cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations between Depressive Symptoms and 30-day Hospital Readmission among Older Adults.

Abstract Background: Hospital readmissions are common and costly. Our goal was to determine the association between depressive symptoms and readmission within 30 days following hospital discharge in older adults. Methods: We analyzed data from a study of 789 persons aged 65 years or older admitted to a 20-bed acute care for elders (ACE) hospital unit from May 2009 to July 2011. Depressive symptoms were recorded within 24-hours of admission to the hospital unit, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies -Depression (CES-D) Scale. The primary outcome was readmission to hospital within 30 days of discharge. Results: The mean age was 77 years; 66% were female, 72% were White, and 59% were unmarried. On average, older patients reported 2.6 comorbid conditions. Sixteen percent were classified with high depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16). The readmission rate within 30 days was 15%. Older patients with high depressive symptoms had more than 1.6 times the odds (OR 1.66; 95% CI: 1.01-2.74) of being readmitted within 30-days, as compared to those with low depressive symptoms (CES-D<16), after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, sex, marital status and comorbid conditions. Conclusion: High depressive symptoms increased the risk of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge after adjusting for relevant covariates. In-hospital screening for depressive symptoms may identify older persons at risk for recurrent hospital admissions.
Some Issues in Modeling User Behavior Data in Systems of Engagement

The proliferation of mobile devices has changed the way digital information is consumed and its efficacy measured. These personal mobile devices know a lot about the user behavior from the sensors and activities performed by the user. This data can be used to provide a lot of personalized information to the user, and a measure of effectiveness of the information to the information providers. However, there are lot of challenges in modeling and storing such data from these systems of engagement so that there is a right balance of the redundancy in the data stored, and the usefulness of the data for analysis. In this paper we present an architecture and issues of modeling such user behavior data from different activities a user does on the mobile device while consuming some information. The user behavior data is modeled as NOSQL JSON documents and sent to a cloud backend where some simple MapReduce analytics can be done to understand different aspects of user preferences and information effectiveness.
In-line dimensional metrology for nanomanufacturing systems

One of the major challenges in nanoscale manufacturing is defect control because it is difficult to measure nanoscale features in-line with the manufacturing process. Optical inspection typically is not an option at the nanoscale level due to the diffraction limit of light, and without inspection high scrap rates can occur. Therefore, this paper presents an atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based inspection system that can be rapidly implemented in-line with other nanomanufacturing processes. Atomic force microscopy is capable of producing very high resolution (sub-nm-scale) surface topology measurements and is widely utilized in scientific and industrial applications, but has not been implemented in-line with manufacturing systems, primarily because of the large setup time typically required to take an AFM measurement. In order to overcome this limitation, we have developed a single-chip-AFM-based inspection system where a wafer can be precisely and repeatably loaded into the setup and measurements can be taken in under 60 seconds. This inspection system consists of several single-chip AFMs integrated into a positioning stage to make measurements at multiple spots on a wafer at the same time. Each single-chip AFM is a MEMS device that is approximately 2 mm wide by 1 mm tall and is capable of scanning a 10 micron by 10 micron area. Thermal actuators in the MEMS device are used to do the scanning in both the x and y directions as well as to excite the z axis of the AFM so that it can be run in taping mode. Each AFM is attached to a flexure stage in the top plate of the inspection system so that the AFM can be precisely moved to the desired inspection location on the wafer. The flexure plate is coupled to the inspection plate using a kinematic coupling so that the flexure plate can be precisely located with respect to the inspection plate after each loading operation. In order to take a measurement, the flexure plate is removed from the inspection plate, a wafer is loaded into the inspection plate using an exactly constrained, passive alignment system, and the flexure plate is then placed back onto the inspection plate. This brings the AFMs back into contact with the surface that is to be measured and the AFMs can then start taking measurements without any additional alignment operations. The overall measurement procedure takes less than one minute, which is faster than most nanomanufacturing processes. This guarantees that the inspection step will not be the bottleneck in the manufacturing process.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy include gestational hypertension, chronic hypertension, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is defined as hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation plus signs or symptoms of end-organ damage. Proteinuria is no longer required to make the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Hydralazine, labetalol, and nifedipine are all considered first-line medications for the acute treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy. Patients with preeclampsia with severe features require magnesium sulfate therapy for prophylaxis against eclampsia. Magnesium sulfate is the drug of choice for treatment of eclamptic seizures. The definitive treatment of preeclampsia, eclampsia, and HELLP syndrome is delivery. Depending on maternal condition and gestational age, transfer to a tertiary facility may be required.
Do Sideline Concussion Assessments Predict Subsequent Neurocognitive Impairment After Sport-Related Concussion?

Context: Comprehensive, multidomain assessment is the standard of care after sport-related concussion. However, the relationship between performance on sideline concussion-assessment tools and in-...
Morphogenesis along the animal-vegetal axis: fates of primary quartet micromere daughters in the gastropod Crepidula fornicata

The Spiralia are a large, morphologically diverse group of protostomes (e.g. molluscs, annelids, nemerteans) that share a homologous mode of early development called spiral cleavage. One of the most highly-conserved features of spiralian development is the contribution of the primary quartet cells, 1a-1d, to the anterior region of the embryo (including the brain, eyes, and the anterior ciliary band, called the prototroch). Yet, very few studies have analyzed the ultimate fates of primary quartet sub-lineages, or examined the morphogenetic events that take place in the anterior region of the embryo. This study focuses on the caenogastropod slipper snail, Crepidula fornicata, a model for molluscan developmental biology. Through direct lineage tracing of primary quartet daughter cells, and examination of these cells during gastrulation and organogenesis stages, we uncovered behaviors never described before in a spiralian. For the first time, we show that the 1a2-1d2 cells do not contribute to the prototroch (as they do in other species) and are ultimately lost before hatching. During gastrulation and anterior-posterior axial elongation stages, these cells cleavage-arrest and spread dramatically, contributing to a thin provisional epidermis on the dorsal side of the embryo. This spreading is coupled with the displacement of the animal pole, and other pretrochal cells, closer to the ventrally-positioned mouth, and the vegetal pole. This is the first study to document the behavior and fate of primary quartet sub-lineages among molluscs. We speculate that the function of 1a2-1d2 cells (in addition to two cells derived from 1d12, and the 2b lineage) is to serve as a provisional epithelium that allows for anterior displacement of the other progeny of the primary quartet towards the anterior-ventral side of the embryo. These data support a new and novel mechanism for axial bending, distinct from canonical models in which axial bending is suggested to be driven primarily by differential proliferation of posterior dorsal cells. These data suggest also that examining sub-lineages in other spiralians will reveal greater variation than previously assumed.
A workflow and protocol describing the field to digitization process for new project-based fossil leaf collections

Premise of the study This article provides a workflow and protocol for paleobotanical researchers that integrates project-based fossil leaf specimen and data collection with curation and digitization. The methods aim to facilitate efficient digitization of new collections by researchers during the course of their study and promote public databasing of new specimen and project data. Methods and results The workflow was developed and refined to facilitate a project reconstructing an extensive fossil forest from leaf impressions/compressions. The workflow consists of field, museum, and data mobilization components. Customizing a workspace and streamlining all steps of specimen data collection, curation, and digitization into an integrated processing pipeline resulted in faster accumulation of specimen data and images. Conclusions These protocols provide paleobotanists with logistics-focused methods for integrating research with digitization, and are particularly applicable at institutions with limited collection support staff or when specimen images are needed for project purposes.
The Problem of Knowledge

You are about to read a study of epistemology, one which has been made from a realistic standpoint. It is not the first of such interpretations, and it will not be the last. The special thesis that distinguishes this realistic epistemology from the others is called ‘adaptive knowing’, because it describes the various moves made by the individual in his efforts to cope with knowledge. It assumes that there is a feedback from knowledge which conditions further learning. It assumes also that the cognitive process is a stage process, and that the stages are those involving the acquisition, the assimilation, and the deployment of knowledge.
Physiological Function of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction

HPV clearly has a physiologic role in the fetus to divert blood flow from the lungs to the systemic circulation. Once out of the uterus, the human lung continues to display alveolar HPV. The usefulness of alveolar HPV to enhance gas exchange in normal people and patients with small airways dysfunction is based on limited studies but seems real. HPV, however, loses its effectiveness at preserving gas exchange in the presence of more diffuse hypoxia, as occurs in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary fibrosis. Diffuse alveolar hypoxia may, however, contribute to the cor pulmonale seen in these diseases and to the pulmonary hypertension of altitude or hypoventilation. Since the strength of alveolar HPV acutely does not correlate with the magnitude of pulmonary hypertension in chronic diffuse hypoxia, hypoxia may induce pulmonary vascular remodeling by a direct effect on the vessel walls as well.
A systematic review of research design and modeling techniques in inpatient bed management

Abstract The proper allocation of limited hospital bed resources is a complex problem caused by uncertainties in patient length of stay, fluctuations in demands, unexpected admission decisions, patient recover status, and other factors. Hospitals in the United States usually have a dedicated bed allocation team that assigns the beds and works as a bridge between the resource departments (such as emergency department (ED), operating rooms (OR), labor and delivery (L&D), and referrals) and the inpatient units (such as intensive care units (ICU), step-down units, and medical or surgical units). Prolonged inpatient length of stay because of non-clinical need increases hospitals cost and can reduce patient satisfaction. This paper provides a systematic review of recent research on inpatient bed management and evaluates a range of problem definitions, measuring metrics, and decision support techniques in the reviewed studies. We search related articles from 2013 to 2017 on Google Scholar, PubMed, and Levy Library databases using keywords such as “bed management,” “bed assignment,” “bed planning,” and “bed allocation.” We categorize and classify these articles based on the problem settings (e.g. various practices, measurement metrics, or in-scope units) and applied methodologies (e.g. queueing theory, simulation, integer programming, etc.). Moreover, recent research trends, research gaps, and future research directions on inpatient bed management are summarized and presented at the end of this study. As a high-level conclusion, simulation modeling is the dominant technique being used in studying inpatient bed management, and there are opportunities in considering system-wide inpatient flow, applying heuristic methods, and integrating predictive models in inpatient bed management and allocation optimization.
The Psychology of State Repression: Fear and Dissent Decisions in Zimbabwe

Many authoritarian regimes use frightening acts of repression to suppress dissent. Theory from psychology suggests that emotions should affect how citizens perceive and process information about repression risk and ultimately whether or not they dissent. I test the effects of emotions on dissent in autocracy by running a lab-in-the-field experiment with 671 opposition supporters in Zimbabwe that randomly assigns some participants to an exercise that induces a mild state of fear, whereas others complete a neutral placebo. The fear treatment significantly reduces hypothetical and behavioral measures of dissent by substantively large amounts. It also increases pessimism about parameters that enter into the dissent decision as well as risk aversion. These results show that emotions interact in important ways with strategic considerations. Fear may be a powerful component of how unpopular autocrats exclude large portions of their populations from mobilizing for regime change.
A mathematical description of PO4-transport in the red blood cell

1. A two compartment system for the exchange of inorganic P in the red blood cell and the plasma in blood is worked out in detail. 2. Data on the passage of inorganic P between the plasma and the red blood cell obtained with32P are interpreted on this model and give 8.65µg of P as inorganic P per minute in 100 ml of blood while the sickle cell exchange is 10.5µg per minute. 3. A coefficient of inhibition is defined from the parameters. The data reveal that sodium fluoride inhibits the transport of inorganic P in the normal case but has no effect upon transport in the sickle cell samples. 4. Our interpretation of these results is that the transport system involved is already defective in the sickle cell samples.
Development of the multigroup cross section library for the CASL neutronics simulator MPACT: Method and procedure

Abstract The MPACT neutronics module of the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL) core simulator is a 3D whole core transport code being developed for the CASL toolset known as the Virtual Environment for Reactor Analysis (VERA). Key characteristics of the MPACT code include a subgroup method for resonance self-shielding and a whole-core transport solver with a 2D/1D synthesis method. The AMPX and SCALE code packages have been significantly improved to include intermediate resonance parameters, as well as new modules to enhance the accuracy of resonance data and scattering matrices for the Bondarenko approach and transport cross sections of hydrogen. In addition, CASL XSTools have been developed to generate the MPACT multigroup cross section library. A simple super-homogenization method for 238U has been developed to resolve reaction rate discrepancy issues caused by angle-dependent total cross sections, poor scattering matrices, and a poor resonance interference model at coarse group structure. Due to the limitation of computing capacity that can occur even in high performance computing, a new 51-group structure has been developed for efficient simulation that is applicable for both pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR) simulations. A new ENDF/B-VII.1 MPACT 51-group library has been developed using the AMPX/SCALE and XSTools code packages, and it has been verified and validated by performing various benchmark calculations.
Aristolochene Synthase. Elucidation of the Cryptic Germacrene A Synthase Activity Using the Anomalous Substrate Dihydrofarnesyl Diphosphate

Germacrene A (3) has been proposed to be an intermediate in the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate (1) to the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (+)-aristolochene (2). Under normal circumstances, however, neither 3 nor any other intermediate is released from the cyclase active site. When the anomalous substrate (7R)-6,7-dihydrofarnesyl diphosphate (5) is incubated with aristolochene synthase from Aspergillus terreus, the resultant dihydrogermacrene (6) cannot be further cyclized and is released from the active site. The structure of the abortive cyclization product, m/z 206, was confirmed as dihydrogermacrene (6) by direct GC−MS comparison with an authentic synthetic sample prepared from (−)-(3S)-β-citronellol.
Central and peripheral components of short latency vestibular responses in the chicken

Far-field recordings of short latency vestibular responses to pulsed cranial translation are composed of a series of positive and negative peaks occurring within 10 ms following stimulus onset. In the bird, these vestibular evoked potentials (VsEPs) can be recorded noninvasively and have been shown in the chicken and quail to depend strictly upon the activation of the vestibular component of the eighth nerve. The utility of the VsEP in the study of vestibular systems is dependent upon a clear understanding of the neural sources of response components. The primary aim of the current research in the chicken was to critically test the hypotheses that 1) responses are generated by both peripheral and central neurons and 2) peaks P1 and N1 originate from first order vestibular neurons, whereas later waves primarily depend on activity in higher order neurons. The principal strategy used here was to surgically isolate the eighth nerve as it enters the brainstem. Interruption of primary afferents of the eighth nerve in the brainstem substantially reduced or eliminated peaks beyond P2, whereas P1 and N1 were generally spared. Surgical sections that spared vestibular pathways had little effect on responses. The degree of change in response components beyond N1 was correlated with the extent of damage to central vestibular relays. These findings support the conclusion that responses are produced by both peripheral and central elements of the vestibular system. Further, response peaks later than N1 appear to be dependent upon central relays, whereas P1 and N1 reflect activity of the peripheral nerve. These findings clarify the roles of peripheral and central neurons in the generation of vestibular evoked potentials and provide the basis for a more useful and detailed interpretation of data from vestibular response testing.
An examination of climate-driven flowering-time shifts at large spatial scales over 153 years in a common weedy annual.

PREMISE Understanding species' responses to climate change is a critical challenge facing biologists today. Though many species are widespread, few studies of climate-driven shifts in flowering time have examined large continuous spatial scales for individual species. And even fewer studies have examined these shifts at time scales greater than a few decades. METHODS We used digitized herbarium specimens and PRISM climate data to produce the spatially and temporally broadest-scale study of flowering time in a single species to date, spanning the contiguous United States and 153 years (1863-2016) for a widespread weedy annual, Triodanis perfoliata (Campanulaceae). We examined factors driving phenological shifts as well as the roles of geographic and temporal scale in understanding these trends. RESULTS Year was a significant factor in both geospatial and climatic analyses, revealing that flowering time has advanced by ~9 days over the past ~150 years. We found that temperature as well as vapor pressure deficit, an understudied climatic parameter associated with evapotranspiration and water stress, were strongly associated with peak flowering. We also examined how sampling at different spatiotemporal scales influences the power to detect flowering-time shifts, finding that relatively large spatial and temporal scales are ideal for detecting flowering-time shifts in this widespread species. CONCLUSIONS Our results emphasize the importance of understanding the interplay of geospatial factors at different scales to examine how species respond to climate change.
Pesticide exposure and lung function: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between pesticide exposure and respiratory health, but the specific causal agents and the quantitative impact on lung function are unclear. To address this, we undertook a systematic review of the available literature reporting on pesticide exposures and lung function. Aim: To examine, systematically and by meta-analysis, available literature on the relationship between pesticide exposures and lung function. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched to 1 October 2017. We searched by a combination of MeSH terms and free text for pesticide exposures and lung function using our protocol registered in PROSPERO. We assessed the quality of the reports using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. We converted outcome measures to standard mean differences (SMD) and undertook meta-analyses by the metan command in Stata 15 with fixed-effect models where I² from test for heterogeneity Results: We retrieved 2,356 articles; of these, 56 met our criteria for inclusion and review; 19, 22 and 22 papers were pooled in meta-analyses of FEV1/FVC, FVC and FEV1 respectively. We found no effect for paraquat exposure on FEV1/FVC (SMD=0.05; 95%CI 0.04, 0.15). Cholinesterase (ChE) inhibiting pesticides showed a significant negative effect on FEV1/FVC (SMD=-0.27; 95%CI -0.39, -0.14). Conclusion: Respiratory surveillance should be enhanced in those exposed to ChE-inhibiting pesticides which reduce FEV1/FVC according to the meta-analysis. Our review is limited by heterogeneity between studies from variable exposure assessments and limited adjustment for potential confounders. Further studies with more accurate exposure assessment are indicated.
A Crossed Dipole Phased Array Antenna Architecture With Enhanced Polarization and Isolation Characteristics

A dual-polarized planar phased array antenna with enhanced polarization and isolation characteristics for multifunction applications is presented. A bent crossed dipole is selected as the element of the array antenna. The bend angle is optimized to widen the E-plane active element pattern of the dipole resulting in a pair of matched co-polar patterns. Contrary to common patch array antennas, this design does not require a continuous grounded substrate. This diminishes the surface wave propagation along the ground plane. Efficient techniques, applied to the element design, isolate the two polarizations from each other. Higher than 40 dB port isolation is achieved within the entire frequency range of 2.7–3.0 GHz in principal plane scanning. In order to preserve the symmetry of the array antenna, a mirrored arrangement in both orthogonal directions is applied to the array configuration. This enhances the co- to cross-polarization levels to better than 45 dB in scanning up to ±45° in the principal planes. The proposed phased array antenna with enhanced polarization purity can potentially improve polarimetric performance.
Treating cancer therapy-related cognitive impairment.

Metformin can promote the regeneration of neural precursor cell populations and improve cognitive function in a preclinical model of cranial radiation and a pilot clinical study of children after cranial radiation and chemotherapy.
The Incidence of Kaplan Fiber Injury Associated With Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:Kaplan fibers are distinct deep layers of the distal iliotibial band (ITB) that anchor the ITB to the distal femur and have a role in rotational stability of the knee. However, the incid...
Nevada Physician Workforce Shortage and the Inefficient Retention of Nevada Medical School Graduates

Nevada has a steadily growing population, but the rise in population does not have a sufficient growth in physicians to sustain the population’s healthcare. In 2016, Nevada was ranked 47th in the n...
Eltrombopag for Post-Transplantation Thrombocytopenia: Results of Phase II Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT Prolonged thrombocytopenia occurs in up to 37% of patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is associated with adverse prognosis and increased risk of bleeding. Eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, can increase platelet counts in thrombocytopenic patients. We conducted a phase II study, adaptively randomizing patients at ≥35 days post-HSCT to receive placebo or eltrombopag at a platelet count ≤20,000/µL for 7 days or platelet transfusion-dependent and a neutrophil count ≥1500/µL. Sixty patients were randomized to eltrombopag (n = 42) or placebo (n = 18) and received at least 1 dose. Fifteen patients (36%) in the eltrombopag arm achieved a platelet count of ≥30,000/µL, compared with 5 patients (28%) in the placebo arm, with a posterior probability of 0.75. (The protocol required this probability to be >0.975 to declare a winner; thus, the results are inconclusive.) However, 9 patients (21%) in the eltrombopag arm achieved a platelet count of ≥50,000/µL, compared with no patients in the placebo arm (P = .046). The overall survival, progression-free survival, relapse rate, and nonrelapse mortality were similar in the 2 arms. In conclusion, compared with placebo, treatment with eltrombopag led to a higher percentage of patients achieving a platelet count of ≥50,000/µL in patients with persistent thrombocytopenia after HSCT.
Microneedle-mediated transdermal delivery of naloxone hydrochloride for treatment of opioid overdose.

Abstract Naloxone (NAL) is administered parenterally or intranasally for treating opioid overdose. The short duration of action of NAL calls for frequent re-dosing which may be eliminated by the development of a transdermal system. This study aimed to assess the effect of microneedles on improving the skin permeation of NAL hydrochloride. In vitro permeation of NAL across intact and microneedle-treated (Dr. Pen™ Ultima A6) porcine skin was evaluated. The effect of microneedle length and application duration, and donor concentration on NAL permeation were investigated. In-vitro in-vivo correlation of the permeation results was done to predict the plasma concentration kinetics of NAL in patients. In vitro passive permeation of NAL after 6 h was observed to be 8.25 ± 1.06 µg/cm2. A 56- and 37-fold enhancement was observed with 500 and 250 µm needles applied for 1 min, respectively. Application of 500 µm MNs for 2 min significantly reduced the lag time to ~ 8 min and increasing the donor concentration for the same treatment group doubled the permeation (p
Injectable in situ gelling delivery system for the treatment of jawbone infections

Aim: A polymeric in situ gelling delivery system for localized and sustained delivery to jawbone infections was developed. Materials & methods: In situ gelling delivery systems were prepared using ...
Direct linearization and adjoint approaches to evaluation of atmospheric weighting functions and surface partial derivatives : general principles, synergy and areas of application

This slide presentation reviews the observable radiances as functions of atmospheric parameters and of surface parameters; the mathematics of atmospheric weighting functions (WFs) and surface partial derivatives (PDs) are presented; and the equation of the forward radiative transfer (RT) problem is presented. For non-scattering atmospheres this can be done analytically, and all WFs and PDs can be computed analytically using the direct linearization approach. For scattering atmospheres, in general case, the solution of the forward RT problem can be obtained only numerically, but we need only two numerical solutions: one of the forward RT problem and one of the adjoint RT problem to compute all WFs and PDs we can think of. In this presentation we discuss applications of both the linearization and adjoint approaches
Fabrication of beam sampling gratings for the national ignition facility (NIF)

Beam sampling gratings (BSG) have been successfully fabricated to provide a small sample of the NIF 351nm high power laser beams. The sampled fraction will be used to determine the laser beam energy on target and to achieve power balance on all 192 NIF beams.
On the distribution of ion density depletion along magnetic field lines as deduced using C/NOFS

To investigate ion density depletion along magnetic field lines, we compare in situ-measured ion density fluctuations as seen from C/NOFS and compare them to the field-line-integrated depletion of the whole bubble as inferred from electric field measurements. Results show that, within C/NOFS' range, local measurement of the normalized density depletion, (Delta)n/n(sub 0), near the apex may be far less than at other points on the same field line. We argue that the distribution of (Delta)n/n(sub 0) is a weighted distribution concentrated at latitudes of the Appleton anomalies and becomes more heavily weighted the closer the field-aligned bubble rises to the peak of the anomalies. A three-dimensional simulation of an ionospheric bubble verifies our arguments.
Some Symmetric Algebras

The results of the last chapter can be translated into statements about the representation theory of U(n). For example, we will see that every irreducible representation of U(n) occurs exactly once in the decomposition of the symmetric algebra of V⊕⋀2 V, where V = ℂ n is the standard module of U(n). The results of this chapter are also proved in Goodman and Wallach [47], Littlewood [93], and Macdonald [95].
Bridging the Time Scale Gap with Transition Path Sampling

Transition path sampling is a methodology which overcomes both the long timescale problem and the lack of prior knowledge about transition mechanisms. Here we briefly review the basic principles of transition path sampling, illustrate its application using autoionization in liquid water, and emphasize the capabilities and limitations of the methodology.
Treatment and nontreatment predictors of health assessment questionnaire disability progression in rheumatoid arthritis: a longitudinal study of 18,485 patients.

Objective To examine predictors of progression of disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ), and to determine rates of progression during biologic treatment. Methods We followed 18,485 RA patients for up to 11 years (mean 3.7 years) in a longitudinal study of RA outcomes. Patients were characterized as having moderate or severe RA versus less severe RA at study entry. Annualized progression rates were determined in multivariable analyses using generalized estimating equations. Results Although all of the demographic and severity characteristics were associated with baseline differences in HAQ score, progression was only associated with age, comorbidity, initial severity, and treatment. HAQ score increased fastest in patients ages >65 years (0.031; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.028, 0.034). HAQ progression was independently associated with the presence of baseline cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the number of comorbid conditions. Annualized progression rates were greater in patients with mild to inactive RA (0.021; 95% CI 0.019, 0.023) than in moderate to severe RA (0.003; 95% CI 0.001, 0.006). The overall progression rate during biologic treatment was 0.008 (95% CI 0.005, 0.011); for patients with moderate to severe RA, the rate was 0.001 (95% CI −0.005, 0.003). Conclusion Age and comorbidity are important predictors of the rate of loss of functional status, and have a stronger effect on HAQ progression than does biologic treatment. There is little difference in progression rates among biologics. Patients with more severe RA progress less than those with less severe RA, a possible function of regression to the mean.
Socioemotional Consequences of Illness and Disability

This chapter addresses core developmental approaches to understanding the nature of social and emotional consequences of illness and disability during the developmental period. The chapter addresses the ways in which developmental disabilities and chronic illness share a particular risk status, but can also be differentiated. Definitions and epidemiology are broadly considered to set the stage for the specific social and emotional domains to be reviewed. Three basic domains are addressed in depth: social and peer competencies, emotion and emotion regulation, and behavior and emotion problems. Disabilities and chronic illnesses are discussed both separately and together within these domains. The shifting nature of the conceptual paradigms used to understand the consequences of chronic conditions (pathology versus adaptational or positive approaches) are discussed. Both endogenous and exogenous factors that contribute to the consequences of chronic conditions are addressed. Genetic approaches highlight the endogenous considerations, while family, school, and cultural factors are the focus of the exogenous factors that contribute. These considerations lead to a discussion of intervention approaches that have addressed socioemotional competencies in children with chronic conditions. The chapter concludes with a review of the current state of the field, and suggestions for the next generation of research for the field. Keywords: behavior and emotion problems; chronic illness; current state of the field; developmental disabilities; emotion and emotion regulation; family, school, and cultural factors; genetic approaches; intervention approaches; next generation of research; pathology versus adaptational; social and peer competencies
The Elephant in the Law School Assessment Room: The Role of Student Responsibility and Motivating Our Students to Learn

The American Bar Association’s proposed new accreditation standards call for law schools to assess the effectiveness of their academic programs. Law schools are now doing so, quickly giving rise to an assessment movement that closely examines desired educational outcomes and professors’ efforts to attain them. But assessment has to date focused on the professor, who is just one part of the professor-student partnership. All but ignored are the contributions and motivation of the other critical component — the student. This Article posits that to assess academic programs’ effectiveness, assessment must evaluate the contributions of students and not just professors. With such data, professors could target students’ progress and motivation strategically, making strides in both teaching and learning. Part I of this Article sets out the responsibility for learning shared between professor and student and examines existing research in the field of student responsibility for learning. Part II explains the profound benefits of assessing student responsibility, and Part III presents methods for measuring student perspectives and participation. Part IV identifies practical strategies for igniting students’ motivation and commitment to learning. Assessment aims to prepare students for legal practice. But unless law professors consider the level of responsibility students take for their own education, any assessment results will lack proper context. By assessing students’ contributions too, professors can take the necessary steps to enhance their students’ academic and professional competence.
Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology

The planets and moons of our solar system offer a diverse collection of landscapes shaped by geologic processes that are generally familiar to our terrestrial experience. Over the past few decades, spacecraft and astronauts have visited them all, and scientists have begun to create a consistent framework with which to classify and understand their formation and evolution. The principles of geomorphology, once exclusively bound to Earth, can now be applied to these bodies, based on the detailed images and other data collected. While we must always resist a terrestrial bias, basic processes we observe on Earth, such as volcanism, tectonism, impacts, erosion, and deposition, create and modify the landscapes we see throughout the solar system.
Managing overall equipment effectiveness [OEE] to optimize factory performance

Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is the key metric of total productive manufacturing (TPM). OEE monitors the actual performance of a tool relative to its performance capabilities under optimal manufacturing conditions. OEE looks at the entire manufacturing environment measuring, not only the equipment availability, but also, the production efficiency while the equipment is available to run product, as well as the efficiency loss that results from scrap, rework, and yield losses. Analysis of the equipment effectiveness loss mechanisms provides the user with improvement opportunities for the operation. This paper focuses on the use of OEE and major equipment loss analysis to optimize the performance of constraint tools at Fairchild Semiconductor, South Portland, Maine. Factory modeling is a key element of the OEE management process, defining the equipment and process capabilities at the workstation (micro) level, then identifying constraint tools and OEE performance requirements through macro level factory capacity modeling. Also discussed in this paper, is the SEMI productivity metrics standard proposal which defines OEE and loss analysis methods which are consistent with SEMI E10-96 concepts.
Prevention of Analytical False-Positive Increases of Cardiac Troponin I on the Stratus II Analyzer

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is both highly sensitive and specific for the detection of myocardial injury (1)(2), and cTnI now challenges creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) as the optimal marker for acute myocardial infarction (3)(4). The Stratus II batch analyzer (Dade International, Miami, FL) uses monoclonal anti-cTnI antibodies immobilized on a glass fiber support for the measurement of serum or plasma cTnI. During the course of clinical evaluations and implementation of cTnI testing on the Stratus II, we noted occasional falsely high results on serum specimens that were found to be either within the reference interval or below the detection limit upon reanalysis. It appeared that incomplete clotting of the specimen contributed to false-positive cTnI values. This letter describes our efforts to eliminate these analytical false-positive cTnI results. Results for cTnI on 20 serum specimens (2.2%) from >900 patient specimens tested over 3 months were challenged by clinicians as false positives, with values ranging …
TB on CD: Tuberculosis CD-ROM (Topics in International Health Series)

CAB International, 1999 £95.00 (Institutional) £30.00 (Individual) CD-ROMISBN 0 851 99249 8Since the discovery of tubercle bacilli in the late 19th century, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been a worldwide health problem and is responsible for 3 million deaths per year. With the advent of HIV, tuberculosis rates have increased in the developing world. The emergence of drug-resistant strains has reinforced the need for better strategies in tuberculosis prevention, control and treatment. The Tuberculosis (Topics in International Health Series) CD-ROM provides an overview of tuberculosis, covering topics such as etiology and transmission, pathogenesis, prevention and control, diagnostic tests and treatment.There are three ways to access the information in this CD-ROM: the ten tutorials, the glossary and an excellent collection of ∼600 images that can be downloaded. The tutorials have an interactive format and the user can watch animated graphics and assess their progress. At the end of each tutorial, summaries are presented for those interested in a more cursory overview of the material. The fate of M. tuberculosis as it travels from one host to another and the importance of cell-mediated immunity in disease control are highlighted. Some typical features of disease, diagnosis, treatment and prevention are presented, with more photographs and graphics than would be found in a textbook. Overall, the material stresses the growing threat M. tuberculosis poses to public health.The major drawbacks to this CD-ROM are those inherent in this type of information format. Some sections provide more in-depth information than others, and some of the text and photographs are repeated in different sections. Additionally, information is presented in outline format and is occasionally more disjointed and difficult to understand than prose.The most appropriate audiences for this CD-ROM would be the medical community, public health students and basic scientists interested in the clinical aspects of tuberculosis. Although the basic immunological mechanisms of disease pathogenesis are covered, little information is provided on the molecular mechanisms behind virulence or molecular techniques such as DNA fingerprinting, which can track the epidemiology of tuberculosis. In addition, there is only a cursory look at the microbiology of M. tuberculosis and drug-resistance patterns and mechanisms. Although including all of this information might have been overly ambitious, introductions to these topics would have provided a larger survey of the scope of tuberculosis research.Tuberculosis remains an important disease that affects one-third of the world’s population. This CD-ROM provides an excellent overview of many aspects of M. tuberculosis pathogenesis and clinical disease. The interactive format and pictorial presentation provide a new method of learning for those interested in a review of tuberculosis.
Positive semidefinite biquadratic forms

Abstract There is a positive semidefinite biquadratic form that cannot be expressed as the sum of squares of bilinear forms.
Über neue α.α'-disubstituierte Azoalkane

Eine Anzahl aliphatischer α.α'-Dichlor-azoalkane wird beschrieben. Die Cl-Atome dieser Verbindungen lassen sich leicht gegen nucleophile Gruppen austauschen. Mit Natriumacetat in Eisessig entstehen α.α'-Diacetoxy-azoalkane. Mit Alkalisalzen von Thiosauren, Thiolen usw. bilden sich Derivate von α.α'-Dimercapto-azoalkanen, mit Natriumcyanid die bekannten Azonitrile. — Die UV-Spektren zeigen ein charakteristisches Maximum um 360 mμ.
In vivo expression and function of hybrid Ia dimers (E alpha A beta) in recombinant and transgenic mice.

We have found cell surface expression of an E alpha molecule in recombinant and transgenic mouse strains lacking an E beta molecule. Flow cytometry has shown low level expression of E alpha in B10.RQB3 (I-AqEk alpha) and B10.RFB2 (I-AfEk alpha) mice. We have also found that B10.Q (H-2q) mice can express the Ek alpha transgene. Since these strains do not have functional E beta chains, we propose that the E alpha A beta hybrid dimers are formed in low numbers and can be picked up by FACS analysis. So far we have not been able to identify these hybrid molecules by cytotoxicity or immunoprecipitation. The E alpha/A beta molecule can function in vivo during thymic selection in the clonal deletion of two V beta TCR subsets, V beta 11 and V beta 6, which have been shown to interact with the intact I-E molecule.
Productivity and capital investments: An empirical study of three manufacturing industries in India

Abstract Investments in the Indian manufacturing sector do not seem to match the rate of growth of sales. This study empirically determines factors explaining within-firm variation in investment growth in three industries—auto components, chemicals and electronics—using panel data from 2002 to 2006. The results show that common firm-specific factors and some industry-specific factors, explain variation in investments within firms. Capital productivity is a significant factor in auto components and chemicals while capital intensity is significant for chemicals and electronics. Labour productivity is significant only for the electronics industry. The results suggest that there is a need to manage productivity improvements from the growth point of view and not only for efficiency improvements.
Redox regulation of genes that protect against carcinogens.

Abstract Most carcinogens require activation to electrophilic metabolites or species that generate reactive oxygen in order to initiate the tumorigenic process. These reactive intermediates can, in turn, be detoxified by endogenous enzyme systems that aid in the protection of cells from either toxic or mutagenic product formation. The levels of many of these enzymes are elevated by numerous compounds found in the diet, or by antioxidants. Recent evidence describes the mechanism for this induction of carcinogen detoxication enzymes to be regulated at the transcriptional level. Nuclear transcription factors bound to sites common among these carcinogen detoxication genes are activated by as yet unknown signal transduction pathways. The activity of these nuclear transcription factors are modulated by pro- and antioxidant reagents, suggesting that a redox-sensitive component governs the induction of enzymes involved in carcinogen metabolism. In this review, evidence for the redox regulation of the genes encoding carcinogen detoxication enzymes is presented. Evidence is also presented suggesting the participation of nuclear factor k B (NF- k B), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins and their activation pathways in this induction.
The effect of ergonomic laparoscopic tool handle design on performance and efficiency.

Background Many factors can affect a surgeon’s performance in the operating room; these may include surgeon comfort, ergonomics of tool handle design, and fatigue. A laparoscopic tool handle designed with ergonomic considerations (pistol grip) was tested against a current market tool with a traditional pinch grip handle. The goal of this study is to quantify the impact ergonomic design considerations which have on surgeon performance. We hypothesized that there will be measurable differences between the efficiency while performing FLS surgical trainer tasks when using both tool handle designs in three categories: time to completion, technical skill, and subjective user ratings.
How Conformational Dynamics of DNA Polymerase Select Correct Substrates: Experiments and Simulations

Nearly every enzyme undergoes a significant change in structure after binding it's substrate. Experimental and theoretical analyses of the role of changes in HIV reverse transcriptase structure in selecting a correct substrate are presented. Atomically detailed simulations using the Milestoning method predict a rate and free energy profile of the conformational change commensurate with experimental data. A large conformational change occurring on a millisecond timescale locks the correct nucleotide at the active site but promotes release of a mismatched nucleotide. The positions along the reaction coordinate that decide the yield of the reaction are not determined by the chemical step. Rather, the initial steps of weak substrate binding and protein conformational transition significantly enrich the yield of a reaction with a correct substrate, whereas the same steps diminish the reaction probability of an incorrect substrate.