER et al. [2] accepted this structure but concluded from the lower than expected C Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) signal that the C must reside below the first W layer for the W(001)-(5×1)-C surface (Fig. 1, model 1). An alternate explanation offered by RAWLINGS et al. [3] was that the C is present above the surface, but at lower concentration than for a single (0001) layer of α-W2C. They proposed that the first W layer is reconstructed yielding a single layer of strained W(110) on top of W(001) (Fig. 1, model II). The first layer W atoms form the same coincidence mesh with respect to the W(001) substrate as in the case of the α-W2C (0001) layer. We have examined the structure of the carburized W(001) surface by incident angle dependent alkali ion scattering and find that the surface is not reconstructed to the quasi-hexagonal structure previously proposed. Instead, the p(5×1) LEED pattern is attributed principally to an ordered C over layer (Fig. 1, model III).
Chapter 7 – Renewal Theory and Its Applications

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the renewal theory and its applications. If the sequence of nonnegative random variables {X1, X2, …}is independent and identically distributed, then the counting process [N(t), t ≥ 0} is said to be a renewal process. Thus, a renewal process is a counting process such that the time until the first event occurs has some distribution F, the time between the first and second event has, independently of the time of the first event, the same distribution F, and so on. The distribution of N(t) can be obtained, at least in theory, by first noting the important relationship that the number of renewals by time t is greater than or equal to n if and only if the nth renewal occurs before or at time t.
Fledgling functional foundations for the biology of the adult pigeon

El libro Insight muestra que Bernard Lonergan logro una maestria poco comun, asi como una heuristica de las ciencias, del desarrollo humano, la metafisica y la probabilidad emergente. Si nos fijamos en el segundo parrafo de la pagina 489 del Insight ( ultimo parrafo de la p.545 de la edicion en espanol) encontraremos una heuristica precisa y de gran densidad: “El estudio de un organismo comienza ....”. Eventualmente se necesitaran otros textos de soporte para ayudar a los estudiantes y a otros lectores hasta alcanzar el modo de control de los significados de estar atento a si mismo al que apunto Lonergan. Este articulo es una busqueda preliminar hacia tal tipo de crecimiento fundacional, con enfasis en la biologia
BENCHMARKING NEONATAL PHARMACISTS TIME IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Aim To benchmark current levels of Pharmacist staffing on Neonatal Units in the UK and compare this to the time per cot defined in ‘British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) Service Standards for Hospital9s Providing Neonatal Care’ and the Pharmacist provision statements contained in ‘Department of Health9s toolkit for High Quality Neonatal services 2009’.1 2 Method a short online Survey monkey survey was developed and sent via the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG) email network to all NPPG registered pharmacists. The questions were designed to ascertain workload, Pharmacist time, funding of time and inclusion of neonatal unit work within job descriptions. The Pharmacists were then asked to compare this information against the Recommended Pharmacist provision as outlined in the British Association Perinatal Medicines Service Standards.1 Results 40 units responded to the survey covering 974 neonatal beds. All bar one result was from the UK leaving a total of 39 units for analysis The average amount of Neonatal Pharmacists time spent on the wards is 6.7 minutes per cot. This is broken down as follows Level 1 units n=3 average time/cot 3.3 min Level 2 units n=15 average time/cot 5.7 min Level 3 units (all) n=21 average time/cot 7.9 min Level 3 units with surgery n=8 average time/cot 6.7 min Level 3 units without surgery n=13 average time/cot 8 min The number of units that complied with BAPM standards for neonatal staff time was 6 (15%). All of these were level 3 units. 12 (31%) of Pharmacists felt they have enough time to undertake the necessary duties even though 7 (18%) we9re not compliant with BAPM time. Of these 12 the time varied between 5–9 mins per cot and covered all unit levels. 28 (72%) responders did not feel that they had sufficient time to do the neonatal work. 20 (51%) of Pharmacists providing care to Neonatal patients stated did not have their role defined in their job description. Conclusion Only (15%) of neonatal units are compliant with the British Association Perinatal Medicines Service Standards for pharmacist9s time per cot, although a further 18% with cot time less than the BAPM standards were happy with the available time they have to provide care. It is clear that the current level of funding assigned within hospitals for the pharmaceutical care of neonates is still low with many staff diverting funding for other posts or areas to provide this. I would encourage all Trusts to review their current provision of Pharmacist time on their neonatal unit against the BAPM standards. I would also encourage them to ensure that their neonatal unit Pharmacists duties are clearly defined within their job description, to ensure compliance with The Department of Health9s Best Practice Standards.
Advances in the epidemiological study of oral-facial diseases.

Both demographic patterns and disease distribution are changing rapidly in the United States. These developments have led to the recognition that the epidemiology of many conditions is poorly understood, and that other research has thus been hindered. Four areas of epidemiological study were chosen for detailed analysis of how new technology will affect the conduct of future research. These areas, selected because information about them will be increasingly needed in an aging society, were periodontitis, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and other orofacial pain, salivary gland disturbances, and health services research. The potential effect of new technology was examined in the short, intermediate, and long term.While the nature of epidemiological study is unlikely to change with the advent of new technology, the scope of potential studies will become broader. Advances in diagnostic techniques from elsewhere will permit far more precise diagnosis than is possible at present. Computer technology will perm...
Subsets of R which support hypergroups with polynomial characters

Abstract It is shown that if a hypergroup (H,∗) , with H an infinite subset of R , has polynomial characters of every degree and if either H is compact or the polynomials are orthogonal with respect to a measure supported on H , then those polynomials are essentially the Jacobi polynomials. Related results are obtained for polynomial product formulas.
The Student Learning Self‐Study: Choices and Opportunities

The shift of accreditation from standards to student outcomes has created the need to define the best way to measure the benefits that students are receiving from their education. This chapter examines what types of student learning outcomes are amenable to assessment for the purposes of accreditation.
Spectroscopy of Close Companions to QSOs and the Ages of Interaction-Induced Starbursts

We present low-resolution absorption-line spectra of three candidate close ( < 3 arcsec) companions to the low redshift QSOs 3CR 323.1, PG 1700+518, and PKS 2135-147. The spectra were obtained with LRIS on the Keck telescopes and with the Faint Object Spectrograph on the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. For 3CR 323.1 and PG 1700+518, we measure relative velocities that are consistent with an association between the QSOs and their companion galaxies. The spectral features of the companion galaxy to 3CR 323.1 indicate a stellar population of intermediate age (approx. 2.3 Gyr). In contrast, the spectrum of the companion object to PG 1700+518 shows strong Balmer absorption lines from a relatively young stellar population, along with the Mg Ib absorption feature and the 4000 A break from an older population. By modeling the two stellar components of this spectrum, it is possible to estimate the time that has elapsed since the end of the most recent major starburst event: we obtain approx. 0.1 Gyr. This event may have coincided with an interaction that triggered the QSO activity. Finally, our spectroscopy shows conclusively that the supposed companion to PKS 2135-147 is actually a projected Galactic G star.
PUMA Regulates Intestinal Progenitor Cell Radiosensitivity and Gastrointestinal Syndrome

Radiation is one of the most effective cancer treatments. However, gastrointestinal (GI) syndrome is a major limiting factor in abdominal and pelvic radiotherapy. The loss of crypt stem cells or villus endothelial cells has been suggested to be responsible for radiation-induced intestinal damage. We report here a critical role of the BH3-only protein p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in the radiosensitivity of intestinal epithelium and pathogenesis of GI syndrome. PUMA was induced in a p53-dependent manner and mediated radiation-induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in the intestinal mucosa. PUMA-deficient mice exhibited blocked apoptosis in the intestinal progenitor and stem cells, enhanced crypt proliferation and regeneration, and prolonged survival following lethal doses of radiation. Unexpectedly, PUMA deficiency had little effect on radiation-induced intestinal endothelial apoptosis. Suppressing PUMA expression by antisense oligonucleotides provided significant intestinal radioprotection. Therefore, PUMA-mediated apoptosis in the progenitor and stem cell compartments is crucial for radiation-induced intestinal damage.
Two cases of mantle cell lymphoma mimicking marginal zone lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a B cell lymphoma with four morphologic variants recognized by the current World Health Organization classification. MCL mimicking marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) (MCL mimicking MZL) is the rarest variant and could be a potential diagnostic pitfall due to its deceiving “monocytoid” appearance. We report two cases of extranodal MCL mimicking MZL occurring at different sites—the oropharynx and the rectosigmoid colon. Both cases showed unexpected diffuse submucosal lymphoid infiltration of small- to medium-sized lymphocytes with focal monocytoid appearance. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of an abnormal CD5(−)/CD10(−) B cell population expressing cyclin D1. The diagnosis of MCL was further substantiated by cytogenetic evidence of t(11;14)(q13;q32). Ki-67 proliferation indexes of both cases were low. In summary, MCL mimicking MZL may have unusual morphologic and immunophenotypic characteristics that could be a diagnostic pitfall.
Phenomenological relations for viscoelastic properties of polymer-diluent systems; the relative dissipation index N21

Abstract A previous phenomenological description of viscoelastic properties of polymer blends with different molecular weights has been extended to polymer-diluent systems. The most important parameter in this description is the relative dissipation index, N21, expressing the ratio of energy dissipations per unit volume of the solute and solvent in steady flow. Several methods for obtaining N21 from experimental data are given: from viscosity data far above the glass transition, from a combination of viscoelastic data in the transition and terminal zones, from high-frequency dynamic viscosities, from viscosity data in dilute solution, and from steady-state compliance data. These are illustrated with various data from the literature. With decreasing concentration, N21 approaches a limiting value which is approximately directly proportional to molecular weight. At high concentrations, N21 becomes proportional to the 2.4 power of molecular weight, provided the latter exceeds the critical value for entangleme...
Alkali-promoted alumina catalysts: II. Water-gas shift reaction☆

Abstract The water-gas shift reaction was investigated on alkali-promoted alumina catalysts prepared by mixing alumina with various alkali metal salts. Results showed that the activity for the CO + H2O reaction increased with the concentration of promoter until the surface was almost saturated by the alkali metal ions. At the same concentration of metal ions, the efficiency of promotion was in the order Cs > K > Na > Li. The addition of alkali salts also increased the catalyst activity for the CO2 + H2 reaction at high temperatures. Although the promoters showed similar effect of concentration and tendency for the efficiency, the results were not as clear as those for the CO + H2O reaction. The kinetics of the water-gas shift reaction was studied on a potassium-promoted alumina in an infrared cell used as a flow-type reactor with the simultaneous spectroscopy of surface species. It was thus found that formate ion was formed during the CO + H2O reaction and that the reaction rate was proportional to the surface concentration of the formate ions. A reaction mechanism through formate was proposed and physical and chemical factors contributing to the promotion were discussed based on this mechanism.
Understanding and Sensibility

Kant holds that the human cognitive power is divided into two “stems”, understanding and sensibility. This doctrine has seemed objectionably dualistic to many critics, who see these stems as distinct parts, each able on its own to produce representations, which must somehow interact, determining or constraining one another, in order to secure the fit, requisite for cognition, between concept and intuition. This reading cannot be squared, however, with what Kant actually says about theoretical cognition and the way understanding and sensibility cooperate in it. Such cognition, as Kant conceives of it, satisfies two conditions: it has unity, and it depends on the existence of its object. The first of these conditions entails that the cognitive power must lie in spontaneity, or understanding, while the second implies that this spontaneity depends on receptivity, or sensibility, to be the cognitive power that it is. Consideration of how these capacities must be conceived as cooperating in cognition reveals th...
The Value of Preoperative Imaging in Small Bowel Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background Neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowel (SBNETs) are a rare but important subgroup of malignancies. Since 30 % of SBNETs present with metastatic disease, often with an occult primary, preoperative imaging is critical for determining who will benefit most from abdominal exploration. We set out to evaluate the usefulness of the two most commonly performed imaging modalities in predicting the extent of disease found at exploration in patients with SBNETs.
Internal Pricing and Cost Allocation in a Model of Multiproduct Competition with Finite Capacity Increments

Internal prices are used in practice to allocate central resources to a firms' profit centers. The fixed costs of capacity acquisitions are often included in these prices. We examine the interaction between capacity acquisition and competition when capacity is available in fixed increments. We find predictably that if the increments are small, unit capacity cost is a good approximation for the internal price, and if the increments are large, the internal price is zero. However, the relationship between the internal price and the capacity increment for intermediate cases is quite irregular, to the extent that it is not possible to approximate the internal price with accounting data. The analysis also suggests that full cost allocation overcharges for the opportunity cost of capacity. Furthermore, the right internal price does not act either as a way of recovering fixed costs or as a proxy for externalities such as congestion costs. The conclusions are not materially altered in the case where variable costs increase at the margin, and where these costs rather than hard capacity constraints are the reason to restrict output.
The retinal mosaics of opsin expression in invertebrates and vertebrates

Colour vision is found in many invertebrate and vertebrate species. It is the ability to discriminate objects based on the wavelength of emitted light independent of intensity. As it requires the comparison of at least two photoreceptor types with different spectral sensitivities, this process is often mediated by a mosaic made of several photoreceptor types. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the formation of retinal mosaics and the regulation of photopigment (opsin) expression in the fly, mouse and human retina. Despite distinct evolutionary origins, as well as major differences in morphology and phototransduction machineries, there are significant similarities in the stepwise cell-fate decisions that lead from progenitor cells to terminally differentiated photoreceptors that express a particular opsin. Common themes include i) the use of binary transcriptional switches that distinguish classes of photoreceptors, ii) the use of gradients of signaling molecules for regional specializations, iii) stochastic choices that pattern the retina and iv) the use of permissive factors with multiple roles in different photoreceptor types.