cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Experience with the Gore Hybrid Vascular Graft in Complex Revascularizations Demonstrates Safety and Efficacy.

Background Arterial revascularizations can present significant challenges when vessels are disadvantaged and advances in technology present the surgeon with innovative opportunities. A number of studies have used the GORE® Hybrid Vascular Graft (GHVG), and we have been using this device in arterial revascularizations since it came to market. The aim of this study is therefore to present a large single-center experience using the GHVG. This series presents patients with complex revascularizations in multiple vascular beds. Methods We retrospectively analyzed a single-center series of 43 patients who received a total of 56 GHVGs in complex revascularization procedures at Houston Methodist Hospital from March 2012 to April 2017. We excluded 5 patients (7 grafts in total) because of loss of follow-up. An additional 8 patients were excluded from the analysis (11 grafts in total) secondary to mortalities unrelated to their grafts (7 patients died during index hospitalization and 1 patient died shortly after discharge). Results Our results demonstrated an 18-month primary patency, assisted primary patency, and secondary patency of 82, 86, and 96%, respectively. These complex revascularizations included a total of 56 devices placed. GHVGs were placed in the external iliac artery (27/56), renal artery (12/56), common femoral artery (6/56), superficial femoral artery (4/56), common iliac artery (3/56), grafts (3/56), profunda femoris artery (1/56), and the superior mesenteric artery (1/56). Early mortality in patients (7/8) was because of the nature of their disease and not related to the surgical intervention. Conclusions The GHVG has the ability to create a sutureless anastomosis in a disadvantaged vessel or to promote a potentially better outcome by either avoiding prolonged ischemia to visceral branches or avoiding extensive abdominal or retroperitoneal exposure in an iliofemoral bypass. These results demonstrate the value of the GHVG in complex revascularizations not amenable to traditional open surgical bypass. Level of Evidence IV.
Sensitivity analysis of Monte Carlo model of a gantry-mounted passively scattered proton system

Purpose This study aimed to present guidance on the correlation between treatment nozzle and proton source parameters, and dose distribution of a passive double scattering compact proton therapy unit, known as Mevion S250. Methods All 24 beam options were modeled using the MCNPX MC code. The calculated physical dose for pristine peak, profiles, and spread out Bragg peak (SOBP) were benchmarked with the measured data. Track-averaged LET (LETt ) and dose-averaged LET (LETd ) distributions were also calculated. For the sensitivity investigations, proton beam line parameters including Average Energy (AE), Energy Spread (ES), Spot Size (SS), Beam Angle (BA), Beam Offset (OA), and Second scatter Offset (SO) from central Axis, and also First Scatter (FS) thickness were simulated in different stages to obtain the uncertainty of the derived results on the physical dose and LET distribution in a water phantom. Results For the physical dose distribution, the MCNPX MC model matched measurements data for all the options to within 2 mm and 2% criterion. The Mevion S250 was found to have a LETt between 0.46 and 8.76 keV.μm-1 and a corresponding LETd between 0.84 and 15.91 keV.μm-1 . For all the options, the AE and ES had the greatest effect on the resulting depth of pristine peak and peak-to-plateau ratio respectively. BA, OA, and SO significantly decreased the flatness and symmetry of the profiles. The LETs were found to be sensitive to the AE, ES, and SS, especially in the peak region. Conclusions This study revealed the importance of considering detailed beam parameters, and identifying those that resulted in large effects on the physical dose distribution and LETs for a compact proton therapy machine.
Energy Management for a Community Microgrid in the city of Boston

This study considers three different energy management strategies (dispatch strategies) applied, each at a time, to a stand-alone community microgrid assumed to be located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Although the microgrid does not interact with the main grid, and accordingly does not perform any energy trade activities; the results show that the energy management technique adapted by a microgrid controller highly affects the overall economics of the microgrid project. It dramatically affects the amount of clean energy generated whenever renewable energy generation systems are utilized within the microgrid, in addition to affecting the input and output system parameters.
Dreaming of the Future: Reflections of a Latina College Student Receiving DACA Protection in the Trump Era:

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program provides legal protection to enhance access for a narrow subcategory of undocumented immigrants. Following the presidential election, a ser...
Linking diverse salinity responses of 14 almond rootstocks with physiological, biochemical, and genetic determinants.

Fourteen commercial almond rootstocks were tested under five types of irrigation waters to understand the genetic, physiological, and biochemical bases of salt-tolerance mechanisms. Treatments included control (T1) and four saline water treatments dominant in sodium-sulfate (T2), sodium-chloride (T3), sodium-chloride/sulfate (T4), and calcium/magnesium-chloride/sulfate (T5). T3 caused the highest reduction in survival rate and trunk diameter, followed by T4 and T2, indicating that Na and, to a lesser extent, Cl were the most toxic ions to almond rootstocks. Peach hybrid (Empyrean 1) and peach-almond hybrids (Cornerstone, Bright’s Hybrid 5, and BB 106) were the most tolerant to salinity. Rootstock’s performance under salinity correlated highly with its leaf Na and Cl concentrations, indicating that Na+ and Cl- exclusion is crucial for salinity tolerance in Prunus. Photosynthetic rate correlated with trunk diameter and proline leaf ratio (T3/T1) significantly correlated with the exclusion of Na+ and Cl-, which directly affected the survival rate. Expression analyses of 23 genes involved in salinity stress revealed that the expression differences among genotypes were closely associated with their performance under salinity. Our genetic, molecular, and biochemical analyses allowed us to characterize rootstocks based on component traits of the salt-tolerance mechanisms, which may facilitate the development of highly salt-tolerant rootstocks.
Government in a Pandemic

When the threat of COVID-19 became apparent, some political commentators began arguing that Americans must accept much greater governmental intervention in their lives if the United States were to respond effectively to the disease. This idea was soon distilled into a pithy slogan: “There are no libertarians in a pandemic.” In fact, the government can respond effectively to the historic COVID-19 crisis while following the principles of limited government. However, federal, state, and local governments in the United States have done a poor job of identifying and implementing good policies for the pandemic that are compatible with those principles. Instead, policymakers have attempted interventions far beyond the powers of a properly limited government—with poor results. Americans and their political leaders are understandably worried about COVID-19 and its effects, both on human health and the economy. That worry may indeed lead some people to reflexively demand broad government intervention. But if the United States follows the principles of limited government, those principles will help see us through this crisis.
Screening thousands of transcribed coding and non-coding regions reveals sequence determinants of RNA polymerase II elongation potential

Abstract Organismal growth and development rely on RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) synthesizing the appropriate repertoire of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) from protein-coding genes. Productive elongation of full-length transcripts is essential for mRNA function, however what determines whether an engaged RNAPII molecule will terminate prematurely or transcribe processively remains poorly understood. Notably, despite a common process for transcription initiation across RNAPII-synthesized RNAs1, RNAPII is highly susceptible to termination when transcribing non-coding RNAs such as upstream antisense RNAs (uaRNAs) and enhancers RNAs (eRNAs)2, suggesting that differences arise during RNAPII elongation. To investigate the impact of transcribed sequence on elongation potential, we developed a method to screen the effects of thousands of INtegrated Sequences on Expression of RNA and Translation using high-throughput sequencing (INSERT-seq). We found that higher AT content in uaRNAs and eRNAs, rather than specific sequence motifs, underlies the propensity for RNAPII termination on these transcripts. Further, we demonstrate that 5’ splice sites exert both splicing-dependent and autonomous, splicing-independent stimulation of transcription, even in the absence of polyadenylation signals. Together, our results reveal a potent role for transcribed sequence in dictating gene output at mRNA and non-coding RNA loci, and demonstrate the power of INSERT-seq towards illuminating these contributions.
Strategies for Fast Fission Matrix Estimation with Fuel Temperature and Control Rod Feedback

Monte Carlo methods are useful for simulating new reactor designs, but even with advances in computing, these methods still require a significant amount of time to perform transient or multiphysics...
Abstract ND11: The discovery and characterization of ION-537: A next generation antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of YAP1 in preclinical cancer models

The tumor suppressive Hippo pathway is frequently dysregulated in cancer, resulting in the constitutive activation of YAP1 in a variety of solid cancers including hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) among others. Here, we identified potent next-generation constrained ethyl (cEt) antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively target either human or mouse YAP1 and evaluated these in several preclinical models of both HCC and HNSCC. In the genetically engineered mouse (GEM) model of HCC (Salvador KO mice) and in the carcinogen-induced models of HCC (diethylnitrosamine, DEN-induced HCC) systemic treatment with mouse YAP1 ASOs resulted in a marked reduction in YAP1 protein level in (~90% reduction) and strong regressions of established tumors. Interestingly, YAP1 ASO treatment also resulted in significant infiltration of T cells and myeloid lineage cells in the tumors in these immune-competent mouse models of HCC suggesting a role in immune activation. Consistent with this notion, YAP1 ASO treatment in combination with anti-PD1 antibody treatment led to enhanced antitumor activity. In HNSCC, loss of the tumor suppressor FAT1 is a frequent occurrence and results in activation and nuclear localization of YAP1. In a panel of human HNSCC cell lines, proliferation was strongly reduced by human YAP1 ASOs selectively in the cell lines harboring homozygous copy loss or nonsense mutations of FAT1 while minimal antiproliferative activity was observed in cells with wild type FAT1. Importantly, the nuclear localization of YAP1 appeared to be a key determining factor for the sensitivity of human HNSCC cells to YAP1 depletion by ASO. In vivo treatment of mice bearing human CAL33 tumors that harbor FAT1 mutation, YAP1 ASOs greatly reduced YAP1 expression in tumors and suppressed tumor growth in both subcutaneous and orthotopic models. Collectively, these results suggest a potential therapeutic use of YAP1 ASOs in the treatment of both HCC and HNSCC with YAP1 activation as a single agent or in combination with immuno-oncology drugs. Based on these finding broad human ASO clinical candidates screens were performed leading to the selection of ION-537, a potent ASO drug targeting human YAP1 has now advanced into human clinical trials in cancer patients with YAP1 activation. Citation Format: A. Robert Macleod. The discovery and characterization of ION-537: A next generation antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of YAP1 in preclinical cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr ND11.
Prescription Drug Monitoring and Child Maltreatment in the United States, 2004-2018.

Objective To test whether a policy approach aimed at reducing prescription drug misuse, specifically, state monitoring of controlled substance prescriptions—Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs)—were associated with changes in Child Protective Services-reported maltreatment prevalence. Study design Using a difference-in-differences design and maltreatment data (2004-2018) from 50 states and the District of Columbia, we compared the prevalence of total maltreatment incidents and total victims, in states with and without PDMPs, before and after implementation. Exploratory analyses further examined models disaggregated by maltreatment type (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse) and among different racial/ethnic groups. Quasi-Poisson models included state-level covariates, state- and year-fixed effects, and cluster-robust standard errors. Results Difference-in-differences models identified greater reductions in PDMP states relative to controls (total PR: 0.87 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.80, 0.940]; victimization PR: 0.92 [CI: 0.85, 0.98) over the observation period. Reductions appeared to be driven by changes in neglect (PR: 0.87 [CI: 0.80, 0.93]) and physical abuse (PR: 0.78 [CI: 0.71-0.87]) incidents, and may have been especially salient for American Indian/Alaskan Native children (PR: 0.78 [CI: 0.65, 0.94]). Conclusions We found evidence supporting an association between prescription drug monitoring and reduced maltreatment prevalence at the state-level. Policies aimed at restricting the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances, may have indirect implications for child welfare.
Analogy Through Vagueness

This article looks at legal analogy from a different perspective. Experts often present analogy through the lens of precision, focusing on a comparison of particulars. But astute advocates also use vagueness to draw analogies. My focus here is on this advocacy technique: the lawyer’s use of what I call vague analogical categories, sometimes in subtle ways, to alter perceptions. A litigator’s life is not a steady stream of perfectly on-point cases with ready application. Stepping back from the minutiae and taking a vague macro look at a case can yield potentially persuasive comparisons to precedent cases. And on a micro scale, lawyers can suggest or reinforce analogies by choosing language that’s imprecise enough to logically encompass otherwise distinct facts. These vague categories can reveal latent similarities and smooth over superficial or troubling factual differences, sometimes multiple times in the same sentence. Thus, although vagueness is often described in pejorative terms, it is, for the shrewd advocate, a sharp piece of rhetorical weaponry.
Intense Positron Beams: Linacs

Beams of monoenergetic positrons with energies of a few eV to many keV have been used in experiments in atomic physics, solid state physics and materials science. The production of positron beams from a new source, an electron linac, is described.
Stress, coping, and suicide risk in psychiatric inpatients.

The present study investigated the relationship between interpersonal problems, coping styles, and suicide risk. Seventy-one adult psychiatric inpatients completed a suicide risk scale, a measure of interpersonal problems, and a coping scale designed to measure eight coping styles. Patients admitted with a history of suicidal attempts were compared with patients admitted for other reasons. Interpersonal problems were found to be significantly and positively related to suicide risk. The coping style of "suppression" (tendency to avoid threatening or uncomfortable situations) was found to be significantly and positively related to suicide risk [F(2, 68) = 4.54, p < .01]. Several other coping styles were found to be significantly related to suicide risk. These findings are congruent with a "two-stage model of countervailing forces" and have both research and clinical implications.
Cimetidine in the treatment of acute alcoholic pancreatitis: A randomized, double-blind study

Abstract A double-blind study was made of the comparative effectiveness of cimetidine in the treatment of acute alcoholic pancreatitis. The study group was composed of 27 patients with acute episodes of alcoholic pancreatitis of mild to moderate severity. The patients were randomized into 2 groups, either receiving cimetidine, 300 mg four times daily or a placebo. Both groups were given intravenous fluids and meperidine hydrochloride (Demerol) as needed. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups as measured by a variety of clinical and laboratory parameters. The mean value of the daily serum amylase in the placebo group declined steadily to normal; hyperamylasemia in this group persisted for 52 ± 11 hr (mean ± SE). By contrast, serum amylase in the cimetidine group peaked at 24 hr after the start of treatment and remained abnormal slightly longer; the duration of hyperamylasemia in the group was 69 ± 10 hr. It is concluded that: (1) cimetidine is not superior to a placebo in the management of mild to moderately severe acute alcoholic pancreatitis and (2) serum amylase activity in patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis given cimetidine tends to be greater and hyperamylasemia is of somewhat longer duration than in those treated with a placebo.
Distributing Products Under the Nonprofit Institutions Act: Price Discrimination,Arbitrage, and Fraud in the Pharmaceutical Industry

In defined circumstances, the Robinson-Patman Act prohibits price discrimination, the practice by which a supplier sells at a low price to one purchaser but at a higher price to another. After the Robinson-Patman Act was enacted in 1936, some were concerned that the prohibition on price discrimination might prevent suppliers from granting price favors to charitable and other nonprofit institutions. In response, Congress enacted the 1938 Nonprofit Institutions Act which creates an exemption to the Robinson-Patman Act. The article analyzes the requirements of the Nonprofit Institutions Act exemption in the context of the current practice of price discrimination in the pharmaceutical industry. The article provides examples of "own use" clauses that drug manufacturers employ in distribution contracts, not only to make their price discrimination strategies successful in the marketplace, but also to bring those strategies within the Nonprofit Institutions Act exemption. Analysis of "own use" clauses confirms that the requirements of the exemption are not understood and that, at least in some cases, the "own use" clauses fail to bring price discrimination strategies within the exemption. The article also addresses a concern that arises because of recent criminal actions against distributors in the pharmaceutical industry. Mail fraud charges have been brought against distributors who have disregarded "own use" clauses and engaged in arbitrage, the practice of diverting drugs and reselling to those who would otherwise pay a higher price from the supplier. A concern arises, however, if the "own use" clauses are integral to a prohibited price discrimination strategy and, therefore, are unenforceable in a civil action as contrary to public policy. Criminal sanctions in such a case would punish individuals for failing to adhere to a contract clause that is tainted with illegality.
Modeling the effect of high dead‐space syringes on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic among injecting drug users

Aims To illustrate the impact of different proportions of injecting drug users (IDUs) sharing high dead-space syringes (HDSS) or low dead-space syringes (LDSS) on the probability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission; and thus the impact on injection-related HIV prevalence and incidence. Design A stochastic mathematical model was used to evaluate the impact of HDSS use in high- and low-risk IDU populations. Model parameters were obtained from peer-reviewed publications. Analytical solutions of a simplified deterministic model were obtained to explain the effect of HDSS on HIV endemic states. Findings Simulation analysis shows that the HIV epidemic could be sustained even when a small percentage of sharing (10%) involved HDSS. The effect is much stronger in high-risk compared with low-risk populations. Steady state HIV prevalence increases with the proportion of HDSS, and for high- and low-risk populations reaches around 80% and 20%, respectively. For low-risk populations, the use of LDSS could result in the virtual elimination of HIV. These results are dependent upon an evidence-supported assumption of a significant difference in HIV transmission risk associated with HDSS versus LDSS. Conclusions Our models suggest that injection-related HIV epidemics may not occur when most (e.g. 95% or more) IDUs use LDSS. While these results are based on indirect risk measures and a number of simplifying assumptions, the effect of blood retained in high dead-space syringes on HIV prevalence seems to be very strong, even using relatively conservative assumptions. The findings have potential implications for needle exchange programs and the types of syringes produced and distributed world-wide.
Enzymologic mechanism of replicative DNA polymerases in higher eukaryotes.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the results of enzymologic experiments performed originally with the pol-α catalytic core, subsequently with the pol- α holoenzyme, and most recently with the pol-δ catalytic core. Pol-α and pol-δ follow similar ordered sequential terreactant mechanisms of substrate recognition and binding. For both polymerases, the first substrate bound is template. This observation has two clear implications for in vivo replication. First, to initiate DNA synthesis, both enzymes would require single-stranded DNA template— that is, first substrate. Second, neither pol-α nor pol-δ should be able to fill a gap efficiently. Once template size was reduced below the necessary minimum, both enzymes would presumably lack the first substrate and would dissociate from the DNA. Comparable studies of pol-є have not yet been performed. Results of the experiments with pol-α and pol-δ have provided fundamental and presumably general information regarding the basic mechanisms of replicative DNA polymerases, as well as novel insights into the fidelity of DNA replication, the interaction of DNA polymerases with template-primers containing chemically modified or damaged bases, and the mechanism of polymerase translocation along templates.
“Caught Up”: How Urban Violence and Peer Ties Contribute to High School Noncompletion

While research shows growing up in urban neighborhoods increases the likelihood of not completing high school, it remains unclear what mechanism facilitates this process and why some youth are more vulnerable than others. This study addresses this gap by drawing on interviews with male, Latino high school graduates and noncompleters in Los Angeles. Interviews reveal urban violence is the most salient feature of urban neighborhoods and consequential for school completion. In an effort to avoid victimization male youth exposed to urban violence draw on male peer ties for protection. Inherent in these social ties, as in other forms of social capital, are expectations and obligations. I find that an orientation that privileges these expectations and obligations—and not specifically an anti-school orientation—gets male youth “caught up” in behavior counterproductive to school completion, like being truant with peers and getting expelled for “backing them” in a fight. I find not all urban youth adopt this orientation because youth are differentially exposed to the neighborhood. Family and school institutional factors limit some youth's time in the neighborhood, buffering them from urban violence. These youth then bypass the opportunity and need to draw on male peer ties for protection. Not having to employ these “strategies of action,” they avoid getting “caught up” and experience higher chances to graduate. This study argues that to understand the cultural orientation that guides behavior that contributes to school noncompletion requires accounting for how the threat of violence punctuates and organizes the daily lives of male urban youth.
Author name disambiguation in MEDLINE

Background: We recently described “Author-ity,” a model for estimating the probability that two articles in MEDLINE, sharing the same author name, were written by the same individual. Features include shared title words, journal name, coauthors, medical subject headings, language, affiliations, and author name features (middle initial, suffix, and prevalence in MEDLINE). Here we test the hypothesis that the Author-ity model will suffice to disambiguate author names for the vast majority of articles in MEDLINE. Methods: Enhancements include: (a) incorporating first names and their variants, email addresses, and correlations between specific last names and affiliation words; (b) new methods of generating large unbiased training sets; (c) new methods for estimating the prior probability; (d) a weighted least squares algorithm for correcting transitivity violations; and (e) a maximum likelihood based agglomerative algorithm for computing clusters of articles that represent inferred author-individuals. Results: Pairwise comparisons were computed for all author names on all 15.3 million articles in MEDLINE (2006 baseline), that share last name and first initial, to create Author-ity 2006, a database that has each name on each article assigned to one of 6.7 million inferred author-individual clusters. Recall is estimated at ∼98.8p. Lumping (putting two different individuals into the same cluster) affects ∼0.5p of clusters, whereas splitting (assigning articles written by the same individual to >1 cluster) affects ∼2p of articles. Impact: The Author-ity model can be applied generally to other bibliographic databases. Author name disambiguation allows information retrieval and data integration to become person-centered, not just document-centered, setting the stage for new data mining and social network tools that will facilitate the analysis of scholarly publishing and collaboration behavior. Availability: The Author-ity 2006 database is available for nonprofit academic research, and can be freely queried via http://arrowsmith.psych.uic.edu.
The putative GTPase encoded by MTG3 functions in a novel pathway for regulating assembly of the small subunit of yeast mitochondrial ribosomes.

Very little is known about biogenesis of mitochondrial ribosomes. The GTPases encoded by the nuclear MTG1 and MTG2 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been reported to play a role in assembly of the ribosomal 54 S subunit. In the present study biochemical screens of a collection of respiratory deficient yeast mutants have enabled us to identify a third gene essential for expression of mitochondrial ribosomes. This gene codes for a member of the YqeH family of GTPases, which we have named MTG3 in keeping with the earlier convention. Mutations in MTG3 cause the accumulation of the 15 S rRNA precursor, previously shown to have an 80-nucleotide 5′ extension. Sucrose gradient sedimentation of mitochondrial ribosomes from temperature-sensitive mtg3 mutants grown at the permissive and restrictive temperatures, combined with immunobloting with subunit-specific antibodies, indicate that Mtg3p is required for assembly of the 30 S but not 54 S ribosomal subunit. The respiratory deficient growth phenotype of an mtg3 null mutant is partially rescued by overexpression of the Mrpl4p constituent located at the peptide exit site of the 54 S subunit. The rescue is accompanied by an increase in processed 15 S rRNA. This suggests that Mtg3p and Mrpl4p jointly regulate assembly of the small subunit by modulating processing of the 15 S rRNA precursor. Background: Assembly of the 54 S subunit of yeast mitochondrial ribosomes is assisted by two GTPases encoded by MTG1 and MTG2. Results: Processing of the 15 S rRNA precursor is blocked in mtg3 mutants. Conclusion: MTG3 codes for a putative GTPase that regulates processing and assembly of the 15 S rRNA precursor. Significance: The pathways for biogenesis of fungal mitochondrial and bacterial ribosomes employ conserved GTPases.
Value at Risk Calculations, Extreme Events, and Tail Estimation

Value at risk has become a standard approach for estimating and expressing a firm9s exposure to market risk. Unlike the traditional risk measure, standard deviation, VaR focuses only on the tail of the distribution of outcomes - the extreme events. This makes a lot of sense in theory, but a major problem arises in practice, because empirical returns distributions tend to have tails that look quite different from those of the normal and lognormal distributions that we typically assume in finance. Extreme value theory offers an elegant solution. Like the familiar central limit theorem, which proves that under general conditions the distribution of the average of n identically distributed random variables will converge to the normal as n grows large, extreme value theory provides similar convergence results for the extreme tails of distributions. In this article, Neftci gives a clear and intuitive introduction to extreme value theory and demonstrates how to use it. In an example applying it to forecasting the tails of the distributions of interest rate and exchange rate changes, extreme value theory is shown to be much more accurate than the standard value at risk calculated from the normal distribution.
Limited accuracy and reliability of infrared axillary and aural thermometers in a pediatric outpatient population.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of infrared axillary and aural thermometers in the outpatient setting. Study design: A prospective observational study of infrared axillary, aural, and digital rectal temperature values from 198 children, aged 3 to 36 months (mean, 1.3 years). Results: Sensitivity and specificity of the axillary thermometer for rectal fever were 63.5% and 92.6%, respectively (diagnostic accuracy, 83.3%); those for the aural thermometer were 68.3% and 94.8%, respectively (diagnostic accuracy, 86.4%). For all patients, the mean biases of the axillary and aural temperatures were −0.33°F and −0.24°F, respectively. The biases of both thermometers' measurements were significantly correlated with rectal temperature ( P P Conclusion: Axillary and aural infrared thermometers were comparable, albeit significantly different than rectal temperature measurements, particularly as the child's age and rectal temperature increased. These thermometers may be useful as noninvasive screening methods in outpatient settings for children who are at least 3 months old, but rectal values should be used for clinical accuracy. (J Pediatr 2002;141:671-6)
Multiple Dimensions of Private Information: Evidence from the Long-Term Care Insurance Market

We demonstrate the existence of multiple dimensions of private information in the long-term care insurance market. Two types of people purchase insurance: individuals with private information that they are high risk and individuals with private information that they have strong taste for insurance. Ex post, the former are higher risk than insurance companies expect, while the latter are lower risk. In aggregate, those with more insurance are not higher risk. Our results demonstrate that insurance markets may suffer from asymmetric information even absent a positive correlation between insurance coverage and risk occurrence. The results also suggest a general test for asymmetric information.
Integrated prostate cancer centers and over-utilization of IMRT: a close look at fee-for-service medicine in radiation oncology.

The United States spends almost 2.5 times more per capita on health care than other developed countries (1), yet produces comparably poor outcomes on measures such as life expectancy and disease specific mortality (2). Overutilization of expensive health care technology is a principal driver of this disparity (3). Radiation oncology will increasingly be under scrutiny as a significant contributor to this problem given the high cost of the technology and paucity of data supporting the use of newer, more expensive modalities (4). One analysis estimates that small-scale reform designed to restrict inappropriate use of radiotherapy could save the Medicare fee-for-service program $5.3 billion over 10 years (5). Although many factors influence the use of health care resources, ownership of expensive technology by referring physicians is known to substantially increase expenditures (6). A 1993 New England Journal of Medicine study found that joint ventures in which a non-radiation oncologist refers patients for radiation therapy on equipment in which they have an ownership interest perform 58% more procedures and bill 48% more than non-conflicted practices (7). These data are problematic, considering the new wave of integrated prostate cancer centers in which urologists acquire an ownership interest in the intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) equipment to which they refer patients. At least two companies, UroRad Healthcare and American Kidney Stone Management, are helping to drive the trend by marketing turnkey IMRT centers to urologists. In the traditional UroRad model, a group of urologists invests $3 million in equipment, information technology, and supplies; hires a salaried radiation oncologist for onsite work; and makes use of the company’s centralized, remote dosimetry (8). Because the technical and professional fees combine to approach $50,000 per patient treated with IMRT, there is a clear incentive to refer patients for radiation therapy who might be better served by prostatectomy, brachytherapy, or active
A Miniature Methanol/Air Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

A design for a miniaturized methanol/air polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is described. The design incorporates all the basic parts of a large methanol/air PEFC in a smaller, simpler package. The electrodes for the mini‐HPEFC are constructed via standard microelectromechanical systems and microelectronic fabrication techniques using silicon substrates. Testing results show that the design successfully miniaturizes a large methanol/air PEFC and that such mini‐PEFCs are able to perform to the levels of large cells in terms of current density. ©2000 The Electrochemical Society
Thermal, optical, and elastic properties of ferroelastic isopropyl ammonium chloroplatinate (IPACP) and chlorostannate (IPACS)

Isopropyl ammonium chloroplatinate (NH3C3H7)2PtCl6 and isopropyl ammonium chlorostannate (NH3C3H7)2SnCl6 are ferroelastic at temperatures below 37 and 40°C, respectively. Phase transition studies are made by using differential thermal analysis, specific heat measurements, X-ray diffraction, optical absorption, indicatrix tilt, birefringence, and elastic constant measurements at various temperatures encompassing the ferroelastic phase change. A weak martensitic transition is observed in the optical, thermal, and elastic data. Elastic measurements at 20 MHz do not show the significant softening of the lattice at the phase change and thus can not reveal the proper nature of the ferroelastic transition. Isopropylammoniumchloroplatinat (NH3C3H7)2PtCl6 und Isopropylammoniumchlorostannat (NH3C3H7)2SnCl6 sind bei Temperaturen unterhalb 37 bzw. 40°C ferroelastisch. Mittels differentieller Thermoanalyse, Messungen der spezifischen Warme, Rontgenbeugung, optischer Absorption, Kippung der Indikatrix, Doppelbrechung und Messungen der elastischen Konstanten bei verschiedenen Temperaturen, die die ferroelastische Phasenanderung einschliesen, werden Untersuchungen des Phasenubergangs durchgefuhrt. Ein schwacher Martensitubergang wird in den optischen und thermischen und elastischen Werten beobachtet. Elastische Messungen bei 20 MHz zeigen nicht die signifikante Erweichung des Gitters bei der Phasenanderung und konnen somit nicht die Natur des ferroelastischen Ubergangs klaren.
Media Content as Social Indicators: The Greenfield Index of Agenda-Setting

The idea that measures of mass media content might complement survey research in monitoring social change is as old as public opinion polling itself. This article argues for social indicators to parallel economic indicators based on media content. Developed here is one such indicator, the "Green field Index" of Readers' Guide entries. Usefulness of such an index is argued in terms of recent findings on the "agenda-setting" function of the media, which imply that public attitudes and opinions may be more closely correlated with media coverage than with more objective social conditions. This is illustrated with four separate measures of the "drug problem" among American youth in the late 1960s and early 1970s, which suggest that media indicators are as good as objective measures and poll data for monitoring change. Usefulness of the Greenfield Index is demonstrated in two applications: (1) to decomposition of the issue of race relations into more subtle component shifts in media attention, and (2) the expos...
Development and Validation of a Mathematical Model for the Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silica from Mixtures of Chlorosilanes, Carbon Dioxide, and Hydrogen

A detailed surface reaction mechanism is formulated for the deposition of SiO 2 from SiCl 4 /CO 2 /H 2 and CH 3 SiCl 3 /CO 2 /H 2 mixtures. The heterogeneous mechanism is coupled to a homogeneous model developed in a past study for the decomposition of chlorosilanes in CO 2 and H 2 , and the overall kinetic model is introduced into the transport and reaction model of a plug-flow reactor. The model is employed to investigate the sensitivity of the predicted deposition rates, surface coverages of adsorbed species, and gas-phase composition on the residence time in the reactor and the operating conditions. It is found that the concentrations of the gas-phase species (silicon species and oxygen species) that are responsible for silica deposition are strongly influenced by the occurrence of the heterogeneous reactions, and this in turn leads to strong dependence of the deposition rate profile on the reactor geometry (deposition surface to reactor volume ratio). For comparable silicon and oxygen loadings of the feed, the concentrations of the deposition precursors are much higher when methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) is used as silicon source. As a result, the rate of silicon oxide deposition from MTS can be higher by a few orders of magnitude. Experiments on silica deposition conducted in our laboratory showed that this is indeed the case, and that the overall transport and reaction model was found to be capable of reproducing, both qualitatively and quantitatively, all results obtained in those experiments.
Promotional effects of testosterone and dietary fat on prostate carcinogenesis in genetically susceptible rats.

Germfree (GF) Lobund strain Wistar (LW) rats, fed vegetable diet L-485, have developed prostate adenocarcinomas spontaneously (10% incidence) at average age 34 months. Conventional LW rats, implanted with testosterone at age 4 months, developed a higher incidence of prostate cancer after an average interval of 14 months: 24% had developed gross tumors, and 40% when it included microscopic tumors. Preliminary results indicate that testosterone-treated LW rats that were fed the same diet, which was supplemented with corn oil up to 20% fat, developed prostate cancer after intervals of 6–12 months. Aged GF Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats have not developed prostate cancer spontaneously. Conventional SD rats fed diet L-485 and treated with testosterone developed only prostatitis. Experimental designs should consider genetic susceptibility as a basic prerequisite for studies on experimental prostate cancer.
Novel lensed-fiber offset coupling scheme to reduce reflected intensity noise in optimizing carrier-to-noise ratio

Abstract Fiber-coupled laser diodes are indispensable for optical fiber communications. The design of laser–fiber coupling is often guided by maximizing the optical power coupled into fiber, and by relaxing the fiber–laser alignment tolerances. Many of those fiber-optic designs are susceptible to optical back-reflections from the fiber resulting in not only a reduced coupling efficiency but also an increased optical noise of the signal. For many optical fiber communications, the most important parameter is not necessarily the coupling efficiency, but the quality of optical signal coupled into the fiber characterized by the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR). This paper reports a novel laser–fiber coupling design for the purpose of optimizing the CNR. This new design involves the use of an intentional offset between the lensed fiber and laser. Though such offset has been studied previously in the context of coupling optics, it is never studied in the context of RIN and CNR. The results enable one to optimize the design of any laser–fiber coupling with respect to CNR.
Watching the Borders of Administrative Evil: Human Volition and Policy Intention

This article assesses the utility of Adams and Balfour?s treatment of administrative evil (Unmasking Administrative Evil) for diagnosing what Perrow calls the "difficult and messy" cases in mainstream public management. It reexamines the human dimension and public policy context as boundaries of administrative evil, articulating four alternative explanations of evil in public agency settings, one of which aligns closely with Adams and Balfour?s ideas. A subsequent section presents a case study that depicts how the Florida Department of Children and Families weathered its recent difficulties accounting for, and providing for the safety of, foster care children. The Florida case offers points of reference for evaluating the four explanations of evil. Finally, case events invite assessment of how administrative evil can explain the suffering inflicted on children in the Florida foster care system. This discussion also explores the relevance of this analytical approach in studying provocative administrative actions in other global settings.
New estimates of the determinants of urban crime

New tests of the utility maximizing model of criminal behavior, first proposed by Becker, are performed. These tests use newer data than has previously been available. The data are for 1960 and 1970 and for sixty cities. Ordinary least squares and two stage least squares methods are used.
An Impact Evaluation of a Rural Youth Drug Education Program.

This impact evaluation examined the effects of a mixed affective-cognitive drug education program on rural northern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin sixth and seventh grade students' substance use health beliefs and behaviors utilizing a nonequivalent control group evaluation design. The data suggested that alcohol use in this population was about three and a half times greater than national averages for similar age groups. Marihuana, cigarette, and cocaine use were equal to national rates. The treatment group did not have lower substance use rates or more favorable health beliefs than the comparison group at the conclusion of the program. This paper describes the drug use prevalence rates and health beliefs of 265 youth in rural northern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin, as well as the outcomes of a comprehensive drug education program.
An Undergraduate Practicum in Community Mental Health.

This report describes a year-long undergraduate course in community mental health, combining didactic and practicum elements. Following 10 weeks of content, 48 advanced psychology majors spent six months working as group leaders with chronic hospitalized schizophrenics or in after-school programs for primary-grade children experiencing adjustment difficulties. Reactions of installations and participants are reviewed and implications of this type of course model and orientation to training are considered. The goals of developing community mental health programs, research, graduate training in the helping professions, and undergraduate education are seen as mutually supportive and highly complementary, in this area.
Marx and Weber on Liberalism as Bourgeois Ideology

Almost everyone who has investigated the subject agrees that between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries a great social transformation occurred, primarily in England and France, but to a lesser extent in other European countries and America as well. In sociopolitical terms this change is generally characterized as the rise of liberalism and is linked with the English, French and American Revolutions. The socioeconomic factors are summarized under the general heading of the industrial revolution and the rise of capitalism. Finally, there are several cultural dimensions to these changes, most notably the Protestant Reformation, but also the great advances in science, the declining status of the patriarchal family, new trends in philosophy, etc. It is generally felt that these dramatic events, which have shaped the course of Western civilization for four centuries, are, in some way, linked together.
Further evidence of wave refraction associated with extended rarefaction events in the solar wind

[1] We examine the turbulence and low-frequency wave properties of three extended rarefaction intervals observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft in 1999 and 2002 while in orbit at L1. The proton densities drop to values lower than 1 cm−3 and in one case reach 0.1 cm−3. During each interval, the amplitudes of magnetic fluctuations fall to unusually low levels. Moreover, the fluctuations that are present are more Alfvenic in nature than in the typical low-latitude wind. The constant and near average interplanetary magnetic field during these times results in elevated Alfven speeds. We suggest that the relative isolation of the rarefaction intervals from sources of turbulence-generating transients allows wave refraction to become a significant dynamic controlling the evolution of the magnetized plasma. We present analyses of the intervals that support the hypothesis that wave refraction explains the reduced fluctuation levels and enhanced Alfvenicity during these times.
Establishing a space sector for sustainable development in Kenya

To expeditiously address fundamental national development needs e.g., health, education, food security and natural resource management; Kenya needs to invoke space-based technologies. A vibrant domestic space sector further spawns a plethora of other space-related opportunities – congruous with the government’s long-term planning strategy; Kenya Vision 2030. We specifically analyse Kenya’s technological environment, and then characterize phase-by-phase technological evolution it requires to establish a space sector and become self-reliant in space technology for sustainable development. Kenya needs to build human, organisational and societal capacity through ‘leapfrogging’ technology transfer mechanisms. Mastering satellite engineering, earth observation and acquiring launch capability constitute the priority areas.
Cognitive style and complex concept acquisition

Abstract College undergraduates classified by the Hidden Figures Test as high, medium, or low analytic studied one of two lesson types. Both lessons taught four complex nondimensioned concepts from the area of social learning by presenting a definition followed by either positive examples or positive and negative examples. Immediate acquisition was assessed by a test requiring subjects to identify positive and negative examples. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction on the dependent variable requiring the identification of positive examples.