cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Going-concern modified audit opinions for non-profit organizations

Non-profit organizations constitute an important share of the U.S. economy, and recent audit failures and GAO findings highlight the importance of auditor reporting decisions in this sector. In this study, we examine going-concern modified audit opinions for non-profit organizations. Using audit opinion data for 3,567 non-profits exhibiting some signs of financial stress, we find that non-profits are more likely to receive a goingconcern modified opinion if they are smaller, are in worse financial condition, expend less on program-related activities, and have more internal control related audit findings. Our analysis of the subsequent resolution of the going-concern uncertainties suggest that only 27 percent of the non-profits receiving an initial going-concern modified audit opinion filed for dissolution in the subsequent four fiscal years. Our findings fill a gap in an important area that has received little research attention, and provide a useful benchmark for non-profits and their auditors.
Customer Value Creation in Multichannel Systems: The Interactive Effect of Integration Quality and Multichannel Complexity:

AbstractThis research examines factors that influence consumer perceptions of value created by a multichannel system of service delivery. The literature suggests that multichannel integration quali...
Identification and Adjustment of Relative Degrees and Zero Dynamics Using Bond Graphs

Abstract In the design of output tracking controllers, the relative degree and the stability of the zero dynamics of the control plant are usually assumed to be known in advance, and are determined by analyzing the system dynamic equations. This paper shows how relative degrees and zero dynamics are related to the physical structures with the help of bond graphs. A set of rules are proposed to determine the relative degree and the stability of the zero dynamics for a class of systems independent of the system dynamic equations. The rules establish a connection between these system properties and the physical structures, and are useful guidelines on the adjustment of relative degrees and zero dynamics for the purpose of control design.
Color Duplex Ultrasound in Other Miscellaneous Arterial Topics

The pathophysiology, natural history, and clinical manifestations of peripheral vascular disorders must be combined with the appreciation of current diagnostic and therapeutic modalities (noninvasive vascular testing, computed tomography angiography [CTA], magnetic resonance angiography, conventional angiography, and angioplasty/stenting). This chapter will discuss the clinical implications of the vascular laboratory in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease by considering the areas of screening, assessment prior to and immediately after intervention, surveillance (long term, usually after intervention), and certain special areas of the peripheral arterial system. These include selection of arterial reconstruction, amputation sites, healing response, compression syndromes, penile circulation, upper extremity ischemia, arteriovenous malformation, hemodialysis access graft, and arterial aneurysms.
Ambulatory anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is associated with a higher risk of revision surgery and perioperative complications: an analysis of a large nationwide database

Abstract Background Context With the changing landscape of health care, outpatient spine surgery is being more commonly performed to reduce cost and to improve efficiency. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most common spine surgeries performed and demand is expected to increase with an aging population. Purpose The objective of this study was to determine the nationwide trends and relative complication rates associated with outpatient ACDF. Study Design/Setting This is a large-scale retrospective case control study. Patient Sample The patient sample included Humana-insured patients who underwent one- to two-level ACDF as either outpatients or inpatients from 2011 to 2016 Outcome Measures The outcome measures included incidence and the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of postoperative medical and surgical complications within 1 year of the index surgery. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of the PearlDiver Humana insurance records database to identify patients undergoing one- to two-level ACDF (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT]-22551 and International Classification of Diseases [ICD]-9-816.2) as either outpatients or inpatients from 2011 to 2016. The incidence of perioperative medical and surgical complications was determined by querying for relevant ICD and CPT codes. Multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, gender, and Charlson Comorbidity Index was used to calculate ORs of complications among outpatients relative to inpatients undergoing ACDF. Results Cohorts of 1,215 patients who underwent outpatient ACDF and 10,964 patients who underwent inpatient ACDF were identified. The median age was in the 65–69 age group for both cohorts. The annual relative incidence of outpatient ACDF increased from 0.11 in 2011 to 0.22 in 2016 (R2=0.82, p=.04). Adjusting for age, gender, and comorbidities, patients undergoing outpatient ACDF were more likely to undergo revision surgery for posterior fusion at both 6 months (OR 1.58, confidence interval [CI] 1.27–1.96, p Conclusions Outpatient ACDF is increasing in frequency nationwide over the past several years. Nationwide data demonstrate a greater risk of perioperative surgical complications, including revision anterior and posterior fusion, as well as a higher risk of postoperative acute renal failure. Candidates for outpatient ACDF should be counseled and carefully selected to reduce these risks.
On Fuzziness in Mathematics

I received my Ph. D. in mathematics from Iowa State University in 1963. My specialty was in abstract algebra. That same year I obtained a position in the Mathematics Department at Creighton University. For the first 20 years or so, I carried out a research program in traditional mathematics. In an attempt to reach out to other disciplines, I began collaborating with members of the Health Sciences at Creighton. It was then that I began to feel that some form of mathematics (not probability) dealing with imprecision would be useful in the health sciences. I found a book on fuzzy logic in the library. It seemed to me that this was exactly what I was looking for. However, I did not pursue the matter further at this time. It was later that I more fully appreciated the importance of the ideas of Lotfi Zadeh regarding uncertainty [1].
Conditions of Compatibility of Terminal Positions and Velocities

In case of a Keplerian motion between two fixed points, the initial velocity is shown to have the same magnitudes of radial and chordal (i.e. parallel to the chord of the trajectory between the fixed points) components as the corresponding final velocity. Further, the product of these component magnitudes is shown to depend on the positions of initial and final point, but not on the choice of trajectory between these points.
Sipuleucel-T cellular immunotherapy: Clinical predictors of survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

e16046 Background: Sipuleucel-T was the first cellular immunotherapy shown to prolong the life of patients with advanced prostate cancer. It was of interest to determine who were those patients mos...
Curing Opioid Toxicity with Intrathecal Targeted Drug Delivery

Pain is one of the most feared symptoms that concern cancer patients and their families. Despite well-established guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the treatment of cancer pain, nearly half of cancer patients report poorly controlled pain. One of the most serious side effects of systemic oral opioid use is neurotoxicity, which is characterized by altered mental status and systemic neurologic impairments. Treatment strategies are supportive in nature and focused on reducing or changing the offending opioid and correcting any metabolic deficiencies. Herein, we discuss a case of opioid-induced neurotoxicity treated with intrathecal targeted drug delivery (TDD). The timing and implementation of advanced therapies such as intrathecal TDD is not well delineated. More importantly, patients and their oncologic providers are often unaware of this useful tool in treating challenging cancer-associated pain and significantly minimizing systemic opioid side effects. To ensure that patients have comprehensive oncologic care, best-practice guidelines suggest involvement of an interdisciplinary team and coordinated care. Early referral to a pain and palliative specialist may allow for improved patient outcomes and removal of unnecessary barriers to optimal patient care.
Evaluation of diffusion kurtosis and diffusivity from baseline staging MRI as predictive biomarkers for response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer

To evaluate the role of diffusion kurtosis and diffusivity as potential imaging biomarkers to predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) from baseline staging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). This retrospective study included 45 consecutive patients (31 male/14 female) who underwent baseline MRI with high b-value sequences (up to 1500 mm/s2) for LARC followed by neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgical resection. The mean age was 57.4 years (range 34.2–72.9). An abdominal radiologist using open source software manually segmented T2-weighted images. Segmentations were used to derive diffusion kurtosis and diffusivity from diffusion-weighted images as well as volumetric data. These data were analyzed with regard to tumor regression grade (TRG) using the four-tier American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification, TRG 0–3. Proportional odds regression was used to analyze the four-level ordinal outcome. A sensitivity analysis was performed using univariable logistic regression for binary TRG groups, TRG 0/1 (> 90% response), or TRG 2/3 (< 90% response). p < 0.05 was considered significant throughout. In the univariable proportional odds regression analysis, higher diffusivity summary (Dsum) values were observed to be significantly associated with higher odds of being in one or more favorable TRG group (TRG 0 or 1). In other words, on average, patients with higher Dsum values were more likely to be in a more favorable TRG group. These results are mostly consistent with the sensitivity analysis, in which higher values for most Dsum values [all but region of interest (ROI)-max D median (p = 0.08)] were observed to be significantly associated with higher odds of being TRG 0 or 1. Tumor volume of interest (VOI) and ROI volume, ROI kurtosis mean and median, and VOI kurtosis mean and median were not significantly associated with TRG. Diffusivity derived from the baseline staging MRI, but not diffusion kurtosis or volumetric data, is associated with TRG and therefore shows promise as a potential imaging biomarker to predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in LARC. Diffusivity shows promise as a potential imaging biomarker to predict AJCC TRG following neoadjuvant CRT, which has implications for risk stratification. Patients with TRG 0/1 have 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) of 90–98%, as opposed to those who are TRG 2/3 with 5-year DFS of 68–73%.
Engaging the capacity of comadronas as HIV prevention providers in rural Guatemala

In this study the author address rural Guatemala's poor maternal health and HIV status by integrating an effective evidence-based HIV intervention (SEPA), with local implementing health partners to extend the capacity of comadronas (traditional Mayan birth attendants) to encompass HIV prevention. I employed a multi-method design consisting of a focus group, an interview, and participant observation to identify important factors surrounding comadrona receptivity towards expanding their capacity to HIV prevention. I analyzed data using thematic analysis and identified four categories: Project logistics, HIV knowledge and risk assessment, condom perceptions, and HIV testing perceptions. I affirm comadrona receptivity toward HIV prevention, and that will guide future cultural adaptation and tailoring of SEPA for comadrona training. I will use my results to create a prototype intervention that could be applied to other similarly underserved indigenous communities.
Visualizing the Immune Response to Infections

The immune system is tasked with detecting and responding to infections anywhere in the body. To accomplish this task requires the coordinated migration of immune cells and highly dynamic interactions of the migrating cells with their environment. Lymph nodes play a central role in this process by acting as local filter stations that prevent the spread of invading microbes and by providing a sophisticated environment to initiate and regulate innate and adaptive immune responses to antigens derived from pathogens, malignant cells and vaccines. To this end, lymph nodes harbor specialized antigen presenting cells and constantly recruit diverse lymphocyte subsets that engage in continuous immune surveillance and mount protective effector and memory responses.
Performance evaluation of wi-fi for underground robots

Underground environments present their unique challenges for wireless communication. This paper presents an empirical study of WiFi performance where aerial-ground robots are used to map, navigate, and search in an unknown underground environment. While wireless signal attenuates significantly around corners, WiFi's overall performance is encouraging.
Improving Glycemic Control in African Americans With Diabetes and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background/objectives Improving glycemic control in older African Americans with diabetes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is important as the population ages and becomes more racially diverse. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Recruitment from primary care practices of an urban academic medical center. Community-based treatment delivery. Participants Older African Americans with MCI, low medication adherence, and poor glycemic control (N = 101). Interventions Occupational therapy (OT) behavioral intervention and diabetes self-management education. Measurements The primary outcome was a reduction in hemoglobin A1c level of at least 0.5% at 6 months, with maintenance effects assessed at 12 months. Results At 6 months, 25 of 41 (61.0%) OT participants and 22 of 46 (48.2%) diabetes self-management education participants had a reduction in hemoglobin A1c level of at least 0.5%. The model-estimated rates were 58% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 45%-75%) and 48% (95% CI = 36%-64%), respectively (relative risk [RR] = 1.21; 95% CI = 0.84-1.75; P = .31). At 12 months, the respective rates were 21 of 39 (53.8%) OT participants and 24 of 49 (49.0%) diabetes self-management education participants. The model-estimated rates were 50% (95% CI = 37%-68%) and 48% (95% CI = 36%-64%), respectively (RR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.70-1.57; P = .81). Conclusion Both interventions improved glycemic control in older African Americans with MCI and poor glycemic control. This result reinforces the American Diabetes Association's recommendation to assess cognition in older persons with diabetes and demonstrates the potential to improve glycemic control in this high-risk population. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1015-1022, 2020.
Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy in black and white decedents

Objective The association of limbic-predominant age-related transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC) with cognition and dementia was assessed in community-dwelling Black elders, and racial differences in these associations were tested. Methods Black (n = 76) and White (n = 152) decedents from 4 longitudinal clinical pathologic studies of aging were matched 2 to 1 by age at death, sex, years of education, dementia status, and follow-up time. LATE-NC detected by immunohistochemistry was dichotomized into none/mild and moderate/severe groups. Distribution and clinical and pathologic characteristics of LATE-NC and its association with cognitive profiles and odds of dementia were determined in Black decedents, and racial differences in these associations were assessed. Results The overall frequency of LATE-NC in Black and White decedents was similar (40.8% vs 45.4%). Black decedents with moderate/severe LATE-NC were older, had significantly lower global cognition scores, particularly in memory domains, and had higher frequency of Alzheimer disease, hippocampal sclerosis, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy than the LATE-NC none/mild group. LATE-NC in Black decents was independently associated with impaired global cognition, episodic and semantic memory, and visuospatial abilities. There were no racial differences in clinical features or pathologic distribution of LATE-NC except for a significant increase in the mean cytoplasmic inclusions in the entorhinal and mid temporal cortices in White compared to Black decedents. In addition, no racial differences in the cognitive profiles or the odds of dementia were observed in Black vs White decedents. Conclusions Consistent with findings in White decedents, LATE-NC in Black decedents is associated with impaired cognition, including memory domains.
Novel strategies for modal-based structural material identification

Abstract In this work, we present modal-based methods for model calibration in structural dynamics, and address several key challenges in the solution of gradient-based optimization problems with eigenvalues and eigenvectors, including the solution of singular Helmholtz problems encountered in sensitivity calculations, non-differentiable objective functions caused by mode swapping during optimization, and cases with repeated eigenvalues. Unlike previous literature that relied on direct solution of the eigenvector adjoint equations, we present a parallel iterative domain decomposition strategy (Adjoint Computation via Modal Superposition with Truncation Augmentation) for the solution of the singular Helmholtz problems. For problems with repeated eigenvalues we present a novel Mode Separation via Projection algorithm, and in order to address mode swapping between inverse iterations we present a novel Injective mode ordering metric. We present the implementation of these methods in a massively parallel finite element framework with the ability to use measured modal data to extract unknown structural model parameters from large complex problems. A series of increasingly complex numerical examples are presented that demonstrate the implementation and performance of the methods in a massively parallel finite element framework [7] , [5] , using gradient-based optimization techniques in the Rapid Optimization Library (ROL) [21] .
Difficult life events affect lower extremity illness.

Given the relationship between psychological distress and activity tolerance (capability), a stressful life event might diminish accommodation, increase symptoms, and induce a person to seek specialty care. As a first step to investigate this possibility, this study addressed whether difficult life events are associated with greater activity intolerance and pain intensity. A cohort of 127 patients seeking specialty care for lower extremity symptoms completed questionnaires that inquired about difficult life events within the last 12 months as derived from the Holmes Rahe Life Stress Inventory, and recorded pain intensity on an 11-point ordinal scale, activity tolerance [Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)], symptoms of anxiety (GAD-2; 2 item version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire), symptoms of depression (PROMIS Depression CAT), self-efficacy when in pain (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, 2 question version), and demographics. The treating clinician indicated if the disease was established (e.g. arthritis) or relatively new (e.g. sprain/strain). Bivariate and multivariable analyses sought factors associated with activity intolerance and pain intensity. Greater activity intolerance was associated with difficult life events in bivariate analyses (t = 2.13, MD = 3.18, 95% C.I. = 0.22–6.13, p = 0.04) and in multivariable analyses that excluded symptoms of depression. Greater pain intensity was not associated with difficult life events, but was associated with surgeon rating of established disease (β = 1.20, 95% C.I. = 0.33–2.08, p < 0.01), greater symptoms of anxiety (MD = 3.35, s = 1.72; ρ = 0.30, p < 0.01), and less education (β = − 1.06, 95% C.I. = − 1.94– − 0.18, p = 0.02) (no college degree). When a musculoskeletal specialist identifies less activity tolerance (less capability) than anticipated for a given injury or pathology, they can anticipate a potential difficult life event, and expect alleviation of symptoms and improved capability as the stress is ameliorated with time and support. Specialists can be prepared to direct people to community or professional support if requested.
Use of occupancy modelling to identify sample sizes and waterbodies with fish exceeding mercury consumption advisory thresholds.

Identifying waterbodies where fish methylmercury concentrations are elevated is critical for development of consumption guidelines. However, mercury concentrations vary among waterbodies and fishes due to a suite of environmental conditions and detection of elevated mercury concentrations is imperfect, resulting in inaccurate consumption guidelines. Occupancy models may be a useful approach for addressing these issues but have not been used for these purposes. Our objectives were to use occupancy modeling to (1) estimate number of samples needed to detect mercury levels surpassing >0.30 mg/kg wet weight in fish at a waterbody (2) identify individual fish-level factors associated with detection probability, and (3) identify environmental-level factors linked to elevated mercury levels in fish at a waterbody. Mercury concentrations were estimated from >500 largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and walleye Sander vitreus from 30 waterbodies throughout Iowa, USA to identify individuals with concentrations > or 0.30 mg/kg varied between species and increased with fish length; consequently, more samples were needed to detect elevated mercury concentrations in small versus large fish. The probability of a waterbody having fish with elevated mercury levels increased with the percent grassland and declined with percent agriculture in the watershed, providing prioritization metrics for mercury surveillance programs. Our results demonstrate that occupancy models can be a valuable tool for mercury surveillance due to their ability to estimate necessary sample sizes and identify fish sizes and waterbodies with elevated mercury concentrations while accounting for imperfect detection probabilities.
Collaboration Education Suite for Children with ASD

Our project explores whether multiple robots can be deployed as a therapeutic tool to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) practice social interaction and collaboration. We implemented a human-robot interaction (HRI) solution using two different assistive social robots; the NAO humanoid robot and the Cozmo robot. We have several modules available through an iOS app that we developed for children with ASD to engage with these robots in scenarios focused on social interaction and collaboration. We are also in the process of refining an intelligent web interface so that we, as well as therapists and caregivers, can access relevant data collected by our HRI software. The web interface is designed to help caregivers and therapists, along with our team, monitor their child's or patient's progress, and understand which methods work best. The overall goal is to conduct an HRI user study with children with ASD to test how our software solution performs.
Shingwauk's Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools

Cook's European contemporaries did, in fact, report that the Hawaiians regarded Cook as their god Lono. In writing How "Natives" Think, rather than How Hawaiians Thought^ Sahlins broadens not only the appeal of his book, but the scope of his critique. Northwest Coast historians tend to regard their field as a subdiscipline of Canadian or American historiography — that is, we look east for our intellectual identity. Yet, the history of early contact here was as much, if not more, a part of a broader Pacific experience than it was an extension of historical processes stemming from the St. Lawrence Seaway or the Great Plains. If for no other reason than the temporal parallels linking contact on this coast with other parts of Pacific Oceania, we would be well advised to pay greater attention to the academic discussions emanating from our west. For while the particulars and even the subject matter of a controversy over Cook's Hawaiian apotheosis may have little in common with current Northwest Coast ethnohistorical debate, the issues addressed in the Sahl insObeyesekere exchange are central to ethnohistory. As ethnohistorians we must be cautious and reflective in our application of interpretive models, and we must be honest with regard to our archival and oral sources. We must not allow modern sensibilities and/or perceived contemporary polit ical objectives to taint our research. In light of this publication, and despite the fact that Sahlins's depiction of eighteenth-century Hawaiians might not coincide with modern Western understandings of "practical rationali ty" (and migh t , therefore, be politically unpopular in the short term), Sahlins's place in history as a leading twentieth-century thinker and scholar appears secure. So too, one hopes, are the exhaustive e thno historical research techniques, the cautious yet honest methodologies, and the critical processes of peer review Sahlins propounds.
Rainbow Signature Scheme to Secure GOOSE Communications From Quantum Computer Attacks

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62351-6 standard prescribes provisions to secure IEC 61850-8-1 generic object-oriented substation events (GOOSE) communications from cyber threats. The GOOSE authentication schemes recommended by IEC 62351-6 have shortcomings, such as long authentication-value computation times, large signature lengths, the usage of symmetric keys, and susceptibility to quantum computer attacks. To overcome these, this paper proposes the usage of the rainbow signature scheme (RSS), a quantum cryptographic method to secure GOOSE messages. The RSS offers fast signature generation and verification using asymmetric keys, making it very attractive to meet the time-latency and security requirements of the GOOSE protocol. The adaptation of the RSS cryptography method for its application to the GOOSE protocol is presented in this paper. The algorithms for key generation, signature computation and message verification are discussed in detail. A first-of-its-kind C library that incorporates security features within the GOOSE protocol in compliance with the IEC 62351-6–stipulated format, is developed. The superior features of the RSS in comparison with the other IEC 62351-6 security schemes are demonstrated.
The Role of the Modern General Counsel

The last three decades have seen a transformation in the role of the general counsel in major US companies. The general counsel has replaced the senior partner in the (external) law firm, as the go-to person for the CEO and the board of directors on advising on a plethora of topics ranging from regulatory compliance to risk mitigation to tackling cross-border operational issues and general (corporate) ethical standards. The broader role that general counsels play has had a positive impact on the overall quality of in-house legal departments, including lowering external legal costs and turn-around time. However, these are ancillary benefits and not its raison d'etre, and a series of events over the last several decades are responsible for shaping the role of the general counsel. Specifically, the adoption of a higher standard of director liability through judicial decisions in the US, and, an increase in regulatory oversight and scrutiny of corporate actions have compelled companies towards stricter compliance regimes, and general counsels seem best suited to oversee this task. However, the role is not without conflict as general counsels owe a duty both to the board of directors and management. Hence, changes in the corporate governance structure may be necessary to minimize the conflict if not completely remove it.
VALIDATION OF A LABORATORY PROCEDURE FOR SIMULATING CRITICAL INTERVAL OVERTAKING

The present study assessed the validity of a laboratory simulation of the car-passing task by means of canonical correlation techniques. Twelve experienced drivers observed filmed situations in the laboratory and actual situations on the road. A canonical correlation of .96 was obtained between the laboratory performance measures and the on-the-road criterion measures. It was found that 41% of the variability occounted for in the laboratory was redundant with 60% of that accounted for on the road. Application to driver education is emphasized.
Durability of Optical Nanostructures: Laser Diode Structures and Packages, A Case Study

Durability is a synergistic reliable response of subsystems in integrated (packaged) systems, which in this case under discussion are nanostructured integrated optical systems. Understanding science and engineering aspects of these optical nanostructures integrated systems through design, fabrication, packaging and reliability testing are of paramount importance to obtain durable optical nanostructured packaged systems. To communicate specific aspects, this chapter addresses durability of optical quantum structures through carefully selected case studies in two parts. The part one includes novel design and deposition of quantum structures and the part two includes discussion of reliability of packaged quantum layered laser diode structures.
Effective denitrification scales predictably with water residence time across diverse systems

Nitrogen provides a fundamental building block for life. However, some nitrogen species (e.g., NO~3~) cause water quality degradation and contribute to climatic warming as a greenhouse gas (e.g., N~2~O). Denitrification is a central process in the nitrogen cycle, transforming water-soluble nitrogen to gaseous nitrogen, thereby removing nitrogen from the system. The factors controlling denitrification are known, yet the general quantitative comparison of controls on denitrification remains a rich area of study. Understanding the relative importance of various controls over denitrification is critical given its biological importance, role in the Earth system, and the current perturbation of the global nitrogen cycle by human activity. We demonstrate that the 'effective' denitrification rate constant (first-order constant; k~e~ [T^-1^]) and advective water transport (mean residence time; [tau] [T]) scale inversely across diverse systems, ranging from hillslopes and groundwater to large lakes and estuaries. As a result, we observe a relatively constant nitrogen removal across nine orders of magnitude in transport time scales. A central question remains as to why k~e~ scales approximately linearly with [tau]. We suggest that the variability of k~e~ arises from hydrologic masking of an intrinsic denitrification rate constant (k~den~). A two-compartment model shows how k~e~ varies with the amount of advective water, and thus [tau], explaining how denitrification losses in the reactive zone of a system are controlled by mass transfer to that reactive zone. Our finding highlights mean residence time in the advective zone as a primary control on effective rates of denitrification, while other factors (e.g., nitrate and organic carbon concentrations) provide secondary controls. Furthermore, the relationship between k~e~ and [tau] demonstrates the strong coupling of the water and nitrogen cycles.
Regulation of expression of the gene encoding the major surfactant protein (SP-A) in human fetal lung in vitro. Disparate effects of glucocorticoids on transcription and on mRNA stability.

Abstract We previously observed that dexamethasone had a biphasic effect on the levels of mRNA encoding the major surfactant protein (SP-A) in human fetal lung in vitro; at concentrations of 10(-10) and 10(-9) M, dexamethasone caused an increase in the levels of SP-A mRNA, whereas at concentrations of greater than 10(-8) M, the steroid had a pronounced inhibitory effect on SP-A mRNA levels. It was also found that dexamethasone antagonized the stimulatory effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2cAMP) on SP-A mRNA levels in human fetal lung in vitro. It was our objective, in the present study, to characterize further the effects of dexamethasone and Bt2cAMP on SP-A mRNA levels in human fetal lung tissue and to determine whether such effects are associated with comparable changes in the transcriptional activity of the SP-A gene. We found that the action of dexamethasone (10(-7) M) to reduce the levels of SP-A mRNA in control and Bt2cAMP-treated fetal lung explants was evident within 2 h of its addition to the culture medium; SP-A mRNA was reduced to barely detectable levels in control and in Bt2cAMP-treated tissues after 24 h of dexamethasone treatment. The action of dexamethasone to reduce SP-A mRNA levels was not prevented by co-incubation with either actinomycin D or cycloheximide. In contrast to its dose-related biphasic effects on the levels of SP-A mRNA, we found that dexamethasone caused a dose-dependent stimulation of SP-A gene transcription. Bt2cAMP also increased the transcriptional activity of the SP-A gene in the human fetal lung in vitro. In fetal lung explants incubated in the presence of dexamethasone plus Bt2cAMP, a synergistic induction of SP-A gene transcription was observed at concentrations of dexamethasone of 10(-9)-10(-7) M. Our findings are indicative that the stimulatory effects of dexamethasone (10(-10)-10(-9) M) on SP-A mRNA levels are reflective of a stimulatory effect of the steroid on SP-A gene transcription, whereas the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone (10(-7) M) on SP-A mRNA levels are the result of a dominant effect of the steroid in elevated concentrations to reduce SP-A mRNA stability.
The Preparation of Community/Public Health Nurses: Amplifying the Impact

In summary, improved population health, population focused care, and community-based networks are the objectives of health care delivery systems. Community/public health nursing education, practice, and research must be re-examined, re-focused, and re-designed to address the challenges of an expanding 21st century health care delivery to populations and communities. Common standards are in place to be utilized by academia, practice and research. With a unified front, C/PHN can collectively play an important transformative role and go forward to meet the ever expanding challenges of the 21st century populations and communities. The Association of Public Health Nurses (APHN) and the Association of Community Health Nurse Educator (ACHNE) have a joint meeting planned in June 2016 in Indianapolis. Please bring your colleagues, stakeholders, and community partners to join the voices of C/PHN to make a positive impact on the changing health care environment through our education, practice and work.
Tienson's Challenge to Content Externalism

In this commentary, I examine John Tienson's argument that reflection on the epistemic situation of the Cartesian meditator suggests that intentional content is narrow. My aim is to show how his argument is closely connected to another prominent objection to externalism — the McKinsey argument.
A Technique For Teaching Postvocalic American English [1] To Spanish Americans

N TEACHING the pronunciation of a foreign language one of the I most difficult errors to correct is that of phonetic substitution which does not result in semantic confusion. This mispronunciation results in much of the so-called “foreign accent,” i e . , a strangeness which is easy for a native speaker to note as being different, but which does not confuse his understanding of what the foreigner is saying. Such a sound is the variety of postvocalic 1 used by Spanish speakers in words like meal, bill, sale, tell, shall, doll, cool, full, bowl, call, mile, towel, soil, mule, milk, film, cold, colt. The Spanish speaker will substitute his so-called “clear” 1 in all of these words with a resulting sound peculiar to American ears but not strange enough to be confused with any other sound in the language. There is no confusion between tell as the Spanish speaker pronounces it and as a native speaker of English pronounces itnone of the sort of confusion that occurs when a foreigner substitutes his /i/ vowel for the English /I/ making such words as bit sound somewhat like beat. Naturally in teaching pronunciation it is essential to concentrate first on the phonemic distinctions such as /i/ and /I/, /s/ and /z/, and so forth. For advanced students, however, who desire to speak English with as little foreign flavor as possible, it is important to overcome the non-phonemic peculiarities of speech. In the formulation of pronunciation exercises, the phonetic differences between Spanish and English postvocalic I must be considered first. Spanish 1 is produced with the tip and blade of the tongue spread out against the upper gum with a good deal of muscular pressure. The English postvocalic 1 is made with the tip of the tongue against the upper gum, the middle of the tongue rather low, and with very little pressure. Moreover, the transition from the preceding vowel to the 1 tends to be slower than in Spanish. In classroom drill, therefore, articulatory position, tongue pressure, and transition speed need to be emphasized. A typical set of exercises could proceed as follows: (1) The teacher pronounces the word eel very slowly diphthongizing the vowel even to the point of making two separate syllables:
The impact of intraocular pressure reduction on retinal ganglion cell function measured using pattern electroretinogram in eyes receiving latanoprost 0.005% versus placebo.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the impact of intraocular (IOP) reduction on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function measured using pattern electroretinogram optimized for glaucoma (PERGLA) in glaucoma suspect and glaucomatous eyes receiving latanoprost 0.005% versus placebo. Methods This was a prospective, placebo-controlled, double masked, cross-over clinical trial. One randomly selected eye of each subject meeting eligibility criteria was enrolled. At each visit, subjects underwent five diurnal measurements between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm consisting of Goldmann IOP, and PERGLA measurements. A baseline examination was performed following a 4-week washout period, and repeat examination after randomly receiving latanoprost or placebo for 4-weeks. Subjects were then crossed over to receive the alternative therapy for 4 weeks following a second washout period, and underwent repeat examination. Linear mixed-effect models were used for the analysis. Results Sixty-eight eyes (35 glaucoma, 33 glaucoma suspect) of 68 patients (mean age 67.4 ± 10.6 years) were enrolled. The mean IOP (mm Hg) after latanoprost 0.005% therapy (14.9 ± 3.8) was significantly lower than baseline (18.8 ± 4.7, p 0.05) to baseline (0.49 ± 0.24 and 1.69 ± 0.19) and placebo (0.50 ± 0.24 and 1.72 ± 0.23). No significant (p > 0.05) diurnal variation in PERGLA amplitude was observed at baseline, or using latanoprost or placebo. Treatment with latanoprost, time of day, and IOP were not significantly (p > 0.05) associated with PERGLA amplitude or phase. Conclusion Twenty percent IOP reduction using latanoprost monotherapy is not associated with improvement in RGC function measured with PERGLA.
Organizational Climate: Measures, Research and Contingencies

This paper critically reviews one of the most important but least understood concepts in management--organizational climate. A contingency approach is proposed, various measures are discussed, and ...
Viewpoint: Bureaucratic Politics and the Case of Satellite Export Controls

The export control regime applied to commercial satellites in the United States (U.S.) is not rational suggesting that the desired policy outcome of this regime is not met. The regime under review is the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Commercially available technologies were placed within this regime to make sure that such technologies do not harm U.S. national security interests. It is argued in this viewpoint that not only does this regime weaken national security, but it also affects commercial space. The commercial space sector is affected through a cost of compliance with the regime. Discussed herein is the political process of export control and commercial satellites with particular attention to how that process is influenced by bureaucratic politics.
Catalytic synthesis of α-methylene-γ-valerolactone: a biomass-derived acrylic monomer

α-Methylene-γ-valerolactone (MeMBL) is an attractive, new, acrylic monomer that imparts high thermal stability to polymers. The absence of an economically attractive catalytic process for its preparation has prevented commercial development. Previous methods have used stoichiometric, expensive reagents. We now report a two-step process for its synthesis from a biomass-derived starting material, levulinic acid. The first step is a high yield hydrogenation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone (GVL) in nearly quantitative yield using a Ru/C catalyst. The second step is a heterogeneous, gas phase catalytic condensation of formaldehyde with GVL over basic catalysts, prepared from Group 1 and 2 metal salts on silica. While the reaction is very selective to lactone derivatives, the process suffers form rapid catalyst deactivation, however regeneration can be accomplished under relatively mild conditions. Although an isomer of the desired product is highly favored over a wide temperature range, proper choice of catalyst gives the thermodynamically unfavorable, yet desirable product in very high yield.
Forest certification, institutional capacity, and learning: An analysis of the impacts of the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme

Abstract While forest certification remains one of the favored policy instruments for assessing the long-term sustainability of the world's forest resources, its impacts on the forest management systems undergoing certification remain vastly understudied. While previous studies have focused almost exclusively on the impacts of FSC certification on forest management practices, our research focuses on elucidating the impacts of the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) on the forest management systems of Peninsular Malaysia. Using primary and secondary data, our study analyzes the types of noncompliance issues present in these systems and their frequencies and distributions over space and time. We found that the distribution of noncompliance issues across the MTCS forest management standard was skewed toward the more ecologically-related criteria. Yet we also found evidence of significant improvements having already occurred in the forest management systems of Peninsular Malaysia. Overall, our systematic analysis of the role of certification in shaping forest management systems in Peninsular Malaysia suggests that PEFC-endorsed schemes like the MTCS may ultimately lead to positive impacts in these systems.
Criteria used in first admissions and readmissions to psychiatric hospitals.

Abstract This is a study to determine whether there is a difference in the criteria employed in the decision-making process of first admissions compared to readmissions. The data were obtained from questionnaires completed by admitting personnel on 407 applicants to two state psychiatric hospitals in Ohio. Path analysis was employed in evaluating a theroretical model of the decision process. It was found that overlapping but somewhat different criteria for admissions and readmissions were employed. Differential criteria regarding social contexts and pathological behaviors were applied in the two decisions.
Antioxidant properties of nitecapone (OR-462).

Abstract Nitecapone [3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)methylene-2,4-pentanedione] [OR-462] is a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor with gastroprotective properties. Recently, its antioxidant properties have been discovered: It scavenges peroxyl radicals (ROO . ) and thus spares glutathione. Further examination of the properties of nitecapone demonstrated a remarkable ability of this compound to act as an antioxidant: (1) to scavenge ROO . in solution with a stoichiometry factor of 2: (2) to scavenge ROO . in membranes; (3) to inhibit lipid peroxidation; (4) to act as a competitive inhibitor for xanthine oxidase with K i of 8.8 μM; (5) to scavenge O 2 − with a second order kinetic rate constant of 1.0 × 10 4 M −1 s −1 ; and (6) to scavenge HO . . Nitecapone also interacts with oxidation product of ascorbate to participate in recycling of vitamin E. Thus, nitecapone potentially is an effective therapeutic antioxidant, and the use of this compound in a combination with other antioxidants may be beneficial.
Temporality and Context for detecting adverse drug reactions from longitudinal data

This paper introduces a method for mining co-occurring events from longitudinal data, and applies this method to detecting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from patient data. Electronic health records are richer than older data sources (such as spontaneous report records) and thus are ideal for ADR mining. However, current data mining methods, such as disproportionality ratios and temporal itemset mining, ignore certain important aspects of the longitudinal data in patient records. In this paper, we highlight two specific problems with current methods, which we name temporal and contextual sensitivity, and discuss why these two properties are vital to mining patterns from longitudinal data. We also propose two sensitive longitudinal rate comparison measures, which utilize condition occurrence rates and length of drug eras, for mining ADRs from this type of data. These novel methods are then used to rank potential ADRs, along with existing state-of-the-art methods, under many simulated yet realistic datasets. In 48 out of 60 experiments, the proposed longitudinal rate comparison methods significantly outperform other methods in mining known ADRs from other drug / condition pairs.
Rethinking Race and Culture in Brazil's First Afro-Brazilian Congress of 1934

Bringing together diverse scholars such as Arthur Ramos, Edison Carneiro and Gilberto Freyre, Brazil's First Afro-Brazilian Congress of 1934 encapsulated a pivotal transition in the history of the social sciences and race in Brazil. The Congress, organised by Freyre, represented an attempt by many scholars to break with racial determinism and to emphasise the importance of culture rather than race. This approach seemed to offer increased potential for social equality. However, the new focus on culture reproduced the same hierarchies that scholars were trying to escape. As this article demonstrates, scholars at the Congress redeemed the black race through the use of a new cultural framework, but the role ascribed to African culture was still bound by the same concepts of superiority and inferiority.