cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contractual Discrimination in Franchise Relationships

ABSTRACT Franchisors often modify the contract terms offered to prospective (new) franchisees – to incentivize growth in the number of franchisees, to access capital, or to improve their financial performance. We argue that changes in contract terms offered to new franchisees (contractual discrimination across franchisees) can alter existing franchisees’ perceived equity in their relationship with the franchisor, and affect their freeriding. Specifically, we hypothesize, and show, that positive (negative) discrimination towards new franchisees reduces (maintains) existing franchisees’ perceived equity in their relationship with the franchisor, motivating existing franchisees to increase (eschew) freeriding – with impact on franchisors’ performance. To do so, we first take advantage of an exogenous event (the great recession of 2007-09) to study how 120 restaurant franchisors changed their contract terms to new franchisees and how that affected their post-recession net income (Study 1). We show that changes in contracts for new franchisees impact franchisors’ post-crisis performance, as a function of the number of existing franchisees. Second, with two experiments (Studies 2 and 3) with entrepreneurs and franchisees, we document that the observed changes in performance occur because contractual discrimination affects existing franchisees’ perceived equity and their intentions to free-ride. Thus, we contribute to the literature on equity in franchising relationships, on contract evolution in franchising, and its impact on financial performance.
A PHYSICAL PATCH MODEL FOR GNSS-R LAND APPLICATIONS WITH TOPOGRAPHY EFFECTS AND DDM SIMULATIONS

In this paper, we study the scattering of land surfaces for the Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) land applications. Topography slopes are introduced to improve the physical patch model. The entire area within the footprint is divided into patches. Each patch is on a slope with elevation. Simulation results have shown that for small rms height, the received power to transmitted power ratio, Pr/Pt is smaller than the coherent model and the patch model with only elevation effects but greater than the incoherent model. The delay-doppler maps are also simulated based on the patch model.
Hyperoxemia Is Associated With Mortality in Critically Ill Children

Multiple studies among adults have suggested a non-linear relationship between arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and clinical outcomes. Meta-analyses in this population suggest that high levels of supplemental oxygen resulting in hyperoxia are associated with mortality. This mini-review focuses on the non-neonatal pediatric literature examining the relationship between PaO2 and mortality. While only one pilot pediatric randomized-controlled trials exists, over the past decade, there have been at least eleven observational studies examining the relationship between PaO2 values and mortality in critically ill children. These analyses of mixed-case pediatric ICU populations have generally reported a parabolic ("u-shaped") relationship between PaO2 and mortality, similar to that seen in the adult literature. However, the estimates of the point at which hyperoxemia becomes deleterious have varied widely (300-550 mmHg). Where attempted, this effect has been robust to analyses restricted to the first PaO2 value obtained, those obtained within 24 h of admission, anytime during admission, and the number of hyperoxemic blood gases over time. These findings have also been noted when using various methods of risk-adjustment (accounting for severity of illness scores or complex chronic conditions). Similar relationships were found in the majority of studies restricted to patients undergoing care after cardiac arrest. Taken together, the majority of the literature suggests that there is a robust parabolic relationship between PaO2 and risk-adjusted pediatric ICU mortality, but that the exact threshold at which hyperoxemia becomes deleterious is unclear, and likely beyond the typical target value for most clinical indications. Findings suggest that clinicians should remain judicious and thoughtful in the use of supplemental oxygen therapy in critically ill children.
The errors of experts: When expertise hinders effective provision and seeking of advice and feedback.

Abstract To be effective, experts need to simultaneously develop others (i.e. provide advice and feedback to novices) and advance their own learning (i.e. seek and incorporate advice and feedback from others). However, expertise, and the state of efficacy associated with it, can inhibit experts from engaging in these activities or doing so effectively. We discuss when and why cognitive entrenchment and reduced perspective taking lead experts to hold misperceptions about others. We then explain how these misperceptions lead experts to provide less helpful advice and feedback to novices and to be less likely to seek and take input from others. We offer insights to overcome these barriers, enhancing experts’ ability to provide and propensity to seek advice and feedback.
Differential outcomes for frontal versus posterior demyelination in childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy.

In the most common variant of childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (cALD), demyelinating brain lesions are distributed predominately in parieto-occipital white matter. Less frequently, lesions first develop in frontal white matter. This matched cohort study examined whether outcomes after standard treatment with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) differ in patients with early stage frontal lesions as compared to parieto-occipital lesions. Retrospective chart review identified seven pediatric patients with frontal cALD lesions and MRI severity score < 10 who underwent a single HCT at our center between 1990 and 2019. Concurrent MRI, neurocognitive and psychiatric outcomes at last comprehensive follow-up (mean 1.2 years; range 0.5-2.1 years) were compared with a group of seven boys with the parieto-occipital variant matched on pre-HCT MRI severity score. Both groups showed similar rates of transplant complications and radiographic disease advancement. Neurocognitive outcomes were broadly similar, with more frequent working memory deficits among individuals with frontal lesions. Psychiatric problems (hyperactivity, aggression, and atypical behavior) were considerably more common and severe among patients with frontal lesions. Aligned with the critical role of the frontal lobes in emotional and behavioral regulation, functional disruption of self-regulation skills is widely observed among patients with frontal lesions. Comprehensive care for cALD should address needs for psychiatric care and management.
Dyslipidemia in Women: Etiology and Management

This chapter summarizes the current knowledge regarding the prevalence of dyslipidemia in women, different response to therapy, and strategies to prevent and treat dyslipidemia during pregnancy and in postmenopausal women. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly coronary heart disease (CHD), is the leading cause of death among women aged 60 and older. Appreciation of the differences between men and women in CHD risk factors and presentations can assist in treatment decisions. Some factors are unique to women, including reproductive status and menopause that increase the risk of dyslipidemia and consequently CVD in women. Menopause is associated with an elevation in LDL-cholesterol level in addition to threefold increase in the risk of CVD. Total cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride increase markedly after menopause. Dyslipidemias in post-menopausal women are particularly atherogenic and tend to cluster with other metabolic and non-metabolic risk factors. Randomized trials of statins for primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease suggest that statins have been effective in reducing the morbidity and mortality of CHD and should be considered as a first-line therapy for lipid lowering. In addition, pregnancy, known as an insulin resistance state, is associated with elevation of both cholesterol and triglyceride. Statins are contraindicated during pregnancy but omega-3 fatty acids may be used for hypertriglyceridemia. Those with genetic lipid disorders should consider consulting a clinician with lipid expertise before starting the pregnancy. This is particularly important due to the narrowed therapeutic options of lipid management which are available for pregnant women.
Building a Circle of Care in Same-Sex Couple Relationships: A Socio-Emotional Relational Approach

Comparison studies have long found that same-sex couples maintain more equal relationships than their heterosexual counterparts. In a previous study of committed same-sex couples, partners reported that their relationship processes emerged based on a desire for mutuality and attunement. Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT) is a therapeutic practice model which posits that four conditions—shared relational responsibility, shared vulnerability, mutual influence, and mutual attunement—create a “Circle of Care” that counters harmful power differentials. Since gender differences generally do not influence power disparities in same-sex relationships, this chapter examines the dynamics of power and equality in committed same-sex relationships and considers how these may apply to clinical practice. We provide examples from qualitative research to illustrate how same-sex couple relationships enact the Circle of Care processes as partners create and maintain equality. We also identify unique socio-contextual issues affecting vulnerability among same-sex partners and use a case example to show how a SERT therapist helped a same-sex couple address power imbalances in the relationship.
The Interweaving of Rituals: Funerals in the Cultural Exchange Between China and Europe – By Nicolas Standaert

Death may seem a strange place to seek evidence of cultural exchange, but in this elegant study, funerary rituals clearly manifest the early interaction between European Jesuits and Chinese elites....
Simulational studies of epitaxial semiconductor superlattices: Quantum dynamical phenomena in ac and dc electric fields

Using high-accuracy numerical methods the author investigates the dynamics of independent electrons in both ideal and realistic superlattices subject to arbitrary ac and/or dc electric fields. For a variety of superlattice potentials, optically excited initial wave packets, and combinations of ac and dc electric fields, he numerically solves the time-dependent Schroedinger equation. In the case of ideal periodic superlattice potentials, he investigates a long list of dynamical phenomena involving multiple miniband transitions and time-dependent electric fields. These include acceleration effects associated with interminiband transitions in strong fields, Zener resonances between minibands, dynamic localization with ac fields, increased single-miniband transport with an auxiliary resonant ac field, and enhanced or suppressed interminiband probability exchange using an auxiliary ac field. For all of the cases studied, the resulting time-dependent wave function is analyzed by projecting the data onto convenient orthonormal bases. This allows a detailed comparison with approximately analytic treatments. In an effort to explain the rapid decay of experimentally measured Bloch oscillation (BO) signals the author incorporates a one-dimensional representation of interface roughness (IR) into their superlattice potential. He shows that as a result of IR, the electron dynamics can be characterized in terms of many discrete, incommensurate frequencies near the Block frequency. Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been removed from this report and will be processed separately.
Promoting and Protecting Individual Strengths: Part 1

This chapter and the next will examine three major ways of promoting or protecting the health of an individual, from physical, psychological, and spiritual (or philosophical) perspectives. (Chapter 4 will discuss ways of preventing health problems in these same three areas.) Each of these health perspectives involves specific topics that are presented in a similar format: (1) general understanding of the topic, including definition of terms; (2) step-by-step procedures, distinguishing three levels of activity, as relevant to the given topic: activities for vigorous people, moderate activities for the majority of persons, and an occasional activity level for people with temporary or permanent limitations or disabilities; (3) cautions, as relevant.
A leveling system for an ocean-bottom seismometer

As part of a new broad-band, ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) system that has been developed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, a gimbaled leveling system was designed and built. The goal of the broad-band system is to measure ocean-bottom vibrations from a period of 120 seconds up to 20 Hertz. During system deployment, a sphere containing the seismic sensor is dropped into sediment on the ocean bottom. Seismic sensors need to be leveled before use, and it is not practical to accurately control the attitude of the sphere as it settles on the ocean bottom. The sphere holds the seismic sensor in gimbals whose axes have brakes. The gimbal axes have brakes to prevent tilting in response to slow horizontal accelerations that would complicate long-period seismometer response. To level the seismic sensor, the brakes are released, the righting moment of the seismic sensor in the gimbals levels the seismometer attitude, and the brakes are reasserted. The brake systems were designed to have zero play and had to be modified to raise the lowest system natural frequency above 20 Hertz. This paper describes the mechanical aspects of the system and the modifications needed to push up the mechanical resonances. Twenty-five of the OBS systems have been built and deployed off Hawaii as part of the Plume-Lithosphere Undersea Melt Experiment (PLUME)
Phosphoproteomic analysis of the Chlamydia caviae elementary body and reticulate body forms.

Chlamydia are Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria responsible for significant diseases in humans and economically important domestic animals. These pathogens undergo a unique biphasic developmental cycle transitioning between the environmentally stable elementary body (EB) and the replicative intracellular reticulate body (RB), a conversion that appears to require extensive regulation of protein synthesis and function. However, Chlamydia possess a limited number of canonical mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. Ser/Thr/Tyr phosphorylation of proteins in bacteria has been increasingly recognized as an important mechanism of post-translational control of protein function. We utilized 2D gel electrophoresis coupled with phosphoprotein staining and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis to map the phosphoproteome of the EB and RB forms of Chlamydia caviae. Forty-two non-redundant phosphorylated proteins were identified (some proteins were present in multiple locations within the gels). Thirty-four phosphorylated proteins were identified in EBs, including proteins found in central metabolism and protein synthesis, Chlamydia-specific hypothetical proteins and virulence-related proteins. Eleven phosphorylated proteins were identified in RBs, mostly involved in protein synthesis and folding and a single virulence-related protein. Only three phosphoproteins were found in both EB and RB phosphoproteomes. Collectively, 41 of 42 C. caviae phosphoproteins were present across Chlamydia species, consistent with the existence of a conserved chlamydial phosphoproteome. The abundance of stage-specific phosphoproteins suggests that protein phosphorylation may play a role in regulating the function of developmental-stage-specific proteins and/or may function in concert with other factors in directing EB–RB transitions.
A model of the reproduction of state-sponsored ethnic violence

A self-organizing trigger-flow model is proposed to analyse the reproduction of slaughters and massacres by the state of Guatemala representing a ‘ladino’ (non-indigene), against the Mayan indigenes population that comprises about 50% of the total. The process has evolved through many centuries and is based on a combination of mutual fear between the two ethnicities, but is triggered by the actions at the state level that bring reactions by the indigenes against the local ladino population which, in turn transmits its fear through the state leaders who again resort to slaughter.
Flow-injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric study of the automated on-line pre-reduction of arsenate, methylarsonate and dimethylarsinate and high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of their l-cysteine complexes

An automated on-line pre-reduction of arsenate, monomethylarsonate (MMA) and dimethylarsinate (DMA) using flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HGAAS) is feasible. The kinetics of pre-reduction and complexation depend strongly on the concentration of l-cysteine and on the temperature in the following increasing order: inorganic As(V)<DMA<MMA. Arsenate is pre-reduced/complexed within less than 50 s at 70-100 degrees C compared to 1 h at room temperature, while MMA and DMA require 1.5-2 min at 70-100 degrees C and up to 1-2 h at room temperature. The characteristic masses and concentrations for 100 mul injections are 0.01 ng and 0.1 mug l(-1) in integrated absorbance and 0.2 ng and 2 mug l(-1) in peak height measurements, and the limits of detection are ca. 0.5 ng and 5 mug l(-1), respectively. In a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-HGAAS system, the l-cysteine complexes of inorganic As(III), MMA and DMA are best separated within 7 min by HPLC on a strongly acidic cation exchange column such as Spherisorb S SCX 120x4 mm (5 mum) with a mobile phase containing 12 mmol l(-1) phosphate buffer (KH(2)PO(4)/H(3)PO(4))-2.5 mmol l(-1)l-cysteine, pH 3.3-3.5. Upon dilution to l-cysteine levels below 10 mmol l(-1), which are compatible with HPLC separations, the DMA-cysteine complex is unstable on storage. No baseline separations are possible with anion exchange and reverse phase C(18) HPLC columns. The limits of detection with 50 mul injections in peak area mode are ca. 0.5 ng and 10 mug l(-1), respectively.
Comparison of fresh fuel experimental measurements to MCNPX calculations using self-interrogation neutron resonance densitometry

Abstract A new non-destructive assay technique called Self-Interrogation Neutron Resonance Densitometry (SINRD) is currently being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to improve existing nuclear safeguards measurements for Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel assemblies. SINRD consists of four 235 U fission chambers (FCs): bare FC, boron carbide shielded FC, Gd covered FC, and Cd covered FC. Ratios of different FCs are used to determine the amount of resonance absorption from 235 U in the fuel assembly. The sensitivity of this technique is based on using the same fissile materials in the FCs as are present in the fuel because the effect of resonance absorption lines in the transmitted flux is amplified by the corresponding ( n,f ) reaction peaks in the fission chamber. In this work, experimental measurements were performed in air with SINRD using a reference Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) 15×15 low enriched uranium (LEU) fresh fuel assembly at LANL. The purpose of this experiment was to assess the following capabilities of SINRD: (1) ability to measure the effective 235 U enrichment of the PWR fresh LEU fuel assembly and (2) sensitivity and penetrability to the removal of fuel pins from an assembly. These measurements were compared to Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended transport code (MCNPX) simulations to verify the accuracy of the MCNPX model of SINRD. The reproducibility of experimental measurements via MCNPX simulations is essential to validating the results and conclusions obtained from the simulations of SINRD for LWR spent fuel assemblies.
Fine root demography in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

In perennial forages like alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), repeated herbage removal may alter root production and mortality which, in turn, could affect deposition of fixed N in soil. Our objective was to determine the extent and patterns of fine-diameter root production and loss during the year of alfalfa stand establishment. The experiment was conducted on a loamy sand soil (Udorthentic Haploboroll) in Minnesota, USA, using horizontally installed minirhizotrons placed directly under the seeded rows at 10, 20, and 40 cm depths in four replicate blocks. We seeded four alfalfa germplasms that differed in N2 fixation capacity and root system architecture: Agate alfalfa, a winter hardy commercially-available cultivar; Ineffective Agate, which is a non-N2-fixing near isoline of Agate; a new germplasm that has few fibrous roots and strong tap-rooted traits; and a new germplasm that has many fibrous roots and a strongly branched root system architecture. Video images collected biweekly throughout the initial growing season were processed using C-MAP-ROOTS software. More than one-half of all fine roots in the upper 20 cm were produced during the first 7 weeks of growth. Root production was similar among germplasms, except that the highly fibrous, branch-rooted germplasm produced 29% more fine roots at 20 cm than other germplasms. In all germplasms, about 7% of the fine roots at each depth developed into secondarily thickened roots. By the end of the first growing season, greatest fine root mortality had occurred in the uppermost depth (48%), and least occurred at 40 cm (36%). Survival of contemporaneous root cohorts was not related to soil depth in a simple fashion, although all survivorship curves could be described using only five rates of exponential decline. There was a significant reduction in fine root mortality before the first herbage harvest, followed by a pronounced loss (average 22%) of fine roots at the 10- and 20-cm depths in the 2-week period following herbage removal. Median life spans of these early-season cohorts ranged from 58 to 131 days, based on fitted exponential equations. At all depths, fine roots produced in the 4 weeks before harvest (early- to mid-August) tended to have shorter median life spans than early-season cohorts. Similar patterns of fine root mortality did not occur at the second harvest. Germplasms differed in the pattern, but not the ultimate extent, of fine root mortality. Fine root turnover during the first year of alfalfa establishment in this experiment released an estimated 830 kg C ha−1 and 60 kg N ha−1, with no differences due to N2 fixation capacity or root system architecture.
Cone beam CT tumor vasculature dynamic study (Murine model)

Tumor angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are formed from the existing vessels in a tumor to promote tumor growth. Tumor angiogenesis has important implications in the diagnosis and treatment of various solid tumors. Flat panel detector based cone beam CT opens up a new way for detection of tumors, and tumor angiogenesis associated with functional CBCT has the potential to provide more information than traditional functional CT due to more overall coverage during the same scanning period and the reconstruction being isotropic resulting in a more accurate 3D volume intensity measurement. A functional study was conducted by using CBCT to determine the degree of the enhancement within the tumor after injecting the contrast agent intravenously. For typical doses of contrast material, the amount of enhancement is proportional to the concentration of this material within the region of interest. A series of images obtained at one location over time allows generation of time-attenuation data from which a number of semi-quantitative parameters, such as enhancement rate, can be determined. An in vivo mice study with and without mammo tumor was conducted on our prototype CBCT system, and half scan scheme is used to determine the time-intensity curve within the VOI of the mouse. The CBCT has an x-ray tube, a gantry with slip ring technology, and a 40×30 cm Varian Paxscan 4030CB real time FPD.
DPIV-driven flow simulation: a new computational paradigm

We present a new approach to simulating unsteady fluid flows, with only very few degrees of freedom, by employing directly eigenmodes extracted from digital particle image velocimetry experimental data. In particular, we formulate standard Galerkin and nonlinear Galerkin approximations of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using hierarchical empirical eigenfunctions extracted from an ensemble of flow snapshots. We demonstrate that standard Galerkin approaches produce simulations capable of capturing the short–term dynamics of the flow, but nonlinear Galerkin projections are more effective in capturing both the short– and long–term dynamics, leading to bounded solutions. These findings are documented by applying these approaches to flow past a stationary circular cylinder at Reynolds number 610.
Trigrams as index element in full text retrieval: observations and experimental results

A trigram is a three element sequence of characters. In this paper we demonstrate the effectiveness of a trigram based index for morphologically based retrievals from a full text document retrieval system. Retrieved documents are considered relevant if they contain exact matches for each of the query terms. Using this definition of relevance we consistently achieve a recall rate of 100%. In the experiments described here, we used sets of 100 anded three term queries, and the average precision per set varied from 47% to 87%. We propose a method for increasing the average precision to 100%. Using overlapping trigrams extracted from the Brown Corpus [KUCE67] and a character set of 45 elements, we found a horizontal asymptote near 11,000 for the number of entries in a trigram based index. Finally we show that a trigram based system provides a reasonable alternative to a word based one and is superior to it in retrievals of word fragments.
Fragility and cooperative motion in a glass-forming polymer–nanoparticle composite

Polymer–nanoparticle composites play a vital role in ongoing materials development. The behavior of the glass transition of these materials is important for their processing and applications, and also represents a problem of fundamental physical interest. Changes of the polymer glass transition temperature Tg due to nanoparticles have been fairly well catalogued, but the breadth of the transition and how rapidly transport properties vary with temperature T – termed the fragility m of glass-formation – is comparatively poorly understood. In the present work, we calculate both Tg and m of a model polymer nanocomposite by molecular dynamics simulations. We systematically consider how Tg and m vary both for the material as a whole, as well as locally, for a range of nanoparticle (NP) concentrations and for representative attractive and repulsive polymer–NP interactions. We find large positive and negative changes in Tg and m that can be interpreted in terms of the Adam–Gibbs model of glass-formation, where the scale of the cooperative motion is identified with the scale of string-like cooperative motion. These results provide a molecular perspective of fragility changes due to the addition of NPs and for the physical origin of fragility more generally. We also contrast the behavior along isobaric and isochoric approaches to Tg, since these differing paths can be important to compare with experiments (isobaric) and simulations (very often isochoric). Our findings have practical implications for understanding the properties of nanocomposites and have fundamental significance for understanding the properties glass-forming materials more broadly.
MONITORING THE SEROLOGICAL PROTEOME: THE LATEST MODALITY IN PROSTATE CANCER DETECTION

ABSTRACT Purpose: Various strategies have recently emerged to improve the diagnostic prediction of prostate cancer (CaP). One such strategy includes the mass profiling of serum protein fractions selectively adsorbed onto chemically modified probes. In the current study we further validated this approach, while offering a more versatile, less expensive and yet equally predictive alternative to existing technologies. Materials and Methods: A solid core lipophilic C-18 resin was used to extract and enrich the low molecular weight protein fraction from patient serum for further analysis by mass spectrometry. Mass spectra generated from a 48 patient training set were data mined using multivariate analysis to identify diagnostically significant protein peaks. These peaks were then used to test a blinded study set comprising 168 patients with common statistical algorithms and commercially available software packages. Results: A total of 36 peaks generated from the training set were used to test the combined set of 168 serum samples obtained from 98 healthy individuals and 70 patients with CaP. We report a sensitivity of 94.1% and a specificity of 99.0% with 1 false-positive, 4 false-negative and 5 nondiagnosed cases. Conclusions: Our results further indicate that mass profiling of serological proteins provides a means for the accurate detection of CaP. In addition, our approach was found to be superior to chip based protocols, generating rich, sharp, highly reproducible spectra attainable in a high throughput manner and at minimal cost. This technique is also scaleable for subsequent protein characterization using multidimensional protein identification technologies. Finally, analyses of mass spectra with commercially available statistical applications was found to be highly effective in generating highly discriminatory m/z values for CaP diagnosis.
A Comparison of Retrievability: Celect versus Option Filter

Abstract Purpose To compare the retrievability of 2 potentially retrievable inferior vena cava filter devices. Materials and Methods A retrospective, institutional review board–approved study of Celect (Cook, Inc, Bloomington, Indiana) and Option (Rex Medical, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania) filters was conducted over a 33-month period at a single institution. Fluoroscopy time, significant filter tilt, use of adjunctive retrieval technique, and strut perforation in the inferior vena cava were recorded on retrieval. Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test were used for comparison. Results There were 99 Celect and 86 Option filters deployed. After an average of 2.09 months (range, 0.3–7.6 mo) and 1.94 months (range, 0.47–9.13 mo), respectively, 59% (n = 58) of patients with Celect filters and 74.7% (n = 65) of patients with Option filters presented for filter retrieval. Retrieval failure rates were 3.4% for Celect filters versus 7.7% for Option filters ( P = .45). Median fluoroscopy retrieval times were 4.25 minutes for Celect filters versus 6 minutes for Option filters ( P = .006). Adjunctive retrieval techniques were used in 5.4% of Celect filter retrievals versus 18.3% of Option filter retrievals ( P = .045). The incidence of significant tilting was 8.9% for Celect filters versus 16.7% for Option filters ( P = .27). The incidence of strut perforation was 43% for Celect filters versus 0% for Option filters ( P Conclusions Retrieval rates for the Celect and Option filters were not significantly different. However, retrieval of the Option filter required a significantly increased amount of fluoroscopy time compared with the Celect filter, and there was a significantly greater usage of adjunctive retrieval techniques for the Option filter. The Celect filter had a significantly higher rate of strut perforation.
Dislocations and Catalysis

CAUSAL connexions between dislocations and catalysis have been suggested by a number of workers over the past twenty years1–6. Conclusive evidence, however, has often been lacking because of surface contamination or other effects which could not be implicated as factors in catalysis. Recently an unusual amount of valuable results have been obtained on dislocations and mechanical properties of lithium fluoride crystals. Gilman7–16, Forty17 and Benson et al.18 have determined the role of cleavage in nucleating dislocations in lithium fluoride and described the character of dislocations and stresses needed to produce them. This wealth of experimental results offers a fertile ground for exploring the role of dislocations in catalysis on this simple and well-documented crystalline substance. By using Gilman's8,10,11,15 techniques for cleaving, etching, and stressing crystals it is possible to control the introduction of dislocations to a satisfactory degree and to identify them without spending a major effort on what could be a most illusory problem.
Fire behavior and heat fluxes for lab-scale burning of little bluestem grass

This paper discusses the physics and fire behavior of grassland fuel using experimental and modeling results. Experimental characterization included intermediate-scale tests to determine the mass loss rates, heat release rates (HRRs), and flame heat fluxes of burning little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grass plants at various fuel moisture contents and external flow conditions. The experiments included single-plant tests, multiple-plant tests with no forced flow/wind, and multiple-plant tests in which a forced flow was directed over the plants to simulate wind. The burning characteristics of single plants and fire spread between multiple plants under various conditions are discussed. The computational tool, Wildland–Urban Interface Fire Dynamics Simulator (WFDS), was then used to model the experiments using both a prescribed HRR and the particle-based fuel element model (predicted HRR). Comparisons are made between the experimentally measured quantities and the results predicted by WFDS. The results of the WFDS simulations with a prescribed HRR are in good agreement with the measured heat fluxes for the multiple-plant tests with no wind. The results of the particle-based WFDS fuel element model are in good agreement with the experimentally measured mass loss rates and HRRs of the single-plant tests. The WFDS fuel element model effectively captures the different stages of burning of the little bluestem plant. For the prediction of heat fluxes in the wind tests, there are limitations in the use of the prescribed HRR model.
iSlideShow: a content-aware slideshow system

We present an intelligent photo slideshow system that automatically analyzes thematic information about the photo collection and utilizes such information to generate compositions and transitions in two modes: story-telling mode and person-highlighting mode. In the story-telling mode the system groups photos by a theme-based clustering algorithm and multiple photos in each theme cluster are seamlessly tiled on a slide. Multiple tiling layouts are generated for each theme cluster and the slideshow is animated by intra-cluster transitions. In the person-highlighting mode, the system first recognizes faces from photos and creates photo clusters for individuals. It then uses face areas as ROI (Regions of Interests) and creates various content-based transitions to highlight individuals in a cluster. With an emphasis on photo content, our system creates slideshows with more fluid, dynamic and meaningful structure compared to existing systems.
Remembering Old Flames: How the Past Affects Assessments of the Present

The impact of remembering a past love relationship on current well-being judgments was examined. The influence of recounting details was compared with that of drawing conclusions about these past interpersonal experiences. Participants wrote about falling in (positive event) or out of (negative event) love. Why were asked either to describe how the event occurred or to explain why the event occurred. In addition, prior understanding regarding the past relationship was examined. Experiment 1 showed why-focus contrast and how-focus assimilation effects for judgments of current relationship satisfaction and general life satisfaction. The effect for general life satisfaction held only for understood relationships. In Experiment 2, participants who initially described how they fell in love later listed more related relationship events and reported more positive mood than participants who described how they fell out of love. Prerequisites for contrast and assimilation effects are discussed.
Proportional shearing of a non-linear viscoelastic layer

Abstract We study the non-linear shearing of a layer of a non-linear viscoelastic material where a boundary is sheared such that the displacement or the shear stress is proportional to the coordinate along that direction. Two boundary value problems are solved numerically, one with deformation prescribed at the boundary and the other with the traction prescribed. The numerical procedure is such that at each time step, the problem is equivalent to a system of two coupled non-linear partial integro-differential equations for time and the displacement functions. These equations are then integrated numerically.
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Children: Epidemiology and Treatment

The incidence of overweight and obesity among children has increased dramatically in recent decades, with about one-third of children in the U.S. currently being either overweight or obese. Being overweight in early childhood increases risk for later obesity. There is evidence for the efficacy of family-based behavioral treatment to control weight and improve health outcomes. Obesity-related health risks have been documented, including metabolic syndrome. There is also increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among youth in recent years, with obesity and family history of T2D generally present. Lower income and ethnic minority status are associated with both obesity and T2D in youth. Most youth with T2D do not achieve optimal glycemic control, and are at high risk for later health complications. Obesity and T2D represent significant public health issues with potentially great personal and societal cost. Research addressing the prevention of obesity and T2D among youth is urgently needed.
Factors that affect National Resident Matching Program rankings of medical students applying for radiology residency.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives A study was performed to determine which factors most influence the program rank lists of U.S. medical students applying for radiology residency and which sources of information about residency programs these medical students value most highly. Materials and Methods Questionnaires were mailed to the 516 U.S. medical students who applied to the authors' radiology residency program in the 2001 National Resident Matching Program match. Respondents were asked to evaluate 23 factors that may have affected their rank lists, on a five-point Likert scale. For data interpretation, factors were categorized as being either within, somewhat within, or outside the control of the program director. Respondents were also asked to evaluate eight potential sources of information about residency programs. Results The response rate was 23.3% (120 of 516). The three most important factors affecting rank lists were the perceived happiness of current residents within the program, the geographic location of the program, and the academic reputation of the department. Four of the five factors that scored most highly were judged to be outside the program director's control. The most important sources of information were the interview day and personal interactions with residents currently in the program. Program Web sites were rated more highly than the written materials provided. Conclusion Medical students applying for radiology residency use many sources of information and weigh many factors in making their program rank lists. Many of the most influential factors are outside the direct control of the program director.
DNA-binding motifs from eukaryotic transcription factors

Abstract Considerable progress has been made during the past year on structure determinations of eukaryotic transcription factors that function as DNA-binding proteins in concert with RNA polymerase II. New structures include two TATA box-binding proteins bound to distinct TATA elements, two b/HLH/Z factors, Max and USF, recognizing CACGTG, and four helix-turn-helix variants, the third repeat of c-Myb, the POU-specific domain of Oct-1, an atypical homeodomain from LFB1/HNF1, and the fork head domain of HNF-3γ complexed with DNA. Other novel structures include the DNA-binding domain of GATA-1 complexed with DNA, the nucleic acid-binding domain of transcription factor IIS and the five zinc-finger GLI-DNA complex.
A method for accurately determining the thickness dimensions and photon-intensity corrections of a thick, covered, photon source

Abstract A method is presented for determining the thickness dimensions of a thick, covered, extended source for the purpose of accurately calculating photon-intensity corrections for such a source. The method involves measuring the intensities of photon emissions from the source using a high-resolution Si(Li) detector, finding the intensity attenuation by comparison with a small, thin, uncovered source, and fitting the relative absorption to a model that has the thickness dimensions as parameters to be estimated. The application of the procedure to an 241 Am source in a particular geometry is described, and the results are presented. In an appendix an approximation is developed for obtaining the solid angle subtended by a cylindrical aperture at a point source. The approximation is reasonably accurate when the dimensions of the cylinder are small compared with the source-aperture separation.
Characterization of sams Genes of Amoeba proteus and the Endosymbiotic X‐Bacteria

Abstract As a result of harboring obligatory bacterial endosymbionts, the xD strain of Amoeba proteus no longer produces its own S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS). When symbiont-free D amoebae are infected with symbionts (X-bacteria), the amount of amoeba SAMS decreases to a negligible level within four weeks, but about 47% of the SAMS activity, which apparently comes from another source, is still detected. Complete nucleotide sequences of sams genes of D and xD amoebae are presented and show that there are no differences between the two. Long-established xD amoebae contain an intact sams gene and thus the loss of xD amoeba's SAMS is not due to the loss of the gene itself. The open reading frame of the amoeba's sams gene has 1,281 nucleotides, encoding SAMS of 426 amino acids with a mass of 48 kDa and pI of 6.5. The amino acid sequence of amoeba SAMS is longer than the SAMS of other organisms by having an extra internal stretch of 28 amino acids. The 5′-flanking region of amoeba sams contains consens...
The throw: biomechanics and acute injury:

The throw and its modifications are integral components of many sports. This study correlates case histories of acute injuries in throwing with a biomechanical analysis of the throwing mechanism. Comparisons are made with a similar analysis of the kick analyzed by the same film technique and computer program. Just prior to ball release, the pitching arm extends through an arc of about 73 degress in 40 msec, beginning with the elbow flexed at 80 degrees. This produces an axial load on the humerus and coincides with a pulse of external torque at the shoulder. This acts as stress protection to the humerus which is developing an internal torque of 14,000 inch-lb prior to ball release. The change in angular velocity, or the angular acceleration, during the throw is acquired in a much shorter time than in the kick. Torque is directly proportional to angular acceleration. This necessitates the development of substantially higher torques in the humerus during the throw than about the knee during a kick. The kinetic energy in the arm is 27,000 inch-lb during the throw. This is much higher than the kinetic energy in the kicking leg because the kinetic energy varies proportionally with the square of the angular velocity of the extremity. The angular velocity of the arm is about twice that of the leg. Thus, the pitching arm contains about four times as much kinetic energy as the kicking leg. These severe overloading conditions predispose the upper extremity to injury in the throwing mechanism.
Time savings associated with dispensing unit-of-use packages

Objectives To determine how much time can be saved with the use of unit-of-use packaging in a community pharmacy, the distribution of work between the pharmacist and the pharmacy technician when unit-of-use packaging is used, and the number of errors that occur when either unit-of-use or bulk packaging is used in dispensing prescriptions. Design A simulation comparing count-and-pour dispensing with unit-of-use package dispensing. Setting An independent community pharmacy. Participants Two teams, each composed of one pharmacist and one pharmacy technician. Intervention Each team prepared 50 typical prescription orders, once using unit-of-use packaging and once by transferring medication from a bulk container. Main Outcome /Measures Time needed to dispense 50 prescriptions, dispensing activities performed by technicians and pharmacists, and number of dispensing errors. Results The time saved with unit-of-use packaging compared with count-and-pour dispensing was 46.5 minutes per 100 prescriptions, which represents an average time savings of more than 27 seconds per prescrition. In the bulk package dispensing simulation, the pharmacists assisted in retrieving and counting medication for 26% of the prescriptions. This percentage dropped to 4% when unit-of-use packaging was used because the technicians dispensed prescriptions at a rate that occupied the pharmacist with verifying the prescription orders and dispensed products. Each team committed two counting errors when executing the bulk package trial and no errors when using unit-of-use packaging. Conclusion Unit-of-use packaging can reduce the time needed for and increase the efficiency of pharmacists’ dispensing activities. Unit-of-use packaging may also reduce the number of counting errors.
Weft Insertion on Air- jet Looms: Velocity Measurement and Influence of Yarn Structure Part I: Experimental System and Computer Interface

An account la given of an experimental system developed for automated data acquisition In air–jet weft insertion. The air–jet–loom simulator and the computer interface for measuring the insertion time, air and yarn velocities, and air pressure ln the system are described.
Kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric curves

Abstract A novel procedure is presented for the evaluation of kinetic parameters, activation energy ( E ) and reaction order ( n ), from thermogravimetric (TG) traces. From given values of conversion (α) and corresponding temperatures ( T ) are calculated values of E corresponding to various arbitrary values of n . Then, the resulting arbitrary E -values may be plotted against respective n -values and the region bounded by intersecting curves used to simultaneously estimate E and n . This procedure was tested against theoretical data, teflon, sodium bicarbonate, and magnesium hydroxide, and was found to be satisfactory. Some advantages of this method are: it is relatively simple to use; it allows the user to readily discern whether the data are homogeneous and, if not, at what conversions the data deviate. A less sensitive ancillary procedure is also described which can dispense with plotting in the estimation of E and n .
Wawo and Palolo Worms

IN your interesting note on the palolo worm of Samoa (NATURE, March 31, p. 523) an error has crept in about the wawo of Rumphius, which is said to be doubtless the same as the Pacific palolo. Thanks to the kindness of Prof. Max Weber, the head of the Dutch Siboga Expedition, that explored the seas of the Malay Archipelago during the years 1899–1900, I had the opportunity of examining a cluster of these worms from Banda, where they are called oelie by the natives; especially in the months of March and April, the second and third nights after full moon they are swarming there in great numbers at the surface of the sea.