cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Private Enforcement Against International Cartels in Latin America: A U.S. Perspective

This is a book chapter forthcoming in Competition Law and Policy in Latin America (Hart), which will collect papers presented at a conference at the FGV Law School in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in April 2008. The paper seeks to motivate the development of private anti-cartel enforcement in Latin America in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2004 decision to foreclose federal court jurisdiction over claims by foreign purchasers from international cartels. It summarizes the state of anti-cartel enforcement in key Latin American jurisdictions, concluding that current efforts are inadequate and would be stimulated by the development of private enforcement. The paper argues that any jurisdiction that is serious about private anti-cartel enforcement must address three primary issues: (1) claim aggregation; (2) discovery rights; and (3) judicial competence. However, the solutions need not be to follow much-criticized techniques used in the U.S. such as class actions and very liberal discovery rights. Finally, the paper addresses some of the benefits and limitations of private enforcement.
Immunoglobulins and the gastrointestinal tract.

The gastrointestinal tract contains lymphoid elements, and lymphoid tissues that control the body's immunologic response are derived from the lymphoepithelial components of the intestine. Theoretically, then, immunologic events could be responsible for certain gastrointestinal disorders such as pernicious anemia and gastritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, nontropical sprue, and milk sensitivity. All these diseases have immunologic manifestations.
Ethical Frameworks (Lecture Slides)

These slides cover the three primary ethical frameworks of Utilitarianism, Deontology & Virtue Ethics. They are designed for a business law & ethics course but are applicable to other disciplines and situations.
Shape and reflectance from two-bounce light transients

Computer vision and image-based inference have predominantly focused on extracting scene information by assuming that the camera measures direct light transport (i.e., single-bounce light paths). As a consequence, strong multi-bounce effects are treated typically as sources of noise and, in many scenarios, the presence of such effects can result in gross errors in the estimates of shape and reflectance. This paper provides the theoretical and algorithmic foundations for shape and reflectance estimation from two-bounce light transients, i.e., scenarios where photons from a light source interact with the scene exactly twice before reaching the sensor We derive sufficient conditions for exact recovery of shape and reflectance given lengths and intensities associated with two-bounce light paths. We also develop algorithms for recovery of shape and reflectance, and validate these on a range of simulated scenes.
Evaluation of a Silicon 90 Sr Betavoltaic Power Source

Betavoltaic energy converters (i.e., β-batteries) are attractive power sources because of their potential for high energy densities (>200 MWh/kg) and long duration continuous discharge (>1 year). However, conversion efficiencies have been historically low ( 1 MeV) electrons emitted from 90Sr as a power source is investigated. We propose a design for a >10% efficient betavoltaic device, which generates 1 W of power. A Varian Clinac iX is used to simulate the high-energy electrons emitted from 90Sr, and a high efficiency c-Si photovoltaic cell is used as the converter. The measured conversion efficiency is 16%. This relatively high value is attributed to proper length scale matching and the generation of secondary electrons in c-Si by the primary β-particles.
The Usefulness of Stereotactic Neuronavigation Along with Intraoperative Imaging in Malignant Brain Tumor Surgery

Surgery is a fundamental part of the treatment paradigm for malignant brain tumors as a more complete resection is associated with improved outcomes. Effective surgical strategies, whether aimed at resection or at establishing a diagnosis with biopsy, require an excellent understanding of the anatomical location of the tumor relative to the brain and its important neurovascular structures. This relationship can evolve continuously during surgery rendering preoperative imaging largely inaccurate. Thus, intraoperative imaging, such as intraoperative ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, when coupled with stereotactic neuronavigation, can provide more precise and current information for the surgeon in an effort to enhance the success and safety of surgery for malignant brain tumors. Moreover, intraoperative angiography, when appropriate, can be another useful adjunct for particularly vascular malignant brain tumors.
Design of a center-point-clamped AC-AC converter based power-line conditioner

A new approach for power line conditioning has been presented in the paper. State of the art line-conditioning devices like Static Voltage Restorer (SVR), Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) and AC-AC power line conditioner offer higher bandwidth and low filter size requirement due to their high switching frequencies. However, commercial utilization of such devices is limited by the voltage blocking capability of power semiconductor devices employed in these converters. Recent literature reports a center-point-clamped converter topology in which the grid voltage is clamped to its midpoint to reduce the voltage stress on the bi-directional switches in the converter by 50%. This paper introduces a line conditioner based on the center-point-clamped ac-ac converter topology. A duty cycle control scheme has also been implemented for feedback control of the line conditioner. Simulation results verify that proposed line conditioner offers superior spectral content, high power transfer efficiency and reduced voltage stress on the bi-directional switches. Furthermore, the control scheme has been shown to provide up to 10% load voltage regulation under dynamic line voltage and loading conditions. Detailed experimental results from a scaled down laboratory prototype rated 500 W, verifying the operation and closed loop control of the proposed power line conditioner have been presented in this paper.
Entrepreneurial reproductive labor as alternative economic practice: The ambivalent discourse of seasonal consignment sales:

Our article considers the possibilities and perils co-existing within entrepreneurial reproductive labor, a context easily dismissed as devoid of alternative economic possibilities due to its adher...
Against the universal phasehood of nP: Evidence from the morphosyntax of book titles

Languages vary as to whether DPs used as book titles (such as Alice in Wonderland , Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone , etc.) can be assigned case and trigger agreement. In languages where they do participate in case and agreement relations, book (and movie) titles form a subsystem with very peculiar properties. I argue that when used as a title, any XP gets embedded in a new nP which projects a DP. Phasehood properties of nPs vary across languages, which leads to the variation in the agreement properties of book titles. However, even in languages that normally require lexical DP titles to trigger agreement and be assigned case, personal pronouns and other functional are exempt from this. I argue that this is related to the fact that participation in case assignment and agreement makes the index and the phi-features of a pronoun visible on the LF thus creating an interpretational conflict.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Self-Assembled Nanostructures of Peptide-π Chromophore Conjugates

Peptides provide a biomolecular scaffold for solubilizing and assembling π-conjugated molecules in aqueous media. The properties of such peptide-π chromophore conjugates can be manipulated by varying the constituent amino acid residues in the peptide backbone as well as the chromophore moieties. Such a precise handle on molecular structure leads to molecules with diverse macromolecular and material properties. We developed a versatile synthetic protocol that leads to a wide range of peptide-π chromophore conjugates in which the chromophores are covalently attached to the peptide backbone such that the chromophore is flanked by two peptide chains. This "trimer" structure lends interesting self-assembly properties to these materials which may be useful for a plethora of biological applications.
Co-existence of hepato-pulmonary syndrome and pulmonary hypertension in a patient with liver cirrhosis and intravenous drug abuse: Review of literature and possible explanation

Summary We describe a patient who had a history of cirrhosis and intravenous drug abuse. He had findings of the hepato-pulmonary syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. The co-existence of the hepato-pulmonary syndrome and pulmonary hypertension may be attributable to two separate processes: (a) cirrhosis causing pulmonary vascular dilatation at the pulmonary capillary level resulting in the hepato-pulmonary syndrome and (b) intravenous drug abuse causing narrowing of pulmonary vascular bed at the level of small pulmonary arteries, thereby, resulting in pulmonary hypertension with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. However, the co-existence of the hepato-pulmonary syndrome and porto-pulmonary hypertension remains a distinct possibility.
Computer Aided Diagnosis: Clinical Applications in CT Colonography

During the past decade, numerous attempts have been made to develop computerized methods that process, analyze, and display multidimensional medical images in radiology. A typical example is the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of semiautomatically segmented organs (e.g. segmentation of the liver, endoluminal visualization of the colon and bronchus), or image processing of a part of an organ for the generation of an image that is more easily interpreted by human readers (e.g. peripheral equalization of the breast in mammograms, digital subtraction bowel cleansing in virtual colonoscopy). These computerized methods often automate only one of the image-processing tasks and depend on user interaction for the remaining tasks.
Studio Zone: Computer Support for Reflective Design

This poster will describe a study of Studio Zone, a web-based learning environment for supporting discussion around visual representations of design, with the goal of fostering critiquing skills. This approach features personal reflection spaces, portfolios, and cognitive scaffolds to support critique. This study presents a comparison of two contexts in which the Studio Zone environment will be integrated: a middle school art class and a graduate level class in educational software design. discussion around visual representations of designed objects, such as painting, architecture, print advertisements, and computer interface designs. The goal of this research is to develop students' ability to create, reflect on, and critique art and design. It is expected that fostering reflection by making thinking visible and encouraging social interaction will be valuable for learning these skills. Three major features of the software support this approach: 1) personal spaces for recording progress on works and reflections, 2) prompts and guiding questions that give students strategies for assessing their own work and responding to the work of others, and 3) opportunities to present and respond to works. Since presenting work and accepting criticism can at times be daunting to students, Studio Zone attempts to foster a studio-like culture in which students feel comfortable and capable of giving feedback in a constructive and supportive way. This study presents a comparison of two contexts in which the Studio Zone environment will be integrated: a middle school art class and a graduate level class in educational software design. Methods The design of Studio Zone aims to improve students' cognitive skills related to design. At the same time, it also aims to facilitate certain practices that are conducive to developing those skills, such as participating in group critiques and seeking help from more skilled peers. To evaluate the effectiveness of these aims, this study focuses on three elements: change in individual students' skills, changes in the classroom culture, and the effectiveness of Studio Zone's design features. Since Studio Zone will be piloted for the first time in this investigation, we expect that certain features will need to be added, revised, or removed as the study progresses. We also expect that the
International Copyright: From a

In recent years, the number and content of substantive norms that international copyright treaties impose on member states have increased considerably. It is therefore appropriate to consider the extent to which those instruments have in effect created an international (or at least multinational) copyright code, as well as to inquire what role national copyright laws do and should have in an era not only of international copyright norms, but of international dissemination of copyrighted works. This Article first considers the displacement of national norms through the evolution of a de facto international copyright code, elaborated in multilateral instruments such as the Berne Convention, the TRIPs Accord, and the pending WIPO Copyright Treaty, as well as by harmonization measures within the European Union. The second part of this Article addresses the place that remains for national copyright norms, first through gaps left in the WIPO, WTO and EU multilateral instruments, and second, through choice of law. In the latter instance, a national norm will govern a multinational copyright contract or dispute, but other national copyright norms may be eluded. Finally, this Article considers what role should remain for national copyright laws. National copyright laws are a component of local cultural and information policies. As such, they express each sovereign nation's twin aspirations for its citizensexposure to works of authorship, and participation in their country's cultural patrimony. Perhaps that simply means that each country's local policies should prevail within its borders, whatever the national origin of the work locally received. On the other hand, the pervasive international dissemination of works of authorship also calls into question the extent to which authors and their works should be subject to different national standards. The Article concludes that national laws allocating copyright ownership form the strongest candidates for preservation; national exceptions to copyright present a more difficult, but potentially persuasive, case for persistence of national norms as well.
CD8-Positive Cutaneous Infiltrates

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of skin lymphoma and classically demonstrates a CD4-positive phenotype. However, a subset of MF cases is CD8-positive. Some aggressive lymphomas are CD8-positive and must be differentiated from indolent processes, such as lymphomatoid papulosis type D.
Family-School Partnership Research with the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Working Community

This chapter describes advancements in family-school partnership research with migrant and seasonal farm working (MSFW) families and their young children, a community engaged in agricultural work throughout the United States. A conceptual framework highlights the role of children, parents, families, and home experiences in MSFW partnerships, along with the influence of schools and early childhood programs. Methods for establishing trust with the community are described, along with approaches for improved research methodologies. The chapter further explicates how the lives of MSFW children and families necessitate a call for “flipping the script” through positive engagement and tailored approaches to family-school partnerships.
Multidisciplinary approach to low-dose CT screening for lung cancer in a metropolitan community

Background Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer death in men and women in the USA, led by Kentucky. In 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiated annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan. This observational cohort study evaluated the multidisciplinary approach to this screening in our metropolitan community. Methods We present the prospective findings of patients who underwent a screening lung LDCT scan over a 2-year period at our institution in Kentucky. Patients who fulfilled the screening criteria were identified during an office visit with their primary care provider. Results Of the 4170 patients who underwent a screening lung LDCT scan, a total of 838 (20.9%) patients had nodules >4 mm. Of the 70 patients diagnosed with lung cancer, Stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer was most commonly detected [38 cases (54.3%)]. A follow-up lung LDCT scan (n = 897), pulmonary function test (n = 157), positron emission tomography scan (n = 12) and a lung biopsy (n = 53) were performed for certain individuals who had anomalies observed on the screening lung LDCT scan. A total of 42% of patients enrolled in group tobacco cessation classes quit smoking. Conclusions This study provides a unique perspective of a lung LDCT scan screening program driven by primary care providers in a state plagued by cigarette smoking and lung cancer deaths and offers a valuable message into the prevention, high-risk screening and diagnosis of lung cancer.
A 27.7 fJ/conv-step 500 MS/s 12-Bit Pipelined ADC Employing a Sub-ADC Forecasting Technique and Low-Power Class AB Slew Boosted Amplifiers

This paper presents a 12-bit 500 MS/s pipelined ADC fabricated in the 40 nm TSMC technology, which aims to reduce the power consumption associated with residue amplifiers and comparator cells. ADC architecture employs amplifiers with minimum transconductance requirements while considering the minimum unit capacitance value to maintain matching capacitor requirements for the target ADC specifications. The power efficient operational amplifiers are equipped with a Class C slew-rate boosting circuit that achieves a high slew-rate while static power is significantly saved. In addition, a forecasting technique in the sub-ADC is proposed, which reduces the number of active comparators during the sub-ADC’s conversion phase. The sign of the incoming signal is detected, and then the number of active comparators in each conversion cycle reduces by half, which leads to a more than 46% dynamic power savings from the sub-ADCs. The ADC achieves an SNDR/SFDR of 65.9/82.3 dB at low input frequencies and 64.1/75.5 dB near Nyquist frequency while running at 500 MS/s. The pipelined ADC prototype occupies an active area of 0.9 mm2 and consumes 18.16 mW from a 1.1 V supply, resulting in a figure of merit (FOM) of 22.4 and a 27.7 fJ/conversion-step at low-frequency and Nyquist frequency, respectively.
ASEP: gene-based detection of allele-specific expression in a population by RNA-seq

Allele-specific expression (ASE) analysis, which quantifies the relative expression of two alleles in a diploid individual, is a powerful tool for identifying cis-regulated gene expression variations that underlie phenotypic differences among individuals. Existing methods for gene-level ASE detection analyze one individual at a time, therefore wasting shared information across individuals. Failure to accommodate such shared information not only loses power, but also makes it difficult to interpret results across individuals. However, ASE detection across individuals is challenging because the data often include individuals that are either heterozygous or homozygous for the unobserved cis-regulatory SNP, leading to heterogeneity in ASE as only those heterozygous individuals are informative for ASE, whereas those homozygous individuals have balanced expression. To simultaneously model multi-individual information and account for such heterogeneity, we developed ASEP, a mixture model with subject-specific random effect accounting for multi-SNP correlations within the same gene. ASEP is able to detect gene-level ASE under one condition and differential ASE between two conditions (e.g., pre- versus post-treatment). Extensive simulations have demonstrated the convincing performance of ASEP under a wide range of scenarios. We further applied ASEP to RNA-seq data of human macrophages, and identified genes showing evidence of differential ASE pre- versus post-stimulation, which were extended through findings in cardiometabolic trait-relevant genome-wide association studies. To the best of our knowledge, ASEP is the first method for gene-level ASE detection at the population level. With the growing adoption of RNA-seq, we believe ASEP will be well-suited for various ASE studies for human diseases.
Evaluating the effectiveness of program data features for guiding memory management

Recent trends have led to the adoption of larger and more complex memory systems, often with multiple tiers of memory performance within the same platform. To utilize complex memory systems efficiently, current data management strategies must be altered to map usage demands to the underlying hardware. Applications, as the generators of memory accesses, are well-suited to guide this process, but building and maintaining separate source code versions for different memory systems is not feasible in most cases. One potential solution is to employ automated program profiling and analysis to facilitate the production of application-based guidance. By attaching memory usage information to static or lightweight program features, compilers and runtime systems can generate fine-grained guidance without additional efforts from users or developers. Recent works have employed this approach with some success, but it is not clear which program features are most useful for guiding data management.This work evaluates the effectiveness of using different program data features to predict memory usage and guide memory management. It employs a custom set of simulation tools, based in the Intel® Pin framework, to collect and analyze the usage characteristics of application data associated with common program data features, such as allocation sites, types, and context. The results show that even relatively simple features, such as object size, are useful for selecting data with similar usage properties, but finer-grained features, such as the instructions that access a particular object, are often much more effective. Additionally, this work evaluates the performance of using different data features and different program inputs to guide data placement on a heterogeneous memory platform with a limited amount of high performance memory.
Abstract P457: Age Dependence of Genetic Risk Scores in Relation to Coronary Artery Disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an age-related multi-factorial disease with a high public health burden. Genetic loci for CAD have been discovered and collectively predict CAD risk ind...
Curiosity and the economics of attention

In this perspective, we propose a functional account of curiosity based on the premise that it evolved to help us efficiently allocate a scarce cognitive resource: attention. This economic perspective clarifies curiosity's place in the pantheon of motivational feeling states by explaining why it shares certain features with both the primary drives (such as hunger, pain, and lust) and other forces that direct cognition (such as boredom, flow, and mental effort). It also provides new insights into domains of interest to both psychologists and economists, such as education, scientific discovery, and self-exposure to news and other sources of information.
Synthesis, characterization, X-ray crystallography analysis and cell viability study of (η6-p-cymene)Ru(NH2R)X2 (X = Cl, Br) derivatives

Abstract Studies over the past few decades demonstrate the potential for metallodrugs as bioactive therapeutics. Here, we describe six new ruthenium(II) complexes with the general motif of (η6-p-cymene)Ru(NH2R)X2, where NH2R is either the influenza A antiviral drugs rimantadine or amantadine or the N-methyl- d -aspartate [NMDA] receptor antagonist, memantine and X = Cl or Br. All complexes were synthesized in high yield and purity and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Both the chlorine and bromine ruthenium(II) p-cymene complexes demonstrated cellular toxicity profiles similar to their respective free ligand, indicating that complexation to ruthenium(II) centers does not significantly increase toxicity of the bioactive ligand.
Reliability of the ASA Physical Status Classification System in Predicting Surgical Morbidity: a Retrospective Analysis

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification System has been used to assess pre-anesthesia comorbid conditions for over 60 years. However, the ASA Physical Status Classification System has been criticized for its subjective nature. In this study, we aimed to assess the correlation between the ASA physical status assignment and more objective measures of overall illness. This is a single medical center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent surgery between November 2, 2017 and April 22, 2020. A multivariable ordinal logistic regression model was developed to examine the relationship between the ASA physical status and Elixhauser comorbidity groups. A secondary analysis was then conducted to evaluate the capability of the model to predict 30-day postoperative mortality. A total of 56,820 cases meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed. Twenty-seven Elixhauser comorbidities were independently associated with ASA physical status. Older patient (adjusted odds ratio, 1.39 [per 10 years of age]; 95% CI 1.37 to 1.41), male patient (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.29), higher body weight (adjusted odds ratio, 1.08 [per 10 kg]; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.09), and ASA emergency status (adjusted odds ratio, 2.11; 95% CI 2.00 to 2.23) were also independently associated with higher ASA physical status assignments. Furthermore, the model derived from the primary analysis was a better predictor of 30-day mortality than the models including either single ASA physical status or comorbidity indices in isolation (p < 0.001). We found significant correlation between ASA physical status and 27 of the 31 Elixhauser comorbidities, as well other demographic characteristics. This demonstrates the reliability of ASA scoring and its potential ability to predict postoperative outcomes. Additionally, compared to ASA physical status and individual comorbidity indices, the derived model offered better predictive power in terms of short-term postoperative mortality.
Do the specific countries in which a multinational corporation operates affect its private loan contracts

Abstract Previous research has shown that higher levels of firm globalization lead to a lower cost of private debt. However, this research generally treats globalization as a homogeneous attribute ignoring the specific countries in which a multinational corporation (MNC) operates. Using a sample of U.S. MNCs from 1999 through 2017, we relax this assumption and find that while the results from prior research hold with regards to the level of an MNC’s operations in segments reported at the regional or continent-wide level, the level of an MNC’s operations in countries with low institutional quality is associated with a higher cost of bank debt. Our results are robust to controlling for firms’ choice to operate in countries with low institutional quality using self-selection models and propensity score matching. In additional testing we find that the level of MNCs operations in countries with low institutional quality is negatively associated with the inclusion of collateral requirements in private lending agreements, but is not associated with the maturity of the loan or the number of covenants included in the lending agreement. Finally, we find that firms’ segment disclosure choices vary around new loan issuances in a manner consistent with management being aware that operations in low institutional quality are perceived by lenders to indicate higher credit risk.
Virgin Male Mating Advantage in Sagebrush Crickets: No Role for an Acoustically-Mediated Female Preference

The sagebrush cricket, Cyphoderris strepitans, is one of only five extant species belonging to an obscure orthopteran lineage, the Haglidae, closely related to the true crickets (Gryllidae) and katydids (Tettigoniidae) (Morris & Gwynne 1978). C. strepitans occurs exclusively in mountainous areas of the western United States, where it is found primarily in high-altitude sagebrush meadow habitat. Adults become sexually active in late spring, shortly after snow melt, and remain active for the following 4-6 weeks. The acoustic signals produced by males function to attract females (Snedden & Irazuzta 1994), thereby enhancing male mating opportunities (Snedden & Sakaluk 1992). Copulation is initiated when a receptive female climbs onto the dorsum of a male, at which time he attempts to transfer a spermatophore. During copulation, the female feeds on the male's fleshy hind wings and bodily fluids leaking from the wounds she inflicts. Previous field studies involving the markÂ­recapture of a large number of males have shown that once a male has mated, his probability of obtaining an additional copulation is reduced relative to that of a virgin male securing his first mating (Morris et al. 1989). One explanation for the virgin-male mating advantage is that non-virgin males, having lost a substantial portion of their energy reserves through sexual cannibalism by females and the transfer of a large spermatophore, may be unable to sustain the costly acoustical signaling activity required to attract additional females. In support of the "male fatigue" hypothesis, electronic assays of male signaling behavior have shown that virgin male C. strepitans call for significantly longer durations than recently mated males (Sakaluk et al. 1987; Sakaluk & Snedden 1990).
CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES Solid Waste Management: Regulate Landfills

The Act provides for additional regulations related to the management, handling, and disposal of solid waste in sanitary landfills.
Work methods design and work simplification.

Publisher Summary This chapter aims to increase the effectiveness of management by applying the technical managerial skills to help increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of its operations. It is organized as a detailed discussion of methodology and how it works. The development of optimum processes and optimum methods of performing an operation results from the application of the methods development techniques of methods engineering coupled with specific technological knowledge of the specialized processes involved. The extent of the improvement is evaluated through work measurement and cost comparisons. The chapter provides a logical sequence of techniques to develop an optimum method. The purposes and goals of work simplification are based upon widespread participation in the solving of production problems and in the developing and introducing of changes. Work simplification, to management and to industrial engineers, means a program of generalized training for production managers, supervisors, and workers in the application of methods and standards engineering, in simplified form. The program adds to the skills of the supervisor and places them in a better position to solve their own problems of costly, inefficient, and bottleneck operations. These sessions are devoted to the problems of the manufacturing sequence and to the techniques of process and procedure analysis. It is also devoted to operation improvement, to the techniques of operation analysis and improvement, and to the principles of work design. The technology of industrial engineering is a particularly potent means of helping to bring about high effectiveness and low cost of operation for food industries.
Apparatus and techniques for measuring laser damage resistance of large-area, multilayer dielectric mirrors for use with high energy, picosecond lasers

We present techniques for measuring the damage performance of a variety of optical components with ps laser pulses, introduce a novel beam diagnostic technique, and explore the sensitivity of damage resistance to laser spot size for the case of high-reflectivity, multilayer dielectric (MLD) mirrors.
Pathways of Power: Building an Anthropology of the Modern World

Pathways of Power: Building an Anthropology of the Modern World. Eric R. Wolf. Berkeley, CA. and London, UK: University of California Press, 2000. xx. 463 pp. (Paper US$24.95)
Evaluation Research System, Functions, Future

Abstract The authors focus on evaluation research as a social phenomenon. After identifying the system of actors for whom this phenomenon has meaning, they trace the changing functions and dysfunctions of evaluation research for these actors over time. They find that: (1) there was initially a consensus among actors on the scientific utility of evaluation research; (2) this consensus has broken down as actors realize the various economic, political and value implications of evaluation research for their own interests, and as they struggle to control the process. Because of this interaction of interests and perceptions of function, the authors predict that evaluation research will be, increasingly, the activity of the “for profit” research organizations, rather than of university based social scientists.'
Exploring the Meaning of Rural Through Cognitive Maps1

Rural often is viewed as a setting for study rather than an object of study. Often a priori definitions of rural are used; these definitions may bear little resemblance to residents' understanding of the concept. A cognitive mapping experiment to explore the meaning of rural is undertaken in this paper. Results indicate that urban residents could readily identify rural areas on a blank map of Pennsylvania. Their responses to the question varied, however, with some respondents indicating urban areas or writing images on the map. A discussion of these thought processes and implications from these varying responses are presented. Then, the cognitive maps are compared to three commonly accepted definitions of rural. Population density was found to best approximate the areas that urban residents perceived as rural. The paper concludes by discussing policy implications of the findings.
Ventriculoperitoneal shunting after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: analysis of the indications, complications, and outcome with a focus on patients with borderline ventriculomegaly.

Objective The goals of this study were to investigate the risk factors, indications, complications, and outcome for patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPSs) after subarachnoid hemorrhage and to define a subgroup eligible for future prospective studies designed to clarify indications for placement of a VPS. Methods Clinical characteristics of 236 prospectively evaluated patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and 6 months of follow-up were analyzed. Hydrocephalus was estimated by the relative bicaudate index (RBCI) measured on computed tomographic scans at the time of shunting. Patients were divided into three groups by ventricle size: Group 1 included 121 patients with small ventricles (RBCI 1.4). Results Initially, 86 patients (36%) underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting: 19 in Group 1 (16%), 43 in Group 2 (49%), and 24 in Group 3 (90%). Indications for placement of a VPS, risk factors, and outcome differed markedly by group. Four patients (3% of those not initially shunted) developed delayed hydrocephalus requiring a VPS, including one in Group 2 (2%). The 6-month shunt complication rate was 13%. Evaluation of patients in Group 2 indicated that functional status was an important factor in selecting candidates for shunting, and that patients receiving shunts and shunt-free patients demonstrated improvement in functional status during follow-up. Conclusion Although we currently use a proactive shunting paradigm for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, this report demonstrates that a conservative approach to patients with borderline ventricle size (i.e., RBCI of 1.0-1.4) and normal intracranial pressure should be evaluated in a prospective randomized trial.
Jahn-Teller distortions induced by tetrahedral-site Fe2+ ions

Abstract The Jahn-Teller effect for tetrahedral-site Fe 2+ ions is expressed to second-order in the interaction energy and to lowest-order anharmonic vibrational energies. The formal results are identical to those for Mn 3+ or Cu 2+ ions in octahedral sites. However, interpretation of the parameters that enter the formal expressions shows that the mode and transition temperature of any static, crystalline distortion is much more strongly influenced by long-range elastic coupling in the case of tetrahedral-site Fe 2+ ions. This result is used to interpret the absence of a static distortion from cubic symmetry in the spinel Fe[Al 2 ]O 4 , for the occurrence of tetragonal ( c a and c a > 1 ) in chromium and vanadium spinels containing tetrahedral-site Fe 2+ ions, and for the complex crystallographic properties of the system Fe 3− x Cr x O 4 .
The course of Trichophyton gypseum infection in rabbits previously infected with Trichophyton purpureum; the effect of ACTH on the Trichophytin test.

The variable responses of cutaneous reactions of the tuberculin type, in experimental animals, to the administration of ACTH and cortisone indicate the need for careful analysis of the reported data with respect to the dosages and animal species employed as well as the nature of the sensitizing infection.
Colonial Encounters, European Kettles, and the Magic of Mimesis in the Late Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Century Indigenous Northeast and Great Lakes

Copper kettles, in high demand among indigenous communities of the Northeast/Great Lakes, became prominent items in the exchange repertoires of early Basque, French and Dutch traders. Kettles’ origin with these “Others” and its connection to a medium (copper) that had held symbolic significance for millennia led them to be used in an indigenous ‘metaphorical’ value regime influencing trade during the late sixteenth/early seventeenth century. An artisan living on the threshold of colonial encounter in Northern Michigan between 1470 and 1660 CE—having seen European goods but not having access to them—harnessed the mimetic faculty to make a small, miniature, ceramic imitation or skeuomorph of a European trade kettle. Rather than the sincerest form of flattery, I suggest this imitation was made to acquire the power of the original to fend off the colonial danger and to connect to this symbolic value regime. I suggest the “magic” of mimesis offered personal and organizational power in the indigenous Northeast/Great Lakes during early contact. This specific case speaks more broadly to how mimesis can provide a robust framework for exploring the material cultures of colonial encounter.
CB1 Cannabinoid Receptors Promote Maximal FAK Catalytic Activity By Stimulating Cooperative Signaling Between Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and Integrins in Neuronal Cells

Tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr-P) of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates FAK activation. Phosphorylated FAK Tyr 397 binds Src family kinases (Src), which in turn directly phosphorylate FAK Tyr 576/577 to produce maximal FAK enzymatic activity. CB₁ cannabinoid receptors (CB₁) are abundantly expressed in the nervous system and influence FAK activation by presently unknown mechanisms. The current investigation determined that CB₁-stimulated maximal FAK catalytic activity is mediated by Gi/o proteins in N18TG2 neuronal cells, and that G12/13 regulation of Rac1 and RhoA occurs concomitantly. Immunoblotting analyses using antibodies against FAK phospho-Tyr 397 and phospho-Tyr 576/577 demonstrated that the time-course of CB₁-stimulated FAK 576/577 Tyr-P occurred in three phases: Phase I (0-2 min) maximal Tyr-P, Phase II (5-20 min) rapid decline in Tyr-P, and Phase III (>20 min) plateau in Tyr-P at submaximal levels. In contrast, FAK 397 Tyr-P was monophasic and significantly lower in magnitude. FAK 397 Tyr-P and Phase I FAK 576/577 Tyr-P involved protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B and Shp1/Shp2)-mediated Src activation, Protein Kinase A (PKA) inhibition, and integrin activation. Phase I maximal FAK 576/577 Tyr-P also required cooperative signaling between receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and integrins. The integrin antagonist RGDS peptide, Flk-1 vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) antagonist SU5416, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist AG 1478 blocked Phase I FAK 576/577 Tyr-P. CB₁ agonists failed to stimulate FAK Tyr-P in the absence of integrin activation upon suspension in serum-free culture media. In contrast, cells grown on the integrin ligands fibronectin and laminin displayed increased FAK 576/577 Tyr-P that was augmented by CB₁ agonists and blocked by the Src inhibitor PP2 and Flk-1 VEGFR antagonist SU5416. Taken together, these studies have identified a complex integrative pathway utilized by CB₁ to stimulate maximal FAK 576/577 Tyr-P in neuronal cells.
Erratum to "Solvation forces on biomolecular structures: A comparison of explicit solvent and Poisson-Boltzmann models," by Jason Wagoner and Nathan A. Baker

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Journal of Computational Chemistry (2004) 25(13) 1623–1629
Nanofibril Self-Assembly of an Arylene Ethynylene Macrocycle

Nanofibril structures have been fabricated from an arylene ethynylene macrocycle (AEM), which consists of a square frame corner-joined by four carbazole moieties. The fabrication was performed through a gelating process by cooling a warm, homogeneous solution in cyclohexane at high temperature (e.g., 100 degrees C) to room temperature. During the gelation, the molecules become organized, with optimal pi-pi stacking in cooperation with the side-chain association. The favorable pi-pi stacking facilitates the 1D growth of molecular assembly.
A perspective on the history and future of low-temperature refrigeration

Abstract After a discussion of some motivating thermodynamic processes and the special properties of certain primary thermodynamic media, notably helium, that are necessary to allow low temperatures to be produced, I give my perception of key steps that were needed to achieve experimental success, beginning: with the liquefaction of helium and including among others dilution refrigeration and adiabatic compressional cooling of 3 He. Then I discuss the potential world-wide importance of the applications of low-temperature science and hence of simple refrigerators, giving in an example on the acoustical resonant surface heat pumping engine some of the qualities that are needed, and suggesting the nature of the challenge which exists in the field of low-temperature refrigeration.
Beyond the Hawthorne Effect: Reduction of Clostridium difficile Environmental Contamination through Active Intervention to Improve Cleaning Practices

Education and passive observation resulted in a significant improvement in housekeeper disinfection of nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile spores artificially inoculated onto surfaces in C. difficile infection rooms. A further significant reduction occurred with direct supervision and real-time feedback, suggesting that optimal disinfection is achieved by working closely with housekeepers.
Geometric interoperability via queries

The problem of geometric (model and system) interoperability is conceptualized as a non-trivial generalization of the problem of part interchangeability in mechanical assemblies. Interoperability subsumes the problems of geometric model quality, exchange, and interchangeability, as well as system integration. Until now, most of the interoperability proposals have been data-centric. Instead, we advocate a query-centric approach that can deliver interoperable solutions to many common geometric tasks in computer aided design and manufacturing, including model acquisition and exchange, metrology, and computer aided design/analysis integration.
Comparison of conservative management techniques in the re-treatment of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.

Abstract Purpose To compare brachytherapy and three-dimensional (3-D) conformal external beam radiotherapy for breast cancer presenting in the previously irradiated breast. Methods and Materials Thirty-six patients with TIS–T2 breast carcinomas received brachytherapy or 3-D conformal radiotherapy (3-D CRT) after lumpectomy in a previously irradiated breast as an alternative to salvage mastectomy. Brachytherapy consisted of low-dose-rate (LDR) interstitial technique in 21 patients, whereas 11 patients were treated using high-dose-rate (HDR) balloon technique. Four patients received 3-D CRT. Cosmesis was graded according to the Harvard criteria and the Allegheny General Modification of the Harvard criteria. Acute sequelae were graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 3.0). Results Thirty-five of 36 patients remained free of local failure, with a mean followup of 37 months. Five patients treated with LDR developed Grade II and two developed Grade III acute side effects. No patient treated with balloon brachytherapy or 3-D CRT developed a Grade II or higher acute effect. Cosmetically, 12 LDR interstitial patients were scored as Grade I, six as Grade II, and three as Grade III. Nine of the HDR patients were scored as Grade I, one as Grade II, and one as Grade III. Two 3-D CRT patients were scored as Grade II and two as Grade III. The Allegheny Modification of the Harvard criteria more accurately reflected the cosmetic effects of re-treatment. Conclusion Brachytherapy is feasible for patients who desire breast preservation in a previously irradiated breast. All techniques demonstrated similar local control rates. Acute side effects were less, and cosmesis was superior in HDR balloon brachytherapy.
Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients with heart failure and preserved systolic function

Although the syndrome of heart failure with preserved systolic function may occur in up to 40% of all heart failure patients, the clinical, angiographic characteristics, and long-term outcomes of these patients are poorly understood. We prospectively evaluated 2,498 consecutive patients with New York Heart Association class II to IV symptoms and ejection fractions of >40%, who underwent cardiac catheterization between January 1984 and December 1996 at Duke University Medical Center. The median age for the entire cohort was 63 years; 25% of the population was >71 years old. In addition, 55% of the patients were women, 65% had ischemic heart disease, 28% had a history of diabetes, and 62% had a history of hypertension. The median ejection fraction was 58%. One third of the patients had multivessel disease by coronary angiography. The overall 5-year mortality of the total population was 28%. The independent predictors of mortality (p <0.05) using a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model were age, class IV symptoms, ejection fraction, coronary artery disease index, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and minority ethnic group. Heart failure with preserved systolic function is characterized by unique clinical and angiographic characteristics associated with a 5-year mortality rate of 28%. Furthermore, several clinical and angiographic characteristics are predictive of long-term survival.