cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of environmental effects of prospective trade agreements: the forest products ATL as a case study in the science–policy interface

Abstract In the past few decades, the interaction between commodity trade and environmental conditions in both exporting and importing countries has received increasing attention. Recognition of accumulating and expanding environmental consequences of economic activity coincides with an increase in the absolute value and relative importance of trade in the global economy. Therefore, efforts to further reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade are prospectively attractive economic policies and, at the same time, potentially problematic from the perspective of environmental policy objectives. As is the case with many contemporary policy debates, the trade and environment debate is frequently characterized by rhetoric and advocacy of positions. Although examination of the consequences of specific trade policies is complicated by the nature of trade negotiations, opportunities exist to use science in formulating and evaluating policies. In the late 1990s, the forest sector was one of eight sectors targeted for accelerated tariff reduction. In response to concerns about the environmental consequences of the initiative, the US government conducted a first-of-its kind, quantitative study of the economic and environmental effects of the trade policy initiative on the forest sector. Although the multi-sector initiative was not implemented, successful completion of the analysis contributed to policy deliberations in a highly-charged atmosphere (during preparations for the 1999 World Trade Organization Ministerial meeting in Seattle). Demonstration of the ability to provide relevant, technically-credible results is among the factors providing support for the idea of environmental review of future US trade agreements. Therefore, the process and the results of the review of this trade initiative provide a useful case study in the science–policy interface.
Impact of chronic renal insufficiency using serum creatinine vs glomerular filtration rate on perioperative clinical outcomes of carotid endarterectomy.

Background Several studies have reported conflicting results after carotid endarterectomy in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). However, only a few used glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) in their analysis. Study Design Nine hundred and forty carotid endarterectomies that had serum creatinine and GFR were analyzed. Patients were classified as normal (creatinine 2 ); moderate CRI (creatinine ≥1.5 to 2.9 mg/dL or GFR ≥30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), and severe CRI (creatinine ≥3 mg/dL or GFR 2 ). Results Using creatinine, perioperative stroke and major adverse event rates for normal, moderate CRI, and severe CRI were 2%, 3.5%, and 11.1% (p = 0.091) and 2.4%, 4.4%, and 11.1% (p = 0.089) vs 1.1%, 3.7%, and 5.4% (p = 0.018) and 1.8%, 4%, and 5.4% (p = 0.086) using GFR. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL had an odds ratio of 2.1 for having early stroke/death vs an odds ratio of 3.5 (p = 0.009) for GFR 2 . A multivariate analysis showed that GFR 2 had an odds ratio for early stroke/death of 3.7 (p = 0.013). Using creatinine, perioperative stroke rates for symptomatic patients were 2.8%, 2.6%, and 0% and 1.6%, 4.1%, and 11.1% (p = 0.045) for asymptomatic patients with normal, moderate CRI, and severe CRI vs 1.6%, 4.7%, and 9.1% for symptomatic patients (p = 0.09) and 1%, 3.2%, and 3.9% for asymptomatic patients (p = 0.074) using GFR. Perioperative major adverse event rates for symptomatic patients using creatinine were 3.2%, 2.6%, and 0%, and for asymptomatic patients 2.1%, 5.4%, and 11.1% (p = 0.048) vs 2.1%, 4.7%, and 9.1% for symptomatic patients and 1.7%, 3.7%, and 7.7% (p = 0.193) for asymptomatic patients using GFR. Moderate/severe CRI also had more cardiac (5.7% vs 2.4%; p = 0.072) and respiratory complications (2.5% vs 0.2%; p = 0.018). Conclusions Glomerular filtration rate (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) was more sensitive in detecting perioperative stroke/death after carotid endarterectomy in patients with CRI. Patients with moderate/severe CRI had more major adverse events than normal patients.
Indications for and end results of surgery in the treatment of duodenal ulcer

Abstract 1. 1. Duodenal ulcer is essentially a medical problem and surgery is indicated only for its complications, i.e., obstruction, recurrent hemorrhage, perforation, and penetration with intractable pain. 2. 2. Conservative operation such as pyloroplasty with excision of the ulcer or gastroenterostomy have given good results with a low mortality rate. 3. 3. The mortality rate associated with gastric resection is approximately three times as great as that of the more conservative operations and the prospects of complete relief of gastrointestinal symptoms are not much greater than with the more conservative procedures. 4. 4. In view of the relatively good results obtainable by conservative surgery, we do not believe that more radical operations should generally be applied in the treatment of an essentially benign disease. 5. 5. When duodenal ulcer is complicated by hemorrhage, obstruction, or perforation, the combination of conservative surgery and skilful medical management both before and after operation will offer more for the patient than either form of treatment alone.
Stabilization of 8S Progesterone Receptor from Human Prostate in the Presence of Molybdate Ion

In the presence of 10 mm molybdate ion, we are able to detect the appearance of a [6,7-3H]-17,21-dimethyl-19-nor-4,9-pregnadiene-3,20-dione- ([3H]R5020) binding moiety in human prostatic cytosol which sedimented at approximately 8S in a glycerol density gradient. The specifically bound [3H]-R5020 was displaced by progesterone, tiramcinolone acetonide, and R5020 but not by cortisol, dihydrotestosterone, 17β-estradiol, or diethylstilbestrol. Specific binding of [3H]R5020 in the presence of molybdate ion was shown to saturate at 7 × 10-10 m ( n = 64 fmol/mg of protein). The optimum concentration of molybdate ion for enhancing specific binding of [3H]-R5020 was determined to be between 7 and 20 mm. Molybdate ion was also effective in stabilizing the 8S R5020-binding moiety in a preincubation for 16 hr at 0° in the absence of added steroid.
The effects of climbing vegetation on the local microclimate, thermal performance, and air infiltration of four building facade orientations

Abstract The use of climbing plants and other vegetation types as part of building enclosures has been shown to improve facade thermal performance under certain conditions, although detailed measurements of the impacts of plants on wall shading and local environmental conditions under multiple orientations in real buildings are currently lacking. Therefore, this article presents results from a series of experiments conducted on bare and ivy-covered sections of four pairs of walls of different orientations on existing university buildings during summer conditions in Chicago, IL USA. Over a period of nine days, the research team monitored how existing plant layers impacted facade exterior surface temperatures, heat flux through the walls, localized outdoor air temperatures, relative humidity, absolute humidity, and air velocity immediately adjacent to the facades. Changes in nearby air temperatures and air velocity were also used to estimate the impact of the vegetation layer on air infiltration under hypothetical airtightness scenarios. The experimental results demonstrated that the ivy layers reduced exterior surface temperatures by an average of 0.7 °C across all facades (12.6 °C hourly maximum), depending on orientation and time of day. The ivy layers were estimated to yield a 10% reduction in heat flux through the opaque walls on average for the duration of the experiment, again varying by orientation and time of day. These findings are consistent with other recent studies. The plant layers also reduced outdoor air temperatures immediately adjacent to the facades by 0.8–2.1 °C, on average and varying with facade orientation. Relative humidity was higher inside the vegetation layers, but absolute humidity was not affected. Finally, the plant layers were also shown to lead to reductions in wind speeds immediately adjacent to the facades (averages ranging from 0% to 43%, depending on facade orientation and the presence of nearby obstructions), which when combined with measured differences in adjacent outdoor air temperature, were estimated to lead to an average reduction in air infiltration rates per unit wall area of 4–12%. Results herein provide further evidence that ivy walls can lead to small energy savings during summer conditions by solar shading and new evidence that additional energy savings may be achieved by reduced air infiltration rates because of the vegetation.
Facile Growth of Functional Perovskite Oxide Nanowire Arrays by Hybrid Physical-Chemical Techniques

A generalized route encompassing a facile hybrid physical/chemical approach is reported for fabricating size and shape selective nanowires of technologically important ferroelectric perovskite oxides (Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT) and Pb-free ZnSnO3) on industrially feasible large-area substrates. The approaches involve depositing nano-seed layers (50 - 100 nm in thickness) of the desired materials (Ti for PZT and ZnO for ZnSnO3) by pulsed laser deposition and RF sputtering techniques followed by oriented growth of nanowire arrays of these materials by solvothermal processes by varying solvent compositions and ratios. Similar crystal symmetry between the seed-layers facilitated the growth of well-aligned nanowire arrays of the targeted materials homogeneously on the substrates with a high packing density. Measurements of the electronic (field-emission), and ferroelectric properties of the materials are performed and discussed in terms of understanding their potential for future technological applications. The facile, low-cost method for fabricating high quality nanowires may expand the outreach of probes for understanding the structure-property relations in other perovskite materials.
Optical heterodyne communications systems

The potential of heterodyne systems is examined, beginning with a description of a typical optical heterodyne detection system. Sources for coherent systems are reviewed, and frequency agility is discussed. The problem of optical frequency determination and control is addressed. Two approaches for achieving polarization diversity reception are considered. Progress toward applying the techniques described is assessed. >
Dowel and core foundations.

Abstract The technique described fulfills the objectives for a reliable dowel and core foundation by eliminating the weak and non-resilient part of the tooth, and by sufficiently distributing stresses of leverage and torque. The technique further provides for a preparation on which any chosen coronal restoration may be constructed, and which can be modified for replacing the coronal restoration without disturbing the foundation.
Misdiagnosing the Teacher Quality Problem

The quality of teachers and teaching is undoubtedly among the most important factors shaping the learning and growth of students. In recent years reformers at the federal, state, and local levels have pushed a host of initiatives and programs seeking to upgrade the quality of teachers. Underlying much of the criticism and reforms is a series of assumptions and claims as to the sources of the problems plaguing the teaching occupation. This chapter focuses on three of these. The first is that the teaching occupation is plagued by unusually restrictive and unnecessary entry barriers-state teacher preparation and teacher licensing requirements, in particular. The second is that severe teacher shortages are confronting our elementary and secondary schools and our traditional teacher preparation sources are simply not producing sufficient numbers of teachers to meet the demand. The third and final claim is that the teaching force is inadequately trained and prepared.
Numerical approximation of product integrals

Abstract A technique for the numerical approximation of matrix-valued Riemann product integrals is developed. For a ⩽ x ∫ χ y ∫ χ v 2 ⋯ ∫ χ v 2 ∏ i=1 m F(ν i )dν 1 dν 2 ⋯dν m , and Am(x, y) denotes an approximation of Im(x, y) of the form (y−x) m ∑ k=1 n a k ∏ i=1 m F(χ ik ) , where ak and yik are fixed numbers for i = 1, 2,…, m and k = 1, 2,…, N and xik = x + (y − x)yik. The following result is established. If p is a positive integer, F is a function from the real numbers to the set of w × w matrices with real elements and F(1) exists and is continuous on [a, b], then there exists a bounded interval function H such that, if n, r, and s are positive integers, (b − a) n = h i = a + hi for i = 0, 1,…, n and 0 , then ∏ χ r− χ s (I+F dχ)− ∏ i=r s I+ ∑ j=1 p I j (χ i−1 ,χ i ) =h p H(χ r−1 ,χ s )+O(h p+1 ) Further, if F(j) exists and is continuous on [a, b] for j = 1, 2,…, p + 1 and A is exact for polynomials of degree less than p + 1 − j for j = 1, 2,…, p, then the preceding result remains valid when Aj is substituted for Ij.
Experimental Infection of Birds with Leptospira pomona Present in Bovine Urine and Preliminary Studies on Their Role in Transmission of Leptospirosis

Abstract LEPTOSPIROSIS in recent years has become a commonly reported disease of cattle and swine. It is also known to occur in horses, dogs, sheep and some rodents such as rats and mice. The exact role poultry may play in this disease is unknown. However, Bernkopf (1948) reported an experimental infection of chickens by feeding them a fluid culture of Leptospira with a pipette. He described this organism as being similar to Leptospira icterohaemoglobinuriae vitulorum reported earlier by Michin and Azinow (1937), and suggested that a natural infection could occur, but that it remained to be demonstrated. More recently, this organism has been referred to as Leptospira grippotyphosa (Symposium on the Leptospiroses, 1952). Gillespie et al. (1953) have observed positive agglutination-lysis tests for Leptospira pomona in chickens on a ranch where active bovine leptospirosis was diagnosed. Kenzy (1954) demonstrated agglutination-lysis antibodies for Leptospira pomona in hens fed, via a pipette, diluted …
Toward the Development of a Pursuit Decision Calculus: Pursuit Benefits Versus Pursuit Cost

To make unbiased decisions about whether to pursue a fleeing vehicle, officers must understand both the costs and the potential benefits of a pursuit. This manuscript describes an approach that identifies and assesses the impact of pursuit characteristics on pursuit costs. Data from official pursuit forms generated by officers in the Miami-Dade police department were used as a basis of the study. Log-linear models were used to identify direct and interactive effects of the pursuit characteristics. Upon finding significant effects, odds ratios were calculated. The findings indicate that there are certain pursuit characteristics, including number of units and speed, that significantly increase the likelihood of pursuits resulting in a cost to society including personal injury or property damage.
Altering light and soil N to limit Phalaris arundinacea reinvasion in sedge meadow restorations.

Efforts to eradicate invasive plants in restorations can unintentionally create conditions that favor reinvasion over the establishment of desired species, especially when remnant invasive propagules persist. Reducing resources needed by the invader for seedling establishment, however, may be an effective strategy to prevent reinvasion. Propagules of Phalaris arundinacea persist after removal from sedge meadow wetlands and reestablish quickly in posteradication conditions, hindering community restoration. A study was conducted in two experimental wetlands with controlled hydrologic regimes to determine if reducing light by sowing short-lived, nonpersistent native cover crops or immobilizing soil N by incorporating soil–sawdust amendments can prevent Phalaris reinvasion, allowing native communities to recover. A 10-species perennial target community and Phalaris were sown with highdiversity, low-diversity, or no cover crops in soils with or without sawdust, and seedling emergence, establishment, and growth were measured. High-diversity cover crops reduced light, decreasing Phalaris and target community seedling establishment by 89 and 57%, respectively. Short-term nitrogen reduction in sawdust-amended soils delayed Phalaris seedling emergence and decreased Phalaris seedling establishment by 59% but did not affect total target community seedling establishment. The target community reduced Phalaris seedling establishment as effectively as cover crops did. In plots where the target community was grown, amending soils with sawdust further reduced Phalaris seedling growth but not establishment. Results show that use of cover crops can reduce seedling establishment of desired species and is counterproductive to restoration goals. Further, establishing target species is more important and practical for limiting Phalaris reinvasion than is immobilizing nitrogen.
Sentence memory in aphasia.

A probe paradigm was used to assess memory for the surface structure of sentences in a group of anterior (Broca's) and a group of posterior (Wernicke's) aphasics. Three types of sentences were used: active, passive and center-embedded sentences. Results showed that for both patient groups memory for function words was especially impaired relative to the patient's ability to recover content words. Further, both groups had marked difficulties in remembering center-embedded sentences. A second experiment rules out the possibility that this latter result was due to the extra syntactic complexity of the center-embedded sentences. Results from both experiments were interpreted as indicating that neither anterior nor posterior aphasics have normal surface structure memory representations and that the aphasic's memory span for sentence material may be severely limited.
Blood-Brain Barrier Choline Transport Is Reduced in Diabetic Rats

The kinetics of blood-brain barrier (BBB) choline transport in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats were compared with those of age-matched vehicle-injected control rats. The brain uptake index (BUI) of choline in diabetic rats (13.9 +/- 1.1%) was significantly lower than that in control rats (22.6 +/- 0.7%) (P less than .05). This alteration in brain choline uptake appeared to occur in long-standing (9 wk) diabetes. Thus, acute hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus for shorter periods (3 wk) did not significantly alter the BUI of choline. Insulin (8 U/kg) treatment for 5 days did not alter BUI in diabetic rats (12.9 +/- 0.9%). The maximal velocity of BBB choline transport (Vmax) in diabetic rats (0.14 +/- 0.07 nmol . min-1 . g-1) was significantly lower than the Vmax in control rats (2.2 +/- 0.8 nmol . min-1 . g-1) (P less than .05). The Km of choline transport in diabetic rats (120 +/- 70 microM) was modestly but not significantly lower than that in control animals (400 +/- 160 microM). Similarly, the constant of the nonsaturable component of the transport (Kd) in diabetic animals (0.5 +/- 0.07 microliter . min-1 . g-1) was not significantly different from that in control rats (0.9 +/- 0.3 microliter . min-1 . g-1). The data indicate that diabetes mellitus in rats is associated with a decreased BBB choline transport.
An Introduction to Soil Concepts and the Role of Soils in Watershed Management

Soil is a non-renewable dynamic natural resource that is essential to life. Water movement, water quality, land use, and vegetation productivity all have relationships with soil. This article introduces many important soil concepts including development, classification, properties (physical, chemical, and biological), quality, and conservation. A general understanding of soil concepts and these interwoven relationships is essential to making sound land management decisions.
A numerical technique for two-way radio occultations by oblate axisymmetric atmospheres with zonal winds

The Ultra Stable Oscillator aboard the Cassini spacecraft failed in late 2011, which means that all radio occultations after that date have to be done in two-way mode, using a ground-based signal transmitted to the spacecraft as the frequency reference. Here we present the numerical technique we use to analyze the data from the two-way atmospheric radio occultations of both Saturn and Titan that have occurred since the Ultra Stable Oscillator (USO) failure, along with the theoretical reasons behind this technique. Since our two-way technique is based upon our earlier one-way technique which used the USO as the frequency reference, we also present our one-way technique which we used for Saturn occultations prior to the loss of the USO.
Restructuring special education funding in New York to promote the objective of high learning standards for all students

Abstract New York has given long and careful consideration to the reform of special education funding in the state. The proposal under consideration, as endorsed by the State Department of Education, is based on a count of all students, as opposed to just special education students, and includes a poverty adjustment. This plan appears to support many of New York's special education reform goals, and it aligns with national trends. However, the decision to maintain separate funding systems for special education students with certain disabilities may conflict with the state's goal of educating students with disabilities alongside their nondisabled peers. Also, it is important to realize that achieving high learning standards for students with disabilities will not simply flow from the planned fiscal reforms; it will require careful consideration to ensure that these students are fully included in the state's system of accountability for all students.
Water Sampling and Processing Techniques for Public Health–Related Microbes

This chapter describes options and considerations for choosing water sampling and processing techniques to enable testing for microbes of public health relevance, including pathogens and microbial indicators of fecal contamination. The framework for the discussion draws relationships between investigation goals, conditions and the selection of sampling techniques. Considerations include identifying target microbes, downstream analytical methods, anticipated water quality, acceptable method detection limits, and application of discrete versus composite sampling. Small-volume and large-volume sampling techniques are discussed for application to a wide range of water types, including drinking water, ground water, surface water, recreational water, and marine water. The chapter describes and compares alternative techniques for sample collection and processing for viruses, bacteria, and parasites, as well as identifying techniques that to capture of multiple microbe types. Field sampling techniques are discussed, as well as laboratory-based sample processing techniques to concentrate water samples for analysis. Issues related to sample quality are addressed as they relate to processing inefficiencies and potential for inhibition of analytical procedures.
Effect of Ruminal Incubation on Perennial Pepperweed Germination

Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium L.) is an aggressive perennial forb that is infesting much of western North America. Grazing may provide an alternative to chemical and mechanical control of perennial pepperweed. However, if livestock are used in control efforts, they may spread weeds by depositing viable seeds in fecal pats in uninfested areas. This study consisted of 2 experiments using fistulated steers to estimate the effect of ruminant digestion on germination of perennial pepperweed seeds. In Experiment 1, we tested the hypothesis that ruminal incubation (for 0, 48, and 96 hours) affects perennial pepperweed germination. In Experiment 2, we tested the hypothesis that type of incubation (no incubation, water only, or total digestive tract) affects perennial pepperweed germination. In Experiment 1, germination was 17 and 15 times greater for the 48and 96-hour incubation treatments compared to the control, respectively. In Experiment 2, germination was 23 and 19 times greater for the water and total tract incubation treatments compared to the control, respectively. Effects were attributed to a combination of seed hydration and seed coat scarification. Results from this study suggest that grazing should occur prior to seed set or that livestock which have grazed perennial pepperweed bearing viable seed should be quarantined before being moved to uninfested areas. These results also suggest that control of perennial pepperweed is especially important where moving water may transport seeds off site.
A Non-negative Matrix Factorization Based Approach for Active Dual Supervision from Document and Word Labels

In active dual supervision, not only informative examples but also features are selected for labeling to build a high quality classifier with low cost. However, how to measure the informativeness for both examples and feature on the same scale has not been well solved. In this paper, we propose a non-negative matrix factorization based approach to address this issue. We first extend the matrix factorization framework to explicitly model the corresponding relationships between feature classes and examples classes. Then by making use of the reconstruction error, we propose a unified scheme to determine which feature or example a classifier is most likely to benefit from having labeled. Empirical results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed methods.
Making the Narrative Move: Observations Based Upon Reading Gerry Spence's Closing Argument in the Estate of Karen Silkwood v. Kerr-McGee, Inc.

Since I am talking about the genre conventions of narrative in closing arguments, it seems appropriate to begin with a story of my own, from when I was a student of creative writing in a graduate program in the Midwest many years ago. It is a little long-winded, and initially may seem peripheral to my analysis of Spence’s closing argument in Silkwood, so I hope you’ll bear with me. It was the early 1970s, and it was an exciting time for me. I did not take full advantage of it. I was young, the time seemed endless and, candidly, I was more interested then with being and becoming a writer as an identity rather than with the process of storytelling itself. Nevertheless, I loved the talk about storytelling and the stories themselves. For all of my naive preconceptions about “art” it struck me that all of my successful and well-published teachers were shrewd craftspeople and self-promoters. There was the perpetual buzz about the marketplace, and a deep awareness of the reading preferences and predilections of the popular audience. Also, there was a shared awareness that stories are fragile shapes, that product of dangerous and precipitous high wire acts with language, and the stories that ultimately “sell” to a large audience are the product of an historical moment captured and packaged and re-transmitted in a way that attempts to draw readers into a shared space, in addition to being the exclusive.
Abstract 462: Gene-targeting of Npr1 Reveals the Retinoic Acid-mediated Enhanced Expression of Guanylyl Cyclase-A/Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-A and Attenuation of Renal Fibrosis in Mutant Mice

Mice lacking functional Npr1 gene (coding for guanylyl cyclase/natriuretic peptide receptor-A, GC-A/NPRA) exhibit hypertension and kidney disease, however, the mechanisms regulating Npr1 expression are not well understood. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on Npr1 gene expression and reduction of renal fibrosis in gene-targeted mutant mice. Adult (24-week old) male Npr1 gene-disrupted heterozygous (1-copy; +/-), wild-type (2-copy; +/+), and gene-duplicated (3-copy; ++/+) mice were treated by injecting ATRA (0.5 mg/Kg/day) intraperitoneally for 2-weeks. After treatment with ATRA, the renal Npr1 mRNA levels was increased in 1-copy mice by 4.6-fold, (1.4 ± 0.05 vs. control, 0.3 ± 0.02; p Npr1 gene expression and function, lowers SBP, and attenuates renal fibrosis in 1-copy Npr1 mice. The findings of this study indicate that ATRA can serve as a possible therapeutic agent in attenuation of renal fibrosis under reduced Npr1 gene copy number, which will have important implications in prevention of hypertension and renal remodeling process.
Diagnostic Applications of Recombinant Nucleic Acid Technology: Basic Techniques

Recent advances in molecular biology have rendered these sophisticated basic science techniques, formerly confined to the research laboratory, directly applicable to clinical medicine. Of all medical specialties, pathology and laboratory medicine are in the best position to immediately take advantage of these developments. The most exciting clinical applications are thus far largely diagnostic rather than therapeutic—the pathology laboratory (both clinical and anatomic) has primary access to the target specimens, and pathology is traditionally the medical specialty most intimately concerned with defining the fundamental nature of disease. The techniques discussed in this review are those that will carry this tradition of pathologic inquiry to the diagnosis and description of disease at the most fundamental level of all—the molecular one.
Pharmacist intervention program focused on i.v. ranitidine therapy

A staff pharmacist intervention program designed to modify inappropriate dosage intervals for i.v. ranitidine and promote timely conversion to oral therapy is described. Records of patients who were receiving i.v. ranitidine were reviewed for eight weeks to determine whether the dosage interval was appropriate and whether they began receiving oral ranitidine within 24 hours of an order for an oral diet or other oral medications. Pharmacists were then asked to determine the proper i.v. ranitidine dosage interval based on creatinine clearance and the oral dosage that would be appropriate when i.v. therapy was no longer indicated. The information was used to complete an intervention form that was placed in the patient's chart. During the baseline phase the i.v. dosage interval was inappropriate for 49 of 139 patients; 617 i.v. doses costing $4214 were administered to 62 patients for whom oral therapy was indicated; conversion to oral therapy occurred appropriately for 39 of 68 patients (57%). In the intervention phase 138 patients received i.v. ranitidine. Pharmacists made 51 recommendations for adjusting the i.v. dosage interval, and 18 were implemented within 24 hours. All six recommendations to convert immediately to oral therapy were also implemented within 24 hours. A total of 280 inappropriate i.v. doses costing $1912 were given to 30 patients for whom oral therapy was indicated. Conversion to oral therapy occurred appropriately for 53 of 76 patients (70%). A simple program of monitoring and intervention by staff pharmacists when i.v. ranitidine therapy is begun can save money and promote the appropriate use of this drug.
The Journey Continues

This final chapter will present a variety of steps to consider as you continue on in game development. Among these, you’ll explore working on additional projects, learning skills in related areas, and bringing your games to a wider audience. Along the way, the chapter will present lists of resources of all types, as well as general advice for many situations.
Pulse Oximetry in Acute Respiratory Failure: What Should Be Expected?

To the Editor: In the April issue of Respiratory Care, Amalakanti and Pentakota[1][1] present a comparison of arterial oxygen saturation values between a 2-wavelength pulse oximeter and blood gas multi-wavelength hemoximetry in COPD subjects with acute respiratory failure. The authors conclude
Evaluation of a New Assay Based on a FV-Dependent Prothrombinase Activator for the Detection of Activated Protein C Resistance Phenotype.

Activated protein C (APC) resistance is the most frequent hereditary defect associated with deep venous thrombosis. Major cause of APC resistance phenotype is due to a point mutation of factor V (Factor V Leiden). A new clotting assay, Pefakit® APC-R Factor V Leiden (Pentapharm Ltd., Switzerland) for the detection of APC resistance phenotype was evaluated at two tertiary care hospitals, Duke University Medical Center, USA (Duke) and University of Vienna, Austria (Vienna). Samples of 242 subjects from Duke and 187 subjects from Vienna were included in the study among patients who were subjects for thormbophilia screening. The Pefakit® method is based on clotting time measurement triggered by a prothrombin activator added to a mixture of patient plasma diluted with factor V deficient plasma with and without APC. Robustness and specificity of the assay is enhanced by elimination of possible disturbing influence by factors upstream the coagulation cascade and heparin interference is precluded up to heparin level of 2 IU/ml by heparin inhibitor added to the regent. A similar, FDA approved commercial APC-R kit (COATEST of IL) was used for method comparison. Patients with elevated factor VIII (n=11), Coumadin (n=23), Lupus Anticoagulant (n-14), protein C deficient (n=7), protein S deficient (n=9), AT III (n=6) and women with pregnancy (n=9) were included in Duke study and no interference were found in phenotype. Using PCR/FRET DNA method as reference method the Pefakit® method provided 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for the Vienna study and 99.0 % sensitivity and 98.6 % specificity for the Duke study and the COATEST provided 97.1 % specificity and 93.2 % sensitivity with the Duke study. Using two levels of genotype controls both studies showed similar intra and inter-assay precision (less than 6 % for the Vienna study and 9 % for the Duke study) as compared with the gold standard IL APC-R COATEST kit (less than 5 % CV). Of great interest one false positive sample from the Duke study is under investigation due to that the functional detection of the assay is supposed to detect other FV mutations leading to APC-R phenotype as well. Reasons that cause the other two false negative results for the Duke study are still unknown and under investigation. Both studies showed that the Pefakit® is simple and rebust assay. Both wild type and heterozygous groups have much higher ratio as compared with the reference method in differentiating them from homozygous phenotype. ![Figure][1] Figure [1]: pending:yes
60. Donne’s Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward

(1956). 60. Donne’s Goodfriday, 1613. Riding Westward. The Explicator: Vol. 14, No. 9, pp. 140-143.
Affect and Trust in Technology in Teams: The Effect of Incidental Affect and Integral Affect

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of affective process on trust in technology in teams. Previous research has shown that affect influences trust in technology thus could potentially impact appropriateness of technology use and performance of the team. In this study, 54 participants worked as two-person teams and multi-tasked under varied technology reliability and task difficulty levels. Incidental affect was manipulated by having the participants to view affective images. The results indicated that positive integral affect positively related to trust in technology. Incidental affect influenced trust in technology, however, this effect was moderated by positive integral affect. Positive integral affect also mediated the relationship between technology/task conditions and trust in technology. These findings revealed the role of affect in the mechanism of trust calibration process and have important implications for system design.
The Relationships among Socio-Demographics, Perceived Health, and Happiness

This article explores explore the relationships among socio-demographics, perceived health, and happiness in a patient population of 221 adults recruited from 39 primary care practices in Alabama. We also explored whether the relationship between socio-demographics and happiness is mediated by perceived health. The dependent variable, happiness, was dichotomized as happy versus unhappy. Independent variables or correlates of happiness included race (Black or White), age (< 65 vs. 65 and older), gender (male vs. female), perceived income (sufficient vs. insufficient to meet basic needs), health literacy (adequate vs. inadequate), and self-rated health (excellent/very good/good vs. poor/fair). Data were analyzed using generalized linear latent and mixed models to examine the relationship between happiness and its correlates. Our findings suggest that adequate health literacy and better perceived health are associated with an increase in the likelihood of happiness. In addition, the relationship between perceived sufficient income and happiness is mediated by perceived health; whereas, individuals with sufficient income are more likely to have better perceived health, and as a result more likely to be happy. Other individual factors, such as gender, age, and race were not significantly associated with being happy or having higher perceived health in any of the models. Results suggest that policies aimed at increasing health literacy, promoting health, and reducing income disparities may be associated with greater happiness.
Implications of ejaculatory sperm DNA fragmentation on male infertility management.

Latest guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the laboratory examination of human semen still focus on traditional semen analysis (SA) (1). However, the more recent recommendations from the major societies in the andrology field suggest to utilize new functional tests in certain conditions (2,3). Although the American Urological Association (AUA) best practice statement (2) and the joint guideline course of European Academy of Andrology (EAA) and the European Association of Urology (EAU) on clinical andrology (2) stated that routine use of ejaculatory sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) in all infertile couples is not supported by current literature, there is a general consensus that some of the infertile couples may benefit from sperm DNA integrity evaluation. Abnormal SDF, is characterized by more than 15% (fair sperm DNA integrity) to more than 30% (poor sperm integrity) fragmented DNA in ejaculatory sperm (4).
From Power Elites to Influence Elites: Resetting Elite Studies for the 21st Century

The dominant theory of elite power, grounded in Weberian bureaucracy, has analyzed elites in terms of stable positions at the top of enduring institutions. Today, many conditions that spawned these stable ‘command posts’ no longer prevail, and elite power thus warrants rethinking. This article advances an argument about contemporary ‘influence elites’. The way they are organized and the modus operandi they employ to wield influence enable them to evade public accountability, a hallmark of a democratic society. Three cases are presented, first to investigate changes in how elites operate and, second, to examine varying configurations in which the new elites are organized. The cases demonstrate that influence elites intermesh hierarchies and networks, serve as connectors, and coordinate influence from multiple, moving perches, inside and outside official structures. Their flexible and multi-positioned organizing modes call for reconsidering elite theory and grappling with the implications of these elites fo...
Rhodamine-Platinum Diimine Dithiolate Complex Dyads as Efficient and Robust Photosensitizers for Light-Driven Aqueous Proton Reduction to Hydrogen.

Three new dyads consisting of a rhodamine (RDM) dye linked covalently to a Pt diimine dithiolate (PtN2S2) charge transfer complex were synthesized and used as photosensitizers for the generation of H2 from aqueous protons. The three dyads differ only in the substituents on the rhodamine amino groups, and are denoted as Pt-RDM1, Pt-RDM2, and Pt-RDM3. In acetonitrile, the three dyads show a strong absorption in the visible region corresponding to the rhodamine π–π* absorption as well as a mixed metal-dithiolate-to-diimine charge transfer band characteristic of PtN2S2 complexes. The shift of the rhodamine π–π* absorption maxima in going from Pt-RDM1 to Pt-RDM3 correlates well with the HOMO–LUMO energy gap measured in electrochemical experiments. Under white light irradiation, the dyads display both high and robust activity for H2 generation when attached to platinized TiO2 nanoparticles (Pt-TiO2). After 40 h of irradiation, systems containing Pt-RDM1, Pt-RDM2, and Pt-RDM3 exhibit turnover numbers (TONs) of 3...
An Adversarial Hierarchical Hidden Markov Model for Human Pose Modeling and Generation

We propose a hierarchical extension to hidden Markov model (HMM) under the Bayesian framework to overcome its limited model capacity. The model parameters are treated as random variables whose distributions are governed by hyperparameters. Therefore the variation in data can be modeled at both instance level and distribution level. We derive a novel learning method for estimating the parameters and hyperparameters of our model based on adversarial learning framework, which has shown promising results in generating photorealistic images and videos. We demonstrate the benefit of the proposed method on human motion capture data through comparison with both state-of-the-art methods and the same model that is learned by maximizing likelihood. The first experiment on reconstruction shows the model's capability of generalizing to novel testing data. The second experiment on synthesis shows the model's capability of generating realistic and diverse data.
Greed is good: Leveraging submodularity for antenna selection in Massive MIMO

We consider the NP-Hard problem of performing antenna selection in the downlink of a single cell, multi-user Massive MIMO system by maximizing the downlink channel capacity with a specified power allocation matrix subject to a cardinality constraint on the number of selected antennas. Prior work has focused on using convex relaxation coupled with fractional rounding in an attempt to obtain high quality sub-optimal solutions for this problem in polynomial-time. However, one cannot quantify the sub-optimality of the solution obtained via this approach for an arbitrary problem instance, which, in addition, is also computationally demanding to determine for a large-scale antenna system. In this paper, we show that the objective function of the antenna selection problem is monotone submodular, which implies that a simple greedy algorithm can be used to guarantee a constant (1–1/e)-factor approximation for all problem instances. The merits of using this approach are illustrated via simulations where the greedy algorithm returns high quality solutions in all cases at significantly lower complexity relative to convex relaxation based approaches.
Pharmacokinetics of zopolrestat, a carboxylic acid aldose reductase inhibitor, in normal and diabetic rats.

The pharmacokinetics of zopolrestat, a carboxylic acid aldose reductase inhibitor, were examined in normal male rats dosed intravenously at 2 mg/kg and in normal and streptozotocin-diabetic male rats after oral administration at 50 mg/kg. After oral dosing, Cmax was 127 µg/ml for normal rats and 144 µg/ml for diabetic rats. AUC(0–∞), however, was lower for diabetic rats than for normal rats and plasma half-life was longer in normal rats (8.0 vs 6.6 hr). Half-lives of zopolrestat in nerve, kidney, and lens were longer than plasma half-life and were similar for both diabetic and normal rats. Less than 2% of the dose was excreted in the urine as unchanged zopolrestat during the 48-hr period following dosing by diabetic or normal rats. Protein binding of zopolrestat was less extensive in plasma from diabetic rats than in plasma from normal rats. Similar kinetics were observed in diabetic animals receiving-five daily doses of zopolrestat at 50 mg/kg/day. There was no plasma or liver accumulation of zopolrestat at steady state, consistent with the observed half-lives. However, zopolrestat did accumulate in nerve, kidney, and lens to varying degrees during multiple dosing, reflecting the longer half-lives of zopolrestat in these tissues.
Clearance of senescent glial cells prevents tau-dependent pathology and cognitive decline

Cellular senescence, which is characterized by an irreversible cell-cycle arrest1 accompanied by a distinctive secretory phenotype2, can be induced through various intracellular and extracellular factors. Senescent cells that express the cell cycle inhibitory protein p16INK4A have been found to actively drive naturally occurring age-related tissue deterioration3,4 and contribute to several diseases associated with ageing, including atherosclerosis5 and osteoarthritis6. Various markers of senescence have been observed in patients with neurodegenerative diseases7–9; however, a role for senescent cells in the aetiology of these pathologies is unknown. Here we show a causal link between the accumulation of senescent cells and cognition-associated neuronal loss. We found that the MAPTP301SPS19 mouse model of tau-dependent neurodegenerative disease10 accumulates p16INK4A-positive senescent astrocytes and microglia. Clearance of these cells as they arise using INK-ATTAC transgenic mice prevents gliosis, hyperphosphorylation of both soluble and insoluble tau leading to neurofibrillary tangle deposition, and degeneration of cortical and hippocampal neurons, thus preserving cognitive function. Pharmacological intervention with a first-generation senolytic modulates tau aggregation. Collectively, these results show that senescent cells have a role in the initiation and progression of tau-mediated disease, and suggest that targeting senescent cells may provide a therapeutic avenue for the treatment of these pathologies. In a mouse model of tau-dependent neurodegenerative disease, the clearance of senescent glial cells prevents the degeneration of cortical and hippocampal neurons and preserves cognitive function.
Improving lung cancer diagnosis at a large urban minority-based medical center: Where can we do better?

e18017Background: Lung cancer diagnosis is a complex process with barriers to care which are more apparent in underserved communities. We examined factors affecting lung cancer diagnosis in an unde...
Space, Place, and Literary Self-Projection

This chapter probes the more ontological and epistemological shifts induced by “compass and card.” Nayar begins by considering the modifications in visual field that were induced by Ptolemaic principles and then imaginatively co-opted both poetically and politically. How the map was staged in drama, together with how the stage could serve as an allegorical stand-in for the map, is also explored, as are too the literary ramifications of chorography, or a prose-mapping of land. This latter genre even stimulated a new sort of national poetry, one radically beholden to materializing the nation as territory. Finally, Nayar explores the coterminous map-minded emergence of authors rhetorically staging their own taking flight above and across (or even beyond) the newly gridded globe.
Validation of the Paratransit Skills Assessment for Paratransit Travel and Mobility of Adults on the Autism Spectrum

The Paratransit Skills Assessment (PaSA) was developed in 2011 to assist individuals on the autism spectrum in accessing public paratransit services. Paratransit is a demand-responsive service that...
The Cluster Ensemble

The generic population that is the subject of our study consists of M indistinguishable members assembled into N groups, or clusters, such that no group is empty. The “member” is the fundamental unit of the population and plays the same role as “monomer” in a polymeric system, or “primary particle” in granular materials. The cluster is characterized by the number of members it contains. We will refer to the number of members in the cluster as the size or mass of the cluster and will use the terms interchangeably. The goal in this chapter is to define a sample space of distributions of clusters and assign a probability measure over it. This probability space of distributions will be called cluster ensemble and forms the basis for the development of generalized thermodynamics. In Chap. 7 we will reformulate the theory on the basis of a more abstract space of distributions.