cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient Views on Religious Institutional Health Care

Importance Federal protections allow health facilities to limit options to patients on the basis of religious values. Little is known about whether US adults consider religious affiliation when selecting facilities and whether they agree with such limitations. Objective To understand patient views on religious institutional care. Design, Setting, and Participants This is a population-based, cross-sectional survey study of US adults recruited from the probability-based AmeriSpeak Omnibus panel available from NORC (formerly the National Opinion Research Center) at the University of Chicago. Surveys were administered via internet or telephone during a 3-day fielding period in November 2017. Data analysis was performed from January 2018 to October 2019. Exposures Participant characteristics, including religiosity measures. Main Outcomes and Measures Whether patients consider religious affiliation when selecting a health care facility and their views on whether an institution’s religious values should take precedence over their health choices. Responses were compared by gender. When gender differences existed, regression models were performed, and thematic content analysis was applied to open-ended responses. Results There were 1446 participants (745 [51.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 46 [17] years), for a survey completion rate of 24.5% and weighted cumulative response weight of 7.3%. Most respondents (62.6%) were white, and the most common religion was Protestant (28.2%). When specifically asked, only 6.4% reported that they considered religious affiliation when selecting a health care facility; most participants (71.3%) reported when selecting a health care facility that they did not care whether it is religiously affiliated, 13.4% preferred a religious affiliation, and 15.3% preferred no religious affiliation. There were no gender differences. Most participants (71.4%) believed that their health choices should take priority over an institution’s religious affiliation in services offered, and this was more common for women than for men (74.9% vs 68.1%; difference, 6.8%; 95% CI, 5.6%-8.2%;P = .005), who more commonly endorsed concerns for personal choice and autonomy over one’s own body. Conclusions and Relevance This study suggests that most patients value their personal choices, yet do not consider an institution’s religious affiliation when choosing their source of health care. Women placed greater emphasis on their autonomy in comparison with an institution’s right to invoke religious restrictions to care. Given the growth in ownership of health care facilities by religious entities in the United States and increasing attention to conscientious objections, these findings point to a need for advocacy and legislation that effectively balances protections for religious institutions with protections for patients.
The old becomes new: advances in imaging techniques to assess nephron mass in children

Renal imaging is widely used in the assessment of surrogate markers of nephron mass correlated to renal function. Autopsy studies have tested the validity of various imaging modalities in accurately estimating "true" nephron mass. However, in vivo assessment of nephron mass has been largely limited to kidney volume determination by ultrasonography (US) in pediatric populations. Practical limitations and risks create challenges in incorporating more precise 3D volumetric imaging, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) technologies, compared to US for routine kidney volume assessment in children. Additionally, accounting for structural anomalies such as hydronephrosis when estimating renal parenchymal area in congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) is important, as it correlates with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. 3D imaging using CT and MRI has been shown to be superior to US, which has traditionally relied on 2D measurements to estimate kidney volume using the ellipsoid calculation. Recent innovations using 3D and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) provide improved accuracy with low risk. Indexing kidney volume to body surface area in children is an important standard that may allow early detection of CKD progression in high-risk populations. This review highlights current understanding of various imaging modalities in assessing nephron mass, discusses applications and limitations, and describes recent advances in the field of imaging and kidney disease. Although renal imaging has been a long-standing, essential tool in assessing kidney disease, innovation and new applications of established technologies provide important tools in the study and management of kidney disease in children.
Shape-constrained Input Estimation for Efficient Multi-shaker Vibration Testing

Multi-shaker vibration testing is gaining interest from structural dynamics test engineers as it can provide a much more accurate match to complicated field vibration responses than traditional single-axis shaker tests. However, the force capabilities of the small modal shakers typically used in multi-shaker vibration tests has limited the achievable response levels. To date, most multi-shaker vibration tests have been performed using a variety of standard, commercially-available control systems. While these control systems are adequate for a wide range of multiple-input/multiple-output tests, their control algorithms have not been tailored for the specific problem of multi-shaker vibration tests: efficiently coordinating the various shakers to work together to achieve a desired response. Here, a new input estimation algorithm is developed and demonstrated using simulations and actual test data. This algorithm, dubbed shape-constrained input estimation, is shown to effectively coordinate multiple shakers using a set of constraint vectors based on the deflection shapes of the test structure. This is accomplished by using the singular vector shapes of the system frequency response matrix, which allows the constraint vectors to automatically change as a function of frequency. Simulation and test results indicate a significant reduction in the input forces required to achieve a desired response. The results indicate that shape-constrained input estimation is an effective method to achieve higher response levels from limited shaker forces which will enable higher level multi-shaker vibration tests to be performed.
A lectin that targets specific bacteria for killing on DNA-based extracellular traps

Animal defenses directed against bacteria include DNA-based extracellular traps (ETs) that are produced by innate immune cells. ET-bound bacteria are prevented from further tissue dissemination and are eventually killed by ET-bound antibacterial proteins. It is unclear how bacteria bind to ETs, though it has been proposed that the negatively-charged DNA scaffold of the ETs is involved. We have found that the bacterial-binding lectin CadA is a component of the ETs produced by the innate immune cells of Dictyostelium discoideum and is required for the binding and killing of two Enterobacteriaceae by ETs, but not other bacteria. Our results suggest that ETs selectively sequester bacteria and that lectins can facilitate bacterial killing by acting as ET-bacteria binding proteins.
Practice patterns in post-treatment surveillance in patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background The Society of Gynecologic Oncology created guidelines to standardize cost-effective clinical surveillance for detection of recurrence of gynecologic cancers. Objective To determine practice patterns for surveillance of primary ovarian cancer after complete response to therapy and to identify the percentage of clinicians who follow the surveillance guidelines endorsed by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Methods A single-institution retrospective cohort study was conducted including patients with epithelial ovarian cancer with a complete response to primary therapy between January 2012 and December 2016. Patients were excluded if they were participating in clinical trials that required routine imaging. Data on surveillance and recurrence were collected. Descriptive statistics as well as Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test were performed due to the exploratory nature of the study. Results A total of 184 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median follow-up for the cohort was 37 months (range 6–80). Surveillance was completed in compliance with Society of Gynecologic Oncology guidelines in 78% of patients. Of 39 visits that were non-compliant, 44% (17) were patient initiated (scheduling conflict, missed appointment), 15% (6) were due to the provider intentionally scheduling alternative follow-up, while 41% (16) were off schedule due to problem visits (patient complaint of symptoms). Patients with early-stage cancers were more likely than advanced-stage patients to be non-compliant (33% vs 15%, p=0.006). Patients with non-serous histologies had a higher frequency of non-compliance (31% vs 16%, p=0.035). When stratified by early versus advanced stage, there was no difference in progression-free survival or overall survival based on compliance. Conclusions Overall, there was a relatively high rate of compliance with Society of Gynecologic Oncology surveillance guidelines for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Patients with non-serous histologies and patients with early-stage disease had a higher rate of non-compliance, and these patients may represent special groups that would benefit from additional survivorship education.
Survival benefit of renal transplantation in octogenarians.

BACKGROUND Elderly patients are the fastest growing population requiring renal replacement therapy. As previous studies have shown a survival benefit of kidney transplantation compared to dialysis for end-stage renal disease, we sought to evaluate if this survival benefit extends to octogenarians. METHODS This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of renal allograft recipients ≥80 years transplanted from 1999 to 2014 who were compared to patients listed during the same period that did not proceed to transplantation. A secondary matched group was selected from the UNOS transplant waitlist database. The primary outcome was patient survival. Secondary outcomes included graft survival and rejection incidence. RESULTS Thirty-three transplanted patients were compared to 71 patients waitlisted at our center and 66 patients from the UNOS database. Patients in the study group were transplanted 20.8 ± 16.1 months after listing. Patient survival was 87.8% at 6 months and 1 year and 71.4% at 3 years. Kidney transplantation was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of death after listing (HR: 0.22, CI: 0.11-0.45, P < .001). CONCLUSION With escalating life expectancy, kidney transplantation is a suitable treatment option in eligible octogenarians.
Econometric analysis of acceptance of soil and water conservation techniques in the semiarid region of Zaghouan (North-East Tunisia)

The Tunisian government has established some strategies to face soil erosion. In this research, we aim to study the perception of farmers towards these conservation structures in terms of the acceptability of installation of these amenities and terms of their maintenance. We try to define the socio-economic variables that explain why some farmers in the study area accept the installation of soil conservation facilities while others do not and at what rate of maintenance. Therefore, we used Tobit and Probit models to examine respectively the probability of acceptance of conservations amenities (agreement of farmers that conservation techniques be implemented on their lands) and the rate of acceptance (allocation of land for maintained CTs). It comes out that the factors affecting CTs acceptance are land size, animal husbandry, irrigation from the lake, and land tenure.
Contemporary Reappraisal of Intraoperative Neck Margin Assessment During Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Review.

Importance Although margin-negative (R0) resection is the gold standard for surgical management of localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the question of how to manage the patient with a microscopically positive intraoperative neck margin (IONM) during pancreaticoduodenectomy remains controversial. Observations In the absence of randomized clinical trials, we critically evaluated high-quality retrospective studies examining the oncologic utility of re-resecting positive IONMs during pancreaticoduodenectomy for PDAC (2000-2019). Several studies have concluded that additional pancreatic resection to achieve an R0 margin in IONM-positive cases does not influence survival. The largest is a multi-institutional study of 1399 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy, which demonstrated that in comparison with patients undergoing R0 resection (n = 1196; median survival, 21 months), those with either final R1 resections (n = 131) or undergoing margin conversion from IONM-positive to R0 resection on permanent section (n = 72) demonstrated similar median survival times (13.7 and 11.9 months, respectively). Conversely, recent reports suggest that the conversion of IONM to R0 resection with additional resection or even total pancreatectomy may be associated with improved survival. The discordance between these conflicting studies could be explained in part by the influence of biologic and physiologic selection on the association of IONM re-resection and survival. Since most studies did not include patients receiving modern combination chemotherapy regimens, the intersection between margin status, tumor biology, and chemoresponsiveness remains unclear. Furthermore, there are no dedicated data to guide surgical management in IONM-positive pancreaticoduodenectomy for patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusions and Relevance Although data regarding the oncologic utility of additional resection to achieve a tumor-free margin following initial IONM positivity during pancreaticoduodenectomy for PDAC are conflicting, they suggest that IONM positivity may be a surrogate for biologic aggressiveness that is unlikely to be mitigated by the extent of surgical resection. The complex relationship between margin status and chemoresponsiveness warrants exploration in studies including patients receiving increasingly effective neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Nocturnal cognitive hyperarousal, perinatal-focused rumination, and insomnia are associated with suicidal ideation in perinatal women with mild to moderate depression.

Abstract Objectives This prospective study explored associations among insomnia, nocturnal cognitive hyperarousal, and nocturnal perinatal-focused rumination with suicidal ideation (SI) in perinatal women with depression. Methods From late pregnancy through early postpartum, 39 depressed women completed 17 weekly surveys assessing SI, insomnia, depression, stress, and cognitive arousal. Results Women with nocturnal cognitive hyperarousal at baseline, relative to those with low cognitive arousal, were at greater risk for new onset SI (33% vs 1%). Moreover, nocturnal perinatal-focused rumination was independently associated with SI. SI-risk was highest when women reported clinical insomnia combined with nocturnal cognitive hyperarousal (OR = 5.66, p = 0.037) or perinatal-focused rumination (OR = 11.63, p = 0.018). Daytime perseverative thinking was not uniquely associated with SI. Conclusions Nocturnal cognitive arousal predicts the development of new onset SI, and perinatal-focused rumination is also uniquely associated with SI-risk in late pregnancy and early parenting. Critically, SI-risk is highest when perinatal women endorsed insomnia and high cognitive arousal at the same time. Future research should determine whether alleviating nocturnal cognitive arousal, pregnancy- and fetal/infant-related concerns, and insomnia with psychotherapy reduces SI for women with perinatal depression.
Infusing Accessibility into Programming Courses

Within computing education, accessibility topics are usually taught in Human Computer Interaction and Web Design courses. Few have included accessibility in programming courses as an add-on topic. We studied assignments that infuse accessibility into programming topics without impacting the core computing learning objectives. We present two examples, assignments that can be used in Introductory Programming and Object Oriented Programming courses. Both assignments cover accessibility in addition to the primary computing topic taught. We included the two assignments in two courses for two semesters, conducting surveys and interviews to understand the impact of the assignments on students’ learning of accessibility and computing. Our findings show this approach has potential to satisfy accessibility and programming learning objectives without overwhelming the students, though more work is needed to make sure that students are clear on the relationship between the assignments and technical accessibility knowledge.
A case series on the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT-guided biopsy of osseous metastases.

This case series explores the utility of positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) guidance for biopsy of 18F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid osseous lesions that are inconspicuous on CT. PET/CT-guided core biopsies were performed in four patients with suspected malignancies given 18F-FDG-avid osseous lesions that were inconspicuous on CT alone. The final diagnosis for each patient was determined by histopathological and molecular testing. PET/CT-guided biopsy yielded accurate sampling via core needle biopsy (CNB) with histopathological confirmation of osseous metastases of the primary malignancy as opposed to a secondary malignancy in three patients and ruled-out metastatic spread in the fourth. PET/CT-guided biopsy of hypermetabolic osseous lesions that are inconspicuous on CT alone is an effective and safe diagnostic tool in patients with suspected malignancy.
Creating Meaningfulness in Public Service Work: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Public and Nonprofit Managers’ Experience of Work:

Public service work and public-serving institutions are evolving by incorporating neoliberal modes of working more and more. Contemporary research oftentimes neglects to account for these changes i...
Breast Milk and Special Formulas in Prevention of Milk Allergy

Cow milk allergy (CMA) has been reported to affect 0.3–7.5% of children, with a higher prevalence in infants than in older childrenl. In infants in Western countries, a prevalence for CMA of 3% would be a reasonable estimate. Accordingly, in the United States with over three million live births per year, about 90 thousand new infants each year would suffer from CMA. The clinical manifestations might affect one or more of several body systems, particularly the gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory tract, and often persist for several months or years2. Prevention or reducing the prevalence of CMA would, therefore, have medical, social, and economic advantages. In one study3, the percentage of infants with CMA who required three or more visits to physicians for illness during the first year of life was three times more than that for nonallergic infants.
Chapter 5 – Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are monocarbonic acids with chain lengths between 2 and 26 (and sometimes more). Most fatty acids in plants and animals have an even carbon number and no branching. One or more double bonds may occur, mostly in cis configuration. More than 40 different fatty acids are commonly encountered in foods. This chapter goes into extensive depth on fatty acids. Unhealthful expansion of fat stores due to persistent overfeeding is fast becoming the norm in the United States and many other affluent countries. The major killers of older adults (type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease) have held their ground despite large advances in medical technology, and now they reach into adolescent and even childhood populations. Overfeeding is discussed in depth in this chapter. The latter half of this chapter is devoted to the metabolism of acetate (acetic acid), myristate (myristic acid), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), trans-unsaturated fatty acids, and chlorophyll.
A method to overcome self-heating effects in SOI MOSFETs

Self heating of a MOS device will reduce performance. Drain current decreases and long term reliability can be affected. In SOI devices, self-heating is an even greater problem due to the buried oxide. By adding a path from SOI to substrate that has a high thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity, the negative effects of self-heating can be reduced.
Modulation near Solar Maximum at High Solar Latitudes: Observations from the Ulysses Cospin High Energy Telescope

The three-dimensional structure of the solar maximum modulation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere can be studied for the first time by comparing observations from Ulysses at high solar latitudes to those from in-ecliptic spacecraft, such as IMP-8. Observations through mid-2000 show that changes in modulation remain well correlated at Earth and Ulysses up to latitudes of ∼60° south. The observed changes seem to be best correlated with changes in the inclination of the heliospheric current sheet. The spectral index of the proton spectra at energies 100 < MeV in the ecliptic and at high latitudes remain roughly consistent with the T +1 spectrum expected from modulation models, while the spectral index of the helium spectrum at both locations has changed smoothly from the flat or even negative index spectra characteristic of anomalous component fluxes toward the T +1 galactic spectrum with increasing modulation. Intensities near the equator and at high latitude remain nearly equal, and latitudinal gradients for nucleonic cosmic rays thus remain small (1% deg−1) at solar maximum. In the most recent data fluxes of protons and helium with energies less than ∼100 MeV nucl−1 measured by Ulysses are smaller than those measured at IMP-8, suggesting that the gradients may have switched to become negative toward the poles even before a clear reversal of polarity for the solar magnetic dipole has been completed.
Isolation of Shigellae VI. Performance of Media with Stool Specimens

The efficiencies of three enrichment broths and four plating media for isolation of enteric pathogens were compared from 1,117 stool specimens. Direct streaking proved to be inferior to enrichment, detecting only 50% of the salmonellae and 61% of the shigellae. By contrast, Selenite Broth (SF) found 90% of the total salmonellae isolates and 82% of the shigellae isolates. Gram-Negative Broth (GN) found 82% and 85%, respectively, but Tetrathionate found only 60% and 39%. Thus, SF and GN were comparable for both salmonellae and shigellae and significantly better than Tetrathionate Broth for both. The plating media compared were MacConkey (MAC), deoxycholate citrate (DC), xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD), and xylose lysine Brilliant Green (XLBG) Agars. Of the total salmonellae isolated, XLD produced 94%; XLBG, 71%; MAC, 55%; and DC, only 35%. Of shigellae, XLD found 89%; MAC, 75%; XLBG, 63%; and DC, but 27%. The efficacy of XLD is observed to be almost threefold that of DC. The most successful combination of media for the detection of fecal pathogens was GN or SF enrichment broths streaked to XLD plates. These analyses resulted in the isolation of 118 strains of salmonellae and 33 of shigellae.
A current overview of NAVOCEANO's Ocean Projects Department's roll-on/roll-off data collection vehicles and support systems

The Naval Oceanographic Office's (NAVOCEANO's) Ocean Projects Department's unique and highly specialized roll-on/roll-off unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) deployed worldwide are used to collect data and information for the U. S. Navy. The Towed Ocean Survey System (TOSS) package is a fine-scale survey system, capable of surveying in water depths down to 6000 meters, which includes a comprehensive suite of data collection equipment (video, digital images, side scan, and sub-bottom profiler, et al.), suitable for a variety of mission objectives. TOSS is comprised of two complete systems; each system consists of a UUV and 5 support vans. Semi-Autonomous Mapping System (SAMS) is a new adjunct to the TOSS system. SAMS operates within an acoustic tether to the ship and will support high-speed, broad area characterization. The SEAMAP consists of two complete systems and collects large-scale, high-resolution side scan data in 20-km swaths as well as bathymetric data. The SEAHORSE system, NAVOCEANO's state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicle, currently consists of two complete systems (with a third on the way), and is an evolving system, designed to perform its mission objectives considering a variety of site specific data collection requirements. The flexibility of all of these systems gives the Ocean Collections Division an essential role in the community of data collection activities that provide the U. S. Navy with essential information.
Development of a multiobjective optimization tool for the selection and placement of best management practices for nonpoint source pollution control

[1] Best management practices (BMPs) are effective in reducing the transport of agricultural nonpoint source pollutants to receiving water bodies. However, selection of BMPs for placement in a watershed requires optimization of the available resources to obtain maximum possible pollution reduction. In this study, an optimization methodology is developed to select and place BMPs in a watershed to provide solutions that are both economically and ecologically effective. This novel approach develops and utilizes a BMP tool, a database that stores the pollution reduction and cost information of different BMPs under consideration. The BMP tool replaces the dynamic linkage of the distributed parameter watershed model during optimization and therefore reduces the computation time considerably. Total pollutant load from the watershed, and net cost increase from the baseline, were the two objective functions minimized during the optimization process. The optimization model, consisting of a multiobjective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) in combination with a watershed simulation tool (Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT)), was developed and tested for nonpoint source pollution control in the L'Anguille River watershed located in eastern Arkansas. The optimized solutions provided a trade-off between the two objective functions for sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen reduction. The results indicated that buffer strips were very effective in controlling the nonpoint source pollutants from leaving the croplands. The optimized BMP plans resulted in potential reductions of 33%, 32%, and 13% in sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen loads, respectively, from the watershed.
The Impact of Big N Public Accounting Firm Consolidation on Auditor Industry Concentration

We investigate the impact of the Big8 to the Big4 consolidation of public accounting firms and the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) on auditor industry concentration levels. We find that auditor industry concentration levels increase as the number of Big N auditors decrease. However, the gains are not shared equally among the remaining firms. Specifically, firms with large pre-consolidation industry market shares gain industry market share, while firms with low pre-consolidation shares do not gain industry market shares. Consolidation produces an increasing market share differential between the industry leaders and the lower ranked auditors in the industry. We then explore whether the increase in industry concentration impacts the ability of the largest clients in each industry to employ different auditors. Despite increased industry concentration among industry leading auditors, the commonality of auditors serving the largest two companies does not change significantly as a result of the three major consolidations. Only the Big6 mergers increases the commonality of auditors among the largest four companies. Our evidence suggests that consolidation increases auditor industry concentration levels, but the largest clients, in general, maintain diversity in auditors.
Structural and functional comparison of the genes for human platelet factor 4 and PF4alt.

Platelet factor 4 (PF4) is a 70 amino acid heparin-binding protein released from the α-granules of activated platelets. Its exact biologic function is not known, although PF4 is a member of a multigene family involved in chemotaxis, coagulation, inflammation, and cell growth. We previously cloned the cDNA for human PF4 from a human erythroleu-kemic (HEL) cell expression library. We now report the isolation and sequence determination of the gene for human PF4. This gene contains three exons and spans approximately 1,000 basepairs (bp). Concurrently, we have cloned a highly homologous gene that we have called PF4alt. We show that PF4 and PF4alt are non-allelic genes: the human PF4 gene is encoded on a 10 kilobasepairs (kb) FcoRI fragment, and its DNA sequence agrees with protein and cDNA data for PF4, while PF4alt is encoded in a polymorphic 3 or 5 kb EcoRI fragment. Compared with PF4, this gene has 14% DNA and 38% amino acid divergence in the signal peptide region, and 2.6% DNA and 4.3% amino acid divergence in the coding region of the mature protein. PF4alt contains three amino acid substitutions (P68→-L, K68→E, and L67→H) near the C-terminus, in a region known to be critical for PF4 function. Primer extension studies show the 5'-untranslated region of PF4 is 73 bp long. A TATA box is present 30 bp 5' to the transcription start site. A 90 bp stretch of pyrimidines (including 53 consecutive thymidine residues) begins at —227 bp and is analogous to a similar region of 30 residues 5' to the rodent PF4 gene. This pyrimidine-rich region is absent from the PF4alt gene; however, DNA homology exists between the two human genes in the 5'- and 3'-flanking regions and extends for over 3.6 kb. Alternating purine/pyrimidine tracts occur both 5' and 3' to PF4 and PF4alt but do not define the endpoints of the gene duplication, which extend beyond these sequences at least at the 5' end. Northern blot analysis using gene-specific oligonucleotides and platelet RNA showed an 800 or 900 nucleotide (n) message for PF4 and PF4alt, respectively. Northern blot and primer extension studies show that steady-state platelet PF4 mRNA levels are approximately one magnitude greater than PF4alt mRNA levels. Thus, these studies demonstrate that PF4alt mRNA is expressed in platelets. Whether PF4alt protein is expressed remains to be determined, and the nature of its biologic function needs to be studied. In addition, the determination of the genomic sequence for PF4 and PF4alt offers the unique opportunity to investigate the basis for their difference in steady-state RNA levels.
Plasmid R6K DNA replication: I. Complete nucleotide sequence of an autonomously replicating segment☆

Abstract A 1565-base segment of the antibiotic resistance plasmid R6K carries sufficient information to replicate as a plasmid in Escherichia coli. This segment contains a functional origin of replication and the structural gene pir for a protein, designated π, that is required for the initiation of R6K DNA replication. The nucleotide sequence of this 1565 base-pair replicon was determined. From the sequence and the analysis of proteins produced by minicells of E. coli strains carrying the wild-type pir gene and a deletion of the pir gene, it can be concluded that the π structural gene encodes for a protein of a molecular weight of approximately 35,000. On the basis of the nucleotide sequence, the π protein is the only protein containing more than 50 amino acid residues that is encoded by this 1583 base-pair replicon. The nucleotide sequence also contains eight 22 base-pair direct repeats. Seven of the direct repeats are in tandem and located in the origin region, while the eighth repeat is near or part of the promoter for the π structural gene. This eighth repeat may play a role in the autoregulated expression of the π structural gene.
Influence of organizational role, consensus and innovation status on perceived facilitators and barriers to adoption of innovative and evidence-based practices in state-supported mental health clinics

Although DI explore whether facilitators and barriers identified are associated with agency role and pace of adoption; and explore whether consensus on barriers is associated with pace of adoption.
Planar optic polarization insensitive wavelength demultiplexer

Planar optical systems provide an efficient way to integrate multiple optical components into a compact optical substrate. Both lithographically formed surface relief gratings and holographically formed volume gratings have been used to implement diffractive optical elements in planar optic systems. These systems and sub-assemblies are useful for local distribution of optical signals in optical interconnect and other information processing applications. However when signals are propagated over distance greater than 5 - 10 cm alignment, beam diffraction effects, and substrate uniformity become major issues that limit signal fidelity. One approach to solving this problem is to combine free-space planar optic local distribution systems with fiber optic waveguides for long distance signal transfer. This extension provides a framework for integrating data communication and network environments to realize new forms of distributed information processing architectures. Additional signal capacity and effective data transfer rates can be obtained by incorporating wavelength multiplexing and de-multiplexing techniques in the interconnect system. However, diffractive type planar optical elements typically require high spatial frequency gratings that are sensitive to the polarization state of the incident optical beam. This property can have significant impact on the bit error rate of signals transmitted through hybrid fiber/planar optical distribution systems. In this paper we compare the polarization properties of surface relief and volume gratings for planar optic wavelength demultiplexing operations.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Application of orthogonal arrays and MARS to inventory forecasting stochastic dynamic programs

This paper describes the solution to inventory forecasting problems using a statistical perspective of the high-dimensional continuous-state stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) optimization model. In particular, the accuracy of the OA/MARS SDP solution method (Chen et al., 1999, Oper. Res., to appear), which employs orthogonal arrays and multivariate adaptive regression splines, is examined via simulations which vary certain user-specified parameters. For continuous-state SDP, the current definition of high-dimensional is more than five state variables. Most continuous-state problems require an approximate solution through discretization of the state space and estimation of the future value function. Under a statistical perspective, the discretization and the future value function are analogous to an experimental design and an unknown mean response.
Fetal Brain Progenitor Cells Transdifferentiate to Fates Outside the Nervous System

Central nervous system stem cells give rise to neurons and glia when exposed to specific trophic factors. In our studies with rat fetal brain-derived stem cells (RSCs), we showed that they could be induced to express the developmentally regulated transcription factors and cell markers characteristic of cells derived from another germ layer, e.g. pituitary cells. Therefore, rat fetal brain-derived stem cells do not seem to be restricted to a defined developmental fate. They may retain pluripotentiality and can be redirected to develop into other cell types not found in the brain provided the correct set of stimuli is present. This multipotent developmental behavior also suggests that instructive signals are operative.
The simple stochastic epidemic curve for large populations of susceptibles.

one assumes that each of the x susceptibles at a given time can receive the infection from any of the y infectives then in circulation; thus, the rate of accrual of new cases is proportional to the product xy-we shall take the factor of proportionality (the 'infection-rate') to be unity, as may clearly always be done through a proper choice of the time scale. One feels that the accrual rate should be construed as a probabilistic transition rate: under this construction, the notifications of new cases, which one would read in the newspapers from day to day during the course of an epidemic, constitute a histogram which is the statistical image of the underlying 'epidemic curve'; we may therefore regard the epidemic curve as the frequency function of a certain random variable, viz. the time of occurrence of a new case. Owing to the presence of quadratic factors in the state equations, the mathematics involved in determining the epidemic curve turns out to be surprisingly difficult, even in the 'simple' case which we shall consider here, i.e. where there is no removal of discovered infectives from circulation. Haskey (1954) has indeed given an ingenious expression for the simple stochastic epidemic curve in the case of one initial infective and n susceptibles; and Bailey (1963) has since obtained a rather easier derivation of Haskey's result. The formula is, however, sufficiently complicated to obscure the properties of the solution; and the arithmetic entailed in evaluating it becomes extremely heavy when n is large (which is, after all, the connotation of the word 'epidemic'). One might attempt to side-step the issue by considering instead the corresponding deterministic problem, where the rate of accrual of new cases is interpreted as a growth rate and is identified with the epidemic curve itself: the solution is now quite straightforward, but unfortunately also quite different from the stochastic one, as we shall see before long. In this note we shall solve the stochastic problem for an arbitrary initial number, a, of infectives, on the assumption that the initial number, n, of susceptibles is large; we shall find that the asymptotic form of the epidemic curve in this (very natural) limit is extremely simple and elegant, and that only when a is also large does it go over into the deterministic case. We begin by considering the latter, since it provides a convenient frame of reference. Calling r the number of susceptibles still uninfected at time t, we have
The effect of carbon tetrachloride poisoning on serum lipoproteins associated with atherosclerosis.

Carbon tetrachloride was injected into normal rabbits and the levels of Sf 3-12, 12-20, and 20-40 classes of lipoproteins were determined during the course of these injections. A marked increase in concentration of these three classes of lipoproteins occurred during the administration of carbon tetrachloride. After the cessation of this drug, the lipoproteins of largest Sf rate returned to normal first with those of lower Sf rate returning to normal levels in the order of decreasing Sf rates. Rabbits fed cholesterol were also injected with carbon tetrachloride, and their lipoproteins continued to increase after cessation of this drug.
Trade liberalization, industry concentration and female workers: the case of Egypt

The gender wage gap increased significantly in Egypt over the last two decades, while female labor force participation rates have steadily declined. This study investigates the relationship between women’s labor market outcomes in the manufacturing sector, the degree of industry concentration, and the trade reforms that took place simultaneously. Results indicate that industry concentration is detrimental to women in the labor market and that the impact of trade liberalization differs depending on the degree of concentration and the nature of the international competition. In initially competitive industries, increased import competition is associated with higher gender wage gaps and lower female employment. Increased export intensity on the other hand is associated with a lower gender wage gap, but lower female employment. Conversely, opening up to increased international import competition in initially concentrated industries is associated with falling gender wage gaps and rising female employment, while increased exports in these industries is associated with higher female employment as well. These findings have important implications for policy makers attempting to create more equitable labor market conditions in post-revolutionary Egypt. F1, F6, J7, J3
Interferometric surface monitoring of biological tissue to study inertially confined ablation.

We present results from the application of laser interferometry to the study of short-pulsed laser ablation of biological tissue. The mechanical response of tissue to laser–induced stress is examined under subthreshold conditions to determine its role in initiating the ablation process. A theoretical model is developed to relate this surface displacement to the pressure within the tissue and the mechanical properties of the tissue. In the experiment, a 7.5 ns pulse of 355 nm light was used to irradiate bovine shank bone, human meniscus, and an aqueous dye solution. Interferometric monitoring of the tissue surface was used to determine its motion after laser irradiation. The surface movement of bone was qualitatively consistent with the theoretical predictions of the model. The movement of meniscus and an aqueous dye solution showed additional features that are consistent with the growth and collapse of cavitation bubbles. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, inc.
Modeling of steady and time-dependent responses in filled, uncured, and crosslinked rubbers

Filled polymer systems have been a subject of interest for rheologists for several decades. Their applications range from paints and pigments to high performance composite materials. Presently, there is a lack of complete understanding of the behavior of these materials under varying kinematic and dynamic conditions. Moreover, there is a lack of a comprehensive theory, which can simultaneously describe the rheology of filled rubbers, their chemorheology, and their behavior in the final fully cured state. The present work is aimed at capturing a wide range of rheological (viscoelastic and kinetic) properties of filled rubbers with one set of constitutive/kinetic equations and a flexible relaxation spectrum. The various experiments covered are yield-flow transition in creep, shear start up responses, dynamic behavior in the melt state, and the changes during the cure stage. In the post cure state, the manifestations in Mullins stress softening-hysteresis and recovery, large strain stress relaxations, and dynamic behavior are also demonstrated. Finally, the non-linearities during large strain dynamic deformations, accompanied by non-isothermal, viscoelastic, and structure effects are exemplified.
Chinese Offshore RMB Currency and Bond Markets: The Role of Hong Kong

This paper discusses the role of Hong Kong in China's grand scheme to build up the RMB as a global reserve currency. We highlight the economic importance of Hong Kong to China in terms of channeling foreign direct investment into China, some of which, in the future, will be denominated in the RMB. We discuss the development of China's RMB currency swap and deposit markets in Hong Kong. These offshore markets enable the RMB to trade freely, setting the stage for the RMB to become fully convertible and allowing market forces to play a role in pricing the value of the RMB, and help in the development of the RMB-denominated bond (or dim sum bond) market in Hong Kong. Finally, we present evidence of the phenomenal growth of the dim sum bond market in Hong Kong, which can further enhance and strengthen the use of the RMB outside China.
The effect of media presentation on the formation of economic expectations: Some initial evidence

Abstract This paper provides some initial evidence on the sensitivity of economic expectations to differences in media reporting. It reports the results of an experiment in which 120 undergraduate students were selectively exposed to different media reports of identical U.S. Department of Labor economic news releases and then asked for their projections concerning future states of the economy. A total of 36 different media stories were used from three media sources - The CBS Evening News, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post . The subject's monetary rewards were a function of the accuracy of their economic predictions. The authors found that differences in presentation of the same economic data can have a significant effect on expectations, as the CBS television and the Wall Street Journal presentations resulted in significantly less accurate sets of expectations regarding short-term future unemployment than did the Washington Post presentations.
An ''Omics'' View of Drug Development

The pharmaceutical industry cannot be blamed for having a love/hate relationship with the fields of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics. At the same time that pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics promise to save pipeline drugs by identifying subsets of the population for which they work best, they also threaten to increase the complexity of new drug applications, fragment markets, and create uncertainty for prescribers who simply do not understand or have time to master ''personalized medicine.'' Most importantly, the logical case for genetics-specific drug selection and dosing is much more mature than the practical list of drugs for which outcomes are demonstrably improved. Understandably, pharmaceutical developers and regulators have been careful in creating strategies for using genetics in drug development, and only recently has the FDA begun to establish preliminary rules for pharmacogenetic testing. A growing public academic effort in pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics is helping flesh out the basic science underpinnings of the field, and this should combine with extensive efforts of industry to create a solid foundation for future use of genetics in drug development. Two grand challenges to accelerate our capabilities include the characterization of all human genes involved in the basic pharmacokinetics of drugs, and the detailed study of the genes and pathways associated with G-protein-coupled receptors and how they are affected by genetic variation. Drug Dev. Res. 62:81-85, 2004. c 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Dataset for U.S.-Mexico Border Research

This note describes a new dataset for research on the United States-Mexico border regions. The dataset forms the empirical core of the newly published book, Fifty Years of Change on the U.S.-Mexican Border: Growth, Development, and Quality of Life by Joan B. Anderson and James Gerber (2007), and is contained in 75 Excel files hosted by the Center for Latin American Studies at San Diego State University. The files can be found at http://latinamericanstudies.sdsu.edu/BorderData.html.
A defense of Empirical Justification

Overall, then, I conclude that Possin and Timmons have not shown the need for an alternative to the foundationalism of Empirical Justification.
Very Low-Pressure Pyrolysis (VLPP); A Versatile Kinetic Tool

The theory and applications of the very low-pressure pyrolysis technique to the study of the rates and mechanisms of unimolecular reactions, radical-radical, and radical-molecule bimolecular reactions, surface recombination of atoms, heterogeneous reactions, and vibrational energy transfer are reviewed.