cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dilute elemental diet and continuous infusion technique for management of short bowel syndrome

Two infants with short bowel syndrome were successfully weaned from total parenteral alimentation by means of a continuou s intragastric infusion through a gastrostomy of a dilute elemental diet. Each patient had received TPA for 9 and 3 months, respectively, and had failed to thrive while receiving other therapeutic formulas. Gradual transition to bolus feeling was accomplished in each infant after 2�89 and 2 months, respectively. Our results demonstrate that a continuous infusion of a dilute elemental diet in large volumes can provide adequate calories for growth and maintain positive fluid and electrolyte balance. THIS REPORT describes a new method of treatment of the short bowel syndrome. By using continuous intragastric infusion of large volumes of a dilute elemental diet, two infants were successfully weaned from total parenteral alimentation. These infants had received TPA for 9 and 3 months, respectively, and had not tolerated other therapeutic formulas. An elemental diet was used because it requires minimal digestion for absorption and is almost completely absorbed in the upper small intestine. The diet was infused at a constant rate and at hypo- or iso-osmolar concentration to maximize use of available absorptive surface area, to minimize osmotic diarrhea, and to overcome delay in gastric emptying which commonly occurs when hypertonic formulas are given as bolus feedings.1, 2 PLAN OF TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT Unflavored Vivonex (Eaton Laboratories, Norwich, N. Y.) standard nitrogen elemental diet was used. This diet derives 90.2% of its calories from glucose and glucose oligosaccharides, 8.5% of the calories from crystalline Lamino acids, and 1.3% of the calories from safflower oil. A
Videotaping: the evaluation of stereotypic effects of antiparkinsonian agents.

Abstract Two experiments designed to assess the utility of a videotaping methodology in laboratory investigations of the stereotypic effects of putative antiparkinsonian agents are presented. The technique minimizes experimental bias through the use of “blind” ratings and increases the rating accuracy through the use of within- and between-animals controls. Permanent videotape records allow training of raters to high efficiency, and direct comparisons of different rating scales under identical experimental conditions.
Ten percent tall cells confer the aggressive features of the tall cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background The tall cell (TC) variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is more aggressive than classic PTC, but the percentage of TC necessary to diagnose this variant has been debated. We aimed to better determine what percentage of TC correlates with a more aggressive phenotype. Methods Cases from 2005 to 2010 that were the TC variant of PTC or PTC with TC features were identified and compared with classic PTCs. All cases were reviewed to determine what percent, if any, of the tumors consisted of TC. Results One hundred forty-one cases of PTC were reviewed. Eighty-three cases had some TC component, and 58 cases had none. There were no differences in patient demographics. Tumors with ≥10% TC had more extrathyroidal extension, angiolymphatic invasion, positive surgical margin, and lymph node involvement than classic PTC. There were more recurrences in patients with ≥10% TC, but this was not significant. Similar findings were also observed with increasing percentages of TC. Conclusion The aggressive features conferred by the presence of TC in PTCs occur with as little as 10% TC and are maintained with increasing percentages. Therefore, TC in a PTC should be reported if they comprise at least 10% of the tumor.
Donors and excitons bound to a thin repulsive layer

Abstract We study the properties of a Coulomb centre located in a thin barrier and possibly confined in a quantum well. Our model can describe two diffrent physical systems: excitons bound to a narrow layer of material with type II band alignment or donors in the middle of a thin barrier. We show that the lifetime of the exciton can be substantially increased by the presence of the barrier. In the donor case we suggest a possibility of tuning the transition energy from the ground state to the lowest excited state.
Response to the report of the transfermium working group “discovery of the transfermium elements”

Abstract The report of the Transfermium Working Group (TWG) “Discovery of the Transfermium Elements” is riddled with errors of omission and commission. Many relevant references and much relevant data were omitted as a result of the selective use of references and data. There were only two members representing the IUPAC on the TWG (and these were not nuclear chemists) while there were seven members representing the IUPAP. Much of the experimental evidence is of a basically chemical nature and its proper evaluation would have benefited from the presence of more nuclear chemists on the TWG. Especially grievous is the rejection of the Berkeley claim to the 1955 discovery of element 101 which was based on a clear-cut chemical identification. Our most serious quarrel with the TWG report is their treatment of the discovery of element 104. It is clearly a waste of time and effort to reopen the cases of elements 102 and 103, which were discovered more than 30 years ago with the approval of the suggested names by the IUPAC according to the standards of that era.
Antibody‐induced cAMP accumulation in splenocytes from athymic nude mice

Products from the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (IP3) can increase and/or potentiate cAMP accumulation in a variety of cells. Antibody to surface immunoglobulins activates IP3 hydrolysis in B-lymphocytes. In this study we have examined whether anti-Ig also stimulated and/or potentiated increases in the cAMP levels of splenocytes from athymic nude mice. Furthermore, since TPA potentiates anti-Ig-induced DNA synthesis and cAMP modulates DNA synthesis, the effects of TPA on any anti-Ig-induced changes in cAMP were also studied. Antibody (25 μg/ml) stimulated a rapid rise in cAMP which increased from 250 fmol/106 cells to 400 fmol/106 cells within 1 min and then subsided to 310 fmol/106 cells by 10 min. TPA (96 nM) suppressed the anti-Ig-induced cAMP accumulation at 1 min by 60%, but potentiated the forskolin (114 μM)-induced rise by 151%. Two other activators of protein kinase C, dioctanoylglycerol (5 μM), and anti-Ig (25 μg/ml), also potentiated the forskolin response by 198% and 52%, respectively. These results suggest that modulation of the adenylate cyclase system by anti-Ig may act in concert with cytokines and/or prostaglandins secreted by other lymphoid cells to define the state of proliferation or differentiation in B-cells.
High prevalence of the c.74A>C SPINK1 variant in miniature and standard Schnauzers

Background Variants in the serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) gene have been associated with pancreatitis in Miniature Schnauzers. Replication of the association in an independent population is necessary to determine if genetic screening for SPINK1 variants should be considered in clinical practice. Hypothesis An association between the SPINK1 exonic variant c.74A > C and pancreatitis exists in Miniature Schnauzers. In addition, the variant is absent or rare in Standard Schnauzers, a related breed that is not reported to have an increased risk for pancreatitis. Animals Case-control study. Seventeen Miniature Schnauzers with pancreatitis (cases), 60 mature Miniature Schnauzers with no substantial history of gastrointestinal signs in their lifetime (controls), and 31 Standard Schnauzers of unknown pancreatitis status. Methods A PCR-RFLP assay was used to genotype dogs for the c.74A > C SPINK1 variant. Allele and genotype frequencies were reported for Schnauzers and compared between case and control Miniature Schnauzers. Results The c.74A > C variant was the major allele in both Schnauzer breeds with a frequency of 0.77 in Miniatures and 0.55 in Standards. The allele and genotype frequencies were similar between Miniature Schnauzers with and without a history of pancreatitis and did not impart an increased risk for pancreatitis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Genotyping a larger population of the Miniature Schnauzer breed than a previous study, along with a Standard Schnauzer cohort, demonstrated that the SPINK1 c.74A > C variant is a common polymorphism in the Schnauzer lineage. Furthermore, we were unable to confirm a relationship between the variant and clinically detectable pancreatitis in Miniature Schnauzers.
Recent progress in the chemistry and topochemistry of compression wood

A review of the chemistry and topochemistry of compression wood with 200 references. Compression wood contains on the average 30% cellulose, 35–40% lignin, 10% galactan, 9% galactoglucomannan, 8% xylan, and 2% of a 1,3-glucan (laricinan). The cellulose is less crystalline, and the xylan has fewer arabinose side chains than in normal wood. The lignin is composed of guaiacylpropane and p-hydroxyphenylpropane units. It is more condensed, has a higher proportion of carbon-carbon bonds, and contains fewer arylglycerol-β-aryl ether structures than a normal conifer lignin. The ray cells and the primary wall of the tracheids have the same chemical composition in normal and compression woods. The galactan is largely located in the outer region of the secondary wall. Only 5–10% of the lignin in compression wood tracheids is extracellular. The middle lamella is less lignified than in normal wood, while the S1 and inner S2 layers have a lignin concentration of 30–40% which is twice as high as in normal wood. The lignin content of the S2 (L) layer is equal to or higher than that of the intercellular region along the wall. The review is concluded with a brief reference to areas where present information is incomplete or lacking.
Quark-meson coupling model for baryon wave functions and properties.

A scalar-isoscalar quark-meson interaction is used to mix fundamental pseudoscalar mesons directly into the wave functions of baryons. The parameters of the model are constrained using properties of the ground-state baryon spectrum, such as charge radii, strong decay widths, and the pion-nucleon coupling constant. Physical wave functions of the ground-state baryons are presented. With the physical wave functions, we calculate nucleon electric form factors and spin-$\frac{3}{2}$ baryon quadrupole moments. The addition of mesons produces effects on baryon properties comparable to effects due to spatial excitations of quarks. Although missing from most calculations, kaons and $\ensuremath{\eta}$'s are found to be as important as pions in the baryon spectrum. Including mesons in the physical wave functions of baryons leads to the existence of low-energy resonances consisting primarily of three quarks in the ground state surrounded by a meson field. Most of these resonances decouple from the common production channels, but seven are expected to be observable. An additional $N({\frac{1}{2}}^{+})$ resonance state is calculated to have a mass close to that of the Roper resonance but a $\ensuremath{\pi}N$ width much smaller. A $\ensuremath{\Delta}({\frac{3}{2}}^{+})$ candidate state is calculated to have a mass and $\ensuremath{\pi}N$ width close to the experimental values for the $\ensuremath{\Delta}(1600)$.
Metal Coated Subwavelength Laser Resonators with Low Threshold Gain

We demonstrate that a low refractive index layer in metal coated laser resonators can significantly reduce the threshold gain. A subwavelength resonator with a sufficiently low threshold gain to lase at room temperature is presented.
Interactive presentation: Soft-core processor customization using the design of experiments paradigm

Parameterized components are becoming more commonplace in system design. The process of customizing parameter values for a particular application, called tuning, can be a challenging task for a designer. Here we focus on the problem of tuning a parameterized soft-core microprocessor to achieve the best performance on a particular application, subject to size constraints. We map the tuning problem to a well-established statistical paradigm called Design of Experiments (DoE), which involves the design of a carefully selected set of experiments and a sophisticated analysis that has the objective to extract the maximum amount of information about the effects of the input parameters on the experiment. We apply the DoE method to analyze the relation between input parameters and the performance of a soft-core microprocessor for a particular application, using only a small number of synthesis/execution runs. The information gained by the analysis in turn drives a soft-core tuning heuristic. We show that using DoE to sort the parameters in order of impact results in application speedups of 6x-17x versus an un-tuned base soft-core. When compared to a previous single-factor tuning method, the DoE-based method achieves 3x-6x application speedups, while requiring about the same tuning runtime. We also show that tuning runtime can be reduced by 40--45% by using predictive tuning methods already built into a DoE tool.
An Uphill Struggle to Resist Downward Harmonization in Puebla, Mexico: The Case of Volkswagen Workers:

Among the contentious aspects of the debate over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was the effect that the trade agreement was likely to have on jobs and wages for workers in Mexico and the United States. Proponents of NAFTA noted that the outcomes would vary by economic sector, but they generally agreed that automobile workers in Mexico would benefit due to the infusion of new capital and greater access to the U.S. market. In this article, I argue that the case of Volkswagen workers in Puebla, Mexico, suggests a different outcome. Evidence is presented that during the period preparing for NAFTA and through the first 3 years of its application, Volkswagen workers' rights have been weakened and their wages reduced. Preliminary support is offeredfor a thesis of NAFTA-driven downward harmonization for workers on either side of the U.S.-Mexico border
The Relationship Between Parents’ and Children’s Automatic Thoughts in a College Student Sample

Research demonstrates the importance of early social interactions in the development of schemas and automatic thoughts. It does not appear, however, that the existing research examines intergenerational correlations in automatic thoughts. As a result, this study explores the relationship between the automatic thoughts of parents and those of their college-age children in a sample of 252 college students and their mothers and fathers. Results of this study suggest that there are significant relationships between parents' and college students' positive automatic thoughts. Different trends by gender also are noted in the relationships among variables for male and female college students with their mothers and fathers. Further, mothers' positive ATs predicted the positive ATs of their college students, with mothers' ratings of their own communication with their college students mediating partially this relationship. Finally, college students' anxiety and self-esteem is predicted significantly by their mothers' anxiety and self-esteem (respectively) as well as their own positive and negative ATs. These findings suggest the possibility that ATs play a role in the intergenerational transmission of certain domains of psychological functioning.
XPM-induced pulse delay and advancement in optical fiber

Cross-phase-modulation-induced pulse delay or advancement in an optical fiber is analyzed. It is shown that XPM and group-velocity mismatch can lead to controllable pulse delay or advancement with negligible frequency shift.
Sex differences in inflammatory cytokine production in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion.

Background The inflammatory response to hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is associated with an increase in cytokine production. Studies have documented that sex hormones modulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses, and that females are more robust than males. The aim of this study was to determine whether a sex difference in cytokine response to hepatic I/R exists under normal pathophysiologic condition without hormone intervention.
Music analysis with a Bayesian dynamic model

A Bayesian dynamic model is developed to model complex sequential data, with a focus on audio signals from music. The music is represented in terms of a sequence of discrete observations, and the sequence is modeled using a hidden Markov model (HMM) with time-evolving parameters. The model imposes the belief that observations that are temporally proximate are more likely to be drawn from HMMs with similar parameters, while also allowing for “innovation” associated with abrupt changes in the music texture. Segmentation of a given musical piece is constituted via the model inference and the results are compared with other models and also to a conventional music-theoretic analysis.
Natural selection governs local, but not global, evolutionary gene coexpression networks in Caenorhabditis elegans

Large-scale evaluation of gene expression variation among Caenorhabditis elegans lines that have diverged from a common ancestor allows for the analysis of a novel class of biological networks – evolutionary gene coexpression networks. Comparative analysis of these evolutionary networks has the potential to uncover the effects of natural selection in shaping coexpression network topologies since C. elegans mutation accumulation (MA) lines evolve essentially free from the effects of natural selection, whereas natural isolate (NI) populations are subject to selective constraints. We compared evolutionary gene coexpression networks for C. elegans MA lines versus NI populations to evaluate the role that natural selection plays in shaping the evolution of network topologies. MA and NI evolutionary gene coexpression networks were found to have very similar global topological properties as measured by a number of network topological parameters. Observed MA and NI networks show node degree distributions and average values for node degree, clustering coefficient, path length, eccentricity and betweeness that are statistically indistinguishable from one another yet highly distinct from randomly simulated networks. On the other hand, at the local level the MA and NI coexpression networks are highly divergent; pairs of genes coexpressed in the MA versus NI lines are almost entirely different as are the connectivity and clustering properties of individual genes. It appears that selective forces shape how local patterns of coexpression change over time but do not control the global topology of C. elegans evolutionary gene coexpression networks. These results have implications for the evolutionary significance of global network topologies, which are known to be conserved across disparate complex systems.
Long-Term Outcomes of Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the intensive care unit and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Based on the RIFLE criteria, AKI occurs in up to 67% of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), with approximately 4% of critically ill patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). It is well known that this subset of AKI patients who require RRT have an in-hospital mortality rate exceeding 50%. However, long-term outcomes of survivors of AKI requiring RRT remain poorly described. Long-term mortality is greater in those patients who survived AKI when compared with critically ill patients without AKI. Long-term morbidity, renal and extrarenal, is a frequent and underappreciated complication of AKI. Among survivors of AKI at long-term follow-up (1-10 years), approximately 12.5% are dialysis dependent (wide range of 1%-64%, depending on the patient population) and 19% to 31% have chronic kidney disease. According to the United States Renal Data System, "acute tubular necrosis without recovery" as a cause of end-stage kidney disease increased from 1.2% in 1994 to 1998 to 1.7% in 1999 to 2003. The incidence will likely continue to rise with the aging population, increase in comorbidities, and expansion of intensive care unit capabilities. AKI is an underrecognized cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and patients who survive should be followed closely for new CKD and/or progression of underlying CKD.
A Modeled Study for Diagnosis of Small Anechoic Masses with Ultrasound

Hemispherical holes created in the bases of uniform natural sponges were imaged in water to determine how anechoic masses fill in with echoes at increased gains. The increase in gain, from the threshold for outlining a hole, to the fill-in of the hole with echoes, was obtained for a range of hole diameters and imaging conditions. These gain changes fit on a smooth curve when plotted against the hole diameter divided by the ultrasound beam width. The main sources of fill-in, beam width and multiple reverberations, appear to behave similarly in vivo. Understanding these effects may help reduce diagnostic errors.
Situated Activities in a Dog Park: Identity and Conflict in Human-Animal Space

Abstract This study examines how people engage with the dynamic environment of the dog park in the face of unclear or ambiguous rules and emergent norms. Using participant observation, the analysis shows how, in the formal dog park, caretakers become “control managers” who must negotiate problems related to a variety of dog behaviors, especially mounting, aggression, and waste management. In this process, caretakers use various strategies to manage their own and others’ possible perceptions and understandings of appropriate behavior for dogs in public places.
Employment for persons with disabilities: Where are we now and where do we need to go?

Nicki is a 21-year-old student with moderate intellectual disabilities who lives with her family. She has limited expressive language and communicates primarily through her body language and willingness to participate in activities. Nicki participated in a community-based vocational education program and then received supported employment services to assist her with gaining and maintaining a job. As a result, she has worked part-time at a small college dining center as a food preparation assistant for more than 1 year while still in school. Her job duties include making salads and preparing potatoes for baking. She also assists her co-workers with cleaning the work station by taking dirty pans to the sink area. Notably, her job was created by negotiating specific duties from a food preparation worker’s job description. Nicki works approximately 25 hours a week and every other Saturday as part of her school curriculum and earns $8.25 per hour. Transportation is provided to and from work by the school during the week and by her parents on the weekends. Nicki is supported at work by her co-workers, managers, assistive technology (AT), and her job coach. For example, her co-workers assist her with clocking in and out; putting on and taking off her hair net, apron, and gloves; setting up and replenishing her work supplies; and going on break. The assigned co-worker provides verbal and physical assistance throughout her work day as needed. Technological assistance has also been incorporated into the routine. For instance, the manager ordered a magnetic scanning card, which eliminated the need to manually enter her employee number into a computer in order to clock in and out. An audio prompting/praising system was also developed to provide her with consistent intervention and to decrease her dependence on co-worker prompts. The job coach provided upfront assistance with developing the job and then provided one to one jobsite training using systematic instruction, and helped identify and facilitate co-worker support. Now, the job coach is on site at most once or twice a week. In this 20th anniversary edition of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, we offer a special issue edited by Dr. Jeanne Novak on Supported Employment and Social Relationships in the Workplace. However, we also are providing provocative comments and perspectives from leading employment and transition specialists in the U.S. We must understand where we
Effects of phospholipid surfactant on apoptosis induction by respirable quartz and kaolin in NR8383 rat pulmonary macrophages.

Apoptosis was measured in rat alveolar macrophage NR8383 cells challenged in vitro with respirable quartz or kaolin dust and with the dusts pretreated with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) to model conditioning of respired dusts by interaction with a primary phospholipid component of pulmonary surfactant. Quartz dust is known to induce apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. For this study, quartz and kaolin were compared as dusts of similar cytotoxicity in some in vitro assays but of differing pathogenic potential: quartz can cause significant pulmonary fibrosis while kaolin generally does not. NR8383 cells exposed to native quartz at concentrations from 50 to 400 μg/ml for 6 h showed a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis measured by the TdT-mediated dUTP-fluorescein nick end labeling (TUNEL), cell death ELISA, and DNA ladder formation assays, while native kaolin induced significant response only at the higher concentrations and only in the TUNEL and ELISA assays. For cell challenge from 6 h to 5 days at 100 μg/ml of dust, quartz was active at all times while kaolin was active only at 5 days. DPPC pre-treatment suppressed quartz activity until 3 days and kaolin activity through 5 days. Cellular release of lactate dehydrogenase, measured in parallel experiments to compare dust apoptotic and necrotic activities, indicated that components of serum as well as surfactant may affect kaolin in vitro expression of those activities.
Funding Community Practice: Stage 1

A broad definition of community practice has implications for how occupational therapy services are defined, delivered, and funded. The historical foundations of occupational therapy support an expansion into health promotion and prevention programming that is based in the community. Moving into these roles opens up an array of funding possibilities. It may also require developing new partnerships, new skills, and work under different job titles. This article describes two approaches to broadening occupational therapy's role into the community and gives examples of programs and funding sources for each.
Ultralow threshold current vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with AlAs oxide-GaAs distributed Bragg reflectors

An electrically-pumped, vertical-cavity, surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) using an AlAs oxide-GaAs DBR above the AlGaAs-GaAs-InGaAs gain region and a conventional AlAs-GaAs DBR below is described. By selective oxidation, devices with current flow apertures of different areas are fabricated, and in 8-/spl mu/m-square devices, threshold currents as low as 0.22 mA are achieved. Being the first electrically-pumped VCSEL to utilize the oxide-based DBR, it demonstrates that the oxide-based DBR is of sufficient quality to realize submilliampere threshold currents. >
Historical Range, Current Distribution, and Conservation Status of the Swift Fox, Vulpes velox , in North America

The Swift Fox ( Vulpes velox ) was once common in the shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies of the Great Plains of North America. The species' abundance declined and its distribution retracted following European settlement of the plains. By the late 1800s, the species had been largely extirpated from the northern portion of its historical range, and its populations were acutely depleted elsewhere. Swift Fox populations have naturally recovered somewhat since the 1950s, but overall abundance and distribution remain below historical levels. In a 1995 assessment of the species' status under the US Endangered Species Act, the US Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that a designation of threatened or endangered was warranted, but the species was "precluded from listing by higher listing priorities." A major revelation of the 1995 assessment was the recognition that information useful for determining population status was limited. Fundamental information was missing, including an accurate estimate of the species' distribution before European settlement and an estimate of the species' current distribution and trends. The objectives of this paper are to fill those gaps in knowledge. Historical records were compiled and, in combination with knowledge of the habitat requirements of the species, the historical range of the Swift Fox is estimated to be approximately 1.5 million km 2 . Using data collected between 2001 and 2006, the species' current distribution is estimated to be about 44% of its historical range in the United States and 3% in Canada. Under current land use, approximately 39% of the species' historical range contains grassland habitats with very good potential for Swift Fox occupation and another 10% supports grasslands with characteristics that are less preferred (e.g., a sparse shrub component or taller stature) but still suitable. Additionally, land use on at least 25% of the historical range supports dryland farming, which can be suitable for Swift Fox occupation. In the United States, approximately 52% of highest quality habitats currently available are occupied by Swift Foxes.
Distributed estimation in sensor networks with imperfect model information: An adaptive learning-based approach

The paper considers the problem of distributed estimation of an unknown deterministic scalar parameter (the target signal) in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), in which each sensor receives a single snapshot of the field. The observation or sensing mode is only partially known at the corresponding nodes, perhaps, due to their limited sensing capabilities or other unpredictable physical factors. Specifically, it is assumed that the observation process at a node switches stochastically between two modes, with mode one corresponding to the desired signal plus noise observation mode (a valid observation), and mode two corresponding to pure noise with no signal information (an invalid observation). With no prior information on the local sensing modes (valid or invalid), the paper introduces a learning-based distributed estimation procedure, the mixed detection-estimation (MDE) algorithm, based on closed-loop interactions between the iterative distributed mode learning and estimation. The online learning (or sensing mode detection) step re-assesses the validity of the local observations at each iteration, thus refining the ongoing estimation update process. The convergence of the MDE algorithm is established analytically. Simulation studies show that, in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime, the MDE estimation error converges to that of an ideal (centralized) estimator with perfect information about the node sensing modes. This is in contrast with the estimation performance of a naive average consensus based distributed estimator (with no mode learning), whose estimation error blows up with an increasing SNR.
Choice of plastic or metal stent for patients with jaundice with pancreaticobiliary malignancy using simple clinical tools: a prospective evaluation.

Background and aim Although plastic stents have been recommended for patients with pancreaticobiliary malignancy and an expected survival of less than 6 months, no study has developed criteria to assess survival which could then determine the choice of stent for biliary decompression. The aim of the study was to determine the utility of simple clinical tools in deciding whether to place a plastic or metal stent in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. Methods At presentation for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for suspected malignant distal bile duct obstruction, prospectively patients with Karnofsky score of Results 98 patients (mean age 66.5 years; 62.2% male) were enrolled with 67 (68.4%) receiving plastic stents and 31 (31.6%) uncovered SEMS. Overall, patients receiving plastic stents had a median survival of 2.8 months compared with 11.6 months for metallic stents (p Conclusions The decision whether to place a plastic stent or SEMS for patients with distal malignant obstructive jaundice may be based on simple clinical tools resulting in low rates of reintervention.
“I know if I drink I won’t feel anything”: substance use relapse among depressed women leaving prison.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore treatment needs and factors contributing to engagement in substance use and sobriety among women with co-occurring substance use and major depressive disorders (MDDs) as they return to the community from prison. Design/methodology/approach – The paper used qualitative methods to evaluate the perspectives of 15 women with co-occurring substance use and MDDs on the circumstances surrounding their relapse and recovery episodes following release from a US prison. Women were recruited in prison; qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews conducted after prison release and were analyzed using grounded theory analysis. Survey data from 39 participants supplemented qualitative findings. Findings – Results indicated that relationship, emotion, and mental health factors influenced women's first post-prison substance use. Women attributed episodes of recovery to sober and social support, treatment, and building on recovery work done in prison. H...
Reasoning on the Threshold: Testing the Separability of Preferences in Legal Decision Making

One hundred and fifteen law students were given a mock brief with identical legal arguments on both sides of a standing dispute in litigation involving restrictions on political expression of public employees. The content of the expression at issue (pro-choice versus pro-life) and the jurisdiction where the case was pending (with versus without controlling authority on the standing issue) were experimentally manipulated. Participants' policy views on (1) abortion, (2) free speech, and (3) Hatch Act restrictions were measured to assess their influence on the standing decision. In line with traditional notions of legal reasoning, participants were able to separate their views on Hatch Act restrictions from the standing decision. Opinions on free speech, however, influenced judgments consistent with attitudinal hypotheses. Also, participants' opinions on abortion interacted with speech content to influence judgments—but in a manner not wholly consistent with legal or attitudinal accounts of decision making.
Automated Geospatial Conflation of Vector Road Maps to High Resolution Imagery

As the availability of various geospatial data increases, there is an urgent need to integrate multiple datasets to improve spatial analysis. However, since these datasets often originate from different sources and vary in spatial accuracy, they often do not match well to each other. In addition, the spatial discrepancy is often nonsystematic such that a simple global transformation will not solve the problem. Manual correction is labor-intensive and time-consuming and often not practical. In this paper, we present an innovative solution for a vector-to-imagery conflation problem by integrating several vector-based and image-based algorithms. We only extract the different types of road intersections and terminations from imagery based on spatial contextual measures. We eliminate the process of line segment detection which is often troublesome. The vector road intersections are matched to these detected points by a relaxation labeling algorithm. The matched point pairs are then used as control points to perform a piecewise rubber-sheeting transformation. With the end points of each road segment in correct positions, a modified snake algorithm maneuvers intermediate vector road vertices toward a candidate road image. Finally a refinement algorithm moves the points to center each road and obtain better cartographic quality. To test the efficacy of the automated conflation algorithm, we used U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER vector road data and U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1-m multi-spectral near infrared aerial photography in our study. Experiments were conducted over a variety of rural, suburban, and urban environments. The results demonstrated excellent performance. The average correctness measure increased from 20.6% to 95.5% and the average root-mean-square error decreased from 51.2 to 3.4 m.
Examination of the mid-gap unit cell absorber and P/I interface properties needed for 15% a-SiC:H/a-Si:H/a-SiGe:H multi-junction cells: numerical modeling study

The authors have performed numerical modeling of the high-band gap, mid-band gap, and low-band gap unit cells of a-SiC:H/a-Si:H/a-SiGe:H triple junction solar cell structures. This report focuses on the mid-band gap unit cell of these structures and examines the effect of the i-layer quality and the p-i interface on this unit cell's performance. The purpose of this study is to determine reasonable performance goals for the a-Si:H mid gap unit cell of a 15% efficient multijunction structure as well as to prioritize the effect of certain material parameters. The authors find that when optimizing the cell by reducing recombination, the defect density in the absorber layer, not the p/i interface layer, is the key to improving cell efficiency. Further, of the three components of the efficiency (J/sub SC/, V/sub OC/, and the fill factor), improvements in the efficiency, due to reduced recombination, are more readily gained by increasing the fill factor than by trying to raise the open circuit voltage. >
Health- related quality of life and self-worth in 10-year old children with congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed by neonatal screening

Background: Much is written about cognitive and motor development; less is known about social and emotional consequences of growing up with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). The objectives of the study were: (1) to compare health related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-worth of 10 year old patients with CH with the general population; (2) to explore associations of disease factors, IQ and motor skills with the outcomes. Methods: Children with CH and their parents completed several questionnaires. Patients were classified to ‘severe CH, n=41’ or ‘moderate/mild CH, n=41’ based on pre-treatment FT4 concentration. Differences between CH and the general population were tested by analysis of covariance and one sample t-tests (mean scale scores HRQoL and self-worth), chi-square tests and binomial tests (% at risk of impaired HRQoL and self-worth). Linear regression analyses corrected for gender were conducted to explore associations of the outcomes with disease factors, IQ and motor skills. Results: Patients with CH reported lower mean HRQoL on motor, cognitive and social functioning, and on autonomy and positive emotions (p<0.0001). Patients were also more often at risk for impaired HRQoL and self-worth. No differences were found between the severity groups. Lower IQ was only significant associated with worse cognitive HRQoL. Initial FT4 plasma, age at onset of therapy, initial T4 dose and motor skills were not significantly associated with HRQoL and self-worth. Conclusions: Negative consequences in terms of HRQoL and self-worth are prevalent in children with CH, independent of disease factors, IQ and motor skills. Physicians should to be attentive to these consequences and provide attention and supportive care.
Book Review of “The Dysregulated Adult: Integrated Treatment Approaches”

This is a review of the newly published book, The Dysregulated Adult: Integrated Treatment Approaches, by Georgia A. DeGangi. The review summarizes the general purpose and content of the book, offers readers a more in-depth discussion of the content covered, and finally discusses this reviewer’s perception of how well the author was able to succeed in addressing the topic.
Simulation of Intra- or Transboundary Surface-Water-Rights Hierarchies Using the Farm Process for MODFLOW-2000

Water-rights driven surface-water allocations for irrigated agriculture can be simulated using the farm process for MODFLOW-2000. This paper describes and develops a model, which simulates routed surface-water deliveries to farms limited by streamflow, equal-appropriation allotments, or a ranked prior-appropriation system. Simulated diversions account for deliveries to all farms along a canal according to their water-rights ranking and for conveyance losses and gains. Simulated minimum streamflow requirements on diversions help guarantee supplies to senior farms located on downstream diverting canals. Prior appropriation can be applied to individual farms or to groups of farms modeled as “virtual farms” representing irrigation districts, irrigated regions in transboundary settings, or natural vegetation habitats. The integrated approach of jointly simulating canal diversions, surface-water deliveries subject to water-rights constraints, and groundwater allocations is verified on numerical experiments base...
Costly trade, managerial myopia, and long-term investment

Abstract The costly trade theory predicts that it is much more difficult to exploit long-term private information than short-term. Thus, there is less long-term information impounded in prices. The managerial myopia theory predicts that a variety of short-term pressures, including inadequate information on long-term projects, cause asymmetrically-informed corporate managers to underinvest in long-term projects. The introduction of long-term options called LEAPS provides a natural experiment to jointly test both theories, which are otherwise difficult to test. We conduct an event study around the introduction of LEAPS for a given stock and test whether corporate investment in long-term R&D/sales increases in the years following the introduction. We find that over a two year period of time LEAPS firms increase their R&D/sales between 23% and 28% ($125–$152 million annually) compared to matching non-LEAPS firms. The difference depends on the matching technique used. Two other proxies for long-term investment find similar increases. We find that the increase is positively related to LEAPS volume. We also find that the increase is larger in firms where R&D plays a larger and more strategic role. We test if a firm becomes less likely to beat analyst's quarterly earnings forecasts after LEAPS are introduced and find support for the hypothesis. These results provide both statistically and economically significant support for the costly trade and managerial myopia theories.
There are no safe virus tests

(1989). There Are No Safe Virus Tests. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 96, No. 9, pp. 835-836.
Calcium controls the assembly of the photosynthetic water-oxidizing complex: a cadmium(II) inorganic mutant of the Mn4Ca core

Perturbation of the catalytic inorganic core (Mn4Ca1O x Cl y ) of the photosystem II-water-oxidizing complex (PSII-WOC) isolated from spinach is examined by substitution of Ca2+ with cadmium(II) during core assembly. Cd2+ inhibits the yield of reconstitution of O2-evolution activity, called photoactivation, starting from the free inorganic cofactors and the cofactor-depleted apo-WOC-PSII complex. Ca2+ affinity increases following photooxidation of the first Mn2+ to Mn3+ bound to the ‘high-affinity’ site. Ca2+ binding occurs in the dark and is the slowest overall step of photoactivation (IM1→IM1* step). Cd2+ competitively blocks the binding of Ca2+ to its functional site with 10- to 30-fold higher affinity, but does not influence the binding of Mn2+ to its high-affinity site. By contrast, even 10-fold higher concentrations of Cd2+ have no effect on O2-evolution activity in intact PSII-WOC. Paradoxically, Cd2+ both inhibits photoactivation yield, while accelerating the rate of photoassembly of active centres 10-fold relative to Ca2+. Cd2+ increases the kinetic stability of the photooxidized Mn3+ assembly intermediate(s) by twofold (mean lifetime for dark decay). The rate data provide evidence that Cd2+ binding following photooxidation of the first Mn3+, IM1→IM1*, causes three outcomes: (i) a longer intermediate lifetime that slows IM1 decay to IM by charge recombination, (ii) 10-fold higher probability of attaining the degrees of freedom (either or both cofactor and protein d.f.) needed to bind and photooxidize the remaining 3 Mn2+ that form the functional cluster, and (iii) increased lability of Cd2+ following Mn4 cluster assembly results in (re)exchange of Cd2+ by Ca2+ which restores active O2-evolving centres. Prior EPR spectroscopic data provide evidence for an oxo-bridged assembly intermediate, Mn3+(μ-O2−)Ca2+, for IM1*. We postulate an analogous inhibited intermediate with Cd2+ replacing Ca2+.
An operational structure for clarity in ecosystem service values

Analyses used to value ecosystem services often confuse final ecosystem services with ecological functions that provide indirect benefit. Typologies of ecosystem services, such as that developed by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, do not ameliorate these challenges. Among the causes of ambiguity in classifying values associated with intermediate versus final ecosystem services are (1) the lack of simple, broadly applicable guidelines to assist natural and social scientists in deriving consistent and replicable classifications, and (2) attempts to define universal typologies of final services that apply to all beneficiaries. This paper presents an operational mechanism for determining whether a biophysical feature, quantity, or quality represents a final ecosystem service for an inclusive suite of beneficiaries. It is designed for straightforward application by those without expertise in natural or social sciences, and can be used within existing typologies. Illustrations of the structure demonstrate how the resulting classifications avert double counting and other ambiguities.
Oxidation of carbon monoxide in basic solution catalyzed by nickel cyano carbonyls under ambient conditions and the prototype of a CO-powered alkaline fuel cell

CO reduces nickel(2+) cyanides in basic solution to form tetrahedral Ni0(CN)(CO)3− or Ni0(CN)2(CO)22−. Both nickel(0) complexes can be oxidized back to nickel(2+) cyanide/hydroxide so that they behave as CO oxidation catalysts in basic solution. A primitive fuel cell was constructed to demonstrate the feasibility of a CO-powered fuel cell.
Similarity-Profiled Temporal Association Mining

Given a time stamped transaction database and a user-defined reference sequence of interest over time, similarity-profiled temporal association mining discovers all associated item sets whose prevalence variations over time are similar to the reference sequence. The similar temporal association patterns can reveal interesting relationships of data items which co-occur with a particular event over time. Most works in temporal association mining have focused on capturing special temporal regulation patterns such as cyclic patterns and calendar scheme-based patterns. However, our model is flexible in representing interesting temporal patterns using a user-defined reference sequence. The dissimilarity degree of the sequence of support values of an item set to the reference sequence is used to capture how well its temporal prevalence variation matches the reference pattern. By exploiting interesting properties such as an envelope of support time sequence and a lower bounding distance for early pruning candidate item sets, we develop an algorithm for effectively mining similarity-profiled temporal association patterns. We prove the algorithm is correct and complete in the mining results and provide the computational analysis. Experimental results on real data as well as synthetic data show that the proposed algorithm is more efficient than a sequential method using a traditional support-pruning scheme.