cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Competing risks analysis of time-to-event data for cardiovascular surgeons

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this article is to provide thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons with a practical step-by-step strategy to use in collaboration with a biostatistician for implementation of competing risks analysis when analyzing time-to-event data. Patients may have an outside event that precludes the event of interest. Traditional time-to-event analysis incorrectly assumes noninformative censoring in this scenario, which will lead to invalid results and conclusions. Methods The steps are (1) to determine whether competing risks analysis is needed, (2) to perform a nonparametric analysis, (3) to perform a model-based analysis, (4) to interpret the results, and (5) to compare to traditional survival analysis methods. We apply our approach to a hypothetical cardiovascular surgery example in determining the hazard of mortality after the stage 3 Fontan operation associated with prematurity among patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who had successful completion of Norwood stage 1 while incorporating mortality during the stage 2 bidirectional Glenn procedure as a competing risk. We apply nonparametric, semiparametric, and parametric methods. Results Although Cox regression establishes prematurity as a significant risk factor of mortality after stage 3 (hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.50; P = .009), the competing risks analysis with the Fine-Gray model accounting for mortality after stage 2 determines that prematurity is not a significant predictor (hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.27; P = .467). Conclusions This article provides a practical step-by-step approach for making competing risks more accessible for cardiac surgeons collaborating with a biostatistician in analyzing and interpreting time-to-event data.
Evaluating the Comprehensiveness of VR PLAY Guidelines Using Elder Scrolls: Skyrim VR:

Heuristic evaluation is a useful tool for non-usability experts to evaluate their product for usability and produce lists of guidelines for product designers to avoid usability problems early in th...
Total Number of Alterations in Liquid Biopsies Is an Independent Predictor of Survival in Patients With Advanced Cancers.

PURPOSEStudies have demonstrated an association between quantity of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and poorer survival. We investigated the relationship between percent ctDNA (%ctDNA), total number ...
Ungarns autoritärer Notstandsstaat: Machtergreifung durch Pandemiebekämpfung. Using the fight against the pandemic to seize power

The Orban regime in Hungary has exploited the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic to further tighten the hold on power by the authoritarian regime. With an unconstitutional enabling act, it has suspended all parliamentary control and judicial oversight for the duration of the state of emergency. The state of emergency can only be lifted by a majority that is at the beck and call of the regime. However, even if the enabling act is suspended, Hungary will have taken a further step along the path to authoritarianism. The government is exploiting the fight against the pandemic to suppress the opposition. The regional districts in particular, where in the autumn of 2019, mayors from opposition parties were elected for the first time for many years – particularly in Budapest – the regime is curtailing state funding.
The Erotics of Torts

Book review: Feminist Accused of Sexual Harassment. By Jane Gallop. Nurham, N.C.: Duke University Press, Public Planet Books. 1997. Pp. 101. $9.95. What kind of feminist would be accused of sexual harassment? asks Jane Gallop (p. 1). Gallop quickly provides her own challenging answer: the sort of feminist ... that ... do[es] not respect the line between the intellectual and the sexual (p. 12). Gallop is firm and unrepentant about not respecting this line: I sexualize the atmosphere in which I work. When sexual harassment is defined as the introduction of sex into professional relations, it becomes quite possible to be both a feminist and a sexual harasser (p. 11). Figuring out what this means - and what its implications are for professors, for feminists, for law schools - is the task I've set for this review.
Resilient Collaborative Distributed AC Optimal Power Flow against False Data Injection Attacks: A Theoretical Framework

The cybersecurity of the distributed AC optimal power flow (ACOPF) against false data injection attacks (FDIA) is investigated in this paper. A collaborative distributed ACOPF solver, rooted in the dual decomposition concept, is first formulated, based on which a theoretical framework is then developed to model the distributed ACOPF and its cybersecurity in the presence of FDIA. Under this proposed cybersecurity framework, a reputation-based peer-to-peer trust management system (TMS) is proposed to secure the resilience of the system against FDIA. Finally, the proposed TMS is validated on the IEEE 69-bus benchmark system. The primary contribution of this paper is the proposed holistic resilience framework, in which the FDIA is analytically assessed and effectively defended. In the analytical results, we have established two key propositions: the FDIA generally has one degree of freedom; and the FDIA can be effectively detected and mitigated using the proposed TMS with one-hop redundancy.
Histidine phosphorylation in metalloprotein binding sites.

Abstract Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are invaluable regulatory tools for the control of catalytic functionality, protein-protein interactions, and signaling pathways. Historically, the study of phosphorylation as a PTM has been focused on serine, threonine, and tyrosine residues. In contrast, the significance of mammalian histidine phosphorylation remains largely unexplored. This gap in knowledge regarding the molecular basis for histidine phosphorylation as a regulatory agent exists in part because of the relative instability of phosphorylated histidine as compared with phosphorylated serine, threonine and tyrosine. However, the unique metal binding abilities of histidine make it one of the most common metal coordinating ligands in nature, and it is interesting to consider how phosphorylation would change the metal coordinating ability of histidine, and consequently, the properties of the phosphorylated metalloprotein. In this review, we examine eleven metalloproteins that have been shown to undergo reversible histidine phosphorylation at or near their metal binding sites. These proteins are described with respect to their biological activity and structure, with a particular emphasis on how phosphohistidine may tune the primary coordination sphere and protein conformation. Furthermore, several common methods, challenges, and limitations of studying sensitive, high affinity metalloproteins are discussed.
Toward Question-Asking Machines: The Logic of Questions and the Inquiry Calculus

For over a century, the study of logic has focused on the algebra of logical statements. This work, first performed by George Boole, has led to the development of modern computers, and was shown by Richard T. Cox to be the foundation of Bayesian inference. Meanwhile the logic of questions has been much neglected. For our computing machines to be truly intelligent, they need to be able to ask relevant questions. In this paper I will show how the Boolean lattice of logical statements gives rise to the free distributive lattice of questions thus defining their algebra. Furthermore, there exists a quantity analogous to probability, called relevance, which quantifies the degree to which one question answers another. I will show that relevance is not only a natural generalization of information theory, but also forms its foundation.
How Do Business And Government Interact? Combining Perspectives From Economics, Political Science, Public Administration, And Practitioners

The authors describe the theoretical preparation provided to students in advance of a limitedduration experiential learning experience in Washington DC in a Master’s level course for students in Business or Public Administration. The students consider theoretical perspectives from economics, political science, and public administration with respect to the interactions of business and government in the US economy. The students field test the theories via meetings with practitioners in Washington DC and are required to reflect on and then apply how reality does (or does not) map into theory.
Formal Methods for Software Engineering

This tutorial introduces formal methods in software engineering. The main objectives of the tutorial are as follows: Introduce the notion of formal methods, and show how it is used in practice for specifying and verifying software. Describe “industrial-strength” formal methods for specifying and verifying the object, dynamic, and functional models of software. Discuss various approaches to showing consistency between the three models of software.
Weighted median algorithm for L 1 -approximation

The weighted median problem arises as a subproblem in certain multivariate optimization problems, includingL1 approximation. Three algorithms for the weighted median problem are presented and the relationships between them are discussed. We report on computational experience with these algorithms and on their use in the context of multivariateL1 approximation.
A statistician's perspective on “Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion”, by Joshua D. Angrist and Jörn-Steffen Pischke:

This article reviews Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist's Companion, by Joshua D. Angrist and Jorn-Steffen Pischke.
The debate over recovered memory of sexual abuse: a feminist-psychoanalytic perspective

This paper presents a feminist-psychoanalytic analysis of the contemporary debate over the veracity of memories of sexual abuse recovered in treatment. Clinical discourse is currently divided between those who argue that recovered memories are veridical accounts of sexual trauma and those who claim that many therapists are creating memories of abuse in their patients. I present here an analysis of the debate on recovered memory and of the social dynamics underlying it, and discuss how these dynamics have shaped clinical practice. In exploring the clinical issues raised by the debate, I reassess Freud's abandonment of seduction theory and explore some of the problematic issues in separating fantasy and memory in female psychosexual development. Conflictual aspects of female development are situated in an analysis of patriarchal social relationships that continue to mediate feminine experience. I argue that the jettisoning of the concept of fantasy in much of the clinical literature on sexual abuse has contributed to a reification of memory-that is, as "true" or "false"- and a sacrifice of complexity in the clinical elaboration of women's abuse experiences. In reclaiming the concept of fantasy, I explore a range of meanings located between the imaginary and the "real" suggested by female narratives of sexual abuse.
Compact and Supply-Voltage-Scalable Temperature Sensors for Dense On-Chip Thermal Monitoring

This paper presents compact and voltage-scalable temperature sensor circuits for implementing dynamic thermal management (DTM) in high-performance microprocessors and Systems-on-Chips (SoC). The proposed sensor front ends require only 6 to 8 NMOS transistors, resulting in more than one order of magnitude smaller area than the previous state of the art. The sensor supply voltage can be scaled down to 0.6 V, so it can be integrated with digital circuits employing a dynamic-voltage-scaling technique without additional power distribution and regulation. Sensor front ends with three different sizes (115, 279, and $400\;\upmu {\text{m}^2}$ ) and their back ends have been prototyped in a 65 nm CMOS technology. The measurement results of the $279\;\upmu {{\rm m}^{2}}$ front end at 0.6 V show a worst-case error of 7.0° C across 64 instances 0° C to 100° C after a low-cost one-temperature-point calibration. With the same conditions, the measurements of the $400\;\upmu {{\rm m}^{2}}$ front end show a worst-case error of 5.4° C across 64 instances. The compact sensor designs make it possible to integrate an order of magnitude more sensors on a chip with little additional overhead and thereby enable very dense thermal monitoring in digital VLSI systems.
Effects of planar geometry on the inhomogeneous broadening of zero‐phonon lines of optical centers in diamond

Optically active defects in diamond find a wide range of applications from lasers to single photon emitters essential for quantum communications. Ion implantation followed by thermal annealing is a mature technique used to create such defects. Implanted at a fixed energy, ions form a thin layer of optically active defects. Low temperature photoluminescence spectra of Xe-related defects in pure CVD diamond show peculiar behavior: the narrow zero-phonon line at 811.7 nm changes its shape significantly with the increase of implantation dose from 1.1 × 1011 to 5 × 1012 ion cm−2. This work investigates the possible causes of this effect: planar geometry of the defects distribution and/or the complex defect structure.
A model of the temperature rise in the head due to magnetic resonance imaging procedures

A simple model of power deposition in the head is presented in which the temperature increase in the head in general and, in particular, in a small spherical region of unperfused tissue contained within the head is calculated. The result of the calculation provides a limit on the SAR needed to ensure that a 1°C temperature rise is not exceeded for unperfused spheres of different sizes, imaging sessions of different lengths of time, and different blood flow rates to the head. The model assumes that the rest of the body during a head imaging session can act as a perfect heat sink at 37°C. The model suggests that current practices in MRI imaging will not cause a temperature rise in the center of small unperfused regions such as the eye of more than 1°C. © 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
Encompassing Systems: Implications for Citizen Diplomacy

In a wide range of activities from clinical work to organizational consulting to official and citizen diplomacy, perhaps the most pressing temptation is to take sides. The author develops a framewo...
Pseudo-ice-wedge casts of Connecticut, northeastern United States

Since 1965, ice-wedge casts have been reported in deposits of sand and gravel in Connecticut. These are wedge forms up to 1.1 m wide and many meters high. Most are single forms, not in polygonal array. They are found in adjoining states as well. Their distribution, dimensions, structure, and fabric and an assessment of the former physical environment preclude their origin as permafrost features. They appear to be tension fractures produced by the loading of coarse clastics on fine clastics near and below the water table where sediments creep toward a stream or depression. Locally movement started with kettle formation during deglaciation. However, some wedges cut horizontal layers of iron-coated sand and gravel and must be younger than those distinctly postglacial phenomena. Moreover, modern B horizons of the overlying soil have moved down into some wedges more than 2 m, indicating that fracturing is still active today. Complex fracture fillings in bedrock also have been attributed to a permafrost origin, but this too seems unlikely.
Project Management for Enterprise Integration

In this work we identify important phases in managing enterprise integration projects as to obtain consensus for integration requirements, identify suitable integration solutions, and estimate the total cost of ownership with an integration project schedule. We propose an enterprise integration project management (EIPM) process where we identify the requirements of integration by modeling and analyzing the organizations? business process, obtain consensus by allowing collaborative planning through the Delphi technique, estimate the total cost of ownership for integration through software complexity metrics, and the resource requirements with a project plan from the work break down structure of specific integration technologies. We present a case study to demonstrate the capabilities of EIPM.
Reproductive efficiency of women over the age of 40 and the low risk of multiple pregnancies.

Abstract Infertile patients over the age of 40 are generally considered to have a low chance of success with assisted cycles despite high numbers of embryos transferred. The risk of multiple pregnancy in this group of patients is not well established. The present study determined the rate of embryos that fail to produce a live birth and the rate of multiple pregnancies in a cohort of women over the age of 40 undergoing IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles, utilizing Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology reported cycle outcomes from national summaries as well as from two university-based IVF centres. The rate of embryo wastage for women over the age of 40 is approximately 95% and these women have a correspondingly low rate of multiple pregnancy per cycle started (2.5% and 1.6% for women aged 41–42 years and 43–44 years, respectively). These data underscore the low reproductive efficiency of oocytes in women over the age of 40 and the very low probability of a multiple-gestation live birth despite the high number of embryos transferred. This information is an important additional counselling tool at the time of embryo transfer in this group of patients.
Stressors and sociotropy/autonomy: A longitudinal study of their relationship to the course of bipolar disorder

This study tested the association of cognitive vulnerability based on sociotropy—autonomy and congruent negative life events, with onset and severity of symptoms in bipolar patients over a longitudinal course. Forty-nine remitted bipolar patients were followed for an average of 18 months. Onset of symptoms was not associated with a preponderance of stressors that matched the individual's sociotropic—autonomous type. However, symptom severity was significantly associated with sociotropy, interpersonal events, and the interaction of the two—but no such associations were found with autonomy or autonomy/achievement events. Results were discussed in terms of differences between unipolar and bipolar patients' mechanisms for symptom onset, and the role of sociotropy and interpersonal events in symptom experience and expression.
Simulation of Si power MOSFET under cryogenic conditions

Abstract In this work, integrated systems engineering technical computer aided design software (ISE-TCAD) has been used for Si power MOSFETs to model and simulate under room temperature (300 K) and liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K). A computer-generated model is developed and a variety of parameter extractions are performed. Then, particular regions of the power MOSFET are modified and reevaluated for a comparison of parameter analysis. It is shown that, for this device, as the temperature decreases, the on resistance decreases and transconductance increase by three times as does epitaxial layer mobility. However breakdown voltage and threshold voltage deteriorate slightly.
Continuum shape sensitivity analysis and what-if study for two-dimensional multi-scale crack propagation problems using bridging scale decomposition

This paper presents a shape sensitivity analysis and what-if study for two-dimensional multi-scale crack propagation problems using bridging scale decomposition. The sensitivity equations are derived in a continuum setting using direct differentiation method based on a continuum variational formulation of the bridging scale. Due to the fact that the crack propagation speed in an atomistic simulation is discrete in design, and cannot be formulated as a continuous function of shape design variables, we propose a hybrid method that combines analytical sensitivity analysis with finite difference approach. The finite difference part of the sensitivity analysis is only intended for calculating the sensitivity of crack growth speed based on the analytically obtained sensitivity coefficients of structural responses. The theoretical development on sensitivity formulation in this paper extends the application of the method to irregular-shaped finite elements and general design velocity fields. Furthermore, we evaluate and compare several performance measures that quantify crack propagation speed based on crack tip locations for sensitivity analysis and ultimately for structural optimization. A two-dimensional beam example is used to verify the accuracy of the proposed sensitivity approach. It is also demonstrated through a what-if study that with an adequate performance measure, the impact of macroscopic shape changes on microscopic crack propagation speed can be accurately predicted.
La desconfianza regional hacia la seguridad cooperativa: la nueva sociedad entre los Estados Unidos y Colombia

ducto de una vocacion de Estado que fue conceptualizada como la «Doctrina de la Estrella Polar»1, por la mirada obligada hacia el Norte. Bogota ve en Washington –y no en sus vecinos– un modelo de democracia politica, un potente socio comercial a tres horas de vuelo y un camarada de armas que comparte su receta de tratamiento frontal a las guerrillas y narcotraficantes. En el terreno de la seguridad, esta relacion bilateral tiene varios hitos que permiten entender su magnitud y trascendencia. colombia envio a la guerra de corea (1950-1953) un batallon y un buque de guerra para sumarse a la cruzada anticomunista estadounidense en Asia2. Luego, a principios de la decada de los anos noventa la operacion centra
Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Favorable outcomes with radiotherapy.

Background The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck using a radiation-based treatment approach. Methods We reviewed records of 106 consecutive patients with MCC of the head and neck treated with radiation therapy (RT) at our institution between 1988 and 2011. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate outcomes and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated. Results The 5-year actuarial local and regional control rates were 96% and 96%, respectively. There were no regional recurrences in 22 patients treated with RT to gross nodal disease without neck dissection. The 5-year cause-specific survival rate was 76%. Lymphadenopathy at presentation impacted distant metastatic-free survival outcomes (p < .001). Treatment was well tolerated with only 5 patients having grade ≥3 toxicities. Conclusion For MCC of the head and neck, a management strategy that includes RT offers excellent locoregional control. Gross nodal disease can be successfully treated with RT. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015
"Arias-Stella reaction"-like changes in endocervical glandular epithelium in cervical smears during pregnancy and postpartum states--a potential diagnostic pitfall.

A wide spectrum of histologic changes has been described throughout the female genital tract during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Of these, the endometrial glandular changes referred to as the Arias-Stella reaction have classically been a diagnostic pitfall in histologic sections. Pregnancy-related changes are also reflected in cytologic material obtained from the cervix and vagina. Both glandular and stromal alterations may be seen. The changes involving endocervical glandular epithelium are often alarming enough to cause diagnostic difficulties, especially when the history of pregnancy is not provided. We report 13 cases where marked glandular changes led to diagnostic misinterpretations. These were characterized by cyto- and karyomegaly, a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, round to oval nuclei with smudgy chromatin imparting a ground glass appearance, frequent intranuclear inclusions, and vacuolated to dense variable cytoplasm. The cytologic diagnoses ranged from “glandular atypia” to “suspicious for adenocarcinoma.” Follow-up was available in 11/13 cases. In 9/11 cases, subsequent cervical smears on multiple occasions were negative. Cervical biopsies and/or dilatation and curettage in 4/11 cases did not show significant glandular abnormalities. The glandular changes encountered in cytologic material were similar to those described histologically in the Arias-Stella reaction involving the cervix. This similarity and the fact that these changes disappeared upon termination of the pregnancy favors the presumption that they represent the Arias-Stella reaction. Awareness of these changes during pregnancy and postpartum may prevent interpretive errors and unnecessary surgical procedures. Diagn Cytopathol 1996;14:349–355. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown ZnSe/ZnTe high-reflectivity distributed Bragg reflectors

A series of distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) with different numbers of periods were fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy using ZnSe and ZnTe layers grown on GaAs substrates. The ZnSe/ZnTe combination manifests over 7% lattice mismatch, which leads to a deterioration of multilayer stacks with large numbers of periods. However, even with the deposition of only eight periods we have obtained ZnSe/ZnTe DBR structures which yield reflectivities in excess of 85%. Furthermore, these DBRs show wide stop-bands - an additional advantage of using the ZnSe/ZnTe combination. By varying the number of periods in these structures, we have also studied how the reflectivity changes with the number of periods in this materials combination. The reflectivity obtained by depositing four ZnSe/ZnTe periods was 66.5%, while by depositing 15 periods we obtained 91% reflectivity.
Adiponectin inhibits pro-inflammatory signaling in human macrophages independent of interleukin-10.

Macrophages participate pivotally in the pathogenesis of many chronic inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis. Adiponectin, a vasculoprotective molecule with insulin-sensitizing and anti-atherogenic properties, suppresses pro-inflammatory gene expression in macrophages by mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the effects of adiponectin on major pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in human macrophages. We demonstrate that pretreatment of these cells with adiponectin inhibits phosphorylation of nuclear factor κB inhibitor (IκB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), induced by either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, as well as STAT3 phosphorylation induced by interleukin-6 (IL6). Antagonism of IL10 by either neutralizing antibodies or siRNA-mediated silencing did not abrogate the anti-inflammatory actions of adiponectin, indicating that the ability of adiponectin to render human macrophages tolerant to various pro-inflammatory stimuli does not require this cytokine. A systematic search for adiponectin-inducible genes with established anti-inflammatory properties revealed that adiponectin augmented the expression of A20, suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 3, B-cell CLL/lymphoma (BCL) 3, TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) 1, and TNFAIP3-interacting protein (TNIP) 3. These results suggest that adiponectin triggers a multifaceted response in human macrophages by inducing the expression of various anti-inflammatory proteins that act at different levels in concert to suppress macrophage activation.
Engineering education activities in electric energy systems

The need to replace an aging workforce while simultaneously facing the challenges of moving toward energy sustainability, achieving greater end-use efficiency, and implementing smart grid technologies has focused attention on efforts to revitalize and reform EES curricula.
Use of Multiple Performance Improvement Tools over a Five Year Period To Effect and Maintain Positive Outcomes in the Aspiration Pneumonia Rates of an Acute Care Facility

ISSUE: With a mortality rate of 20-50%, pneumonia is the second most common heathcare associated infection (HAI) and the leading cause of HAI deaths with conservative cost estimates at over $1.2 billion annually. Over the last five years Overton Brooks VA Medical Center has utilized multiple performance improvement tools (i.e. Performance Improvement (PI) Model: Plan, Design, Measure, Assess and Improve, Process Action Team (PAT), Healthcare Failure Mode Effects and Analysis (HFMEA) team, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) team) to successfully decrease rates of nosocomial aspiration pneumonia in their high risk patient population. PROJECT: With the identification of increased rate of aspiration pneumonia in 1999, a multidisciplinary PAT was charter in January 2000 to review and evaluate tube feeding practices, policies, and equipment. In 2003 in an effort to further reduce aspiration pneumonia rates, a multidisciplinary HFMEA team investigated the vulnerabilities in current patient care processes. Due to the identification of a sentinel event, healthcare acquired aspiration pneumonia death, a RCA team was chartered in January 2005. In all team processes, data collection tools were developed, data was analyzed, continuous monitoring and educational tools were created. RESULTS: The 2000 PAT recommendations resulted in the reduction of the 1999 aspiration pneumonia rate of 0.6/1000 patient days to 0.3 in 2000 and 0.2 in 2001. Recommendations from the 2003 HFMEA team resulted in the incidences of aspiration pneumonia related to vomiting and procedures decreasing from 0.5/1000 patient days in 2003 to 0.4 in 2004 and 0.2 in 2005. No further aspiration pneumonia related deaths have occurred since the implementation of the 2005 RCA recommendations. LESSONS LEARNED: Each of the PI tools utilized over the past five years have proved successful in decreasing the HAI aspiration pneumonia rate. However, the use of multiple PI tools has allowed the focusing of interventions resulting in efficient and effective utilization of finite resources. Further, the continuous monitoring methods required with these PI tools are credited with maintaining the low incidence of aspiration pneumonia in this high risk population.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome: An Uncommon Cause of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

A58-year-oldmanwithasthma, chronic sinusitis, andnasal polyposis presented with a 1-day history of headache, blurry vision, and vomiting. His blood pressure was 170/88mmHg. Neurological examinationwas significant for right homonymous hemianopsia. Initial laboratory resultswere remarkable for peripheral bloodeosinophilia (25%; normal, 0%-8.5%). A computed tomographic scan of theheadshowedan intracranialhemorrhage in the leftoccipital lobe (Figure1A).Emergentevacuationof the intracranialhemorrhagewas performed, and brain tissue was sent for routine biopsy. On postoperativeday2, hedevelopedcoughand shortness of breath.Oxygen saturation was 90%. A general examination revealed coarse crackles bilaterally on chest auscultation. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was noted on a computed tomographic scan of the chest (Figure 1B).Hewas intubated for respiratory failure. Furtherworkup revealed an elevated myeloperoxidase–antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (>1000EU; normal, 0-21 EU). Brain tissue pathologic study results showed an intense eosinophilic vasculitis (Figure 2A andB).AdiagnosisofChurg-StraussSyndrome(CSS)wasmade.The patientreceivedpulsecyclophosphamide infusionanda5-daycourse of pulse intravenous methylprednisone (1000 mg/d). His respiratory parameters improved, and he was weaned off the ventilator. Hewasdischargedandprescribedoral prednisoneandmonthly cyclophosphamide infusions. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (Figure 2C) obtained 6weeks later showed a small residual left occipital hematoma,withnoevidenceof chronic ischemic sequelaeor microhemorrhages. At the 3-month follow-up, the patient’s neuro-
Field determination of Fe2+ oxidation rates in acid mine drainage using a continuously-stirred tank reactor

A gravity-fed, battery-powered, portable continuously-stirred tank reactor has been developed to directly measure aqueous reaction rates in the field. Dye and tracer experiments indicate the reactor is well-mixed. Rates of Fe2+ oxidation at untreated and passively treated coal mine drainage sites in Pennsylvania were measured under ambient conditions and with the addition of either O2 gas or NaOH solutions. Rates at 5 sites ranged from below the detection limit for this technique (approximately 10−9 mol L−1 s−1) to 3.27±0.01×10−6 mol L−1 s−1. Uncertainties in rates ranged from 70% near the lower limit of measurement to as little as 1% at higher rates of reaction. Multiple linear regressions showed no universal correlations of rates to Fe2+, dissolved O2, and pH (Thiobacillus populations were not measured), although data for two more acidic sites were found to fit well for the model log rate=log K+a log [Fe2+]+b log [OH−]+c log [O2]. Field rates of Fe oxidation from this and other studies vary by 4 orders of magnitude. A model using the ambient field rate of Fe oxidation from this study successfully reproduced independently-measured Fe2+ concentrations observed in a passive wetland treatment facility.
Blueprint of A Defect Tolerant Waveguide Isolator based on Unidirectional Surface Waves

We propose a scheme for defect tolerant broadband waveguide isolator in microwave & optical frequencies. By restricting bulk mode in the system, we obtain high values of isolation ratio, verified by finite element simulations in the microwave range.
Nonminimum-phase zeros - much to do about nothing - classical control - revisited part II

The purpose of this article is to illuminate the critical role of system zeros in control-system performance for the benefit of a wide audience both inside and outside the control systems community. Zeros are a fundamental aspect of systems and control theory; however, the causes and effects of zeros are more subtle than those of poles. In particular, positive zeros can cause initial undershoot (initial error growth), zero crossings, and overshoot in the step response of a system, whereas nonminimum-phase zeros limit bandwidth. Both of these aspects have real-world implications in many applications. Nonminimum-phase zeros exacerbate the tradeoff between the robustness and achievable performance of a feedback control system. From a control-theoretic point of view, a nonminimum-phase zero in the loop transfer function L is arguably the worst feature a system can possess. Every feedback synthesis methodology must accept limitations due to the presence of open-right-half-plane zeros, and the mark of a good analysis tool is the ability to capture the performance limitations arising from nonminimum-phase zeros.
Consistent Estimates of Regional Blocs' Trade Effects

This paper builds upon Feenstra (2002) to obtain consistent estimates of trade effects of regional blocs by adding bilateral effects to the gravity equation and analyzing its variation across blocs of different intensity. The results are then compared across different gravity equations used in the literature only to observe significant variation in sign, magnitude, and significance. The consequent equation shows that the effect is positive for economics cooperation agreements and preferential trade agreements, but free-trade agreements do not have a significant incremental effect. While customs unions have a positive incremental effect over blocs of lower intensity, the incremental effect is mixed for monetary unions, and negative for economic areas and full integrations. Furthermore, the effect varies with the duration and degree of implementation as well as the coverage of blocs. Lastly, changes in trade effects of the European blocs across time observed and policy implications are discussed.
The pharmacoeconomics of acne treatment: Where are we heading?

Introduction: The increasing recognition of the finite nature of health care resources has prompted the evaluation of the economic impact and value of medical interventions through pharmacoeconomic analysis. Despite the relevance and importance of pharmacoeconomics to dermatologic practice, there is a paucity of available literature on this topic. The purpose of this paper is to assess the number and quality of pharmacoeconomic studies applied to acne therapy as well as to provide a basic understanding of pharmacoeconomic analysis, its application to acne therapy, and the complex factors affecting the study of acne pharmacoeconomics. Methods: A Medline search using the keywords acne, economics, cost‐effectiveness, and pharmacoeconomics as well as a search of articles cited as references in the literature was used to identify pharmacoeconomic analyses for acne therapy. The quality of the studies was then evaluated by a standard model for evaluating the quality of cost‐effectiveness studies. Results: Only s...
Review: Management of Advanced Stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Squamous cell tumors of the head and neck make up 5% of tumors diagnosed in this country. The combination of excessive tobacco and alcohol use is the most common causative factor for these tumors. Their natural history is characterized by a tendency for early local-regional recurrence and the late appearance of distant metastases. A significant proportion of patients present with advanced (stage III or IV) disease, which has a poor prognosis when treated with surgery and radiotherapy. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy with surgery and radiotherapy in previously untreated patients holds promise for improving cure rates in patients with this disease. The use of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent head and neck tumors results in response in approximately one third of patients. The majority of these responses are partial and short-lived, but those patients achieving a complete remission appear to have a significant prolongation of survival. The combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with advanced disease is being tested in a number of trials. It is hoped that this combination will increase the response rate and result in prolonged survival.
Social Comparisons in Boundary-Spanning Work: Effects of Community Outreach on Members' Organizational Identity and Identification

This research investigated how experiences in a particular boundary-spanning context (community outreach) affected members' organizational identity and identification. Multimethod panel data from 2...
QR factorization with Morton-ordered quadtree matrices for memory re-use and parallelism

Quadtree matrices using Morton-order storage provide natural blocking on every level of a memory hierarchy. Writing the natural recursive algorithms to take advantage of this blocking results in code that honors the memory hierarchy without the need for transforming the code. Furthermore, the divide-and-conquer algorithm breaks problems down into independent computations. These independent computations can be dispatched in parallel for straightforward parallel processing.Proof-of-concept is given by an algorithm for QR factorization based on Givens rotations for quadtree matrices in Morton-order storage. The algorithms deliver positive results, competing with and even beating the LAPACK equivalent.
Crystal and molecular structure of 8-bromoguanosine and 8-bromoadenosine, two purine nucleosides in the syn conformation.

Abstract The crystal structures of 8-bromoguanosine-2H 2 O and 8-bromoadenosine have been determined by X-ray analysis. Both compounds have been found to exist in the syn conformation, in contrast to the more usual anti conformation found in purine nucleosides. It is suggested that this rotational isomerism specifically reflects close contacts introduced by the bromine atom at the 8-position on these purine nucleosides. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to recent data indicating the inability of the Qβ replicase and the Escherichia coli transcriptase to use 8-substituted purine nucleoside triphosphates as substrates for the RNA polymerization reaction.
Haline Circulation: Bifurcation and Chaos

Abstract A highly idealized model for the oceanic haline circulation is studied. Specifically, loops filled with salty water and subjected to either the natural boundary condition, the virtual salt flux condition, or salinity relaxation are considered. It is shown that the characteristics of the solutions, especially the transition between steady and unsteady convection, depend critically on the applied boundary conditions. It is found that the relaxation condition generally modifies the location of the Hopf bifurcation so highly that models based on it should always remain in the regime of steady convection. On the other hand, the location of the Hopf bifurcation for models based on flux conditions is much less extreme. Thus, in these models, limit cycles or chaotic behavior can easily be excited. Further, the nature of the Hopf bifurcation depends sensitively on the boundary condition. For example, if the frictional parameter is gradually reduced, the model based on the natural boundary condition goes t...
Suburbanization and the rank-size rule

In this article, we revisit Zipf's law and test the rank-size rule on US cities for different periods of time and city limits. We show that Zipf 's law holds more closely for urban places in 1900 and recently, in 1990 and 2000, for metropolitan areas. With the evolution of the modern city, the changes in infrastructure and the cost of commuting that have contributed to an urban spread, the metropolitan area is perhaps representing today's communities better, as urban places did 100 years ago. In that sense, the rank-size rule continues to hold with the appropriate redefinition of a city.
Influence of erythrocyte aggregation on leukocyte margination in postcapillary expansions: A lattice Boltzmann analysis

Abstract Leukocyte rolling on the vascular endothelium requires initial contact between the circulating leukocytes in the blood and the vessel wall. Although specific adhesion mechanisms are involved in leukocyte–endothelium interactions, adhesion patterns in vivo suggest other rheological mechanisms are involved as well. Previous studies have proposed that the abundance of leukocyte rolling in postcapillary venules is due to interactions between red blood cells and leukocytes as they enter capillary expansions as well as red blood cell (RBC) aggregation. We have established a lattice Boltzmann approach to analyze the interactions of RBC aggregates and leukocytes as they flow through a postcapillary expansion. The lattice Boltzmann technique provides the complete solution of the flow field and quantification of the particle–particle forces. Our results show that RBC aggregation strongly influences leukocyte–endothelium interactions.
PANCREATIC ENZYME LEVELS IN CHICKS FED UNHEATED SOYBEAN MEAL.

SummaryAn unheated, water insoluble fraction of soybean meal, while adding only .024% trypsin inhibitor to the diet, causes pancreatic hypertrophy in the chick. The hypertrophic pancreas has a higher trypsin specific activity than controls. Amylase specific activity was lower after feeding raw soybean meal but there was no difference after feeding the water insoluble fraction. These observations suggest that a heat-labile component other than trypsin inhibitor may be responsible for pancreatic hypertrophy and associated changes in enzyme levels in animals fed raw soybean meal.
Evolutionary conservation of angiosperm flower development at the molecular and genetic levels

Flowers consist primarily of four basic organ types whose relative positions are universally conserved within the angiosperms. A model has been proposed to explain how a small number of regulatory genes, acting alone and in combination, specify floral organ identity. This model, known widely as the ABC model of flower development, is based on molecular generic experiments in two model organisms, Arabidopsis thaliana and Antirrhinum majus. Both of these species are considered to be eudicots, a clade within the angiosperms with a relatively conserved floral architecture. In this review, the application of the ABC model derived from studies of these typical eudicot species is considered with respect to angiosperms whose floral structure deviates from that of the eudicots. It is concluded that the model is universally applicable to the angiosperms as a whole, and the enormous diversity seen among angiosperms flowers is due to genetic pathways that are downstream, or independent, of the genetic programme that specifies floral organ identity. 1. Angiosperm flower An enormous diversity of size, shape, and complexity exists amongst the flowers of the quarter of a million species of extant angiosperms. Flower size varies over 1000-fold, with Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) flowers up to a meter in diameter dwarfing the minute flowers of Wolffia (Lemnaceae) measuring less than a millimeter across. Floral organ number also varies over several orders of magnitude with the comlex flowers of Tambourissa species (Monimiaceae) having more than a thousand organs while the simple flowers of the Chloranthaceae may consist of but a few organs. Despite the enormous diversity in numbers, sizes, and shapes of the floral organs within the angiosperms, a universal theme underlies the basic architecture of all angiosperm flowers: flowers are built of four basic organ types whose relative positions are invariant (figure 1A; sepals, petals stamens, and carpels). Thus, a basic floral ground plan exists that defines the relationship between organ type and position in all angiosperm species. The floral organ types typically develop in concentric rings or whorls, with sepals occupying the outermost positions, and petals, stamens, and carpels occupying success- ively more interior positions. Because of the constancy in the relative positions of floral organ types, it is hypothesized that a common genetic programme to specify floral organ identity is utilized during the development of all flowers. The striking variation observed among the angiosperm flowers would then be due to additional development- tal programmes that operate in parallel with or subsequently to the basic genetic
SORPTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF TETRAALKYLAMMONIUM-EXCHANGED SMECTITE CLAYS

The size of quaternary ${\rm{NH}}_4^ + $ cations defines their packing configurations in the interlayers and the basal spacings of organoclays, and hence strongly influences the sorptive properties of organoclays. A series of organoclays (TAA-SACs) was prepared from a smectite (SAC) fully exchanged with symmetrical tetraalkylammonium (TAA) cations of progressively increasing sizes with the carbon number of single alkyl group from 1 to 6. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the packing configurations of monolayer, monolayer-to-bilayer transition, bilayer, and bilayer-to-trilayer transition in the interlayers of SAC. Calculations of the interionic distances between TAA ions support such packing configurations. Sorption of benzene by TAA-SACs displayed a high-low-high uptake trend and progressively weaker sorptive interactions as the size of TAA ions increased. Both the siloxane surfaces and TAA ions contributed to the overall sorption, with their relative contributions dependent on the TAA interionic distances and the basal spacings of TAA-SACs. High benzene sorption by small TAA-SAC (tetramethylammonium(TMA)-SAC) was attributed to the strong interactions between the siloxane surfaces and benzene molecules. With large TAAs, high sorption was due to the effective solute partitioning. Compared to benzene sorption, TCE sorption by small TAA-SACs (TMA-SAC and tetraethylammonium(TEA)-SAC) was less effective and displayed an abnormal trend, due largely to the lack of the siloxane surface-TCE interactions and to the stronger hydration of TMA as compared to TEA ions. The results provide strong evidence to support the use of either small or large quaternary ${\rm{NH}}_4^ + $ cations in preparation of organoclays as effective sorbents for removing organic contaminants from water.