cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alignment of full and partial CT thoracic scans using bony structures

Diagnostic thoracic procedures using computed tomography (CT) often include comparisons of scans acquired with different slice thicknesses. In this manuscript, we investigated the potential for alignment of different CT scans from the same patient using skeletal knowledge of the thoracic region. Skeletal matching was selected because it is expected to be less susceptible to differences associated with patient breath hold, positioning and cardiac motion. Our method utilized the positioning of the ribs relative to the vertebra for matching. It also included matching the scapula when visible in the scans. Rib positioning was described by the angles formed between the vertebra centroid and combinations of pairs of rib centroids visible on each CT slice; this was used as the primary matching mechanism. Scapula morphology was described using a feature based on the local maxima of the distance transform. Since the scapula is not visible in all slices of a full scan, its description was limited to only defining the potential range of slices. A cost function incorporating the difference of features from rib positioning and scapula morphology between two slices was derived and used to match slices. The method was evaluated on an independent set of 10 pairs of full and partial CT scans. Assessment was based on whether or not slices containing known nodules between each pair of scans were overlapping after the alignment procedure. Results showed that the proposed metric correctly aligned 9 out of 10 scans. The preliminary results are encouraging for using this method as a first step towards temporal analysis of lung nodules.
A Practical Guide to the Diagnosis and Management of Fecal Incontinence

Many physicians are unaware that fecal incontinence is often correctable. With appropriate and relevant diagnostic tests, medical treatment and/or surgical correction often leads to good functional results. General guidelines for diagnosis, evaluation, and management of fecal incontinence are provided. There are many causes of fecal incontinence, with obstetrical trauma being one of the most frequent. A detailed history, documentation of sphincter injury, and thorough physical examination will identify the cause of the problem in most patients. Management involves the use of antidiarrheal medication and fiber products, biofeedback, or enemas. A qualified surgeon should be consulted during the course of the patient's evaluation, particularly when medical therapy is unsuccessful. Knowledge of the appropriate diagnosis, evaluation, and management of fecal incontinence may result in more patients seeking medical attention and thus improving their quality of life.
Adaptive behavior form fixed weight networks

An attribute often associated with intelligent systems is the capability of exhibiting adaptive behavior. For the purposes of this paper, we define adaptation as a system's ability to recognize change through its sensed inputs, and to approximately adjust its behavior in response to the perceived change. This paper explores the notion that a fixed weight, time-lagged recurrent network architecture can be made to exhibit adaptive behavior in the manner defined above after network training has been completed, i.e., to exhibit adaptation in the absence of an explicit learning mechanism. We describe in this paper network training procedures that enable the learning of adaptive behaviors, and we provide empirical evidence of the adaptive capability for a single recurrent network that has been trained to perform one-time-step prediction for any one of several distinct time series.
Differential Sulfations and Epimerization Define Heparan Sulfate Specificity in Nervous System Development

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are components of the extracellular matrix through which axons navigate to reach their targets. The heparan sulfate (HS) side chains of HSPGs show complex and differentially regulated patterns of secondary modifications, including sulfations of distinct hydroxyl groups and epimerization of an asymmetric carbon atom. These modifications endow the HSPG-containing extracellular matrix with the potential to code for an enormous molecular diversity. Attempting to decode this diversity, we analyzed C. elegans animals lacking three HS-modifying enzymes, glucuronyl C5-epimerase, heparan 6O-sulfotransferase, and 2O-sulfotransferase. Each of the mutant animals exhibit distinct as well as overlapping axonal and cellular guidance defects in specific neuron classes. We have linked individual HS modifications to two specific guidance systems, the sax-3/Robo and kal-1/Anosmin-1 systems, whose activity is dependent on different HS modifications in different cellular contexts. Our results demonstrate that the molecular diversity in HS encodes information that is crucial for different aspects of neuronal development.
Structure and function of C3and C4Chihuahuan Desert plant communities. Energy balance components

During the past 150 years, the C3shrubs creosotebush [Larrea tridentata(DC.) Cov.], mesquite [Prosopis glandulosaTorr. var.glandulosa], and tarbush (Flourensia cernuaDC.) have invaded extensive areas of former C4grasslands in deserts of the south-western United States. We measured energy balance components of these grass and shrub communities in the Chihuahuan Desert. Midday net radiation in theP. glandulosacommunity was about 20% less than that in the others, where it was about equal. Midday soil heat flux was large in all communities and was greater in communities with small leaf areas. Midday and daily latent heat fluxes (or evapo-transpiration rates, ET) were about equal in all communities except theF. cernuacommunity, where they were about 50% greater due to greater leaf area and water supply. The fraction of ET made up of soil evaporation varied from 0·3 to 0·6 and was greater inL. tridentataandP. glandulosacommunities. Differences of surface energy balance components of plant communities in this desert environment were generally small and were more related to surface characteristics (e.g. leaf area) and water supply than to photosynthetic pathway or vegetation type.
SOCIAL PROGRAM INNOVATION AND DISSEMINATION: A STUDY OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE PROCESSES

The dissemination of social program innovations that have been demonstrated to be effective through rigorous evaluation is an important issue. The classical dissemination framework emphasizes the position that programs implemented with fidelity to the original model are most likely to produce the positive outcomes demonstrated in the model's evaluation phase. However, critics suggest that local programs that are extensively modified are more likely to meet local goals and, therefore, are more likely to be sustained within the organization. The present research examined the implementation, effectiveness, and routinization of seven innovations replicated in a nationwide sample of organizations. The innovations were diverse in both content and implementing context and were located in a variety of sites, including schools, courts, prisons, police departments, and social service agencies. The results suggest that the innovations were replicated with acceptable levels of fidelity to the disseminated program models, and that higher-fidelity implementations tended to be more effective than those implemented with lower fidelity. The implications of the findings for social program dissemination policy are discussed and the authors propose an expansion of Berman's contingency model of innovation dissemination.
Effect of age on the refractive outcome of myopic photorefractive keratectomy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of age on the outcome of myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting University-based refractive surgery practice. Methods A retrospective analysis of 197 eyes that had PRK for myopia was performed. Four groups of patients were compared: Group 1, patients 50 years (n = 59). The percentage of eyes with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 20/40 or better and the percentage of eyes with spherical correction within ±0.5 and ±1.0 diopter (D) of the attempted correction were derived for each age group. The percentage of patients overcorrected and undercorrected by 1.0 D or more in each age group was also calculated. Results The difference between the percentage of patients who achieved a visual acuity of 20/20 or better in Group 4 and in the younger groups was statistically significant at 3 months (P = .02) but not at 6 months (P = .70) and 12 months (P = .55). The difference between the percentage of patients who achieved an acuity of 20/40 or better was not significant at any time. The difference between the percentage of patients who were within ±0.5 D of intended correction in Group 4 and in the younger groups was statistically significant at 3 months (P = .001), 6 months (P = .006), and 12 months (P = .008); the difference between the percentage of patients who were within ±1.0 D of intended correction was not significant at any time. The difference between the percentage of patients overcorrected and undercorrected by 1.0 D or more in Group 4 and in the younger groups was not significant at any time. Conclusions In the 3 younger groups, age did not significantly affect visual outcome or predictability. However, there was a significant difference between Group 4 and the 3 younger groups in predictability of the refractive outcome at 3, 6, and 12 months. Age may play a role in the outcome of refractive surgery.
Myocardial contractile function during post-ischemic low flow reperfusion: Critical thresholds of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and oxygen Delivery

Study objectives: The degree of myocardial oxygen delivery necessary to reestablish functional contractile activity after short-term global ischemia in the heart is unknown. To determine the relationship of oxygen delivery and recovery of contractile and metabolic function, we use tissue nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) fluorometric changes to characterize adequacy of reperfusion flow. Methods: Isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to global ischemia and reperfused at variable flow rates ranging from 1% to 100% of baseline flow. Myocardial function and tissue NADH changes were continuously measured. NADH fluorescence rapidly increased and plateaued during ischemia. Results: A strong inverse logarithmic correlation between NADH fluorescence and reperfusion oxygen delivery (DO 2 ) was demonstrated ( r =–0.952). Left ventricle function (rate-pressure product) was inversely related to NADH fluorescence at reperfusion flows from 25% to 100% of baseline ( r =–0.922) but not at lower reperfusion flow levels. An apparent reperfusion threshold of 25% baseline DO 2 was necessary to resume contractile function. At very low reperfusion flows (1% of baseline), another threshold flow was identified at which NADH levels increased beyond that observed during global ischemia (3.4%±3.0% mean±SEM, n=9), suggesting further reduction of the cellular redox state. This NADH increase at 1% baseline reperfusion flow was blocked by removing glucose from the perfusate. Conclusion: NADH fluorescence is a sensitive indicator of myocardial cellular oxygen use over a wide range of reperfusion DO 2 . Although oxygen is used at very low flow, as indicated by changes in NADH, a critical threshold of approximately 25% of baseline DO 2 is necessary to restore contractile function after short-term global ischemia.
Understanding the Effectiveness of Fluorocarbon Ligands in Dispersing Nanoparticles in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

To augment the experimental search for a nonfluorous capping ligand that is effective in dispersing nanoparticles in supercritical carbon dioxide, we have developed a simulation protocol, involving atomistic molecular dynamic simulations, which semiquantitatively reproduces empirical observations and hence can be used to gain insight into the relevant physical phenomena. We have used this protocol to examine the reasons behind the exceptional effectiveness of perfluoroalkanethiols, compared to alkanethiols, as capping ligands for nanoparticles in supercritical carbon dioxide. From these simulations, we infer that the principal reason for this enhanced effectiveness is that the C−F bond is much more polar than the C−H bond and hence the fluorocarbons can interact with the quadrupolar carbon dioxide in addition to interacting with its van der Waals centers. For the models studied, the effect of the electrostatic interaction offsets the fact that the dispersion forces exerted by a dense fluorocarbon layer ar...
Simple Jet for Emission Spectrography

The Stallwood jet1–3 has found wide applicability in spectrochemical analysis for the suppression of selfabsorption, stabilization of the arc, improvement of signal-to-noise, etc. For the occasional user, however, its cost or complex construction could rule out this extremely useful accessory.
Review: The physiological and computational approaches for atherosclerosis treatment

The cardiovascular disease has long been an issue that causes severe loss in population, especially those conditions associated with arterial malfunction, being attributable to atherosclerosis and subsequent thrombotic formation. This article reviews the physiological mechanisms that underline the transition from plaque formation in atherosclerotic process to platelet aggregation and eventually thrombosis. The physiological and computational approaches, such as percutaneous coronary intervention and stent design modeling, to detect, evaluate and mitigate this malicious progression were also discussed.
Computer simulations of classroom behavior problems

Abstract A set of computer simulations for teaching undergraduate educational psychology principles is described in terms of student performance and the methods for providing feedback to the students. The program is being used to teach principles of behavior modification, classroom management, and motivation. The results of student attitude measures related to individual simulations and to the overall use of computer simulations show high levels of student acceptance and perception of the simulations as being beneficial for learning about educational psychology principles.
Establishment of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass by seed

Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon var. dactylon (L.) Pers.] and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) cultivars established by seed are desirable for golf and athletic turfs because of minimum establishment costs, but little is known about their management during establishment. Seeding dates, seeding rates, post-seeding N fertility, and herbicide safety on seedling 'Mirage' bermudagrass and 'Zenith' zoysiagrass were investigated in Indiana and Kentucky. Under the conditions of our studies, optimum bermudagrass establishment occurred when seeded 1 June to 15 July at 12 to 49 kg ha -1 , when >950 growing degree days (GDD, 5°C base) accumulated by first frost and when 49 kg ha -1 N mo -1 was applied. Earlier seeding dates provided more bermudagrass cover after the first winter. Optimum zoysiagrass establishment occurred when seeded from 1 to 15 June at 49 to 98 kg ha -1 , when > 1750 GDD accumulated by first frost, and when 49 kg ha -1 N mo -1 was applied. Increasing N from 49 kg ha -1 mo -1 to 98 kg ha -1 mo -1 did not hasten establishment of either species. Quinclorac applied at 0.84 kg ha -1 following seeding (PRE) or 0 to 28 wk after emergence (WAE) did not reduce bermudagrass and zoysiagrass coverage, but dithiopyr applied at 0.56 kg ha -1 before 1 WAE reduced coverage of both species. Siduron was not safe for use when seeding bermudagrass. Seeding bermudagrass or zoysiagrass instead of sprigging or sodding will allow managers to establish these turfs quickly and at minimal cost.
Mechanism of fluoride absorption from the rat small intestine.

Abstract Fluoride (F) is readily absorbed from the small intestine. In many epithelia, F transport appears to occur predominantly as the weak acid HF. For the same mechanism to exist in intestinal epithelium, with the high pH of the intestinal lumen (and thus low proportion of HF), the discrimination in favor of HF vs F − would have to exceed 10 4 :1. We have investigated the mechanism of intestinal F absorption in vitro, using segments of rat jejunum mounted in a modified Ussing apparatus. F was added to the mucosal buffer (0.1–1.0 mM F), and mucosal to serosal F transfer was measured after 30 minutes. F transfer was proportional to mucosal F concentration, but was found not to be pH dependent within the range pH 6.0–8.0. F transfer was strongly affected by changing the transmural potential difference (by substitution of Cl − and Na + , and by ouabain inhibition). The data indicate that intestinal F passage occurs predominantly as the anion F − rather than the weak acid HF.
Chlordiazepoxide and dizocilpine, but not morphine, selectively impair acquisition under a novel repeated-acquisition and performance task in rats

Some classes of drugs can selectively affect learning (i.e., acquisition of behavior) at doses that do not affect performance (i.e., previously learned behavior). Some drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines) show selective effects on acquisition across a wide variety of tasks. Other drugs [e.g., N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists and opiate agonists], however, show selective effects under some tasks, but not others. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the NMDA-antagonist dizocilpine (0.01–0.3 mg/kg), the opiate-agonist morphine (1.0–17.0 mg/kg), and the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide (3.0–30.0 mg/kg) in rats under a novel repeated-acquisition and performance task. Nose pokes to a correct location within a 2×3 stimulus array on a computer touch screen were reinforced with food. In the acquisition component, the correct location changed across sessions but remained constant within sessions; in the performance component, the correct location was constant both across and within sessions. Both chlordiazepoxide and dizocilpine selectively impaired accuracy in the acquisition component at doses that did not affect accuracy in the performance component or overall response speed. Morphine, however, did not affect acquisition without affecting performance or response speed. These results with rats resembled those previously obtained for response-sequence learning in primates, rather than those previously reported for spatial learning in rats. Therefore, previous discrepancies in results for NMDA antagonists and opiate agonists across tasks probably were not a function of the species studied, but, rather, they more likely were a function of unique variables controlling acquisition within each task.
Kinship, Networks, and Exchange

Kinship, Networks, and Exchange. Thomas Schweizer and Douglas R. White. eds. New York; Cambridge University Press, 1997. 338 pp.
Denying Genetic Causality

This edited volume of essays presents a countermainstream view against genetic underpinnings for cancer, behavior, and psychiatric conditions.
Teacher Development and Evaluation: A Study of Policy and Practice in Colorado.

This study undertook an investigation of policy and practice related to teacher evaluation and development among Colorado school districts. A conceptual analysis was applied to a sample of teacher evaluation policies and process materials from 30 school districts. The study was based on policy objectives stipulated in state statute and best practice as reported in the literature. Results of the study show little relationship to teacher development and an emphasis in the policies and processes toward summative evaluations. Student outcomes received modest attention while the processes of teacher evaluation seemed de-contextualised to other school district systems.
Current Concepts in Subacromial Impingement and the Role of Acromioplasty

The treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome remains a controversial entity among both primary care physicians and orthopaedic surgeons. The initial management of this disorder is usually conservative with directed physiotherapy, subacromial corticosteroid injections and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories representing the mainstays of treatment. Surgery in the form of arthroscopic bursectomy or acromioplasty is reserved for those patients who fail at least 6 months of conservative management. Traditionally, there have been few high-level studies to guide the practitioner concerning when conservative treatment has failed, which patients are candidates for surgical intervention or which surgical intervention may be most appropriate for a particular patient. However, recent studies have improved our knowledge base of the pathophysiology underlying this disorder and they provide some useful guidance on the conservative and operative management of this complex problem.
Ivtreatreg: a new STATA routine for estimating binary treatment models with heterogeneous response to treatment under observable and unobservable selection

This paper presents a new user-written STATA command called ivtreatreg for the estimation of five different (binary) treatment models with and without idiosyncratic (or heterogeneous) average treatment effect. Depending on the model specified by the user, ivtreatreg provides consistent estimation of average treatment effects both under the hypothesis of "selection on observables" and "selection on unobservables" by using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression in the first case, and Intrumental-Variables (IV) and Selection- model (a la Heckman) in the second one. Conditional on a pre-specified subset of exogenous variables x - thought of as driving the heterogeneous response to treatment - ivtreatreg calculates for each model the Average Treatment Effect (ATE), the Average Treatment Effect on Treated (ATET) and the Average Treatment Effect on Non-Treated (ATENT), as well as the estimates of these parameters conditional on the observable factors x, i.e., ATE(x), ATET(x) and ATENT(x). The five models estimated by ivtreatreg are: Cf-ols (Control-function regression estimated by OLS), Direct-2sls (IV regression estimated by direct two-stage least squares), Probit-2sls (IV regression estimated by Probit and two-stage least squares), Probit-ols (IV two-step regression estimated by Probit and ordinary least squares), and Heckit (Heckman two-step selection model). An extensive treatment of the conditions under which previous methods provide consistent estimation of ATE, ATET and ATENT can be found, for instance, in Wooldgrige (2002, Chapter 18). The value added of this new STATA command is that it allows for a generalization of the regression approach typically employed in standard program evaluation, by assuming heterogeneous response to treatment.
Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of the MutY Homolog of Deinococcus radiodurans

The mutY homolog gene (mutYDr) from Deinococcus radiodurans encodes a 39.4-kDa protein consisting of 363 amino acids that displays 35% identity to the Escherichia coli MutY (MutYEc) protein. Expressed MutYDr is able to complement E. coli mutY mutants but not mutM mutants to reduce the mutation frequency. The glycosylase and binding activities of MutYDr with an A/G-containing substrate are more sensitive to high salt and EDTA concentrations than the activities with an A/7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (GO)-containing substrate are. Like the MutYEc protein, purified recombinant MutYDr expressed in E. coli has adenine glycosylase activity with A/G, A/C, and A/GO mismatches and weak guanine glycosylase activity with a G/GO mismatch. However, MutYDr exhibits limited apurinic/apyrimidinic lyase activity and can form only weak covalent protein-DNA complexes in the presence of sodium borohydride. This may be due to an arginine residue that is present in MutYDr at the position corresponding to the position of MutYEc Lys142, which forms the Schiff base with DNA. The kinetic parameters of MutYDr are similar to those of MutYEc. Although MutYDr has similar substrate specificity and a binding preference for an A/GO mismatch over an A/G mismatch, as MutYEc does, the binding affinities for both mismatches are slightly lower for MutYDr than for MutYEc. Thus, MutYDr can protect the cell from GO mutational effects caused by ionizing radiation and oxidative stress.
Shutoff of host RNA synthesis in bacteriophage T4-infected Escherichia coli in the absence of host DNA degradation and nuclear disruption.

Abstract In contrast to its effect on host DNA synthesis, nuclear disruption in phage T4-infected Escherichia coli B/5 cells has no effect on the shutoff of host RNA synthesis. Host RNA synthesis is shut off normally after infection with T4 multiple mutants that fail to induce both nuclear disruption and host DNA degradation.
Pulmonary phospholipid saturation increases with glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs in late gestation but not due to labor in the fetal rhesus monkey

We report here changes in abundance of pulmonary cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNAs and phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FA) with gestational age, in either spontaneous or androstenedione-induced premature labor for 15 fetal rhesus monkeys and 1 neonate. Pulmonary RNA and lipids were extracted from the lungs of the rhesus monkeys, gestational ages ranging from 140 days to term. Northern hybridization analysis was performed for both cPLA2 and GR mRNAs. The results demonstrated the transcript of the cPLA2 constantly expressed and that of GR increased gradually in the lungs during the gestational stages studied. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) were separated by thin layer chromatography and the fatty acid composition in these PL was quantified by gas chromatography (GC). Regression analysis demonstrated that the expression of GR, mRNAs increased significantly with gestational age (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the level of GR mRNA is significantly correlated with that of cPLA2, with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.83 (P < 0.01). The PC palmitate percentage increased significantly with gestational age (P < 0.01), while the PC unsaturation index and total polyunsaturated FA decreased during late gestation (P < 0.01). Changes in PG FA with gestational age were similar to those in PC, while PI FA did not change with gestational age. There was no effect of either spontaneous or induced labor on mRNA levels of cPLA2 and GR or the FA composition of pulmonary PL studied. We conclude that the pulmonary PL FA compositions are under developmental control.
2dx_merge – Data management and merging for 2D crystal images

Electron crystallography of membrane proteins determines the structure of membrane-reconstituted and two-dimensionally (2D) crystallized membrane proteins by low-dose imaging with the transmission electron microscope, and computer image processing. We have previously presented the software system 2dx, for user-friendly image processing of 2D crystal images. Its central component 2dx_image is based on the MRC program suite, and allows the optionally fully automatic processing of one 2D crystal image. We present here the program 2dx_merge, which assists the user in the management of a 2D crystal image processing project, and facilitates the merging of the data from multiple images. The merged dataset can be used as a reference to re-process all images, which usually improves the resolution of the final reconstruction. Image processing and merging can be applied iteratively, until convergence is reached. 2dx is available under the GNU General Public License at http://2dx.org.
A novel packaging methodology for spray cooling of power semiconductor devices using dielectric liquids

The heat flux requirements of present power electronics systems are exceeding 100 W/cm2 and are predicted to reach the 1000 W/cm2 range in the near future. Spray cooling is a cooling technology that can provide such enormous cooling demands. Direct spray cooling of power devices (e.g., IGBTs) that are conventionally wire-bonded creates long-term reliability problems. So in order to achieve the expected future heat load demands and improve the reliability of the system there is a need for novel packaging methodologies. This paper reports on an innovative packaging methodology and a test vehicle that demonstrates the potential of spray cooling power electronics. This paper describes the proposed methodology as well as the spraying parameters that affect the cooling
Reviving Troubled Economies

There would be few dissenters from the general proposition that we should try to deal justly with debt. We have all watched in horror the collapse that has taken place in Argentina and the enormous cost paid by so many people in that country—as well as by the creditors of Argentina—from the massive financial and economic dislocation and disruption. I do not believe that what has occurred was inevitable.Unfortunately, some who address this issue of dealing with unmanageable debt situations have offered advice that, while emotionally appealing, is not operationally helpful. I will describe and justify the rationale and design of the proposal put forward by the International Monetary Fund for a Sovereign Debt Restructuring Mechanism (SDRM). Its major goal is to help reduce the unacceptably large costs associated with disorderly defaults by sovereign governments whose debt burdens have become unsustainable. The SDRM aims to get the countries' debts to sustainable positions and deal with the broader needs of the countries through the full array of aid and other mechanisms that are available— and, indeed, to enlarge and enhance these initiatives. I will also explain my misgivings about some of the other proposals, including the ones coming from the NGO community.
How Anticipated Employee Mobility Affects Acquisition Likelihood: Evidence from a Natural Experiment

This study draws on strategic factor market theory and argues that acquirers' decisions regarding whether to bid for a firm reflect their expectations about employee departure from the firm post-acquisition, suggesting a negative relationship between the anticipated employee departure from a firm and the likelihood of the firm becoming an acquisition target. Using a natural experiment and a difference-in-differences approach, we find causal evidence that constraints on employee mobility raise the likelihood of a firm becoming an acquisition target. The causal effect is stronger when a firm employs more knowledge workers in its workforce and when it faces greater in-state competition; by contrast, the effect is weaker when a firm is protected by a stronger intellectual property regime that mitigates the consequences of employee mobility.
A high performance silicon transistor for the entertainment industry

A new family of silicon transistors has been introduced by General Electric specifically for the entertainment industry. Designated the 2N2711–16 and the 2N2921–26, they are NPN planar passivated transistors housed in an epoxy package and intended for applications from audio frequencies to over 30 Mc. The outstanding feature of this family is the entirely new concept of manufacture used in their construction which allows prices competitive to or below germanium alloy prices, both domestic and foreign. To achieve low cost, automation has been applied to an extent previously unknown in the semiconductor industry. In addition, a low cost epoxy housing has been substituted for the conventional metal package. High quality and reliability are ensured by using planar techniques and materials originally developed for military transistors. These transistors have been in volume production for over a year and are backed by extensive life test and customer field experience. All types are immediately available in production quantities.
Software reconfiguration patterns for dynamic evolution of software architectures

A software reconfiguration pattern is a solution to a problem in component-based software systems where the configuration needs to be updated while the system is operational. It defines how a set of components participating in a software pattern cooperate to change the configuration. This paper describes an approach for designing software reconfiguration patterns. It also describes how reconfiguration patterns can be used in reconfigurable software product line architectures. A change management model for dynamically evolving a software product line is also described. The paper concludes with a description of case studies and a proof-of-concept prototype.
Study of arterial pressure waves using a simple tube model of the ventriculo-arterial system

A simple tube model of the ventriculo-arterial system is proposed in order to study the relationship between arterial mechanical properties and pressure waveforms. In this model, the arterial system is regarded as a tube with a lumped reflecting site at the distal end and the ventricle (systole) or the aortic valve (diastole) at the proximal end. The propagation of waves is determined by arterial mechanical properties, e.g. reflection coefficients, wave propagation velocity and the effective length of the arterial system. Blood pressure waves in the proximal brachiocephalic artery of the rabbit were recorded and experimental observations were compared with waves simulated from a computer program. Results show that this semiquantitative model illustrates the relationship between arterial mechanical properties and pressure waveforms, and also the effect of arterial mechanics on the left ventricular performance. >
Regulation of Cutaneous Immunity by Catecholamines

activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), one of the main pathways involved in the stress response, produces an immediate, widespread “fight or flight” response. Transmitters of the SNS triggered during stress also shape the general and the cutaneous immune response. › Catecholamines: The catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine act as hormones in the blood circulation and as neurotransmitters in the central and peripheral nervous system. Catecholamine (or adrenergic) receptors are abundantly expressed on resident and infiltrating skin cells. › Cutaneous Immunity: Cutaneous immune function is regulated by multiple neuroendocrine pathways, among them are the hypothalamic pituitary axis, glucocorticoids, neuropeptides, endogenous opioids, and, prominently, the SNS. Langerhans cells in the skin have been shown to respond to adrenergic signals by altering their ability to present antigens, produce cytokines, express costimulatory molecules and migrate to draining lymph nodes. › Atopic Dermatitis: Flares of atopic dermatitis are often reported to be triggered by stressful life events, and a dysregulation of the adrenergic response has been linked to immunological abnormalities. The relevance of psychosocial stress as a trigger factor is emphasized by the therapeutic effect of psychosocial interventions. › Psoriasis: β-Adrenergic receptor blocking drugs can induce the first manifestation or exacerbation of psoriasis. Catecholamines suppress Th1 responses and skew the immune response towards Th2 through β-adrenergic receptors. The pharmacologic blockade of β-receptors may, thus, lead to a predominance of Th1 pathways and initiation or exacerbation of disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Key Features Regulation of Cutaneous Immunity by Catecholamines
Procedural Modeling Using Autoencoder Networks

Procedural modeling systems allow users to create high quality content through parametric, conditional or stochastic rule sets. While such approaches create an abstraction layer by freeing the user from direct geometry editing, the nonlinear nature and the high number of parameters associated with such design spaces result in arduous modeling experiences for non-expert users. We propose a method to enable intuitive exploration of such high dimensional procedural modeling spaces within a lower dimensional space learned through autoencoder network training. Our method automatically generates a representative training dataset from the procedural modeling rule set based on shape similarity features. We then leverage the samples in this dataset to train an autoencoder neural network, while also structuring the learned lower dimensional space for continuous exploration with respect to shape features. We demonstrate the efficacy our method with user studies where designers create content with more than 10-fold faster speeds using our system compared to the classic procedural modeling interface.
Sex differences in coping with death anxiety.

97 female college students tended to manifest higher death anxiety than did 43 males. Data suggest that persons with high death anxiety may tend to cope with this anxiety through cognitive manipula...
Developing a Comprehensive Model of Motivation and Performance

The comprehensive model of motivation and performance was expressed by the formula: P=a AblNb2Ib3Eb4, where A is ability, N needs, I incentives, and E expectancies. An empirical study, with a sampl...
Health Literacy and Health-Care Engagement as Predictors of Shared Decision-Making Among Adult Information Seekers in the USA: a Secondary Data Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey.

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between health literacy, health-care engagement, and shared decision-making (SDM). We analyzed Health Information National Trends Survey 4 (cycle 3) data for 1604 information seekers who had one or more non-emergency room health-care visits in the previous year. SDM was more than two times higher among adults who “always” versus “usually/sometimes/never” take health information to doctor visits (OR = 2.54; 95 % CI 1.19–5.43). There was a twofold increase in SDM among adults who were “completely/very confident” versus “somewhat/a little/not confident” about finding health information (OR = 2.03; 95 % CI 1.37–3.02). Differences in SDM between adults who understood health information and those who had difficulty understanding health information were not statistically significant (OR = 1.39; 95 % CI 0.93–2.07). A Healthy People 2020 goal is to increase SDM. Previous research has suggested that SDM may improve health outcomes across the continuum of care. Only about half of adults report always being involved in health-care decisions. Even more alarming is the fact that SDM has not increased from 2003 to 2013. Our findings suggest that increasing health literacy has the potential to increase health-care engagement and subsequently increase SDM. Effective intervention strategies are needed to improve health literacy and promote health-care engagement.
The Syrian golden hamster: a model for the cardiomyopathy of Friedreich's ataxia.

In light of the available information on the cardiomyopathy of Friedreich's ataxia, the cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster may be an appropriate laboratory model. Cardiomyopathy in these animals is a result of calcium accumulation. We analyzed the atria and right and left ventricles from cardiomyopathic (CM) and random bred (RB) animals for calcium, magnesium, and iron concentrations at 30-40 and 60-70 days of age (age of maximum lesioning). There are no significant differences in the concentration of iron or magnesium among age-matched groups. The concentration of calcium in the left ventricles of the CM animals at 60 days old is 14 fold higher than that of R B animals. Although there is a significant difference in the concentration of calcium in the left ventricles of younger animals, it is not as pronounced as the difference in older animals. Analysis of the taurine concentration in 30-40 day old animals revealed that the CM animals show slightly higher taurine concentrations than RB in the whole heart. In 60 day old CM hamsters the s-adrenergic receptor density of the ventricles is unchanged. This indicates that calcium overload is not due to a drene rg i c super sensitivity.
Probability and Statistical Inference

OVERVIEW Researchers aspire to draw conclusions about the entire population of cases that are relevant to a particular research question. However, in most cases, they must rely on data from only a sample of those cases to do so. In this chapter, we lay the foundation for how researchers make inferences about a population of cases while only observing a sample of data. This foundation rests on probability theory, which we introduce here with extensive references to examples. We conclude the chapter with an example familiar to political science students – namely, the “plus-or-minus” error figures in presidential approval polls, showing where such figures come from and how they illustrate the principles of building bridges from samples we know about with certainty to the underlying population of interest. How dare we speak of the laws of chance? Is not chance the antithesis of all law? – Bertrand Russell POPULATIONS AND SAMPLES In Chapter 5, we learned how to measure our key concepts of interest, and how to use descriptive statistics to summarize large amounts of information about a single variable. In particular, you discovered how to characterize a distribution by computing measures of central tendency (like the mean or median) and measures of dispersion (like the standard deviation or IQR). For example, you can implement these formulae to characterize the distribution of income in the United States, or, for that matter, the scores of a midterm examination your professor may have just handed back.
A Methodology to Identify a Cohort of Medicare Beneficiaries Residing in Large Assisted Living Facilities Using Administrative Data

Background:Assisted living is a popular option for housing and long-term care.Objective:To develop and test a methodology to identify Medicare beneficiaries residing in assisted living facilities (ALFs).Research Design:We compiled a finder file of 9-digit ZIP codes representing large ALFs (25+ beds)
The Impact of the Physical Activity Policy Research Network

Introduction Lack of physical activity is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN) is a thematic network established in 2004 to identify determinants, implementation, and outcomes of policies that are effective in increasing physical activity. The purpose of this study is to describe the products of PAPRN and make recommendations for future research and best practices. Methods A mixed methods approach was used to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data on the network. First, in 2014, PAPRN's dissemination products from 2004 to 2014 were extracted and reviewed, including 57 publications and 56 presentations. Next, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 key network participants from 17 locations around the U.S. The transcripts were transcribed and coded. Results The results of the interviews indicated that the research network addressed several components of its mission, including the identification of physical activity policies, determinants of these policies, and the process of policy implementation. However, research focusing on physical activity policy outcomes was limited. Best practices included collaboration between researchers and practitioners and involvement of practitioners in research design, data collection, and dissemination of results. Conclusions PAPRN is an example of a productive research network and has contributed to both the process and content of physical activity policy research over the past decade. Future research should emphasize physical activity policy outcomes. Additionally, increased partnerships with practitioners for collaborative, cross-sectoral physical activity policy research should be developed.
A novel polymeric system for delivering nucleic acid drugs

646 Nucleic acid drugs for gene silencing remain under active development. An essential requirement for their successful employment in the clinic will be the ability to deliver these molecules, intact, to tissues, and the cells that comprise them, in sufficient concentrations for them to work. Many delivery systems have been investigated for this purpose but none has proved completely satisfactory. To this end, we are evaluating a novel polyethyleneimine (PEI)-polyethyleneglycol (PEG) conjugate with a biocleavable linker between the PEI and PEG. This material, called “Polybus (R),” was designed to incorporate into one polymer the highly desirable properties of PEI and PEG, i.e. the ability to condense DNA for delivery and to prolong the half-life of the incorporated material in circulation of the recipient. To test the performance of “Polybus (R)” in a living animal, we injected mice intraperitonealy with 200 μg of a phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (PS-ODN) that was first dissolved in 100 μl of PBS, and then mixed with 100 μl of “PolyBus (R)” compound. Final injection volume was therefore 200 μl/mice. At varying time points after injection, mice were sacrificed and their plasma assayed for the PS-ODN by slot blotting with a radiolabeled probe complementary to the ODN. The amount of ODN in the plasma was semi-quantitated by reference to known amounts of material also blotted to the membrane. On days 1, 3, and 7 post injection we were able to detect microgram amounts of DNA in the serum of the test animals (∼1-2 μg/250μl plasma). Of considerable interest, we were also able to detect material out to 21 days (∼500ng/250 μl plasma) in some animals. These results suggest that “Polybus (R)” prolongs the circulating half-life, and protects from degradation, nucleic acid compounds administered to live animals. Concentrations of material in various organs are presently being measured, as are the effectiveness of antisense PS-ODN delivered to tumor bearing animals.
Finding Patterns in Noisy Crowds: Regression-based Annotation Aggregation for Crowdsourced Data

Crowdsourcing offers a convenient means of obtaining labeled data quickly and inexpensively. However, crowdsourced labels are often noisier than expert-annotated data, making it difficult to aggregate them meaningfully. We present an aggregation approach that learns a regression model from crowdsourced annotations to predict aggregated labels for instances that have no expert adjudications. The predicted labels achieve a correlation of 0.594 with expert labels on our data, outperforming the best alternative aggregation method by 11.9%. Our approach also outperforms the alternatives on third-party datasets.
Does Intrathecal Morphine in Spinal Anesthesia Have a Role in Modern Multimodal Analgesia for Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Intrathecal morphine (ITM) combined with bupivacaine spinal anesthesia can improve postoperative pain, but has potential side effects of postoperative nausea/vomiting (PONV) and pruritus. With the use of multimodal analgesia and regional anesthetic techniques, postoperative pain control has improved significantly to a point where ITM may be avoided in total joint arthroplasty (TJA). METHODS We performed a retrospective study of primary TJA patients who underwent a standardized multimodal recovery pathway and received bupivacaine neuraxial anesthesia with ITM vs bupivacaine neuraxial anesthesia alone (control). RESULTS In total, 598 patients were identified (131 controls, 467 ITMs) with similar demographics. On postoperative day 0 (POD 0), ITM patients had significantly lower mean visual analog scale scores (1.5 ± 1.6 vs 2.5 ± 1.9, P < .001) and consumed less oral morphine equivalents (10.5 ± 25.4 vs 16.8 ± 27.2, P = .013). ITM patients walked further compared to controls by POD 1 (133.6 ± 159.6 vs 97.3 ± 141 m, P = .028) and were less likely to develop PONV during their entire hospital stay (38.5% vs 48.6%, P = .043). No significant differences were seen for total morphine equivalents consumption, rate of discharge to care facility, length of stay, and 90-day readmission rates. CONCLUSION ITM was associated with improved POD 0 pain scores and less initial oral/intravenous opioid consumption, which likely contributes to the subsequent improved mobilization and lower rates of PONV. In the setting of a modern regional anesthesia and multimodal analgesia recovery plan for TJA, ITM can still be considered for its benefits.