cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variations in Educational Inequalities in China and Policy Implications

As a result of China’s rapid economic development, its gross domestic product (GDP) increased by almost 28 times from US$360.9 billion in 1990 to US$11.2 trillion in 2016 (The World Bank 2017). A powerful pillar of China’s economic growth is the increase in the educational level of its population. Indeed, a country’s economic growth depends on a highly educated workforce. The scope of this chapter is confined to the analyses of educational attainment in compulsory education in relation to equality and equity issues. Based on data collected from a national sample in China in 2014, this chapter examines the combined effects of hukou status, economic regions, rural and urban residency, and gender on the educational attainment of Chinese people aged 12–43. In this study, educational attainment is defined as the actual number of years of completed schooling and the completion of the mandatory nine years of education, including elementary and junior high school. The results are interpreted with specific regard to the reasons for the disparities in the educational opportunities of rural migrant and urban residents. Based on these findings and the extant literature, several policy recommendations for improvement are suggested.
A new method to identify the source vent location of tephra fall deposits: development, testing, and application to key Quaternary eruptions of Western North America

A new method to identify the source vent location of tephra fall deposits based on thickness or maximum clast size measurements is presented in this work. It couples a first-order gradient descent method with either one of two commonly used semi-empirical models of tephra thickness distribution. The method is applied to three tephra thickness and one maximum clast size datasets of the North Mono and Fogo A tephra deposits. Randomly selected and localized subsets of these datasets are used as input to evaluate its performance. The results suggest the utility of the method and show that estimating the dispersal axis is a more robust way to constrain the vent location compared with directly estimating the vent coordinates given sparse observations. Local change in dispersal direction can be detected given localized observations. Bootstrap aggregating and visualizing the surface of the cost function are used to analyze epistemic uncertainty for the method. Our discussion focuses on how different features of tephra deposits and technical aspects of the method would affect the performance of the method. Suggestions on how to use the method given limited observations are listed. One subset of the North Mono Bed 1 thickness dataset and thickness datasets of the Trego Hot Springs and Rockland tephras are used as case studies. The method is then applied to the well-correlated tephra sub-units within the Wilson Creek Formation to estimate their vent location and volume. The simplicity and flexibility of the method make it a potentially useful tool for analyzing tephra fall deposits.
Are obese physicians effective at providing healthy lifestyle counseling

More than 40 percent of American adults are classified as obese by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and obesity is associated with many comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes, asthma, depression, orthopedic problems, sleep apnea).2 Physicians are not immune to obesity.
Neutrophil Defects and Diagnosis Disorders of Neutrophil Function: An Overview.

Primary disorders of neutrophil function result from impairment in neutrophil responses that are critical for host defense. This chapter summarizes inherited disorders of neutrophils that cause defects in neutrophil adhesion, migration, and oxidative killing. These include the leukocyte adhesion deficiencies, actin defects and other disorders of chemotaxis, hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome, Chediak-Higashi Syndrome, neutrophil specific granule deficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, and myeloperoxidase deficiency. Diagnostic tests and treatment approaches are also summarized for each neutrophil disorder.
International Society of Travel Tourism Educators (ISTTE) annual conference 2019 reflections on a conference at Sea – September 21-25, 2019

This article reflects on the 2019 International Society of Travel Tourism Educator’s (ISTTE) annual conference. It summaries the key conference themes and shares insights into the various awards di...
A Single-Center, Retrospective Study, of Risk Factors for Clostridium Difficile Infection Among Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Introduction Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infection. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) recipients in the peri-transplant periods represent an especially vulnerable population due to chronic immunosuppression, prolonged hospital stays, and routine use of antibiotics (abx). Previous attempts to identify potential risk factors (RF) for CDI are inconsistent in the literature. Objectives Our study goals are to describe CDI incidence, associated risk factors, and CDI characteristics in our own aHSCT population. Study results will be utilized in designing future infection prevention strategies and to promote abx stewardship. Methods We retrospectively evaluated all aHSCT recipients between Jan 2011-May 2017 at Loyola University Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center. Inclusion criteria included age >18, 1st aHSCT, and hematological malignancy. Both myeloablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens were included. Disease risk was defined by the ASBMT classification. RF for CDI included comorbid conditions, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and abx use during the 1st 100 days after aHSCT, and development of acute (aGVHD) and chronic (cGVHD) graft vs host disease. Data pertaining to CDI classification was collected. aGVHD was graded based on the International BMT Registry System and cGVHD per the NIH consensus criteria. The peri-transplant period evaluated included 6 months prior to 2 years following aHSCT. Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios for factors associated with development of CDI. Results A total of 322 patients (pt) met our inclusion criteria, of which 89 (27.6%) developed CDI, 55 pts were classified as severe or severe-complicated per ACG criteria and 18 (20.2%) had recurrence within 60 days. Graft type consisted of 109 (33.9%) allogeneic matched related, 124 (38.5%) matched unrelated and 89 (27.6%) cord blood. This was a high risk group with most pts having either intermediate (60.1%) or high/very high (31.5%) disease risk. Infections were common, as 225 (69.9%) pts developing an infection during the 1st 100 days after aHSCT. In multivariable analysis, cord blood graft source (OR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.05-3.8, p = 0.036), PPI use (OR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.08-3.8 p = 0.028), and chronic GI GVHD (OR =5.86, 95% CI: 1.64-20.98, p = 0.018) were associated with increased odds of CDI. Lastly, female sex (OR=0.4, 95% CI: 0.25-0.78, p = 0.005) and GI tract infection (including hepatobiliary source) in first 100 days after HSCT (OR=0.41, 95% CI: 0.17-0.98 p=0.045) were associated with decreased odds of CDI. Of note, rates of II-IV aGVHD were low (N=49, 15%). Conclusion Our population had 27% incidence of CDI and we note that cord blood graft, PPI use, GI cGVHD were associated with increased risk for CDI. These findings may have important implications for the supportive care plans for aHSCT pts.
Risk Factors and Outcomes of Opioid Users with and Without Concurrent Benzodiazepine Use in the North Carolina Medicaid Population

BACKGROUND: Concurrent use of opioids and benzodiazepines is associated with increased risk of opioid overdose and death. Clinical guidelines recommend against this practice and quality measures in...
Sequence of Team Communication

In this chapter, we examine communication sequences to identify different types of communication behaviors that may be most advantageous to teams. Specifically, we investigate how teams converse about our topics of interest by classifying both the topic (e.g., tactical strategy, mission analysis) and purpose (e.g., clarify, suggest, inform) of each exchanged message. We examine the sequential order in which these messages are transmitted and determine if any differences in sequence are attributable to the conditions under which the team is working or their performance on the assigned task. This investigation is accomplished using hierarchical cluster analysis and dendrograms that facilitate visualizing the results. Capturing how team communication unfolds at this level of detail highlights the types of messages or ordering of messages that may facilitate or impede team progress, thereby offering guidance about why seemingly similar teams often have varying performance.
Increased Plasma Cells and Decreased B-cells in Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes are Associated with Worse Survival in Lung Adenocarcinomas

Introduction: Clinical significance of tumor-infiltrating plasma cells and B-cells in lung adenocarcinoma is not well known. Methods: CD3, CD20 and MUM1 immunostains were performed on representative tumor blocks selected from 120 consecutive lung adenocarcinoma cases treated by surgical resection at Mayo Clinic Rochester. CD3+ T-cells, CD20+ B-cells, and MUM1+ plasma cells were enumerated separately in the intraepithelial (IE) compartment and the stroma (ST) by digital image analyses using whole sections. Measured tumor-infiltrating plasma cells and B-cells were correlated with patientâs overall survival (OS) using Cox proportional hazards analysis. Results: Median age of patients was 69 years (range, 46-91 years) and 52 were male. Median numbers (interquartile range) of CD20+ B-cells per 1mm2 of tumor area (IE plus ST) and IE compartment within tumor area were 590 (224-1276) and 101 (38-109), respectively; the corresponding numbers of MUM1+ plasma cells were 298 (180-605), and 67 (22-145), respectively. The proportion of MUM1+ plasma cell among all TILs (MUM1+ cells/[CD3+ cells+CD20+ cells+MUM1+ cells] A 100) ranged 1%-59% (median13%) in the tumor area and showed a significant association with OS by univariate Cox analysis (negative correlation with hazard ratio (HR)=12.50 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.75-89.27]). There was a significant association between IE CD20+ B-cells and the patientâs OS in univariate analysis (positive correlation with HR=0.81 [95% CI, 0.68-0.96]). Both parameters remained significant by multivariate analysis. Conclusion: High plasma cell % among TILs in the tumor area and low IE B-cell count were associated with worse prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients.
The influence of wintertime SST variability in the Western North Pacific on ENSO diversity

Sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTa) in the Western North Pacific (WNP) have been linked to the development of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events a full year in advance. However, the contribution of the WNP precursor to the temporal evolution and spatial complexity of ENSO remains unclear. Using the preindustrial experiment of the Community Earth System Model as the control climate, a partially coupled experiment is conducted in which WNP SSTa are restored to the model climatology. By comparing the perturbed experiment to the control, we are able to clearly characterize ENSO’s response to WNP SST variability. We find that the WNP is predominantly linked to eastern Pacific (EP) ENSO events. Without SST variability in the WNP, central Pacific (CP) ENSO events are more likely to develop. This variation in ENSO flavor is controlled by how the WNP projects onto wind stress anomalies in the western equatorial Pacific, which in turn impacts the discharge and recharge of ocean heat during the ENSO cycle. Specifically, the removal of SSTa in the WNP weakens the buildup of ocean heat in the western equatorial Pacific, which then hinders the development of EP-type events.
INCIDENTAL PULMONARY METASTASES REVEALING SUBCENTIMETER PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA

ABSTRACT Objective: Here we present 2 cases of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PMCs) that had metastasized at presentation. The 2015 American Thyroid Association and the American College of Radi...
Role of Locoregional Treatment in De Novo Stage IV Breast Cancer

It is estimated that approximately 154000 women in the United States have stage IV breast cancer (BC). A subset of this group has metastatic disease at presentation, known as de novo stage IV disease. De novo stage IV BC accounts for approximately 6% of all BC diagnoses in the United States. Traditionally, stage IV BC patients are treated with primary systemic therapy with a palliative intent reserving possible locoregional treatment (LRT) as last resort. There has been a lot of interest in the role of LRT in de novo stage IV BC for the past decade with mixed conclusions. Although this review is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of all literature regarding this topic to date, we will review the recent findings in literature focusing on the studies with larger sample sizes to investigate the role of LRT in de novo stage IV BC.
A preliminary investigation into the electrodeposition and synthesis of radiopure Copper–Chromium alloys for rare-event physics detector systems

Abstract Current investigations into neutrinoless double beta decay and the direct detection of dark matter require increasingly sensitive detector systems that demand ultra-low background materials. These requirements have previously been attained using ultra-radiopure electroformed (EF) copper. However, pure copper possesses high ductility and relatively low strength, which necessitates the need for large amounts of material and extra care during fabrication to help minimize galling and mechanical failure. We investigate an alloying alternative to pure EF copper by examining low wt% copper chrome (Cu–Cr) solid solution alloys, with inquiries into alloy hardness, strength, and radiopurity. Alloyed Cu–Cr layered samples are shown to exhibit significantly increased hardness compared to EF copper, for example showing a 50% increase in exhibited hardness using less than 1% Cr by weight, with limited negative impact to the material’s radiopurity.
Women’s Antifascist Resistance on German-Occupied Territory Through the Lens of Soviet Leaflets, 1941–1945:

During the Second World War, approximately 28,500 Soviet women fought in the ranks of the partisans on Soviet territory temporarily occupied by the Wehrmacht. Although Soviet propaganda destined fo...
Functional performance status and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality following endovascular repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic pathology.

ObjectiveTo characterize the association of preoperative functional performance status based on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scoring with the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, vas...
Does previous history of cancer or atypia predict histologic upgrade for pure intraductal papillomas diagnosed via core biopsy? A study of 490 cases at a single institution.

BACKGROUND Management of pure intraductal papillomas (IDP) without atypia diagnosed on core needle biopsy (CNB) remains controversial given highly variable rates of upgrade in the literature. AIM We sought to identify clinical and histologic factors that predict upgrade to atypia or malignancy in a large population. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective review was performed of all cases of pure IDP diagnosed on CNB and then surgically excised at a single institution from 2008 to 2018. Clinical, radiologic, and pathologic factors were compared in the no upgrade, upgrade to atypia, or upgrade to cancer groups. Univariate analysis was performed comparing no upgrade and upgrade to cancer or atypia. Four hundred and thirty nine patients were identified with a total of 490 IDP and a median age of 50 years (range 16-85). Of these patients, 54 (12.3%) were upgraded to atypia after surgical excision and five (1.1%) were upgraded to cancer. The presence of multiple papillomas in a single patient was a significant predictor of upgrade to cancer or atypia (p < .01), as well as age over ≥55 years (p < .01) and a prior history of cancer (p < .01). No other clinical, radiologic and histologic factors were found to be significant predictors of upgrade. 40/439 (9.1%) patients in the total cohort had prior history of cancer, and of these, 2/40 (5%) were found to have a new cancer after excision. CONCLUSIONS In patients with pure IDP on CNB, the upgrade rate to malignancy was 1.1%, while 12.3% were upgraded to atypia. The clinical significance of identifying atypia in a papilloma is unknown, especially in a patient with a prior history of atypia or cancer. However, the majority of patients who were upgraded to either atypia or cancer had no prior history of high-risk or malignant breast disease and are therefore considered true clinical upgrades. As such excision for IDP should be considered.
Hegel's 'Phenomenology of Spirit': An Introduction

1. Introduction 2. Knowledge 3. Freedom 4. Idealism 5. Method 6. Theory 7. Practice 8. Culture 9. Results.
Effective Help-Providing

AIDS is a unique illness, the most frightening and serious of the sexually transmitted diseases. Since it appeared, AIDS has eclipsed much of the attention once given to such treatable “traditional” sexually transmitted diseases as syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, and even such non-curable ones as genital herpes. As discussed earlier, widespread fears that AIDS can be contracted through casual social contact remain, even though well-controlled studies repeatedly disconfirm any basis for this fear. The long latency between viral exposure and any disease onset and the fact that most HIV carriers appear visibly healthy also contribute to the uniqueness of the disease. Finally, because of its association with homosexuality, drug use, and sexual behavior, AIDS elicits stigmatizing and prejudicial attitudes with respect to the perceived life-styles of its victims.
Association of Chronic Pain and Community Integration of Returning Veterans With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective To evaluate the association between community integration and pain in veterans with and without mild blast-related traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design and participants A cross-sectional study of 198 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, 135 with mild TBI and 63 without TBI exposure. Main measures Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ), Community Reintegration of Injured Service Members Instrument, Brief Pain Inventory. Results Pain interference was significantly associated with CIQ social integration (P = .037), and pain severity was significantly associated with CIQ home integration (P = .038) and CIQ social integration (P = .044). Pain interference and pain severity had a significant interaction as related to the CIQ total score (P = .046), CIQ job score (P = .034), and CIQ productivity score (P = .034). Pain interference (P = .042) and pain severity (P = .015) were associated with community participation, but not perceived limitations (P > .05) or satisfaction (P > .05) as measures by the Community Reintegration of Injured Service Members Instrument. There was a significant interaction between TBI status and pain severity (P = .021) with community participation. Conclusions Chronic pain has a negative association with the community integration of returning veterans. Although TBI status was associated with overall community integration ratings, depression had a stronger association with impairments. These findings suggest, above and beyond the treatment of depression, the importance of effectively managing TBI-related pain to foster improved social functioning and to promote the psychological and social well-being of returning veterans.
Overview of: “Improving Civil Gang Injunctions: How Implementation Can Affect Gang Dynamics, Crime, and Violence”

Research Summary The civil gang injunction (CGI) is an increasingly popular suppression strategy. Interviews with 416 youth in areas with and without a CGI suggest that suppression-oriented injunctions may have little useful impact on gang social dynamics. CGIs may have promise as part of a comprehensive strategy that uses enhanced sanctions both to suppress crime and to move individual gang offenders toward alternatives (such as education, personal development, and jobs), allowing them to imagine alternative social identities. Policy Implications Whether CGIs play a positive role in curtailing the activities of street gang members or whether they fuel it instead may depend on policy makers and criminal justice officials ensuring that (a) gang members are approached as individuals, (b) the safety zone is appropriately sized, and (c) police suppression activities are accompanied by gang-focused social services and a clear, transparent escape clause. Successful implementation depends on multiple city agencies being integrated into the CGI strategy early on.
The Boom, the Bust and the Future of Homeownership

This article investigates the boom and bust in U.S. homeownership rates over the 2000–2010 period. Using individual-level census data, we first estimate 204 homeownership regressions stratified by household age (21, 22, …, 89) and survey year (2000, 2005 and 2009). Shift-share methods confirm that changes in the model coefficients that reflect household attitudes, lending standards and other market conditions—but not population socioeconomics—were the primary driver of the boom and bust in homeownership over the decade. This pattern holds for nearly all age groups and is more pronounced for recent movers. Results also suggest that homeownership rates may have come close to bottoming out in early 2013 at 65% after falling roughly four percentage points from their peak in 2006. This suggests little lasting effect of the grand homeownership policy experiment of recent decades.
Cancelling the US solar-polar spacecraft: Implications for international cooperation in space

Abstract In 1981 the US spacecraft planned for the international Solar Polar Mission, in cooperation with the European Space Agency, was abruptly withdrawn. This article discusses the events leading up to the withdrawal and how it was handled by NASA and US government officials, and ESA's reaction. Reflections are offered on the experience, and ESA's current attitude towards space partnerships with the USA is examined. The author concludes the Europe is in a stronger bargaining position today, and has also advanced towards having its own autonomous space capability.
Computer analysis and integration of animal pathology data.

Computer storage of data from toxicology, biochemistry, haematology and pathology has been found necessary in our Laboratory in order to handle the vast amount of information generated by animal toxicology studies. The value of the system to pathology is enormous and its potential has not been exhausted. All findings, from organ weights and macroscopic observations made at autopsy, to the final histopathological diagnosis made by the pathologist are computerized. A modified version of the American College of Pathologists’ systematized nomenclature of pathology is used. The pathologist records his findings on individual animal forms and these are coded by a data coordinator whose role in the system is indispensable. The designation of a pathologist with special responsibility for supervising the computerisation and its scientific validity ensures its smooth running. The integration of data from haematology and clinical chemistry as a profile for each animal is available to the pathologist when making the final diagnosis. The system has resulted in a standardisation of pathological terminology, greater speed and improved accuracy in report formulation, the establishment of a readily retrievable in-house data bank and an enormous saving in the time of pathologists and secretaries.
Dietary fiber and bile acid metabolism.

Physical properties possessed by dietary fiber suggest several ways in which interactions of dietary fiber and bile acids might result in alterations of bile acid metabolism which would influence sterol balance, a major determinant of serum cholesterol which, an important risk factor for coronary heart disease. The first property of interest is the ability of some sources of dietary fiber to absorb water, diluting the contents of the intestine, or to form gels which hold water and may interfere with mixing or transport within the intestine. Second, some sources of dietary fiber interact with organic compounds (e.g. bile acids) or with ions, binding or adsorbing them and potentially interfering with their absorption from the intestine. Fermentability of some source of dietary fiber may also contribute to their effects through changes in the environment within the intestine or through absorption of metabolites which may have secondary effects in the liver or at other sites.
Optimizing a F-18 NaF and FDG cocktail as a preclinical cancer screening tool for molecular imaging

2455 Objectives Recently the use of a 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG cocktail has been proposed by Gambhir and co-workers (J Nucl Med 2009; 50:501-505) to detect metastases in soft tissue and bone. Although preliminary preclinical studies were conducted in mice, the use of the NaF/FDG cocktail with respect to preclinical micro-PET imaging of metastatic models of cancer has not been extensively explored. Our objective was to evaluate a series of NaF/FDG cocktail ratios in order to achieve optimum bone and soft tissue imaging parameters for use in preclinical screening of metastases in mouse models of cancer. Methods Micro-PET/CT imaging was performed using a Siemens d-PET scanner on CF-1 mice (5-10 week old) that were fasted overnight. Mice were warmed 30 minutes prior to injection of 100-200uL of a F-18 NaF:FDG cocktail. The ratio of NaF:FDG in the cocktail was varied using either a 3:1,1:1,1:3 or 1:5 ratio. Mice were anesthetized prior to injection using 3% isofluorane at a rate of 1L/min. Subcutaneous injections of 1mL saline were administered 15mins post cocktail injection to enhance voiding of bladder. Mice were imaged 1 hour post cocktail injection and PET images were reconstructed using an OSEM2D method. Results As expected, when the ratio of NaF to FDG decreased, the F-18 accumulation in soft tissue increased. The 3:1 NaF:FDG cocktail images were nearly identical to NaF single agent bone PET scans. The images obtained using the 1:1 cocktail had minimal soft tissue uptake as compared to the images obtained with 1:3 and 1:5 cocktail ratios. Conclusions Based on the results above, the optimum combination of NaF/FDG was achieved when the ratio of NaF:FDG approaches 1:5. The resultant Micro-PET images demonstrate soft tissue and bone delineation nearly identical to single agent administered scans. Assessment of the 1:3 and 1:5 NaF/FDG cocktail ratio in preclinical metastatic prostate cancer models is currently under way. Research Support U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Merit Review Award (TJH
Irradiation disordering and ordering of Cu3Au by fusion neutrons

Ordered and partially ordered Cu/sub 3/Au alloys (S = .30 - .99) have been irradiated at 4K and 300K with fusion neutrons at RTNS-II. The disordering rate was measured by monitoring electrical resistivity. The analysis of 4K irradiations and a comparison with fission reactor irradiations indicated that the disordering rate depended upon the long-range order parameter, S, dS/d phi t = -S(k/sub 1/-k/sub 2/S), where k/sub 1/ and k/sub 2/ are scaled with damage energy. The results of 300K irradiation indicated that reordering competed significantly with disordering in the partially ordered sample. Compared to the results of 4K irradiation, the net disordering rate at 300K was higher than that at 4K. This difference and the dependence of disordering rate on S is discussed in terms of the effects of disorder and thermal displacements on cascade cooling processes.
CASE FOR REAL-TIME SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT: QUO VADIS?

This paper focuses on the distinctive issues of Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) products for the development of real-time systems. CASE technologies and their associated standardization efforts are evolving from sets of conflicting interests. The majority of CASE products are intended for use in the development of Management Information Systems. CASE products to support the development of large, complex real-time systems must provide additional capabilities. Generic concerns include the quality of the implementation of the required method for the phase of the system's development and whether the vendor is stable and committed to evolving the products in parallel with non-proprietary standards. The CASE market is undergoing considerable consolidation. The paper describes the major forces, cooperating entities, and remaining uncertainties that need to be weighed in near-term CASE procurements to limit risk of loss of investment in project time, training, and money.
Chemokine expression and viral infection of the central nervous system: Regulation of host defense and neuropathology

An effective host response against viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is the principal factor dictating the outcome of infection. It is the responsibility of the immune response to contain and control viral replication. Paradoxically, it is the immune response that may also contribute to the development of neuropathology. We have used mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), apositive-strand RNA virus, infection of the CNS to understand the dynamic interaction between viral replication, protection, and pathology with an emphasis on understanding how chemokines participate in these interrelated processes. Herein, we demonstrate the complexity of the chemokine response to MHV infection of the CNS and the delicate balance that exists between host defense and development of disease.
Secondary abdominal compartment syndrome is an elusive early complication of traumatic shock resuscitation.

Abstract Background The term secondary abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) has been applied to describe trauma patients who develop ACS but do not have abdominal injuries. The purpose of this study was to describe major trauma victims who developed secondary ACS during standardized shock resuscitation. Methods Our prospective database for standardized shock resuscitation was reviewed to obtain before and after abdominal decompression shock related data for secondary ACS patients. Focused chart review was done to confirm time-related outcomes. Results Over the 30 months period ending May 2001, 11 (9%) of 128 standardized shock resuscitation patients developed secondary ACS. All presented in severe shock (systolic blood pressure 85 ± 5 mm Hg, base deficit 8.6 ± 1.6 mEq/L), with severe injuries (injury severity score 28 ± 3) and required aggressive shock resuscitation (26 ± 2 units of blood, 38 ± 3 L crystalloid within 24 hours). All cases of secondary ACS were recognized and decompressed within 24 hours of hospital admission. After decompression, the bladder pressure and the systemic vascular resistance decreased, while the mean arterial pressure, cardiac index, and static lung compliance increased. The mortality rate was 54%. Those who died failed to respond to decompression with increased cardiac index and did not maintain decreased bladder pressure. Conclusions: Secondary ACS is an early but, if appropriately monitored, recognizable complication in patients with major nonabdominal trauma who require aggressive resuscitation.
The Biochemical and Immunological Properties of Toxic-Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (Tsst-1) and Association with TSS

AbstractToxic-shock syndrome (TSS) toxin-1 (TSST-1), an exotoxiri produced by Staphylococcus aureus, has been implicated in the development of TSS. The toxin's unique pathobiological properties, including pyrogenicity, ability to enhance susceptibility to lethal endotoxin shock, and alteration of T lymphocyte functions, demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo experimencation, give strong evidence to support the role of TSST-1 as a potent virulence factor involved in the disease process.In tnis review, we discuss both the biochemical and biological properties of TSST-1 that have been reportea in the literature and recent data fron our laboratory examitling the roles of TSST-1 and endogenous pyrogen (interleukin l) in TSS. Lastly, a model is presented, which defines the role of TSST-1 in the developtnsrit of the illness.
NOTE ON THE RELIABILITY AND SCORING OF THE CHAPIN SOCIAL INSIGHT TEST

The Chapin Social Insight Test ( 1) was developed to measure a person's ability to recognize the psychodynamics in a particular situation and to resolve problematic situations. Although this test has been available for many years, the only assessments of its properties are those reported by Gough (2, 3). The present study was undertaken to update the information on the reliability of the Chapin cest and to assess two methods of scoring. Students in lower level psychology classes were the subjects. There were 53 males and 112 females. The subjects' ages ranged from 18 to 67 yr. (M = 23.32 yr., SD = 7.61). The Insight test was administered individually to 30 males and 65 females and to two groups of 23 males and 47 females who took the test during class periods. Insight scores were computed using the recommended item weights and by scoring the items dichotomously. Using the first procedure, scores ranged from 11 to 34 (M = 19.90, SD = 5.12). Using the dichotomous method, scores ranged from 7 to 21 (M = 11.87, SD = 2.86). Those who took the cest individually did not differ from those who took it in groups for both the recommended scoring (M = 19.80 and SD = 5.70 vs M = 20.04 and SD = 4.22) and the dichotomous scoring (M = 11.79 and SD = 3.11 vs M = 11.97 and SD = 2.48). Total scores by both procedures were highly correlated (s = 95, df = 163). The average item-total correlation for the weighted-scoring technique was .25, resulting in a reliability estimate of .62. For the dichotomous method, the average item-total correlation was .26 and the reliability estimate was .65. These are similar to the item-total correlations and reliabilities reported by Gough (3). The results of this study support the use of the Chapin Social Insight Test as an adequately reliable measure of the construct. However, since the dichotomous scoring procedure was as effective as the prescribed weighted-scoring method and the totals derived by each method were highly correlated, the use of the weighted scoring does not seem to be necessary (4).
SU(2) and SU(3) lattice gauge theories with many fermions

SU(2) and SU(3) lattice gauge theories are simulated by molecular dynamics methods with Nf=8 and 12 flavors of light quarks on lattices of sizes 44, 64 and 84. On the small lattices, 44 and 64, the microcanonical algorithm generates van der Waals S-shaped curves for the observables 〈ΨΨ〉, the average plaquette and the Wilson line indicating the presence of first-order phase transitions. On the 84 lattice a transition in the chiral order parameter 〈ΨΨ〉 occurs at a coupling distinct from the coupling where the Wilson line departs from zero. This suggests that these theories have a bulk, zero temperature chiral-restoring transition in addition to a rich finite temperature phase structure.
Factorial structure of the quick neurological screening test‐revised for children with learning disabilities

The Quick Neurological Screening Test-Revised (QNST-R) was administered to 122 children diagnosed with learning disabilities (FSIQ > 80) between the ages of 6 and 13 years to examine the test's factorial structure and utility as a screening measure for this clinical population. On the basis of principal components analyses, the QNST-R appears to measure primarily lower-order sensory perception/processing and fine and gross motoric skills, which are thought presumably to serve as the basis for later higher-order cognitive functions. Age, but not gender differences obtained, indicate a general maturity factor related to overall test performance.
Recommended design for more accurate duplication of natural conditions in salt marsh creation

Construction of 653 ha of salt marsh habitat from dredged material near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, has been proposed, with the goal of increasing the area of habitat available to endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana). We assessed prototype created wetlands, and their similarity to natural reference sites, in terms of topography, vegetation, and hydrology. The created sites were steeply sloped relative to natural sites and were dominated by monotypic stands of Spartina alterniflora. Natural sites were dominated by vegetation more tolerant of desiccation and hypersalinity and by unvegetated salt pans. Differences in vegetation communities and distributions of habitat types resulted from efforts to enhance habitat diversity in created marsh cells through manipulation of marsh topography. However, the scale at which this diversity occurred in natural marsh of the study area was not considered. When constructing wetlands in cellular configurations, we recommend creation of large complexes of adjoining, hydrologically linked, cells wherein the desired habitat diversity is created at the scale of the entire complex, rather than within a single cell. Suggested design modifications would increase the similarity of created marshes to natural reference sites, potentially improving habitat function.
Nonoverlap of the star unfolding

The star unfolding of a convex polytope with respect to a pointx on its surface is obtained by cutting the surface along the shortest paths fromx to every vertex, and flattening the surface on the plane. We establish two main properties of the star unfolding:1.It does not self-overlap: it is a simple polygon.2.The ridge tree in the unfolding, which is the locus of points with more than one shortest path fromx, is precisely the Voronoi diagram of the images ofx, restricted to the unfolding. These two properties permit conceptual simplification of several algorithms concerned with shortest paths on polytopes, and sometimes a worst-case complexity improvement as well:?The construction of the ridge tree (in preparation for shortest-path queries, for instance) can be achieved by an especially simpleO(n2) algorithm. This is no worst-case complexity improvement, but a considerable simplification nonetheless.?The exact set of all shortest-path "edge sequences" on a polytope can be found by an algorithm considerably simpler than was known previously, with a time improvement of roughly a factor ofn over the old bound ofO(n7 logn).?The geodesic diameter of a polygon can be found inO(n9 logn) time, an improvement of the previous bestO(n10) algorithm. Our results suggest conjectures on "unfoldings" of general convex surfaces.
Research Opportunities in the US Patent Record

Although scarcely explored to date, US patent records provide numerous opportunities for research in technical and scientific communication. This article reviews disciplinary research that taps this rich archive of information, describes ways in which patents act as moral and social barometers to technological change, and provides readers with a brief guide to basic information needed to initiate research using patent records.
Wealth transfer through voluntary death.

Today, the hopelessly ill who are insured must choose between futile treatment and prolonged morbidity. Legalizing physician-assisted death for the hopelessly ill would broaden patient choice an conserve scarce resources. To ensure that the saved resources will not be re-channeled to more futile treatments for other hopelessly ill patients, those who choose dignified passage should be allowed to determine how the saving form their refusal to a prolonged death is to the re-deployed. Converting projected entitlements into death benefits at a discount would not only reduce health-car and retirements costs but improve allocation of scarce resources.
There Can Be Only One (Woman on the Ticket): Gender in Candidate Nominations

Party elites and voters are reluctant to cede multiple ballot positions to women simultaneously, so that men are able to have running mates of either gender but women tend to have male running mates. Evidence from American gubernatorial elections, state legislative caucuses, and presidential tickets from around the world confirms this: nominating a woman for the top position reduces a party’s likelihood of nominating a woman for the second position by half or more.
Solute fluxes in different treatment modalities

The principles governing solute flux or transport in different artificial kidney treatment modalities are reviewed. Solute clearance profiles were calculated for identical artificial kidney membranes during haemodialysis, haemofiltration and haemodiafiltration. It was shown that the clearance of small solutes depends largely on the dialysate flow rate and is similar when using either haemodialysis or haemodiafiltration. In contrast, clearance of middle molecules, especially low-molecular-weight proteins, depends largely on convective transport induced by high ultrafiltration rates and is maximized when using either haemofiltration or haemodiafiltration. Optimal fluxes for both small solutes and middle molecules can be achieved by using postdilution haemodiafiltration. Recent work has shown that use of the reduction in plasma concentration, even after normalization for changes in extracellular volume during therapy, is not an exact measure of β 2 -microglobulin (and other low-molecular-weight proteins) clearance. It is proposed that β 2 -microglobulin clearance be reported in future studies instead of the normalized reduction in β 2 -microglobulin plasma concentration. Additional studies are necessary to determine the effects of postdialysis rebound on the calculated clearance for β 2 -microglobulin and other high-molecular-mass uraemic toxins.
Magnetic- and crystal-field properties of dysprosium dihydrides and trihydrides from /sup 161/Dy Moessbauer studies

The saturation hyperfine magnetic field at the $^{161}\mathrm{Dy}$ nucleus measured with the 26 keV M\"ossbauer resonance in Dy${\mathrm{H}}_{2.00}$ identifies a ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{7}$ crystal-field ground state for the ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$ atom. This state originates from a cubal surrounding of the ${\mathrm{Dy}}^{3+}$ atom by ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ atoms, in agreement with the hydridic model for rare-earth hydrides. An analysis of the hyperfine parameters and of the Schottky anomaly permits one to obtain the crystal-field parameters $W=0.83\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03$ K and $x=0.24\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$, and the exchange field ${\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{ex}}=26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ kOe. Dy${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ exhibits a long-range magnetic order at 3.3 K while between 3.3 and 6 K fairly complex short-range order is observed. A possible explanation for this behavior is provided. Dy${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ remains paramagnetic down to 1.6 K.
The implanted stepped-oxide MNOSFET

A novel MNOSFET device structure has been demonstrated to solve a serious problem with MNOS memory devices. The new structure eliminates the parasitic FET devices which are formed in parallel with the variable threshold MNOSFET when the conventional device structure is used.
Quantum Computing Is Exciting and Important--Really!

Quantum computing, say its champions, promises prodigious power. its basic currency, the qubit, exists in an on/off limbo until it's read out, so if you could operate on kqubits, a potentially vast space of 2 k values opens up for computation. the fundamental operation on qubits is a rotation. Combine the rotations, and you have logic gates. Combine the logic gates, and you have algorithms. In principle, these algorithms can perform calculations far beyond classical computing's conceivable reach
SU-C-16A-05: OAR Dose Tolerance Recommendations for Prostate and Cervical HDR Brachytherapy: Dose Versus Volume Metrics.

Purpose: HDR brachytherapy consensus dose tolerance recommendations for organs at risk (OARs) remain widely debated. Prospective trials reporting metrics must be sufficiently data-dense to assess adverse affects and identify optimally predictive tolerances. We explore the tradeoffs between reporting dose-metrics versus volume-metrics and the potential impact on trial outcome analysis and tolerance recommendations. Methods: We analyzed 26 prostate patients receiving 15 Gy HDR single-fraction brachytherapy boost to 45 Gy external beam radiation therapy and 28 cervical patients receiving 28 Gy HDR brachytherapy monotherapy in 4 fractions using 2 implants. For each OAR structure, a robust linear regression fit was performed for the dose-metrics as a function of the volume-metrics. The plan quality information provided by recommended dose-metric and volume-metric values were compared. Results: For prostate rectal dose, D2cc and V75 lie close to the regression line, indicating they are similarly informative. Two outliers for prostate urethral dose are substantially different from the remaining cohort in terms of D0.1cc and V75, but not D1cc, suggesting the choice of reporting dose metric is essential. For prostate bladder and cervical bladder, rectum, and bowel, dose outliers are more apparent via V75 than recommended dose-metrics. This suggests that for prostate bladder dose and all cervical OAR doses, the recommended volume-metrics may be better predictors of clinical outcome than dose-metrics. Conclusion: For plan acceptance criteria, dose and volume-metrics are reciprocally equivalent. However, reporting dosemetrics or volume-metrics alone provides substantially different information. Our results suggest that volume-metrics may be more sensitive to differences in planned dose, and if one metric must be chosen, volumemetrics are preferable. However, reporting discrete DVH points severely limits the ability to identify planning tolerances most predictive of adverse effects. Thus, we recommend that full OAR DVH reporting be required for future prospective trials.
Characterization of epitaxial film silicon solar cells grown on seeded display glass

We report characterization of epitaxial film crystal silicon (c-Si) solar cells with open-circuit voltages (V oc ) above 560 mV. The 2-um absorber cells are grown by low-temperature (&#60;750 °C) hot-wire CVD (HWCVD) on Corning® EAGLE XG® display glass coated with a layer-transferred (LT) Si seed. The high V oc is a result of low-defect epitaxial Si (epi-Si) growth and effective hydrogen passivation of defects. The quality of epitaxial growth by HWCVD on seeded glass substrates depends on the crystallographic quality of the seed and the morphology of the growth surface. Complete heterojunction cells consist of glass/c-Si LT seed/ epi n+ Si:P/epi n− Si:P/intrinsic a-Si:H/p+ a-Si:H/ITO. Similar devices grown on electronically ‘dead’ n+ wafers have given V oc ∼ 630 mV and ∼8% efficiency with no light trapping features. Here we study the effects of the seed surface polish on epi-Si quality, how hydrogenation influences the device character, and the dominant junction transport physics.