cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic review comparing hysterectomy with less-invasive treatments for abnormal uterine bleeding

Abstract Study Objective To compare hysterectomy with less-invasive alternatives for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in 7 clinically important domains. Design Systematic review. Setting Randomized clinical trials comparing bleeding, quality of life, pain, sexual health, satisfaction, need for subsequent surgery, and adverse events between hysterectomy and less-invasive treatment options. Patients Women with AUB, predominantly from ovulatory disorders and endometrial causes. Interventions Systematic review of the literature (from inception to January 2011) comparing hysterectomy with alternatives for AUB treatment. Eligible trials were extracted into standardized forms. Trials were graded with a predefined 3-level rating, and the strengths of evidence for each outcome were evaluated with the Grades for Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Measurements and Main Results Nine randomized clinical trials (18 articles) were eligible. Endometrial ablation, levonorgestrel intrauterine system, and medications were associated with lower risk of adverse events but higher risk of additional treatments than hysterectomy. Compared to ablation, hysterectomy had superior long-term pain and bleeding control. Compared with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, hysterectomy had superior control of bleeding. No other differences between treatments were found. Conclusion Less-invasive treatment options for AUB result in improvement in quality of life but carry significant risk of retreatment caused by unsatisfactory results. Although hysterectomy is the most effective treatment for AUB, it carries the highest risk for adverse events.
Random capital service in labor-managed and profit-maximizing firms☆

Abstract The labor-managed firm and the profit-maximizing firm may experience random production due to a variety of fundamental sources of uncertainty. This paper demonstrates that the nature of the source of uncertainty leads to alternative specifications of the problem and to different conclusions. The specific source of uncertainty modeled in this presentation is random capital failure in the labor-managed firm and in the profit-maximizing firm. In each case, the choice of primary capital, reserve capital, and labor is considered.
A philosopher and his history Jan Patočka’s reflections on the end of Europe and the arrival of the post-European epoch

This article analyzes the lectures and texts from the last period of Czech philosopher Jan Patocka, one of the last disciples of Edmund Husserl, the founding father of phenomenology. The point of departure is Patocka’s critical reception of Husserl’s concept of the crisis of European mankind. There are, however, two other elements distinctive of Patocka’s thought essential for this interpretation. First, he was a classical philosopher aiming at Socratic ‘care for the soul’. Second, he approached the theme of universal human history from his own unique historic position: as a Czech philosopher, involved in the Socratic manner primarily with his own Czech national community, for whom the big question of the future of European mankind and its legacy at the end of its golden modern age is inseparably connected with a ‘small’ one: the question of Czech national existence – the question of the future of his nation in a changing world and the issue of its freedom.
Care provision and community adjustment of rural consumers with serious mental illness.

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of successful community living in a sample of rural individuals with severe and persistent mental illness ( N = 40). Multimeasure/multisource indicators of consumer status, care provider attitudes, and care provider support provision were employed to predict community adjustment as measured by satisfaction with quality of life. Separate semistructured interviews were conducted with consumers, their case manager, and a family member or adult home provider. Reliability of the measures was established within acceptable limits. The multiple regression analyses showed that life stress and informal care-provider attitudes satisfied the inclusion criteria. R 2 was .61 ( F [2, 37] = 29.10, p
THE DECOMPOSITION OF CERTAIN TYPES OF FOREST LITTER UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS

Observations in the northern forested regions of America and Europe and at higher elevations in the Southern Appalachians and the Central Alps show that a thick mat of slowly decomposing forest litter is commonly found in closed coniferous stands on the forest floor. It was not until the last few years of the nineteenth century that litter decomposition was given serious study, and even now our knowledge of this problem is in many respects imperfect. More recent results from investigations in microbiological laboratories justify the statement that litter accumulation tends to occur wherever temperature and moisture conditions are such as to retard the activity of microorganisms. The relation of temperature and of moisture as measured by rainfall to the quantitative decomposition of forest litter in pine stands of east-central Ontario, Canada, was studied in 1929 and I930. The results of this investigation are given in this paper. The economic value of information relating to the decomposition of litter is apparent when we consider the problem of forest establishment through natural regeneration. Barr (I929) recognized the necessity for some form of litter treatment prior to seeding, if naturally regenerated spruce seedlings in British Columbia were to survive the first season. Hesselman (I926) made an intensive investigation of litter accumulations in the forests of Sweden. He found that nitrification processes in the soil were very essential for the proper establishment of Scots pine and that certain types of forest litter retarded the activity of nitrifying organisms. Literatture dealing with the influence of temperature on microbial processes has been discussed bv WAaksman (193I, p. 74I-752). It appears that the temperature for optimum development differs for the different organisms. From the point of view of moisture the problem is more complex. But as a broad generalization, excess moisture favors anaerobic activity, whereas the optimum moisture content for aerobic activity is to a large degree dependent upon the coarseness or fineness of the soil medium (Waksman I93I, p. 544, 548). Experimental evidence showing the relative rates of litter decomposition for different coniferous species under natural forest conditions is very inade196
SIMULATION OF PESTICIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN GROUNDWATER USING AGRICULTURAL DRAINAGE AND PESTICIDE TRANSPORT (ADAPT) MODEL

A water quality model for subirrigation and subsurface drainage, ADAPT (Agricultural Drainage And Pesticide Transport), was tested with field data collected under various water table management practices near Ames, IA. Atrazine and alachlor concentrations at various soil depths for water table depths of 30, 60, and 90 cm were simulated using ADAPT model for corn growing seasons of 1989 through 1991. Daily pesticide concentrations in groundwater predicted by the model were compared with available observed data for the same site. Predicted values of atrazine and alachlor concentrations in groundwater decreased when shallow water table depths were maintained in the lysimeters. Similar trends were noticed with the observed data. Reasonable agreement was obtained between the observed and predicted values of atrazine and alachlor for 1989 to 1991. However, in few cases, results showed a wide variation between observed and predicted values. Because no observed data was available for pesticide concentrations in the unsaturated zone, predicted results could not be compared. Based on our investigation, it appears that ADAPT may be used for predicting subsurface water quality under water table management practices; however, further validation is necessary with more field observed data from similar studies before wider application of this model is made.
Clear Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma: Report of a Case and Analysis of the Literature

Background Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), which has been described within the past 2 decades, is a rare odontogenic tumor that tends to occur in the mandible of older adults, with a predilection for women. It is potentially aggressive and capable of multiple local recurrences and locoregional and distant metastases. Objectives To report the clinicopathologic findings and follow-up of a case of CCOC and to review the literature. Design Case report and literature review. Main Outcome Measurements Findings from histologic analysis, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Results An 81-year-old woman experienced 3 locoregional recurrences within 21 months of initial therapy. She is presently disease free, 4.5 years after initial resection, having received multiple resections and adjuvant radiotherapy. Conclusions The diagnosis of CCOC must be considered in the differential diagnosis of jaw tumors with a clear cell component. For these tumors, resection with negative margins is the treatment of choice because more conservative surgery (eg, curettage) inevitably results in recurrence and/or metastasis. Adjuvant radiotherapy is a rational option for tumors that have eroded cortex.
Childhood Bullying: A Review of Constructs, Concepts, and Nursing Implications

Bullying among children as a pervasive problem has been increasingly recognized as an important public health issue. However, while much attention has been given to understanding the impact of bullying on victims, it is equally important to examine predictors of bullying and potential outcomes for bullies themselves. The current literature on bullying lacks consensus on a utilizable definition of bullying in research, which can vary by theoretical framework. In an attempt to bridge the gaps in the literature, this article will provide a review of the state of the science on bullying among children, including the major theoretical constructs of bullying and their respective viewpoints on predictors and correlates of bullying. A secondary aim of this article is to summarize empirical evidence for predictors of bullying and victimization, which can provide strategies for intervention and prevention by public health nursing professionals. By calling attention to the variability in the bullying literature and the limitations of current evidence available, researchers can better address methodological gaps and effectively move toward developing studies to inform nursing treatment programs and enhance public health initiatives that reduce violence in school settings.
Logic-Based and Cellular Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Bortezomib Responses in U266 Human Myeloma Cells

Systems models of biological networks show promise for informing drug target selection/qualification, identifying lead compounds and factors regulating disease progression, rationalizing combinatorial regimens, and explaining sources of intersubject variability and adverse drug reactions. However, most models of biological systems are qualitative and are not easily coupled with dynamical models of drug exposure-response relationships. In this proof-of-concept study, logic-based modeling of signal transduction pathways in U266 multiple myeloma (MM) cells is used to guide the development of a simple dynamical model linking bortezomib exposure to cellular outcomes. Bortezomib is a commonly used first-line agent in MM treatment; however, knowledge of the signal transduction pathways regulating bortezomib-mediated cell cytotoxicity is incomplete. A Boolean network model of 66 nodes was constructed that includes major survival and apoptotic pathways and was updated using responses to several chemical probes. Simulated responses to bortezomib were in good agreement with experimental data, and a reduction algorithm was used to identify key signaling proteins. Bortezomib-mediated apoptosis was not associated with suppression of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) protein inhibition in this cell line, which contradicts a major hypothesis of bortezomib pharmacodynamics. A pharmacodynamic model was developed that included three critical proteins (phospho-NFκB, BclxL, and cleaved poly (ADP ribose) polymerase). Model-fitted protein dynamics and cell proliferation profiles agreed with experimental data, and the model-predicted IC50 (3.5 nM) is comparable to the experimental value (1.5 nM). The cell-based pharmacodynamic model successfully links bortezomib exposure to MM cellular proliferation via protein dynamics, and this model may show utility in exploring bortezomib-based combination regimens.
Gender Identity Disorders in Prisons: What Are the Legal Implications for Prison Mental Health Professionals and Administrators?:

In 2009, two Idaho prisoners with gender identity disorders (GIDs) settled lawsuits against the Department of Corrections for failing to treat properly their conditions. Prisoners in other states h...
Construction of simple gold nanoparticle aggregates with controlled plasmon–plasmon interactions

Abstract We have developed a colloidal assembly for the study of plasmon–plasmon interactions between gold nanoparticles. Colloidal aggregates of controlled size and interparticle spacing were synthesized on silica nanoparticle substrates. Following the immobilization of isolated gold nanoparticles onto silica nanoparticles, the surfaces of the adsorbed gold nanoparticles were functionalized with 4-aminobenzenethiol. This molecular linker attached additional gold nanoparticles to the `parent' gold nanoparticle, forming small nanoparticle aggregates. The optical absorption spectrum of these clusters differed from that of gold colloid in a manner consistent with plasmon–plasmon interactions between the gold nanoparticles.
Copresence in Virtual Environments

Copresence, the sense of “being together” with others, is at the center of theories about social interaction. It is an intra-individual sense that stems from and shapes the social context. Recent research on copresence in virtual environments (VEs), synthetic simulations of existing experiences (e.g., desktop computer environments, “virtual reality”), demonstrates the variability in which people experience copresence with others who are not sharing in the same time or space. At the same time, experimental researchers in sociology are using VEs as a methodological tool, yet remain unaware about the ramifications of varying levels of copresence for the social processes under investigation. The goal of this review is to introduce sociologists to the research on copresence, specifically highlighting findings and gaps important for those who use VEs in their research practice. An understanding of how copresence occurs in VEs can improve how well sociologists design experiments to advance theories about interpersonal behavior.
The subspace iteration method in protein normal mode analysis.

Normal mode analysis plays an important role in relating the conformational dynamics of proteins to their biological function. The subspace iteration method is a numerical procedure for normal mode analysis that has enjoyed widespread success in the structural mechanics community due to its numerical stability and computational efficiency in calculating the lowest normal modes of large systems. Here, we apply the subspace iteration method to proteins to demonstrate its advantageous properties in this area of computational protein science. An effective algorithm for choosing the number of iteration vectors in the method is established, offering a considerable improvement over the original implementation. In the present application, computational time scales linearly with the number of normal modes computed. Additionally, the method lends itself naturally to normal mode analyses of multiple neighboring macromolecular conformations, as demonstrated in a conformational change pathway analysis of adenylate kinase. These properties, together with its computational robustness and intrinsic scalability to multiple processors, render the subspace iteration method an effective and reliable computational approach to protein normal mode analysis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010
Biomimetic Polymer/Apatite Composite Scaffolds for Mineralized Tissue Engineering

The material surface must be considered in the design of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering so that it supports bone cells adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. A biomimetic approach has been developed as a 3D surface modification technique to grow partially carbonated hydroxyapatite (the bonelike mineral) in prefabricated, porous, polymer scaffolds using a simulated body fluid in our lab. For the rational design of scaffolding materials and optimization of the biomimetic process, this work focused on various materials and processing parameters in relation to apatite formation on 3D polymer scaffolds. The apatite nucleation and growth in the internal pores of poly(L-lactide) and poly(D,L-lactide) scaffolds were significantly faster than in those of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds in simulated body fluids. The apatite distribution was significantly more uniform in the poly(L-lactide) scaffolds than in the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds. After incubation in a simulated body fluid for 30 d, the mass of poly(L-lactide) scaffolds increased approximately 40%, whereas the mass of the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds increased by about 15% (see Figure). A higher ionic concentration and higher pH value of the simulated body fluid enhanced apatite formation. The effects of surface functional groups on apatite nucleation and growth were found to be more complex in 3D scaffolds than on 2D films. Surprisingly enough, it was found that carboxyl groups significantly reduced the apatite formation, especially on the internal pore surfaces of 3D scaffolds. These findings are critically important in the rational selection of materials and surface design of 3D scaffolds for mineralized tissue engineering and may contribute to the understanding of biomineralization as well.SEM micrograph of a poly(L-lactide) scaffold.
Current pharmacotherapeutic options for treating deep vein thrombosis

The treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been evolving over the past 50 years. Initially, unfractionated heparin (UFH) given subcutaneously every 6 h, progressed to constant infusion therapy followed by warfarin, which has become the mainstay of therapy. Over the past 12 years, a new therapy, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), has proven to be at least as effective or more effective than UFH in the acute treatment of DVT. These drugs are administered subcutaneously, are better absorbed and do not require monitoring. LMWHs have changed the paradigm of caring for patients with DVT. Finally a number of studies with thrombolytic agents have attempted to improve the outcome of DVT by reducing clot burden and preventing the sequelae of thrombotic valvular damage. This paper will review the management of DVT from the acute phase to long-term management.
Automated Control System of Irrigation for SMEs in Real Time

The control project, automation and supervision for SMEs, it´s based on a system of open architecture, using principles of systems SCADA with the development of intelligent routines taking advantage of the advantages of the technology of the microcontrollers and DCE, for the control of physical variables, processes and digital treatment of data; coming from the different implemented RS, such as: point of pumping in underground well, filled of recipients, flow, electrovalves, as well as the gradual distribution and temporized in cultivation sectors using valves adapted mecatronicamente, all them with programming algorithms developing the process in real time.The system sense the different physical variables, it controls actuators, it establishes alarms and states of emergency stop through the RS, it processes them to their equivalent one digital it stops then to create the plots of information of this variable and later on to be correspondents to the BS, for their visualization in the control power station by means of the digital transmission of data governed by a communication protocol.All these characteristics are translated in optimization of watering control and in efficiency of manipulation of present variables in the system favoring with technical and technological attendance to the SMEs.
Role of the fourth transmembrane domain in proton-coupled folate transporter function as assessed by the substituted cysteine accessibility method

The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT, SLC46A1) mediates folate transport across the apical brush-border membrane of the proximal small intestine and the basolateral membrane of choroid plexu...
Transient behavior of radiated and received fields associated with a resistively loaded dipole

The mathematical model of the resistively loaded dipole, introduced by Wu and King (1965) for obtaining the current distribution along the dipole and the radiated electric field in the frequency domain, is used here to study the corresponding time-dependent current and field. In addition, the characteristics of the open-circuit voltage of a similarly loaded receiving dipole are investigated.
Prospective Study of Smoking and the Risk of Breast Cancer

In 1976, 117,557 women in the United States aged 30-55 years and without a history of cancer provided detailed information on current smoking habits. By 1986, 1,788 cases of breast cancer had been documented during 1,133,682 person-years. There was no association between current smoking and risk of breast cancer (multivariate-adjusted relative risk for smokers of greater than or equal to 25 cigarettes/day compared to nonsmokers: 1.02, 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.22). Past smoking also was unrelated to breast cancer risk (relative risk, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.20). The results did not differ by menopausal status. Tumor size and the presence of nodal metastases were unrelated to smoking. Smoking was weakly associated with estrogen receptor-positive tumors (relative risk for smokers of greater than or equal to 25 cigarettes/day compared with never smokers, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.84), but there was no dose-response relationship across categories of current smoking. These results suggest that smoking and breast cancer are not materially related.
Parental Occurrence of Stroke and Risk of Stroke in Their Children: The Framingham Study

Background— Data relating parental history of stroke to stroke risk in offspring remain surprisingly inconsistent, largely because of heterogeneity of study design and the absence of verified, as opposed to historical, data on parental stroke status. Methods and Results— We determined whether prospectively verified parental occurrence of stroke increased incident stroke risk among offspring in a community-based sample by studying 3443 stroke-free Framingham offspring (53% female; mean age, 48±14 years) with verified parental stroke status (by 65 years of age) who attended the first, third, fifth, and/or seventh offspring examinations and were followed up for up to 8 years after each baseline examination. Over up to 11 029 such person-observation periods (77 534 person-years), we documented 106 parental strokes by 65 years of age and 128 offspring strokes (74 parental and 106 offspring strokes were ischemic). Using multivariable Cox models adjusted for age, sex, sibship, and baseline stroke risk factors, w...
The first sea anemone (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria) from a whale fall

Anthosactis pearseae n. sp. is the first species of sea anemone described from a deep‐sea whale fall. It is a member of one of the most diverse genera of Actinostolidae, a family that dominates in the deep, and can be distinguished from its congeners based on the arrangement of tentacles, column musculature, cnidom, and aspects of its life history. To date, A. pearseae is known only from a single whale fall in the deep Pacific, being absent from several seep, vent, and deep‐water hard substrates near this site.
Misinterpretation of trial evidence on statin adverse effects may harm patients.

Finegold et al., in their article, interpret the absence of average difference in rates of published adverse effects (AEs) for statins vs placebo in industry-funded randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as meaning that statins have approximately no side effects. This shows a lack of understanding of critical issues of effect modification, selection bias, and selective publication that have repeatedly contributed to underappreciation of drug AEs. The resulting flawed conclusion is likely to cause serious harm to patients.
Characterisation of glycoproteins using a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer configured for electron transfer dissociation

RATIONALE Electron transfer dissociation (ETD) within ion trapping mass spectrometers has proven to be a useful tool for the characterisation of post-translational modifications. In this study, we describe the implementation of ETD upon a modified quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-ToF) system and methods for the analysis of glycoproteins. METHODS Liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) was performed using a hybrid quadrupole/ion mobility/oa-ToF mass spectrometer equipped with ETD functionality. 1,4-Dicyanobenzene reagent anions necessary for the ETD reaction were generated from a glow discharge region located within the ESI source block. ETD reactions occurred in the stacked ring travelling wave ion guide (located after the quadrupole mass filter and prior to the oa-ToF mass analyser). LC/ETD was performed upon 'super-charged' tryptic glycopeptide ions produced from the recombinant monoclonal antibody trastuzumab. LC/ETD was also performed on ions from the smaller glycopeptides obtained from erythropoietin. RESULTS ETD performed upon the quadruply 'super-charged' N-linked glycopeptide ions of trastuzumab and the triply charged O-linked glycopeptide ions of erythropoietin provided both glycosylation site assignments and full sequence information, respectively. Tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra employing collision-induced dissociation (CID) were dominated by oxonium product ions hampering full peptide sequence characterisation. CONCLUSIONS LC/ETD on the Q-ToF system proved effective at characterising a number of different N-linked glyco-forms of the tryptic peptide, EEQYNSTYR, from trastuzumab as well as glyco-forms from the O-linked tryptic peptide, EASIPPDAASAAPLR, from erythropoietin. The data demonstrates that the glycopeptide site heterogeneity of trastuzumab and erythropoietin can be accurately characterised. In addition, the post-column mixing of the super-charging reagent, m-NBA, is an effective method to increase the precursor ion charge state and to improve ETD reaction efficiency. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Return to "0": A Lacanian Reading of Ingeborg Bachmann's "Undine Goes"

This essay approaches Ingeborg Bachmann's "Undine Goes" from a Lacanian perspective. The object of the study is three-fold: first, to demonstrate Bachmann's deconstruction of the ideal ego through the water-sprite Undine's criticism of the human Hans. Second, to transcend the limitations of dualistic interpretations (as noted by some feminist critics), by introducing the triple Lacanian registers—the imaginary, the symbolic, and the real—into this particular reading. Finally, to establish Bachmann's monologic text as a discourse of the real and Undine as the voice of the death instinct. This article is available in Studies in 20th Century Literature: http://newprairiepress.org/sttcl/vol18/iss2/8 Return to "0": A Lacanian Reading of Ingeborg Bachmann's "Undine Goes" Veronica P. Scrol University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign None, nothing, nought ... zero-a basic concept in mathematics, yet it took the Hindus more than two hundred years after the establishment of a standardized system of cardinal numbers to conceive and include the notation "0." Its function: to denote a missing numerical point (Boyer 235). This note on the history of mathematics, albeit cursory, is instructive, for it underscores an interesting phenomenon: that the notion of absence arrives relatively late in human consciousness. Whereas the "discovery" of the mathematical "0" was delayed only by two centuries, recognition of fundamental absence is still met with much psychological resistance elsewhere, particularly on the subject of identity. As living creatures, we naturally apprehend ourselves and the world from the side of life-each of us as an individual (an "I") living in the present. The designation of death as the undesirable other logically follows. It is precisely this universal corroboration of the precedence of presence over absence in our consciousness that Bachmann rejects by giving voice to the water-sprite Undine. As an object of study, Undine has enjoyed a long tradition in German letters and philosophy since, at least, the late eighteenth century. Works by the Schlegel brothers, Goethe and Schelling attest to this fact. Yet, Bachmann's appropriation of this water-sprite figure constitutes not an inheritance, but rather a break from tradition.' Instead of treating the encounter of the elemental spirit (Undine) and the human (Hans) in the traditional manner as a striving for the unification of the spiritual and the corporeal, she writes the entire short story as a monologue by Undine addressed to Hans and highlights the distance between them. The only 1 Scrol: Return to "0": A Lacanian Reading of Ingeborg Bachmann's "Undine Published by New Prairie Press 240 STCL, Volume 18, No. 2 (Summer, 1994) voice present in the text is not that of the human but of the other; the monologic discourse in Ingeborg Bachmann's "Undine Goes" lends voice not to life but to the death instinct.
A latitudinal gradient of beta diversity for exotic vascular plant species in North America

Determining relationships between the ranges of introduced species and geographical and environmental factors is an important step in understanding the mechanisms and processes of the spread of introduced species. In this study, I examined the beta diversity and latitude relationship for all naturalized exotic species of vascular plants in North America at a continental scale. Beta diversity was calculated as the absolute value of the slope of the relationship between the natural logarithm of the Simpson index of similarity (ln S ) and spatial distance between pairs of state-level exotic floras within four latitudinal zones examined. Relative contributions of spatial distance and environmental difference to species turnover between exotic floras were examined. I found that beta diversity decreased monotonically from low to high latitudes: beta diversity for the southernmost zone was shallower than that for the northernmost zone by a factor of 2.6. Regression models of ln S in relation to spatial distance and environmental (climatic and topographical) difference for each latitudinal zone demonstrated that the explanatory power of these variables diminishes monotonically with latitude: the explained variance in ln S is 70.4%, 62.1%, 53.9%, and 33.9%, respectively, for the four latitudinal zones from south to north. For the southernmost zone, 58.3% of the variance in ln S is explained by climate variables and topography, and spatial distance explains only 2.3% of the variance. In contrast, for the northernmost zone, more than half the amount (22.5%) of the explained variance in ln S is attributable to spatial distance, and the remaining (18.9%) of the explained variance is attributable to climate variables and topography.
Electronic Engineering Design Problems in Fusion Research

Design problems peculiar to fusion research are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of large energy storage systems, and transfer and utilization of this energy. In addition, design criteria for data reduction systems, and other problems related to our fusion research program are discussed.
Family nurse practitioner student perception of journal abstract usefulness in clinical decision making: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose To assess family nurse practitioner (FNP) student perception of research abstract usefulness in clinical decision making. Data sources A randomized controlled trial conducted in a simulated environment with graduate FNP students of the Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Given a clinical case study and modified MEDLINE search tool accessible via an iPad device, participants were asked to develop a treatment plan and complete a data collection form. The primary measure was perceived usefulness of the research abstracts in clinical decision making regarding a simulated obese patient seeking to prevent type 2 diabetes. Secondary measures related to participant demographics and accessibility and usefulness of full-text manuscripts. Conclusions The majority of NP students identified readily available research abstracts as useful in shaping their clinical decision making. The presence or absence of full-text manuscripts associated with the abstracts did not appear to influence the perceived abstract usefulness. The majority of students with full-text manuscript access in the timed simulated clinical encounter read at least one paper, but cited insufficient time to read full-text as a constraint. Implications for practice Research abstracts at point of care may be valuable to FNPs if easily accessible and integrated into clinical workflow.
Downlink Femtocell Networks: Open or Closed?

A fundamental choice in femtocell deployments is the set of users which are allowed to access each femtocell. Closed access restricts the set to specifically registered users, while open access allows any mobile subscriber to use any femtocell. The main results of the paper are lemmas which provide expressions for the SINR distribution for various zones within a cell as a function of this MBS-femto distance. The average sum throughput (or any other SINR-based metric) of home and cellular users under open and closed access can be readily determined from these expressions. We show that unlike in the uplink, the interests of home and cellular users are in conflict, with home users preferring closed access and cellular users preferring open access. The conflict is most pronounced for femtocells near the cell edge, when there are many cellular users and fewer femtocells.
Cross-section and effective potential in asymptotically free scalar field theories

In an effort to understand the physical implications of the newly discovered nontrivial directions in scalar field theory, we compute lowest order scattering amplitudes, cross sections, and the one-loop effective potential. To lowest order, the primary effect of the nonpolynomial nature of the theories is a renormalization of the field. The high-energy scaling of the 2{r_arrow}2 cross section is studied and found to differ significantly from that of pure {phi}{sup 4} theory. From the one-loop effective potential we determine that in some cases radiative corrections destroy classical symmetry breaking, resulting in a phase boundary between symmetry broken and unbroken theories. No radiatively induced symmetry breaking is observed. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Plasma Catecholamine Variations in Physiologically Reactive and Nonreactive Individuals to Cold Pressor Test

It has long been recognized that stress may play a major role in the etiology of cardiovascular disease (1). However, stress has never enjoyed the official status of a “risk factor” due to the lack of accurate methods of quantifying the deleterious physiological effects of stress upon the intact human organism. Earlier reports in the literature (2–4) had suggested that stress exerts its influence upon disease formation via disturbances of the adrenal-medullary and adrenal-cortical systems. Several researchers have demonstrated that various stressful laboratory tasks elicit rapid changes in catecholamine levels (5–7). Others have demonstrated that such tasks, particularly those requiring mental work or quick defensive reaction, stimulate a pattern of increased heart rate (HR), cardiac output, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) mediated through the β-adrenergic sympathetic system (8–10).
Abundance of Ohio Shrimp (Macrobrachium ohione) and Glass Shrimp (Palaemonetes kadiakensis) in the Unimpounded Upper Mississippi River

Large rivers of the United States have been altered by construction and maintenance of navigation channels, which has resulted in habitat loss and degradation. Using 7 y of Long Term Resource Monitoring Program data collected from the unimpounded upper Mississippi River, we investigated Ohio and Glass Shrimp abundance collected from four physical habitats of the unimpounded upper Mississippi River: main channel border, main channel border with wing dike, open side channel and closed side channel. Our objective was to assess associations between Ohio and Glass Shrimp abundance, environmental measurements and the four habitats to better understand the ecology of these species in a channelized river system. Ohio Shrimp were most abundant in the open side channels, while Glass Shrimp were most abundant in the main channel border wing dike habitat. Thirty-two percent of the variance in Glass Shrimp abundance was explained by year 1995, year 1998, water temperature, depth of gear deployment, Secchi disk transparency and river elevation. Approximately 8% of variation in Ohio Shrimp abundance was explained by Secchi disk transparency. Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) was greatest in 1998 for Glass Shrimp but lowest in 1997. Conversely, CPUE was greatest in 1996 for Ohio Shrimp and lowest in 2000. Both species exhibited inter-annual variability in CPUE. Long-term impacts of river modifications on aquatic invertebrates have not been well documented in many large river systems and warrants further study. The findings from this study provide ecological information on Glass and Ohio Shrimp in a channelized river system.
One-pot system for synthesis, assembly, and display of functional single-span membrane proteins on oil–water interfaces

Single-span membrane proteins (ssMPs) represent approximately one-half of all membrane proteins and play important roles in cellular communications. However, like all membrane proteins, ssMPs are prone to misfolding and aggregation because of the hydrophobicity of transmembrane helices, making them difficult to study using common aqueous solution-based approaches. Detergents and membrane mimetics can solubilize membrane proteins but do not always result in proper folding and functionality. Here, we use cell-free protein synthesis in the presence of oil drops to create a one-pot system for the synthesis, assembly, and display of functional ssMPs. Our studies suggest that oil drops prevent aggregation of some in vitro-synthesized ssMPs by allowing these ssMPs to localize on oil surfaces. We speculate that oil drops may provide a hydrophobic interior for cotranslational insertion of the transmembrane helices and a fluidic surface for proper assembly and display of the ectodomains. These functionalized oil drop surfaces could mimic cell surfaces and allow ssMPs to interact with cell surface receptors under an environment closest to cell-cell communication. Using this approach, we showed that apoptosis-inducing human transmembrane proteins, FasL and TRAIL, synthesized and displayed on oil drops induce apoptosis of cultured tumor cells. In addition, we take advantage of hydrophobic interactions of transmembrane helices to manipulate the assembly of ssMPs and create artificial clusters on oil drop surfaces. Thus, by coupling protein synthesis with self-assembly at the water-oil interface, we create a platform that can use recombinant ssMPs to communicate with cells.
Economists' Misplaced Faith in an Invisible Hand

In academia most economists practice technical crafts. Academic incentives strongly favor such crafts, and economists pursue academic rewards, perhaps with a faith in the applicability of "the invisible hand" to their own "industry." But the crafts are mostly irrelevant to policy issues and contribute little to society. The invisible hand works well when supply - of, say, shoes - caters to customers who purchase with their own money product for their own use. Competing suppliers prosper by best serving demanders. In academia, however, the demand for academic product comes from journal editors, referees, and university departments. The demand is the expression of other suppliers. It is as though shoe demanders were only other shoe makers, who demand shoes not for how well they wear but for aesthetic niceties fancied by the guild. Academic economists tend to favor peers whose crafts exalt their own handiwork. In the social sciences and humanities, demand and supply are highly interlocking, circular, and self-legitimating. The "industry" is more of a craft circle or club. And the club subsists on tax and tuition dollars. The grounds for faith in an invisible hand are rather slight. Society would gain a great deal if economists became more relevant. Most economists are wiser about economic policy than the average voter. The public needs their help. And in being relevant, economists would better learn economic judgment and become yet wiser.
Catheter-Related Thrombosis: Risks, Diagnosis, and Management

Symptomatic thromboembolic complications of central venous catheters (CVCs) occur in 5% or less of general oncology patients. Asymptomatic CVC-related thrombi are more common, but their clinical significance is unclear. Thrombotic risk may be increased by primary thrombophilic disorders, especially the factor V G1691A (Leiden) mutation, thrombogenic catheter material, larger catheter diameter and greater number of lumens, catheter tip malposition, left-sided placement, percutaneous or multiple insertion attempts, a previous CVC or preexisting venous obstruction, prothrombotic therapeutic agents, catheter-associated infections, and fibrinous catheter lumen occlusion. Three recent randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled trials observed no benefit of routine low-dose warfarin or low-molecular-weight heparin in preventing catheter-associated thrombosis. Nevertheless, thromboprophylaxis may be appropriate and safe for selected high-risk patients. Duplex ultrasound can accurately detect CVC-related thrombi involving the jugular, axillary, distal subclavian, and arm veins. Contrast venographic imaging is required for indeterminate duplex findings and to evaluate the deep central veins and pulmonary arteries. Therapeutic anticoagulation, with or without catheter removal, is indicated for patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism who have no contraindications. Catheter removal alone, with close follow-up, may be sufficient when bleeding risk precludes safe anticoagulation. Approaches to managing catheter-associated thrombosis, including the use of thrombolytic agents, are guided by limited published experience and extrapolation from practices used for lower-extremity DVT. Prospective, randomized, controlled trials are needed to identify the safest and most effective anticoagulant agents, treatment durations, and alternative venous access strategies for cancer patients who develop catheter-associated thrombosis.
Preoperative serum albumin level as a predictor of postoperative complication after spine fusion.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between preoperative baseline serum albumin and postoperative surgical complication. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized patient population has only been recently recognized. Preoperative hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin <3.5 g/dL) has been shown to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. The prognostic implications and significance of hypoalbuminemia after spine fusion surgery remain unknown. In this study, we assess the predictive value of preoperative nutritional status (serum albumin level) on postoperative complication rates. METHODS The medical records of 136 consecutive patients undergoing spine fusion at Duke University Medical Center were reviewed. Preoperative serum albumin level was assessed on all patients and used to quantify nutritional status. Albumin less than 3.5 g/dL was recognized as hypoalbuminemia (malnourished). Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complication rates were collected. Patients were also stratified into 2 groups based on their cause, namely elective degenerative/deformity versus nonelective cases. The association between preoperative serum albumin level and postoperative complication was assessed via logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Overall, 40 (29.4%) patients experience at least 1 postoperative complication. Patients undergoing elective surgery had more complications based on preoperative albumin levels (malnourished patients: 35.7% vs. nourished patients: 11.7%, P = 0.03), whereas those undergoing nonelective surgery had similar complication rates (malnourished patients: 46.5% vs. nourished patients: 42.1%, P = 0.75). For patients undergoing elective spinal surgery, logistic regression with and without propensity score adjustment for risk factors, demonstrated that preoperative serum albumin level was a significant predictor of postoperative complications (OR: 4.21; 95% CI: 1.09-16.19; P = 0.04) and (OR: 4.54; 95% CI: 1.17-19.32; P = 0.04), respectively. CONCLUSION Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications after elective spine surgery for degenerative and deformity causes, and should be used more frequently as a prognostic tool to detect malnutrition and risk of adverse surgical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2.
On the system of altered notes

The concept concerning altered notes has not been clearly defined in the existing music theory texts and therefore lacks a definite category in sorting out the relevant terminologies. This paper rethinks to refine the related concepts in regard of its uses.
Adrenal G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 in regulation of sympathetic nervous system activity in heart failure

Heart failure (HF), the number one cause of death in the western world, is caused by the insufficient performance of the heart leading to tissue underperfusion in response to an injury or insult. It comprises complex interactions between important neurohormonal mechanisms that try but ultimately fail to sustain cardiac output. The most prominent such mechanism is the sympathetic (adrenergic) nervous system (SNS), whose activity and outflow are greatly elevated in HF. SNS hyperactivity confers significant toxicity to the failing heart and markedly increases HF morbidity and mortality via excessive activation of adrenergic receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors. Thus, ligand binding induces their coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins that transduce intracellular signals. G protein signaling is turned-off by the agonist-bound receptor phosphorylation courtesy of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), followed by βarrestin binding, which prevents the GRK-phosphorylated receptor from further interaction with the G proteins and simultaneously leads it inside the cell (receptor sequestration). Recent evidence indicates that adrenal GRK2 and βarrestins can regulate adrenal catecholamine secretion, thereby modulating SNS activity in HF. The present review gives an account of all these studies on adrenal GRKs and βarrestins in HF and discusses the exciting new therapeutic possibilities for chronic HF offered by targeting these proteins pharmacologically.