cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How is Scale and Structure Determined in Agriculture

Many view with alarm the reported demise of approximately one farm in four, or about one million farms, during the 1960s. Kyle (p. 1) reports that a "group of fairly conservative agricultural economists . . . expects a continued increase in the concentration of production on fewer and fewer farms. In 25 years, this could result in a nearly complete demise of typical family farms in the units classified as commercial full-time farms." Recent data, however, suggest that such fears are premature. According to official census counts, the total number of commercial farms decreased from 2.42 million in 1959 to 2.17 million in 1964, and further, to 1.73 and 1.70 million farms, respectively, in 1969 and 1974.1 These losses represent 10.3%, 20.3% and 1.7% for the periods 1959-64, 1964-69, and 1969-74. One might conclude, therefore, that the number of farms has fallen in recent years but that the rest of decline fell sharply 196974. Two factors suggest that such a conclusion may be erroneous. The 1969 and 1974 censuses counted only those farm units which had gross sales exceeding $2,500, whereas the 1964 and earlier ones included units that had sales above $50. Since the major analytical purpose of census data is to describe various characteristics of a common set of farm units, some definitional change is desirable when commodity price changes have a significant impact on sales, the principal qualifying criterion. But the definitional change, as well as the farm product price escalation of the early 1970s, may have introduced serious bias in census counts of farm numbers. One way of appraising the impact of the definitional change is to assume that the 1969 definition applied also in 1959 and 1964. If so, the reduction in farm numbers 1959-74 would have been only 370,000 instead of the 720,000 actually reported, since many farms in the earlier years did not have $2,500 of gross sales. On the other hand, the number of farms qualifying in 1974 was substantially expanded because of the product price escalation that occurred in the early 1970s. The price escalation, therefore, had the effect of understating losses in numbers of farms. We are, therefore, left in a quandary. The one factor suggests that 720,000 farms lost is too high; the other, too low. Perhaps the only safe conclusion is that the farm numbers game is a dangerous one to play. Similarly, escalated prices in the 1970s also preclude the observation that the rate of decline is diminishing in recent years. The index of prices received by farmers for all products stood at 96, 95, 107, and 192 for the years 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974, respectively (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1976, p. 455). These facts imply that price effects may have been particularly significant in understating farm losses in the 1974 census.
Risk management in pediatric surgery.

Purpose To present the experience documented over 1 year of analysis and quality control on surgical complications and organizational accidents.
Whey Protein Coatings for Fresh Fruits and Relative Humidity Effects

ABSTRACT: Whey protein isolate (WPI) films have proven to be excellent gas barriers in previous studies, making them potential coatings for fresh produce. WPI-coated apples and controls were stored at 20 °;C under RH's ranging from 54 to 92%. Results showed performance of WPI coatings depended on the environment RH. The internal oxygen was lowered, and carbon dioxide increased with decreasing RH conditions. RH did not affect control fruits. At low RH (about 70 to 80% RH), anaerobic respiration was induced in coated fruits due to low oxygen levels (about 0.025 atm). Controlling thickness and film permeability will allow attainment of the appropriate oxygen and carbon dioxide levels for coated fruit.
A special rational function with vanishing integral

The integral of a rational function proposed as a question in Mathematics Stack Exchange is evaluated. The integrand has a polynomial of degree 4 as denominator. A natural extension to degree 8 is shown to vanish.
By Jupiter, we really can go to Europa

Move over space agencies, we're launching our very own craft to explore Europa. Michael Brooks invites you along for the ride
SU-GG-T-85: Anisotropy Function Verification of I-125 Brachytherapy Source with Film Dosimetry

Purpose: For eye plaque implant with fixed source locations and orientations on the plaque, the variation of anisotropy function may significantly affect the brachy dose distribution following the TG43‐U1 algorithm. TLD‐based dosimetry for the brachy source anisotropy functions generally involves significant measurement time. In this study, we explore a convenient film‐based dosimetry verification of the anisotropy function for eye plaque I‐125 source, on a timely manner prior to the brachytherapytreatment planning. Method and Materials: EDR2 films (Kodak) were used to measure the dose distribution of I‐125 seeds (Amersham, model 6711). The center and alignment of the cylindrical I‐125 seed on the film dose plane were determined based on the anisotropic and symmetrical dose distribution fact. Then along the circles with radius R = 1cm, 2cm, 3cm from the seed center, point dose reading were taken to calculate the anisotropy function table and compared to published data (TG43‐U1). Results: For the comparisons between our film measurement data and the published data, the relative differences between the two data were small at radius R = 1cm i.e. mean ± STD as 0.9% ± 1.2%, while increasing with larger R — mean ±STD as 7.3% ± 6.5% at R = 2cm, and 11.3% ± 9.7% at R = 3cm. This increasing deviation trend with larger radius was anticipated considering the fact that more angle range will fall below the film lower dose response threshold at larger radius. Conclusion: The preliminary results showed that film dosimetry can give fairly precise estimation of the seed Anisotropy Function Table, as compared to the published data. For dosemeasurement at different radius from the seed, the film exposure time needs to be adjusted, avoiding the measureddose region exceeding the film dose responsive range.
Cancer Stem Cells in Lung Tumorigenesis

Although stem cells were discovered more than 50 years ago, we have only recently begun to understand their potential importance in cancer biology. Recent advances in our ability to describe, isolate, and study lung stem cell populations has led to a growing recognition of the central importance cells with stem cell-like properties may have in lung tumorigenesis. This article reviews the major studies supporting the existence and importance of cancer stem cells in lung tumorigenesis. Continued research in the field of lung cancer stem cell biology is vital, as ongoing efforts promise to yield new prognostic and therapeutic targets.
Blue electroluminescent diodes utilizing blends of poly(p-phenylphenylene vinylene) in poly(9-vinylcarbazole)

Abstract We report blue light emission from diodes made from polymer blends composed of poly( p -phenylphenylene vinylene) (PPPV) in a hole-transporting polymer, poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). The soluble PPPV and PVK allow fabrication of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by spin-casting the electroluminescent polymer blend from solution at room temperature with no subsequent processing or heat treatment required. The initial devices utilized calcium as the electron-injecting (rectifying) contact on the front surface of a PPPV/PVK film spin-cast onto a glass substrate partially coated with a layer of indium/tin oxide (ITO) as the hole-injecting contact. The LEDs turn on at ∼30 V and have a peak emission wavelength in the blue at 495 nm (at room temperature). The quantum efficiency is measured as a function of PPPV content in the blend; the maximum efficiency is approximately 0.16% photons/electron at a concentration of only 2% PPPV in PVK.
The retinal projections in the goldfish: An experimental study

Abstract The retinal projections of a teleost fish (goldfish, Carassius auratus ) are studied using the Nauta-Gygax and Fink-Heimer methods following unilateral eye enucleation. Totally crossed projections were revealed to (1) a small magnocellular nucleus of the hypothalamus; (2) nucleus rotundus; (3) medial and lateral part of the nucleus dorsolateralis thalami; (4) area ventralis lateralis of thalamus; (5) lateral geniculate nucleus; (6) area pretectalis; (7) area corticalis; and (8) the optic tectum. Projections to layer F were restricted to the rostral tectum only. No accessory optic tract was found.
Low vision reading training outcomes: The reading behavior inventory

Abstract An easily administered outcome measure, the Reading Behavior Inventory (RBI), for low vision reading device prescription and training has been developed and pilot tested. The measure incorporates both objective (reading speed) and subjective (patient reports of satisfaction, task difficulty, and amount and type of material read). The results of the pilot study suggest that the RBI can be a useful assessment tool to document the efficacy and outcome of a low vision reading intervention.
Suggested Arrangement of Mirrors to Form Multiple Reference Angles

A reference angle is described that forms, by successive or multiple reflections, a multiplicity of equal optical angles having common vertices. This angle may be used as a standard for calibrating circular scales either with an autocollimator or an interferometer. The angle can be adjusted in an interferometer to a very high accuracy. If the faces of the mirrors are 6 in. long, an error of 0.1 fringe corresponds to an error in the angle of 0.02 sec of arc.
Determination of irreversible ischemia by xenon-enhanced computed tomographic monitoring of cerebral blood flow in patients with symptomatic vasospasm

In patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, delayed neurological deficits, often followed by infarction, are believed to result from ischemia caused by vasospasm. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) data have been useful in predicting the risk of vasospasm in these patients and in distinguishing those deficits caused by vasospasm. Although CBF thresholds for infarction have been established in animals, few clinical studies have correlated CBF values with neurological symptoms and infarction. To assess the sensitivity to ischemia provided by xenon-enhanced computed tomography (Xe/CT) of CBF and to define the clinical significance of specific values that it measures, we compared the clinical, CT, and Xe/CT findings on CBF in 51 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by ruptured aneurysms. Each patient had 1 to 6 Xe/CT studies. Fourteen patients had symptomatic vasospasm. In all 14, the first post deficit Xe/CT study found abruptly reduced CBF, either regionally or globally. In 9 of these 14 patients, flow values fell below 15 ml/100 g/min in 2 or more adjacent 2-cm cortical regions of interest, and in all 9, concurrent follow-up CT scans showed infarction in these regions. Eight of the 9 had paralysis and a severe sensory deficit. No patient whose CBF remained above 18 ml/100 g/min developed infarction. The blood flow studies caused neither significant complications nor neurological deterioration. The Xe/CT CBF method appears very sensitive to the early detection of symptomatic vasospasm. In most patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, this noninvasive technique can replace angiography to delineate the location and severity of vasospasm, and may be useful in predicting the development of infarction.
Interpretational Confounding of Unobserved Variables in Structural Equation Models

The problem of assigning empirical meaning to unobserved variables in structural equation models is discussed. Interpretational confounding is discussed as the assignment of the other than a priori assigned empirical meaning of an unobserved variable. Hypotheses conceming the possibility of interpretational confounding as a concomitant of a lack of point variability in unobserved variables are specified, and corresponding chi-square statistics are given. Numerical illustration is provided
Substring Position Search over Encrypted Cloud Data Using Tree-Based Index

Existing Searchable Encryption (SE) solutions are able to handle simple boolean search queries, such as single or multi-keyword queries, but cannot handle substring search queries over encrypted data that also involves identifying the position of the substring within the document. These types of queries are relevant in areas such as searching DNA data. In this paper, we propose a tree-based Substring Position Searchable Symmetric Encryption (SSP-SSE) to overcome the existing gap. Our solution efficiently finds occurrences of a substrings over encrypted cloud data. We formally define the leakage functions and security properties of SSP-SSE. Then, we prove that the proposed scheme is secure against chosen-keyword attacks that involve an adaptive adversary. Our analysis demonstrates that SSP-SSE introduces very low overhead on computation and storage.
On the Effectiveness of Baffles in Indirect Solar Storage Systems

Parameters that control heat transfer and mixing in energy extraction from indirect solar storage tanks that employ an immersed heat exchanger with a straight baffle beneath are identified and estimated. The analysis of flow in the baffle is based on boundary layer theory and provides insight into the effectiveness of a baffle in controlling growth of the thermal plume from the heat exchanger. The important physical mechanisms are the restricted entrainment and heat transfer to the storage fluid. For an adiabatic baffle as a base case, key design factors are the point of attachment of the plume on the baffle and the width of the baffle relative to that of the heat exchanger.
The impact of electronic medical records data sources on an adverse drug event quality measure.

Objective To examine the impact of billing and clinical data extracted from an electronic medical record system on the calculation of an adverse drug event (ADE) quality measure approved for use in The Joint Commission's ORYX program, a mandatory national hospital quality reporting system. Design The Child Health Corporation of America's “Use of Rescue Agents—ADE Trigger” quality measure uses medication billing data contained in the Pediatric Health Information Systems (PHIS) data warehouse to create The Joint Commission-approved quality measure. Using a similar query, we calculated the quality measure using PHIS plus four data sources extracted from our electronic medical record (EMR) system: medications charged, medication orders placed, medication orders with associated charges (orders charged), and medications administered. Measurements Inclusion and exclusion criteria were identical for all queries. Denominators and numerators were calculated using the five data sets. The reported quality measure is the ADE rate (numerator/denominator). Results Significant differences in denominators, numerators, and rates were calculated from different data sources within a single institution's EMR. Differences were due to both common clinical practices that may be similar across institutions and unique workflow practices not likely to be present at any other institution. The magnitude of the differences would significantly alter the national comparative ranking of our institution compared to other PHIS institutions. Conclusions More detailed clinical information may result in quality measures that are not comparable across institutions due institution-specific workflow, differences that are exposed using EMR-derived data.
Simultaneous improvement in ionic conductivity and mechanical properties of multi-functional block-copolymer modified solid polymer electrolytes for lithium ion batteries

Abstract Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with high ionic conductivity and acceptable mechanical properties are of particular interest for increasing the performance of batteries. Our previous studies indicated that copolymers could be good candidates for SPE materials due to the variable properties contributed by each block. A series of copolymers applied in this research was poly(ethylene oxide)- block -polyethylene, PEO- b -PE, which contains a conductive block (PEO block) and a reinforcement block (PE block). This study examines the effects of composition and molecular weight of the copolymers on performance of the resulting SPEs. The ternary SPEs were prepared by addition of copolymers into PEO/LiClO 4 . It was found that increasing the PE block percentage in the copolymer resulted in a significant increase in both ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. The SPEs that contained the highest percentage of PE block, 80 wt%, exhibits the best performances. The results showed an increase of more than two orders in ionic conductivity, about 350% increase in tensile modulus, and about 97% increase in ultimate tensile strength when the PE block increased from 50 wt% to 80 wt%. It was also observed that increasing the molecular weight of the copolymer resulted in better mechanical properties, and an identical ionic conductivity.
Pre-eruptive Magmatic Conditions at Augustine Volcano, Alaska, 2006: Evidence from Amphibole Geochemistry and Textures

Variations in the geochemistry and texture of amphibole phenocrysts erupted from Augustine Volcano in 2006 provide new insights into preand syn-eruptive magma storage and mixing. Amphiboles are rare but present in all magma compositions (lowto high-silica andesites) from the 3 month long eruption. Unzoned magnesiohornblende in the highand low-silica andesites exhibit limited compositional variability, relatively high SiO2 (up to 49·7 wt %), and relatively lowAl2O3 (511·1wt %). Intermediate-silica andesites and quenched mafic enclaves contain amphiboles that vary in composition (e.g. SiO2 40·8^48·9 wt %, Al2O3 6·52^15·2 wt %) and classification (magnesiohornblende^magnesiohastingsite^ tschermakite). Compositional variation in amphibole is primarily controlled by temperature-dependent substitutions. Both highand low-silica andesites represent remnant magmas that were stored in the shallow crust at 4^8 km depth, remaining distinct owing to a complex subsurface plumbing system. Intermediate-silica andesites and quenched mafic inclusions represent pre-eruptive hybrids of resident highand low-silica andesite magmas and an intruding basalt. Amphiboles in explosive phase high-silica andesites are largely euhedral and unreacted, consistent with the high magma flux rates from depth during this phase (up to 13 800 m s). Phenocrysts from the other lithologies have reaction rims that range from 1 to41000 m in thickness. Reaction rim microlite sizes correlate with reaction rim thicknesses. Reaction rims550 m thick contain microlites 1^10 m in length whereas reaction rims480 m thick contain microlites 10^100 m in length. Differentiating between heatingand decompression-induced amphibole reaction rim formation is problematic because of a lack of experimental constraints.We attempt a new approach to assessing reaction rim formation, based on a kinetic theory of crystal nucleation and growth, in which the differences in reaction rim textures represent different degrees of amphibole disequilibrium. Large crystals and low number densities suggest relatively lower levels of disequilibrium resulting in growth-dominated crystallization. Smaller crystals and larger number densities are indicative of higher nucleation rates and a high driving force.
HIV proteins (gp120 and Tat) and methamphetamine in oxidative stress-induced damage in the brain: Potential role of the thiol antioxidant N-acetylcysteine amide

Abstract An increased risk of HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD) has been observed in patients abusing methamphetamine (METH). Since both HIV viral proteins (gp120, Tat) and METH induce oxidative stress, drug abusing patients are at a greater risk of oxidative stress-induced damage. The objective of this study was to determine if N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA) protects the blood brain barrier (BBB) from oxidative stress-induced damage in animals exposed to gp120, Tat and METH. To study this, CD-1 mice pre-treated with NACA/saline, received injections of gp120, Tat, gp120 + Tat or saline for 5 days, followed by three injections of METH/saline on the fifth day, and sacrificed 24 h after the final injection. Various oxidative stress parameters were measured, and animals treated with gp120 + Tat + Meth were found to be the most challenged group, as indicated by their GSH and MDA levels. Treatment with NACA significantly rescued the animals from oxidative stress. Further, NACA-treated animals had significantly higher expression of TJ proteins and BBB permeability as compared to the group treated with gp120 + Tat + METH alone, indicating that NACA can protect the BBB from oxidative stress-induced damage in gp120, Tat and METH exposed animals, and thus could be a viable therapeutic option for patients with HAD.
Cleft mitral valve without ostium primum defect: anatomic data and surgical considerations based on 41 cases

Abstract Background Cleft mitral valve without an ostium primum defect, referred to as isolated cleft mitral valve, has been the subject of many reports; yet its morphology and operability remain incompletely understood. Methods The anatomic findings in 36 postmortem cases, five explanted hearts, and relevant clinical data constitute the material basis of this report. Cardiac catheterization data were available in 29 cases and two-dimensional echocardiograms in 13 cases. Results Twenty cases had normally related great arteries with subpulmonary conus. Of these cases 4 (20%) had tetralogy of Fallot and 1 had tricuspid atresia. Twenty-one cases had abnormal ventriculoarterial relationships with subaortic or bilateral conus resulting in transposition in 16 (76%) and double-outlet right ventricle in 5 (24%). In the cases with normally related great arteries, the morphology of the ventricular septal defect and the mitral cleft were similar to those of the more complete forms of atrioventricular canal defects. The mitral cleft usually resulted in progressive mitral regurgitation, which can be treated by surgical closure of the cleft. In the cases with abnormal conus, the morphology of the ventricular septal defect and the mitral cleft did not resemble atrioventricular canal defects. The attachment of the cleft usually produced obstruction of the left ventricular pulmonary outflow tract. Surgical repair of the cleft cannot eliminate this obstruction. Conclusions There are two different anatomic types of isolated cleft mitral valve: the canal type, and abnormal conus type. Diagnosis of the associated ventriculoarterial relationships helps to guide their surgical treatment.
C225 antiepidermal growth factor receptor antibody enhances the efficacy of docetaxel chemoradiotherapy.

Abstract Purpose C225 anti-EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) antibody has been shown to enhance tumor response to radiation and a number of chemotherapeutic agents. Because of increased use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in cancer treatment, it is important to determine whether C225 enhances also the antitumor efficacy of radiation when combined with chemotherapy. This study assessed the effect of C225 on tumor response when combined with docetaxel plus single or fractionated radiation. Methods and materials MDA468 human adenocarcinoma and A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells growing as xenografts in the right hind leg of nude mice were used. Mice bearing 8-mm tumors were treated with C225 antibody at a dose of 1 mg given i.p. once, twice, or three times 3 days apart, 10 or 30 mg/kg docetaxel given i.v., and/or local tumor irradiation of 8 or 10 Gy single dose or fractionated irradiation consisting of 2 Gy daily for 5 days. When all three agents were combined, C225 was given 6 h before or 18 h after docetaxel, and radiation was given 24 h after docetaxel. The treatment end point was tumor growth delay. Results C225 enhanced the antitumor efficacy of docetaxel, local tumor irradiation, and docetaxel combined with radiation. The response of both MDA468 and A431 carcinomas was enhanced. The enhancement factors ranged from 1.19 to 8.52, the degree of the enhancement depending on experimental conditions such as administration of multiple vs. single dose C225 or single or fractionated irradiation. C225 given twice or 3 times was more effective than when administered as a single dose. The effect of C225 was more pronounced when combined with single than fractionated irradiation with or without docetaxel. The triple-agent therapy was more effective than a single agent or double combination therapies, expressed by both increased tumor growth delay and the rate of tumor cure. Conclusions Our results show that C225 anti-EGFR antibody is a potent enhancer of tumor response to docetaxel or radiation as single agents, and to docetaxel when combined with radiation. Thus, these findings provide strong preclinical evidence in support of combination of anti-EGFR blockade with chemoradiotherapy.
The pen is mightier than the word: Object priming of evaluative standards

Because red pens are closely associated with error-marking and poor performance, the use of red pens when correcting student work can activate these concepts. People using red pens to complete a word-stem task completed more words related to errors and poor performance than did people using black pens (Study 1), suggesting relatively greater accessibility of these concepts. Moreover, people using red pens to correct essays marked more errors (Study 2) and awarded lower grades (Study 3) than people using blue pens. Thus, despite teachers’ efforts to free themselves from extraneous influences when grading, the very act of picking up a red pen can bias their evaluations. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensitivity and directionality of lipid bilayer mechanotransduction studied using a revised, highly durable membrane-based hair cell sensor

A bioinspired, membrane-based hair cell sensor consists of a planar lipid bilayer formed between two lipid-coated water droplets that connect to an artificial hair. This assembly enables motion of the hair caused by mechanical stimuli to vibrate the bilayer and produce a capacitive current. In this work, the mechanoelectrical transduction mechanism and sensing performance is experimentally characterized for a more-durable, revised hair cell embodiment that includes a cantilevered hair rooted firmly in the surrounding solid substrate. Specifically, this study demonstrates that the revised membrane-based hair cell sensor produces higher time rates of change in capacitance (0.8–6.0 nF s−1) in response to airflow across the hair compared to the original sensor (45–60 pF s−1) that did not feature a cantilevered hair. The 10-fold to 100-fold increase in the time rate change of capacitance corresponds to greater membrane bending and, thus, higher sensing currents. Membranes in the revised sensor exhibit changes in area due to bending on the order of 0.2–2.0%, versus 0.02% for the original sensor. Experiments also reveal that the bilayer displays highest sensitivity to mechanical perturbations normal to the plane of the bilayer, a membrane can transduce hair motion at frequencies below the hair's characteristic frequency, and bilayers formed between polymerized hydrogel volumes exhibit a higher sensing currents than those formed between liquid aqueous volumes. Finally, measurements of sensitivity (5–35 pA m−1 s−1) and minimum (4.0−0.6 m s−1) and maximum (28−13 m s−1) sensing thresholds to airflow are performed for the first time, and we observe maximum electrical power (~65 pW) in the membrane occurs for combinations of slower airflow and higher voltage. These results highlight that along with the dimensions of the hair and the compositions of the aqueous volumes, sensing performance can be tuned with applied voltage.
Non-asymmetric Slepian-Wolf decoding using belief propagation

We consider a generalized formulation for Slepian-Wolf coding based on the Wyner syndrome approach and present some preliminary theoretical results. We then describe how the compressed source can be decoded using belief propagation under our formulation. Simulation experiment results are given to show feasibility of the approach.
Characterization of high-level daptomycin resistance in viridans group streptococci developed upon in vitro exposure to daptomycin.

Viridans group streptococci (VGS) are part of the normal flora that may cause bacteremia, often leading to endocarditis. We evaluated daptomycin against four clinical strains of VGS (MICs = 1 or 2 μg/ml) using an in vitro-simulated endocardial vegetation model, a simulated bacteremia model, and kill curves. Daptomycin exposure was simulated at 6 mg/kg of body weight and 8 mg/kg every 24 h for endocardial and bacteremia models. Total drug concentrations were used for analyses containing protein (albumin and pooled human serum), and free (unbound) drug concentrations (93% protein bound) were used for analyses not containing protein. Daptomycin MICs in the presence of protein were significantly higher than those in the absence of protein. Despite MICs below or at the susceptible breakpoint, all daptomycin regimens demonstrated limited kill in both pharmacodynamic models. A reduction of approximately 1 to 2 log10 CFU was seen for all isolates and dosages except daptomycin at 6 mg/kg, which achieved a reduction of 2.7 log10 CFU/g against one strain (Streptococcus gordonii 1649) in the endocardial model. Activity was similar in both pharmacodynamic models in the presence or absence of protein. Similar activity was noted in the kill curves over all multiples of the MIC. Regrowth by 24 h was seen even at 8× MIC. Postexposure daptomycin MICs for both pharmacodynamic models increased to >256 μg/ml for all isolates by 24 and 72 h. Despite susceptibility to daptomycin by standard MIC methods, these VGS developed high-level daptomycin resistance (HLDR) after a short duration following drug exposure not attributed to modification or inactivation of daptomycin. Further evaluation is warranted to determine the mechanism of resistance and clinical implications.
Tigecycline for the Treatment of Severe Clostridium difficile Infection

Objective:To evaluate the evidence for the use of tigecycline in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).Data Sources:Searches were performed (2004 to June 2011), using the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases, with the terms tigecycline, Tygacil, Clostridium difficile, C. difficile, Clostridium difficile infection, and CDI.Study Selection:Six case reports that described the use of tigecycline for treatment of CDI were included for review. No clinical trials were identified.Data Synthesis:In all case reports except 1, tigecycline (alone or in combination with other CDI therapies) was used for the treatment of CDI that was refractory to metronidazole and/or vancomycin. In 6 of the cases, treatment success was reported following initiation of tigecycline therapy; 1 patient died following a complicated hospitalization. The treatment duration with tigecycline was 2-4 weeks. In the cases with successful outcomes, symptoms began to improve within 1 week. None of these patients experienced recurrence duri...
The Pinochet Case and Human Rights Progress in Chile: Was Europe a Catalyst, Cause or Inconsequential?

This article assesses the impact, if any, of Spanish and British Court rulings on the Pinochet case on human rights progress in Chilean courts. Chilean judges chafe at the notion that foreign courts exerted any influence on them, arguing that, based solely on Chilean law and the evidence already before them, they were empowered to strip Pinochet of his immunity, and proceeded to do so. Human rights critics allege that the courts had been thoroughly immobilised by the authoritarian legacy to which they were enjoined. No progress at all would have occurred were it not for the dramatic verdicts handed down in British courts. The author contends that change was underfoot in Chile prior to Pinochet's arrest in London, but that Europe set Chile on a faster and steeper trajectory toward justice than would have been possible otherwise. It did so by shaming the Chilean Government into pressuring its own high courts to deliver a modicum of justice to the victims of Pinochet.
The Ethics Of ‘Fail First’: Guidelines And Practical Scenarios For Step Therapy Coverage Policies

In an effort to control health costs, payers are increasingly turning to step therapy (or "fail first") policies in pharmacy benefit design. These policies restrict coverage of expensive therapies unless patients have already failed treatment with a lower-cost alternative. More than other utilization management tools such as formulary tiering, step therapy raises important ethical concerns regarding the proper balance between cost control and the ability of patients and clinicians to tailor care to the needs of the individual patient. This article provides eight design criteria to guide the ethical development and evaluation of step therapy policies and describes six clinical scenarios in which step therapy may be appropriate. The ethical criteria and scenarios are intended to provide guidance and transparency for insurers, patients, clinicians, and policy makers in choosing and paying for the appropriate therapies.
Gender Symmetry, Sexism, and Intimate Partner Violence

This study of a predominantly Hispanic sample of 92 male and 140 female college students examines both gender symmetry in intimate partner violence (IPV) and inconsistent relationships found in previous studies between sexist attitudes and IPV. Results indicate that although comparable numbers of men and women perpetrate and are victimized in their relationships with intimate partners, the path models suggest that women's violence tends to be in reaction to male violence, whereas men tend to initiate violence and then their partners respond with violence. Benevolent sexism was shown to have a protective effect against men's violence toward partners. Findings highlight the importance of studying women's violence not only in the context of men's violence but also within a broader sociocultural context.
Liver transplantation should be offered to patients with small solitary hepatocellular carcinoma and a positive serum alpha fetoprotein rather than resection

KEYWORDS: Liver; Transplantation; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Resection; SEER; AFP Abstract BACKGROUND: As debate continues as to what surgical modality should be offered to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the authors submit that serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) is an important variable to consider. METHODS: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, patients with solitary tumors within the Milan criteria were further stratified into 2 groups, those who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and those who underwent segmentectomy, lobectomy, or extended lobec- tomy (resection). Patients were further grouped according to serum AFP status (negative or positive). Relative survival was retrospectively evaluated for 3 years using the log-rank test. RESULTS: In the AFP-negative group, resection (n 5 165) offered equivalent survival compared with OLT (n 5 116); 3-year survival was 73.8% and 81.6%, respectively (P 5 .245). In the AFP- positive group, 3-year survival for resection (n 5 200) was 59%, while survival was 75.3% for OLT (n 5 181), which showed a clear survival advantage (P 5 .001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that patients with solitary hepatocellular car- cinoma lesions within the Milan criteria and AFP-positive status should not undergo resection but rather be offered OLT.
Characterization of expressed class II MHC sequences in the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis) reveals multiple DRB loci.

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are exceptionally polymorphic due to the combined effects of natural and sexual selection. Most research in wild populations has focused on the second exon of a single class II locus (DRB), but complete gene sequences can provide an illuminating backdrop for studies of intragenic selection, recombination, and organization. To this end, we characterized class II loci in the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis). Seven DRB-like sequences (provisionally named MhcDisp-DRB*01 through *07) were isolated from spleen cDNA and most likely comprise ≥5 loci; this multiformity is quite unlike the situation in muroid rodents such as Mus, Rattus, and Peromyscus. In silico translation revealed the presence of important structural residues for glycosylation sites, salt bonds, and CD4+ T-cell recognition. Amino-acid distances varied widely among the seven sequences (2–34%). Nuclear DNA sequences from the Disp-DRB*07 locus (∼10 kb) revealed a conventional exon/intron structure as well as a number of microsatellites and short interspersed nuclear elements (B4, Alu, and IDL-Geo subfamilies). Rates of nucleotide substitution at Disp-DRB*07 are similar in both exons and introns (π = 0.015 and 0.012, respectively), which suggests relaxed selection and may indicate that this locus is an expressed pseudogene. Finally, we performed BLASTn searches against Dipodomys ordii genomic sequences (unassembled reads) and find 90–97% nucleotide similarity between the two kangaroo rat species. Collectively, these data suggest that class II diversity in heteromyid rodents is based on polylocism and departs from the muroid architecture.
Conducting Research with Visually Impaired Older Adults

Due to the frequency of eye disorders among older adults, qualitative researchers who involve older individuals in their work must be sensitive to the multiple ways in which visual deficits can influence the research process. The author addresses some of the difficulties encountered, insights gained, and strategies developed while conducting a phenomenological study in which all the participants were severely visually impaired. The author’s insights, drawn from personal experiences, reflections, and log entries kept throughout the study, are shared to help other researchers design and implement studies in which the voices of individuals with severe visual impairments can be skillfully tapped.
Industry approach to the conflict minerals legislation

From the time Intel became aware of the potential for conflict minerals to enter our supply chain, we have responded to this issue with a sense of urgency and resolve. In July 2010, the US Government enacted legislation that requires all US publicly traded companies to file disclosures and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to the use of Conflict Minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold) in their products. The legislation came about due to serious concerns related to illegal mining contributing to human rights abuses including forced and child labor, theft, extortion, and violence within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) At its core, the legislation requires companies to identify their materials sources of origin for the four legislated metals. As shown in (Table 1) the uses of the four metals are wide ranging within the electronics industry.
Effects of Staged Cooling in Shrink-Fitting Compounded Cylinders

This paper studies the effect of staged cooling of compounded cylinders in avoiding cracking due to the presence of large interference stresses and low fracture toughness in the presence of cryogenic temperatures. This study is motivated by the assembly procedure of the fulcrum (a compounded trunnion-hub assembly) of bascule bridges, where the fulcrum is shrunk by immersion in liquid nitrogen so that it can then be fitted into the girder of the bridge. In a few cases, the fulcrum developed cracks during the immersion in liquid nitrogen. To study the effect of staged cooling to avoid such cracking, a finite difference model was developed of a long compounded cylinder with axisymmetric response with temperature-dependent properties. The study showed that the resistance to failure was increased by as much as 50 per cent when the compounded cylinder is cooled first in a refrigerated air chamber and followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen.
Anger and hostility in tension-type headache

A battery of standardized psychometric tests was administered to a group of 47 episodic tension-type headache sufferers and 47 headache-free controls. Compared to controls, headache subjects showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, and anger/hostility. The groups did not differ significantly on a measure of anger expressed toward persons or objects, but headache subjects showed significantly greater levels of suppressed anger. The results provide objective data that are in general agreement with predictions derived from psychosomatic theories about the interrelationships among anxiety,
INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION IN THE ABUNDANCE, PRODUCTION, AND EMERGENCE OF DAPHNIA DIAPAUSING EGGS

Despite the ubiquity of dormancy among invertebrates, the demographic ties between the active and dormant stages remain largely unexplored in most systems. Nevertheless, dormant stages could potentially have significant impacts on the ecology and evolution of the active population. In Oneida Lake, New York, populations of the suspension-feeding crustaceans Daphnia galeata mendotae and Daphnia pulicaria produce large numbers of long-lived diapausing eggs, which accumulate in the sediments to densities of over 2.5 × 104 eggs/m2 for D. galeata mendotae and 8.0 × 104 eggs/m2 for D. pulicaria. Sedimentation rates obtained by 210Pb dating suggest that these eggs can remain viable for >125 yr and that these two Daphnia populations have persisted in this system for >200 yr. Total annual production of new diapausing eggs can range from 0 to over 104 new eggs/m2 of sediment. Annual emergence rates back to the water column are also variable but only range between 0 and 25 Daphnia/m2. Because annual variation in the ...
Energy and Environmental Policy: The Role of Markets

In the aftermath of both a new Clean Air Act and the Persian Gulf War, Congress and the administration have once again turned their attention to the question of the nation’s use and management of energy resources. Energy, like many other valuable resources, has been the grist for many political, economic, and military battles. These struggles have largely been fought for control of these resources and the wealth that flows from such control. In our contemporary focus, we tend to forget that many of the vents of the twentieth century have been largely shaped by various conflicts over energy resources. Daniel Yergin’s recent book, The Prize, is a compelling tale of the influence of oil. Much of the development of the western part of the United States has been spurred by energy development and use. This trend continues as the Pacific Northwest debates the environmental impact of hydroelectric development and as Alaska attempts to tap the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
WE‐D‐AUD A‐01: Control Theory and Feedback with Medical Applications

Dynamic behavior is observed in a wide range of biological systems, from the changing concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to the regulation of glucose. A key component guiding these systems is feedback, the mechanism and process by which the status of a system is used to regulate the input to that system. Feedback can be used to stabilize a dynamic system, and it can be used to improve the performance of the system. In this presentation, an overview of basic control system structures will be presented, encompassing feedback along with alternate control methods such as feedforward and adaptive control. The pros and cons of each approach will be discussed. The potential for interfacing artificial and natural control systems will serve as the framework for the presentation. Educational Objectives: 1. Recognize the existence of control systems in human physiology and medicine, and discuss the potential for artificial control systems to augment natural system behavior. 2. Define feedback, feedforward, and adaptive control system structures. 3. Describe the benefits and limitations of each control approach.
On Mergers and Agglomeration

We formulate a model of mergers and acquisitions assuming a monopolistic competitive industry that exhibits agglomeration economies. We provide the conditions for the existence of a non‐trivial Nash equilibrium in the acquisition market at which the most productive firm acquires a range of less‐productive firms. Most importantly, we show that domestic merger and acquisition activities are international trade promotionary. We also show that such types of mergers and acquisition will improve the competitive position of foreign firms leading to an increase in their market share. In addition, domestic mergers and acquisitions will increase the number of imported varieties.
Landau level splitting in nitrogen-seeded epitaxial graphene

Abstract We report scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM and STS) studies of graphene formed from a nitrogen-seeded SiC( 000 1 ¯ ) surface. STM indicates that much of the graphene consists of wide flat plateaus with hexagonal features bounded by pleats and regions with disordered character. Nitrogen impurities are not observed in the epitaxial graphene layers. STS measurements on this surface show peaks corresponding to Landau levels associated with pseudo-magnetic fields as high as 1000 T. The energy distribution of Landau levels is consistent with an electronic model employing a finite bandgap.
Mechanical response of fine grained Ti2AlC under extreme thermo-mechanical loading conditions

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the compressive constitutive behavior and fracture initiation toughness of fine grained (∼4.2 μm) Ti 2 AlC in dynamic and quasi-static loading at different temperatures. A Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus was used in conjunction with an induction coil heating system for dynamic experiments at elevated temperatures, while a universal mechanical testing machine equipped with an extensometer and furnace was used for quasi-static compressive testing. A series of experiments were conducted at different temperatures from 25 °C to 1200 °C and strain rates of 10 −4 s −1 and 500 s −1 . A single edge notched specimen was used to determine the fracture initiation toughness in dynamic and quasi-static loading from ambient temperature to 900 °C. The SHPB apparatus was modified for this purpose and high speed photography was incorporated to determine fracture initiation time, and the load corresponding to this time was used to calculate the dynamic fracture toughness. The results of this study reveal that the peak compressive failure stress in dynamic conditions decreases with increasing temperature, from 1600 MPa at room temperature to 850 MPa at 1200 °C. In the dynamic testing condition, the failure remains predominately brittle even at temperatures as high as 1200 °C. Under static loading conditions, the peak compressive stresses were always lower than those in dynamic loading conditions, but they also decreased monotonically with increasing temperature. Also under static conditions, a significant drop in peak compressive failure stress and an increase in ductility was observed above the brittle-to-plastic transition temperature of around 900 °C. The fracture experiments reveal that the strength and fracture toughness in dynamic conditions are higher than the corresponding quasi-static values by approximately 35% at room temperature and that they both decrease with increasing temperatures. It was found that high temperature and low strain rate promote plastic behavior of Ti 2 AlC.