cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Institutional Investor Trading Around Auditor's Going Concern Modified Opinions: An Analysis of Mutual Funds and Pension Funds

We contribute to auditing literature by examining trading behavior of mutual and pension funds around first‐time going concern modified opinions (GCMO). We find that mutual funds are significant net sellers of GCMO firms in the period before the GCMO announcement and then decrease their net selling at the GCMO announcement. In contrast, pension funds appear to be less active net sellers in the pre‐GCMO period and then significantly increase their net selling as an immediate response to the GCMO announcement, and then reduce their net selling in the post‐GCMO period. Our net selling results are robust to a battery of additional tests, including alternative specifications of the GCMO event window, using an extended pre‐GCMO benchmark period, controlling for 8‐K and earnings announcements, excluding subsequently bankrupt firms and using change variables in our models. In additional analyses, we find that overall trading volume increases for both mutual and pension funds at the GCMO announcement. Our examination of trading behavior provides initial evidence on differences between these two groups of institutional investors in their trading response to first‐time GCMOs, and enables us to provide a more robust assessment of the information content of GCMOs for these different groups of sophisticated market participants.
The 1972 Soviet-American Youth Conference: The Illusion of Consensus

Hoping to capitalize on the spirit of detente, in June 1972 the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship (hereafter the NCASF, the official Soviet-Amer-ican friendship group headquartered in Manhattan) and the Soviet Committee of Youth Organizations (hereafter the KMO, the umbrella organization administer-ing the various Soviet youth groups) co-sponsored the first-ever Soviet-American Youth Conference held in Minsk. The conference proposed to feature around 100 young people from each side discussing issues relevant to youth the world over— “their hopes and problems and participation in the social struggle,” university life, future careers, war and peace, racism, imperialism, and national liberation.1 The topics, particularly the attention devoted to peace and imperialism, revealed the pro-Soviet orientation of the NCASF and hinted the conference would fea-ture much discussion of the Soviet Union’s pet causes. Still, the NCASF and the KMO promised to field diverse delegations and facilitate open dialogue.2 The sponsors of the conference envisioned the event as an attempt to bridge the Cold War divide, make friends, and generate solidarity across borders. Frank discus-sion at the conference would build mutual understanding and serve as an example of future possible dialogue between two sides now eager and able to get to know one another. This article examines the 1972 Soviet-American Conference as a transnation-al point of interaction between the Soviet Union and the United States, wherein youth from both sides exchanged experiences, ideas, and representations of themselves. Things did not go as planned however. As we will see, the Soviet effort to control all aspects of the conference, including the composition of the American delegation, inadvertently led to stereotypes being confirmed rather than rejected. Because of the make-up of each delegation, the conference produced an ultimate-ly distorted but seemingly cliched image of both sides in which Soviet youth appeared as a monolithic bloc of devoted patriots and the Americans as alienated youth. Much of this divergence related to differing perspectives on the importance of national consensus. For the Komsomol members (the youth wing of the Com-munist Party) who made up the Soviet delegation and who acted as the official representatives of Soviet youth, national consensus remained an absolute virtue. By 1972, with the Vietnam War still raging and the memory of the turmoil of the 1960s still lingering, many of the American youth at the conference by contrast rejected any display of national consensus. This gap in life experience and per-spective made solidarity, the ultimate goal of the conference, difficult to generate.
Denotational semantics as a foundation for cost recurrence extraction for functional languages.

A standard method for analyzing the asymptotic complexity of a program is to extract a recurrence that describes its cost in terms of the size of its input, and then to compute a closed-form upper bound on that recurrence. In practice there is rarely a formal argument that the recurrence is in fact an upper bound; indeed, there is usually no formal connection between the program and the recurrence at all. Here we develop a method for extracting recurrences from functional programs in a higher-order language with let-polymorphism that provably bound their operational cost. The method consists of two phases. In the first phase, a monadic translation is performed to extract a cost-annotated version of the original program. In the second phase, the extracted program is interpreted in a model. The key feature of this second phase is that different models describe different notions of size. This plays out specifically for values of inductive type, where different notions of size may be appropriate depending on the analysis, and for polymorphic functions, where we show that the notion of size for a polymorphic function can be described formally as the data that is common to the notions of size of its instances. We give several examples of different models that formally justify various informal extract-a-recurrence-and-solve cost analyses to show the applicability of our approach.
Breast is Best Discourse and Hegemonic Mothering: An Ideological Analysis of Breastfeeding in Contemporary America: Disciplining the Maternal Body, Loreen N. Olson and Jenni M. Simon, Lanham, MD, Lexington Books, 2020, 152 pp., $85.00 (hardcover), ISBN-13: 978-1-4985-3129-0

In An Ideological Analysis of Breastfeeding in Contemporary America: Disciplining the Maternal Body, Olson and Simon rhetorically analyze the ideologies that are both empowering and disempowering f...
Expanding the hospital incident command system with a physician-centric role during a pandemic: The role of the physician clinical support supervisor

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is the largest mass effect incident in a century, requiring hospitals to consider how best to adapt the Hospital Incident Command System for a sustained pandemic. Given the scope of the pandemic a central position is required to improve the flow of information to providers, the flow from providers to the Incident Commander, and the overall coordination between diverse service lines and specialties. We describe a novel position, the Physician Clinical Support Supervisor, a position that has three primary functions during disaster operations: liaison, coordinator, and advocate. This role proved critical in day-to-day operations and facilitated highly effective communication up and down the chain of command, created a single point-person to coordinate multiple service lines and specialties, and served as a primary advocate for front-line workers and command.
A missense variant, p.(Ile269Asn), in MC4R as a secondary finding in a child with BCL11A-related intellectual disability.

Abstract We describe a three year old female who underwent clinical exome sequencing and was diagnosed with BCL11A-related intellectual disability/Dias-Logan syndrome due to a de novo, heterozygous variant in the BCL11A gene, NM_018014.3:c.148C > T; p.(Gln50*). A missense variant in MC4R, NM_005912.3:c.806T > A; p.(Ile269Asn), was also reported as a secondary finding. In her family, her father, paternal aunt, and paternal uncle were all reported to have height and weight measurements suggestive of Class 3 obesity with BMI>40 kg/m2. The MC4R gene is not currently listed among those recommended for reporting of secondary findings by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). The identification of genetic risk factors for obesity is an emerging field without established guidelines for the care of patients who are found to have a predisposing genetic variant for obesity as a secondary finding. Management suggestions include interventions for weight-management, early screening for obesity-related co-morbidities, such as diabetes and dyslipidemia, and targeted therapies, such as MC4R agonists.
Frailty Screening Tool for Patients Undergoing Orthotopic Heart Transplant.

Background Although frailty has been previously shown to negatively influence postoperative outcomes, frailty measurements remain undefined and underused for patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). This study aims to derive and validate an OHT frailty screening tool. Methods The United Network for Organ Sharing database was queried for adults undergoing OHT between 2000 and 2018. The total population was randomly divided into derivation (80%) and validation (20%) cohorts. The primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included rates of major morbidities and hospital length of stay. Variables that were constructs within preexisting frailty tools and that were predictive of a composite frailty outcome within the derivation cohort were incorporated into a multivariable regression model (exploratory, P Results A total of 36,790 OHT recipients met the criteria for inclusion. Twelve variables were identified as independent predictors of frailty and included as OHT frailty screening tool constructs. Recipients in the validation cohort were stratified as nonfrail (72.9%, n = 5363), prefrail (24.4%, n = 1795), and frail (2.7%, n = 200). Frail patients had significantly higher rates of posttransplant stroke, renal failure, and mortality at all time intervals as well as longer length of stay (all P Conclusions The OHT frailty screening tool is highly predictive of adverse posttransplant outcomes. This screening tool may provide a framework to enhance existing risk stratification tools and improve overall resource utilization.
Timing and Structures of σ-Bond Metathesis C–H Activation Reactions from Quasiclassical Direct Dynamics Simulations

Metal-mediated σ-bond metathesis and σ-complex-assisted metathesis (σ-CAM) reactions represent a major class of alkane C–H activation reactions. Here, we present quasiclassical direct dynamics traj...
Dietary micronutrient intakes and risk of pancreatic cancer

853 Epidemiological studies of pancreatic cancer have shown a protective role for diet high in fruits and vegetables, which are major sources of antioxidants. In a hospital-based case-control study conducted at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, we evaluated the dietary factors in 524 patients with pathologically diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 525 healthy controls. Subjects were personally interviewed for possible risk factors of pancreatic cancer. Dietary intake and supplement was evaluated in all subjects using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression with adjustment for demographics and significant risk factors of pancreatic cancer observed in this study population (smoking, history of diabetes, family history of cancer, and heavy alcohol consumption). Quintile analysis of micronutrients showed a protective effect of higher intakes of vitamins C, E, and lutein/zeaxanthin from both food and dietary supplement (Table 1). On the other hand, an increased risk of pancreatic cancer was associated with a higher intake of food vitamin B12, retinol, calcium, and sodium (Table 1). These preliminary observations support the notion that dietary intake of antioxidants reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer. (Supported by NIH grants RO1 CA98380 and SPORE P20 101936). Table 1. Quintile Analysis of Micronutrient Intake and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer
Structural basis of human protein disulfide isomerase flexibility revealed by single-molecule FRET

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a ubiquitous redox-regulated enzyme, which interacts with hundreds of client proteins intracellularly and extracellularly. It comprises two redox-sensitive domains, each hosting the conserved catalytic motif CxxC, two redox-insensitive protein-binding domains, and three linkers. Snapshots of oxidized and reduced PDI have been obtained by X-ray crystallography. However, how PDI9s structure dynamically changes in response to the redox microenvironment and ligand binding remain unknown. Here, we used multiparameter confocal single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) and multiple FRET pairs to track the movements of the two catalytic domains with high temporal resolution. Our studies document that, at equilibrium, PDI visits three structurally distinct conformational ensembles, two "open" (O1 and O2) and one "closed" (C), whose distribution is dictated by the redox environment. Despite undergoing large conformational changes, the ensembles interconvert remarkably fast, on the sub-millisecond timescale, indicative of a shallow free-energy landscape. Using mutational analyses, we further demonstrate that the two active sites are structurally nonequivalent and that ligands targeting the active sites of reduced PDI shift the equilibrium towards closed conformations of the enzyme. This work introduces a new structural framework that helps rationalize the multifaced role of PDI in biology and may assist drug development.
Helix-helix interactions inside membranes

For several years, we have been studying the role of transmembrane helices in the folding and oligomerization of membrane proteins. Our work has included general conceptual notions, experimental studies of reassembly and oligomerization, and, most recently, computational protocols. In the following, we summarize the main points from our work, and make reference in part to the work of others. Our main purpose, however, is to present the past findings and current trends toward the future that are embodied in our own efforts.
Stable Toric Varieties

For a detailed introduction to the theory of toric varieties, one should consult the usual sources [21, 48]. Our introduction is very brief and serves mainly to set up the notation and clarify the definitions (for example, our toric varieties are normal and do not have the “origin” fixed). The theory of stable toric varieties reviewed below is contained in [4, 9].
Exploration of molecular pathways mediating electric field‐directed schwann cell migration by RNA‐seq

In peripheral nervous systems, Schwann cells wrap around axons of motor and sensory neurons to form the myelin sheath. Following spinal cord injury, Schwann cells regenerate and migrate to the lesion and are involved in the spinal cord regeneration process. Transplantation of Schwann cells into injured neural tissue results in enhanced spinal axonal regeneration. Effective directional migration of Schwann cells is critical in the neural regeneration process. In this study, we report that Schwann cells migrate anodally in an applied electric field (EF). The directedness and displacement of anodal migration increased significantly when the strength of the EF increased from 50 mV/mm to 200 mV/mm. The EF did not significantly affect the cell migration speed. To explore the genes and signaling pathways that regulate cell migration in EFs, we performed a comparative analysis of differential gene expression between cells stimulated with an EF (100 mV/mm) and those without using next-generation RNA sequencing, verified by RT-qPCR. Based on the cut-off criteria (FC > 1.2, q < 0.05), we identified 1,045 up-regulated and 1,636 down-regulated genes in control cells versus EF-stimulated cells. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis found that compared to the control group, 21 pathways are down-regulated, while 10 pathways are up-regulated. Differentially expressed genes participate in multiple cellular signaling pathways involved in the regulation of cell migration, including pathways of regulation of actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion, and PI3K-Akt.
Seeing More Than Right and Wrong Answers: Prospective Teachers' Interpretations of Students' Mathematical Work

Listening to students' mathematical thinking is one of the trademarks of reform-minded visions of mathematics teaching. The questions of when, where, how, and what might help prospective teachers learn to do so, however, remain open. This study examines how a mathematics letter exchange with Grade 4 students provided an occasion for prospective teachers to learn about students' mathematical thinking and to examine their interpretive practices. Analysis of the interactions between students and prospective teachers, and of the reflective writing of the latter, revealed changes in the patterns of their interpretations. I characterized these as changes in the focus of interpretation, from correctness to meaning, and in the interpretive approach, from quick and conclusive to thoughtful and tentative. I also discuss factors associated with these interpretive turns. The idea of teachers listening to and understanding students' thinking has been widely promoted and supported in the education community. In the Professional Standards (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), 1991), the analysis of students' thinking is highlighted as one of the central tasks of mathematics teaching. In this report, the analysis of students' thinking is seen as a resource that can help teachers make informed decisions in their classrooms and improve their practice. Such a listening orientation towards teaching promotes a learning environment conducive to and respectful of students' own sense making and intellectual autonomy (Davis, 1996; Kamii, 1989). In contrast, when teachers do not listen to or do not understand their students' thinking they tend to dismiss it by imposing their own formalized constructions onto the students (Cobb, 1988; Maher & Davis, 1990). Although there are various ways in which teachers can listen to their students' mathematical ideas, Davis (1996) reminded us that not all forms of listening are conducive and respectful of students' thinking. He discussed three different orientations teachers might have towards listening in the mathematics classroom. Teachers with an evaluative orientation, according to Davis, tend to listen to students' ideas in order to diagnose and correct their mathematical misunderstandings. Teachers with an inter- pretive orientation, on the other hand, listen to students' ideas with the
Making the Best of a Good Situation: Modernizing State Antitrust Enforcement

In 2001 Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner introduced the bill that would eventually result in the Antitrust Modernization Commission. One of the three areas he suggested for review was the role of state attorneys general in enforcing antitrust laws, a concern prompted by the states' efforts in the Microsoft litigation. The AMC devoted substantial effort to this area, eventually adopting eight recommendations relating to state enforcement. None of these recommendations, however, proposed any real change in the status quo. In this paper I first review the options that the AMC considered. I argue that the Commission did not recommend cutting back state enforcement mainly because, after examining the data, it could find little indication that state enforcement has been problematic. I next argue that the modernization of state enforcement requires an effort to improve its effectiveness, something that was apparently not on the AMC's agenda. In this part of the paper I review some of the benefits of state enforcement and suggest that the effectiveness of state enforcement could be improved through greater centralization of the enforcement effort, more enforcement planning, and increased financial resources. The increased financial resources could be obtained through an amendment to Section 4E of the Clayton Act, requiring courts to distribute to the states, for use in their enforcement efforts, part of the monetary recovery in parens patriae cases.
Gapped Local Similarity Search with Provable Guarantees

We present a program qhash, based on q-gram filtration and high-dimensional search, to find gapped local similarities between two sequences. Our approach differs from past q-gram-based approaches in two main aspects. Our filtration step uses algorithms for a sparse all-pairs problem, while past studies use suffix-tree-like structures and counters. Our program works in sequence-sequence mode, while most past ones (except QUASAR) work in pattern-database mode.
Common Shocks and Relative Compensation Schemes

This paper studies qualitative properties of an optimal contract in a multi-agent setting in which agents are subject to a common shock. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the optimal reward of an agent producing an output level y to be a decreasing (increasing) function of the outputs of the other agents, under the assumption that the agents' outputs are informative signals of the value of the common shock. The condition is that the likelihood ratio p(y, e, n)/p(y, e', n), where e is a higher effort level than e', and n is the value of the common shock, be a decreasing (increasing) function of n. We derive conditions on the way the common shock affects the marginal product of effort under which the likelihood ratio is decreasing for all output levels, or increasing for some output levels and decreasing for others.
Permeability of reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles: Reconstitution of the K+, Na+ channel

Permeability properties of reconstituted rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were characterized by measuring efflux rates of [3H]inulin, [3H]choline+, 86Rb+, and 22Na+, as well as membrane potential changes using the voltage-sensitive probe, 3,3'-dipentyl-2,2'-oxacarbocyanine. Native vesicles were dissociated with deoxycholate and were reconstituted by dialysis. Energized Ca2+ accumulation was partially restored. About 1/2 of the reconstituted vesicles were found to be 'leaky', i.e., permeable to choline+ of Tris+ but not to inulin. The remaining reconstituted vesicles were 'sealed', i.e., impermeable to choline+, Tris+ and inulin. Sealed reconstituted vesicles could be further subdivided according to their K+, Na+ permeability. About 1/2, previously designated Type I, were readily permeable to K+ and Na+, indicating the presence of the K+, Na+ channel of sarcoplasmic reticulum. The remaining sealed vesicles (Type II) formed a permeability barrier to K+ and Na+, suggesting that they lacked the K+, Na+ channel. These studies show that the K+, Na+ channel of sarcoplasmic reticulum can be solubilized with detergent and reconstituted with retention of activity. Furthermore, our results suggest that part or all of the decreased Ca2+-loading efficiency of reconstituted vesicles may be due to the presence of a significant fraction of leaky vesicles.
Upper critical field H c 3 for a thin-film superconductor with a ferromagnetic dot

We investigate the effect of a ferromagnetic dot on a thin-film superconductor. We use a real-space method to solve the linearized Ginzburg-Landau equation in order to find the upper critical field ${H}_{{c}_{3}}.$ We show that ${H}_{{c}_{3}}$ is crucially dependent on dot composition and geometry, and may be significantly greater than ${H}_{{c}_{2}}.$ ${H}_{{c}_{3}}$ is maximally enhanced when (i) the dot saturation magnetization is large, (ii) the ratio of dot thickness to dot diameter is of order one, and (iii) the dot thickness is large.
Effect of chronic aspirin ingestion on epithelial proliferation in rat fundus, antrum, and duodenum.

We studied the effect of chronic aspirin ingestion on gastroduodenal epithelial proliferaton by feeding rats aspirin in the drinking water. A control group of rats received plain water. At the end of 4 wk, [3H]-thymidine was given intravenously to label proliferating cells, and the rats were killed 1 h later. Sections of fundus, antrum, and proximal duodenum were processed for light autoradiography. We found that chronic aspirin ingestion stimulated epithelial proliferation in fundic mucosa but had no effect in the antrum. In the duodenum, aspirin increased proliferation in the lowest four crypt-cell positions, which most likely indicates an increase in stem-cell production. None of the tissues contained evidence of inflammation or ulceration. The proliferative effects of aspirin may help explain the previously observed phenomenon of mucosal adaptation in the rat after repeated exposure to aspirin. Further, if human gastroduodenal epithelium responds in a similar manner to chroriic aspirin exposure, the effects on proliferation may explain in part the distribution of aspirin-associated ulcers.
Are Biological Effects Of Weak Elf Fields Possible

Because of the high electrical conductivity of tissues, the coupling of external fields - in air - to tissue is very weak; z at 60 hertz. Thus moderate external fields induce fields in tissue that are much smaller than the electrical fields in tissue and cell material that follow from stochastic Auctuatioiis in charge densities defined thermodynamically. Consequently, weak ELF fields will be masked by noise and have no biological consequence at the cell level. Hence, any demonstrated biological effects of weak ELF fields on the cellular level would indicate that such activities operate outside of the scope of conventional physics in much the same way as parapsychology. Low Level ELF Fields In the quantitative features of my discussion of the effects of extra low frequency [ELF] low intensity, electromagnetic fields on biological materials, I will consider especially 60 hertz oscillations, electric ficld strengths that do not exceed 300 V/m in air and magnetic field strengths no greater than 0.5 gauss (or 50 pT), the strength of the earth's field - the mean electric field at the earth's surface is about 100 V/m. Moreover, since we emphasise invironmental concerns, the fields labeled "external" in this report, are always fields in the air about the tissues.
A hierarchical controller for concurrent accessing of distributed databases

An access controller for a distributed database is a (central or distributed) structure which routes access requests to the different components of the database. Such a controller is also supposed to resolve the conflicts between concurrent requests, if any, such that deadlock situations never arise.In this paper, some architectures for distributed access controllers of distributed databases are investigated. In particular, three controllers with hierarchical architectures are considered. The controllers are evaluated based on three criteria: (i) freedom of deadlocks, (ii) robustness, and (iii) parallelism. The third criterion implies that the added redundancy to increase the controller robustness against failure conditions should also contribute to the amount of achieved parallelism during the no-failure periods. We then define a controller architecture which satisfies all the three criteria.
The structure of order error in the build-up of proactive interference in short-term memory

Order errors produced in the generation of proaction in the short-term retention of trigrams were analyzed in terms of their phonemic similarity to the correct items. Employing five successive applications of a short-term memory distractor technique with a 12 sec retention interval it was observed that items transposed within a trigram were phonemically related to the correct items but position intrusions from preceding trigrams were not. Both types of error-production remained invariant across the five trials. The data were considered in the framework of models of order storage in short-term memory.
SU‐FF‐J‐40: Comparison of Prostate Implanted Fiducials with CT and Ultrasound for Prostate Target Localization: Initial Results

Purpose: To compare prostate localization methods of implanted fiducials, CT‐guided, and ultrasound‐guided (US) techniques. Method and Materials: Data were collected from an on‐going institutional review board approved protocol for comparing different target localization techniques for image‐guided prostate cancerradiotherapy. The protocol is designed to have CT scans with an in‐room CT‐on‐rails three times a week; US‐guided localization twice a week for the initial two weeks, then weekly; and orthogonal electronic portal imaging for fiducial measurements daily. Patients will have three gold seed implanted fiducials for prostate localization. The NOMOS BAT system and MedTec's Acculoc software are used for US and fiducial localization, respectively. All shifts reported by the three methods are relative to the same daily reference point set on patient's skin during the entire imaging session. The differences in the three methods were compared and the mean and standard deviation were computed in each of the orthogonal shifted positions: anterior‐posterior (AP), superior‐inferior (SI), and laterals (RL). Correlation coefficients were determined relative to the CT localization method. Results: We report the results for the first patient who had just completed treatment. The mean differences (one standard deviation) (in cm) between the implanted fiducials and CT were −0.03 (0.18), 0.0 (0.12), −0.03 (0.15), while US and CT were 0.14 (0.68), −0.21 (0.68), and 0.32 (0.28), in AP, SI, and RL directions, respectively. The Spearman's correlation coefficients relative to the CT registration were 0.83, 0.60, and 0.81 for the implanted fiducial method (p 0.05 for AP and SI directions). Note that simultaneous measurements were 22 for CT and fiducials while only 9 for CT and US.Conclusions: Implanted fiducial registration correlates better than the US relative to the CT‐guided approach. More patients are needed to make a firm conclusion.
Raman Studies Of Laser Damaged Single- And Multi-Layer Optical Coatings

Structural changes in dielectric optical coatings induced thermally or by high energy pulsed laser irradiation have been studied by the non-destructive technique of Raman Spectroscopy. A two laser (damage, probe) arrangement was used to characterize the damage process in crystalline and amorphous TiO2 and Zr02 coatings on silica during irradiation and at longer times following the onset of damage. Raman measurements were also undertaken to assess the effects of coating phase and microcrystalline grain orientation on laser induced damage in Ti02. Results suggest that certain phases have higher damage thresholds for comparable coating thicknesses and that thermal and electronic excitation effects are important considerations for modeling the damage process.
Race and asthma control in the pediatric population of hawaii

Objectives The racially unique population of Hawaii has one of the highest prevalences of childhood asthma in America. We estimate the prevalence of impaired asthma control among asthmatic children in Hawaii and determine which factors are associated with impaired control. Patients and Methods We analyzed data from 477 asthmatic children living in Hawaii participating in the 2006–2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Asthma Call-Back Surveys. Impaired asthma control was modeled after 2007 National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with impaired asthma control. Results Children (53.8%) with asthma were either part or full Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. While 35.6% of asthmatic children met criteria for impaired asthma control, being part or full Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander was not associated with impaired control. Only 31.1% of children with impaired control reported the use of inhaled corticosteroids despite >80% having had a routine checkup for asthma in the past year and receipt of asthma education from a healthcare provider. Conclusion A large proportion of asthmatic children in Hawaii have impaired asthma control that does not appear to be associated with race but may be associated with inadequate pharmacologic therapy. While a significant percentage reported receiving routine asthma care and asthma education, a minority reported using inhaled corticosteroids. Reasons for this discrepancy between asthma assessment and treatment are unclear. However, additional education on part of the physician, community, and healthcare system are likely to improve management and reduce morbidity in this population. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2011; 46:442–451. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Systematic edge inspection for defect reduction

We report a systematic radial inspection approach using tilt SEM for wafer apex, bevel and extreme edge to understand structural evolution of floating pattern defects first detected post eSiGe deposition. This investigative method in conjunction with EDS and other such techniques can be very effective in determining point of cause and exact nature of defects, induced due to various process interactions. This in turn can help to eliminate such defects for edge yield enhancement.
Mutational Analysis of the Pleckstrin Homology Domain of the β-Adrenergic Receptor Kinase. DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS ON Gβγ AND PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 4,5-BISPHOSPHATE BINDING

The beta gamma subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (G beta gamma) play a variety of roles in cellular signaling, one of which is membrane targeting of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta ARK). This is accomplished via a physical interaction of G beta gamma and a domain within the carboxyl terminus of beta ARK which overlaps with a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. The PH domain of beta ARK not only binds G beta gamma but also interacts with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Based on previous mapping of the G beta gamma binding region of beta ARK, and conserved residues within the PH domain, we have constructed a series of mutants in the carboxyl terminus of beta ARK in order to determine important residues involved in G beta gamma and PIP2 binding. To examine the effects of mutations on G beta gamma binding, we employed three different methodologies: direct G beta gamma binding to GST fusion proteins; the ability of GST fusion proteins to inhibit G beta gamma-mediated beta ARK translocation to rhodopsin-enriched rod outer segments; and the ability of mutant peptides expressed in cells to inhibit G beta gamma-mediated inositol phosphate accumulation. Direct PIP2 binding was also assessed on mutant GST fusion proteins. Ala residue insertion following Trp643 completely abolished the ability of beta ARK to bind G beta gamma, suggesting that a proper alpha-helical conformation is necessary for the G beta gamma.beta ARK interaction. In contrast, this insertional mutation had no effect on PIP2 binding. Both G beta gamma binding and PIP2 binding were abolished following Ala replacement of Trp643, suggesting that this conserved residue within the last subdomain of the PH domain is crucial for both interactions. Other mutations also produced differential effects on the physical interactions of the beta ARK carboxyl terminus with G beta gamma and PIP2. These results suggest that the last PH subdomain and its neighboring sequences within the carboxyl terminus of beta ARK, including Trp643, Leu647, and residues Lys663-Arg669, are critical for G beta gamma binding while Trp643 and residues Asp635-Glu639 are important for the PH domain to form the correct structure for binding to PIP2.
A parity-time symmetric coherent plasmonic absorber-amplifier

Non-Hermitian parity-time ( PT)-symmetric optical potentials have led to a new class of unidirectional photonic components based on the spatially symmetric and balanced inclusion of loss and gain. While most proposed and implemented PT-symmetric optical devices have wavelength-scale dimensions, no physical constraints preclude development of subwavelength PT-symmetric components. We theoretically demonstrate a nanoscale PT-symmetric, all-optical plasmonic modulator capable of phase-controlled amplification and directional absorption. The modulator consists of two deeply subwavelength channels composed of either gain or loss dielectric material, embedded in a metallic cladding. When illuminating on-resonance by two counter-propagating plane waves, the aperture's total output can be modulated by changing the phase offset between the two waves. Modulation depths are greater than 10 dB, with output power varying from less than one half of the incident power to more than six times amplification. Off-resonance,...
Syntheses of quaternary ammonium-containing, trithiocarbonate RAFT agents and hemi-telechelic cationomers

We reported herein a facile and high-yield approach to synthesize a series of trithiocarbonate RAFT agents containing quaternary ammonium functionality in the “R-group”. This new synthetic route first involves the optimized synthesis of 4-(bromomethyl)-N,N,N-trialkyl benzyl ammonium bromide compounds (Br-Ph-NR3, R = Me, Et and Bu), which were subsequently reacted with the alkyl trithiocarbonate anion to directly produce the trithiocarbonate RAFT agent. It was found that the quaternary ammonium group partially degraded when the RAFT agents were used in polymerizations at 120 °C. This issue was overcome by using lower polymerization temperature, which when combined with column chromatography, afforded high purity α-N,N,N-trialkyl benzyl ammonium hemi-telechelic cationomers.
Calculating three-dimensional free surface flows in the vicinity of submerged and exposed structures

A numerical technique has been developed for calculating the three-dimensional, transient dynamics of incompressible fluid having a free surface. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved by a solution algorithm based on the Marker-and-Cell method. The flow may be calculated around variously shaped and spaced obstacles that are fully submerged or penetrate the surface. To illustrate the capability of this technique a variety of examples are presented.
Observation of intrinsic and extrinsic secondary grain boundary dislocations in [001] high angle twist boundaries in MgO

The report describes a systematic electron microscope investigation of possible GBD structures in (001) high angle twist boundaries in MgO using bicrystals of controlled geometry. Boundaries of this type were selected because they are relatively easy to prepare, and because GBD structures have been extensively observed and studied (3,4,7) in boundaries of this type in the metal gold.
Increased consultation opportunities for school psychologists: A service delivery model

A model of delivery of services that enables school psychologists to meet testing demands while initiating a broad range of consultative services is described. Requirements of the model include: (a) having funds available for contract testing, (b) having conferences with teachers prior to formal referral of children, and (c) having qualified contract evaluators available. Benefits, as well as obstacles to be expected in implementing the model, are discussed.
The Instrumental Rationality of Extermination

It's June 20, 1995. Our senses sated with nouvelle cuisine and fine art, we drive into New Mexico from Santa Fe to the Bandelier State Park cliff dwellings. The Anasazi Indian story has been lost to history: even their name is not their own; it means “ancient enemy” in Navaho. The scenery, echoing the songs of ghosts, is spectacular and pristine. Not quite, for the road butts against the Los Alamos Laboratories, a different history indeed. We drive to Los Alamos and visit its sterile museum, listening to official histories. Then we stop at the Los Alamos Ranch School for boys. Hereabouts dwells the ghost of Trinity and Oppenheimer, nearer to us in history, tragic as well, certainly more ironic, than the Anasazi.
Enhanced Cytolytic Activity of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) Derived from an ICAM-1 Transfected Tumor in a Murine Model

Abstract Background. Tumors transfected with intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a known activator of resting T-cells, show an increased response to adoptive immunotherapy in vivo. This salutary effect may be due to increased sensitivity of the transfected tumor cells to cell-mediated cytotoxicity or an increased activity of the effector cells in the presence of increased amounts of ICAM-1. Materials and methods. MCA105 fibrosarcoma cells were transfected with the gene for ICAM-1, and a clone (Cl149) demonstrating significantly increased expression of ICAM-1 by fluorescent-activated cell sorter (FACS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) compared to parental tumor was selected and cultured. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were cultured in vitro from MCA105 and Cl149 tumors. K562 tumor cells were used as controls. Results. TILs derived from MCA105 tumors lysed MCA105 (32% at 40:1) and Cl149 (52% at 40:1) target cells but not K562 (3%) demonstrating TIL specificity. TILs derived from Cl149 showed increased lysis of both target cells tested: MCA105 (62% at 40:1, P Conclusions. These studies demonstrate that increased expression of ICAM-1 by a tumor cell results in increased lysis by TILs derived from either a tumor with enhanced ICAM-1 expression or a parental tumor, compared to the lysis of parental tumor target cells. In addition, TILs derived from a tumor with enhanced expression of ICAM-1 have significantly increased antitumor efficacy compared to TILs from the parental tumor, suggesting a possible mechanism for previously observed in vivo antitumor effects. These results suggest a new strategy for improving the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy, by using lymphocytes derived from genetically altered tumors. The study of lymphocytes from genetically modified tumor cells may enable the elucidation of properties of various molecules believed important in cellular cytotoxicity.
Cardiovascular Basic Helix Loop Helix Factor 1, a Novel Transcriptional Repressor Expressed Preferentially in the Developing and Adult Cardiovascular System

We have cloned a cardiovascular-restricted basic helix-loop-helix factor that interacts with arylhydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) in a yeast two-hybrid screen. Cardiovascular helix-loop-helix factor 1 (CHF1) is distantly related to the hairy family of transcriptional repressors. We analyzed its expression pattern during mouse embryo development. At day 8.5, the expression of CHF1 is first detected in the primitive ventricle of the primordial heart tube and persists throughout gestation. In rat hearts, this expression is down-regulated after birth, concurrent with terminal differentiation of cardiomyocytes. In the developing vasculature, CHF1 first appears in the dorsal aorta at day 9.0, which precedes the reported expression of smooth muscle cell markers, and persists into adulthood. In an in vitro system of smooth muscle cell differentiation, CHF1 mRNA was barely detectable in undifferentiated cells but was induced highly in differentiated smooth muscle cells. To determine whether CHF1 might affect the function of ARNT, we performed transfection studies. Co-transfection of CHF1 inhibited ARNT/EPAS1-dependent transcription by 85%, and this inhibition is dose-dependent. In electrophoretic mobility studies, CHF1 inhibited the binding of the ARNT/EPAS1 heterodimer to its target site. Our data suggest that CHF1 functions as a transcriptional repressor and may play an important role in cardiovascular development.
Neural maturation of the infant as exemplified in the righting reflex, or rolling from a dorsal to a prone position

Summary Neuromuscular changes as exhibited by seventy-five infants in the achievement of an ability to turn from a supine to a prone position have been described. A total of 1,840 observations have been rated in accordance with criteria which differentiate four significant phases. The group data are supplemented by longitudinal data on four individual infants. Curves showing the age period when each phase is the characteristic mode of behavior are presented. Changes in the pattern of behavior as they reflect the “righting reflexes” described by Magnus have been discussed. It has been sugested that the rolling response is perhaps in the infant a phyletic activity which becomes integrated at a nuclear level before cortical dominance occurs. Subsequently, it is utilized as a component of the human righting response, i.e., the assumption of an erect posture. As the latter behavior matures, the rolling over phase tends to become eliminated or at least diminished.
Activity and fate of diflubenzuron and certain derivatives in the boll weevil

Abstract Adult female boll weevils ( Anthonomus grandis Boheman) were treated topically or fed treated diets containing either (i) diflubenzuron ( N -[[(4-chlorophenyl)amino]carbonyl]-2,6-difluorobenzamide) or two of its hydroxylated derivatives or (ii) methylated analogs of these three chemicals. Only diflubenzuron and N -methyl diflubenzuron inhibited the hatch of eggs laid by the treated insects. Comparative studies of the fate of 14 C-labeled diflubenzuron (I), N -methyl diflubenzuron (IV), 2-methoxy- N -methyl diflubenzuron (VII), and 3-methoxy- N -methyl diflubenzuron (VIII) after topical treatment (1 μg each) of female boll weevils demonstrated the following: (i) the four chemicals were absorbed, metabolized, and excreted at different rates in the order IV > VII, VIII > I; (ii) the chemicals were secreted into eggs and initial concentrations of 2.24 (I), 2.82 (IV), 1.47 (VII), and 0.93 ppm (VIII) at 4 days post-treatment declined progressively in subsequent samples; and (iii) concurrent daily observations indicated that inhibition of egg hatch by I and IV seemed to diminish rapidly when their concentrations in eggs declined to ca. 1.0 ppm or lower.
Influence of pregnancy on parathion toxicity and disposition

The effects of pregnancy and lactation on the toxicity and distribution of parathion and paraoxon were examined. Signs of cholinergic stimulation were more intense in pregnant mice when compared to virgin controls after administration of parathion or its active metabolite, paraoxon. Cholinesterase activity and tissue levels of parathion and paraoxon were determined in mice at 19 days of gestation or Day 19 postpartum after administration of a single dose of 5 mg/kg parathion or 0.58 mg/kg paraoxon. Plasma (pseudo) cholinesterase activity was consistently lower in treated pregnant mice. Total brain cholinesterase was also suppressed to a greater degree in pregnant mice after treatment with parathion or paraoxon when compared with virgin animals treated similarly. In addition, when equal quantities of paraoxon (32 micrograms) were administered to both pregnant and virgin animals, total brain cholinesterase was significantly less in pregnant mice. Administration of parathion to lactating mice on Day 19 postpartum did not result in any significant differences in plasma or brain cholinesterase activity when compared to that in virgin animals. Pregnant mice treated with 5 mg/kg parathion demonstrated higher concentrations of both parathion and paraoxon in blood and brain than similarly treated virgin controls which correlated with the enhanced cholinesterase inhibition. Decreased ability to detoxify paraoxon was also demonstrated by a significant reduction in serum paraoxonase activity during pregnancy.
Reversible Symptomatic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Older Children and Young Adolescents Due to Primary Non-Sinus Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) due to a primary supraventricular tachycardia not originating from the sinus node is not frequently seen in older children or adolescents. However, it is important to recognize this entity as a reversible cause of DCM to avoid costly and inappropriate treatments for these patients. We describe 7 patients who presented with DCM. Five were misdiagnosed as having "sinus" tachycardia secondary to an idiopathic DCM, and 2 were correctly diagnosed as having DCM secondary to an atrial tachycardia. All underwent electrophysiologic treatment of the tachycardia with remission of the DCM.