cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Placing Blame or a Call to Action? An Analysis of Uwezo in the Kenyan Press.

Citizen-led assessments were developed in the mid-2000s to gather evidence on children’s learning outcomes following the rapid increase in primary student enrolment in the developing world. Integral to their philosophy is social accountability and community engagement. While most large-scale assessments focus on test-based accountability to promote policy shifts, citizen-led assessments, utilizing the information-accountability causal chain, theorize that information of low learning outcomes, disseminated widely, will engage stakeholders in activities and debates, ultimately leading to improvements in education quality and service delivery. This paper examines Uwezo, the oldest citizen-led assessment in East Africa, and its portrayal in the Kenyan print media. I explore whether discourse concerning Uwezo exposes education quality issues while promoting citizen engagement and how Uwezo’s social accountability philosophy is used in public discourse through the lens of political evolutionary mechanisms. I find that Uwezo’s findings were prominently discussed beginning in 2013, but that shock value of low learning levels has since decreased. Moreover, public discourse has highlighted cross-national and provincial/county comparisons in achievement levels while focusing on blaming teachers and the education system’s culture. Although Uwezo has succeeded in disseminating its findings widely in Kenya, there is minimal engagement in public discourse with its social accountability and community engagement philosophy and discourse does not promote citizen action on a national level. As Uwezo has become a respected education policy player in East Africa, and globally, it must find ways to engage communities to act upon its findings to directly improve education quality.
Nina Braunwald: The First Female Cardiothoracic Surgeon:

Dr Nina Braunwald is celebrated for her work as the first female cardiothoracic surgeon and her key role in the design and implementation of the first prosthetic mitral valve. She began her residency at Bellevue Hospital in 1952, a time in the United States where the scope of women's work was limited. Once her training took her to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), her historic flexible leaflet valve was developed and Dr Braunwald paved an innovative step toward the advanced prostheses of today. Afterward, she was recognized by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery in 1963. Her extensive research and educational passion for cardiothoracic surgery led to numerous publications, a leadership role with the NIH, and associate professorship at University of California San Diego and Harvard; leaving behind a significant legacy to be memorialized in awards and fellowships to women in academic cardiac surgery. Her work inspired continued evolution of the prosthetic valve and countless women to pursue surgery as a career before passing away in 1992, leaving behind a new generation of women surgeons. Despite her successful career, she was never promoted to full professor by her academic institutions.
What Does an Executive Stock Sale Tell the Market? Evidence from Sale Transactions Following Stock Option Exercises

We examine the impact of liquidity and diversification, taxes, and loss aversion on the informativeness of insider sales following stock option exercise. We do not find evidence of liquidity and diversification influencing post exercise sale decisions, suggesting that option related sales are less impacted by these forces than previously thought. We further find evidence that sales more likely to be influenced by taxes are associated with less negative post sale returns. This finding extends prior tax research by showing evidence that insiders are selling soon after the tax advantaged holding period is achieved, and also that these sales are less informative about future returns. Finally, we provide a more distinct contribution to the literature in our examination of loss aversion. Specifically, we provide evidence that the exercise price is the most likely reference point for establishing the gain and loss domain for the insider. We further show that as the price approaches this reference point, sales become less informative and insiders are less willing to continue holding. We also examine short window market reactions to sales among each of these dimensions, finding that the market generally interprets the impact of each of these factors in a manner that is consistent with the post-sale returns.
Real-Time mmWave Channel Sounding Through Switched Beamforming With 3-D Dual-Polarized Phased-Array Antennas

We propose a 28.5-GHz channel sounder that switches through all antennas of multiple dual-polarized $8 \times 8$ phased arrays at the transmitter and receiver and performs beamforming in postprocessing through digital weights to synthesize a sweepable beam. To our knowledge, we are the first to implement—what we refer to as— switched beamforming with phased arrays for millimeter-wave channel sounding, realized through highly stable Rubidium clocks and local oscillators coupled with precision over-the-air calibration techniques developed in house. By circumventing the time-consuming programming of analog weights that is associated with analog beamforming—what phased arrays are designed for—we can sweep a 3-D double-omnidirectional dual-polarized channel in just 1.3 ms, for real-time sounding. By in turn circumventing the coarse precision of analog weights, we can synthesize ideal beam patterns thanks to the effectively infinite precision of digital weights, enabling fine weight calibration for the nonidealities of the system hardware and fine weight tapering for sidelobe suppression. This translates to average estimation errors of 0.47° in 3-D double-directional angle, 0.48 dB in co-polarized path gain, and 0.18 ns in delay, as substantiated by field measurements.
Common antecedent strategies within organizational behavior management: the use of goal setting, task clarification, and job aids

Despite organizational behavior management placing a great deal of emphasis on interventions that alter consequences for performance, antecedent interventions play an important role in the practice...
Analgesic considerations for induction of labor.

Abstract Induction of labor may be indicated to minimize maternal and fetal risks. The rate of induction is likely to increase as recent evidence supports elective induction at 39 weeks gestation. We review methods of induction and then analgesic options as they relate to indications and methods to induce labor. We specifically focus on parturients at high risk for anesthetic complications including those requiring anticoagulation, and those with cardiac disease, obesity, chorioamnionitis, prior spinal instrumentation, elevated intracranial pressure, known or anticipated difficult airway, thrombocytopenia, and preeclampsia. Guidelines regarding timing of anticoagulation dosing with neuraxial anesthetic techniques have been defined through consensus statements. Early epidural placement may be beneficial in patients with cardiac disease, obesity, anticipated difficult airway, and HELLP syndrome. Questions remain regarding how early is too early for epidural placement, what options are safest for patients with bacteremia, and what pain relief should be offered to those unable to tolerate cervical exams in early labor.
Regularity of Deuteration in Linear Polyethylene Prepared by Saturation of Polycyclopentene over Homogeneous Catalysts

When isotopically labeling polymer chains for small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), it is highly desirable to achieve even intra- and interchain distributions of deuterium (D), such that scatterin...
Cross -section of equity returns: Stock market volatility and priced factors

We discuss the nature of risk valid factors should represent. The Campbell's (1993) ICAPM extended with heteroskedastic asset returns guides us to identify the risk; we show that many of empirically well-established factors contain information about the future changes in the investment opportunity set and that is why these factors are strongly priced across assets. Specifically, we show that size, momentum, liquidity (trading strategy based factors), industrial production growth, and inflation (macroeconomic factors) factors as well as both short- and long-run market volatility factors are significantly priced because they all have information about the changes in the future market volatility which characterizes the future investment opportunity set in our model. The time-series studies show that the above-mentioned factors do predict the market volatility and the cross-sectional studies show that these factors are priced due to their predictability on the future market volatility. Both studies are consistent and strongly support the relationship between the stock market volatility and the priced factors. By revealing the nature of risk the empirically well-established factors represent, we provide an explanation why we observe so many empirically strong factors in the literature.
Propriety of posterior distribution for dichotomous quantal response models

In this article, we investigate the property of posterior distribution for dichotomous quantal response models using a uniform prior distribution on the regression parameters. Sufficient and necessary conditions for the propriety of the posterior distribution with a general link function are established. In addition, the sufficient conditions for the existence of the posterior moments and the posterior moment generating function are also obtained. Finally, the relationship between the propriety of posterior distribution and the existence of the maximum likelihood estimate is examined.
Specific binding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag polyprotein and nucleocapsid protein to viral RNAs detected by RNA mobility shift assays.

Abstract Packaging of retroviral genomic RNA during virion assembly is thought to be mediated by specific interactions between the gag polyprotein and RNA sequences (often termed the psi or E region) near the 5' end of the genome. For many retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the portions of the gag protein and the RNA that are required for this interaction remain poorly defined. We have used an RNA gel mobility shift assay to measure the in vitro binding of purified glutathione S-transferase-HIV-1 gag fusion proteins to RNA riboprobes. Both the complete gag polyprotein and the nucleocapsid (NC) protein alone were found to bind specifically to an HIV-1 riboprobe. Either Cys-His box of NC could be removed without eliminating specific binding to the psi riboprobe, but portions of gag containing only the MA and CA proteins without NC did not bind to RNA. There were at least two binding sites in HIV-1 genomic RNA that bound to the gag polyprotein: one entirely 5' to gag and one entirely within gag. The HIV-1 NC protein bound to riboprobes containing other retroviral psi sequences almost as well as to the HIV-1 psi riboprobe.
Increased transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression in regenerating rat renal tubules following ischemic injury

To gain insight into the role that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) plays in the regeneration of kidneys following acute renal failure, we characterized the expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA and the expression of active and latent TGF-beta peptide at various times during recovery from acute ischemic injury in rat. Levels of whole kidney TGF-beta 1 mRNA were elevated significantly at 12 h postinjury (1.5-fold vs. sham-operated controls), and by 24 h postinjury were elevated by 3.6-fold. Levels remained elevated for 14 days following ischemia, but were no longer elevated at 28 days postinjury. In situ hybridization demonstrated that the elevated expression of TGF-beta 1 was localized predominantly to cells in the regenerating tubules in the outer medulla. When examined at 14 days postischemia, levels of TGF-beta 1 mRNA were elevated in the outer medulla only in tubules that appeared incompletely regenerated. Immunohistochemical staining localized active TGF-beta to the lumen of proximal tubules in control animals and in desquamated and regenerating tubular epithelial cells following ischemia. TGF-beta 1 latency-associated peptide was present intracellularly in proximal tubules of sham-operated rats and reduced following ischemia. We hypothesize that endogenous renal TGF-beta serves to promote tissue regeneration following acute injury via an autocrine or paracrine mechanism.
Adjusting poly texture to reduce TiSi/sub 2/ agglomeration [semiconductor manufacturing]

With its low resistivity and relatively high thermal stability, TiSi/sub 2/ is a promising gate material for use in semiconductor manufacturing. It can survive the oxidization and backend thermal steps without a spacer; however, it sometimes agglomerates into the gate poly. This paper outlines a possible solution that entails replacing the normal amorphous gate poly with a different type of as-deposited poly to reduce the gate short caused by agglomeration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) inspections of cross sections of blank test wafers reveal the potential of this method.
Medical Ethics in Victorian Fiction

Studies on 19th-century British literature have, in the last decade, become increasingly aware of the literary representations of medicine in general and medical ethics in particular. The Romantic and Victorian periods are the beginning of the professionalization of both science and medicine; it is important, therefore, to study the ways in which the literature of those periods both reflected and informed emerging public debates on medical ethics. Medicine, during Victoria's reign, became standardized, professionalized, and, eventually, specialized. Medical research and the medical technology made tremendous advancements including germ theory and the stethoscope. Given the amount of progress made during the period, Victorian studies contributing to medical humanities can and should further research how Victorian literature shaped contemporary conceptions of medical ethics. Issues of patient privacy that we recognize today did not exist for Victorian medical professionals, and, therefore, the study of ethical implementation of medical research is a more productive line of inquiry for Victorian studies. While Gothic fiction like Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau and Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) are fruitful starting points for this continuance, it is also crucial to consider issues of medical ethics as they appear in other novel genres of the same period. Lesser-studied works – including Eliot's The Lifted Veil (1859), Charles Dicken's “A Curious Dance Round a Curious Tree” (1852), Charles Reade's Hard Cash (1870), Anthony Trollope's The Fixed Period (1882), and Mary Augusta Ward's Marcella (1894) – warrant further scholarly consideration of their engagement with medical ethics.
The reactions of 2-hydroxypyridine ligands with Re2Cl4(μ-dppm)2 (dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2) that lead to 2-pyridonate complexes

Abstract 2-Hydroxypyridine (Hhp), 2-hydroxynicotinic acid (HnicOH) and 6-hydroxypicolinic acid (HpicOH) react with Re2Cl4(μ-dppm)2 (dppm=Ph2PCH2PPh2) to afford the complexes Re2(η2-hp)Cl3(μ-dppm)2 (1), Re2(η2-HnicO)Cl3(μ-dppm)2 (2) and Re2(μ-picO)2(μ-dppm)2 (3). The identities of 1 and 2 have been established by single-crystal X-ray structure determinations (Re–Re distances of 2.2602(3) and 2.2539(3) A, respectively) and they are shown to have unsymmetrical structures with staggered rotational geometries and trans, cis coordination of the pair of μ-dppm ligands. The crystal of 2 that was used in the structure determination was found to be of composition 2Re2(η2-HnicO)Cl3(μ-dppm)2 · Re2Cl6(μ-dppm)2 · 2.906CH2Cl2. The structure of Re2Cl6(μ-dppm)2 in this crystal is compared with structures reported in the literature for other crystals that contain this edge-sharing bioctahedral dirhenium(III) complex.
Equine Cutaneous Mastocytosis

A description of equine cutaneous mastocytosis is given. The lesion was characterized by focal aggregates of mast cells, and by eosinophils, fibrinoid necrosis of collagen, and focal necrosis with ...
Percutaneous retropleural drainage of a posttraumatic pancreatic mediastinal pseudocyst in a child

Pancreatic mediastinal pseudocyst is a rare complication of pancreatitis in children. These children usually present with abdominal pain, anorexia, vomiting, and dysphagia. Computed tomography not only is essential in defining the extent of the pseudocyst but also can guide percutaneous external drainage. We present the case of a 4-year-old child with a mediastinal pseudocyst secondary to pancreatic trauma, which was successfully treated with computed tomography-guided percutaneous drainage via a posterior, extrapleural approach.
Mutator dynamics in sexual and asexual experimental populations of yeast

In asexual populations, mutators may be expected to hitchhike with associated beneficial mutations. In sexual populations, recombination is predicted to erode such associations, inhibiting mutator hitchhiking. To investigate the effect of recombination on mutators experimentally, we compared the frequency dynamics of a mutator allele (msh2Δ) in sexual and asexual populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutator strains increased in frequency at the expense of wild-type strains in all asexual diploid populations, with some approaching fixation in 150 generations of propagation. Over the same period of time, mutators declined toward loss in all corresponding sexual diploid populations as well as in haploid populations propagated asexually. We report the first experimental investigation of mutator dynamics in sexual populations. We show that a strong mutator quickly declines in sexual populations while hitchhiking to high frequency in asexual diploid populations, as predicted by theory. We also show that the msh2Δ mutator has a high and immediate realized cost that is alone sufficient to explain its decline in sexual populations. We postulate that this cost is indirect; namely, that it is due to a very high rate of recessive lethal or strongly deleterious mutation. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that msh2Δ also has unknown directly deleterious effects on fitness, and that these effects may differ between haploid asexual and sexual populations. Despite these reservations, our results prompt us to speculate that the short-term cost of highly deleterious recessive mutations can be as important as recombination in preventing mutator hitchhiking in sexual populations.
Modulation and lack of cross-talk between signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 and Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 in insulin and growth hormone signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Objective: To examine the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5 and suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 in the cross-talk between growth hormone and insulin (INS) signaling in fat cells. Research Methods and Procedures: Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were exposed to INS, growth hormone (GH), or both of these growth factors, and the activation of STAT5 proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinase was examined using phospho-specific antibodies. The induction of SOCS-3 mRNA was assessed by Northern blot analysis. INS-stimulated glucose transport was also measured. Results: We observed that GH, not INS, induced STAT5 activation in adipocytes in a manner that was independent of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation or new protein synthesis. GH strongly induced SOCS-3 mRNA expression, whereas INS had a much less potent effect on SOCS-3 mRNA expression. Because SOCS-3 has been implicated in the attenuation of GH and INS signaling, we examined the cross-talk between these signaling pathways. GH pretreatment of adipocytes inhibited GH signaling. Similarly, INS pretreatment inhibited INS signaling. However, INS did not block the GH-induced activation of STAT5, and GH did not block the INS induction of ERK activity or of increased glucose uptake. We observed that neither new protein synthesis nor activation of ERKs 1 and 2 were required for the inhibition of GH signaling. Discussion: These results demonstrate that blocking the induction of the SOCS-3 protein has no effect on the attenuation of GH signaling and support recent studies suggesting that SOCS proteins have additional functions. In addition, these studies demonstrate that GH-induced SOCS-3 expression is insufficient to inhibit INS-induced glucose uptake in adipocytes.
Functional implications of variation in lumbar vertebral count among hominins

As early as the 1970s, Robinson defined lumbar vertebrae according to their zygapophyseal orientation. He identified six lumbar elements in fossil Sts 14 Australopithecus africanus, one more than is commonly present in modern humans. It is now generally inferred that the modal number of lumbar vertebrae for australopiths and early Homo was six, from which the mode of five in later Homo is derived. The two central questions this study investigates are (1) to what extent do differences in human lumbar vertebral count affect lordotic shape and lumbar function, and (2) what does lumbar number variation imply about lumbar spine function in early hominins? To address these questions, I first outline a biomechanical model of lumbar number effect on lordotic function. I then identify relevant morphological differences in the human modal and extra-modal variants, which I use to test the model. These tests permit evaluation of the human L6 variant as a model for reconstructing early hominin modal number and spine function. Application of the biomechanical model in reconstructing australopith/early Homo lumbar spines highlights shared principles of Euler column strength and sagittal spine flexibility among early and modern hominins. Within modern humans, the extra-modal L6 variant has an extended series of three cranially positioned kyphotic vertebrae and strongly oblique zygapophyseal facets at the last lumbar level. Although they share the same radius and length of lumbar curvature, the L6 variant differs functionally from the L5 mode in its expanded range of sagittal flexion/extension and enhanced resistance to shear. Given the modal number of six lumbar vertebrae in australopiths and early Homo, lumbar spine mobility and strength would have been key properties of vertebral function in early bipeds whose upper and lower body segments were coupled by close approximation of the thorax and iliac crests.
Identification of a 3Kbp Mechanoresponsive Promoter Region in the Human Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Gene

Expression of chondrocyte-specific genes is regulated by mechanical force. However, despite the progress in identifying the signal transduction cascades that activate expression of mechanoresponsive genes, little is known about the transcription factors that activate transcription of mechanoresponsive genes. The DNA elements that confer mechanoresponsiveness within a cartilage gene promoter have yet to be identified. We have established an experimental system to identify the DNA elements and transcription factors that mediate the mechanoresponse of a promoter to nominal compressive stress in primary human chondrocytes and stem cells in a three-dimensional culture system. Our results demonstrate that the proximal 3 Kb of the human cartilage oligomeric matrix protein promoter is sufficient to mediate a mechanoresponse in human articular chondrocytes and stem cells, and that the magnitude of mechanoresponse correlates to the regulation of the endogenous gene at the RNA and protein level. This information is critical to understanding how mechanical force regulates the transcriptional activation of cartilage genes in three-dimensional culture.
Use of constructed wetlands with four different experimental designs to assess the potential for methyl and total Hg outputs

Abstract This study used 10 parallel, smallscale constructed wetlands to investigate the potential for methylmercury (MeHg) production and water quality improvement using water and sediment from a creek that is a significant source of non-point nutrient, sediment and Hg pollution to a pristine river. The 4 replicated experimental designs utilized: (1) creek or Hg-contaminated water (25–320 ng Hg L−1) and creek or Hg-contaminated sediment (0.86 ± 0.52 μg Hg g−1) (MW-MS), (2) Hg contaminated water and clean sediment (0.09 ± 0.03 μg Hg g−1) (MW-CS), (3) clean water (effluent from a wastewater treatment plant; 4–16 ng Hg L−1) and Hg contaminated sediment (CW-MS), and (4) clean water and clean sediment (CW-CS). All designs functioned as sinks for N, P, sediment, and total Hg (THg). However, designs receiving clean water as the influent exhibited the least removal. Seasonal variations in net MeHg output were observed for designs with MW-MS and CW-MS, with concentrations peaking during warmer months. Designs with CS did not exhibit clear seasonal trends. Wetlands with CW and MS were the greatest MeHg sources. This was probably due to the fact that the treated wastewater had greater SO 4 2 - and total organic C (TOC) concentrations, lower pH, and, in general, higher temperatures than the creek water, and to the greater pool of Hg available in the Hg contaminated sediment, all of which could lead to enhanced Hg methylation. Temperature and SO 4 2 - correlated best with MeHg output in all designs. Although data from these small systems cannot be scaled up to predict the response in larger wetlands, results indicated that the benefits of a wetland, such as nutrient, suspended solids and THg removal, should be considered together with the risk of MeHg production.
HOW WELL DO PATIENTS WITH EXSTROPHY ACTUALLY VOID

Purpose: Achieving continence and preserving renal function are goals in the care of patients with bladder exstrophy. The Young-Dees-Leadbetter bladder neck reconstruction should ideally provide continence and normal voiding dynamics without the need for intermittent catheterization. We review our experience with bladder neck reconstruction in this population with emphasis on voiding dynamics among those patients doing well.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex seen at our institutions since 1985. We reviewed staged reconstruction in 53 patients, including 31 with classic bladder exstrophy, 4 with exstrophy variants and 18 with incontinent epispadias. Patients with additional neurogenic dysfunction were excluded from study. Subjective and objective data regarding voiding function and complications were collected.Results: Complete reconstruction for continence was performed in 38 cases, of which 11 that required bladder augmentation with bladd...
Evaluation of physiological parameters for the prediction of seed yield and quality for soybean (Glycine max) plants grown in the presence of weed competition

Abstract Weed competition is detrimental to crops. A 2-year field study was conducted with soybean cultivars (Glycine max L. Merr.) grown in the presence of mixed weed competition to determine whether foliar parameters and micronutrient concentrations served as predictors of seed yield and quality. Relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and foliar trigonelline, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn, were collected from leaves. Trigonelline differed between growth stages in the first year but showed a three-way interaction between cultivar, weed competition, and growth stage in the second year. Fluorescence and Fe differed significantly only between growth stages within years. Two- and three-way interactions between treatment variables were observed for Mn, Zn, and Cu in at least 1 of the 2 years. Stepwise multiple regressions produced 17 significant models that illustrated the degree to which the parameters explained previously observed variation in seed yield, oil, or protein. Foliar trigonelline, foliar RWC, ch...
2,4-Diamino-5-deaza-6-substituted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates as potent and selective nonclassical inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductases

Fifteen novel nonclassical and two classical 2,4-diamino-6-(benzylamino)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates were synthesized as potential inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii, (pc) Toxoplasma gondii, (tg) rat liver (rl), and human (h) recombinant dihydrofolate reductases (DHFR). These analogues lack a 5-methyl substitution which has been shown to be important for increased hDHFR inhibitory activity. In addition, they contain a reversal of the C9−N10 bridge present in folates and most antifolates. The synthesis of the compounds involved the reaction of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine with the sodium salt of nitromalonaldehyde to afford the key intermediate 2,4-diamino-6-nitropyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (7), in a single step. Reduction of 7 to the 2,4,6-triaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (8), followed by reductive amination with the appropriate benzaldehydes or phenylacetaldehydes afforded the target compounds. N9 methylation of these analogues was carried out using formaldehyde and sodium cyanoborohydride. The analogues d...
A new nucleophilic alaninol synthon from serine

Abstract A new nucleophilic alaninol synthon derived from serine is reported. The utility of this reagent in the stereoselective synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated amino alcohols is described.
SWITCAP: A switched-capacitor network analysis program part II: Advanced applications

For pt.I see ibid., vol.5, no.3, p.4-10 (1983). The authors discuss the applications of a general switched-capacitor network (SCN) analysis program called SWITCAP for simulating SCNs containing continuous signal paths, clock feedthrough, resistors, finite-bandwidth amplifiers, and/or many phases.
Association of patient preferences for participation in decision making with length of stay and costs among hospitalized patients.

Importance Patient participation in medical decision making has been associated with improved patient satisfaction and health outcomes. However, there is little evidence concerning its effects on resource utilization. Patient participation in medical decision making has been hypothesized to decrease excess utilization but might be expected to increase utilization when other decision makers have incentives to reduce utilization, as under prospective payment systems for hospital care. Objective To examine the relationship between patient preferences for participation in medical decision making and health care utilization among hospitalized patients. Design and Setting Survey study in an academic research setting. Participants A survey that included questions about preferences to receive medical information and to participate in medical decision making was administered to all patients admitted to the University of Chicago Medical Center general internal medicine service between July 1, 2003, and August 31, 2011, and completed by 21 754 (69.6%) of admitted patients. Main Outcomes and Measures The survey data were linked with administrative data, including length of stay and total hospitalization costs. We used generalized linear models to measure the association of patient preference for participation in decision making with length of stay and costs. Results The mean length of stay was 5.34 days, and the mean hospitalization costs were $14 576. While 96.3% of patients expressed a desire to receive information about their illnesses and treatment options, 71.1% of patients preferred to leave medical decision making to their physician. Preference to participate in decision making increased with educational level and with private health insurance. Compared with patients who had a strong desire to delegate decisions to their physician, patients who preferred to participate in decision making concerning their care had a 0.26-day (95% CI, 0.06-0.47 day) longer length of stay ( P = .01) and $865 (95% CI, $155-$1575) higher total hospitalization costs ( P = .02). Conclusions and Relevance Patient preference to participate in decision making concerning their care may be associated with increased resource utilization among hospitalized patients. Variation in patient preference to participate in medical decision making and its effects on costs and outcomes in the presence of varying physician incentives deserve further examination.
Fracture Strength of Laser Etched Glass

The effect of CO2 laser etching on the strength of soda lime plate glass has been investigated. The majority of common beverage glassware is comprised of soda lime glass. Laser etching is used to create patterns on such glassware for aesthetic reasons. Various etching conditions have been investigated in order to compare to the strength of un-etched glass. Three point bend tests were used to determine strength values. The resulting fracture strength of etched glass is based upon the flaws and resulting stress concentrations created during the laser ablation process. In addition to stress concentrations, the thermal history and residual thermal stresses play a role in the failure process. Samples were also cyclically washed to determine the effect of water and thermal cycling. Results were documented and compared via Weibull analysis. Nominal strength values were 114 MPA for unetched, 83 MPa for wash cycled, 43 MPa for etched, and 33 MPa for etched and wash cycled.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Rejuvenation by shoot apex culture recapitulates the developmental increase of methylation at the maize gene Pl-Blotched.

Cytosine methylation provides an attractive epigenetic modification for the global maintenance of phases in plant development; however, there are few known examples of specific genes whose methylation status changes in a developmentally regulated manner. Pl-Blotched, an allele of purple plant1 (pl1), which encodes a myb-like transcription factor that regulates anthocyanin production in maize, is one such gene: certain cytosines at the 3′ end of this allele are hypomethylated in seedlings, become hypermethylated in organs formed in the adult phase, and are hypomethylated again in the next generation. We tested whether this developmental pattern of low juvenile cytosine methylation followed by higher methylation in adult tissues could also be observed in plants “rejuvenated” via shoot apex culture. We found that cytosine methylation patterns at Pl-Blotched were indeed recapitulated in culture-rejuvenated plants, showing hypomethylation in leaves with juvenile patterns of differentiation (even though they were made by an old meristem) followed by hypermethylation in later-formed leaves. Our results show that methylation status at that locus is determined by the developmental phase of the shoot, rather than by the age of the meristem forming it. These results support the hypothesis that DNA methylation is employed by the plant to maintain an epigenetic state.
Homegrown Institutional Legitimacy Assessing Citizens' Diffuse Support for State Courts

Since the United States Supreme Court's decision in Bush v. Gore, the public's support for the judicial system looms as an especially important concern. Although studies have confirmed that the Supreme Court's reservoir of public goodwill has remained largely intact following the politically divisive decision, the status of public support for other American courts has received little attention. This reflects a broader trend in judicial politics scholarship toward placing inordinate attention on explaining public support for the U.S. Supreme Court while largely ignoring the courts where most of the policymaking in the nation occurs—state courts. We use a national survey to assess the factors influencing diffuse support for state courts. We find that although many considerations affecting diffuse support for state courts parallel the determinants of such support for the nation's high Court, important differences exist between explanations of citizen support for state courts and the Supreme Court. Most notab...
Turbidity Maximum of the Northern Chesapeake Bay

The turbidity maximum near the head of the Chesapeake Bay is produced primarily by the local resuspension of bottom sediments, and by the estuarine "sediment trap" which is formed in the upper reaches of the estuarine circulation regime by the net nontidal circulation.
Microcrack Interaction and Shear Fault Failure

The method of pseudo-tractions is used to solve the problem of interacting cracks which are arbitrarily distributed and are loaded by concentrated forces. The effect of interaction on the crack tip...
Spatial and temporal patterns of muscle cleavage in the chick thigh and their value as criteria for homology

Regions of lower cell density, called cleavage zones, emerge within the dorsal and ventral muscle masses in the vertebrate limb to separate distinct muscles. In the chick thigh, the stereotyped patterns of separation have been broadly outlined, but differences in interpretation exist because no criteria for separation have been defined, and the tissues of the limb are indistinct early in development. We have examined the cleavage process using modern applications of light microscopy and immunocytochemistry to completely detail the spatial and temporal pro- gression of cleavage in stage 27-32 embryos. We find that each muscle has a complex but charac- teristic pattern of separation along the proximo- distal axis. The complex pattern of separation is not related to the positions of muscles within the thigh, locations of blood vessels, activity patterns of muscles, or innervation patterns. The initial separation patterns are more straightforward than later separations and may be of value in de- termining the phylogenetic history of limb mus- cles since the same patterns are common to many tetrapods. Our detailed documentation clarifies the ontogeny of the thigh musculature and reveals more complex separation patterns between mus- cles than previously described.
Immunochemical analysis of polyspecific antibodies in patients exposed to bovine fibrin sealant.

Abstract Background . Patients exposed to bovine thrombin preparations in fibrin sealant often develop antibodies to bovine coagulation proteins, which cause significant bleeding by cross-reacting with human homologues. Recipients of our left ventricular assist system (LVAS) routinely are exposed to fibrin sealant; therefore, we determined whether they developed antibodies. Methods . We compared sera from 6 LVAS recipients exposed to fibrin sealant (THROMBOGEN, Johnson & Johnson, Arlington, TX ) during LVAS placement to that of 5 nonexposed LVAS recipients. Pre-LVAS and weekly post-LVAS sera were tested for immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, and IgM reactivity to THROMBOGEN by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Peak IgG and IgA reactive sera were characterized by immunoblotting. Results . All patients exposed to THROMBOGEN developed antibodies: 5 developed IgG, 4 IgA, and 3 IgM. In contrast, nonexposed patients did not develop antibodies. Only some antibody reactivity was contributed by antithrombin or antifactor V antibodies. Silver stain sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses of THROMBOGEN showed more than 18 bands, many of which were recognized in Western blot by positive patient sera. Conclusions . We found both IgG and IgA polyspecific antibody responses in patients exposed to bovine thrombin preparations.
Theory of manganites: key role of intrinsic inhomogeneities

In recent years a variety of studies of models for manganites, mainly computationally, have shown the presence of electronic phase separation in the phase diagram. This tendency is expected to contribute to the formation of inhomogeneities in the real materials, at a nanometer scale. In order to explain the recently observed micrometer size coexisting clusters in some compounds, a new proposal is here described. It is based on the introduction of disorder in regions of parameters where the competing ferromagnetic and charge-ordered states are separated by first-order transitions. The coexisting clusters have the same charge, and its size is regulated by the strength of the disorder. Results are illustrated with the use of the random-field Ising model. The idea is general and should apply not only to manganites but to other compounds as well.
The Role of Proteomics in the Diagnosis of Chorioamnionitis and Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis

Intrauterine infection is a unique pathologic process that raises the risk for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). By acting synergistically with prematurity, EONS increases the risk for adverse neonatal outcomes, including intraventricular hemorrhage and cerebral palsy. Although several pathways for the pathogenesis of fetal damage have been proposed, the basic molecular mechanisms that modulate these events remain incompletely understood. Discovery of clinically and biologically relevant biomarkers able to reveal key pathogenic pathways and predict pregnancies at risk for antenatal fetal damage is a priority. Proteomics provides a unique opportunity to fill this gap.
The complexity of equivalence problems for commutative grammars

In this paper we investigate the computational complexity of the inequivalence problems for commutative grammars. We show that the inequivalence problems for type 0 and context-sensitive commutative grammars are undecidable whereas decidability in nondeterministic exponential-time holds for the classes of regular and context-free commutative grammars. For the latter the inequivalence problems are Σp2-hard.
The metabolism in vivo of glycine and serine in eight areas of the rat central nervous system.

— Results of studies designed to estimate the rates at which glycine is derived from various possible sources in discrete areas of the rat CNS are reported. These results suggest that glycine is derived predominantly by de novo synthesis, presumably via the established pathways leading from glucose through serine to glycine. The content of glycine ranged from a low of approximately 0-6 μmol/g in the cerebellum and telencephalon to a high of 5·5 μmol/g in the spinal cord grey matter; however, based on its estimated rate of synthesis from serine, there appeared to be no correlation between the content of glycine and its rate of synthesis in the various areas studied. The flux of glycine from blood into the CNS was slower (0·03-0·15 μmol/g/h depending on the CNS structure) than that of serine (0·15-0·23 μmol/g/h) and both amino acids entered various CNS areas at rates unrelated to their respective tissue contents. These data have been discussed with regard to the putative transmitter function of glycine in the spinal cord and brainstem.
Overcoming challenges to discover drugs for liver stages of Plasmodium vivax

Perhaps the most daunting challenge for eliminating malaria is developing novel interventions to eradicate the dormant hypnozoite of Plasmodium vivax. New in vitro models are urgently needed to accelerate drug and vaccine discovery for liver stages of P. vivax malaria, yet maintaining the physiology of primary hepatocytes in long-term culture in vitro remains a major obstacle. Several advanced liver models support hepatic phenotypes necessary for drug and disease studies, yet these models are characterized by intricate features such as co-culture with one of more supporting cell types or advanced media perfusion systems. Regardless of the culture system, primary hepatocyte culture systems suffer from reproducibility issues due to phenotypic variation and expensive, limited supplies of donor lots. We have developed a microfluidic bilayer device that sustains primary human hepatocyte phenotypes, including albumin production, factor IX production, cytochrome P450 3A4 drug metabolism and bile canaliculi formation for weeks in a simple monoculture format with static media. Using a variety of channel architectures, we discovered how primary cell phenotype is promoted by spatial confinement within the microfluidic channel, without the need for perfusion or co-culture. This new model is amenable to 384 well screening platforms and utilizes a few hundred primary human hepatocytes, maintains hepatocyte function for weeks in vitro within a relatively simple model, and addresses many of the major hurdles in human hepatocyte culture research.
Tool wear monitoring using acoustic emission in the existence of chatter

SUMMARY A method using an acoustic emission (AE) technique to monitor automatically a tool wear was examined. A flank wear is calculated using a statistical model which uses RMS value of AE signal and cutting speed as variables. The investigation reveals that the AE signal is influenced by tool vibration, specially during chatter. This contradicts the theory that the AE signal is not susceptible to mechanical vibration. The paper discusses the mechanism that explains the effect of the tool vibration on the AE signals.
Acute hemodynamic and electrophysiologic effects of propranolol in patients receiving diltiazem.

Abstract Because the combined use of a β-adrenergic blocking agent and a calcium antagonist may be beneficial in some patients with severe angina, the acute hemodynamic and electrophysiologic effects of intravenous propranolol in the presence and absence of oral diltiazem treatment was studied. In 22 patients (11 men, 11 women, mean age 50 years), 12 receiving diltiazem (mean 243 mg/day, range 180 to 360) and 10 not receiving diltiazem, hemodynamic and electrophysiologic variables were measured before and 5 minutes after intravenous propranolol (0.1 mg/kg). Cardiac index (by thermodilution) and left ventricular (LV) peak dP dt fell and LV end-diastolic pressure increased similarly in both groups. Mean systemic arterial pressure was unchanged. Coronary sinus blood flow (by thermodilution) decreased slightly in patients receiving diltiazem and was unchanged in those not receiving it. Propranolol caused a similar reduction in heart rate and increase in atrio-His conduction in both groups. Thus, when intravenous propranolol is given to patients with normal or only mildly depressed LV systolic function, the hemodynamic and electrophysiologic effects are similar in those receiving and not receiving oral diltiazem.
Frequent users of US emergency departments: characteristics and opportunities for intervention.

Objective To compare the characteristics of US adults by frequency of emergency department (ED) utilisation, specifically the prevalence of chronic diseases and outpatient primary care and mental health utilisation. Methods We analysed 157 818 adult participants of the 2004–2009 US National Health Interview Survey, an annual nationally representative sample. We defined ED utilisation during the past 12 months as non-users (0 ED visits), infrequent users (1–3 visits), frequent users (4–9 visits) and super-frequent users (≥10 visits). We compared demographic data, socioeconomic status, chronic diseases and access to care between these ED utilisation groups using multivariable logistic regression. Results Overall, super-frequent use was reported by 0.4% of US adults, frequent use by 2% and infrequent ED use by 19%. Patients reporting ≥4 ED visits were more likely to have Medicaid insurance (OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.85 vs private); fair or poor self-reported health (OR 2.98; 95% CI 2.57 to 3.46 vs excellent–very good); and chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.40 to 1.86), stroke (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.36 to 1.83) or asthma (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.46 to 1.85). While patients reporting the ED as their usual source of sick care were more likely to have ≥4 ED visits (OR 7.09; 95% CI 5.61 to 8.95 vs outpatient clinic as source), ≥10 outpatient visits in the past 12 months was also associated with frequent ED use (OR 11.4; 95% CI 9.09 to 14.2 vs no outpatient visits). Conclusions Frequent ED users had a large burden of chronic diseases that also required high outpatient resources. Interventions designed to divert frequent ED users should focus on chronic disease management and access to outpatient services, particularly for Medicaid beneficiaries and other high risk subpopulations.