cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integration of Improvement and Implementation Science in Practice-Based Research Networks: a Longitudinal, Comparative Case Study.

Implementation science (IS) and quality improvement (QI) inhabit distinct areas of scholarly literature, but are often blended in practice. Because practice-based research networks (PBRNs) draw from both traditions, their experience could inform opportunities for strategic IS-QI alignment. To systematically examine IS, QI, and IS/QI projects conducted within a PBRN over time to identify similarities, differences, and synergies. Longitudinal, comparative case study of projects conducted in the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network (ORPRN) from January 2007 to January 2019. We reviewed documents and conducted staff interviews. We classified projects as IS, QI, IS/QI, or other using established criteria. We abstracted project details (e.g., objective, setting, theoretical framework) and used qualitative synthesis to compare projects by classification and to identify the contributions of IS and QI within the same project. Almost 30% (26/99) of ORPRN’s projects included IS or QI elements; 54% (14/26) were classified as IS/QI. All 26 projects used an evidence-based intervention and shared many similarities in relation to objective and setting. Over half of the IS and IS/QI projects used randomized designs and theoretical frameworks, while no QI projects did. Projects displayed an upward trend in complexity over time. Project used a similar number of practice change strategies; however, projects classified as IS predominantly employed education/training while all IS/QI and most QI projects used practice facilitation. Projects including IS/QI elements demonstrated the following contributions: QI provides the mechanism by which the principles of IS are operationalized in order to support local practice change and IS in turn provides theories to inform implementation and evaluation to produce generalizable knowledge. Our review of projects conducted over a 12-year period in one PBRN demonstrates key synergies for IS and QI. Strategic alignment of IS/QI within projects may help improve care quality and bridge the research-practice gap.
Inter-Platform Competition in a Regulated Ride-Hail Market With Pooling

This paper studies an aggregate ride-hail market in which two platforms competing with each other, as well as with transit, under different supply and regulatory conditions. The duopoly is built on a general market equilibrium model that explicitly characterizes the physical matching process, including pairing two passengers for a pooling ride. To account for the similarities between ride-hail services, a passenger's mode choice is represented using a Nested Logit model. Depending on whether drivers' work affiliation with a platform is exclusive or not, the duopoly is said to have a single- or multi-homing supply mode. We describe the outcome of the duopoly pricing game as a Nash Equilibrium (NE) and solve it by transforming it into a variational inequality problem (VIP). When a regulatory constraint is imposed, the duopoly equilibrium becomes a generalized NE, which corresponds to a quasi VIP. Through numerical experiments constructed using data from Chicago, we find multi-homing may lead to disastrous outcomes in an unregulated duopoly. Specifically, passenger and driver surplus, as well as platform profits, are all significantly lower in a multi-homing duopoly than in a single-homing counterpart. This disaster arises because the multi-homing duopoly is locked in a self-destructive pricing war analogous to the prisoner's dilemma. We show that the negative consequences of such a dilemma can be mitigated by (i) discouraging multi-homing behavior; (ii) imposing a minimum wage on both platforms; and (iii) encouraging the platforms to specialize in different services. The results also show the efficiency in matching passengers and drivers is a more crucial asset for platform competition than that in pairing pooling passengers, more so in a multi-homing duopoly. In general, the platform with a higher matching efficiency ends up making more money and providing a better level of service.
A Centripetal Theory of Democratic Governance: Assessing the Evidence

In chapter six, we presented evidence of a causal relationship between centripetal institutions – as embodied in Unitarism, Parliamentarism, and Closed-List PR and in a combined variable, Centripetalism – and good governance. In this chapter, we critically assess the plausibility of these apparent relationships and reconsider our choice of methods. In doing so, we are fully cognizant of potential problems and limitations. We have already mentioned the generic difficulties that affect any study focused on basic-level constitutional institutions and distal governance outcomes. There is little change in these institutions through time, so the leverage for causal analysis comes mostly from spatial variation. Yet, across-unit heterogeneity is extreme, requiring the inclusion of myriad control variables, which can never fully compensate for the nonexperimental characteristics of the research design. These sorts of difficulties prompt some methodologists to forswear use of cross-national regression techniques, a conclusion we find a bit extreme. The relevant question, in our view, is not whether a given method stands above some imagined bar of acceptable truth-probability, but rather whether it offers the best possible empirical test of the question at issue. We think that our approach to these questions satisfies the practical test of human knowledge. Ours is emphatically a pragmatic, not an absolute, epistemology. Problems of Robustness, Briefly Considered We begin with the problem of nonrandomized treatment.
The recent growth of international reserves in developing economies: A monetary perspective

Abstract The massive accumulation of international reserves in developing economies is a puzzling recent development in the world economy. This paper studies reserve accumulation as the outcome of a simple model in which the central bank smooths inflation. I explore the view that central banks accumulate reserves to face large fiscal shocks that need monetary financing. Central bank revenues are obtained through inflation, but inflation is distortionary. As a result, the central bank optimally accumulates international reserves in order to spread the costs associated with inflation over time. A simple numerical exercise for an average developing economy using data between 1970 and 2009 yields fast growth of international reserves.
Requirement for Coenzyme A in the Phosphoroclastic Reaction of Anaerobic Bacteria

Various bacteria which degrade pyruvate by the phosphoroclastic reaction were examined with respect to the role of coenzyme A (CoA) in this reaction. The strictly anaerobic bacteria, which cleave pyruvate by the phosphoroclastic reaction characteristic of Clostridia, required catalytic levels of CoA for the CO2-pyruvate exchange and acetoin-forming portions of the phosphoroclastic reaction. These reactions were reversibly inhibited by the CoA analogue, desulfo-CoA. In contrast, using cell-free extracts of bacteria which degrade pyruvate by the coliform phosphoroclastic reaction (pyruvate formate-lyase), no requirement for CoA could be observed for the formate-pyruvate exchange reaction. It is suggested that CoA serves a regulatory function in the early portion of the clostridal type of phosphoroclastic reaction.
Earthquake source parameters for the 2010 January Haiti main shock and aftershock sequence

SUMMARY Previous analyses of geological and geodetic data suggest that the obliquely compressive relative motion across the Caribbean–North America plate boundary in Hispaniola is accommodated through strain partitioning between near-vertical transcurrent faults on land and low-angle thrust faults offshore. In the Dominican Republic, earthquake focal-mechanism geometries generally support this interpretation. Little information has been available about patterns of seismic strain release in Haiti, however, due to the small numbers of moderate-to-large earthquakes occurring in western Hispaniola during the modern instrumental era. Here, we analyse the damaging MW= 7.0 earthquake that occurred near Port au Prince on 2010 January 12 and aftershocks occurring in the four months following this event, to obtain centroid–moment-tensor (CMT) solutions for 50 earthquakes with magnitudes as small as MW= 4.0. While the 2010 January main shock exhibited primarily strike-slip motion on a steeply dipping nodal plane (strike=250°, dip=71° and rake=22°), we find that nearly all of the aftershocks show reverse-faulting motion, typically on high-angle (30°–45°) nodal planes. Two small aftershocks (MW 4.5 and 4.6), located very close to the main shock epicentre, show strike-slip faulting with geometries similar to the main shock. One aftershock located off the south coast of Haiti shows low-angle thrust faulting. We also examine earthquakes occurring in this region from 1977–2009; successful analysis of four such events provides evidence for both strike-slip and reverse faulting. The pattern of seismic strain release in southern Haiti thus indicates that partitioning of plate motion between transcurrent and reverse structures extends far west within Hispaniola. While we see limited evidence for low-angle underthrusting offshore, most reverse motion appears to occur on high-angle fault structures adjacent to the Enriquillo fault. Our results highlight the need to incorporate seismogenic slip on compressional structures into hazard assessments for southern Haiti.
CP VIOLATION 1984 - THE KM MODEL CONFRONTS EXPERIMENT

Abstract Using recent experimental data involving the b, t quarks and the new measurement of η +− / η oo we show that the KM picture of CP violation is barely compatible with these results. Slight improvements in any of these limits could require abandonement of the KM picture as the sole source of CP nonconservation, and some of the resultant required “new physics” is discussed.
Temperature dependence of the Raman spectrum of the high Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O7

Abstract The Raman spectrum of polycrystalline sintered YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 has been measured at several temperatures between 10K and 300K. Ten Raman active phonon modes are observed with frequencies of 153, 217, 291, 309, 335, 441, 493, 506, 601 and 640 cm -1 . The 335 cm -1 mode shows anomalous behavior: Above T c it increases in frequency on cooling but below T c its frequency shift changes sign as the mode begins to soften. The fact that most of the mode frequencies we observe do not coincide with the measured infrared frequencies supports the assignment of the symmetry of the crystal to a centrosymmetric space group.
Low HPV Vaccine Coverage Among Female Community College Students

This study assessed HPV vaccination and its correlates among culturally diverse 18–26 year-old community college women in Los Angeles. Specific research questions were: (1) What proportion of respondents have initiated the HPV vaccine, and what proportion have completed the three-dose series? (2) What demographic (e.g., age, ethnicity), psychosocial (e.g., vaccine-related beliefs, perceived social norms), and health care-related variables (e.g., health insurance status, provider recommendation, health care trust and satisfaction) are associated with vaccine initiation for this sample? Participants were recruited from the campus of a community college in central Los Angeles. All female students between 18 and 26 were eligible to participate. An anonymous web-based survey assessed number of HPV vaccine doses received as well as demographic information, HPV- and HPV vaccine-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior, perceived social norms, provider & health care system factors, sexual behavior, cervical health, and mother-daughter communication about sex. Analyses were conducted using 178 surveys. Multivariate logistic regression tested the relationships of statistically significant bivariate predictors to vaccine initiation. Those who initiated the vaccine were younger, more often had a health-related academic major, thought the vaccine to be safer, perceived HPV severity lower, and perceived higher social approval for HPV vaccination than those unvaccinated. All who had initiated the vaccine had a doctor’s recommendation. To increase uptake among 18–26-year-old women, research should explore provider interventions to increase vaccine recommendation, and also identify individuals and groups who may have negative beliefs about vaccine safety and efficacy to provide support in vaccine decision-making.
OHIOLINK: A statewide system raises new issues and opportunities for cooperation

It should come as no surprise that the 1993 EDU‐COM conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, showcased one of North America's most interesting experiments in automation—Ohio's OhioLINK. Unusual in this conference, traditionally focused on technical issues, was the focus on OhioLINK as representative of new politics, a new funding strategy, and a new library paradigm, rather than OhioLINK described in terms of mips, routers, and bandwidth.
Facile synthesis of 2-methyl-[4,6-di-O-acetyl-1,2-dideoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-d-glycopyranosyl)-α-d-glucopyrano]-[2′,1′,4,5]- 2-oxazolines, key intermediates for the synthesis of oligosaccharides☆

A simple synthesis of disaccharide oxazolines has been developed. Condensation of methyl 2-acetamido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide, followed by removal of the 4,6-O-benzylidene group from the resulting disaccharide derivative, gave crystalline methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucpyranoside which, on acetolysis with acetic anhydride-acetic acid-sulfuric acid, provided 2-methyl-[4,6-di-O-acetyl-1,2-dideoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucopyrano]-[2',1':4,5]-2-oxazoline (7). Synthesis of the related alpha-D-mannopyranosyl compound was similarly accomplished. The glycosylating capability of 7 was employed for the synthesis of 6-(benzyloxycarbonylamino)hexyl-2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (18). An alternative synthesis of compound 18 is also described.
Bladder cancer: State-of-the-art care

The challenge in bladder cancer is to control superficial disease and prevent its recurrence or progression. Patients with invasive disease need to be identified earlier, when disease may be less advanced and more amenable to cure. An important area for further investigation is the biology of the various forms of bladder cancer and the various pathways of development they may follow.
All-cause mortality imbalance in the tigecycline phase 3 and 4 clinical trials

Abstract In 12 of 13 phase 3 and 4 comparative clinical trials, all-cause mortality was higher in the tigecycline group versus the comparator group. Study-level mortality risk differences were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Statistical models evaluated the association between patient-level all-cause mortality and baseline factors using logistic regression, recursive partitioning [classification and regression tree (CART) analysis] and survival techniques. The estimated risk difference (tigecycline minus comparator) in all-cause mortality from the meta-analysis was 0.6% (95% confidence interval 0.1–1.2%). Statistical modelling identified baseline bacteraemia associated with mortality only in the tigecycline group. In patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and baseline bacteraemia, mortality was 50.0% (9/18) for tigecycline versus 7.7% (1/13) for the comparator group. Study-level and patient-level analyses have identified that patients in the hospital-acquired pneumonia trial, particularly those with VAP with baseline bacteraemia, were at a higher risk of clinical failure and mortality.
The territorial bases of health policymaking in the UK after devolution

For all that there is a well-entrenched sense of the differences among the different peoples of the UK, there has been surprising reluctance to accept the extent to which these differences translate into divergent public policy trajectories. That means the extent of policy divergence since devolution has been something of an uncomfortable surprise for many. Its speed, given the common heritages, similar organizations, shared problems, and pressures for convergence between the four systems might startle – in an increasingly globalized world (and medicine has long been cosmopolitan) their divergence is striking and explaining it important. If there is to be change in a mature welfare state such as that of the United Kingdom, it will most likely be through the accretion of such changes to existing systems. And, I argue, the changes reflect the distinct politics of place and the way policy makers, often insensibly, respond to their particular problems and debates in ways that vary territorially and produce te...
Time course and temporal order of changes in movement kinematics during learning of fast and accurate elbow flexions

Learning of a motor task, such as making accurate goal-directed movements, is associated with a number of changes in limb kinematics and in the EMG activity that produces the movement. Some of these changes include increases in movement velocity, improvements in end-point accuracy, and the development of a biphasic/triphasic EMG pattern for fast movements. One question that has remained unanswered is whether the time course of the learning-related changes in movement parameters is similar for all parameters. The present paper focuses on this question and presents evidence that different parameters evolve with a specific temporal order. Neurologically normal subjects were trained to make horizontal, planar movements of the elbow that were both fast and accurate. The performance of the subjects was monitored over the course of 400 movements made during experiments lasting approximately 1.5 h. We measured time-related parameters (duration of acceleration, duration of deceleration, and movement duration) and amplitude-related parameters (peak acceleration, peak deceleration, peak velocity), as well as movement distance. In addition, each subject’s reaction time and EMG activity was monitored. We found that reaction time was the parameter that changed the fastest and that reached a steady baseline earliest. Time-related parameters decreased at a somewhat slower rate and plateaued next. Amplitude-related parameters were slowest in reaching steady-state values. In subjects making the fastest movements, a triphasic EMG patterns was observed to develop. Our findings reveal that movement parameters change with different time courses during the process of motor learning. The results are discussed in terms of the neural substrates that may be responsible for the differences in this aspect of motor learning and skill acquisition.
Effects of Acculturation and Worldview for White American, South American, South Asian, and Southeast Asian Students

Perceptions of normal dissociation, including Western (e.g., daydreaming) and non-Western (e.g., trance behaviors) perspectives, were examined. Acculturation and frequency of abuse experiences in White American students predicted Western dissociation descriptions. For South American and South Asian students, acculturation predicted non-Western dissociation descriptions. Also, Acculturation and the normative worldview made significant contributions to both non-Western and Western descriptions of dissociation, but with different interaction patterns for the South American and South Asian groups. The between group differences (White American versus international students) and within group differences (among international groups) support the assumption that views of dissociation may be culturally based. Implications include the importance of counseling approaches that respond to such cultural variations, thus avoiding misattribution of behavior and ensuring culturally competent counseling assessment and intervention.
Initial-value problems in potential theory

Potential theory characteristically leads to partial differential equations under boundary conditions. It is shown that these boundary-value problems can be converted directly into equivalent initial-value problems. These initial-value problems are shown to lead to a number of standard and nonstandard numerical procedures.
Independent, convergent, and divergent decision behaviour for interactive multiple objectives linear programming

An interactive paired comparison approach for multiple objective linear programming (MOLP) problems is developed where the Decision Maker's preferential behaviour is presented by a utility function. The preferential behaviour can be independent, convergent, or divergent; which are mathematically presented by additive, quasi-concave, or quasi-convex utility functions respectively. The approach to find the best alternative consists of four phases: I. An additive utility function. II. A quasi-concave utility function. III. A quasi-convex utility function. IV. A feasible goal utility function. In the first three phases a paired comparison of alternatives are used and in Phase IV a feasible goal method is developed that finds the closest feasible efficient point for a given goal by the decision maker. This method also identifies resources required to make a given goal feasible. The approach can be extended to solve multiple objective integer/nonlinear optimization problems. Some experiments and examples are pr...
Purification-Concentration Process of Zn(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) Using Liquid Membrane with Different Carriers

Abstract Heavy metals are toxic to human beings and organisms. Industrial effluents drawn from different industries such as dyeing, mining, electroplating, nuclear power operations, aerospace and battery manufacturing processes are highly contaminated with heavy metals and create a major environmental problem to their discharge into land. Liquid membrane is considered as a low-cost method for treating wastes. Purification-concentration process using liquid membrane containing different extractants as carriers considered to be the most effective technique for the removal of heavy metals from wastewaters. This study primarily focuses on the extraction–reextraction in order to design a purification-contraction process using liquid membrane to remove different heavy metals (Zn, Ni, and Cd) and metal ions from aqueous solutions for industrial application. In order to design and optimize a transport process for industrial application, the effect of transport conditions has been studied. Moreover, it is important to study the influence of different parameters such as: the acidity, nature and concentration of the carriers, the time of transportation.
Key Updating for Leakage Resiliency With Application to AES Modes of Operation

Side-channel analysis (SCA) exploits the information leaked through unintentional outputs (e.g., power consumption) to reveal the secret key of cryptographic modules. The real threat of SCA lies in the ability to mount attacks over small parts of the key and to aggregate information over different encryptions. The threat of SCA can be thwarted by changing the secret key at every run. Indeed, many contributions in the domain of leakage resilient cryptography tried to achieve this goal. However, the proposed solutions were computationally intensive and were not designed to solve the problem of the current cryptographic schemes. In this paper, we propose a generic framework of lightweight key updating that can protect the current cryptographic standards and evaluate the minimum requirements for heuristic SCA-security. Then, we propose a complete solution to protect the implementation of any standard mode of Advanced Encryption Standard. Our solution maintains the same level of SCA-security (and sometimes better) as the state of the art, at a negligible area overhead while doubling the throughput of the best previous work.
Hypersonic Laminar Instability on Round Cones Near Zero Angle of Attack

Abstract : Reliable predictions for hypersonic laminar-turbulent transition will have to be based on simulation of the transition mechanisms. Accurate simulation of the second-mode instability-wave growth on a round cone at zero angle of attack would be a significant step toward this goal. Hypersonic stability experiments in this geometry are reviewed, and three are selected. Extensive and previously unpublished data from Stetson's sharp and blunt cone experiments are reported. Approximate computations were carried out using inviscid-boundary-layer and eN methods. The experimental results are compared to previous high-accuracy computations and to the present approximate computations. Quantitative agreement is at present insufficient for reliable eN predictions. The difficulties with both experiment and computation are described.
DSP-Based Coherent Detection Techniques

Two digital signal processing techniques for phase estimation of coherent PSK systems, namely feedforward carrier recovery and digital delay lock loop, are analyzed and simulated. Limitations due to laser linewidth and processing delay are considered.
Efficient Designs for Event-Related Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Multiple Scanning Sessions

Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (ER-fMRI) is a leading technology for studying brain activity in response to mental stimuli. Due to the popularity and high cost of this pioneering technology, efficient experimental designs are in great demand. However, the complex nature of ER-fMRI makes it difficult to obtain such designs; it requires careful consideration regarding both statistical and practical issues as well as major computational efforts. In this article, we obtain efficient designs for ER-fMRI. In contrast to previous studies, we take into account a common practice where subjects undergo multiple scanning sessions in an experiment. To the best of our knowledge, this important reality has never been studied systematically for design selection. We compare several approaches to obtain efficient designs and propose a novel algorithm for this problem. Our simulation results indicate that, using our algorithm, highly efficient designs can be obtained.
Modeling soil thermal and carbon dynamics of a fire chronosequence in interior Alaska

[1] In this study, the dynamics of soil thermal, hydrologic, and ecosystem processes were coupled to project how the carbon budgets of boreal forests will respond to changes in atmospheric CO2, climate, and fire disturbance. The ability of the model to simulate gross primary production and ecosystem respiration was verified for a mature black spruce ecosystem in Canada, the age-dependent pattern of the simulated vegetation carbon was verified with inventory data on aboveground growth of Alaskan black spruce forests, and the model was applied to a postfire chronosequence in interior Alaska. The comparison between the simulated soil temperature and field-based estimates during the growing season (May to September) of 1997 revealed that the model was able to accurately simulate monthly temperatures at 10 cm (R > 0.93) for control and burned stands of the fire chronosequence. Similarly, the simulated and field-based estimates of soil respiration for control and burned stands were correlated (R = 0.84 and 0.74 for control and burned stands, respectively). The simulated and observed decadal to centuryscale dynamics of soil temperature and carbon dynamics, which are represented by mean monthly values of these variables during the growing season, were correlated among stands (R = 0.93 and 0.71 for soil temperature at 20- and 10-cm depths, R = 0.95 and 0.91 for soil respiration and soil carbon, respectively). Sensitivity analyses indicate that along with differences in fire and climate history a number of other factors influence the response of carbon dynamics to fire disturbance. These factors include nitrogen fixation, the growth of moss, changes in the depth of the organic layer, soil drainage, and fire severity. INDEX TERMS: 1615 Global Change: Biogeochemical processes (4805); 0315 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Biosphere/atmosphere interactions; 0330 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Geochemical cycles; KEYWORDS: carbon, fire, nitrogen, hydrology, permafrost
Development of very-high-density low-enriched-uranium fuels

The RERTR program has recently begun an aggressive effort to develop dispersion fuels for research and test reactors with uranium densities of 8 to 9 g U/cm{sup 3}, based on the use of {gamma}-stabilized uranium alloys. Fabrication development teams and facilities are being put into place and preparations for the first irradiation test are in progress. The first screening irradiations are expected to begin in late April 1997 and first results should be available by end of 1997. Discussions with potential international partners in fabrication development and irradiation testing have begun.
Surface Chemical Functionalization of Cylindrical Nanopores Derived from a Polystyrene−Poly(methylmethacrylate) Diblock Copolymer via Amidation

This paper demonstrated covalent functionalization of surface −COOH groups on cylindrical nanopores derived from a polystyrene−poly(methylmethacrylate) diblock copolymer (PS-b-PMMA) via amidation mediated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC). The surface functionalization led to conversion of the surface charge of the nanopores and also to the shrinkage of effective pore radius, as verified using cyclic voltammetry for PS-b-PMMA-derived nanoporous films immobilized on gold substrates. For native PS-b-PMMA-derived nanoporous films, the redox current of anionic Fe(CN)63− decreased with increasing solution pH due to the deprotonation of the surface −COOH groups, whereas those of cationic Ru(NH3)63+ and uncharged 1,1′-ferrocenedimethanol (Fc(CH2OH)2) were similar regardless of pH. In contrast, upon EDC-mediated amidation of the nanopore surface with ethylenediamine, the redox current of Ru(NH3)63+ decreased with decreasing pH and those of Fe(CN)63− and Fc(CH2OH)2 were independent of pH. The ...
LARGE SAMPLE TESTS FOR COMPARING REGRESSION COEFFICIENTS IN MODELS WITH NORMALLY DISTRIBUTED VARIABLES

The analysis of regression coefficients is an important issue in different scientific areas, mostly because conclusions about the relationship between variables, like causal interpretations, are drawn based on these coefficients. This paper focuses on the description of the null hypothesis of invariance of regression coefficients for multidimensional stochastic regressors. In this study, it is assumed that the variables have a joint normal distribution with unknown expectation and unknown positive definite covariance matrix. In this context, it is shown that the null hypothesis contains special parameter points, called singular and stationary parameter points, that influence the distribution of the commonly used test statistics under the null hypothesis. Three large sample statistics—the Wald test, the likelihood ratio test, and the efficient score test—are compared when testing this nonlinear null hypothesis. The results of a simulation study are presented. The goal of the simulations is to check the distributions of the three statistics for finite sample sizes and at a stationary point of the null hypothesis. Another aim is to compare the empirical values of the three statistics to one another, for different parameter constellations. It is shown that all three statistics present deviations from the expected chi-squared distribution at this special parameter point. However, any of the three statistical tests might be used for testing the hypothesis of the invariance of the regression coefficients since they remain asymptotically conservative at the stationary points of the null hypothesis.
Synthesizing an Approach to Strategy and Structure in Heavy Industry

ABSTRACTDuring the 1970's and 80's, heavy industries in North America and Western Europe lost much of their ability to compete against lower cost producers in other regions. During the 1990's, however, some of these industries have been turned around. American and German automobile manufacturers are taking the initiative and recovering market share, and American steel mills are undergoing a strong revival. Other heavy manufacturing industries, however, have failed to recover international competitiveness. Shipbuilding is one example. Most of the remaining large North American and European shipyards depend on various forms of government support. Is this outcome inevitable? It is proposed that this question may be effectively researched using a framework built from engineering, strategic management, and economics concepts. In this paper, the construction of the framework is outlined and ongoing work to test it via application to the shipbuilding industry is briefly described.
Locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer.

Metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is an aggressive neoplasm characterized by rapid growth and dissemination with a median survival of typically less than 1 year. Despite the availability of a myriad of antineoplastics with moderatesignificant anti-tumor activity yielding overall response rates in the 40% to 80% range, randomized trials continue to demonstrate median survival rates in the 13- to14-month range, with very limited long-term survival. Subsets of patients with advanced bladder cancer present additional management problems, including those with renal insufficiency or nontransitional-cell histology. Various observers have noted the similarity in treatment outcomes in advanced bladder cancer and extensive small cell lung cancer where chemotherapy produces relatively high response rates but with limited impact on survival. The optimal chemotherapy combination for patients with advanced bladder cancer remains undefined, however, there is increasing recognition that in order to achieve tangible improvements in complete response rates and survival in this disease will likely require a combination of chemotherapy and targeted molecular therapies and in some settings adjunctive surgery.
P-cadherin is a p63 target gene with a crucial role in the developing human limb bud and hair follicle.

P-cadherin is a member of the classical cadherin family that forms the transmembrane core of adherens junctions. Recently, mutations in the P-cadherin gene ( CDH3 ) have been shown to cause two inherited diseases in humans: hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy (HJMD) and ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, macular dystrophy (EEM syndrome). The common features of both diseases are sparse hair and macular dystrophy of the retina, while only EEM syndrome shows the additional finding of split hand/foot malformation (SHFM). We identified five consanguineous Pakistani families with either HJMD or EEM syndrome, and detected pathogenic mutations in the CDH3 gene of all five families. In order to define the role of P-cadherin in hair follicle and limb development, we performed expression studies on P-cadherin in the mouse embryo, and demonstrated the predominant expression of P-cadherin not only in the hair follicle placode, but also at the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) of the limb bud. Based on the evidence that mutations in the p63 gene also result in hypotrichosis and SHFM, and that the expression patterns of p63 and P-cadherin overlap in the hair follicle placode and AER, we postulated that CDH3 could be a direct transcriptional target gene of p63. We performed promoter assays and ChIP, which revealed that p63 directly interacts with two distinct regions of the CDH3 promoter. We conclude that P-cadherin is a newly defined transcriptional target gene of p63, with a crucial role in hair follicle morphogenesis as well as the AER during limb bud outgrowth in humans, whereas it is not required for either in mice.
On the transportation problem with market choice

We study a variant of the classical transportation problem in which suppliers with limited capacities have a choice of which demands (markets) to satisfy. We refer to this problem as the transportation problem with market choice (TPMC). While the classical transportation problem is known to be strongly polynomial-time solvable, we show that its market choice counterpart is strongly NP-complete. For the special case when all potential demands are no greater than two, we show that the problem reduces in polynomial time to minimum weight perfect matching in a general graph, and thus can be solved in polynomial time. We give valid inequalities and coefficient update schemes for general mixed-integer sets that are substructures of TPMC. Finally, we give conditions under which these inequalities define facets, and report our preliminary computational experiments with using them in a branch-and-cut algorithm.
241: Brachial plexus strain is minimally affected when asynclitism is resolved by operative vaginal delivery

RESOLVED BY OPERATIVE VAGINAL DELIVERY EDITH GUREWITSCH, VANESSA LAPOINTE, MICHELLE HARRAN, LINDSAY KRANKER, TARA JOHNSON, ROBERT ALLEN, Johns Hopkins University, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland OBJECTIVE: Asynclitism (AS) is treatable by operative vaginal delivery (OVD), yet it is unknown if OVD increases brachial plexus (BP) strain already conferred by lateral deviation (LD) of the head, or if instrument type matters. Using a birthing simulator, we compared maximal BP strain between AS and non-AS, low and outlet forceps (F) and vacuum (V) deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: One operator performed 193 simulated low and outlet OpVD. LOA position at either station varied randomly between normal (20 10°) and AS (50 10° [anterior parietal presentation]) and Luikart-Simpson F or KiwiTM V. Neck extension (NE) and anterior BP strain at Erb’s point were recorded from application through head-out. Mean maximal deformations were compared pairwise among F-normal, F-AS, V-normal & V-AS using t-tests; correction of AS (resumption of normal orientation) was compared between F & V using 2 (p 0.05 significant). RESULTS: Pooled data for anterior BP strain is shown, all p 0.001. Significance remained when station was analyzed separately. NE was minimal ( 0.6cm) in all OVD. Correction of AS occurred in 16/50 F and 16/48 V OVD (p 0.89), and was no more likely during low (8/27 F-AS vs. 8/25 V-AS [p 0.85] than outlet (8/23 F-AS vs. 8/23 V-AS [p 1.00]) OVD (p 0.78). Maximal BP strain was similar in corrected and uncorrected AS OVD (13.5 2.3% vs. 12.6 2.2%, p 0.09). CONCLUSION: In simulated OpVD, fetal NE is negligible, regardless of F or V, station or LD. AS OVD produces greater anterior BP strain than normal. Correction of AS is equally likely to be achieved with either F or V, regardless of station, but does not reduce strain. While F produces greater maximal anterior BP strain than V, neither is likely to produce BP injury, regardless of station or LD.
Optical detection of phosphrescent triplet state endor in zero field

Abstract The optical detection at zero-field of ENDOR transitions associated with the 14N nuclear levels of 2,3-dchloroquinoxaline in the Tππ* state is demonstrated. The appearance of hyperfine structure in the zero-field optically detected microwave transitions is explained quantitatviley using a spin-Hamiltonian incorporating the 14N hyperfine and quadrupole interactions.
Structural Molecular Dynamics Studies on Polyamidoamine Dendrimers for a Therapeutic Application: Effects of pH and Generation

Extensive simulations of PAMAM dendrimer generation 2 were performed at several pH conditions with explicit water molecules, to obtain proper conditions and validity for additional simulations without explicit water. Within the range of validity, simulation without water greatly extends the size and duration of practical simulations. We investigated the effects of long-range interaction parameters such as interaction distance and dielectric constant for molecular dynamics simulations of PAMAM dendrimer without water, concluding that charged dendrimer simulation with distance-dependent dielectric constant but without cutoff distance best mimics explicit water results. Structural variations of PAMAM dendrimers were analyzed as a function of pH and dendrimer generation using MD simulations with these long-range interaction parameters. Globular and loosely compact structures at high pH (≥10) show conservation of atom density distribution across dendrimer generations. Highly ordered extended structures at low ...
Assessing the cost-effectiveness of software reuse: a model for planned reuse

Information systems development is typically acknowledged as an expensive and lengthy process, often producing code that is of uneven quality and difficult to maintain. Software reuse has been advocated as a means of revolutionizing this process. The claimed benefits from software reuse are reduction in development cost and time, improvement in software quality, increase in programmer productivity, and improvement in maintainability. Software reuse entails undeniable costs of creating, populating, and maintaining a library of reusable components. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that some organizations benefit from reuse. However, many software developers practicing reuse claim these benefits without formal demonstration thereof. There is little research to suggest when the benefits are expected and to what extent they will be realized. For example, does a larger library of reusable components lead to increased savings? What is the impact of component size on the effectiveness of reuse? This research seeks to address some of these questions. It represents the first step in a series wherein the effects of software reuse on overall development effort and costs are modelled with a view to understanding when it is most effective.
Site-specific hyperphosphorylation of pRb in HIV-induced neurotoxicity ☆

HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) remains a serious complication of HIV infection, despite combined Anti-Retroviral Therapy (cART). Neuronal dysfunction and death are attributed to soluble factors released from activated and/or HIV-infected macrophages. Most of these factors affect the cell cycle machinery, determining cellular outcomes even in the absence of cell division. One of the earliest events in cell cycle activation is hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, pRb (ppRb). We and others have previously shown increased ppRb expression in the CNS of patients with HIV encephalitis (HIVE) and in neurons in an in vitro model of HIV-induced neurodegeneration. However, trophic factors also lead to an increase in neuronal ppRb with an absence of cell death, suggesting that, depending on the stimulus, hyperphosphorylation of pRb can have different outcomes on neuronal fate. pRb has multiple serines and threonines targeted for phosphorylation by distinct kinases, and we hypothesized that different stimuli may target separate sites for phosphorylation. Thus, to determine whether pRb is differentially phosphorylated in response to different stimuli and whether any of these sites is preferentially phosphorylated in association with HIV-induced neurotoxicity, we treated primary rat mixed cortical cultures with trophic factors, BDNF or RANTES, or with the neurotoxic factor, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), or with supernatants containing factors secreted by HIV-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (HIV-MDM), our in vitro model of HIV-induced neurodegeneration. We found that, while BDNF and RANTES phosphorylated serine807/811 and serine608 in vitro, treatment with HIV-MDM did not, even though these trophic factors are components of HIV-MDM. Rather, HIV-MDM targets a specific phosphorylation site, serine795, of pRb for phosphorylation in vitro and this ppRb isoform is also increased in HIV-infected brains in vivo. Further, overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable pRb (ppRb S795A) attenuated HIV-MDM-induced neurotoxicity. These findings indicate that HIV-infection in the brain is associated with site-specific hyperphosphorylation of pRb at serine795, which is not induced by other tested stimuli, and that this phosphorylation contributes to neuronal death in this disease, demonstrating that specific pRb sites are differentially targeted and may have diverse impacts on the viability of post-mitotic neurons.
Mineral Deposits and Global Tectonic Settings

This book aims to show how ore deposits are related to the concept of plate tectonics; it succeeds. Not too long ago, opaque minerals in a thin section were called “ore” by petrologists and then ignored, and ore deposits were freaks of nature which tended to be where you found them. Today, “ore” and ore deposits have become part of mainstream geologic studies—opaque minerals can reveal much about the evolution of a rock, and mineral deposits can reveal tectonic settings. The main value of this book to most AGU members is that it shows how ore deposits can reveal tectonic setting; ambiguously in many cases, to be sure, but a pattern is emerging. Mitchell and Garson do not stress the flip side, the application of plate tectonics to exploration, although applications are apparent, and a short chapter is devoted to this aspect.
Risk Estimation-An Overview: Disease Risk Estimation Based Upon Animal Bioassays

Much more could be written about the issues addressed here, as well as about issues that are not even mentioned. The goal was to present a brief overview of some of the techniques and issues in quantitative health risk assessment based upon animal data. Hopefully, this overview will provoke some attention to specific in risk assessment that require more research. Perhaps the bibliographic references given will lead to other papers.
“Does This Mean You’re Not Going to Come Visit Me Anymore?”: An Inquiry into an Ethics of Reciprocity and Positionality in Feminist Ethnographic Research*

In 1988, Judith Stacey posed the provocative question: "Can there be a feminist ethnography?" In doing so, she challenged widely held assumptions about feminist ethnography by pointing out that qualitative research methods do not necessarily mitigate the dangers of exploitation in research. Almost two decades later, the issues Stacey raised continue to receive considerable attention from feminist scholars. This article adds to this body of literature by examining the dynamics of reciprocity and positionality in research. Drawing from research conducted with Bosnian Muslim refugees, the author outlines three tensions she experienced and addresses how these tensions were related to her shifting and sometimes contradictory positionalities as a woman, a researcher, a friend, a graduate student, and as a person who was straddled between two classes. This is followed by a discussion about the lessons learned and the way the experiences shaped her current collaborative, community-based research project with Somali refugees.
Influences of Dam on Calving Difficulty and Early Calf Mortality

Abstract Influence of dam on calving difficulty and calf mortality was evaluated for repeatability of past performance and daughter-dam relationships. Repeatability for calving performance at first with second parity was .16 and for consecutive calvings at second and later parities .10. Repeatability for calf mortality from first to second parity was .02 and for consecutive calving at second and later parities .02. A small but real tendency existed to repeat prior calving performance but not calf livability. Repeatabilities for dystocia were approximately double heritability. Difficulty scores should not be combined because of loss of predictive value of future performance. Relationship of calving difficulty to calf mortality varied depending on whether the calf was born dead or died within 48 h postpartum. Livability scores for those classes should not be combined when calf mortality-calving difficulty interactions are investigated. The hypothesis of negative direct maternal correlation for dystocia resulting from small calves born with ease becoming small cows that have increased dystocia was not disproven for first and second parities. Cows with above average difficulty produced daughters with above average difficulty, and heritability of dystocia as a trait of the dam was .24 by regression of daughter on dam.