cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
International accounting standards in capital markets

Abstract Capital markets have become increasingly globalized due to advances in technology and communications and the growing trend of national governments' initiatives to deregulate their capital markets. Globalization of the world's capital markets necessitates the need for comparable and reliable financial information to support the varied transactions and operations of the markets. Regulatory initiatives have been undertaken at the national, bilateral, regional, and international levels to deal with the problems created by diversity in accounting reporting in international capital markets. This paper discusses the progress and impediments faced at each level in attempting to harmonize accounting reporting requirements, describes interactions between regional and international harmonization efforts, and suggests the most desirable and feasible course of action to achieve global harmonization in international capital markets. Efforts of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) have focused on a common goal—having financial statements used in cross-border listings prepared in accordance with international accounting standards as an alternative to national accounting standards. Although no international mechanism exists for enforcing the accounting standards of an international body, IOSCO is the most likely organization to implement conformance.
What is effective mathematics teaching? A study of teachers from Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and the United States

What is effective teaching in mathematics? How do teachers in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and the US view effective teaching in mathematics? What are the similarities and differences in the views of teachers from the East and West on effective teaching? This paper provides theoretical and methodological bases for addressing these questions, which are dealt with in empirical studies described in the papers of this issue.
Experimental self-energy corrections for various semiconductors determined by electron spectroscopy

This paper determines the energy dependence of experimental self-energy corrections, \ensuremath{\Delta}(E), for local-density-functional-theory eigenvalues due to many-body interactions in Si, Ge, GaAs, and ZnSe. The self-energy corrections are determined by comparing shifts between the theoretical local-density approximation and experimental densities of state obtained with use of x-ray photoemission and bremsstrahlung isochromat spectroscopy (inverse photoemission). \ensuremath{\Delta}(E) is nominally independent of energy in the conduction band for these semiconductors but exhibits a distinct energy dependence within the valence band. The results compare well with recent quasiparticle calculations in general, although the observed energy dependence is not predicted by theory in the case of Ge. The self-energy corrections are strongly dependent on the localization of the state. Many-body effects due to plasmon effects are also investigated with use of core-level data. The inelastic background due to electron-hole pair production is roughly a factor of 10 lower for inverse photoemission compared with photoemission; a result which suggests that some many-body effects may be intrinsic. Intriguing conduction-band results for states up to 600 eV above the Fermi level are presented.
Depressive symptoms in adolescents living in rural America

PURPOSE: The purposes of this pilot study were to examine prevalence of depressive symptoms among rural adolescents and identify related social and environmental variables. METHODS: A convenience sample of 299 14- to 18-year-old agriculture class students at 5 rural high schools in Kentucky and Iowa completed a survey that included demographic information, family farm history, experience with suicide, perception of school environment, and indicators of farm injuries and risky behaviors. Participants also completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) as well as scales to assess the number of major life events in the last year, active coping use, and family closeness. FINDINGS: The prevalence of a high level of depressive symptoms (CES-D > or = 16) in this sample was 34%. Nine percent had seriously considered suicide in the last year. Unlike previous reports, boys reported as many depressive symptoms as girls. Although the literature reports that engaging in risky behavior is associated with depressive symptoms, the only risky behavior linked with depressive symptoms in this sample was operating a 4-wheel all-terrain vehicle. Other predictors of depressive symptoms included poor family relationships and poor active coping. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to identify and prevent depressive symptoms in rural adolescents are needed. Boosting active coping and improving family function may also prevent the development of clinical depression in rural adolescents.
Correction of phase effects produced by eddy currents in solvent suppressed 1H‐CSI

Accurate phasing of MRS spectra is often difficult unless time varying phase effects produced by gradient-induced eddy currents that persist during data acquisition are eliminated. This effect is particularly problematic in 1H-CSI spectra where frequency shifts produced by static field inhomogeneity and phase shifts produced by eddy currents combine. In this paper we present a method that corrects both shifts and eliminates manual phasing of individual CSI spectra typically required to recover a pure absorption line shape. The method uses a time domain phase correction derived from the ambient water signal acquired under identical conditions (i.e., acquisition parameters, gradient sequence) as the solvent-sup pressed CSI data. Results from CSI experiments on phantoms and in vivo solvent suppressed 1H-CSI spectra from normal human brain are presented demonstrating the capabilities of the technique.
A hybrid optical packet and wavelength selective switching platform for high-performance data center networks

We propose and experimentally demonstrate for the first time a hybrid optical packet and wavelength selective switching platform for high-performance data center networks. This architecture based on cascaded silicon microrings and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) supports wavelength reconfigurable packet and circuit switching, and is highly scalable, energy efficient and potentially integratable. By combining the wavelength-selective behavior of the microring and the broadband behavior of the SOA switch, we are able to achieve fast switching transitions, high extinction ratios, and low driving voltages, which are all requirements for future optical high-performance data center networks. Routing correctness and error-free operation (<10(-12)) are verified for both 10-Gb/s and 40-Gb/s packets and streaming data with format transparency.
Dialect, Language, Nation1

The impossibility of stating precisely how many “languages” or “dialects” are spoken in the world is due to the ambiguities of meaning present in these terms, which is shown to stem from the original use of “dialect” to refer to the literary dialects of ancient Greece. In most usages the term “language” is superordinate to “dialed,” but the nature of this relationship may be either linguistic or social, the latter problem falling in the province of sociolinguistics. It is shown how the development of a vernacular, popularly called a dialect, into a language is intimately related to the development of writing and the growth of nationalism. This process is shown to involve the selection, codification, acceptance, and elaboration of a linguistic norm.
Long-Term Efficacy of Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) patients. Particular focus was placed on defining the single-procedure efficacy over long-term follow-up. Background ARVD/C is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by VT and right ventricular dysfunction. Prior single-center studies have reported conflicting results concerning the efficacy of RFA of VT in ARVD/C patients. Methods The study population comprised 24 patients (age 36 ± 9 years, 11 male), enrolled in the Johns Hopkins ARVD registry, who underwent 1 or more RFA procedures for treatment of VT. Patients were followed up for 32 ± 36 months (range 1 day to 12 years). Recurrence was defined as the documentation of VT subsequent to the procedure. Results A total of 48 RFA procedures were performed using 3-dimensional electroanatomical (n = 10) or conventional (n = 38) mapping. Of these procedures, 22 (46%), 15 (31%), and 11 (23%) resulted in elimination of all inducible VTs, clinical VT but not all, and none of the inducible VTs, respectively. Forty (85%) procedures were followed by recurrence. The cumulative VT recurrence-free survival was 75%, 50%, and 25% after 1.5, 5, and 14 months, respectively. The cumulative VT recurrence-free survival did not differ by procedural success, mapping technique, or repetition of procedures. There was 1 procedure-related death. Conclusions Our study shows a high rate of recurrence in ARVD/C patients undergoing RFA of VT. This likely reflects the fact that ARVD/C is a diffuse cardiomyopathy with progressively evolving electrical substrate. Further studies are needed to define the precise role of RFA of VT in ARVD/C.
Synthesis and structure of a polyphenylene macrocycle related to "cubic graphite".

Palladium-catalyzed coupling of 1,2-bis(4-bromophenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetraphenylbenzene and the corresponding hexaphenylbenzene bis(boronic acid) gave a mixture of linear and cyclic oligomers of hexaphenylbenzene. An X-ray crystal structure of the tetrameric oligomer showed it to be the polyphenylene macrocycle 4 (C168H112). The roughly D2 symmetric macrocycle contains a large central cavity, and it is one of the channel substructures of “phenylogous cubic graphite”.
A procedure for selective acid extraction, staining and quantitative measurement of histones inAllium root nuclei

The use of protein extraction methods in conjunction with cytochemical analyses holds considerable promise, especially if the techniques allow for such investigation on an individual cell basis. Application of this approach has been undertaken for the selective acid extraction of histones followed by alkaline Fast Green staining inAllium root tip nuclei. Gel electrophoresis of extracted protein, coupled with quantitative measurements of stained nuclei, permit the identification of specific histone fractions at the cellular level. However, limitations of cytochemical staining methods present the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Nevertheless, the approach itself is a feasible one and, with appropriate refinements, can extend the possibilities of examining such cellular phenomena as regulation and differentiation. The results reported here demonstrate that selective acid extraction results in stepwise decreases in Fast Green staining of onion root nuclei, and that these changes in histone content can be verified by gel electrophoresis and measured in individual cells on a quantitative basis by photographic colorimetry. Utilization of the Eosin Y-Fast Green reaction reveals that the lysine-rich components of histone are extracted at a pH of 1.8. The problem remains to develop greater precision for quantitative measurement of cell-to-cell differences.
Heat-stable, calcium-inhibited cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from Neurospora crassa

Abstract A heat-stable, Ca 2+ -inhibited cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (cPDE) (EC 3.1.4.17) from Neurospora crassa was isolated and could be separated into three aggregation forms ( ca M r values of 83 000, 151 000 and 330 000–400 000) by gel-filtration at 25° in the presence of EGTA, which suggests that the enzyme exists in monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric forms. Aggregation was temperature dependent; under similar conditions at 6°, a single form of ca M r 400 000 was present. The enzyme was not activated by calmodulin but was inhibited by micromolar concentrations of Ca 2+ and could be activated by addition of excess EGTA. Both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were substrates for the enzyme, and kinetic studies indicated that both bound at the same catalytic site. The enzyme had complex kinetics with two K m values. The affinity of the high K m component for both substrates was the same, whereas the low K m component had a higher affinity for cyclic GMP than for cyclic AMP. Ca 2+ was a competitive inhibitor of the high K m component, whereas inhibition of the low K m component was of the mixed type; Ca 2+ caused an increase in both K m values. The specific activity of the enzyme when cyclic AMP was used as a substrate was always higher than that with cyclic GMP, under all experimental conditions studied. A comparison of the heat-stable cPDE and cPDE activity in unheated extracts was also carried out using gel-filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. A working hypothesis is presented to account for the results.
Multiple Policy Improvements in Undiscounted Markov Renewal Programming

This paper examines, for undiscounted unichain Markov renewal programming, both the Hastings policy-value iteration algorithm and the case of multiple policy improvements between each policy evaluation. The modified policy improvement procedure proposed by Hastings either increases the gain rate or maintains it, and has a larger value improvement in some transient state than in all recurrent states. This prevents cycling and ensures convergence of the policy-value iteration algorithm. Multiple policy improvements, using either the unmodified or modified policy-improvement procedure, are shown to settle ultimately upon higher-gain policies, if any exist. The iterated policy improvements, each time using the improved values, also lead to upper and lower bounds on the maximal gain rate.
Don't drop it!: pick it up and storyboard

Storyboards offer designers a way to illustrate a narrative. Their creation can be enabled by tools supporting sketching or widget collections. As designers often incorporate previous ideas, we contribute the notion of blending the reappropriation of artifacts and their design tradeoffs with storyboarding. We present PIC-UP, a storyboarding tool supporting reappropriation, and report on two studies--a long-term investigation with novices and interviews with experts. We discuss how it may support design thinking, tailor to different expertise levels, facilitate reappropriation during storyboarding, and assist with communication.
Modeling of Decay Rates for Molecules at an Island Surface

The decay rates for molecules at rough surfaces are studied via an island surface model, with particular emphasis on the effect due to the distribution of surface roughness. Two extreme cases are studied when the surface islands distribute themselves evenly and when they coalesce to form local clusters at the molecule-substrate interface. The optical properties of the interfacial layer in these two cases are described by the Maxwell-Garnett and the fractal-cluster models, respectively. Among other results, it is found that both enhancement and suppression of the surface-induced decay rates are possible due to the presence of roughness, with more dramatic suppression taking place when the surface islands coalesce to form clusters.
Investigation of transport phenomena and defect formation in pulsed laser keyhole welding of zinc-coated steels

Lasers are being used to weld zinc-coated steels due to high welding speed, high aspect ratio, and narrow heat affected zone. However, escape of high-pressure zinc vapour in the welding process can damage the weld pool continuity and cause large voids and serious undercuts in the final welds. In this paper, a mathematical model and the associated numerical techniques have been developed to study the transport phenomena and defect formation mechanisms in pulsed laser keyhole welding of zinc-coated steels. The volume-of-fluid (VOF) method is employed to track free surfaces. The continuum model is used to handle the liquid phase, the solid phase and the mushy zone of the metal. The enthalpy method is employed to account for the latent heat during melting and solidification. The transient heat transfer and melt flow in the weld pool during the keyhole formation and collapse processes are calculated. The escape of zinc vapour through the keyhole and the interaction between zinc vapour and weld pool are studied. Voids in the welds are found to be caused by the combined effects of zinc vapour–melt interactions, keyhole collapse and solidification process. By controlling the laser pulse profile, it is found that the keyhole collapse and solidification process can be delayed, allowing the zinc vapour to escape, which results in the reduction or elimination of voids. The good agreement between the model predictions and the experimental observations indicates that the proposed model lays a solid foundation for future study of laser welding of zinc-coated steels.
Fire history of a central Nevada pinyon–juniper woodland

Our study reconstructed fire history (1445–2006) from tree rings for a Great Basin single-needle pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla Torr & Frem.) – Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.) Little) wo...
The Effectiveness of Daily Assessments: A Preliminary Study in Principles of Financial Accounting.

Today colleges and universities are working with students who are younger than the Internet. They were born at the end of the last century, and are referred to as millennials or the Net Generation. Their learning style and time management preferences may respond better to continuous tasks and constant feedback. This paper examines the statistical effects of requiring students to take an assessment as part of their grade in “Principles of Financial Accounting”; specifically, this paper attempts to identify the effects on both student performance and student satisfaction during the semester and at the end of their college career. The increase in students’ performances is translated into cost savings for the institution.
Characterization of lymphocytic infiltrates in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: co-localization of CD8(+) T cells with JCV-infected glial cells.

We characterized inflammatory infiltrates in archival brain biopsy and autopsy samples from 26 HIV+ and 20 HIV− patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The predominant inflammatory cells were CD8+ T lymphocytes. We defined CD8+ T cell distribution with regard to JCV-infected glial cells, PML lesions and the extent of demyelination. In most samples from either HIV+ and HIV− patients, we found positive correlations between the parenchymal CD8+ T cells and JCV-infected glial cells and conversely, negative correlations between the perivascular CD8+ T cells and JCV-infected glial cells in the surrounding brain. Most of these correlations remained significant after accounting for the degree of demyelination and location of the cells relative to lesions. Moreover, high numbers of CD8+ T cells were found within and at the border of active PML lesions. These results suggest that CD8+ T cells are primarily associated with JCV-infected glial cells in most PML cases and that an active ongoing recruitment of CD8+ T cells and possibly viral antigen-specific retention could occur. These observations are discussed in the context of the recent evidence of PML in multiple sclerosis and Crohn’s patients treated with natalizumab, underscoring the role of CD8+ T lymphocytes in continued immunosurveillance of the CNS.
Transmission and Reception of Photoradiograms

This paper carries the art of electric picture transmission from its inception, over 80 years ago, to the results of present-day development. It is pointed out that the seemingly rapid strides that have been made in the art during the last 10 years of its 83-year existence may be attributed to the larger storehouse of electrical and mechanical contrivances from which modern photo-transmission engineers may draw. Picture transmission is not, as many think, a modern art. It is as old as the communication art itself and this paper carries us through the work, ancient and modern, of photo-transmission engineers, commencing with that of Alexander Bain in 1842. A Denison facsimile of telegraph tape, taken in 1901, is shown, together with examples of the work of Korn taken in 1922; that of Bart-Lane in 1922; Belin, 1924; Ferree, 1924; Jenkins, 1924; and results of the A. T. & T. system in 1925. The basic elements of all picture transmission systems are shown to consist of synchronously covering a surface, point-by-point, at both transmitter and receiver, and electrically identifying point values at the receiver so that any integral section of the received copy will have the same relative tonal value as the identical integral section on the transmitting surface.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome as an Etiology of Obstructive Uropathy

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an iatrogenic complication of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocols performed in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. Overstimulation of the ovaries results in the overproduction of vasoactive cytokines and mediators by the ovaries, thereby causing a generalized capillary leak and acute shift of protein-rich fluid from the intravascular compartment into the third space. This may lead to the development of ascites, pleural effusions, pericardial effusion, anasarca, intravascular volume depletion, hemoconcentration, oliguria, hypoalbuminemia and hypoproteinemia, electrolyte imbalances, acute renal failure, abdominal compartment syndrome, thromboembolic events, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. The only effective treatment available is prevention of the syndrome from developing by individualizing the stimulation protocol, especially in high-risk patients. Once the syndrome develops, the management is mainly supportive. Oliguria and some degree of acute renal failure commonly develop in patients with moderate to severe OHSS and are usually due to prerenal causes. Acute renal failure (ARF) secondary to obstructive uropathy is rare. Here we report a case of severe, life-threatening OHSS resulting in ARF secondary to obstructive uropathy.
Target tracking based network Active Queue Management

Active Queue Management (AQM) methods attempt to predict and control network router queue levels and provide feedback regarding network congestion to data sources through packet marking/ dropping. AQM methods have not employed statistical signal processing principles largely due to the requirement of low complexity. In this paper, we apply optimal filtering and target tracking methods to the design of AQM. In particular, we develop Kalman Filter based AQM which results in router queues with reduced queue level variance. To account for networks with more bursty traffic, we use Interacting Multiple Models (IMM) which similarly result in reduced queue variance in simulations with both long-term and bursty short-term traffic. In comparisons with other AQM methods, these low complexity target tracking-based AQM methods give a more constant queue length without any loss in source throughput.
Reactivity of Platelia Aspergillus Galactomannan Antigen with Piperacillin-Tazobactam: Clinical Implications Based on Achievable Concentrations in Serum

The possible reactivities of commonly used antibiotics of fungal, nonfungal, and nonmicrobial or synthetic sources with the Platelia Aspergillus galactomannan assay were assessed. For drugs that tested positive, the minimal concentration of the antibiotic in serum that yielded a positive test (index, >0.5) was determined. At undiluted concentrations, piperacillin and multiple lots of piperacillin-tazobactam tested positive, whereas amoxicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, nafcillin, cefazolin, ceftazidime, erythromycin, gentamicin, and levofloxacin tested negative. All three lots of piperacillin-tazobactam and all bags within each lot tested positive, with a mean index value of 5.168. At achievable concentrations in serum, however, only one of three lots of piperacillin-tazobactam yielded a positive test. Concentrations of 75, 150, and 300 μg/ml of serum tested positive with the Platelia Aspergillus enzyme immunoassay, whereas lower concentrations, mimicking the trough levels, tested negative. Thus, while achievable serum piperacillin-tazobactam concentrations may potentially result in a positive test for galactomannan, the timing of the collection of serum samples from patients may influence the test results, with reactivity being less likely in samples collected at trough levels or prior to the administration of a dose of the antibiotic.
Spatial resolution in subfossil molluscan remains: Implications for paleobiological analyses

The ability of paleobiologists to draw paleoecological inferences based on spatial faunal variability within a single stratigraphic interval depends ultimately on the spatial resolving power of the fossil record. This paper evaluates the potential spatial resolution of fossil assemblages by examining modern skeletal remains of molluscs on a benthic transect, along which there is a marked decrease in seagrass cover, in Smuggler's Cove, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The sampling transect began in a Thalassia-covered area approximately three meters deep, extended into slightly deeper water with lighter seagrass cover, and ended on an open, bioturbated sandy tract at a depth of nearly six meters. Two-way cluster analysis and polar ordination of 37 samples of molluscan remains, taken at 10- meter intervals along the 360-meter transect, reveal patterns of variation that are shown by corre- lation analyses and consideration of the autecologies of individual species to be related to measured changes in vegetation. There is a transition from dominance primarily by epifaunal gastropods living on seagrass blades to dominance by infaunal, burrowing bivalves as grass cover becomes lighter. Some non-systematic variability exists in faunal distributional patterns within areas where the environment does not vary systematically, but this does not mask the regular faunal transitions related to environmental changes. Correspondence between the dead and live faunas is difficult to ascertain because of the scarcity of live fauna in collected samples. The results suggest that spatial faunal transitions in fossil remains at even the fine scale evaluated in this study are potentially preservable in the fossil record.
Treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.

Abstract The HER family of receptors consists of four closely related type 1 transmembrane TK receptors: HER1 (EGFR), HER2, HER3 and HER4. Signalling via the HER family of receptors underpins the majority of the intricate array of cellular activities on which cell survival and functionality depend. Aberrant HER2 expression and/or functionality have been implicated in the evolution of breast cancer and this receptor has proved to be a potent target for anticancer therapies, including antibody-based therapies to prevent ligand binding, dimer formation or the recruitment of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and direct kinase inhibition to prevent molecular activation and recruitment of downstream signalling partners. Novel strategies against HER2 include HER tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HSP90 inhibitors and antibody–chemotherapy conjugates. This latter approach is exemplified by T–DM1, a potent antibody that has a good safety profile and that has shown remarkable activity in patients with advanced disease. In addition, pertuzumab, an mAb that directly inhibits the formation of HER2 dimers including the HER2:HER3 dimer, offers a unique mechanism of HER3 inhibition. All these approaches have shown substantial clinical activity in patients refractory to trastuzumab. It is anticipated that with the increased availability of novel anti-HER2 agents together with a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to anti-HER2 agents we should be able to further improve the outcome of patients with HER2 breast cancer. There will also be an increasing tendency towards moving the study of these agents to earlier stages of the disease, namely in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting.
Irritable bowel syndrome and surgery: A multivariable analysis

Abstract Background & Aims: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have high surgical rates. We investigated the demographic and medical factors independently associated with surgical histories of health examinees. Methods: We applied multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis to self-completed questionnaire data from 89,008 examinees, assessing 6 surgeries as outcomes. We assessed questionnaire/physician record agreement of physician-diagnosed IBS and surgical history on 201 randomly selected examinees with ≥3 years of records. Results: Questionnaire/record agreement for IBS and surgery was 83.6% (κ = 0.68) and 95.5%–100.0% (κ = 0.82–1), respectively. IBS was reported by 4587 examinees (5.2%) (1382 men [3.0%] and 3205 women [7.5%]). Subjects with and without IBS, respectively, reported the following surgical procedures: cholecystectomy, 569 (12.4%) versus 3428 (4.1%), P 0.05; peptic ulcer surgery, 22 (0.5%) versus 277 (0.3%), P > 0.05. Among independent surgery associations, IBS was associated with cholecystectomy (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89–2.31; P
Conformational preferences of amino acid side chains in collagen

Conformational energy computations were carried out on collagenlike triple-stranded conformations of several poly(tripeptide)s with the general structure CH3CO(GlyXY)3NHCH3. The sequences considered had various amino acid residues in position X or Y of the central tripeptide, with either Pro or Ala as a neighbor, i.e., Gly-X-Pro, Gly-X-Ala, Gly-Pro-Y, and Gly-Ala-Y. Minimum-energy conformations were computed for the side chains, and their distributions were compared for the four sequences. The residues used were Abu (= α-aminobutyric acid), Leu, Phe, Ser, Asp, Asn, Val, Ile, and Thr. The conformational energy of a Ch2CH3 side chain in Abu was mapped as a function of the dihedral angle χ1. Intrastrand interactions with neighboring residues do not affect the conformations of a side chain in position Y, and they have a minor effect on it in the X-Ala sequence, but they strongly restrict the conformational freedom of the side chain in the X-Pro sequence. Conversely, interstrand interactions do not affect side chains in position X, but they strongly restrict the conformational freedom of a side chain in position Y if there is a nearby Pro residue in a neighboring strand. Hydrogen bonds with the backbone can be formed in some conformations of long polar side chains, such as Asp, Asn, or Gln. All amino acid residues can be accommodated in collagen. Because of the interactions mentioned above, steric and energetic constraints can be correlated with observed preferences of certain amino acids for positions X or Y in collagen. Hence, these preferences may be explained, in part, in terms of differences in the conformational freedom of the side chains in the triple-stranded structure.
Choosing to Go It Alone: Irish Neutrality in Theoretical and Comparative Perspective

Realist and liberal paradigms of foreign policy analysis offer different views of the important policy stance of neutrality. Realism explains a neutral stance as the rational calculation of a small state's interests in the state-centered, unfriendly, self-help environment. Liberalism argues that international norms and internal dynamics lead nations to seek and maintain neutrality. This article explores the neutral foreign policy stance of the Republic of Ireland from 1938 to the present in comparison to Austria, Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The Irish policy of neutrality differs from the other European neutrals in two important ways: it is unarmed neutrality and it is not impartial neutrality. I argue that domestic actors, public opinion, and governmental decision making institutions provide an explanation for the continuing stance of neutrality. Thus, liberalism provides a better explanation for Irish neutrality than realism. The value of this study is that it illustrates in a comparative perspective the varying sources of neutrality in Europe and points to the continued usefulness of varied perspectives in under standing historical and contemporary foreign policy.
Nature Center Program Impact

(1976). Nature Center Program Impact. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 52-64.
Effectiveness of a chronic kidney disease clinic in achieving K/DOQI guideline targets at initiation of dialysis--a single-centre experience.

Background. Limited data exist about the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) clinics on quality-ofcare indicators in patients before initiation of dialysis. Methods. A single-centre retrospective chart review study was conducted on all patients who initiated dialysis at the Veterans Affairs Denver Healthcare System between 2000 and 2005. Patients initiating dialysis were evaluated at the start of dialysis and 12 months after dialysis initiation, as a function of care provided by nephrologists in training (renal-hypertension clinic) vs a trained renal nurse practitioner (CKD clinic). Results. Data were available for 77 patients followed in the CKD clinic and 36 in the renal-hypertension clinic. There were no major demographic differences between the cohorts at the time of clinic referral. The length of follow-up before dialysis did not differ significantly between the cohorts (10.7 � 9.8 months for the patients in the CKD clinic cohort and 13.6 � 16.0 months for the patients in the renal-hypertension clinic cohort, P ¼ 0.3299). At the initiation of dialysis, patients followed in the CKD clinic had higher haemoglobin (11.6 � 1.5 vs 10.8 � 1.7 g/dl, P ¼ 0.0239) and serum albumin (3.4 � 0.5 vs 3.0 � 0.7 g/dl, P ¼ 0.0020) concentrations. More of the CKD clinic patients had a functioning permanent vascular access (P < 0.0001). The number of all-cause hospitalizations in the 12 months after initiation of dialysis was significantly lower in the CKD clinic group (P ¼ 0.0024), but no significant differences were noted in all-cause mortality. Conclusions. Our data indicate that a single experienced renal nurse practitioner, working to a protocol, is more likely to adhere to guidelines than are multiple nephrology trainees rotating through a nephrology clinic.
Platelets augment rabbit cerebral artery constriction by activating protein kinase C.

We tested the hypothesis that activated platelets augment cerebral artery responsiveness to thrombin by activating protein kinase C, a possible intracellular modulator of Ca2+ sensitivity.Ring segments of rabbit basilar artery were prepared for in vitro measurements of isometric force. Cumulative concentration-response curves to thrombin were made in the absence or presence of activated platelets.Arteries contracted to thrombin in a concentration-dependent manner; freshly obtained human platelets (8.5 x 10(8) cells/ml) activated with 10 micrograms/ml collagen increased the arteries' sensitivity to thrombin by threefold while augmenting the maximal response from 40 +/- 11% to 66 +/- 12% of the maximal response to 0.3 mM histamine. At 10 nM, staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C activity, blunted the platelet-induced augmentation of the response to thrombin but did not alter the sensitivity or the maximal contraction to 8-64 mM K+. Removal of the endothelium did not alter the characteristics of th...
Software Thread Integration and Synthesis for Real-Time Applications

Software Thread Integration (STI) and Asynchronous STI (ASTI) are compiler techniques which interleave functions from separate program threads at the assembly language level, creating implicitly multithreaded functions which provide low-cost concurrency on generic hardware. This extends the reach of software and reduces the need to rely upon dedicated hardware. STI and ASTI are driven by two types of timing requirements: thread-level (e.g. the delay between an event occuring and a service thread running) and instruction-level (e.g. when a specific instruction or code region must begin executing relative to the start of the function or another such instruction or region). These coarse- and fine-grain approach provide a precise method of defining timing requirements. STI provides synchronous thread progress; both functions proceed lock-step. ASTI provides asynchronous (independent) thread progress through the use of lightweight context switches (coroutine calls) between primary and secondary threads. The primary thread has hard-real-time constraints, while the secondary thread is not real-time, or has much longer deadlines.
Letter by Kern Regarding Article, “High-Pressure Loculated Pericardial Effusion in Postpericardiotomy Syndrome”

To the Editor: Drs Syros and Maysky1 present a remarkable case of pericardial effusion due to post pericardiotomy syndrome in an 81-year-old man. I am confused about the hemodynamics displayed in Figure 2, which shows a pericardial pressure that appears to be exactly like that of a right ventricular …
The Internet as an emerging patient education tool among African American men with prostate cancer: an exploratory study.

The lives of African American men with prostate cancer are greatly influenced by the information available to them, some of which is accessed on the Internet. Research indicates that the Internet can enhance consumer health knowledge but has not reached socioeconomic groups at highest risk for health disparities, such as African American men with prostate cancer. In this study, focus groups were used to explore the perceptions and uses of the Internet as a patient education tool among 39 African American men aged 39 years and older with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Nineteen (49%) participants reported using the Internet, 15 (38%) reported no use but indicated it was used on their behalf, and 5 (13%) reported no use and no use on their behalf. The findings revealed varying degrees of Internet use for information and social support. Prostate cancer diagnosis, poor patient—doctor communications, and accessibility influenced Internet use. Accessibility related more to lack of ease and familiarity with I...
Approach to Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Urology Procedures in the Era of Increasing Fluoroquinolone Resistance

Objective: To evaluate rationale antimicrobial prophylaxis options in patients undergoing urologic procedures in the era of increasing fluoroquinolone resistance. Data Sources: Literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1980-October 2013) using the search terms “urologic surgical procedures,” “antibiotic prophylaxis,” and “drug resistance.” Study Selection and Data Extraction: Pertinent article titles and abstracts were reviewed by the authors in addition to reference citations from publications. All English language publications identified were evaluated. Data Synthesis: The American Urology Association guidelines recommend fluoroquinolones (FQs) as first-line agents for preoperative prophylaxis to prevent infection after urologic procedures. Since the latest publication of these guidelines in 2008, resistance within this class of drugs has been increasing especially among common urologic pathogens like Escherichia coli. Limited data are available to support non-FQ alternatives for preoperative prophylaxis...
Amyloid deposition in the oral cavity: a retrospective study and review of the literature.

Objective. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the anatomic location and characteristics of amyloid deposition in the oral cavity. Study design. Seventeen biopsy specimens that were conclusive for a diagnosis of amyloidosis were assessed in terms of their anatomic location and histopathologic characteristics. Results. Biopsy specimens were received from 13 patients—9 females and 4 males. Six specimens were taken from the buccal mucosa, 4 from the tongue, 3 from the palate, 2 from the gingiva, and 2 from the floor of the mouth. Fifteen of 17 specimens (88%) had amyloid deposition in the subepithelial connective tissue in all locations. Conclusion. On the basis of our pilot data, a previously overlooked intraoral anatomic location, the buccal mucosa, may prove to be of higher diagnostic value than others previously reported in terms of obtaining a diagnosis of amyloidosis. In addition, the manner in which tissue biopsies are conducted for amyloid detection may be altered to create less morbidity. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2003;95:674-80)
VOYAGER 2 OBSERVATIONS OF PLASMAS AND FLOWS OUT TO 104 AU

Voyager 2 has crossed through 20 AU of the heliosheath; assuming the same heliosheath thickness as at Voyager 1, it is now two-thirds of the way to the heliopause. The plasma data are generally of good quality, although the increasing flow angle of the plasma makes analysis more difficult. The average plasma speed has remained constant but the flow angles have increased to almost 60° in the RT plane and to almost 30° in the RN plane. The average density and thermal speed have been constant since a density increase observed in 2011. Comparison of V2 plasma flows derived from plasma science experiment (PLS) data and Low Energy Charged Particle (LECP) proton anisotropies give good agreement except when heavy ion contributions or non-convective proton anisotropies are observed in the LECP data.
Ingredients of a Successful Track Two Negotiation

During three days in 2003, an Israeli–Palestinian group met in London to negotiate the draft of the “Geneva Initiative,” which offered a potential final status agreement between Israel and Palestine. In this article, I analyze the video recording of these unofficial negotiations and examine how the framing and conduct of the talks enabled significant progress toward reaching an agreement. I describe six main framing techniques used by the mediators: calling the meetings an “exercise,” which reduced restraints on the participants and enhanced their flexibility, avoiding deep historical issues to focus solely on future-oriented pragmatic solutions, allowing the participants to discuss any topic they chose while deliberately avoiding crucial narrative issues, convincing the participants that this track two negotiation was crucial for the future of official Israeli–Palestinian relations, accentuating the parties' understandings and agreements with each other, and building a sense of superordinate group identity among the participants, to encourage cooperation. These components were the key “ingredients” for the first — and still the only — (unofficial) detailed proposal for an Israeli–Palestinian peace agreement. They provide lessons that could improve the success of other track two negotiations.
In vitro activity of cefonicid, ceforanide, and cefazolin against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and the effect of human serum.

Le ceforanide et la cefonicide sont moins actifs que la cefazoline contre S. aureus et S. epidermidis. De plus la reduction de l'activite in vitro dans les milieux qui permet la fixation elevee aux proteines plasmatiques est souvent substantielle
Comparative ecology of two leafminers on White Oak

During 1968, 1969, and 1970 populations of 2 gracillariid leafminers on white oak were sampled at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, N. Y. In the lower stratum (0.5–3 m above the ground), densities (number per 1000 leaves) of the solitary leafminer, Cameraria hamadryadella (Clemens), ranged from 339 (1968) to 6 (1970); and those of the communalleafminer, C. cincinnatiella (Chambers), from 173 (1968) to 23 (1969). Various predators and at least 14 species of parasitoid wasps contributed to larval or pupal mortality of one or both leafminers, but more than 50% of the larvae in each generation died during the month after hatching from ill-defined processes associated with the condition of the leaves.
Measuring the Job Satisfaction of Industrial Salesmen

While the unique characteristics of the industrial salesman's role has stimulated much recent research, this uniqueness requires the development and use of occupation-specific measurement instrumen...
Geochemical Characteristics of Granite in the Guanfang Tungsten Deposit of Wenshan,Yunnan Province and Its Geological Implications

Petrologic and geochemical analysis for granites from the Guangfang tungsten deposit of Wenshan, Yunnan Province shows that their average contents of SiO2,Na20 and K2O are 68.49%,2.38%,and 4.26%, respectively. The average Rittmann index is 2.33. Trace elements of Nb, Ta, and Y are enriched while Sr and Ba are depleted. The average value of ∑REE is 256.09×10-6. The REE pattern of Guangfang granites is of the enriched type of LREE with pronounced Eu negative anomalies and δEu = 0.62～0.72. It is shown that the granite in Guanfang is characterized by highly-enriched kalium calc-alkaline and belongs to the S-type granite. Major and trace elements imply that the granite in Guanfang was formed in a continental collision tectonic setting. The features of REE indicate that they were derived from the crust. The content of tungsten in the granite is 23.7 times the average content of granite in China. Its high tungsten abundance had accommodated the generation of the Guanfang tungsten deposit in this region.
Structure and Dynamics of Fluorophosphate Na-Ion Battery Cathodes

Fluorophosphate cathodes with the chemical formula NaxV2(PO4)2O2yF3–2y (0 ≤ x ≤ 4, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1) are some of the few known sodium-ion cathode materials with the potential to be competitive with conventional lithium-ion cathodes. However, the experimentally accessible performance of the fluorophosphates remains limited, primarily due to the fact that only half of the theoretical capacity has been reversibly cycled. In this article, we review the extensive body of literature on the fluorophosphate class of sodium-ion cathodes and, in combination with our own ab initio model of the material, investigate the mechanisms underlying the sodium-extraction limitations in the NaxV2(PO4)2F3 (y = 0) fluorophosphate. Specifically, we focus on the potential to reversibly extract sodium beyond the 1 ≤ x ≤ 3 range. We find that this limitation arises from a combination of the high voltage of the V4+/5+ oxidation reaction associated with sodium extraction in the 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 region and a precipitous drop in sodium diffusivity n...
Meconium exposure and autism risk.

Objective This study aims to determine whether fetal meconium passage is associated with autism. Study design This retrospective birth cohort analysis of 9 945 896 children born in California 1991 to 2008 linked discharge diagnosis and procedure codes for prenatal stressors, meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) with autism diagnoses for 47 277 children through 2012. We assessed the relative risk of autism by meconium status using logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and clinical features. Results Children exposed to meconium (MSAF and MAS) were more likely to be diagnosed with autism in comparison with unexposed children (0.60% and 0.52%, vs 0.47%, respectively). In adjusted analyses, there was a small increase in autism risk associated with MSAF exposure (adjusted relative risk (aRR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12 to 1.25), and a marginal association that failed to achieve significance between MAS and autism (aRR 1.08, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.20). Conclusion Resuscitation of neonates with respiratory compromise from in utero meconium exposure may mitigate long-term neurodevelopmental damage.