cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P343: Gender and Racial Disparities in Access to Health Care: The Coronary Artery Risk in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Background: Changes in the US economy have led to national declines in access to health care and a widening of disparities. We aimed to examine trends in access to health care from 1992-2010 among Black and White men and women. Methods: We used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a multi-center cohort of black and white men and women. Having poor access to care was defined as having 1 or more of the following barriers to care: no insurance, no usual source of care, and did not seek care due to cost. Participant’s health care access was determined in 1992, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. We used GEE regression models with a linear spline to examine the association of gender, race and time with health care access adjusting for age, measures of socioeconomic status and comorbidity as time-dependent covariates. Results: This study included 3,521 participants: 883 White men, 668 Black men, 983 Black women and 987 White women. Mean age was 32 years in 1992. Poor access to health care declined from 1992-2000 but then began increasing from 2000 to 2010. The adjusted prevalence of poor access to care was 25% in 1992, 22% in 1995, 15% in 2000, 17% in 2005 and 19% in 2010 (p-value Discussion: Access to health care improved through 2000 but has declined in the past decade; these patterns mirror changes in the economy and the recession. Men were much more likely to experience barriers to care, although this gender gap appears to be decreasing. The observed ethnic disparity in health care access may reflect underlying differences in educational attainment and education-related employment opportunities that enhance access to health care.
Accuracy of Parental Perception of Nighttime Breathing in Children with Down Syndrome

Objective In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a guideline for children with Down syndrome (DS), recommending a polysomnogram (PSG) by age 4 years regardless of symptoms. Their rationale was based on 2 publications with small cohorts, where at least 50% of the children had no obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms but their PSG results were abnormal. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation published a clinical practice guideline recommending PSG prior to adenotonsillectomy for these children. This study aimed to assess parents' accuracy of their children's breathing patterns as compared with PSGs in a larger cohort of children with DS. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary care academic pediatric hospital. Subjects and Methods Sleep intake forms assessing frequency of parent-observed apnea, snoring, and restless sleep were analyzed. None of the children had a previous tonsillectomy. Two groups were analyzed according to symptoms: infrequent (<3 nights per week on all questions answered) and frequent (≥6 nights per week on at least 1 question). OSA severity was categorized as follows: normal, <2 events per hour; mild, 2 to 4.9; moderate, 5 to 9.9; and severe, ≥10. Results A total of 113 children met inclusion criteria: 34% (n = 38) had infrequent symptoms, and 66% (n = 75) had frequent symptoms. Parents were unable to predict the presence or absence of OSA by nighttime symptoms ( P = .60). The risk of OSA for children with frequent symptoms versus those with infrequent symptoms was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.89-1.3). Conclusion Parents of DS children are unable to predict the presence or absence of OSA by nighttime symptoms, nor are they able to determine its severity.
Introduction To Volume I

This volume comprises organic derivatives of transition metals, i.e., metals of groups HIB (including lanthanides and actinides), IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII of the periodic table, in which organic groups and aromatic molecules are bonded to the metal atoms by 5-and/or π-bonds, as well as complexes of metals and their salts with olefins, acetylenes, and isosyanides.
A Neurophysiological Rationale for the Use of the Relaxation Response

Since the original applications of behavioral technologies to the treatment of disease, it has been observed that the elicitation of what Benson (1975) has called the “relaxation response” has proved useful in the treatment of a wide variety of psychiatric and stress-related somatic disease (Benson, 1985; Kutz, Borysenko, & Benson, 1985; Lavey & Taylor, 1985; Shapiro & Giber, 1978). The relaxation response is perhaps best understood as a psycho-physiological state of hypoarousal engendered by a multitude of diverse technologies (e.g., meditation, neuromuscular relaxation, hypnosis). Research into the relaxation response as a therapeutic mechanism and its clinical proliferation have been hampered, however, by a lack of conceptual clarity regarding its therapeutic foundations and/or its mechanisms of action. This chapter will explore the physiological and psychological foundations of the relaxation response to set the stage for discussions in subsequent chapters of specific therapeutic technologies (e.g., meditation, neuromuscular relaxation) used to elicit the relaxation response for the treatment of stress-related diseases.
Prevalence of co-morbidities in elderly patients with distant stage neuroendocrine tumors.

e15699Background: The median age of diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), an indolent tumor characterized by hormone production (carcinoid syndrome, CS) when metastatic is 63 years. Patients (...
Institutional Logics of Investors and Startup Innovation

We explore the impact of the institutional logics of investors on innovation innovation-related outcomes in new firms. We examine the impact of four types of investors, with differing institutional...
3D imaging compositional map in one-step growth of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3

In this report, we use atom probe tomography (APT) to produce 3D compositional maps of one-step growth of perovskite films (CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 , MAPbI 3 . Initial studies indicate that further grain size enhancement and improved crystallinity can be achieved with the addition of Cd to these films. For MAPbI 3 films, perovskite specimens for APT were prepared and analyzed, which highlighted several challenges in the development of an APT procedure that reduces the effects of sample preparation and data collection on the fundamental morphology of the perovskite being analyzed. This optimization of the APT process, specifically for perovskite films, must be achieved before meaningful comparisons can be drawn between baseline films and those with Cd additives. We present some of the observed changes in morphology of the perovskite due to the APT process, which will enable future process optimization.
Global Political Economy and the Driving Force of Globalization: Four Paradigmatic Views

Any explanation of the driving force of globalization is based on a worldview. The premise of this book is that any worldview can be associated with one of the four broad paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. This chapter takes the case of the driving force of globalization and discusses it from the four different viewpoints. It emphasizes that the four views expressed are equally scientific and informative; they look at the phenomenon from their certain paradigmatic viewpoint; and together they provide a more balanced understanding of the phenomenon under consideration.
HedhiHelp – A Health Education App for Girls in Rural Kenya

A culture of social taboos and silence leaves many young Kenyan women beginning menarche in isolation, without complete understanding of the changes occurring in their bodies. This stigma imposes significant barriers to education and proper hygiene for young girls during a critical time in their lives. Not having the proper support and resources to manage this process, 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their period, and therefore are more likely to drop out altogether. To help solve this problem, we have developed an Android app that both educates girls on menstruation and helps them manage their period.
The Response of nor and nos Contributes to Staphylococcus aureus Virulence and Metabolism.

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide spectrum of disease, with the site and severity of infection dependent on virulence traits encoded within genetically distinct clonal complexes (CCs) and bacterial responses to host innate immunity. The production of nitric oxide (NO) by activated phagocytes is a major host response to which S. aureus metabolically adapts through multiple strategies that are conserved in all CCs, including an S. aureus nitric oxide synthase (Nos). Previous genome analysis of CC30, a lineage associated with chronic endocardial and osteoarticular infections, revealed a putative NO reductase (Nor) not found in other CCs that potentially contributes to NO resistance and clinical outcome. Here, we demonstrate that Nor has true nitric oxide reductase activity, with nor expression enhanced by NO stress and anaerobic growth. Furthermore, we demonstrate that nor is regulated by MgrA and SrrAB, which modulate S. aureus virulence and hypoxic response. Transcriptome analysis of the S. aureus UAMS-1, UAMS-1 Δnor, and UAMS-1 Δnos strains under NO stress and anaerobic growth demonstrates that Nor contributes to nucleotide metabolism and Nos to glycolysis. We demonstrate that Nor and Nos contribute to enhanced survival in the presence of human human polymorphonuclear cells and have organ-specific seeding in a tail vein infection model. Nor contributes to abscess formation in an osteological implant model. We also demonstrate that Nor has a role in S. aureus metabolism and virulence. The regulation overlap between Nor and Nos points to an intriguing link between regulation of intracellular NO, metabolic adaptation, and persistence in the CC30 lineage. IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus can cause disease at most body sites, and illness spans asymptomatic infection to death. The variety of clinical presentations is due to the diversity of strains, which are grouped into distinct clonal complexes (CCs) based on genetic differences. The ability of S. aureus CC30 to cause chronic infections relies on its ability to evade the oxidative/nitrosative defenses of the immune system and survive under different environmental conditions, including differences in oxygen and nitric oxide concentrations. The significance of this work is the exploration of unique genes involved in resisting NO stress and anoxia. A better understanding of the functions that control the response of S. aureus CC30 to NO and oxygen will guide the treatment of severe disease presentations.
Understanding the Clinical Implications of Resident Involvement in Uncommon Operations.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine uncommon operations in greater detail given that the outcomes of uncommon operations are largely understudied. This study examines the incidence of postoperative events and the role of the resident following uncommon operations. Design We identified uncommon general surgical operations using the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use file (2008-2011). Death or serious morbidity (DSM) within 30 days of the operation was the primary outcome of interest. Failure to rescue (FTR) and prolonged operative time (PRopt) were evaluated as secondary outcome measures. PRopt was defined as ≥90 percentile of operative time for each procedure type. Independent multivariate logistic regression models were generated to examine the impact of these descriptors on the outcomes of interest. Setting/Participants The dataset utilized was the United States National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use File which leverages data points from over 700 hospitals that range from primary to quaternary care centers. Resident participation was defined as resident involved (RI) or no resident involved (NRI), and stratified by postgraduate year (PGY): 1-3, 4-5, and 6+. Results Resident participant data was available for 21,453 (84.5%) uncommon operations with NRI in 25.4% (5447). With regard to resident participation, PGY1-3 were found in 12.6% (2699), PGY4-5 in 50.4% (10,817), and PGY6+ in 11.6% (2490). The overall observed DSM rate was 28.6% and the observed FTR rate was 5.8%. Overall, there was no difference in DSM by RI status (NRI: 1528; 28.1% vs RI: 4602; 28.8%; p = 0.324); however, PGY level was associated with DSM (PGY1-3: 774, 28.7%, PGY4-5: 3210, 29.7%, PGY6+: 618, 24.8%; p Conclusions Uncommon operations were associated with substantial DSM. The involvement of PGY4-5 residents was associated with the greatest likelihood of DSM. With increasing PGY of the involved resident, cases with PGY > 5 demonstrated a lower likelihood of risk-adjusted FTR. The explanation for these findings is not clear; however, the involvement of more senior residents in the technical aspects of uncommon operations may lead to improved results.
Improving wind farm power output through deactivating selected wind turbines

Abstract Wind energy is becoming the fastest growing and most inexpensive renewable source, even surpassed natural gas. The environmental advantages coupled with the significant financial benefits have created a positive prognosis for wind energy continuously growing. However, the complexity and limited availability of wind resources create challenges that need to be addressed in order to continue improving wind energy harvesting. This paper developed a new concept to modify wind farm’s layout by deactivating selected wind turbines to maximize its total power output under different wind conditions. Different wind conditions create different wake effects, while most wind farms cannot change their layouts to cope with the changing wind conditions. Through deactivating selected wind turbines to effectively reduce or eliminate some turbulent wakes, it is possible to improve a wind farm’s total power output by creating a net gain for the entire wind farm. A new method was developed to identify the best combinations of deactivated wind turbines under different wind conditions to achieve maximum power output. Several case studies with real wind farms and real wind conditions were conducted together with sensitivity analysis. The promising results demonstrated the effectiveness of the new method and the new concept, named layout optimization through selective deactivation. Several factors were identified as influencing factors on the effectiveness of the new concept.
Reactive microglia and IL1β/IL-1R1-signaling mediate neuroprotection in excitotoxin-damaged mouse retina

Microglia and inflammation have context-specific impacts upon neuronal survival in different models of central nervous system (CNS) disease. Herein, we investigate how inflammatory mediators, including microglia, interleukin 1 beta (IL1β), and signaling through interleukin 1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1), influence the survival of retinal neurons in response to excitotoxic damage. Excitotoxic retinal damage was induced via intraocular injections of NMDA. Microglial phenotype and neuronal survival were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to obtain transcriptomic profiles. Microglia were ablated by using clodronate liposome or PLX5622. Retinas were treated with IL1β prior to NMDA damage and cell death was assessed in wild type, IL-1R1 null mice, and mice expressing IL-1R1 only in astrocytes. NMDA-induced damage included neuronal cell death, microglial reactivity, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and genes associated with IL1β-signaling in different types of retinal neurons and glia. Expression of the IL1β receptor, IL-1R1, was evident in astrocytes, endothelial cells, some Muller glia, and OFF bipolar cells. Ablation of microglia with clodronate liposomes or Csf1r antagonist (PLX5622) resulted in elevated cell death and diminished neuronal survival in excitotoxin-damaged retinas. Exogenous IL1β stimulated the proliferation and reactivity of microglia in the absence of damage, reduced numbers of dying cells in damaged retinas, and increased neuronal survival following an insult. IL1β failed to provide neuroprotection in the IL-1R1-null retina, but IL1β-mediated neuroprotection was rescued when expression of IL-1R1 was restored in astrocytes. We conclude that reactive microglia provide protection to retinal neurons, since the absence of microglia is detrimental to survival. We propose that, at least in part, the survival-influencing effects of microglia may be mediated by IL1β, IL-1R1, and interactions of microglia and other macroglia.
THE EFFECTS OF LEAF LITTER ON GERMINATION IN THE SERPENTINE ENDEMIC BOECHERA CONSTANCEI

Leaf litter accumulation may negatively impact seedling germination by altering key ecosystem properties, such as light availability and soil moisture. The impacts of litter depth may be particularly strong for species in dry environments with low vegetative cover and high light availability. The rare species Boechera constancei (Rollins) Al-Shehbaz (Brassicaceae) is endemic to the serpentine outcrops of Plumas and Sierra Counties, where litter accumulation is highly variable and B. constancei inhabits a range of litter depths (0–40 mm). In this study, we tested whether increased litter depth impedes germination, and whether populations vary in tolerance to litter depth. Specifically, we quantified the impacts of treatments representing the observed range of litter depth occupied by B. constancei on the germination of seed collected from nine populations. Differences in germination were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA. While both source population and litter treatment influenced germination, the interaction term was not significant. Post-hoc Tukey's honest significance tests revealed that germination under both median and high litter treatments was significantly lower than under no litter. The median and high litter treatments did not differ significantly. Differences in germination were observed during dark, cold stratification, suggesting that light availability was not a factor. These results indicate that early life stages of this species may benefit from litter reduction treatments, as both median and high litter treatments reduced germination.
Statistical Prevalenceversus Energetic Contributionsof F···F, F···H, and F···CIntermolecular Interactions in 4‑TrifluorotoluenesulfonamideCrystals

CSD- and PDB-wide surveys of CF3-containing compounds have identified very divergent rates of isostructrality between CH3/CF3 analogues and a variety of behaviors for the CF3 groups ranging from nucleophilic to electrophilic. We present 13 crystal structures containing the 4-trifluorotoluenesulfonamide (F3TsN) moiety and then analyze these structures and 10 pairs of CF3/CH3 toluenesulfonamide analogues using PIXEL-calculated lattice energies, Hirshfeld surfaces, ratios of frequencies, and electrostatic potential energy maps. The F3TsN group is directly and representatively interesting from a pharmaceutical context, given its strong additional intermolecular forces (H bonding and π stacking). Unsurprisingly, many C–F···F angles correspond to type I halogen–halogen interactions, with several presenting at distances shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii. Only 1 of 10 pairs in our study are isostructural, likely resulting from numerous but individually weak F···H and F···C intermolecular interaction...
Evaluation of nesting behavior of individual laying hens in an enriched colony housing by using RFID technology

The US egg industry is progressively adopting alternative housing systems for laying hens. Provision of nesting places accommodates natural behaviors and may improve the welfare of the laying hen. However, some fundamental questions remain about nesting behaviors of hens under different housing conditions, which would impact system design and management. For instance, how long does a hen use nest per day for egg laying or nest exploration? How many hens nest simultaneously? In such schemes, information on hens’ behavioral and production responses of hens remains relatively sparse. The primary objective of this work was to demonstrate that RFID technology can be used to continuously quantify dynamic nesting behaviors of individual laying hens in a 60-hen enriched colony housing (ECH). Results show that hens spent on average 63.7±1.4 min (mean±SE) in the nest box and made 23.4±0.7 nest visits during a 16 h daily light period. Time spent in and visits to the nest box during the 6 h laying period accounted for 56% and 45% of the light-period value, respectively. Maximum nest occupancy was 29.0%±0.4%. Three distinct phases of egg production in nest boxes were observed: initial (1.5 h), peak (3.2 h, egg laying rate of 0.24±0.01 eggs/min), and late (1.3 h). The majority (95.1%±0.6%) of the daily eggs were laid in the nest box. Considerable variations in nesting behavior among individual hens and day-to-day variations for a given hen were observed. The RFID system will enable researchers to examine the impacts of resource allocations on nesting behaviors of laying hens in alternative hen housing. Keywords: animal welfare, egg production, RFID, alternative hen housing, individual behaviors DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20191206.5129 Citation: Oliveira J L, Xin H W, Wang K L, Zhao Y. Evaluation of nesting behavior of individual laying hens in an enriched colony housing by using RFID technology. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2019; 12(6): 7–15.
A Statistical Model to Predict the Extratropical Transition of Tropical Cyclones

AbstractThis paper introduces a logistic regression model for the extratropical transition (ET) of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic and the western North Pacific, using elastic net regulariz...
Crisis Leadership and Development of Organizational Resilience

A leader must work before, during, and after a crisis to ensure their organization has a high level of resiliency. Building this resiliency should be a part of the strategic planning process as the leader works to build organizational culture. This should be fostered at the individual, group, and overall organizational level. By encouraging spirituality and using their faith, leaders can best strengthen this resiliency and assure the organization can make it through any crisis.
The Imperative of Adjusting the Phillips Curve

This chapter describes the historical evolution of the Phillips Curve from an empirical relationship between wage inflation and unemployment to a complex model comprising inflation persistence, inflation expectations and output gap. Then it provides an overview of the current explanations for the flattening of the Phillips Curve after the Great Recession. The final section exposes the frequent measurement errors associated with the short-term Phillips Curve and builds the case for an alternative measure of economic slack.
Trends in Neurosurgical Practice Size: Increased Consolidation 2014-2019.

Background Practice consolidation in health care has widespread consequences for providers and patients. Although many studies describe this phenomenon in various medical specialties, no such analysis has been performed in neurosurgery specifically. The goal of this study was to assess the trends in the size of U.S. neurosurgery practices over a 5-year period. Methods Neurosurgery practice characteristics were obtained from the Medicare Physician Compare database from March 2014 through October 2019 on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Web site. Neurosurgeons were separated on the basis of their practice size. Group practice sizes ranged from solo practitioner practice to large multispecialty groups and health organizations. Eight groups were identified (1 or 2, 3–9, 10–24, 25–49, 50–99, 100–499, 500–999, and ≥1000 members). Additionally, neurosurgery practices were analyzed across the 4 U.S. geographical regions to understand changes in practice size and distribution. Results The percentage of neurosurgeons in smaller practices of 1 or 2 members decreased, from 20.09% to 13.05%; 3–9 members, from 17.79% to 9.41%; and 10–24 members, from 10.53% to 8.0%. The largest increase was seen in health organizations of 1000 members or more, with an increase from 9.85% to 22.84%. Conclusions This study shows that over the past 5 years, a substantial trend toward increasing practice sizes has evolved. The effect of the differences in practice size should be examined to determine the large-scale impacts on patient care, payment models, and health care access, in addition to neurosurgeon compensation, and satisfaction.
The distribution of mutual inclinations arising from the stellar quadrupole moment

A large proportion of transiting planetary systems appear to possess only a single planet as opposed to multiple transiting planets. This excess of singles is indicative of significant mutual inclinations existing within a large number of planetary systems, but the origin of these misalignments is unclear. Moreover, recent observational characterization reveals that mutual inclinations tend to increase with proximity to the host star. These trends are both consistent with the dynamical influence of a strong quadrupolar potential arising from the host star during its early phase of rapid rotation, coupled with a non-zero stellar obliquity. Here, we simulate a population of planetary systems subject to the secular perturbation arising from a tilted, oblate host star as it contracts and spins down subsequent to planet formation. We demonstrate that this mechanism can reproduce the general increase in planet-planet mutual inclinations with proximity to the host star, and delineate a parameter space wherein the host star can drive dynamical instabilities. We suggest that approximately 5-10\% of low-mass Kepler systems are susceptible to this instability mechanism, suggesting that a significant number of single-transiting planets may truly be intrinsically single. We also report a novel connection between instability and stellar obliquity reduction and make predictions that can be tested within upcoming TESS observations.
The cost of sharing bikes and docks: Quantifying rent and work requirements between four bike sharing systems in North America

Abstract Despite the popularity of bike sharing systems (BSS), few studies have quantified cost of service of BSS and how travel behavior may be influencing it. As such, much debate exists about the potential of bike sharing, with some studies advocating benefits from increased utilization while other studies warning of costs from excessive rebalancing operations. This paper introduces a new metric to quantify cost of service in BSS as the infrastructure rent (for bikes and docks) and rebalancing work required to mobilize a pattern of trips, and it presents a comparative study between four BSS in North America during one month of operations, focusing on four questions: What would be the infrastructure rent requirements of each system’s trip pattern if no rebalancing work were done? What were the resulting infrastructure rent requirements of each system’s trip pattern based on the rebalancing work that was done? How effective was the rebalancing work that each system did in reducing the infrastructure rent requirements of its trip pattern? How does occupancy variability and travel pattern asymmetry influence cost of service? Results show that service requirements and, thereby, potential, vary substantially between systems based on the spatiotemporal characteristics and asymmetry of their trip patterns and that each system responded differently to these requirements in terms of infrastructure capacity and rebalancing work.
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Auranofin Lowers Leptin Levels and Exerts Anti-Diabetic Effects in Obese Mice

Low-grade, sustained inflammation in white adipose tissue (WAT) characterizes obesity and frequently coincides with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, pharmacological targeting of WAT inflammation lacks durable therapeutic effects. Through a computational screen, we identified the FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis drug auranofin is a putative small molecule for obesity and T2D. We discovered that auranofin homed to WAT and improved insulin sensitivity in obese wild-type mice. Auranofin treatment also normalized other obesity-associated abnormalities, including hepatic steatosis and hyperinsulinemia. Surprisingly, the anti-diabetic effects of auranofin required leptin lowering and beta-adrenergic receptors in WAT. These metabolic benefits of leptin reduction were superior to any immune impacts of auranofin in WAT. Our studies reveal important metabolic properties of anti-inflammatory treatments and contribute to the notion that leptin reduction in the periphery can be accomplished to treat obesity and T2D.
Thumb Interphalangeal Joint Arthrodesis

Arthrodesis is an excellent and effective way to reconstruct the deformed, destroyed, or unstable interphalangeal joint of the thumb. Position can be from 0 to 30 degrees of flexion and is adjusted to suit the needs of the individual patient. Methods of stable fixation of thumb interphalangeal joint arthrodesis include screw (Figs. 51-1 A Figs. 51-1 B Figs. 51-1 C Figs. 51-1 D) and tension band wire techniques. Tension band wire technique was demonstrated in Figures 50-2 A-K. When the screw is inserted retrograde, it is important to countersink the distal portion of the distal phalanx in order to better accommodate the screw head.
Where's The Beef: A Few Words about Paying for Performance in Bankruptcy

This brief essay responds to Yair Listokin's article, "Paying for Performance in Bankruptcy: Why CEOs Should Be Compensated with Debt," 155 U. PA. L. REV. 777 (2007). Professor Listokin argues that we should give official creditors' committees the power to pay management of reorganizing debtors with corporate debt. This, he argues, would properly align their incentives with those who are most likely affected, the "residual claimant" unsecured creditors. Although Professor Listokin's proposal is a welcome addition to our literature on corporate reorganization, this essay points out several basic problems with it:  First, nothing currently prevents parties from doing this through a reorganization plan; it is thus not clear why there is a problem.  Second, the uncertain nature of bankruptcy recoveries would make the proposal implausible in the large and complex cases where it would presumably be needed most.  Third, by giving creditors' committees the power to issue corporate debt, the proposal would empower them to reduce their constituents' recoveries, thus creating new agency problems. The essay closes by observing that Professor Listokin's proposal is nevertheless an important addition to a long line of thoughtful scholarship on corporate reorganization.
Diurnal variations in summertime lightning activity in Tropical Asia

Many meteorological phenomena exhibit distinctive diurnal variations that vary substantially from place to place. In this investigation, we use Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission data to assess spatial patterns in the diurnal variations of summertime lightning activity throughout tropical Asia. Harmonic analysis of the dataset reveals strong diurnal patterns in lightning activity with most locations exhibiting an afternoon maximum and a late-night, early morning minimum. Notable exceptions include the eastern coastal areas of the Indian subcontinent and China, with the peak activity occurring in the early evening hours. We generally find that the diurnal patterns are related to orographic interactions as well as the seasonal wind circulation of onshore winds along the coastal areas. The strength of the cycle was relatively stronger in the interior of the continent particularly over northwestern India and the Tibetan plateau. Copyright © 2013 Royal Meteorological Society
State-strategies for games in F σδ ∩ G δσ

The Cantor-Bendixson theorem says: For every closed set 𝓒, |𝓒| ≤ ω 0 ∨𝓒 ⊇ perfect (and therefore 𝓒 is countable or has the power of the continuum). W. H. Young proved the alternative for G δ -sets, and Hausdorff extended it to Souslin-sets. Cantor used his ordinals to prove the theorem (I like to think he invented them for this purpose). In Hausdorff’s Mengenlehre ordinals do not officially enter in either of the three proofs. You should try to put them back. It is very important never to hide away ω 1 when it actually is there, and it is there when the continuum problem is the subject.
Partition-based algorithm for power grid design using locality

This paper presents an efficient heuristic algorithm, which employs successive partitioning and grid-refinement scheme, for designing the power distribution network of a chip. In an iterative procedure, the chip area is recursively bipartitioned, and the wire pitches and the wire widths of the power grid in the partitions are repeatedly adjusted to meet the voltage drop and current-density specifications. By using the macromodels of the power grid constructed in the previous levels of partitioning, the scheme ensures that a small global power grid system is simulated in each iteration. The idea is based on the notion that due to the locality properties of the power grid, the effects of distant nodes and sources can be modeled more coarsely than the nearby elements, and include practical methods that enhance the convergence of the iterative conjugate-gradient-based solution engine that is used in each step. Finally, a postprocessing step at the end of the optimization is employed to maximize the alignment of wires in adjacent partitions. The effectiveness of the scheme is demonstrated by designing various power grids with real circuit parameters and realistic input current values. The proposed algorithm is able to design power grids comprising thousands of wires and more than a million electrical nodes in about 6 to 14 min. When compared to a multigrid-based power grid design scheme, it is found to save about 5% to 10% of wire area, and on an average is 12% faster.
Peer-Based Interventions to Influence Health-Related Behaviors and Attitudes: A Meta-Analysis:

The effects of 47 peer-based health education programs described in 36 published studies were examined. The over-all effect size was small: the mean d was .190 when controls received no program and .020 when controls received an alternative program. Programs were divided into those focusing on preventing or reducing smoking and programs on other health issues; the latter were further divided into primary prevention and secondary prevention programs. Differences among studies suggested several biases which were likely to have influenced the effect sizes. Preventive interventions that produce only small effects can be valuable because many participants would not have developed the problem even without the program. This review suggested that, when health education programs are studied, (a) detailed statistical information should be provided to facilitate using the research findings in meta-analyses and (b) the costs of innovative programs should be presented to judge whether the results are worth the cost.
The significance of responses of the genome to challenge

An attempt is made to outline several experiments conducted by the author that revealed how a genome may react to conditions for which it is unprepared, but to which it responds in a discernible, but initially unforeseen manner. One of the experiments involves the effect of X-rays on chromosomes of maize. 35 references, 3 figures.
Apolipoprotein E-Rich HDL Binding to Liver Plasma Membranes in Copper-Deficient Rats

AbstractCopper deficiency in rats raises plasma cholesterol concentration while reducing liver cholesterol concentration. One consequence of this cholesterol redistribution is the accumulation of a large high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle rich in apolipoprotein E (apo E). The purpose of this study was to determine, using an in vitro binding assay, if the interaction of apo E-rich HDL with hepatic lipoprotein binding sites may be affected by copper deficiency. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two dietary treatments (copper-deficient and -adequate) and placed on a dietary regimen for 8 weeks. Subsequent to exsanguination, hepatic plasma membranes were prepared and apo E-rich HDL was isolated from rats of each treatment by ultracentrifugation, agarose column chromatography, and heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Total binding and experimentally derived specific binding of 125I-apo E-rich HDl to hepatic plasma membranes indicated greater binding when lipoproteins and membranes from copp...
Formate esters of 1,2-ethanediol - Major decomposition products of p-dioxane during storage

Research done on detecting the contaminants of p-dioxane that cause a positive response for highly reactive acyl groups is discussed. Attention is given to the fact that the positive hydroxamate response might indicate an unsuspected hazard. It is found that all acyl groups transferred are formyl groups, and the mono- and diformates of 1,2-ethanediol are identified as major sources of this activity. It is also found that the formate esters are formed by way of peroxide intermediates. Concentrations of the formate ester group as high as 1.8 M are found in partially consumed bottles of dioxane but not in other common ethers stored under similar conditions. Attention is called to the possibility that the exposure to the glycol formates is probably much wider than expected. It is noted that by purging containers of dioxane with nitrogen each time they are opened and storing them in the cold away from light can prevent both the economic loss and possible health hazard caused by contamination with peroxide and formate ester.
"Let them have Dominion": "Dominion Theology" and the Construction of Religious Extremism in the US Media

Abstract: In the last decade, media coverage of “dominionism” and “dominion theology” and their supposed influence on conservative politicians has become increasingly visible in the US news press. Popular exposes using “dominionism” to frame the religio-political convictions of everyone from President George W. Bush to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann have proliferated even as journalists, pundits, and preachers have struggled to define the concept of dominion. This essay offers a critical history of dominion discourse as it has evolved over the last three decades in the evangelical and secular presses in the United States. It situates the emergence of dominion discourse within evangelical efforts to define the proper limits of their political activism during the 1980s and the progressive backlash against the Christian Right in the 1990s. Through close readings of material produced in the evangelical and secular presses this essay argues that dominion discourse reflects certain normative but unexplored assu...
Solvent interactions with N, N-dialkylnicotinamides and their effects on rotational barriers.

Abstract Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were employed to examine the effects of solvent environment on rotational barriers in a series of molecules structurally-related to the analeptic, nikethamide: N,N-dimethylnicotinamide, N,N-di-n-propylnicotinamide, and 1-nicotinoyl piperidine. Total bandshape analysis was performed for the exchanging alkyl carbon resonances of these compounds as a function of temperature in four solvent systems: D2O, CH3OD, CH3CH2OD and CDCl3. The rate constants for rotation about the amide bond obtained in this way were used to calculate free energy (ΔG‡) , enthalpy (ΔH‡) and entropy (ΔS‡) of activation parameters for this process. Our results indicate that rotational barriers are less affected by the nature of the alkyl chain attached to the amide nitrogen than by the size and polarity of the solvent molecules. Interpretation of the thermodynamic parameters in light of both nikethamide analogue structure and solvent type has further clarified the manner in which hydrogen bonding interactions between solvent molecules and the carbonyl oxygen of these analogues stabilize transition state conformers.
Single-seed descent, single-pod, and bulk sampling methods for soybean

The single seed descent (SSD) method of inbreeding minimizes the amount of genetic sampling. The single-pod descent (SPD) and bulk methods (BM) produce redundant inbred lines that are descended from either the same F2 or F3 plant. However, for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], the SSD method requires more time to process the seed than the SPD or BM. Our experiment is the first to compare the SSD, SPD and BM by sampling the same population in the field and then evaluating the methods using molecular markers. Our objective was to determine the relative efficiency of the SSD, SPD and BM procedures. We defined unique lines as those lines that were not paired with any other line at a coefficient of similarity (Sxy) level ≥ 0.875, which was an alike-in-state criterion. The efficiency was defined as the number of unique lines developed by each procedure. We genotyped 100 F4:5 lines from each of the three genetic sampling methods, using 21 polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers. The number of unique lines was the same for all three sampling methods at the 0.05 level of Type I error. Based on our criterion, the three sampling methods are equally efficient. Our conclusions were the opposite of all other previously published reports. Each breeder will have to determine the best method for generation advancement, based on the amount of resources required to harvest and process the seed.
A Dynamic Model of an Estuarine Invasion by a Non-Native Seagrass

Mathematical and simulation models provide an excellent tool for examining and predicting biological invasions in time and space; however, traditional models do not incorporate dynamic rates of population growth, which limits their realism. We developed a spatially explicit simulation model that allows patch or population growth rate to change with population size through the incorporation of field data. We used the model to evaluate the invasion of a west coast estuary by the non-indigenous Japanese eelgrass, Zostera japonica (Zosteraceae). Specifically, we tested the relative importance of stochastic, abiotic disturbance, interspecific competition, and vegetative and seedling survival. Our model predicted that vegetative shoot and seedling survival limited by competition are the most important limiting factors for Z. japonica growth, although stochastic disturbance was also a limiting factor. Population cycles and patchy distribution were also predicted, with the eelgrass apparently coexisting with the competitor. The model should be applicable to a variety of invasive species, with various types of disturbance and limiting factors.
Longitudinal Growth Differences and the Influence of Diet Quality on Atka Mackerel of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska: Using a Bioenergetics Model to Explore Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius make up the single largest biomass of groundfish in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and are an important component of this marine ecosystem. Atka mackerel show a significant decrease in size from east to west. We compared fish from two study areas reflecting this size cline: Seguam Pass in the eastern Aleutians and Amchitka Island in the western Aleutians. At any given age, the Atka mackerel at the former location are larger than those at the latter (e.g., 5-year-old fish average 732 g and 39 cm fork length at Seguam Pass but only 575 g and 36 cm at Amchitka Island). Our objectives were to determine the mechanisms underlying the observed differences in growth, such as prey availability, prey quality, and thermal experience. We used a bioenergetics model to examine the effects of diet and temperature on growth. The model estimates of consumption fell within the range of those observed for Atka mackerel, suggesting that the model was an appropriate tool for e...
ALMOST COMMUTING PAIRS OF UNITARY OPERATORS AND FLAT CURRENTS

The theory of determining functions is developed for a pair of unitary operators {W,U} when their commutator lies in the trace ideal of avon Neumann algebra. The technique of mosaics is then employed to show that the current associated with traces of commutators is the image of a flat current, a principal function, supported on the two torus. Conditions are given under which such toral currents belong to the class of integral currents. The boundary of the principal function flat current represents the Chern class of the C*-algebra generated by {W,U} but analysis shows that a fuller understanding involves more and requires the use of singular differential forms on the measure boundary equipped with Hausdorff measure. Canonical models for the pair {W,U} are exhibited and the maximal ideal space for the associated commutative C*-quotient algebra is explicitly computed in terms of the principal function current. This is achieved without imposing any of the usual smoothness conditions or assumptions of local sectoriality on symbols. The existence of a principal function together with a group measure construction is used to deduce results about conservative measure preserving transformations.
Predicting the Need for Medical Intensive Care Monitoring in Drug-Overdosed Patients:

Drug overdose (OD) is one of the most common single diagnoses admitted to medical intensive care units (MICUs). The diagnosis results in relatively little morbidity or mortality, suggesting a need ...
Dose domain regularization of MLC leaf patterns for highly complex IMRT plans

Purpose: The advent of automated beam orientation and fluence optimization enables more complex intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning using an increasing number of fields to exploit the expanded solution space. This has created a challenge in converting complex fluences to robust multileaf collimator (MLC) segments for delivery. A novel method to regularize the fluence map and simplify MLC segments is introduced to maximize delivery efficiency, accuracy, and plan quality. Methods: In this work, we implemented a novel approach to regularize optimized fluences in the dose domain. The treatment planning problem was formulated in an optimization framework to minimize the segmentation-induced dose distribution degradation subject to a total variation regularization to encourage piecewise smoothness in fluence maps. The optimization problem was solved using a first-order primal-dual algorithm known as the Chambolle-Pock algorithm. Plans for 2 GBM, 2 head and neck, and 2 lung patients were created using 20 automatically selected and optimized noncoplanar beams. The fluence was first regularized using Chambolle-Pock and then stratified into equal steps, and the MLC segments were calculated using a previously described level reducing method. Isolated apertures with sizes smaller than preset thresholds of 1–3 bixels, which are square units of an IMRT fluence map from MLC discretization, were removed from the MLC segments. Performance of the dose domain regularized (DDR) fluences was compared to direct stratification and direct MLC segmentation (DMS) of the fluences using level reduction without dose domain fluence regularization. Results: For all six cases, the DDR method increased the average planning target volume dose homogeneity (D95/D5) from 0.814 to 0.878 while maintaining equivalent dose to organs at risk (OARs). Regularized fluences were more robust to MLC sequencing, particularly to the stratification and small aperture removal. The maximum and mean aperture sizes using the DDR were consistently larger than those from DMS for all tested number of segments. Conclusions: The fluence map to MLC segmentation conversion problem was formulated as a secondary optimization problem in the dose domain to minimize the smoothness-regularized dose discrepancy. The large scale optimization problem was solved using a primal-dual algorithm that transformed complicated fluences into maps that were more robust to the MLC segmentation and sequencing, affording fewer and larger segments with minimal degradation to dose distribution.