cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hegel, Civil Society, and Globalization

This chapter approaches Hegel’s views of globalization and global justice through Hegel’s treatment of civil society and state, which provides an alternative to Hobbes’s international state of war and Kant’s cosmopolitanism. Civil society is the locus of rights; as civil society spreads beyond Europe through commerce and law, so too do the rights of human beings. But, for Hegel, civil society on its own is unstable unless ordered and guided by the state; so the expansion of civil society needs to be matched by the expansion of political institutions that counter civil society’s shortcomings and make its globalization justifiable. Hegel also sees a growth of inter-state relations. As states recognize, interact with, and develop norms of common behavior with other states, they move beyond the (Hobbesian) sovereign’s arbitrary will and (sometimes haltingly, and without attaining Kant’s cosmopolitan ideals) towards international co-operation.
Double Dirichlet Series and Theta Functions

Generalized theta functions are residues of metaplectic Eisenstein series. Even in the case of the n-fold cover of GL(2), the Fourier coefficients of these mysterious functions have not been determined beyond n = 3. However, a conjecture of Patterson illuminates the case n = 4. In this paper, we make a new conjecture concerning the Fourier coefficients of the theta function on the sixfold cover of GL(2), present some evidence for the conjecture, and prove it in the case that the base field is a rational function field. Although the conjecture involves a single complex variable, our approach makes critical use of double Dirichlet series.
Differential Operator for the Modeling of Curvature in Structured Grid Generation

Elliptic grid generation equations based on the Laplacian operator have the well-known property of clustering the mesh near convex boundaries and declustering it near concave boundaries. The result...
How Medical Students' Compassionate Values Influence Help-Seeking Barriers.

Theory: Despite high rates of psychiatric illnesses, medical students and medical professionals often avoid psychological help. Stigma may prevent medical students from seeking psychological help w...
Implicit Theories, Working Memory, and Cognitive Load: Impacts on Creative Thinking:

Creative thinking shares many characteristics with traditional complex tasks. We investigated whether implicit theories of creativity would affect creative thinking in a way similar to the impact o...
Simplified Lateral Brow Lift under Local Anesthesia for Correction of Lateral Hooding.

Background A limited incision lateral brow lift has been described as an alternative to the endoscopic or the bicoronal approaches. The senior author has developed a safe and effective lateral brow lift technique that can be performed in an office setting under local anesthesia. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 150 consecutive patients who underwent a brow lift by the senior author (TAM). The technique begins with an upper blepharoplasty incision which is used to divide the corrugator under direct vision, followed by a release of the periorbital retaining ligaments. The lateral temporal incision is the access point for dissection above the deep temporal fascia then connecting to the subperiosteal plane, allowing full mobility of the brow. Galea is advanced with sutures and redundant skin is excised. Results All patients treated with this technique had resolution of lateral brow hooding. Two temporary neuropraxias of the frontal branch of the facial nerve were observed with full resolution and no permanent nerve injuries occurred. The revision rate was 7% and there was a 3% incidence of delayed wound healing at the temporal incision with no infections. One hundred forty-two patients (97%) underwent this procedure with sedation, 52 of which (35%) were in the office with light oral sedation. Conclusions The limited incision lateral brow lift as described allows for safe elevation of the lateral brow. When complemented by upper blepharoplasty, this technique provides excellent and natural-appearing rejuvenation of the upper face.
Archetypes Reconsidered as Emergent Outcomes of Cognitive Complexity and Evolved Motivational Systems

Advances in contemporary cognitive science suggest that our internal representational systems are powerfully shaped by interacting evolutionary, developmental, and neuro-computational processes. Al...
Including colon in intestinal transplantation: a focus on post-transplant renal function - a retrospective study.

Intestinal transplant recipients experience a high rate of renal complications secondary to dehydration due to increased ostomy output. It is hypothesized that inclusion of donor colon in the intestinal allograft may improve renal function in patients without functional native colon by improving fluid absorption. A single-center retrospective study of intestinal transplant recipients compared outcomes of patients receiving en bloc colon as part an intestinal allograft (ICTx), and those not receiving colon (CCNTx), as well as a control group of intestinal transplant recipients with functional native colon (ITx). Forty-seven patients (ICTx n = 17, CCNTx n = 15, ITx n = 15) were studied. One-year post-transplant renal function, as measured by change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) from baseline, was superior in ICTx (mean delta-GFR of -1.31 and delta-BUN of -1.46) compared to CCNTx (-6.54 and 17.54, P = 0.05 and P = 0.17, respectively) and similar to the ITx controls (0.55 and 2.09). Recipients of donor colon experienced a higher rate of ileostomy reversal when compared to CCNTx (62.5% vs. 20%, P = 0.0008), which was similar to the ITx controls (60%). These findings support the inclusion of en bloc donor colon in the intestinal allograft for recipients without functional native colon.
Apathy and Anxiety in De Novo Parkinson's Disease Predict the Severity of Motor Complications.

Background Neuropsychiatric and affective symptoms are prevalent in prodromal and clinical Parkinson's disease (PD). Some evidence suggests that they may also signify risk for motor complications (motor fluctuations and dyskinesias) of dopamine replacement therapy (DRT). Objective To determine whether neuropsychiatric symptoms present in de novo PD (ie, before DRT initiation) predict the severity of eventual motor complications of DRT. Methods We used clinical, demographic, neurobehavioral, and neuroimaging data from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a multicenter observational PD study. Participants were unmedicated at enrollment and 361 initiated DRT during PPMI follow-up. We used Cox proportional hazard and multivariate ordinal mixed-effects regression models to evaluate the relationship between baseline neuropsychiatric symptoms and motor complications as measured by the Movement Disorders Society-revised Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). Results The cumulative incidences of dyskinesias and motor fluctuations during follow-up (6.0 ± 1.5 years) were 34.3% and 59.9%, respectively. Both apathy and high trait-anxiety (top quartile) conveyed over two-fold increases in hazard for dyskinesia onset and for adverse impact on activities of daily living caused by both dyskinesias and motor fluctuations. The longitudinal severity of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias was significantly predicted by baseline trait-anxiety and apathy, but not depression. Models were adjusted for dimensionally related symptoms (eg autonomic dysfunction) and potential confounding variables (eg DRT dose). Conclusions Apathy and anxiety levels in de novo PD may be neuropsychiatric biomarkers of vulnerability to earlier and more disabling motor complications of DRT.
Analyses of Risk, Racial Disparity, and Outcomes Among US Patients With Cancer and COVID-19 Infection.

Importance Patients with specific cancers may be at higher risk than those without cancer for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its severe outcomes. At present, limited data are available on the risk, racial disparity, and outcomes for COVID-19 illness in patients with cancer. Objectives To investigate how patients with specific types of cancer are at risk for COVID-19 infection and its adverse outcomes and whether there are cancer-specific race disparities for COVID-19 infection. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective case-control analysis of patient electronic health records included 73.4 million patients from 360 hospitals and 317 000 clinicians across 50 US states to August 14, 2020. The odds of COVID-19 infections for 13 common cancer types and adverse outcomes were assessed. Exposures The exposure groups were patients diagnosed with a specific cancer, whereas the unexposed groups were patients without the specific cancer. Main Outcomes and Measures The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% CI were estimated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test for the risk of COVID-19 infection. Results Among the 73.4 million patients included in the analysis (53.6% female), 2 523 920 had at least 1 of the 13 common cancers diagnosed (all cancer diagnosed within or before the last year), and 273 140 had recent cancer (cancer diagnosed within the last year). Among 16 570 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 1200 had a cancer diagnosis and 690 had a recent cancer diagnosis of at least 1 of the 13 common cancers. Those with recent cancer diagnosis were at significantly increased risk for COVID-19 infection (aOR, 7.14 [95% CI, 6.91-7.39];P Conclusions and Relevance In this case-control study, patients with cancer were at significantly increased risk for COVID-19 infection and worse outcomes, which was further exacerbated among African Americans. These findings highlight the need to protect and monitor patients with cancer as part of the strategy to control the pandemic.
Hybrid lipid/block copolymer vesicles display broad phase coexistence region.

The fluidity and polar environment of ~100 nm hybrid vesicles combining dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and poly(1,2-butadiene)-block-polyethylene oxide (PBd-PEO, average molecular weight 950 g/mol) were studied upon vesicle heating using the fluorescence spectroscopy techniques of DPH anisotropy and laurdan generalized polarization (GP). These techniques indicated PBd-PEO membranes are less ordered than solid DPPC, but slightly more ordered than fluid DPPC or dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) membranes. We find the DPH anisotropy values are less than expected from additivity of the components' anisotropies in the fluid phase mixture of DPPC and PBd-PEO, inferring that DPPC strongly fluidizes the PBd-PEO. We use transitions in DPH anisotropy and laurdan GP to create a temperature/composition phase diagram for DPPC/PBd-PEO which we find displays a significantly broader solid/fluid phase coexistence region than DPPC/DOPC, showing that DPPC partitions less readily into fluid PBd-PEO than into fluid DOPC. The existence of a broad solid/fluid phase coexistence region in DPPC/PBd-PEO vesicles is verified by Forster resonance energy transfer results and the visualization of phase separation in giant unilamellar vesicles containing up to 95% PBd-PEO and a single phase in 100% PBd-PEO vesicles at room temperature. These results add to the limited knowledge of phase behavior and phase diagrams of hybrid vesicles, and should be useful in understanding and tailoring membrane surface architecture toward biomedical applications such as drug delivery or membrane protein reconstitution.
Population pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation of tafamidis in healthy subjects and patients with transthyretin amyloidosis.

AIMS Since the first approval for transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy patients, new formulations and different strength of tafamidis have been developed and tested in a different population (transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy). The objective of this analysis was to develop a unified population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of tafamidis, which can describe the PK of various different formulations in healthy subjects as well as patients with TTR amyloidosis, and to understand effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the PK variability. METHODS Pooled data from 23 clinical studies (17 Phase 1 and 6 Phase 2/3 studies) were used for the analysis. The plasma concentration-time data were analysed using a nonlinear mixed effects modelling methodology. Covariate analysis was performed using a stepwise covariate model building procedure. RESULTS The final model was a 2-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination coupled with an absorption lag time for nonsolution formations. Body weight, food and tafamidis formulations were incorporated as structural covariates on PK parameters. Covariate analysis further identified age ≥65 years (14.5% decrease) and moderate hepatic impairment effects (57.6% increase) on apparent clearance and transthyretin amyloid polyneuropathy effect (17.3% decrease) on F. However, model-based clinical trial simulation results indicated that tafamidis steady-state exposure changes were not clinically meaningful under the tested conditions. CONCLUSIONS The unified population PK model of tafamidis was developed based on 23 studies. Subsequent clinical trial simulations indicated that no significant changes in tafamidis exposure necessitating a dose modification are expected due to either extrinsic or intrinsic factors. The model was used to support labelling statements for dose recommendations in special populations.
Greater travel distance to specialized facilities is associated with higher survival for patients with soft-tissue sarcoma: US nationwide patterns.

PURPOSE The survival impact of geographic access to specialized care remains unknown in patients with soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). This study aimed to clarify the association between the patient travel distance and survival outcome and investigate the factors lying behind it. METHODS A total of 34 528 patients with STS registered in the National Cancer Data Base, diagnosed from 2004-2016, were investigated. RESULTS Tumor stage correlated with travel distance: patients with metastatic disease stayed closer to home. However, the type of facility showed greatest variation: 37.0%, 51.0%, 73.5%, and 75.9% of patients with ≤10 miles, 10.1-50 miles, 50.1-100 miles, and >100 miles, respectively (P 100 miles: HR = 0.877; P = 0.001) and management at academic/research (versus non-academic/research) centers (HR = 0.857; P 100 miles) to an academic/research center, with a 26.9% survival benefit (HR = 0.731; P<0.001), compared with those traveling short distance (≤10 miles; 95.4% living in metropolitan area) to a non-academic/research center. There was no significant correlation between travel distance and survival in patients who had care at academic/research centers, whereas a survival benefit of management at academic/research centers was observed in every group of travel distance, regardless of tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS This national study demonstrated that increased travel distance was associated with superior survival, attributable to a higher proportion of patients receiving sarcoma care at distant academic/research centers. These data support centralized care for STS. Overcoming referral and travel barriers may enable more patients to be treated at specialized centers and may further improve survival rates for patients with STS, even when it imposes an increased travel burden.
Pediatric and Neonatal Tracheostomy Caregiver Education with Phased Simulation to Increase Competency and Enhance Coping

Abstract Purpose Infants and children with medically complex needs depend on their caregivers for activities of daily life and specialized care of various devices they need to survive. Caregiver education is a primary goal in discharge planning to ensure safe, competent home care for these medically fragile children. Standard of care is bedside teaching. The Family Tracheostomy Program complements traditional training with a phased process of simulation. The purpose of this QA/QI project was to increase caregiver competency and decrease anxiety level for pediatric tracheostomy care through simulation training. Method For two years, the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units trained twenty caregivers of new tracheostomy patients with the supplementation of simulation to standard bedside training. Using a five-point rating scale, caregivers completed pre- and post- tests for separate skills and scenario training sessions. Results Skills scores were hypothesized to increase after simulation training. In a small sample (n = 20), scores increased from pre-test (μ = 11.45, SD = 4.88) to post-test (μ = 22.6, SD = 2.01). This change was significant (t(19) = 10.78, p Conclusion Simulation as a complement to bedside caregiver education increased caregiver competency and decreased anxiety levels for these samples. Practice implications Organizations caring for neonatal and pediatric tracheostomy patients might consider providing additional support with a phased method of simulation as part of caregiver education.
Section 108 and Software Collections, A User's Guide.

This user's guide explains Section 108 of the U.S. Copyright Act, a set of rights for libraries and archives, in the context of software collections. It also addresses the interaction between Section 108 and fair use (Section 107) in this context. The guide will help library and archives workers who preserve and provide access to software collections to navigate U.S. copyright law.
The Status of Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

The performance of amorphous silicon solar cells has improved significantly in the last several months. Conversion efficiencies as high as 6.1% have been reported by RCA Laboratories in p-i-n cells (area = 1.19 cm ) and efficiencies of 6.3% have2been reported by Energy Conversion Devices in small area (4.2 mm ) MIS cells. Conversion efficiencies in excess of 5.0% have also been observed at other laboratories. At RCA more than two hundred p-i-n cells with efficiencies greater than 5.0% have been fabricated in four glow-discharge systems, including both rf and dc systems. Some of these cells have been constructed by depositing ∼0.5 μm of an amorphous silicon p-i-n structure on a metal substrate (e.g., steel) and using ∼70 run of electron-beam deposited indium-tin-oxide as both a top contact and an antireflection coating. Other p-i-n cells have been fabricated on glass substrates coated with indium-tin-oxide. Conversion efficiencies as high as 3.6% have been obtained in series-connected monolithic panels with active areas of 63 cm. These panels were made in a deposition system that was producing small area cells (9.5 mm2 ) of only 4.0% conversion efficiency at that time.
A continuous information theoretic approach to the analysis of cutaneous receptor neurons

Information theoretic and statistical techniques for determining the number of discernible levels in cutaneous receptor neurons are reviewed. Reasons for the large variance in these results are discussed. A new continuous information theoretic analysis technique is presented that overcomes many of the problems in the other methods of analysis discussed. Comparison of this new method of analysis with a statistical technique developed by Schreiner et al. (1978) clearly shows some of the misconceptions that are associated with statistical analysis techniques, and why these problems cannot arise in the new information theoretic technique discussed here.
Wegener's granulomatosis: Possible role of environmental agents in its pathogenesis.

Objective To investigate the possibility that environmental agents contribute to the pathogenesis of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). Methods We undertook an extensive search for possible environmental exposures by developing a comprehensive questionnaire that was administered by telephone interview to 53 patients with WG and 2 control groups: one with osteoarthritis and the other with gout. Questions focused on hobbies and vocations, work, home, and allergies. Exact logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals after adjusting for potential confounders. After adjusting for age and sex, data are reported for all exposures with odds ratios >2.0 against either control group or for any allergic propensity. Results Results suggest that mercury and perhaps lead exposure were positively associated with WG as compared with either control group, although the number of patients exposed was small. A prior history of allergy was also associated with WG as compared with either control group. Conclusion We conclude that heavy metal exposure and a prior history of allergy may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of Wegener's granulomatosis.
Type-safe distributed programming with ML5

We present ML5, a high level programming language for spatially distributed computing. The language, a variant of ML, allows an entire distributed application to be developed and reasoned about as a unified program. The language supports transparent mobility of any kind of code or data, but its type system, based on modal logic, statically excludes programs that use mobile resources unsafely. The ML5 compiler produces code for all of the hosts that may be involved in the computation. These hosts may be heterogeneous, with different resources and even different architectures. Currently, our compiler and runtime are specialized to the particular case of web programming: a distributed computation with two sites, the web browser and the web server.
Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 production by cells of the immune system

Abstract In recent years, it has become apparent that there are numerous sites of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) production in the body outside of the pituitary gland and the liver, respectively. Studies show that various cells of the immune system from humans, rats, mice, chickens, dogs, and the bovine all produce a GH molecule indistinguishable from pituitary GH. A similar scenario has been observed for immune cell-derived IGF-1. The evidence supporting the idea that cells of the immune system produce these hormones has been derived from analysis of specific messenger RNA by Northerns, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization. The specific proteins have been identified by immunofluorescence, RIA, Western blot, and bioactivity. The mechanisms involvedin the regulation of synthesis and release of these molecules from cells of the immune system are both similar and different than that observed in the pituitary and liver. Although much work is yet to be done defining the mechanisms of synthesis and secretion of these hormones, it is clear that small amounts of hormones are produced and secreted. It is suggested that the local production of small amounts of these hormones may prove to be regulated by immunologically relevant mediators and function by paracrine/autocrine or intracrine pathways to participate in a successful immune response.
Innovation: Its Relationships with a Knowledge Sharing Climate and Interdisciplinary Knowledge Integration in Cross-Functional Project Teams

Interdisciplinary teams are employed with the expectation of bringing diverse expertise and generating innovations. The literature, however, shows that knowledge differences in the context deter team members from sharing and integrating knowledge. It is essential to embody a knowledge-sharing climate and interdisciplinary knowledge integration, both of which are critical to facilitating innovation. By drawing upon social capital theory, this study presents a knowledge sharing climate. This study also shows how interdisciplinary knowledge integration mediates between functional diversity and innovation and between a knowledge-sharing climate and innovation. Data collected from 202 individuals from interdisciplinary project teams were used to test the research model. Empirical results indicate that innovation is significantly affected by interdisciplinary knowledge integration and openness. Functional diversity and trusting relationships do not have direct impacts on innovation but are mediated by interdisciplinary knowledge integration. The findings have critical theoretical and practical implications which are discussed in the paper.
From east to west: abuse in and from the electronic community

Instances of misuse and misbehavior in our electronic communities are on the rise. The panel will address some of the current policy issues facing our campuses and talk about how our varying organizational structures deal with these instances.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) angiography in children

Background. When iodinated contrast material is contraindicated, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas can be injected intravascularly to produce high-quality digital subtraction angiograms. Objective. CO2 angiography, although previously described in adults, has never before been reported in children. Materials and methods. We present three children with renal transplants who required renal angiography. Because of elevated creatinine levels, iodinated contrast was not used to search for possible renal artery stenosis. Instead, CO2 angiography was used to evaluate the renal artery anastomosis. Results. In all three cases, the renal artery anastomosis was clearly visualized using CO2 angiography and showed no evidence of renal artery stenosis. Conclusion. Digital CO2 angiography is an effective method for pediatric renal angiography. The technique can easily be adapted for virtually any angiographic laboratory capable of digital subtraction imaging. Digital CO2 angiography also lacks the risks of a conventional iodinated contrast medium, namely nephrotoxicity, allergic reaction and volume overload.
A high-frequency, 2-D array element using thermoelastic expansion in PDMS

Optical generation of ultrasound is a promising alternative to piezoelectricity for high-frequency arrays. An array element is defined by the size and location of a laser beam focused on a suitable surface. Optical generation using the thermoelastic effect has traditionally suffered from low conversion efficiency. We previously demonstrated an increase in conversion efficiency of nearly 20 dB with an optical absorbing layer consisting of a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and carbon black spin coated onto a glass microscope slide. Radiation pattern measurements with an 85 MHz spherically focused transducer indicated an array element size of 20 /spl mu/m. These measurements lacked the spatial resolution required to reveal fine details in the radiated acoustic field. Here we report radiation pattern measurements with a 5-/spl mu/m spatial sampling, showing that the radiated acoustic field is degraded by leaky Rayleigh waves launched from the PDMS/glass interface. We demonstrate that replacing the glass with a clear PDMS substrate eliminates the leaky Rayleigh waves, producing a broad and smooth radiation pattern suitable for a two-dimensional (2-D) phased array operating at frequencies greater than 50 MHz.
The effects of heat treatment and deformation on the homogenization of compacts of blended powders

Homogenization of compacts of blended powders is reviewed in terms of the influence of variables which are known to affect the process. Mathematical models which describe major process variables are discussed and evaluated with experimental data. Consideration is given to the effects of both heat treatment and deformation on the rates of homogenization in one-phase and multiphase binary systems. Guidelines are presented which will assist other workers in the use of the mathematical models as predictive tools.
The effectiveness of capital controls: evidence from Colombia and Thailand

In the run up to the financial crisis of 2007–2009 many developing nations were subject to massive inflows of capital, capital that their financial systems found difficult to absorb. One of a number of policy options to respond to such inflows is unremunerated reserve requirements (URR). Two countries, Colombia and Thailand, deployed URR in the second half of the decade. This paper analyses the effectiveness of the URR in those two instances. We find that URRs were modestly successful in Colombia and Thailand. In Colombia, the controls were able stem an asset bubble in the stock market. In Thailand, the URR reduced the overall volume of flows, and the announcement of the URR caused a sharp drop in asset prices. However, some of the other goals of capital controls were not fulfilled. The results in this paper demonstrate that there is still a role for capital controls in the twenty-first century, but such controls should be more sophisticated than in years past.
Artificial cell surface constructs for studying receptor–ligand contributions to lymphocyte activation

T-cell activation involves interactions between a number of different receptors on the T-cell with their respective ligands on the antigen presenting cell. One approach to studying the contributions of the individual receptors is the use of purified ligands, alone or in combination, to stimulate the cells. However, effective T-cell recognition requires that the ligands be displayed on a surface having dimensions similar to those of a cell. Methods are described for the rapid and efficient immobilization of purified membrane proteins, including class I MHC proteins, B7.1 and ICAM-1, on 5 μm diameter latex microspheres in a manner that preserves biological activity. Non-membrane proteins, such as anti-receptor antibodies, can be immobilized in a similar manner and can be coimmobilized along with membrane proteins. These artificial cell surface constructs can be handled in the same way as cells, including characterization by flow cytometry using antibodies specific for the immobilized proteins and stimulation of T-cell responses. The density of ligand on the surface of the microspheres can be easily varied and controlled and multiple proteins can be immobilized on the same surface. Thus, the described methods provide a great deal of flexibility in assessing the contributions of the various receptors to T-cell signaling and activation, and should be applicable to the study of other cell–cell interactions.
PO-0720 Perinatal Characteristics Of Pregnancies Complicated By Nuchal Cord At Delivery

Introduction Earlier studies (small numbers and/or anecdotal case reports) have reported adverse neonatal outcomes following nuchal cord at delivery. More recent studies (larger numbers and/or with control group) have reported opposite results. Methodology We conducted a retrospective review of deliveries from 2012, particularly presence of nuchal cord at delivery. We reviewed these records in reference to maternal characteristics (gestation, race, gravida, gestational age), antenatal complications (mode of delivery, amniotic fluid, fetal growth restriction, hypertension), intrapartum non reassuring fetal heart tones, low apgar scores, respiratory morbidity, and intensive care unit admission. Results 2530 deliveries occurred in 2012. Incidence of nuchal cord at delivery was 23.5% (single loop 18.8%, multiple loops 2.8% and tight nuchal cord 1.9%). Nuchal cord occurred more frequently in singleton pregnancies compared to multiple pregnancies (p value = 0.001). We did not observe any significant difference between nuchal cord and non-nuchal cord group as far as variables such as race, gravida, gestational age, mode of delivery, oligo or polyhydramnios, fetal growth restriction, and maternal hypertension was concerned. Incidence of non-reassuring fetal heart tones was more frequent in nuchal cord group compared to non-nuchal cord (p = 0.000). Apgar scores, need for resuscitation, respiratory morbidities, and admission to intensive care unit between the two groups were similar (non-significant). Conclusion Incidence of nuchal cord in our study is similar to that reported in other studies. Nuchal cord was more frequent in singleton pregnancies, and was accompanied by non-reassuring fetal heart tone pattern. Obstetric and neonatal morbidities were similar across two groups.
Alterations in DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity during the development of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Abstract RNA polymerases I, II and III have been detected in the extracts of fat body and integument of the tobacco hornworm, and their activity during larval-pupal-adult metamorphosis has been measured. Total RNA polymerase activity of both tissues reaches a peak just prior to the wandering stage of the fifth instar larva. The enzyme activity of the integument declines thereafter while, in the fat body, a change in the cellular compartmentalization of enzyme activity occurs during development. This is indicated by the observations that RNA polymerase activity, which was predominantly in the soluble fraction up until the onset of the wandering stage, declines rapidly during the wandering stage while RNA polymerase activity in the insoluble-pellet fraction increases. A steady-state level is reached just prior to pupation, and the enzyme activity remains at that level during pharate adult development. The α-amanitin-sensitive enzyme appears to be responsible for most of the RNA polymerase activity during larval life. The findings that the peak of RNA polymerase activity in both tissues and the subsequent changes in compartmentalization in the fat body occur coincidentally with the first surge of α-ecdysone release by the prothoracic glands raises the possibility that control of RNA polymerase activity may be humorally mediated.
A preliminary survey of yeasts isolated from marine habitats at Abaco Island, The Bahamas.

Littoral zone marine sediment and sand, spiny lobster and conch were examined for yeasts. Nineteen yeast species were found to exist in varying abundance. Previous studies in the series examined the marine fungi (17), fresh water fungi (16), and keratinophilic fungi (15) of Abaco Island, The Bahamas.
Isomer Energy Source in Hybrid Jet Engines for High Altitude Reconnaissance Flight

An investigation was performed on the possibility of employing a triggered isomer heat exchanger (TIHE) as part of a hybrid heat source in an otherwise conventional turbojet engine. Reported is the application of such a long duration engine in a high-altitude long endurance surveillance and reconnaissance mission. Two-phase operation would include a switchover point, that is, an altitude and Mach number at which conventional combustion is replaced by the TIHE. A comparison of conventional and hybrid engines indicates a hybrid mixed-stream turbofan engine flying a part conventional and part TIHE mission, with a switchover at a Mach number of 0.4 at 40,000 ft, could provide weeks of endurance. Takeoff weight would be reduced by 20% due to lower fuel requirements.
On the structure of an unsteady type IV interaction at Mach 8

Abstract The unsteady laminar flow due to a Type IV shock-on-shock interaction at Mach 8 is examined with a flux-split scheme based on a modified Steger-Warming method. A sequence of meshes is utilized to perform a grid resolution study and the results are compared with available experimental data. The formulation is cell-centered finite-volume with second order accuracy obtained with the MUSCL approach in conjunction with a limiter to prevent unphysical spatial oscillations. Viscous terms are centrally differenced. The solution is advanced with implicit Gauss-Seidel line relaxation. The calculations indicate unsteady behavior on all meshes. The coherent structure of the asymptotic solution is examined. The impinging supersonic jet limit cycle exhibits a relatively regular oscillatory behavior with a dominant frequency of about 30 kHz. This is accompanied by sizeable movement of the terminating jet shock and associated variation in surface pressure and heat transfer rates.
Transfer of care between physician teams does not affect length of stay or symptomatic improvement in hospitalized psychiatric patients

Abstract To determine if the length of stay, discharge against medical advice (AMA) or psychiatric symptom severity differs when patients are treated by a single team of physicians versus transfer to a second team all cases ( N =1304) admitted to the high intensity psychiatric unit then transferred to a lower intensity unit of a single hospital over 39 months were reviewed. A modified version of the Psychiatric Symptom Assessment Scale (PSAS) was completed on admission and discharge. Statistical analyses including linear and logistic regressions were performed. We found that the length of stay (mean ±SD) was 18.7±10.9 days for transferred patients ( N =871) and 18.3± 10.6 days for those cared for by only one team ( P =.507). Discharge PSAS scores (11.8±9.4 for transferred patients and 14.2±10.4 for those who kept their physicians), were not different between groups after adjustment for severity on admission. Discharges against medical advice were not different between the groups ( P =.207). Although the previous internal medicine literature and single psychiatric study describe a longer length of stay for those patients transferred between physicians, this study shows no differences in terms of length of stay, severity on discharge or AMA discharge rate.
Laparoscopic-assisted peritoneal dialysis catheter implantation in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES To assess the feasibility and complications of laparoscopic-assisted placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters (PDCs) in pediatric patients. METHODS A total of 15 patients undergoing laparoscopic-assisted PDC insertion were studied. A single 10-mm epigastric port was used, unless concomitant diseases were present. A double-cuffed straight Tenckhoff catheter was implanted, with the deep cuff placed within a preperitoneal tunnel underneath the left rectus muscle. The catheter tip was positioned in the left iliac fossa by stylet wire manipulation under laparoscopic control, with the exit site oriented laterally or downward. Subtotal omentectomy was performed by way of the epigastric port site. The findings were compared with those of a group of patients undergoing open PDC insertion. RESULTS The median operating time was not different in the two groups. In the laparoscopic group, a single port was used in 9 cases, and adhesiolysis was performed in 2. The median time to PD initiation was not different in the two groups, nor were any significant differences found in the infectious complications, leak or obstruction rates, or need for secondary surgical revisions between the two groups. Surgical revision was necessary because of peritonitis in 1, persistent leak in 1, and dislodgement in 2 in the open group and because of blockages in 3 in the laparoscopic group. Laparoscopy allowed for the rescue of two such catheters. CONCLUSIONS The results of our study have shown that laparoscopy allows for careful assessment of the abdominal cavity, recognition and treatment of intraabdominal diseases, and precise placement of PDCs. However, it does not seem to reduce the early catheter-related complication rate. Mechanical obstruction remains a common cause of early catheter malfunction. However, laparoscopy can allow for the rescue of blocked catheters.
Aspergillus sporulation and mycotoxin production both require inactivation of the FadA Gα protein-dependent signaling pathway

The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans contains a cluster of 25 genes that encode enzymes required to synthesize a toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolite called sterigmatocystin (ST), a precursor of the better known fungal toxin aflatoxin (AF). One ST Cluster (stc) gene, aflR, functions as a pathway-specific transcriptional regulator for activation of other genes in the ST pathway. However, the mechanisms controlling activation of aflR and synthesis of ST and AF are not understood. Here we show that one important level for control of stc gene expression requires genes that were first identified as early acting regulators of asexual sporulation. Specifically, we found that loss-of-function mutations in flbA, which encodes a RGS domain protein, or dominant activating mutations in fadA, which encodes the alpha subunit of a heterotrimeric G protein, block both ST production and asexual sporulation. Moreover, overexpression of flbA or dominant interfering fadA mutations cause precocious stc gene expression and ST accumulation, as well as unscheduled sporulation. The requirement for flbA in sporulation and ST production could be suppressed by loss-of-function fadA mutations. The ability of flbA to activate stc gene expression was dependent upon another early acting developmental regulator, fluG, and AflR, the stc gene-specific transcription factor. These results are consistent with a model in which both asexual sporulation and ST production require inactivation of proliferative growth through inhibition of FadA-dependent signaling. This regulatory mechanism is conserved in AF-producing fungi and could therefore provide a means of controlling AF contamination.
On Gödel speed-up and succinctness of language representations

Abstract In this note we discuss the similarities and differences between Godel's result about non-recursive shortening of proofs of formal systems by additional axioms and the corresponding results about the succinctness of different representations of languages.
Construction of efficient tree networks: The pipeline problem

It is observed that sample cost functions for the pipeline problem [1] are discretely convex, i.e., their graphs are discrete subsets of graphs of convex functions. As a result, it is shown that the pipeline problem may be attacked by using either a minimum cost flow approach, or a combination of dynamic programming and sorting. Problems with concave cost functions are shown to be relatively easy. Even for problems which are neither convex nor concave, it is shown that in certain instances, only a subset of the data for each cost function is relevant. Error bounds are presented when approximations to the original cost functions are used. Results obtained in [4] for a related problem are summarized.
Glycogen phosphorylase of Neurospora crassa.

Abstract Glycogen phosphorylase (α-1,4-glucan: orthophosphate glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.1) was purified more than 1300-fold from cell-free extracts of Neurospora crassa . The final preparation, which has a specific activity of 146 units/mg protein, is at least 50% pure as judged by polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. The apparent molecular weight of the enzyme is a little higher than 320,000 as determined by gel filtration. The optimum pH of the enzyme is 6.5–7.0. Heavy metals and pCMB are inhibitory. The enzyme shows a decided preference for glycogen over amylose, amylopectin, and dextrin as the polyglucose primer. Glucose-1-phosphate and glycogen showed hyperbolic kinetics. The K m values for glucose-1-phosphate and glycogen are 0.82-1.1 × 10 −2 m and 9 mg/ml, respectively. Each K m value was independent of the concentration of the second substrate suggesting random and independent binding of the two substrates. Glucose ( K i = 2.3 × 10 −3 M), glucose-6-phosphate ( K i = 1.5 × 10 −3 M), ADPG ( K i = 2.0 × 10 −3 M), UDPG ( K i = 1.1 × 10 −3 M) and TDPG ( K i = 1.7 × 10 −3 M) are competitive inhibitors with respect to glucose-1-phosphate. UDPG and glucose-6-phosphate were both noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to glycogen. The inhibition of phosphorylase by UDPG and glucose-6-phosphate may play an important regulatory role in vivo . Fluoride showed slight (30–50%) activation of the enzyme. AMP showed a 2- to 3-fold stimulation. Both activators affected the V max of the reaction, but not the K m values. The enzyme was stabilized by glycogen (but not by glucose-1-phosphate) against denaturation at 37 °. Although the enzyme is nonparticulate, it could be co-centrifuged with glycogen at 48,000 g .
Simulation of Late Permian Climate and Biomes with an Atmosphere-Ocean Model: Comparisons with Observations

A climate model is used to simulate the climate of the Late Permian. The climate model employs more detailed prescriptions of land-ocean boundaries, topography, and inland lakes and seas than were used in previous climate simulations of supercontinents with idealized land-ocean boundaries and no topography. The presence of mountains and plateaus and of inland seas and lakes produce large differences in the simulated climate compared to simulations that omit these features. Mountains and plateaus become focal points for enhanced precipitation and also help to intensify the monsoon circulations. Extensive inland seas and lakes exert a strong local damping of the seasonal range of temperature and also cause changes beyond the lakes region due to dynamical and hydrological effects. Using the climate-biome classification scheme of Walter, the simulated distribution of climates-biomes is compared to the observed distribution of Late Permian vegetation-biomes. Agreement is good in all but two areas.
Surface Albedos and Angle-Corrected NDVI from AVHRR Observations of South America

Abstract This study investigated the use of a semiempirical land surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) model to derive surface spectral albedo and correct for angular effects on remotely sensed images. The Ambrals RossThick-LiSparse BRDF model has been applied to a 31-day multiangular data of daily global area coverage (GAC) images over South America in July 1987. A BRDF-based angle-corrected normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) image was generated along with corresponding images of land surface albedo in the visible and near-infrared bands, computed from the BRDF model parameters retrieved. For comparison, the monthly maximum value NDVI image and the land surface visible and near-infrared albedo images were created based on the corresponding single reflectance observations. Visual evaluation and histogram analysis of these images show evident differences between the surface spectral albedo images produced by the Ambrals BRDF model and those by the Lambertian conventional approach, and between the angle-corrected NDVI image and the monthly composite NDVI image. These differences were further explored for the area of the Large Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment (LBA) in Amazonia. Results indicate that 1) the angle-corrected NDVI is an improvement over the monthly maximum value NDVI with more consistency with surface properties, such as land cover type and vegetation height, and 2) the surface spectral albedo values calculated by the Ambrals BRDF model are in better agreement with these surface characterizations than the albedo values derived from a maximum-value composited reflectance. Due to limitations inherent in the AVHRR data, especially with respect to atmospheric correction, the results obtained are considered primarily as indicative of what will be possible with the global data sets to be obtained by NASA's MODIS and MISR sensors in the near future, illustrating the potential of using a surface BRDF model for advanced earth system studies.
ErbB3-binding protein EBP1 decreases ErbB2 levels via a transcriptional mechanism

Ectopic expression of EBP1, an ErbB3-interacting protein, reduces the expression of the ErbB2 protein and mRNA. However, the mechanism of EBP1-induced decrease in ErbB2 mRNA levels has not yet been determined. Since EBP1 affects both transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes, we evaluated the ability of EBP1 to regulate ErbB2 transcription and RNA stability. We discovered that while wild-type EBP1 decreased the activity of a proximal ErbB2 promoter, EBP1 mutants unable to interact with the Sin3A transcriptional repressor inhibited activity to a lesser extent. EBP1 also decreased the activity of distal ErbB2 promoters. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that EBP1 bound both distal and proximal endogenous ErbB2 promoters in serum-starved conditions. The ErbB3 ligand heregulin (HRG) at growth-promoting concentrations reduced EBP1 binding to the ErbB2 promoter. Although endogenous EBP1 bound ErbB2 mRNA, EBP1 overexpression or ablation of EBP1 protein by shRNA failed to alter ErbB2 mRNA stability. These results suggest that the major effect of EBP1 on ErbB2 mRNA levels is at the transcriptional level.