cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying entities from scientific publications: A comparison of vocabulary- and model-based methods

Abstract The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of five entity extraction methods for the task of identifying entities from scientific publications, including two vocabulary-based methods (a keyword-based and a Wikipedia-based) and three model-based methods (conditional random fields (CRF), CRF with keyword-based dictionary, and CRF with Wikipedia-based dictionary). These methods are applied to an annotated test set of publications in computer science. Precision, recall, accuracy, area under the ROC curve, and area under the precision-recall curve are employed as the evaluative indicators. Results show that the model-based methods outperform the vocabulary-based ones, among which CRF with keyword-based dictionary has the best performance. Between the two vocabulary-based methods, the keyword-based one has a higher recall and the Wikipedia-based one has a higher precision. The findings of this study help inform the understanding of informetric research at a more granular level.
Industry 4.0, Digitisation in Manufacturing, and Simulation: A Review of the Literature

Simulation is perhaps the most widely used approach to design and analyze manufacturing systems than to any other application area. Industry 4.0, the latest industrial revolution, also involves the use of simulation and other related technologies in manufacturing. In this study, our main ambition is to provide readers with a comprehensive review of publications which lie within the intersection of Industry 4.0, digitization in manufacturing, and simulation. To achieve this, we follow a two-stage review methodology. Firstly, we review several academic databases and discuss the impact and application domain of a number of selected papers. Secondly, we perform a direct Google Scholar search and present numerical results on global trends for the related technologies between years 2011 and 2018. Our reviews show that simulation is in the heart of most of the technologies Industry 4.0 utilises or provides. Simulation has significant role in Industry 4.0 in terms of supporting development and deployment of its technologies such as Cyber-Physical System (CPS), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Smart Factory, Digital Twin, and Internet of Things (IoT). Additionally in terms of management of these technologies, simulation helps design, operate and optimise processes in factories.
Lower Extremity Paralysis After Radiofrequency Ablation of Vertebral Metastases.

Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) focally destroys abnormal or dysfunctional tissue using thermal energy generated from alternating current. The utilization of RFA has gained popularity as a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of skeletal metastases with a particular focus on palliative pain treatments to the spine, pelvis, long bones, sternum, and glenoid. More recently, single-session procedures that combine RFA with vertebral augmentation techniques have allowed treatment to areas of pain associated with pathologic fractures secondary to metastatic disease. Although many studies have been done to investigate the safety and efficacy of RFA, there have been no reported cases to date in which the use of RFA for the treatment of spinal metastases has led to any major permanent neurological injury. Case Description This report describes a case of a 61-year-old woman who underwent RFA and kyphoplasty for spinal metastases and noted the immediate onset of lower extremity paralysis after the procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of permanent lower extremity paralysis in the medical literature after radiofrequency thermal ablation of spine metastases. Conclusions Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging and physical examination suggest RFA-induced thermal injury as the most likely mechanism of paralysis. In this report, a review of previous in vivo models used in studying the efficacy and safety of spine RFA is conducted. Additionally, the literature has been reviewed for any neurological events reported with the use of RFA in the treatment of patients with vertebral pathology.
Some Comments and Replies

In this chapter I comment on and give a number of replies to matters raised in the papers on my work on paraconsistency and dialetheism in this volume.
Overcoming Adaptive Resistance to KRAS Inhibitors Through Vertical Pathway Targeting

KRAS G12C inhibitors have shown promise in KRAS G12C-mutant lung cancer but intrinsic and acquired resistance are common. Cotreatment with inhibitors of the protein phosphatase SHP2 can abrogate the adaptive response of cancer cells to KRAS inhibitors resulting in greater suppression of MAPK signaling and enhanced tumor growth inhibition.See related article by Ryan et al., p. 1633.
The utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography for the assessment of limbal stem cell deficiency

Abstract Purpose To determine the utility of anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography (AS-OCTA) in assessing limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Methods Twenty-six eyes of 24 LSCD patients, classified clinically into stage I, II and III, and 12 eyes of 12 healthy subjects were included. AS-OCTA images were analyzed by two masked observers, measuring the maximum corneal vascular extension (CoVE) from the limbus to the furthest vessel over the cornea, and corneal vascular thickness (CoVT) from the most superficial to the deepest corneal vessel. Results CoVE was 0.27 ± 0.10, 0.79 ± 0.21, 1.68 ± 0.89 and 2.53 ± 0.82 mm in controls, stage I, II and III LSCD, respectively (p 0.900). Conclusion LSCD demonstrates significant changes in CoVE and CoVT as early as stage I LSCD in comparison to controls. CoVE and CoVT strongly correlate to both disease severity and BCVA. AS-OCTA may provide novel quantitative and non-invasive parameters to assess LSCD.
The Law and Economics of Creativity at the Workplace

Technological and legal developments led to the rise of employed creativity in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The new class of employers claimed the rights in the creative products produced by artists and inventors employed by it, and after a short struggle, its demands were satisfied: by and large the law acknowledges the rights of employers in creative products produced by workers (employees and contractors), just as it acknowledges the rights of employers in any other products. This legal victory, although it took place almost a century ago, is still fiercely debated among scholars and participants in creative industries. In the past century, thousands of disputes between employers and workers over rights in creative products were brought before the courts and inspired voluminous commentary on the topic. Nonetheless, the study of the nature and structure of the law that allocates the rights between employers and workers has generally been neglected. This paper studies the organization of creativity at the workplace, presents a general framework for understanding the present allocation rules, evaluates these rules, and offers simple guidelines for designing better rules, when needed. The paper also examines the myths of the starving artist and the hero inventor and their inputs into the production of creative products. The paper concludes that the differences between the production of creative products and non-creative products do not call for unique allocation rules for creative production. More specifically, I argue that the distinctive properties of creative workers and the characteristics of their employment do not justify workers' ownership.
Crystallographic characterization of the metal–organic framework Fe2(bdp)3 upon reductive cation insertion

Precisely locating extra-framework cations in anionic metal-organic framework compounds remains a long-standing, yet crucial, challenge for elucidating structure-performance relationships in functional materials. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction is one of the most powerful approaches for this task, but single crystals of frameworks often degrade when subjected to post-synthetic metalation or reduction. Here, we demonstrate the growth of sizable single crystals of the robust metal-organic framework Fe2(bdp)3 (bdp2- = benzene-1,4-dipyrazolate) and employ single-crystal-to-single-crystal chemical reductions to access the solvated framework materials A2Fe2(bdp)3·yTHF (A = Li+, Na+, K+). X-ray diffraction analysis of the sodium and potassium congeners reveals that the cations are located near the center of the triangular framework channels and are stabilized by weak cation-π interactions with the framework ligands. Freeze-drying with benzene enables isolation of activated single crystals of Na0.5Fe2(bdp)3 and Li2Fe2(bdp)3 and the first structural characterization of activated metal-organic frameworks wherein extra-framework alkali metal cations are also structurally located. Comparison of the solvated and activated sodium-containing structures reveals that the cation positions differ in the two materials, likely due to cation migration that occurs upon solvent removal to maximize stabilizing cation-π interactions. Hydrogen adsorption data indicate that these cation-framework interactions are sufficient to diminish the effective cationic charge, leading to little or no enhancement in gas uptake relative to Fe2(bdp)3. In contrast, Mg0.85Fe2(bdp)3 exhibits enhanced H2 affinity and capacity over the non-reduced parent material. This observation shows that increasing the charge density of the pore-residing cation serves to compensate for charge dampening effects resulting from cation-framework interactions and thereby promotes stronger cation-H2 interactions.
In Situ Reduction and Functionalization of Polycyclic Quinones

Attempts to functionalize polycyclic quinones using lithium diisopropylamide as a base led to the unexpected formation of acenes. This reaction proceeds by electron transfer from the base to the el...
Development and Testing of the Quality Improvement Self-efficacy Inventory:

Quality improvement is paramount for patient safety. Leading change for quality improvement requires nurses with knowledge and skills beyond the clinical management of patients. In this study, staff nurses working in hospitals throughout Alabama were asked via an online survey to rate their quality improvement knowledge and skills using the new 10-item Quality Improvement Self-Efficacy Inventory (QISEI) and their perceptions of the nursing work environment using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index. Nurses (N = 886) rated the basic quality improvement items higher than the more advanced items. Several nurse characteristics and the nursing work environment were associated with nurses' ratings of their quality improvement knowledge and skills. Educators and administrators in health care organizations can use QISEI to gauge their nurses' knowledge and skills and then develop continuous professional development opportunities aimed at improving quality and safety competencies.
Abstract 16045: Buprenorphine and Methadone Treatment is Associated With Less Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

Introduction: Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who receive medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), either buprenorphine or methadone, have decreased all-cause and overdose mortality. Alth...
Self-compassion and Shame Among Rape Survivors.

Women are at increased risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression associated with rape, and shame plays a vital role in the development and maintenance of PTSD and depression. Th...
High-dose irradiation in combination with non-ablative low-dose radiation to treat metastatic disease after progression on immunotherapy: Results of a phase II trial.

Abstract Aim To report early findings from a phase II trial of high-dose radiotherapy (HD-RT) with or without low-dose RT (LD-RT) for metastatic cancer. Methods Eligible patients had metastatic disease that progressed on immunotherapy within 6 months. Patients were given either HD-RT (20–70 Gy total; 3–12.5 Gy/f), or HD-RT + LD-RT (0.5–2 Gy/f up to 1–10 Gy total) to separate lesions, with continued immunotherapy. Radiographic response was assessed per RECIST 1.1 and Immune-Related Response Criteria (irRC). Primary endpoints: (1) 4-month disease control (DCR, complete/partial response [CR/PR] or stable disease [SD]) or an overall response (ORR, CR/PR) at any point in ≥10% of patients, per RECIST 1.1; (2) dose-limiting toxicity within 3 months not exceeding 30%. Secondary endpoint was lesion-specific response. Results Seventy-four patients (NSCLC, n = 38; melanoma n = 21) were analyzed (39 HD-RT and 35 HD-RT + LD-RT). The median follow-up time was 13.6 months. The primary endpoint was met for 72 evaluable patients, with a 4-month DCR of 42% (47% [16/34] vs. 37% [14/38] in HD-RT + LD-RT vs. HD-RT, P = 0.38), and 19% ORR at any time (26% [9/34] vs. 13% [5/38] in HD-RT + LD-RT vs. HD-RT, P = 0.27). Three patients had toxicity ≥grade 3. LD-RT lesion response (53%) was improved compared to nonirradiated lesions in HD-RT + LD-RT (23%, P = 0.002) and HD-RT (11%, P Conclusions HD-RT plus LD-RT safely improved lesion-specific response in patients with immune resistant solid tumors by promoting infiltration of effector immune cells into the tumor microenvironment.
The effects of diurnal heat stress in dairy heifer calves

The present study was conducted to examine how dairy heifer calves would respond to a heat stress bout in terms of growth relative to nutrient intake. Nine Holstein and 2 Jersey heifer calves (n = 11) were individually housed and enrolled in a study containing 3 experimental periods (P). Period 1 lasted 7 d during which baseline measurements were obtained. During period 2 (7 d), calves were subjected to diurnal heat stress (dHS) employed by maintaining barn temperature at 33°C (92°F) from 0900 to 2100 h and letting it be equilibrated with outside temperature [24°C (75°F)] during the night. Follow-up measurements were made over 4 d (P3) immediately after dHS. Calves consumed 25% less feed during the day but compensated for it consuming more feed (35%) in night during dHS. Despite DMI (kg/d) being similar between dHS and baseline, ADG and feed efficiency decreased significantly during dHS. These effects are likely consequence of nutrient repartitioning towards the activated immune system and away from productive processes (i.e., growth), as blood haptoglobin increased 3-fold during dHS. Nonetheless, calves exhibited compensatory growth concurrently with increased DMI and drinking water per unit of DMI immediately following dHS. Overall, dHS severely hampers growth and feed efficiency of dairy heifer calves despite unaltered DMI relative to baseline. Understanding nutrient partitioning in calves during and after heat stress could help mitigate the adverse effects and help calves effectively recover from heat stress.
Characterizing rescue performance in a tertiary care medical center: a systems approach to provide management decision support.

BACKGROUND Allocation of limited resources to improve quality, patient safety, and outcomes is a decision-making challenge health care leaders face every day. While much valuable health care management research has concentrated on administrative data analysis, this approach often falls short of providing actionable information essential for effective management of specific system implementations and complex systems. This comprehensive performance analysis of a hospital-wide system illustrates application of various analysis approaches to support understanding specific system behaviors and identify leverage points for improvement. The study focuses on performance of a hospital rescue system supporting early recognition and response to patient deterioration, which is essential to reduce preventable inpatient deaths. METHODS Retrospective analysis of tertiary care hospital inpatient and rescue data was conducted using a systems analysis approach to characterize: patient demographics; rescue activation types and locations; temporal patterns of activation; and associations of patient factors, including complications, with post-rescue care disposition and outcomes. RESULTS Increases in bedside consultations (20% per year) were found with increased rescue activations during periods of resource limitations and changes (e.g., shift changes, weekends). Cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and sepsis complications present the highest risk for rescue and death. Distributions of incidence of rescue and death by day of patient stay may suggest opportunities for earlier recognition. CONCLUSIONS Specific findings highlight the potential of using rescue-related risk and targeted resource deployment strategies to improve early detection of deterioration. The approach and methods applied can be used by other institutions to understand performance and allow rational incremental improvements to complex care delivery systems.
Adenine nucleotide-binding sites on mitochondrial F1-ATPase. Evidence for an adenylate kinase-like orientation of catalytic and noncatalytic sites.

Abstract Nucleotide-depleted mitochondrial F1-ATPase (F1[0,0]) is inhibited by the diadenosine oligophosphate compounds, AP4A, AP5A, and AP6A (where APxA stands for 5',5'-diadenosine oligophosphates having a chain of x phosphoryl groups linking the two adenosine moieties). When F1[0,0] is preincubated with these compounds and then assayed for ATP hydrolysis activity under conditions that normally allow turnover at all three catalytic sites, the maximal level of inhibition observed is 80%. However, when assayed at lower ATP concentrations under conditions that allow simultaneous turnover at only two of the three sites, no inhibition is observed. A decrease in the number of phosphoryl groups that links the adenosine moieties to less than 4 (AP3A, AP2A) converts the compound to an activator of ATP hydrolysis, similar in effect to that obtained when one mol of ADP or 2-azido-ADP binds at a catalytic site on F1[0,0]. Inhibition by the compounds requires the presence of at least one vacant noncatalytic site. Evidence is provided that the probes also interact with a catalytic site. The stoichiometry for maximal inhibition by AP4A is 0.94 mol/mol of F1. The data presented support a model for the structure of nucleotide-binding sites on F1 that places catalytic and noncatalytic sites in close proximity in an orientation analogous to the ATP and AMP binding sites on adenylate kinase. Inhibition of the enzyme by the dinucleotide compounds can be explained by the cross-bridging of one of the catalytic sites to a noncatalytic site in analogy to the inhibition of adenylate kinase by AP5A. The residual capacity for bi-site catalysis indicates that the second and third catalytic sites remain catalytically active.
t-UNITY – a formal framework for modeling and reasoning about timing constraints in real-time systems

This paper proposes a timed extension to the UNITY framework, for modeling, specification and reasoning about timing constraints in real-time systems. The UNITY formalism of Chandi and Misra [1] is extended by introducing timing constraints in the definition of safety and liveness properties and in the proof logic. The proposed t-UNITY framework enables specification of both time independent logical properties and real-time properties, without any specific assumptions on scheduling and constraints imposed by implementation environments. The application of t-UNITY formalism to specification and reasoning about real-time systems is illustrated by an example.
Sorafenib/Regorafenib and Lapatinib interact to kill CNS tumor cells

The present studies were to determine whether the multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib or its derivative regorafenib interacted with the ERBB1/ERBB2 inhibitor lapatinib to kill CNS tumor cells. In multiple CNS tumor cell types sorafenib and lapatinib interacted in a greater than additive fashion to cause tumor cell death. Tumor cells lacking PTEN, and anoikis or lapatinib resistant cells were as sensitive to the drug combination as cells expressing PTEN or parental cells, respectively. Similar data were obtained using regorafenib. Treatment of brain cancer cells with [sorafenib + lapatinib] enhanced radiation toxicity. The drug combination increased the numbers of LC3-GFP vesicles; this correlated with a reduction in endogenous LC3II, and p62 and LAMP2 degradation. Knock down of Beclin1 or ATG5 significantly suppressed drug combination lethality. Expression of c-FLIP-s, BCL-XL or dominant negative caspase 9 reduced drug combination toxicity; knock down of FADD or CD95 was protective. Expression of both activated AKT and activated MEK1 or activated mTOR was required to strongly suppress drug combination lethality. As both lapatinib and sorafenib are FDA approved agents, our data argue for further determination as to whether lapatinib and sorafenib is a useful glioblastoma therapy.
Modeling and simulating the impact of physical propagation environment on ad hoc network routing protocols

In this paper, we will address the issues of modeling and simulating wireless ad hoc network and illustrate the impact of physical propagation model on ad hoc network routing protocol. The dynamic wireless channel is modeled with log-distance path loss model and log-normal shadow model. Further we will implement Rayleigh fading model to represent fading due to Doppler's effect caused by relative movement between the nodes. We will show that the performance of typical routing protocol such as OLSR significantly depends on the wireless channel through simulation in two different environments: open_environment characterized by open area and city_environment characterized by urban environment. The simulation results will show that the network degrades and the average delay and the routing packet overhead significantly increases in a higher attenuating environment such as the city_environment.
Fabulous Females and Peerless Pirs: Tales of Mad Adventure in Old Bengal

Reviewed Medium: book Translators: Tony K. Stewart Year: 2004 Pages: 267 Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0-19-516530-6 Prices: $60.00 US(hard cover).
Synthesis and atomic-level characterization of Ni nanoparticles in Al2O3 matrix

Single domain magnetic nickel nanocrystals were embedded in alumina matrix using a pulsed-laser deposition technique. Structural characterization carried out at the atomic level using scanning transmission electron microscopy with atomic number contrast (STEM-Z) in conjunction with electron energy loss spectroscopy have revealed that the Ni particles are well separated and have interfaces with the host matrix that are atomically sharp and free of any oxide layer. An excellent correlation was found between particle sizes determined theoretically from magnetization versus field data and experimentally using STEM-Z which indicates the absence of any magnetically dead layers on the Ni nanoparticles within an experimental error of 0.1 monolayer.
Mutagenic analysis of membrane protein functional mechanisms: bacteriorhodopsin as a model example.

Publisher Summary This chapter demonstrates the role played by mutational studies in determining the functional mechanism of a membrane protein model system, bacteriorhodopsin (bR). The combination of mutagenic and physical analyses can identify the amino acid interactions that participate in the membrane protein function. The chapter demonstrates that single amino acid mutations of can be used to isolate otherwise inaccessible individual (or subsets of) intermediate-state conformations, and to identify molecular domains that are energetically coupled to membrane protein functional properties. Site-directed mutational analysis of membrane protein structure/function relationships can been useful for identifying critical amino acids as well as functional domains such as interfaces, channels, and binding sites. In the absence of detailed structural information, analysis of mutational perturbations can only be performed in terms of putative local, noncovalent interactions in the immediate environment of the substituted amino acid. The bR examples used demonstrate that the combination of mutagenic and physical analyses can identify key amino acid interactions that participate in mechanisms of action. The most useful insights relied on mutations that produced functional perturbations and knowledge of their position in the 3D structure of bR. bR's experimental advantages render it a useful model system for probing the molecular mechanism of membrane proteins.
Fast neural solution of a nonlinear wave equation

A neural algorithm for rapidly simulating a certain class of nonlinear wave phenomena using analog VLSI neural hardware is presented and applied to the Korteweg-de Vries partial differential equation. The corresponding neural architecture is obtained from a pseudospectral representation of the spatial dependence, along with a leap-frog scheme for the temporal evolution. Numerical simulations demonstrated the robustness of the proposed approach. >
Disposable oxygen bottles: a cost-effective period of safe use.

Abstract The procedure of using pre-filled oxygen humidifier bottles until empty was evaluated for patient safety by bacteriologically sampling in-use bottles over a one-month period. No significant contamination was found. This suggests that these bottles can be used safely until empty, resulting in substantial cost-savings to the institution.
Scanning probe-based fabrication of 3D nanostructures via affinity templates, functional RNA, and meniscus-mediated surface remodeling.

Developing generic platforms to organize discrete molecular elements and nanostructures into deterministic patterns on surfaces is one of the central challenges in the field of nanotechnology. Here we review three applications of the atomic force microscope (AFM) that address this challenge. In the first, we use two-step nanografting to create patterns of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to drive the organization of virus particles that have been either genetically or chemically modified to bind to the SAMs. Virus-SAM chemistries are described that provide irreversible and reversible binding, respectively. In the second, we use similar SAM patterns as affinity templates that have been designed to covalently bind oligonucleotides engineered to bind to the SAMs and selected for their ability to mediate the subsequent growth of metallic nanocrystals. In the final application, the liquid meniscus that condenses at the AFM tip-substrate contact is used as a physical tool to both modulate the surface topography of a water soluble substrate and guide the hierarchical assembly of Au nanoparticles into nanowires. All three approaches can be generalized to meet the requirements of a wide variety of materials systems and thereby provide a potential route toward development of a generic platform for molecular and materials organization. SCANNING 30: 000–000, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The evolving role of semaphorins and plexins in the immune system: Plexin-A1 regulation of dendritic cell function

Semaphorin and plexin proteins were originally identified for their important axon guidance regulation. In recent years, their role within the immune system has been discovered. Semaphorins are considered the ligands to the plexin receptors, and together, they mediate cell-cell communication. Initially, through gene knock-out and knock-down studies, simple ligand-receptor pairings that regulate specific cellular interactions were discovered, such as between T cells and dendritic cells. However, more recent data indicate that individual cell types express multiple semaphorin and plexin proteins, engendering complex interactions involving multiple ligand-receptor pairs and multiple cell types. In this review, we describe contributions from our lab elucidating Plexin-A1 regulation of the immune system and our more recent findings of Semaphorin 6D regulation of T-cell immunity.
Implications of hiring women police officers: Police administrators’ concerns may not be justified

This article addresses the issue of whether affirmative action programs have an effect on the job attitudes of employees, the particular case being that of the Los Angeles Police Department. It draws on the findings of a larger study of the organizational impact of a legally mandated affirmative action program, and focuses on the ratings for job commitment and job satisfaction given by a sample of officers, stratified by gender and race, following introduction of an affirmative action recruitment program. A ‘cross‐sectional’ survey design is used, which as the authors acknowledge, is not strictly capable of identifying change or causality. However, the authors argue that the findings of generally positive job attitudes, with almost no difference by gender or race, indicate that the introduction of an affirmative action program need not result in a negative reaction in the police organization.
The rational Bernstein bases and the multirational blossoms

Abstract Rational Bezier curves are typically defined as projections of polynomial Bezier curves of one higher dimension. Here we introduce an alternative notion of rational Bezier curves defined in terms of rational Bernstein blending functions. These negative degree Bernstein bases share many properties with their polynomial kin: they are linearly independent, form a partition of unity, satisfy Descartes' Law of Signs, obey the standard recurrence relation, and have simple two term formulas for differentiation and degree elevation. But whereas the Bernstein bases of positive degree can represent only polynomial functions, Bernstein bases of negative degree can exactly represent arbitrary functions analytic in a neighborhood of zero. Moreover, whereas the Bernstein bases of positive degree can uniformly approximate arbitrary continuous functions on a compact interval, the Bernstein bases of negative degree can uniformly approximate all continuous functions that vanish at minus infinity. Nevertheless, despite these differences, most of the standard algorithms for Bezier curves, such as reparametrization, trimming, and conversion to and from monomial form extend quite naturally to their rational Bezier brethren. Bezier curves are closely associated with blossoming. The blossom of a degree n polynomial P ( x ) is the unique, symmetric, multiaffine function p ( u 1 ,…, u n ) that reduces to P ( x ) along the diagonal. The kth Bezier control point of P ( x ) is given by the blossom value p (1,…,1,0,…,0), where the blossom parameters consist of k ones and ( n − k ) zeros. Thus the blossom provides the dual functionals for standard Bezier curves. Here we introduce a new kind of blossom associated with rational Bernstein bases and with arbitrary analytic functions. The degree − n blossom of an analytic function F ( x ) is a function in two sets of parameters ( u 1 ,…, u k ) and ( v 1 ,…, v k + n ). This new blossom of F ( x ) is the unique function f ( u 1 ,…, u k / v 1 ,…, v k + n ) that is bisymmetric, multiaffine in the u parameters, satisfies a cancellation property, and reduces to F ( x ) along the diagonal. The kth Bezier control point of an analytic function F ( x ) relative to the degree − n Bernstein basis is given by the blossom value f (1,…,1/0,…,0), where the blossom parameters consist of k ones and ( n + k ) zeros. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the properties of these new rational Bezier curves and their associated multirational blossoms.
Preventing injuries inflicted on elderly psychiatric patients.

Earlier findings concerning the problem of injuries to institutionalized, elderly inpatients are presented followed by new data characterizing injured patients and the conditions under which injuries occur. Contrary to popular belief, elderly inpatients are underrepresented in frequency of injury relative to their numbers in mental hospitals, and injuries attributable to others tend to be inflicted by younger patients. However, this is true not only for injuries to elderly patients but also for injuries to younger patients and those with varying lengths of stay. In addition, injuries tend to be inflicted by patients who repeatedly assault, a situation emphasizing the need for increased nursing care management of specific members of the ward community. Evidence provided here suggests that the ward population may be a more potent determinant of injury rates among the elderly than the presence or absence of younger, more active patients. Recommendations for changes in ward management are aimed at reducing th...
Secondary Ozonide Formation from the Ozone Oxidation of Unsaturated Self-Assembled Monolayers on Zinc Selenide Attenuated Total Reflectance Crystals

The ozone oxidation of terminal unsaturated 7-octenyltrichlorosilane self-assembled monolayers (C8= SAMs) on ZnSe and on SiOx-coated ZnSe was followed as a function of time using Fourier transform ...
Climate change: Insurance for a warming planet

Climate policy should be viewed as protection against uncertain future risks, says Martin L. Weitzman.
The Mystery of the Chromosphere

We discuss many aspects of the solar chromosphere from an observational point of view, and show that most existing models are in direct contradiction to radio and eclipse measurements. We plead for attention to the actual observed radio temperatures and density gradients, as well as images of the chromosphere. We find that the chromosphere is not in hydrostatic equilibrium and suggest that the support is due to the tangled intranetwork fields.
Sex Related Differences in Isozymes of Serum Lactic Dehydrogenase (LDH).

SummaryDifferences in the distribution of the LDH isozymes in the serum of men and young women have been found, despite the fact that the mean total serum LDH activity is the same in men and women. These differences were found to disappear after the menopause. The theoretical significance of these observations in relation to the site of estrogen action and their importance in the diagnostic use of serum LDH isozymes are discussed.
Aggregation, Flexible Forms, and Estimation of Food Consumption Parameters: Reply

Grouping schemes, commodity aggregation, and the choice of functional specification significantly influence the results of empirical demand studies. This article assesses the importance of these factors for estimating aggregate food consumption parameters. A flexible food demand model that nests alternative specifications is estimated using U.S. data. Foods are aggregated based on a new grouping scheme adopted from the "Dietary Guidelines for Americans." Nutrient intake elasticities with respect to food prices and expenditure are calculated. The influence of socioeconomic variables on consumption and nutrient intake is analyzed. Price, income, and demographic effects are found to be highly significant. Our findings are invariant to the choice of functional form.
Induction of immune system mediators in the hippocampal formation in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: Selective effects on specific interleukins and interleukin receptors

The present study determined whether molecules normally associated with immune signalling processes, specifically the lymphokines interleukin-1 beta, -2, -3 and -6, can be detected in the human hippocampal formation, and whether their levels are altered in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Interleukin-1 beta, -2, -3 and -6 were measured in post mortem tissues from 14 control neurologically normal subjects, 24 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 17 patients with Parkinson's disease. In order to assess the extent of the cholinergic deficit in the Alzheimer's disease brains, choline acetyltransferase activity in the hippocampal formation was first determined. In the Alzheimer's disease tissues, choline acetyltransferase activity was significantly reduced (by 58%) compared to the control hippocampi, whereas that in the Parkinson's disease hippocampi was not significantly different from control. Using radioimmunoassays with antisera specific for the respective interleukin, marked increases in the content of immunoreactive interleukin-1 beta (99%), interleukin-2 (129%) and interleukin-3 (64%) could be detected in the Alzheimer's, but not the Parkinson's disease hippocampi. Interleukin-6 levels were not significantly different in either group, compared to the control hippocampi. Since striking elevations in various interleukins were detected in the Alzheimer's disease hippocampi, the possibility that concomitant alterations in interleukin receptor sites also occurred was investigated. Using radioligand binding to hippocampal membranes, low levels of interleukin binding were measured in the control hippocampi. In the Alzheimer's tissues, significant elevations in [125I]interleukin-1 beta (by 65%) and [125I]interleukin-2 (by 69%) binding were noted. In contrast, [125I]interleukin-3 binding was not different in the Alzheimer's disease compared to the control tissues. In the hippocampal formation of Parkinson's disease brains, only [125I]interleukin-2 binding was significantly increased (by 80%). In summary, the present results indicate that there is pronounced activation of immune system function, particularly specific immune mediators such as the interleukins, in the hippocampal formation in Alzheimer's disease, and further suggest that stimulation of immune function may be an integral component of the pathological changes that occur in this disease.
Localized sampling of cytoplasm from Xenopus oocytes for capillary electrophoresis.

Continued progress in cellular physiology requires new measurement strategies which can be applied to solitary cells. Since many cellular signaling pathways act on time scales of a few seconds, there is a critical need for single-cell techniques with subsecond time resolution. Capillary electrophoresis shows great promise as a tool for the analysis of individual cells. In the present work, we describe a technique to load a capillary with picoliter to nanoliter volumes of cytoplasm and initiate electrophoresis in less than 500 ms. When cytoplasm was sampled from a Xenopus laevis oocyte previously loaded with fluorescein, calcium green, or a mixture of the two fluorophores, their fluorescent peaks were readily identifiable on the electropherogram. Since the volume of cytoplasm (≤30 nL) loaded into the capillary was much smaller than the l μL oocyte volume, spatially localized biochemical measurements were also possible. To demonstrate the utility of this new technique, the activity of the enzyme β-galactosi...
Office-based treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis with percutaneous injection of cidofovir.

Objective: Our aim was to report our experience with office-based treatment of severe laryngeal papillomatosis with percutaneous injection of cidofovir in a case series of 5 patients. Study Design and Setting: We conducted a retrospective review of a case series in a tertiary academic care voice disorders clinic. Adult patients with papillomas of the vocal cords and anterior commissure received percutaneous injection using a point-touch technique. Clinical improvement or remission of the papillomatosis was noted. Results: Before initiation of office treatments, patients required direct laryngoscopy and CO2 laser ablation of papillomas on average every 2.8 months. There were no complications related to the injection technique. During a treatment period of 7 to 16 months (mean 12 months), a significant reduction in the volume of papillomatosis was achieved in all patients. One patient received 2 treatments and another received 1 treatment in the operating room for final clearance of papillomas. Conclusion: Office-based treatment of adult patients with anterior laryngeal papillomatosis using percutaneous injection of cidofovir reduces the need for repeated direct laryngoscopy and laser ablation under general anesthesia. Significance: Percutaneous injection treatment with cidofovir is a useful adjunct to direct laryngoscopy and laser ablation in the treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;126:642-648.)
Plasma corticosteroid and electrolyte dynamics of hybrid striped bass (white bass x striped bass) during netting and hauling

Striped bass hybrids (Morone chrysops female x Morone saxatilis male) confined in a net for 10 minutes had significantly elevated corticosteroid levels (24.2 † 5.4 μg/100 ml) and significant hyperchloremia (150.02 † 2.7 meq/liter), in comparison with baseline levels of 0.8 † 0.1 μg/100 ml and 132.6 † 1.5 meq/liter, respectively. Hauling hybrids for 2 hours in freshwater significantly elevated corticosteroid levels (12.2 † 1.2 μg/100 ml) and reduced chloride levels (119.8 † 1.4 meq/liter). Corticosteroid levels remained high and hypochloremia developed within 24 hours after both netting and hauling. Although netting and hauling in 25 mg/liter MS-2223 or 10 g/liter NaC1 prevented chloride depletion during the stress, hypochloremia developed within 72 hours after the fish were transferred to freshwater. The development of hypochloremia several hours after handling indicates that hybrid bass that survive the initial stress do not necessarily recover, but may die in the days following handling. Fish anesthetized in 50 mg/liter MS-222 for 15 minutes prior to handling followed by hauling in water containing a combination of 25 mg/liter MS-222 and 10 g/liter NaCl did not develop hypochloremia within 72 hours after hauling; plasma corticosteroids were elevated during transport, but returned to nearly normal levels within 24 hours. This combination of 25 mg/liter MS-222 and 10 g/liter salt was the most successful handling medium tested.
What Stroke Symptoms Tell Us: Association of Risk Factors and Individual Stroke Symptoms in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Background Stroke symptoms are common among people without a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack; however, it is unknown if particular attention should be focused on specific symptoms for subgroups of patients. Methods Using baseline data from 26,792 REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) participants without a history of transient ischemic attack or stroke, we assessed the association between age, sex, race, current smoking, hypertension, and diabetes and the 6 stroke symptoms in the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. Results The mean age of participants was 64.4 ± 9.4 years, 40.7% were black, and 55.2% were women. After multivariable adjustment, older persons more often reported an inability to understand (odds ratio [OR] 1.16 per 10 years older age; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.25) and unilateral vision loss (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.01-1.18) and less often reported numbness (OR 0.83; 95% CI 0.79-0.87) and weakness (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.80-0.90). Women reported difficulty communicating more often than men (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.19-1.56). The OR for blacks compared to whites for each of the 6 stroke symptoms was increased, markedly so for unilateral numbness (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.81-2.16), unilateral weakness (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.76-2.18), and inability to understand (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.61-2.18). Current smoking, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with higher ORs for each stroke symptom. Conclusions The association of risk factors with 6 individual stroke symptoms studied was not uniform, suggesting the need to emphasize individual stroke symptoms in stroke awareness campaigns when targeting populations defined by risk.
The Transatlantic Gap over Iraq

Abstract This paper makes three major arguments: 1) US policy inconsistencies during the Iraq containment era alienated key European allies; 2) the allies really wanted the same outcome as the US in Iraq; and 3) the allies supported the US role as leader of the international system, but they envisioned a cooperative leader, not the unilateral actions of the Clinton and Bush (Jr) administrations. Thus, US policy inconsistencies are partially responsible for the lack of allied support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Three time periods are examined: the Gulf War (1990–91), the Clinton-led coalition that continued against Iraq under UN sanctions—prior to the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein (1991–2002), and events during the Bush administration which led to the 2003 takeover of Iraq. The paper concludes with lessons learned and implications for future of US–European relations.
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: An Introduction. Robert E. Ardrey. Huddersfield, UK: Wiley, 2003, 276 pp., $110.00, hardcover. ISBN 0-471-49799-1.

This book covers the diverse and rapidly expanding topic of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The first half of the text (Chapters 1–4) covers chromatographic theory in some depth and provides an overview of MS methods that are applicable to LC-MS. Chapter 5 comprises the second half of the book and contains applications of LC-MS and MS techniques to small molecules and biopolymers. The text contains a bibliography, an appendix of physical constants, and a complete glossary of terms specific for LC-MS. This book is written especially for self-study and for in-house training sessions. Each chapter includes learning objectives, pertinent references, a summary, and self-assessment questions. Following a brief introductory chapter, Chapter 2 contains basic LC theory …
Effect of magnesium pemoline on learning and memory of a one-way avoidance response

This study tested the effects of 10 mg/kg of magnesium pemoline on the learning of a one-way avoidance response. Neither the rate of learning, nor the rate of extinction was affected by the administration of magnesium pemoline.
Development and psychometric testing of a new tool for detecting moral distress: the Moral Distress Thermometer.

Aim. To report the development and psychometric testing of the Moral Distress Thermometer. The Moral Distress Thermometer is a new screening tool to measure moral distress in nurses who practise in the hospital setting. Background. Moral distress occurs when one knows the ethically correct thing to do, but is prevented from acting on that perceived obligation. It is a well documented phenomenon with negative consequences that may be experienced by nurses. Creating an instrument to effectively and efficiently measure moral distress in a timely way has been identified as a priority for nursing. Design. This study used a cross-sectional survey design. Methods. Data collection for this research occurred in 2009. Participants simultaneously completed either the adult or pediatric version of the Moral Distress Scale version 2009 and the Moral Distress Thermometer. A total of 529 participants from various clinical areas completed both tools. Results. Coefficients alpha were adequate for both Adult (0·90) and Pediatric (0·92) Moral Distress Scale 2009 scales. Statistically significant Pearson correlations were found for the Moral Distress Thermometer with Adult Moral Distress Scale 2009 and Pediatric Moral Distress Scale 2009 and higher Moral Distress Thermometer, Adult Moral Distress Scale 2009 and Pediatric Moral Distress Scale 2009 means for participants who had left or who considered leaving a position because of moral distress. Conclusion. These findings provide support for the validity of the Moral Distress Thermometer.
Synthesis and Application of 1,3,4,5,7,8-Hexafluorotetracyanonaphthoquinodimethane (F6-TNAP): A Conductivity Dopant for Organic Light-Emitting Devices

Conductivity dopants are used in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) to reduce the operating voltage and consequently improve the power efficiency. Here, we report the synthesis, as well as photophysical and electroluminescent properties, of an organic molecular p-type conductivity dopant: 1,3,4,5,7,8-hexafluorotetracyanonaphthoquinodimethane (F6-TNAP). F6-TNAP was obtained in a three-step two-pot synthesis from commercially available octafluoronaphthalene. When 1%−5% of F6-TNAP was coevaporated with N,N′-di-1-naphthyl-N,N′-diphenyl-1,1′-biphenyl-4,4′diamine (α-NPD) an absorption band at 950 nm was formed, which is attributed to charge transfer and assigned to the F6-TNAP radical anion. Single-carrier (hole-only) devices fabricated with F6-TNAP doped into α-NPD as the hole transport layer (HTL) show a >2 V decrease in operating voltage, compared to the undoped device. A decrease in operating voltage was also demonstrated in blue OLED devices using a F6-TNAP-doped HTL, with only a slight decrease in ext...