cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mortality risk in hemodialysis patients and changes in nutritional indicators: DOPPS

Mortality risk in hemodialysis patients and changes in nutritional indicators: DOPPS. Background Nutritional status is strongly associated with outcomes among hemodialysis patients. We analyzed the independent predictive value of several readily measured nutritional indicators, including a modified subjective global assessment (mSGA), body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, serum creatinine, normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), serum bicarbonate, lymphocyte count, and neutrophil count, using baseline and six-month follow-up measurements. Methods The study sample consisted of 7719 U.S. adult hemodialysis patients enrolled in the international Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), a prospective observational study that includes a random sample of hemodialysis patients from 145 dialysis facilities in the United States. Cox regression was used to estimate the relative risk of mortality associated with differences in measurements at baseline and six months later. Each analysis was adjusted for age, race, sex, and 15 summary comorbid conditions. Results Lower baseline measurements of mSGA, BMI, serum albumin, serum creatinine, and lymphocyte count were independently associated with significantly higher risk of mortality. During six-month follow-up, decreases in BMI, serum albumin, and serum creatinine were also associated with significantly higher mortality risk. The risk of mortality increased with higher baseline and six-month increases in neutrophil count. Conclusions This study confirms that several readily-measured nutritional indicators predict mortality among hemodialysis patients and that changes in indicator values over six months provide additional important prognostic information. Interventions that modify these indicators of nutritional status may have an important impact on the survival of hemodialysis patients.
Two loop effective potential for the minimal supersymmetric standard model

I compute the complete two-loop effective potential for the minimal supersymmetric standard model in the Landau gauge. This enables an accurate determination of the minimization conditions for the vacuum expectation values of the Higgs fields. Checks on the result follow from supersymmetric limits and from renormalization-scale invariance. The renormalization group equations for the field-independent vacuum energy and the vacuum expectation values are also presented. I provide numerical examples showing the improved accuracy and scale dependence obtained with the full two-loop effective potential.
Possible mechanism of superconductivity in metal-semiconductor eutectic alloys

The effect due to the tunneling of conduction electrons into the negative-$U$ centers at the disordered metal-semiconductor interfaces on the superconductivity of metal-semiconductor eutectic alloys is considered. Gorkov's formalism is used to calculate ${T}_{c}$ for (i) ${n}_{I}\ensuremath{\ll}1$ and $\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\ne}0$, (ii) $\ensuremath{\lambda}=0$. Where ${n}_{I}$ is the concentration of the pairing centers and $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is the phonon-mediated electron-electron interaction in BCS theory. Our results can qualitatively explain the increase of ${T}_{c}$ in Al-Si, Al-Ge, and Be-Si eutectic alloys.
The logical art of writing useful comparisons

Analogical models are common in scientific and technical literature but scientific/technical communicators may be reluctant to write clarifying comparisons for fear of producing inaccurate or inappropriate similes. Technical writers can use the logical operations that underlie all metaphorical thinking consciously as prewriting strategies: they can learn to construct their comparisons using the logical operations of identification, distinction, re-classification, and division. Applying these logical operations to the generation of useful analogies can give writers confidence that their comparisons possess the qualities of specificity, clarify, richness, scope, and validity.
All Digital Multiplying DLL Using Precision Digital Delay Line as DCO

In this paper all digital multiplying delay-locked loop (MDLL) is presented, which uses a 3rd order precision digital delay line (HDL) as DCO. Maximum locking frequency at 1.3V was 1GHz with multiplication factor of 50, assuming 20MHz reference clock frequency, and peak to peak jitter was &#61617; 20ps. DCO consumed only 2.2mW, and the rest logic 3.5mW.
A wafer-scale removal rate model for chemical mechanical planarization

A model to describe removal rates during silicon dioxide polishing has been developed and validated. The model includes submodels for the bulk pad behavior, the behavior of pad asperities, and the pad-wafer relative velocity.
Social resources and the quality of life

In this study four social resource measures were distinguished based on their cognitive and affective properties and tested in a survey of the quality of life (QOL) of 537 community residents. It was expected that resource measures would correlate only with criteria in the same affective domain, i.e., positive measures would relate to positive appraisals of life quality, negative measures to negative QOL outcomes. Cognitive properties of the measures, and the life context within which resources were utilized, were expected to influence whether a resource would show cross-domain effects such that a positive resource would be associated with a reduction in negative states. Measures differed in the degree to which they identified resources coming from internal rather than external sources. Their effects on QOL were studied separately and in interaction with two life context variables: the number of negative life events over the previous year and resident age and sex. The findings were consistent with expectations. In general, positive measures of resources were associated with boosts in positive affect but not reductions in negative affective states. A measure of negative aspects of social resources was associated with distresss and negative affect but not with a reduction in positive affect. Cross-domain or "'buffer" effects, in which positive aspects of the person's social resources would reduce distress, did occur but only for measures that implied self-involvement, and only when the resident was experiencing high levels of stressful life events. Also, there were life-cycle differences in the availability of social resources to residents of the community, and evidence suggested that the value of some resources changed as a function of the resident's stage in life.
Relationship between facial expressiveness and sympathetic activation in emotion: a critical review, with emphasis on modeling underlying mechanisms and individual differences.

Two important questions bearing on personality processes and individual differences are how do facial expressiveness and sympathetic activation vary as a function of the intensity of an emotional stimulus, and what is the functional mechanism underlying facial expressiveness and sympathetic activation in emotion? A formulation is proposed that is based on 2 propositions: (a) All strong emotions result in some degree of activation of the organism (i.e., principle of stimulus dynamism) and (b) there are individual differences in the gain (amplification) operating on the facial expressive and sympathetic response channels (i.e., principle of individual response uniqueness). This formulation organizes much of the existing data on internalizers and externalizers and yields novel predictions regarding the subpopulation labeled as generalizers.
Anomalies in the infra-red spectra of inorganic compounds prepared by the potassium bromide pellet technique

Abstract Certain difficulties may be encountered when the potassium bromide pellet technique is applied to the infra-red examination of inorganic compounds. These difficulties are apparently due to an exchange of anions between the potassium bromide and the inorganic salt, and to pressure or orientation effects. The exchanges are illustrated by the use of infra-red spectra of a number of inorganic salts. For comparison purposes, the inorganic salts were also handled by the mull technique. The major factor responsible for exchange appears to be the moisture that is absorbed on the surfaces of the sample and the potassium bromide.
Compatibility of ω-Functionality in the Electrochemically Directed Self-Assembly of Monolayers on Gold from Alkyl Thiosulfates

Self-assembled monolayers were formed on gold electrochemically from ω-functionalized alkyl thiosulfates (Bunte salts). The resulting SAMs were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact-angle goniometry, and ellipsometry. A range of terminal functionality was examined, including CH3, perfluoroalkyl, CO2H, CO2CH3, CONH2, CH2OH, and vinyl groups. Side-reactions involving some of these functional groups were consistent with intermediates proposed in our earlier publications and begin to define the scope of this method for building chemical structures at interfaces.
4734 Endoscopists' perspective on percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement.

Background: Controversy exists surrounding the appropriate use of PEG placement in some patients for the provision of enteral feeding. Previous investigation has demonstrated that the goals of PEG-assisted feedings are often not met. How endoscopists view this procedure has not been previously evaluated. Aim: To determine the personal view and experience of endoscopists regarding PEG placement. Methods: In 1996, a mail questionnaire was sent to 1,500 randomly selected members of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). A second mailing was sent to non-respondents. Management of clinical situations, types of patients referred for PEG placement, physician demographics and observations were evaluated. A 90% response rate to individual questions was required for subsequent analysis. Comparison of results was made using the chisquare test. Results: 477(32%) questionnaires were returned. Stroke (64%), dementia (26%) and malignancy (10%) were the most common conditions prompting request for PEG placement. 51% of endoscopists felt that they were too frequently requested to place PEG tubes, although 13% have never declined placing a PEG when asked. Physicians who were older than 60 years (n=54) were significantly less likely to place a PEG for patients with severe dementia (p=0.011), or advanced age (p=0.045), as compared to their younger colleagues. 77% of 285 endoscopists felt that they should refuse to place PEG tubes more frequently than they currently practice. 83% of endoscopists do not feel that there are clear practice standards regarding appropriate patient selection for PEG placement: 68% believe that such standards would be important. Variables such as patient/family wishes, and patient functional status were viewed with the same importance among all physicians. Conclusion: Many endoscopists believe they are often inappropriately consulted for PEG placement. Endoscopists are sometimes fulfilling a purely technical role when asked to place a PEG. There is a need for clear and comprehensive national practice guidelines regarding PEG placement.
Very-wide-field ultraviolet sky survey

Very-wide-field photographs of the sky were taken on Spacelab 1 at 1650, 1930, and 2530 angstroms with a limiting magnitude of 9.3 at 1930 angstroms. A 1.2 by 2.4 kiloparsec ultraviolet extension of the Shapley wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud is seen in some of the photographs.
The Aš‘arite Ontology: I Primary Entities

The present study seeks to lay out the most basic elements of the ontology of classical As‘arite theology. In several cases this requires a careful examination of the traditional and the formal lexicography of certain key expressions. The topics primarily treated are: (1) how they understood “Being/ existence” and “being/existent” and essential natures; the systematic exploitation of the equivocities of certain expressions (e.g., ḫaqīqa, ḫadd, ma‘na) within a general context in which other than words there are no universals proves to be elegant as well as insightful; (2) the basic categories of primary entities: independant beings and nonindependant beings, (a) created and (b) uncreated, the equivocity of “being/existent” as predicated of contingent entities on the one hand and of God and His attributes on the other, and certain problems that arise because of the rigid application of the system's underlying analytic principles.
Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among United States adults with disabilities using assistive technology.

Abstract Objectives To estimate the prevalence of current depressive symptoms (CDS) among adults that reported disabilities requiring the use of assistive technology (AT) and those that did not, and to examine the sociodemographic, comorbidity, health behavior, and social support correlates of this condition in adults who use AT. Methods Data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a standardized telephone survey among U.S. adults, were analyzed ( n = 195,033). The Patient Health Questionnaire diagnostic algorithm was used to identify CDS. Results AT users were significantly more likely than AT non-users to have CDS (age-standardized: 30.4% vs. 7.4%). Among AT users, there was a dose–response relationship between depression severity and increased prevalence of health conditions, obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity. In the full covariate logistic regression model, the strongest sociodemographic variables associated with CDS among AT users were age and employment status. Other variables strongly associated with CDS were lack of social support and anxiety. Conclusions An integrated approach to health care should be taken with adults who use AT. AT service providers, primary health care providers, and other care givers should be alert to the possibility of depression in AT users; and opportunities to prevent, detect, and treat depression among this population should not be missed.
Solving the Beck and Wieland model with optimal experimentation in DualPC

Currently, there is a renewed interest in the use of optimal experimentation (adaptive control) in economics. Example are found in [Amman, H. M. & Kendrick, D. A. (1999). Should macroeconomic policy makers consider parameter covariances. Computational Economics 14, 263-267; Amman, H. M. & Kendrick, D. A. (2003). Mitigation of the Lucas critique with stochastic control methods. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control 27, 2035-2057; Cosimano, T. F. Optimal experimentation and the perturbation method in the neighborhood of the augmented linear regulator problem. Journal of Economics, Dynamics and Control (in press); Cosimano, T. F., & Gapen, M. T. (2005b). Recursive methods of dynamic linear economics and optimal experimentation using the perturbation method, Working paper. Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: Department of Finance, University of Notre Dame; Cosimano, T. F., & Gapen, M. T. (2005a). Program notes for optimal experimentation and the perturbation method in the neighborhood of the augmented linear regulator problem, Working paper. Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: Department of Finance, University of Notre Dame; Cosimano, T. F., & Gapen, M. T. (2006). An algorithm for approximating optimal experimentation problems using the perturbation method, Working paper. Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: Department of Finance, University of Notre Dame; Tesfaselassie, M. F., Schaling, E., & Eijffinger, S. (2007). Learning about the term structure and optimal rules for inflation targeting, Working paper. Tilburg, The Netherlands: Tilburg University; Tucci, M. P. (1997). Adaptive control in the presence of time-varying parameters. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 22, 39-47; Wieland, V. (2000a). Learning by doing and the value of optimal experimentation. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 24, 501-543; Wieland, V., (2000b). Monetary policy, parameter uncertainty and optimal learning. Journal of Monetary Economics, 46, 199-228]. In this paper we present the Beck & Wieland model [Beck, G., & Wieland, V. (2002). Learning and control in a changing economic environment. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 26, 1359-1378] and the methodology to solve this model with time-varying parameters using the various control methods described in [Kendrick, D. A. (1981). Stochastic control for economic models (1st ed.), New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill Book Company; Kendrick, D. A. (2002). Stochastic control for economic models (2nd ed.) Available at url: http://www.eco.utexas.edu/faculty/Kendrick]. Furthermore, we also provide numerical results using the DualPC software [Amman, H. M., & Kendrick, D. A. (1999). The DualI/DualPC software for optimal control models: User's guide. Working paper, Austin, TX 78712, USA: Center for Applied Research in Economics, University of Texas] and show first evidence that optimal experimentation or Dual Control may produce better results than Expected Optimal Feedback.
What academic libraries need in electronic content licenses: Presentation to the STM library relations committee, STM annual general meeting, October 1, 1996

(1996). What academic libraries need in electronic content licenses: Presentation to the STM library relations committee, STM annual general meeting, October 1, 1996. Serials Review: Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 65-69.
Multiple immunoassay in a single animal: A practical approach to immunotoxicologic testing

Abstract A battery of immunoassays were developed for the rat which measured the major arms of the immune system, namely, humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity (CMI), and macrophage function. Humoral immunity was assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (using keyhole limpet hemocyanin as antigen). CMI was measured by delayedtype hypersensitivity to heat-aggregated bovine serum albumin using a footpad swelling technique. Macrophage function was assessed by measuring the ability of macrophages to phagocytize sheep red blood cells in vitro . The feasibility of performing all three immunoassays in the same animal was investigated by treating groups of rats with all combinations of antigenic exposure used to induce each type of response. Multiple antigenic treatment regimens did not significantly alter responses to individual antigens used in this study. Animals exposed to the concurrent antigen treatment regimens remained sensitive to immunosuppressants. These data suggest that multiple immunoassays can be successfully performed utilizing a single animal which has been concurrently treated with different antigens. The inclusion of additional assays into this protocol and the efficacy to immunotoxicologic testing is discussed.
Effects of the photooxidant on DNA-mediated charge transport.

A direct comparison of DNA charge transport (CT) with different photooxidants has been made. Photooxidants tested include the two metallointercalators, Rh(phi)_2(bpy‘)^(3+) and Ru(phen)(bpy‘)(dppz)^(2+), and three organic intercalators, ethidium (Et), thionine (Th), and anthraquinone (AQ). CT has been examined through a DNA duplex containing an A_6-tract intervening between two 5‘-CGGC-3‘ sites with each of the photooxidants covalently tethered to one end of the DNA duplex. CT is assayed both through determination of the yield of oxidative guanine damage and, in derivative DNA assemblies, by analysis of the yield of a faster oxidative trapping reaction, ring opening of N^2-cyclopropylguanine (d^(CP)G) within the DNA duplex. We find clear differences in oxidative damage ratios at the distal versus proximal 5‘-CGGC-3‘ sites depending upon the photooxidant employed. Importantly, nondenaturing gel electrophoresis data demonstrate the absence of any DNA aggregation by the DNA-bound intercalators. Hence, differences seen with assemblies containing various photooxidants cannot be attributed to differential aggregation. Comparisons in assemblies using different photooxidants thus reveal characteristics of the photooxidant as well as characteristics of the DNA assembly. In the series examined, the lowest distal/proximal DNA damage ratios are obtained with Ru and AQ, while, for both Rh and Et, high distal/proximal damage ratios are found. The oxidative damage yields vary in the order Ru > AQ > Rh > Et, and photooxidants that produce higher distal/proximal damage ratios have lower yields. While no oxidative DNA damage is detected using thionine as a photooxidant, oxidation is evident using the faster cyclopropylguanosine trap; here, a complex distance dependence is found. Differences observed among photooxidants as well as the complex distance dependence are attributed to differences in rates of back electron transfer (BET). Such differences are important to consider in developing mechanistic models for DNA CT.
The mechanism of inhibition of avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase by a dialdehyde derivative of ATP Inactivation of essential sulfhydryl group function

Abstract The dialdehyde derivative of ATP inhibits DNA synthesis by AMV reverse transcriptase, while the polymerase-associated ribonuclease H activity is significantly resistant to this reagent. Neither ATP nor its dialcohol form effectively block DNA synthesis, indicating that the aldehyde moiety is required for inhibition. The nature of the reactivity of dialdehyde-ATP with AMV reverse transcriptase has been examined and we find that: (a) inhibition is non-competitive with respect to substrate deoxynucleoside triphosphate concentration, suggesting that dialdehyde-ATP does not react at the substrate binding site; (b) pretreatment of enzyme with dialdehyde-ATP or sulfhydryl group binding reagents results in the complete loss of its template binding activity; however, treatment of preformed enzyme-template-primer complex with both inhibitors did not dissociate this complex; (c) the inhibitory effect of dialdehyde ATP was completely reversed upon addition of reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol and sodium borohydride, indicating that dialdehyde-ATP reacts with the sulfhydryl groups present in AMV reverse transcriptase; (d) comparative studies carried out with the classical sulfhydryl reagent, dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid, revealed a remarkable similarity in its action to that of dialdehyde-ATP. We therefore conclude that the dialdehyde-ATP-mediated inhibition of AMV DNA polymerase is effected via blockage of essential sulfhydryl groups present in the enzyme protein.
Recreational and Commercial Fisheries Allocation with Costly Enforcement

fishing sectors when enforcement is costly, and compliance imperfect and variable between the two sectors. The usual economic prescription for allocating catch is equating the marginal net benefits of the two sectors. The formal analytical models on which this prescription is based, however, have ignored costly and imperfect enforcement when deriving the optimal allocation rule (cf. Bishop and Samples; McConnell and Sutinen). How to allocate a fishery resource between recreational and commercial users is a common
Effect of vitamin E on the immune response of channel catfish to Edwardsiella ictaluri.

Abstract Three-month-old fingerling channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus were fed purified diets supplemented with ∝-tocopherol acetate to provide 0, 60, and 2,500 mg vitamin E/kg for 180 d. A 30-s immersion bath and an oral booster were used to deliver a bacterin of formalin-killed Edwardsiella ictaluri to half of the fish from each dietary treatment. Resistance of red blood cells to peroxidation was used as an index of antioxidant status. The susceptibility of red blood cells to oxidative hemolysis decreased with increasing levels of dietary vitamin E. Vaccinated and nonvaccinated fish were evaluated for agglutinating antibody titers and macrophage activity. Humoral antibody titers in response to E. ictaluri were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in vaccinated fish than in nonvaccinated fish; however, no such differences in agglutinating antibody titers were detected among any of the dietary treatment groups. Both vaccination and vitamin E significantly enhanced the ability of macrophages to phagocytize vi...
Surface-enhanced Raman, normal Raman and infrared spectra of chlorobenzoic acids☆

Abstract IR and Raman spectra of p-, m-, and o-chlorobenzoic acids (CBAs) have been recorded in solid and in different solutions. Vibrational assignments have been proposed based essentially on group frequency, band shape, intensity, and some internal consistency of CBAs. Examinations of the carboxylic acid and the carboxylate vibrations show that chlorobenzoic acids (CBA's) exist as hydrogen-bonded dimers in solid and monomeric acids in organic solvents such as diethyl ether, chloroform, and ethanol, while existing as carboxylate ions in sodium hydroxide solutions. Surface-enhanced Raman (SER) spectra of CBAs adsorbed on silver-coated capillary tube and silver-coated glass plates have also been collected. Experimental results indicate that the detected adsorption species exist as carboxylates on silver surfaces. Explanation of the dependency of the SER intensity of p-chlorobenzoic acid on acidity has been suggested on the basis of the chemical mechanism. From the experimental Raman data, the degree of enhancement is estimated to be 1.0 × 105 for the p-chlorobenzoic acid adsorbed on the substrates. The adsorption behaviours of these acids on silver surfaces are discussed.
Guidelines for management and leadership decision

This paper presents an eight‐questions model for leadership and management decisions. The eight questions provide a comprehensive and integrated system that can help managers become more competent as managers, and as leaders, by bringing more thoroughly considered decisions. They are based on managerial responsibilities and on existing motivation and leadership theories, as reported in the literature. Managers who develop the habit to ask these eight question with all decisions that affect stakeholders, will find them easy to apply as guidelines to better decisions. The model also applies to individuals who are not in managerial positions but find themselves in leadership roles in teams or projects at work, in their professions, or at home. For thinking about leadership and managerial functions, and for higher education and human resource development, the eight‐questions model provides a more practical and actionable guide than the Fayol cycle of planning, organizing, leading (or influencing or directing), and controlling, that has been a foundation concept for more than 80 years.
Introduction of the transposable element mariner into the germline of Drosophila melanogaster.

A chimeric white gene (wpch) and other constructs containing the transposable element mariner from Drosophila mauritiana were introduced into the germline of Drosophila melanogaster using transformation mediated by the P element. In the absence of other mariner elements, the wpch allele is genetically stable in both germ cells and somatic cells, indicating that the peach element (i.e., the particular copy of mariner inserted in the wpch allele) is inactive. However, in the presence of the active element Mos1, the wpch allele reverts, owing to excision of the peach element, yielding eye-color mosaics and a high rate of germline reversion. In strains containing Mos1 virtually every fly is an eye-color mosaic, and the rate of wpch germline reversion ranges from 10 to 25%, depending on temperature. The overall rates of mariner excision and transposition are approximately sixfold greater than the rates in comparable strains of Drosophila simulans. The activity of the Mos1 element is markedly affected by position effects at the site of Mos1 insertion. In low level mosiac lines, dosage effects of Mos1 are apparent in the heavier level of eye-color mosaicism in Mos1 homozygotes than in heterozygotes. However, saturation occurs in high level mosaic lines, and then dosage effects are not observed. A pBluescribe M13+ plasmid containing Mos1 was injected into the pole plasm of D. melanogaster embryos, and the Mos1 element spontaneously integrated into the germline at high efficiency. These transformed strains of D. melanogaster presently contain numerous copies of mariner and may be useful in transposon tagging and other applications.
Fluid Dynamics of Mixtures of Incompressible Miscible Liquids

The velocity field of binary mixture of incompressible miscible liquids is non-solenoidal when the densities of the two liquids are different. If the mixture density is linear in the volume fraction, as is the case of liquids which satisfy the law of additive volumes, then the velocity can be decomposed into a solenoidal and expansion part. Here we propose a theory for liquids which do not satisfy the law of additive volumes. In this theory the mixture density is again given by a linear form but the densities of the liquids are scaled by the factor expressing the change of the volume of the mixture upon mixing. The dynamical theory of simple mixtures of incompressible liquids can be formed as the correct form of the Navier–Stokes equations in which the compressibility of the mixture is recognized. A rigorous form of the diffusion equation, different than the usual one, is also derived from first principles. The diffusion equation is based a non-linear form of Fick’s law, expressed in terms of gradients of the chemical potential. It is argued that the diffusion of species (of heat and in general) is impossible; signals must move with a finite speed though they may rapidly decay to diffusion. The underlying equation for the evolution of species and heat in the linear case is a damped wave equation rather than the conventional diffusion equation. The Navier–Stokes theory can be identified as a mass transport theory. The solenoidal part of the velocity satisfies an equation which can be shown to govern the transport of volume; it differs from the mass transport velocity by an irrotational expansion velocity associated with the dilitation of the mixture. The equations governing the transport of mass and volume differ from one another by well-defined mathematical transformations; the choice of one or the other is a matter of convenience. However, a genuine difference is associated with boundary conditions. The conventional assumption that the mass transport velocity vanishes is supported by calculations from molecular dynamics but these calculations employ entirely different assumptions and, hence, lack authority. The idea that gradients of composition ought to induce stresses and not just diffusion has been considered and is modeled by a second-order theory introduced by Korteweg 1901. There is not strong evidence that these stresses are important except in regions of strong gradients where a relaxation theory rather than a second-order theory ought to apply. A relaxation theory for stresses due to gradients of composition which relaxes into the second-order theory when the gradients are small is proposed and applied to explain observations of a transient interfacial tension which may be traced to a difference between the relaxation times for diffusion and stresses.
Energetics of Clathrin Basket Assembly

A minimal thermodynamic model is used to study the in vitro equilibrium assembly of reconstituted clathrin baskets. The model contains parameters accounting for i) the combined bending and flexing rigidities of triskelion legs and hubs, ii) the intrinsic curvature of an isolated triskelion, and iii) the free energy changes associated with interactions between legs of neighboring triskelions. Analytical expressions for basket size distributions are derived, and published size distribution data (Zaremba S, Keen JH. J Cell Biol 1983;97: 1339–1347) are then used to provide estimates for net total basket assembly energies. Results suggest that energies involved in adding triskelions to partially formed clathrin lattices are small (of the order of kBT), in accord with the notion that lattice remodeling during basket formation occurs as a result of thermodynamic fluctuations. In addition, analysis of data showing the effects of assembly proteins (APs) on basket size indicates that the binding of APs increases the intrinsic curvature of an elemental triskelial subunit, the stabilizing energy of leg interactions, and the effective leg/hub rigidity. Values of effective triskelial rigidity determined in this investigation are similar to those estimated by previous analysis of shape fluctuations of isolated triskelia.
A New Species of the Stenopodidean Shrimp Genus Spongicola (Crustacea: Decapoda: Spongicolidae) from French Polynesia, South Pacific

A new species of the spongicolid shrimp genus Spongicola, S. teres sp. nov., is described and illustrated on the basis of a single male specimen collected from the Society Islands, French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean, at a depth of 650–800 m. It appears closest to S. depressus Saito and Komai, 2008 and S. levigatus Hayashi and Ogawa, 1987 among the seven known congeneric species in having a reduced armature of the carapace and third pereopod, but the more developed rostral ridge, extending onto the gastric region of the carapace, distinguishes the new species from the latter two species. The armature of the telson and the development of the grooming apparatus of the first pereopod are also useful in differentiating these three species. An emended identification key to the species of Spongicola is provided.
Behavioral Impressions Associated with Perceived Understanding

Data from 245 partners indicated that 13 general behavioral impressions correlated ± .38 or higher with perceived understanding.
Allergic fungal sinusitis in children

Background Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) has been characterized in adults presenting with chronic sinusitis. Rare reports allude to a similar disease in children. Objective To characterize the features of AFS in children. Methods Children referred to otolaryngology clinics at Arkansas and LeBonheur Children's Hospitals for chronic sinusitis during a 12-year period were studied. This retrospective analysis reviews the following: clinical presentation, laboratory evaluations, radiographic and pathologic findings, and surgical intervention. Twenty patients (age range, 7-18 years; mean age, 12.5 years; median age, 16 years) met previously published criteria for AFS. Thirteen patients were male and 7 were female. Thirteen were African American and 7 were white. Results Presentation at diagnosis included the following: atopy (n = 20), nasal symptoms (n = 20), recurrent sinusitis (n = 18), nasal polyps (n = 18), recurrent headaches (n = 12), asthma (n = 11), proptosis (n = 10), and ocular symptoms (n = 10). All had radiographic evidence of sinusitis and allergy to fungal organisms. IgE levels were elevated in 8 of 9 patients, and 10 of 15 patients had eosinophilia. Surgical specimens demonstrated allergic mucin (n = 11), Charcot-Leyden crystals (n = 2), hyphae or fungal debris (n = 9), and fungal growth (n = 17). All patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery, with 11 requiring multiple surgical procedures. Postoperatively, 19 patients received intranasal and oral steroids, and all had nasal saline washes. Eleven patients (9 who had undergone multiple surgical procedures) were treated with immunotherapy. Relapse was seen in 55% of patients at 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion AFS presents with a higher incidence of proptosis in children when compared with adults. Typically, AFS occurs in atopic children with refractory sinus disease, requiring a high index of suspicion for evaluation and aggressive treatment.
Thymoma calcification: Is it clinically meaningful?

Among anterior mediastinal lesions, thymoma is the most common. Thymomas are tumors of thymic epithelial cell origin that are distinguished by inconsistent histological and biologic behavior. Chest imaging studies typically show a round or lobulated tumor in the anterior mediastinum. Calcifications in thymomas are classically punctuate or amorphous, positioned within the lesion. Chest computed tomography (CT) features suggesting higher risk thymoma consist of tumor heterogeneity, vascular involvement, lobulation, pulmonary nodules, lymphadenopathy, and pleural manifestations. Imaging findings have an imperfect ability to predict stage and prognosis for thymoma patients. Our objective is to highlight the clinical implications of thymoma calcifications on the diagnosis, clinical manifestation and prognosis. A pubmed and google search was performed using the following words: thymoma calcification, calcified thymus, mediastinal calcification, anterior mediastinal calcification, and calcified thymoma. After reviewing 370 articles, 32 eligible articles describing thymoma calcifications were found and included in this review. Although the presence of thymus calcifications was more common in patients with invasive thymomas, they were present in significant portion of non-invasive thymomas. The presence of calcifications was not a significant factor in differentiating between benign and malignant thymoma. As a result, the type, location, size or other characteristics of thymus gland calcifications were not relevant features in clinical and radiologic diagnosis of thymoma. The histopathological diagnosis is still the only possible way to confirm the neoplastic nature of thymoma. All types of thymomas should be evaluated and managed independently of the presence of calcifications.
Informed consent for family planning for poor women in Chiapas, Mexico.

Since 1973 Mexican legislation has guaranteed the right to decide in a free and informed manner the number and spacing of pregnancies and has stated that violation of this right is punishable. However in the field government health workers lack both information and sensitivity with regard to an individuals right to decide. In 1996 a report from the Reproductive Health Rights Tribunal revealed that 14% of 142 women interviewed were subjected to placement of an IUD or sterilization under pressure or without their consent. It was noted that the limited impact of family planning has led to a more assertive population control strategy that imposes quotas for IUD placement and sterilization. However to do so at the expense of individual consent is a violation of Mexican law and international treaties on human rights. This double standard should be eliminated through the education of health workers at all levels and by the provision of appropriate tools to facilitate communication in an intercultural context. A system must be established that reward ethical behavior including respect for patients right over the fulfillment of institutional quotas.
Computational modelling of epidermal stratification highlights the importance of asymmetric cell division for predictable and robust layer formation

Skin is a complex organ tasked with, among other functions, protecting the body from the outside world. Its outermost protective layer, the epidermis, is comprised of multiple cell layers that are derived from a single-layered ectoderm during development. Using a new stochastic, multi-scale computational modelling framework, the anisotropic subcellular element method, we investigate the role of cell morphology and biophysical cell–cell interactions in the formation of this layered structure. This three-dimensional framework describes interactions between collections of hundreds to thousands of cells and (i) accounts for intracellular structure and morphology, (ii) easily incorporates complex cell–cell interactions and (iii) can be efficiently implemented on parallel architectures. We use this approach to construct a model of the developing epidermis that accounts for the internal polarity of ectodermal cells and their columnar morphology. Using this model, we show that cell detachment, which has been previously suggested to have a role in this process, leads to unpredictable, randomized stratification and that this cannot be abrogated by adjustment of cell–cell adhesion interaction strength. Polarized distribution of cell adhesion proteins, motivated by epithelial polarization, can however eliminate this detachment, and in conjunction with asymmetric cell division lead to robust and predictable development.
Daily-deal selection for revenue maximization

Daily-Deal Sites (DDS) like Groupon, LivingSocial, Amazon's Goldbox, and many more, have become particularly popular over the last three years, providing discounted offers to customers for restaurants, ticketed events, services etc. In this paper, we study the following problem: among a set of candidate deals, which are the ones that a DDS should feature as daily-deals in order to maximize its revenue? Our first contribution lies in providing two combinatorial formulations of this problem. Both formulations take into account factors like the diversification of daily deals and the limited consuming capacity of the userbase. We prove that our problems are NP-hard and devise pseudopolynomial -- time approximation algorithms for their solution. We also propose a set of heuristics, and demonstrate their efficiency in our experiments. In the context of deal selection and scheduling, we acknowledge the importance of the ability to estimate the expected revenue of a candidate deal. We explore the nature of this task in the context of real data, and propose a framework for revenue-estimation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our entire methodology in an experimental evaluation on a large dataset of daily-deals from Groupon.
Legislative Pivots, Presidential Powers, and Policy Stability

We offer a general model of policy making across presidential systems, exploring how checks and balances interact with legislative party systems to determine the responsiveness of political systems to electoral change. Using the two dominant theories of policy making in the United States as a starting point, we formally model the legislative process across presidential regimes characterized by a wide array of institutional designs, simulate expected policy behavior, and then test our models empirically with data capturing economic policy choices. The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Yale University. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.
Design and evaluation of a versatile and efficient receiver-initiated link layer for low-power wireless

We present A-MAC, a receiver-initiated link layer for low-power wireless networks that supports several services under a unified architecture, and does so more efficiently and scalably than prior approaches. A-MAC's versatility stems from layering unicast, broadcast, wakeup, pollcast, and discovery above a single, flexible synchronization primitive. A-MAC's efficiency stems from optimizing this primitive and with it the most consequential decision that a low-power link makes: whether to stay awake or go to sleep after probing the channel. Today's receiver-initiated protocols require more time and energy to make this decision, and they exhibit worse judgment as well, leading to many false positives and negatives, and lower packet delivery ratios. A-MAC begins to make this decision quickly, and decides more conclusively and correctly in both the negative and affirmative. A-MAC's scalability comes from reserving one channel for the initial handshake and different channels for data transfer. Our results show that: (i) a unified implementation is possible; (ii) A-MAC's idle listening power increases by just 1.12x under interference, compared to 17.3x for LPL and 54.7x for RI-MAC; (iii) A-MAC offers high single-hop delivery ratios, even with multiple contending senders; (iv) network wakeup is faster and far more channel efficient than LPL; and (v) collection routing performance exceeds the state-of-the-art.
What is my role? Establishing teacher and youth worker responsibilities in social action projects

In this research, I analyze the roles of teachers and youth workers from a community-based organization in the context of two high school social action projects. Both the teachers and the youth workers assumed distinct roles while working together during the civic project enactments. The teachers were largely positioned as responsible for structure and accountability, as they prioritized monitoring student behavior toward clear expectations. The youth workers assumed a different responsibility of promoting student voice by encouraging students to be social and pursue questions that were important to them. I identified these roles, explored at the heart of this article, through a study of teachers and youth workers’ interview transcripts, observations of their practice, and document analysis. The qualitative data contained numerous examples of their defined roles that enforced narrow scripts for themselves and each other. The teachers and youth workers’ role distinctions illustrate a type of roadblock that...
Absence of VIII AHF response to adrenalin in hemophilia A

Proportionate twofold or greater increases in both Factor VIII procoagulant activity (VIII AHF) and Factor VIII-like antigen (VIII AGN) have been observed to follow the administration of adrenalin in normal individuals. Levels of factor VIII procoagulant or clot-promoting activity (VIII AHF) and VIII AGN were measured immediately before and one hour after the subcutaneous injection of adrenalin (0.35 ml) in ten adults with hemophilia A documented by low VIII AHF levels (ranging from 0.01-0.25 units/ml, normal VIII AGN levels, and normal VIII VWF levels as measured by the washed-platelet ristocetin assay). Eighteen normal adults served as controls. Results were analyzed by the paired t test. It was shown that VIII AGN increased significantly, while VIII AHF did not change, in hemophiliacs after adrenalin stimulation, regardless of the base line level. This fixed rate of VIII AHF production, release, or activation may help to explain the constancy of VIII AHF levels in individual hemophiliacs and their affected family members.
Low power supply BiCMOS SRAM circuit design issues

Reports on low supply voltage BiCMOS static random access memory (SRAM) circuit techniques that could help to keep BiCMOS performance ahead of CMOS designs, SRAM circuit blocks should be designed using the most effective techniques for each function to achieve maximum performances with optimum tradeoffs. This methodology has been proven in many high-performance BiCMOS SRAM designs. There are other techniques, such as the multiple voltage supplies, which provide additional solutions to the low supply voltage problems. Control logic, decoders, memory array, sensing stages, and multiple voltage suppliers are discussed. >
Partitioning mathematical programs for parallel solution

This paper describes heuristics for partitioning a generalM × N matrix into arrowhead form. Such heuristics are useful for decomposing large, constrained, optimization problems into forms that are amenable to parallel processing. The heuristics presented can be easily implemented using publicly available graph partitioning algorithms. The application of such techniques for solving large linear programs is described. Extensive computational results on the effectiveness of our partitioning procedures and their usefulness for parallel optimization are presented. © 1998 The Mathematical Programming Society, Inc. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
BASIC ELEMENTS IN MISUNDERSTANDINGS II

Basic concepts of communicational elements are explained: culturally institutionalized or individually internalized conscious or unconscious, intentional and unintentional encoding and decoding systems of verbal and nonverbal behavior, metacommunicational cues, various modes of communication (factual, insinuative, deceptive, etc.), the role of situational context and of background information. Examples of complex misunderstandings in interpersonal interactions are given and analysed. This analytical method has been useful in psychiatry as well as in daily life situations.
Planning repair sequences using the AND/OR graph representation of assembly plans

A simple modification is shown in the set of goal nodes of the AND/OR graph that allows its use in planning repairs such as the replacement of a part or a subassembly. An algorithm for the generation of all feasible sequences for disassembly and reassembly of parts that will achieve a repair is shown. This approach has been demonstrated for the example of the repair of space-based satellite equipment. >