cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CPT to RVU conversion improves model performance in the prediction of surgical case length.

Methods used to predict surgical case time often rely upon the current procedural terminology (CPT) code as a nominal variable to train machine-learned models, however this limits the ability of the model to incorporate new procedures and adds complexity as the number of unique procedures increases. The relative value unit (RVU, a consensus-derived billing indicator) can serve as a proxy for procedure workload and could replace the CPT code as a primary feature for models that predict surgical case length. Using 11,696 surgical cases from Duke University Health System electronic health records data, we compared boosted decision tree models that predict individual case length, changing the method by which the model coded procedure type; CPT, RVU, and CPT–RVU combined. Performance of each model was assessed by inference time, MAE, and RMSE compared to the actual case length on a test set. Models were compared to each other and to the manual scheduler method that currently exists. RMSE for the RVU model (60.8 min) was similar to the CPT model (61.9 min), both of which were lower than scheduler (90.2 min). 65.2% of our RVU model’s predictions (compared to 43.2% from the current human scheduler method) fell within 20% of actual case time. Using RVUs reduced model prediction time by ninefold and reduced the number of training features from 485 to 44. Replacing pre-operative CPT codes with RVUs maintains model performance while decreasing overall model complexity in the prediction of surgical case length.
The LKB1-Like Kinase Elm1 Controls Septin Hourglass Assembly at the Cell Division Site by Promoting Filament Pairing

Septins form rod-shaped heterooligomeric complexes that assemble into filaments and other higher-order structures such as rings or hourglasses at the cell division site in fungal and animal cells, at the annulus of spermatozoa or at the base of dendritic spines to carry out a wide range of functions including cytokinesis and cell morphogenesis. Mutations in human septins are associated with male infertility, many cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the architecture of the septin higher-order assemblies and their control mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the five mitotic septins (Cdc3, Cdc10, Cdc11, Cdc12, and Shs1) localize to the bud neck and form an hourglass before cytokinesis that acts as a scaffold for proteins involved in multiple processes as well as a membrane diffusible barrier between the mother and developing bud. The hourglass is remodeled into a double ring that sandwiches the actomyosin ring at the onset of cytokinesis. How the septins are assembled into a highly ordered hourglass structure at the division site is largely unexplored. Here we show that the LKB1-like kinase Elm1, which has been implicated in septin organization, cell morphogenesis, and mitotic exit, specifically associates with the septin hourglass during the cell cycle, and controls hourglass assembly and stability, especially for the daughter half, by promoting filament pairing as well as recruitment of the septin-bundling protein Bni5 to the hourglass.
The Proud History of Psychosurgery in the USA.

To understand the development and growth of psychosurgery, the context of psychiatric care in the mid-twentieth-century USA must be considered—for example, overpopulation and understaffing of public institutions, and typical use of psychotherapy, which was generally useless in treating the symptomatology of severe mental illness. Therefore, the introduction of prefrontal lobotomy (and, later, transorbital lobotomy) by Drs. Walter Freeman and James Watts, who modified the technique of leukotomy developed by Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Egas Moniz, was considered revolutionary and quickly gained widespread acceptance by medical community. No other alternative treatment at the time demonstrated comparable efficacy. At its peak, psychosurgery was sometimes applied inappropriately, but records from multiple institutions across the USA demonstrate that these were exceptional cases, whereas, as a rule, selection of surgical candidates was based on very strict criteria, indicating the high professionalism and humanity of medical staff. Although psychosurgery has declined heavily since the 1950s, it is not obsolete and is currently considered a valuable treatment option, realized through various open, stereotactic, or radiosurgical procedures.
Phosphorus retention within a relic agricultural ditch in a constructed wetland

Stormwater treatment areas (STAs) are constructed wetlands established to capture phosphorus (P) from agricultural runoff before reaching the Florida Everglades. Retained P is primarily stored in wetland soils and sediments generated through a collection of interrelated physical, chemical, and biological processes. The amount of P and other elements (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn) retained in the flocculent (floc) and recently accreted soil (RAS) horizons from a relic agricultural ditch within Cell 4S of STA-1E were compared with the surrounding marsh soils (upstream and downstream sites of the ditch). The amount of P retained in the ditch was significantly greater than the surrounding marsh soils and for all the elements in the floc horizon and five of the nine elements in the RAS horizon, suggesting that different processes or process rates influenced accumulation. Phosphorus species in the floc and RAS sediment horizons were identified and quantified using 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and total P determined by microwave plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. In general, P forms were dominated by orthophosphate, sugar phosphates, nucleotides, DNA, and pyrophosphate, with varying relative abundances of species. Total P concentration significantly decreased from upstream to downstream of the ditch by an average of 28 and 35% for floc and RAS soils, respectively. The relatively high P accrual rate within the ditch suggested that relic ditches perpendicular to flow could reduce P transport to downstream soils and sediments and, in turn, help maintain low P levels in overlying water.
Uniform Interpretation of CISG

This UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) has been U.S. law for a generation and requires that it be interpreted “to promote uniformity in its application”. This article argues that uniform interpretation is impractical because 1) it is written in six official languages which do not always mean the same thing; 2) with more than 90 countries’ courts and arbitrators applying CISG, each in its own language, some of which do not regularly print their opinions, it is difficult to access all opinions on a single point; 3) since Civil Law countries consider the writings of distinguished professors to be sources of law, those writings must also be accessed; 4) there is no official authority interpreting CISG, though the unofficial CISG Advisory Council issues its interpretations from time to time; 4) CISG interpretations are to be autonomous, not analogous to comparable provisions of domestic law, which means that many opinions interpreting CISG must be disregarded because they are self-declared as analogous. The article then discusses the New Zealand mussel case, clearly the right result announcing the wrong rule, and asks how a court should decide the next case in a uniform manner considering the strength of the precedent, the factual differences between the precedent and the current case, and the likely impact of the rule announced on the next case to come before a court or arbitration panel. The conclusion is that although full uniformity is impossible (and may not even be desirable), it is a goal worth pursuing, though the fears of forum shopping if there is no uniformity are quite overblown.
How Can We Support Students’ Learning Experiences in Higher Education? Campus Wide Course Transformation Program Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aims of this paper are to examine the breadth of scholarship that emerged from a large-scale university-wide course transformation program between 2011 and 2021, to investigate how the course transformation program influenced students’ perceptions of their learning environment and learning achievement, and to discuss future directions for improving autonomy-supportive learning in higher education. We gathered all quantitative and qualitative publications related to the IMPACT course transformation program, and 35 articles were included in the study. Since the scope of the study topics in the course transformation program varied and program implementation was applied to various study contexts and disciplines, the findings were first summarized in a narrative manner. Additionally, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the course transformation based on 10 journal articles that adopted quasi-experimental designs. The findings revealed that the courses redesigned through the program supported students’ positive learning experiences, including motivation, satisfaction regarding basic psychological needs, knowledge transferability, and academic performance. This paper discusses implications and future directions to enhance undergraduate students’ academic success through course redesign. Further exploration is needed to determine the additional effect of course redesign in higher education.
On A Statistical Problem Involving the Measurement of Strength and Duration-of-Load for Construction Materials

This paper presents a new analysis, applicable to construction materials, for estimating the probabilistic behavior of the duration-of-load, say Tl when the load is of magnitude l, based on the imposed stress ratio of load to characteristic material strength. The stochastic behavior of the logarithm of the duration-of-load, given the strength S exceeds l, is of axiomatic importance. We assume the conditional distribution, presuming strength S were known, to be of the form $$\left[ {\ln {T_\ell }|S = s} \right] - H\left( {s/\ell } \right) \sim {\sigma _0}Z,$$ where the r.v. Z is a standard variate appropriately chosen for the material, and the regression H is a monotone increasing function of the form $$ H\left( x \right) = {{\alpha }_{0}} + {{\alpha }_{1}}x + {{\alpha }_{{ - 1}}}{{x}^{{ - 1}}} $$ for x < 0.
Retailers and Energy Conservation - Problems and Promotions

Retail executives were interviewed to determine their problems and attitudes about energy conservation. They had little conservation information and reported few conservation efforts. The executives were concerned about potential sales declines caused by energy saving measures.
A New Paradigm for Intelligent Tutoring Systems: Example-Tracing Tutors

The Cognitive Tutor Authoring Tools (CTAT) support creation of a novel type of tutors called example-tracing tutors. Unlike other types of ITSs (e.g., model-tracing tutors, constraint-based tutors)...
A Comparison of Two Methods for Measuring Listening Effort As Part of an Audiologic Test Battery.

Purpose We evaluated 2 measures of listening effort (a self-report measure and a word recall measure) regarding their suitability for inclusion in a comprehensive audiologic testing protocol. The relationship between the 2 measures was explored, and both measures were examined with regard to validity, sensitivity, and effect on speech intelligibility performance. Method Thirty adults with normal hearing participated. Speech intelligibility performance was evaluated at 4 signal-to-noise ratios by using keywords embedded in both high- and low-context sentences. Listening effort was evaluated at set intervals throughout the speech intelligibility task. Results Results obtained with the 2 measures were consistent with expected changes in listening effort. However, data obtained with the self-report method demonstrated greater sensitivity to these changes. The 2 measures were uncorrelated. Under certain conditions, speech intelligibility performance was more negatively affected when the word recall measure was...
Superimposed AC- and DC electric field guided deposition of a single DNA molecule along a microfabricated gap

A single DNA molecule was deposited along a two-electrode microfabricated gap, using the Composite Electric-field Guided Assembly (CEGA) method. The suggested nano-assembly technique based on a superimposed ac- and dc electric field enabled attraction of a single DNA molecule out of an extremely diluted aqueous solution (/spl sim/10 aM), subsequent stretching and deposition of the molecule along a gap formed by a pair of electrodes. The stretching of the single DNA is attributed to an electrohydrodynamic flow generated by the electric field.
The Impact of Ethnic Fragmentation on Education Spending: An Analysis of Unites States School Districts

In the public finance literature it is well understood that a community's spending can be affected by neighboring communities’ spending. It is relatively straightforward to see why these spillovers exist. For example, if a school district increases its spending on public education, this could affect the spending level of neighboring school districts. This paper uses spatial analysis to test the hypothesis that a school district's ethnic heterogeneity affects support for public education. Using a Spatial Lag Model and a national panel of U.S. school districts, I find that spatial dependence does exist in the data and that ethnic heterogeneity is negatively related to school district spending.
UCLA at TREC 2014 Clinical Decision Support Track: Exploring Language Models, Query Expansion, and Boosting

Abstract : For the TREC 2014 Clinical Decision Support track, participants were given a set of 30 patient cases in the form of a short natural language description and a data set of over 700,000 full-text articles from PubMed Central. The task was to retrieve articles relevant to the patient cases and one of three types of clinical question: diagnosis, test, and treatment. This paper describes the retrieval system developed by the Medical Imaging Informatics group at the University of California, Los Angeles. One manual run and four automatic runs were submitted. For the automatic runs, a variety of retrieval strategies were explored. Two retrieval methods were compared: the vector space model with TF-IDF similarity, and a unigram language model with Jelinek-Mercer smoothing. The performance of retrieving on abstracts alone was compared to that of full-text. Finally, a simple set of rules for query expansion and term boosting was developed based on recommendations from domain experts. Submissions for 26 groups were pooled and evaluated by a team of medical librarians and physicians at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The results showed that 1) the language model outperformed the vector space model for automatically-constructed queries, 2) searching full-text was more effective than searching abstracts alone, and 3) boosting improved the ranking of retrieved documents for test topics, but not diagnosis topics. Our best automatic run used the language model, full-text search, query expansion, and no boosting.
Cloze procedure and written language in schizophrenia.

Little information exists regarding the sensitivity of the Cloze technique in various modes of language response in schizophrenia. In an experiment calling for spoken and written responses, Cloze scores of spoken responses were different for schizophrenics and controls, while scores of written responses did not distinguish the two groups. Controlling for thought disorder did not enhance the sensitivity of the procedure. These results are discussed in the light of current criticism of Cloze investigations of language produced by schizophrenics.
Clinical effectiveness of anti-IgE therapy in allergic severe asthma

Severe asthma patients remain symptomatic despite of high dose medication, and experience frequent exacerbations. Allergic severe asthmatics with high serum IgE levels may be responsive to anti-IgE treatment. Omalizumab was administered to 89 allergic severe asthmatics with serum IgE >70 IU/ml. Clinical effectiveness of omalizumab was assessed every 3 months. 92.1% (82/89) of allergic severe asthmatics responded to omalizumab in terms of improvement of asthma control, reduction of ER visit, hospitalization, dosage of steroids. 68.5% (n=61) and 23.6% (n=21) of patients achieved well control and partial control of asthma, respectively after 3 months of treatment. For patients with partial control, 52.4% (n=12) and 33.3% (n=7) attained well control after 3 months of additional itraconazole or rhinosinus surgery, respectively. The effectiveness of omalizumab persisted for 8.8+4.5 months after cessation of >1 year of treatment (n=62), but only 3.2+1.2 months in 12 months (78+14% predicted, n=21, P 1 year may preserve longer effectiveness.
Costs of joint production of ethanol and industrial sugar juice using energy beets in the Northern Plains of the United States

This study evaluates the economic feasibility and profitability of producing industrial sugar juice and ethanol using energy beets in the Northern Plains of the United States. An enterprise budget is constructed to estimate the breakeven price of energy beets that triggers farmers to produce the crop. This breakeven price is used to estimate the long-run breakeven prices for industrial sugar juice and ethanol. Stochastic models are developed to account for price and parameter variability in the estimation of enterprise budgets and breakeven prices. Results show that the simulated breakeven price of producing ethanol is 518 $m−3 and that of industrial sugar juice is 351 $t−1, using a 36 $t−1 breakeven delivered cost of energy beets. Energy beet ethanol investment could be profitable at the breakeven prices of energy beets and ethanol computed, and could attract new capital investment into the ethanol industry. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Let's keep our eye on the sparrow

President Jackson, fellows of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, family, and friends: I am honored beyond description to serve as the next President of this, the greatest professional society in the world, and I shall do everything in my power to uphold the confidence that you have vested in me. It was Sir Isaac Newton who said: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Certainly, that is where I am standing today. Before I begin my formal remarks, I want to express my appreciation to all of those giants in orthopaedics who have preceded me in this office. I hope to emulate the standards set by them. I want to thank four in particular who have strongly influenced my career. Dr. John Gartland: my teacher when I was a third-year medical student at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. I will never forget the day he showed me a prototype Charnley total hip prosthesis and said: “This is going to revolutionize the practice of orthopaedic surgery.” Dr. Roby Thompson: who, along with Dr. Warren Stamp and the faculty at the University of Virginia, taught me to be an orthopaedic surgeon—often a formidable task for them. Dr. John Hinchey: my close friend and adviser who has taught me much about the traditions and values of this organization. Dr. Charles Rockwood: my predecessor in the chairmanship in San Antonio and perhaps the most creative orthopaedic surgeon whom I have ever met. I want also to thank my parents, James A. and Virginia M. Heckman, for standing shoulder to shoulder in support of my career at every turn. It certainly was through his example that my father taught me to be a good doctor and through his satisfaction that I learned how much fun it is …
Optimal Turbulent Schmidt Number for RANS Modeling of Trailing Edge Slot Film Cooling

It has been previously demonstrated that Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulations do not accurately capture the mixing between the coolant flow and the main flow in trailing edge slot film cooling configurations. Most RANS simulations use a fixed turbulent Schmidt number of either 0.7 or 0.85 to determine the turbulent scalar flux, based on the values for canonical flows. This paper explores the extent to which RANS predictions can be improved by modifying the value of the turbulent Schmidt number. Experimental mean 3D velocity and coolant concentration data obtained using Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques are used to evaluate the accuracy of RANS simulations. A range of turbulent Schmidt numbers from 0.05 to 1.05 is evaluated and the optimal turbulent Schmidt number for each case is determined using an integral error metric which accounts for the difference between RANS and experiment throughout a 3-dimensional region of interest. The resulting concentration distribution is compared in detail with the experimentally measured coolant concentration distribution to reveal where the fixed turbulent Schmidt number assumption fails. It is shown that the commonly used turbulent Schmidt number of 0.85 over-predicts the surface effectiveness in all cases, particularly when the k-omega SST model is employed, and that a lower value of the turbulent Schmidt number can improve predictions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Reductive Dehalogenation of Trichloroethylene with Zero-Valent Iron: Surface Profiling Microscopy and Rate Enhancement Studies

Mechanistic aspects of the reductive dehalogenation of trichloroethylene using zerovalent iron are studied with three different surface characterization techniques. These include scanning electron microscopy, surface profilometry, and atomic force microscopy. It was found that the pretreatment of an iron surface by chloride ions causes enhancement in the initial degradation rates. This enhancement was attributed to the increased roughness of the iron surface due to crevice corrosion obtained by pretreatment. The results indicate that the “fractional active site concentration” for the reactive sorption of trichloroethylene is related to the number of defects/abnormalities present on the surface of the iron. This was elucidated with the help of atomic force microscopy. Two possible mechanisms include (1) a direct hydrogenation in the presence of defects acting as catalyst and (2) an enhancement due to the two electrochemical cells operating in proximity to each other. The result of this study has potential for further research to achieve an increase in the reaction rates by surface modifications in a practical scenario.
US Science Education: The View from a Practicing Scientist

Science and mathematics education in the US is failing to produce an adequate number of American scientists. Foreign postdoctoral fellows and students who typically remain in the US and become permanent residents and citizens increasingly populate US research laboratories. Were these foreign scientists to return home upon completion of their training, we would be facing a severe shortage of well-trained research personnel in US laboratories. The contributions of foreign scientists to US scientific research have been important and impressive, but as noted above, there are dangers in relying on other countries to provide the basic education of scientists to fill our US laboratories.
A Computer-Based Dialysis Therapy Advisor

This paper describes our experiences in creating an initial prescription dialysis therapy advisor to assist physicians in prescribing dialysis regimens for patients who are to begin maintenance hemodialysis treatment. Two implementation methods are described: 1) a procedurally based methodology, and 2) a rule-based system. The advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed and the results of using the advisory system with patients are examined. The initial prescription advisory or consultation system is envisioned as ultimately becoming part of a simulated community of experts that provides advice on all aspects of dialysis therapy.
Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Heart Failure in the Physicians’ Health Study I

Background— Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization among the elderly, and 1 in 5 adults aged 40 years will develop HF in their lifetime. Data on the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on the risk of HF have been sparse and inconsistent. This study sought to evaluate the association between moderate alcohol consumption and incident HF. Methods and Results— A total of 21 601 participants of the Physicians’ Health Study I who were free of HF and provided data on alcohol intake at baseline were prospectively followed up from 1982 to 2005. Incident HF cases were ascertained through annual follow-up questionnaires and validated with the use of Framingham criteria. During an average follow-up of 18.4 years, 904 incident cases of HF occurred. The crude incidence rates of HF were 25.0, 20.0, 24.3, and 20.6 cases per 10 000 person-years for alcohol categories of 7 drinks per week, respectively. Corresponding hazard ratios (95% CI) were 1.0 (reference), 0.90 (0.76 to...
Characterization of microsatellite loci in the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)

The house fly, Musca domestica L., is a cosmopolitan species with a capacity to transmit human pathogens. Here, we report on the development of polymorphic microsatellite loci for house flies and present preliminary results from four house fly subpopulations from Manhattan, Kansas. Twenty-four microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized using DNA enriched for repeat sequences. Forty individuals from four locations in Kansas were assayed to identify for polymorphic loci. Eight loci were polymorphic with the number of alleles ranging from three to six.
EPR Line Shifts and Line Shape Changes Due to Spin Exchange of Nitroxide Free Radicals in Liquids 2. Extension to High Spin Exchange Frequencies and Inhomogeneously Broadened Spectra

The work in part 1 of this series (J. Phys. Chem. B. 1997, 101, 8707) is extended experimentally and theoretically to include inhomogeneously broadened nitroxide spectra and high spin exchange frequencies. The nitroxide spin probe 16-doxylstearic acid methyl ester, which is severely inhomogeneously broadened by unresolved hyperfine structure in the absence of spin exchange, is studied under conditions in which the spin probe undergoes spin exchange varying from slow exchange to high exchange leading to collapse of the three 14N hyperfine lines into a single line. Over the entire spin exchange frequency range, theoretically predicted spectra are described essentially perfectly by the sum of three absorption and two “dispersion” lines of Lorentzian shape. The dispersion components are of opposite signs for the outer lines and zero for the inner. The intensities and the line widths of the outer absorption lines are different from the center line. Theoretically, adding unresolved hyperfine structure which inh...
Dichlorotetracarbonyltungsten as a catalyst for olefin metathesis

Abstract The photolysis of hexacarbonyltungsten (I) in carbon tetrachloride yields a catalytic mixture for olefin metathesis. One of the principal products of this transformation is dichlorotetracarbonyltungsten (II). Chemical preparation of II from I and chlorine was carried out. Authentic II was shown to give catalysis of 2-pentene metathesis by either heating in chlorobenzene or chloroform or irradiation in chlorobenzene or carbon tetrachloride. The Dubois report of phosgene formation in the original irradiated mixture of I in carbon tetrachloride was shown to be an artifact.
Prenatal diagnosis and fetal therapy--what lies in future?

Prenatal diagnosis has traditionally occurred between the 15th and 20th weeks of gestation. However, the capabilities of screening and diagnostic tools have advanced substantially over the past 10 years. Recent advances in the science of prenatal diagnosis allow for the evaluation of an affected embryo or an abnormal cell line prior to gestation within the womb via preimplantation diagnosis. The technique can be used for any genetic condition which can be detected with a chromosome-specific probe. At the current time, noninvasive second trimester maternal serum screening with either 2 or 3 serum analytes is associated with a 60–70% detection rate of Down syndrome. Although these particular serum markers are not useful during the first trimester, the fetoplacental secretory products-free β-hCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) appear to be meaningful clinically when measured between 8 and 13 weeks of gestation, yielding similar first trimester detection rates as the current second trimester screening programme. The addition of nuchal translucency measurements as an independent predictor of fetal aneuploidy may further increase the detection rate of Down syndrome to 80%. Open fetal surgery is now possible under highly selective circumstances in which the fetal condition is considered life-threatening and the prognosis is extremely poor. Surgical intervention may be appropriate for congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, bronchopulmonary sequestration, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, and possibly for myelomeningocele.
Management of glaucoma: Focus on pharmacological therapy

Glaucoma represents a major cause of vision loss throughout the world. Primary open-angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma, is a chronic, progressive disease often, though not always, accompanied by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). In this disorder, retinal ganglion cell loss and excavation of the optic nerve head produce characteristic peripheral visual field deficits. Patients with normal-tension glaucoma present with typical visual field and optic nerve head changes, without a documented history of elevated IOP. A variety of secondary causes, such as pigment dispersion syndrome and ocular trauma, can result in glaucoma as well. Treatment of all forms of glaucoma consists of reducing IOP. With proper treatment, progression of this disease can often be delayed or prevented. Treatment options for glaucoma include medications, laser therapy and incisional surgery. Laser techniques for the reduction of IOP include argon laser trabeculoplasty and selective laser trabeculoplasty. Both techniques work by increasing outflow of aqueous humour through the trabecular meshwork. Surgical options for glaucoma treatment include trabeculectomy, glaucoma drainage tube implantation and ciliary body cyclodestruction. While each of these types of procedures is effective at lowering IOP, therapy usually begins with medications. Medications lower IOP either by reducing the production or by increasing the rate of outflow of aqueous humour within the eye. Currently, there are five major classes of drugs used for the treatment of glaucoma: (i) cholinergics (acetylcholine receptor agonists); (ii) adrenoceptor agonists; (iii) carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs); (iv) β-adrenoceptor antagonists; and (v) prostaglandin analogues (PGAs). Treatment typically begins with the selection of an agent for IOP reduction. Although β-adrenoceptor antagonists are still commonly used by many clinicians, the PGAs are playing an increasingly important role in the first-line therapy of glaucoma. Adjunctive agents, such as α-adrenoceptor agonists and CAIs are often effective at providing additional reduction in IOP for patients not controlled on monotherapy. As with any chronic disease, effective treatment depends on minimising the adverse effects of therapy and maximising patient compliance. The introduction of a variety of well tolerated and potent medications over the past few years now allows the clinician to choose a treatment regimen on an individual patient basis and thereby treat this disorder more effectively.
The Freeze Risk to Florida Citrus. Part 1: Investment Decisions

Abstract In the 1980s Florida was struck by an unusual series of severe freezes that caused enormous damage to citrus groves. While citrus acreage in relatively freeze-free parts of the state has expanded rapidly since these freezes, serious questions remain about the commercial viability of growing citrus crops in some central Florida counties. This paper considers the role that freeze risk plays in the investment decisions of citrus growers. A simplified example is used to estimate tolerable levels of freeze risk for individuals evaluating the investment at different discount rates, and to show the impact of changes in the risk level. Changes in estimated freeze risk in the 1980s are computed over the historical temperature record, and related to the growers’ replanting decisions. It is concluded that the computed changes in the probability of a killing freeze would be sufficient to alter the citrus planting decisions of some investors. Furthermore, the longest available climate record should be used to...
Hypocrisy, dissonance and the self-regulation processes that improve health

This paper explores the use of hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance for motivating changes in health. Hypocrisy occurs when people publicly advocate a health behavior and are then made mindful that they have not performed the target health behavior regularly in the past. The discrepancy poses a threat to their self-integrity, which hypocrites reduce by bringing their own health attitudes and behavior into line with the standards for good health. After examining the research that supports the use of hypocrisy for changing health attitudes and behavior, we finish by discussing how hypocrisy represents a powerful strategy for engaging the self-regulation processes that improve health.
High-frequency backscattering from a metallic disc

The paper treats the backscattered field produced by a plane electromagnetic wave at oblique incidence on a perfectly conducting circular disc. The geometric theory of diffraction is used to obtain the first two terms of the asymptotic expansion at high frequencies. The first term is attributable to direct scatter from the edge of the disc and the second term arises from rays that cross the disc once. It has been found that the ray geometry is fixed for one polarisation but is aspect-dependent for the other. Owing to the axial caustic, functions must be introduced to match the wide-angle formulas to the known results for axial incidence. Bessel functions are used for the 1st-order terms and Fresnel integrals for the 2nd-order terms and evidence is presented to support this choice of function. The resulting 1st-order expression is in reasonable agreement with experimental data, and may be adequate for many purposes. However, the expressions incorporating the 2nd-order terms reveal the polarisation dependence of the scattering, and are in excellent agreement with measured data over a widt range of aspect angles.
Characterization of two polyketide synthase genes in Exophiala lecanii-corni, a melanized fungus with bioremediation potential.

Abstract Exophiala lecanii-corni has significant bioremediation potential because it can degrade a wide range of volatile organic compounds. In order to identify sites for the insertion of genes that might enhance this potential, a genetic analysis of E. lecanii-corni was undertaken. Two polyketide synthase genes, ElPKS1 and ElPKS2 , have now been discovered by a PCR-based strategy. ElPKS1 was isolated by a marker rescue technique. The nucleotide sequence of ElPKS1 consists of a 6576-bp open reading frame encoding a protein with 2192 amino acids, which was interrupted by a 60-bp intron near the 5 ′ end and a 54-bp intron near the 3 ′ end. Sequence analysis, results from disruption experiments, and physiological tests showed that ElPKS1 encoded a polyketide synthase required for melanin biosynthesis. Since ElPKS1 is non-essential, it is a desirable bioengineering target site for the insertion of native and foreign genes. The successful expression of these genes could enhance the bioremediation capability of the organism. ElPKS2 was cloned by colony hybridization screening of a partial genomic library with an ElPKS2 PCR product. ElPKS2 had a 6465-bp open reading frame that encoded 2155 amino acids and had introns of 56, 67, 54, and 71 bp. Although sequence analysis of the derived protein of ElPKS2 confirmed the polyketide synthase nature of its protein product, the function of that product remains unclear.
Neurofibromatosis of the small bowel

Neurogenic tumors of the small bowel are uncommon. In general, the roentgen manifestations of all submucosal tumors are similar. The present case presented with abdominal pain, pelvic mass, and intussusception. After several small-bowel studies multiple intraluminal and intramural filling defects due to neurofibromas were finally demonstrated.
Topological properties of fuzzy numbers

Fuzzy numbers are defined and a metric is assigned to this class of fuzzy sets. Topological properties of the resulting metric space are studied. The notion of @q-crisp fuzzy numbers is introduced, and, in particular, it is shown that this class of fuzzy numbers is homeomorphic to the Hilbert cube.
Computers and classical literature: 1971–1972

During the past year, the use of computers in the study of Greek and Latin literature has continued a steady growth. Trends and events since the last article in this series' are mentioned here. Bibliographical details are generally omitted because of their availability in Computers and the Humanities and in Calculi, a bimonthly newsletter specifically about the use of computers in classical studies edited by the author at Dartmouth College. Also omitted are references to work in Greek and Roman archaeology. Concordances continue to be a major objective; they generally are in the standard key-word-in-context form. Most often, these are unlemmatized, with the words arranged according to the forms actually in the text rather than under the headings in a dictionary. Indeed, it seems that the process of lemmatization can greatly delay the appearance of a concordance, and there are grounds for questioning whether the added convenience of having all the forms of words such as sum in one place outweighs the problems caused by delayed publication. Henrik Holmboe is producing concordances to the individual plays of Aeschylus; four had appeared at the time this article was being written, and the remaining three can be expected in a short time. All words have been included, arranged with the key word in the center of the page and a full-sentence context. The printing was done by plates prepared on an output device equipped with a special Selectric-like Greek typing element, and all accents and breathing marks are included. Hopefully, it will be possible, when a planned combined concordance to all the plays is published, to take account of the changes in a new Oxford Classical Text of Aeschylus reportedly being prepared. A concordance, prepared by Andrew Q. Morton and others, to the Johannine epistles has been published as the third volume in the series entitled The Computer Bible, and a word index to Plautus' Amphitruo compiled by Alfred Maniet and Annette Paquet is likewise available. A series of concordances to patristic and late classical texts has been announced by a committee headed by John Strugnell, Andover-Harvard Theological Library, 45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. A second series, to medieval Latin texts, is accepting subscriptions, and one volume, on Raoul de Saint-Trond, has appeared; inquiries should be addressed to Paul Tombeur, Centre de Traitement Electronique des Documents (CETEDOC), Universit6 Catholique de Louvain, Tiensevest 156, B-3000 Louvain, Belgium.
Effect of fish oil on glucose metabolism in the interleukin-1α-treated rat

Abstract Fish oil has been demonstrated to ameliorate many of the responses to infection. This study was conduced to determine whether fish oil feeding could modify the alterations of glucose metabolism induced by interleukin-1α (IL-1α) infusion in the rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed for 5 weeks on two experimental diets in which the source of fat was either fish oil or soybean oil and provided 20% of calories; the diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. After 5 weeks of feeding, rats from both diet regiments were further divided into two subgroups to receive a 3-hour infusion of either 0.1% albumin in saline or 0.1% albumin in saline containing IL-1α. A total of 20 μg/kg IL-1α was administered, and half the dose of IL-1α was given as a bolus and the remaining portion (10 μg/kg) was continuously infused into the jugular vein. During the last 2 hours of IL-1α infusion, a primed constant infusion of d -(6- 3 H)glucose and d -(U- 14 C)glucose was combined to determine the effects of IL-1α and diet on glucose kinetics. Plasma levels of glucose and insulin, energy expenditure, and respiratory quotient were also measured. IL-1α significantly increased concentrations of plasma insulin and the percentage of glucose carbon recycling, confirming previous findings. Concentrations of glucose and insulin with IL-1α treatment were significantly higher in soybean oil- fed animals compared with fish oil-fed animals. In contrast, the contribution of glucose oxidation to total energy expenditure was significantly higher in fish oil-fed groups, and even more so in fish oil-fed, IL-1α-treated animals. These results indicated that fish oil prefeeding may improve the effective insulin action on glucoregulatory response and increase glucose oxidation during infection and inflammation.
The transnationalization of the extreme right and the use of the Internet

Like many other political actors, the extreme right is currently expanding beyond national borders, and, as with any civil society organization, the Internet is assuming a growing role in achieving this goal. To date, however, this topic is understudied. In this article, aiming to empirically filling this gap, we shall explore the new tactics of the extreme right in Europe and the USA in the context of transnational politics. Namely, we investigate the degree and forms of extreme right transnationalization (in terms of mobilization, issues, targets, action strategies, and organizational contacts) and the potential role of the Internet in these developments. The analysis combines qualitative and quantitative data derived from 54 interviews with representatives of extreme right organizations in six European countries (Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Spain) and the USA with a formalized Web content analysis of 336 right-wing websites. We will compare different types of right-wing groups w...
Where does the lymph flow

To investigate the rapid seroconversion after injuries with retrovirus contaminated instruments and to assess the spread of the infection by venous and lymphatic pathways after different methods of inoculation. In the feline and canine models, subcutaneous, intralymphatic and intravenous injections of radioactive particles equal in size to retroviral bodies (100–200 nm) were performed. Blood and lymph samples were collected proximally to the inoculation site for 45 minutes and evaluated by gamma counting. Flow rates, particle arrival time, concentration, flux, accumulation, etc. were compared. After intralymphatic injection, particles arrived in venous samples within 4 seconds. After subcutaneous injection, arrival time in blood was 2.10±0.46 minutes. Appearance in lymph, regardless of the method of injection was significantly longer. Lymph carried more particles at a slower speed, while blood transported smaller amounts at higher speeds. After subcutaneous inoculation, accumulation in lymph continued to rise for a prolonged time due to continuous release from the site of injection. There are extensive communications between the lymph and blood systems at the peripheral level, which are functional under physiological conditions and may provide the transport of particulate matter in both directions. This may explain the fast spread of inoculum by blood, even if initial entry occurred only into the lymphatic system.
PREPARATION OF n-MONOALKYL MALEATES AND n-MONO- AND DIALKYL FUMARATES

(1985). PREPARATION OF n-MONOALKYL MALEATES AND n-MONO- AND DIALKYL FUMARATES. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 121-131.
ATPG tools for delay faults at the functional level

We present an ATPG tool for functional delay faults which applies to the single-input transition (SIT) and the multi-input transition (MIT) fault models, and is based on Reduced Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (ROBDDs). We are able, for the first time, to identify all faults that do not have any SIT tests, and generate all SIT tests for nonredundant faults in combinational circuits. We also provide methodologies for efficient generation of MIT tests. Our experimental results on the ISCAS'85 benchmarks is by far superior to existing methods as well as a Satisfiability-based tool that we have developed for comparative purposes. The presented tool, coupled with advancements in path delay fault coverage, shows that both the SIT and MIT functional models are very useful in ATPG for robust path delay faults for synthesized circuits.
Probe-Solute Study of Mesomorphic Polysiloxane (Mepsil) Solvents. Discontinuities in Family Retention Plots That Traverse Phase Transitions

Abstract The GLC method of measurement of activity coefficients γ∞A Liquid-gas partition coefficients KR ο specific retention volumes Vg ο, capacity factors k', and excess thermodynamic properties of mixing of solutes at effective infinite dilution in polymeric solvents is considered. It is argued that while van't Hoff plots of any of the retention parameters can reveal subtle phase transitions exhibited by the solvent (the solutes are used as probes of the state of polymer aggregation), it is impractical to make measurements of most of these variables from the standpoints of both theory and experiment. A new method of characterizing the behavior of probe-solutes with polymeric solvents that is based upon evaluation of the slopes of family plots of log Vg ο against log PA ο is therefore described; where Pg ο is the solute vapor pressure at the column temperature. The ideal slope of such plots is -1, deviations from this value being a measure of departure from solution ideality. Results obtained for plots ...
Evaluation of a Telephone-based Physical Activity Promotion Program for Disadvantaged Older Adults

Background Lack of adequate physical activity among older adults has been widely documented. Although interventions aimed at increasing physical activity that are based on behavioral strategies and theories have been shown to increase activity levels among older adults, little is known about responses to these interventions in different population segments. Community Context The Physical Activity for a Lifetime of Success (PALS) program attempted to translate a telephone-based, motivational support program for physical activity, Active Choices, for use by a low-income, ethnically diverse population of older adults living in southeast Seattle. This article describes the evaluation of PALS at the end of the 5-year program. Methods Evaluation data included a data set of participant physical activity assessments; internal study documents; and interviews with key PALS stakeholders, participants, volunteers, and people eligible for PALS who declined to enroll when invited. Outcome PALS demonstrated improved physical activity levels among the sedentary older adults who participated in the program, but the PALS model did not appeal widely to a diverse, low-income target population. Extensive recruitment efforts resulted in a low number of participants, and attempts to recruit peer volunteers were largely unsuccessful. Interpretation Considering the resources required to engage both participants and volunteers, PALS does not appear to be a sustainable model for delivering support for physical activity to community-dwelling minority and low-income older adults.