cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Illuminating the 'Black Box': A description of 4454 patient visits to 138 family physicians

Background The content and context of family practice outpatient visits have never been fully described, leaving many aspects of family practice in a "black box," unseen by policymakers and understood only in isolation. This article describes community family practices, physicians, patients, and outpatient visits. Methods Practicing family physicians in northeast Ohio were invited to participate in a multimethod study of the content of primary care practice. Research nurses directly observed consecutive patient visits, and collected additional data using medical record reviews, patient and physician questionnaires, billing data, practice environment checklists, and ethnographic fieldnotes. Results Visits by 4454 patients seeing 138 physicians in 84 practices were observed. Outpatient visits to family physicians encompassed a wide variety of patients, problems, and levels of complexity. The average patient paid 4.3 visits to the practice within the past year. The mean visit duration was 10 minutes. Fifty-eight percent of visits were for acute illness, 24% for chronic illness, and 12% for well care. The most common uses of time were history-taking, planning treatment, physical examination, health education, feedback, family information, chatting, structuring the interaction, and patient questions. Conclusions Family practice and patient visits are complex, with competing demands and opportunities to address a wide range of problems of individuals and families over time and at various stages of health and illness. Multimethod research in practice settings can identify ways to enhance the competing opportunities of family practice to improve the health of their patients.
Vitamin E is not degraded by ruminal microorganisms: assessment with ruminal contents from a steer fed a high-concentrate diet

Using an in vitro incubation system containing undiluted ruminal contents from a steer fed a high-concentrate, corn-based diet, we examined microbial degradation of DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate (TA). Gas production, pH, and fermentation acid profiles were done in an initial experiment to ensure conditions for reproducible, viable cultures over 24 h. The pH decreased from 5.7 to 4.9, gas production averaged 3.4 mL/mL of ruminal contents, and > 300 mM fermentation acids were produced. We then monitored the fate of TA added to bottles containing ruminal contents. Three methods of TA extraction were tried, of which two were used in experiments. The two methods used were 1) hot ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus and 2) chloroform/methanol. Each of these was used to extract added TA from a set of three in vitro experiments. Concentrations of TA were determined at 0 h and after 4, 8, and 24 h at 39 degrees C. In the three hot ethanol extracted experiments, TA recoveries were 85% at 0 h. With time of incubation, TA levels either 1) remained constant, 2) decreased then returned to the initial value, or 3) decreased by approximately 50%. These inconsistent results indicated that this extraction method was unacceptable. In the latter three experiments we used a chloroform/methanol extraction method. Recoveries of added TA averaged 96% overall. Thus, the level of TA remained constant during the 24-h period, suggesting that microbial destruction of TA does not occur. Rather, the previously reported losses of vitamin E may be attributable to incomplete extraction of tocopherol from high-concentrate ruminal contents.
How to Globalize Online Course Content

Considering that 347 languages have over 1 million speakers each and account for 94% of the world’s population, localization is unsustainable as a strategy for making online courses globally accessible. Writing Web content in Global English is the best way to ensure that people from all linguistic backgrounds have a reasonable chance of comprehending course materials. This chapter shows how to transform native English text into Global English (simpler syntax, less jargon, fewer idioms, no slang). It also discusses e-learning design issues such as cultural perspective and Internet logistics (speed and cost of connection). Finally, it addresses the future of English as a global language, particularly in reference to its supposed “rivalry” with Mandarin.
Presenting Results of Statistical Analysis

This chapter is intended to be a practical guide to help with the construction of tables and figures and with the general presentation of results of statistical analysis in a research paper. Constructing tables and figures well and writing a results section so that it appears to make a coherent point—and does not wander—is as important as constructing a solid research question and conducting analyses correctly to answer it. That is, if the reporting of the results does a poor job of telling a story that can answer the research question, it is ultimately pointless to have developed a good literature review and research question. For that matter, the statistical analyses may have been performed extremely well, but if the results are not displayed in a way that is easy to see and understand, the analyses have been a waste of time.
The Dorsal Vein Complex: Achieving Hemostasis and Proper Setup for Apical Division

Management of the dorsal venous complex (DVC) and the setup for division of the apical urethra are critical aspects of the radical prostatectomy. Proper control and division of the DVC allows the procedure to be performed with minimal blood loss and provides excellent exposure of the prostatic apex and urethra, which is essential to avoiding positive surgical margins in this area. Several techniques have been described, and can essentially be categorized into early or late ligation. Early ligation of the DVC is typically performed as soon as the prostatic apex has been exposed after incising the endopelvic fascia. This can be accomplished with either a figure-of-eight suture or an endovascular stapler, and carries the advantage of obtaining early control of potential venous bleeding at the apex. Late ligation is performed only after the prostatic pedicles have been taken and the DVC has already been divided, which allows a running suture closure of the venous complex with excellent visualization of the prostatic apex and urethra. While these techniques are quite different, both are acceptable, easily performed and maintain similar goals: to achieve negative apical margins, to maximize the length of the urethral stump, to preserve the external urinary sphincter, and to obtain reliable hemostasis.
Comparison of Left Atrial Bipolar Voltage and Scar Using Multielectrode Fast Automated Mapping versus Point-by-Point Contact Electroanatomic Mapping in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Repeat Ablation

Introduction : Bipolar voltage criteria to delineate LA scar have been derived using PBP contact electroanatomical mapping. It remains unclear how PBP-derived LA scar correlates with ME-FAM derived scar. We aimed to correlate scar and bipolar voltages from left atrial (LA) maps created using point-by-point (PBP) versus multi-electrode fast automated mapping (ME-FAM). Methods and Results : In consecutive patients undergoing repeat AF ablation, 2 separate LA maps were created using PBP and ME-FAM during sinus rhythm before ablation. Contiguous areas in the LA with a bipolar voltage cutoff of ≤0.2 mV represented dense scar; LA scar percentage was calculated for each map. Each LA shell was divided into 9 regions and each region further subdivided into 4 quadrants for additional analysis; mean voltages of all points obtained using PBP versus ME-FAM in each region were compared. Forty maps (20 PBP: mean 228.5±95.6 points; 20 ME-FAM: 923.0±382.6 points) were created in 20 patients. Mapping time with ME-FAM was shorter compared with PBP (13.3±5.3 vs. 34.4±13.1 minutes; p 0.05). Conclusions : In AF patients undergoing repeat ablation, bipolar voltage is greater in certain LA segments with ME-FAM compared with PBP mapping. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
The Political Ecology of the Dairy Industry

This chapter provides an overview of the structure of the dairy industry, including the laws and policies that influence and regulate this critical sector of the global agricultural economy. This chapter begins with an introduction to the bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade policies that guide the international market for milk and other dairy-related products, as well as food safety and environmental regulations. The chapter then addresses the nature of the U.S. dairy industry—its structure, key support policies, and changes to the industry over the past several decades. The impacts of the U.S. dairy industry on the environment, animal welfare, and human health are also highlighted. The chapter concludes with a case study of the dairy industry in Hawaii, which reflects many of the larger trends occurring nation-wide.
The 2.8 Å Electron Microscopy Structure of Adeno-Associated Virus-DJ Bound by a Heparinoid Pentasaccharide

Atomic structures of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-DJ, alone and in complex with fondaparinux, have been determined by cryoelectron microscopy at 3 A resolution. The gene therapy vector, AAV-DJ, is a hybrid of natural serotypes that was previously derived by directed evolution, selecting for hepatocyte entry and resistance to neutralization by human serum. The structure of AAV-DJ differs from that of parental serotypes in two regions where neutralizing antibodies bind, so immune escape appears to have been the primary driver of AAV-DJ's directed evolution. Fondaparinux is an analog of cell surface heparan sulfate to which several AAVs bind during entry. Fondaparinux interacts with viral arginines at a known heparin binding site, without the large conformational changes whose presence was controversial in low-resolution imaging of AAV2-heparin complexes. The glycan density suggests multi-modal binding that could accommodate sequence variation and multivalent binding along a glycan polymer, consistent with a role in attachment, prior to more specific interactions with a receptor protein mediating entry.
Unraveling DFID’s Red Tape: Foreign Aid Allocation Decisions and the Domestic Bureaucracy

The study of international relations largely discounts the importance of the domestic bureaucracy in shaping international policy outcomes. However, past scholarship demonstrates the central role of bureaucracies in decision-making. Using principal-agent theory and past bureaucratic scholarship, this paper examines how different domestic bureaucratic institutions lead to different international outcomes in the case of foreign aid. I argue aid policy must be understood as the decision of individuals within a country’s aid bureaucracy and their autonomy from the government. This institutional autonomy shapes the available decision options for aid bureaucrats and, therefore, the foreign aid policy of the state. Donor agencies with greater autonomy tend to have an aid policy focused on the needs of recipients with a long-term and consistent agenda, greater transparency, and more involvement and responsiveness to the aid community. These autonomous agencies move beyond the long held focus on political and strategic aid policies to recipient centered focus, which has been shown to be more effective. Findings from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development demonstrates that the level of autonomy a domestic aid bureaucracy is fundamental in determining a state’s aid policy. This is due to the relationship between bureaucratic agents and donor government principal, which has been overlooked previously but is essential for understanding the aid decision process.
Musicians’ Preferences for Different Variants of Bow Skew in a Violin Performance:

The present study is an attempt to better understand musicians’ aural perceptions of violin performances in a musical context with three different variants of bow skew. Forty-six music majors from ...
Sensory Processing in the General Population: Adaptability, Resiliency, and Challenging Behavior.

Sensory processing is a personal trait that can contribute to challenging behavior. Protective factors, such as resiliency, can support children in managing their behavior, yet little research has addressed the contribution of sensory processing to protective factors. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study we aimed to determine the contribution of sensory processing (using the Sensory Profile-2) to challenging behavior and protective factors (using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd ed., Parent Rating Scales) in a sample of 51 children ages 6-11 yr from the general U.S. Population The results indicated that sensory avoiding predicts externalizing behaviors, depression, resiliency, and adaptability. In addition, sensory seeking is related to depression and resiliency, whereas sensory sensitivity is related to externalizing behaviors. Implications for occupational therapy research and practice are discussed.
Enhanced Magnetic Properties of Ni 51 Mn 33.4 In 15.6 Heusler Alloy Nanoparticles

A systematic study of the size effect on the magnetic and structural properties of a Ni51Mn33.4In15.6 Heusler alloy converted to nanoparticles has been performed. We present new data to explain the enhanced magnetic properties of the nanostructured Heusler alloy synthesized through a high-energy ball-milling technique. The properties of the particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetometer techniques. Isothermal magnetic field variation of magnetization exhibits field hysteresis in bulk Ni51Mn33.4In15.6 alloy across the martensitic transition. As the size of the nanoparticles is reduced, there is an increase in the magnetization per unit of applied magnetic field, and a decrease in the coercivity as well as a substantial reduction in hysteresis.
Rotational thromboelastometry thresholds for patients at risk for massive transfusion.

Abstract Background Goal-directed hemostatic resuscitation based on thrombelastography has a survival benefit compared to conventional coagulation assays. While thrombelastography transfusion thresholds for patients at risk for massive transfusion (MT) have been defined, similar cutoffs do not exist for the other commonly used viscoelastic assay, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). The purpose of this study was to develop ROTEM blood product thresholds in patients at risk for MT. Methods ROTEM was assessed in trauma activation patients admitted from 2010 to 2016 (n = 222). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to test the predictive performance of ROTEM measurements in patients requiring MT. The Youden Index defined optimal thresholds for ROTEM-based resuscitation. Results Patients who required MT (n = 37, 17%) were more severely injured. EXTEM clotting time (CT) was longer in patients with MT compared to non-MT (87 versus 64 s, P 78.5 s. EXTEM angle had an AUROC = 0.865 and a cut point of Conclusions We have identified ROTEM thresholds for transfusion of blood components in severely injured patients requiring an MT. Based on our analysis, we propose plasma transfusion for EXTEM CT > 78.5 s, fibrinogen for angle
Embryology and Early Developmental Physiology

One of the wonders of life is the manner in which the single-cell fertilized ovum develops into a sentient human being, with several trillion cells of over 200 individual types each with 10,000 or more proteins and other metabolites interacting in a well-regulated manner. Following ovulation and fertilization, the latter of which normally occurs in the fallopian tube within minutes of ovulation, the zygote (the cell that results from fertilization) divides sequentially to form the morula (a solid ball with 16 cells), then the blastocyst in which a fluid filled cavity forms. At the end of the first week post conception upon reaching the uterus, the blastocyst implants into the endometrium/decidua that lines the uterine cavity. The impetus for implantation is derived from the blastocyst and its metabolic products. The blastocyst invades the uterine decidua and surrounding small blood vessels to obtain essential nutriments to grow. By week three post conception, cell division continues with the inner cell mass giving rise to the embryo. The blastocyst outer cell mass develops into trophoblast cells, the early placenta. Soon the gastrula develops with three layers of cells (germ layers from which body organs and tissues arise). These include the innermost layer, the endoderm, which gives rise to the lungs, digestive organs, and other intra-abdominal viscera; the middle layer, the mesoderm, from which arises the skeleton, muscles, and blood system; and the outer cell layers, or ectoderm, which gives rise to the nervous system, and skin. Recognition of pregnancy by the maternal organism includes a number of processes, including prolongation of the life-span of the ovarian corpus luteum to ensure secretion of progesterone and tolerance by the maternal decidua of the semi-allogenic graft of the placenta and fetus. The embryonic period extends until the end of the seventh week of gestation, at which time the major organs have commenced their development. From the eighth week onward, the developing conceptus is referred to as a fetus.
Multi λ Controlled Operation of Quantum Well IR Detectors Using Electric Field Switching and Rearrangement

We describe a new mode of operating quantum well infrared photodetectors which is based on electric field domain formation and readjustment. The domain readjustment and electric field spatial redistribution results from an interplay between the fixed applied voltage and the quantum tunneling physics. The paper will describe the relevant theoretical background and present supporting data. Also described will be the application of domain switching to attain multi λ response of such detectors.
The Impact Of Spike-Frequency Adaptation On Balanced Network Dynamics

A dynamic balance between strong excitatory and inhibitory neuronal inputs is hypothesized to play a pivotal role in information processing in the brain. While there is evidence of the existence of a balanced operating regime in several cortical areas and idealized neuronal network models, it is important for the theory of balanced networks to be reconciled with more physiological neuronal modeling assumptions. In this work, we examine the impact of spike-frequency adaptation, observed widely across neurons in the brain, on balanced dynamics. We incorporate adaptation into binary and integrate-and-fire neuronal network models, analyzing the theoretical effect of adaptation in the large network limit and performing an extensive numerical investigation of the model adaptation parameter space. Our analysis demonstrates that balance is well preserved for moderate adaptation strength even if the entire network exhibits adaptation. In the common physiological case in which only excitatory neurons undergo adaptation, we show that the balanced operating regime in fact widens relative to the non-adaptive case. We hypothesize that spike-frequency adaptation may have been selected through evolution to robustly facilitate balanced dynamics across diverse cognitive operating states.
Considerations for Evaluating Academic Units in Complex Universities and University Systems: A Capabilities-Based Approach:

This paper reviews a set of considerations for evaluating academic units in complex universities and higher education systems. Methods of evaluation should match evaluative goals. Assessment should...
Design of a Contextual Digital Wayfinding Environment

The user experience presented here illustrates how a digital wayfinding experience was developed for a museum website, using both natural and historical context engagement. A general web site tour is supported for visitors to the museum website. In addition to this standard experience, a botanical and historical tour can be taken. For the botanical and historical layers depicted, the layered maps support differentiated experiences in a digital wayfinding environment, which is particularly important for users not able to be physically present at the site. The botanical layer of the website provides botanical information specific to the property. Using primary historical artifacts, a historical context is provided. Historical documents supporting the grounds layout, such as documents regarding the original plant orders, are presented alongside the landscape at that time. Both the physical and virtual experience of the site is enhanced, depending on the pathway selected by the user through the digital material presented. This digital wayfinding integrates user experience with historical fact, landscape architecture, and physical site information.
Occupational concentration and outcomes for displaced workers

Displaced workers who end up changing occupations tend to suffer larger wage losses than those who do not. This paper examines the effect of the occupational concentration of employment in the local labour market (LLM) on the likelihood of being employed and (conditional on employment) having changed occupations for displaced workers. I find that workers who do not possess a postsecondary degree are less likely to be employed or to have changed occupations in more occupationally concentrated labour markets. By contrast occupational concentration does not affect these outcomes for more educated workers. These findings are consistent with a pattern where less educated workers focus job searches within their current LLM. Los trabajadores desplazados que terminan cambiando de ocupacion tienden a sufrir mayores perdidas salariales que los que no lo hacen. Este articulo examina el efecto de la concentracion ocupacional del empleo en el mercado de trabajo local (MTL) sobre la probabilidad de estar empleado y (sujeto a tener un empleo) haber cambiado de ocupacion para los trabajadores desplazados. Se encontro que los trabajadores que no poseen un titulo superior al de educacion secundaria tienen menos probabilidades de estar empleados o de haber cambiado de ocupacion en mercados laborales con mayor concentracion ocupacional. Por el contrario, la concentracion ocupacional no afecta a estos resultados en el caso de los trabajadores con un nivel educativo mas alto. Estos hallazgos son consistentes con un patron donde los trabajadores con menor nivel educativo enfocan la busqueda de trabajo dentro de su propio MTL. 失職により転職を余儀なくされた労働者は、そうではない者に比べて多大な所得損失を被る傾向がある。本稿では、地域の労働市場 (local labour market: LLM)における職業別の雇用機会の集中度が、失職者が雇用される可能性および (雇用を条件として)転職する可能性に及ぼす影響を検討する。Secondary schoolより上の学歴がない労働者は、再就職する可能性、または労働市場において雇用機会が多い職業に転職する可能性が低い。これとは対照的に、高学歴の労働者の場合は雇用機会の集中度の影響はない。この知見は、学歴の低い労働者がそれまでと同じLLM内で集中的に求職した場合のパターンと一致している。
Policies for Mandatory Ethics Consultations at U.S. Academic Teaching Hospitals: A Multisite Survey Study.

Objectives To determine the number of top-ranked U.S. academic institutions that require ethics consultation for specific adult clinical circumstances (e.g., family requests for potentially inappropriate treatment) and to detail those circumstances and the specific clinical scenarios for which consultations are mandated. Design Cross-sectional survey study, conducted online or over the phone between July 2016 and October 2017. Setting We identified the top 50 research medical schools through the 2016 U.S. News and World Report rankings. The primary teaching hospital for each medical school was included. Subjects The chair/director of each hospital's adult clinical ethics committee, or a suitable alternate representative familiar with ethics consultation services, was identified for study recruitment. Interventions None. Measurements and main results A representative from the adult ethics consultation service at each of the 50 target hospitals was identified. Thirty-six of 50 sites (72%) consented to participate in the study, and 18 (50%) reported having at least one current mandatory consultation policy. Of the 17 sites that completed the survey and listed their triggers for mandatory ethics consultations, 20 trigger scenarios were provided, with three sites listing two distinct clinical situations. The majority of these triggers addressed family requests for potentially inappropriate treatment (9/20, 45%) or medical decision-making for unrepresented patients lacking decision-making capacity (7/20, 35%). Other triggers included organ donation after circulatory death, initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, denial of valve replacement in patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis, and posthumous donation of sperm. Twelve (67%) of the 18 sites with mandatory policies reported that their protocol(s) was formally documented in writing. Conclusions Among top-ranked academic medical centers, the existence and content of official policies regarding situations that mandate ethics consultations are variable. This finding suggests that, despite recent critical care consensus guidelines recommending institutional review as standard practice in particular scenarios, formal adoption of such policies has yet to become widespread and uniform.
Mechanisms of picosecond laser-induced damage in common multilayer dielectric gratings

The modifications of multilayer dielectric (MLD) gratings arising from laser-induced damage using 0.6-ps and 10-ps laser pulses at 1053 nm are investigated to better understand the damage-initiation mechanisms. Upon damage initiation, sections of the affected grating pillars are removed, thereby erasing the signature of the underlying mechanisms of laser damage. To address this issue, we performed paired studies using macroscopic grating-like features that are 5 mm in width to reveal the laser-damage morphology of the different grating sections: pillar side wall, sole, and pillar top. The results suggest that, similarly to MLD coatings, there are two damage-initiation mechanisms corresponding to the different pulse durations.
Peripheral serotonin regulates glucose and insulin metabolism in Holstein dairy calves.

Abstract Peripheral serotonin regulates energy metabolism in several mammalian species, however, the potential contribution of serotonergic mechanisms as metabolic and endocrine regulators in growing dairy calves remain unexplored. Objectives were to characterize the role of serotonin in glucose and insulin metabolism in dairy calves with increased serotonin bioavailability. Milk replacer was supplemented with saline, 5-hydroxytryptophan (90 mg/d), or fluoxetine (40 mg/d) for 10-d (n = 8/treatment). Blood was collected daily during supplementation and on days 2, 7, and 14 during withdrawal. Calves were euthanized after 10-d supplementation or 14-d withdrawal periods to harvest liver and pancreas tissue. 5-hydroxytryptophan increased circulating insulin concentrations during the supplementation period, whereas both treatments increased circulating glucose concentration during the withdrawal period. The liver and pancreas of preweaned calves express serotonin factors (ie, TPH1, SERT, and cell surface receptors), indicating their ability to synthesize, uptake, and respond to serotonin. Supplementation of 5-hydroxytryptophan increased hepatic and pancreatic serotonin concentrations. After the withdrawal period, fluoxetine cleared from the pancreas but not liver tissue. Supplementation of 5-hydroxytryptophan upregulated hepatic mRNA expression of serotonin receptors (ie, 5-HTR1B, -1D, -2A, and -2B), and downregulated pancreatic 5-HTR1F mRNA and insulin-related proteins (ie, Akt and pAkt). Fluoxetine-supplemented calves had fewer pancreatic islets per microscopic field with reduced insulin intensity, whereas 5-hydroxytryptophan supplemented calves had increased islet number and area with greater insulin and serotonin and less glucagon intensities. After the 14-d withdrawal of 5-hydroxytryptophan, hepatic mRNA expression of glycolytic and gluconeogenic enzymes were simultaneously downregulated. Improving serotonin bioavailability could serve as a potent regulator of endocrine and metabolic processes in dairy calves.
Stress- and Interface-Compatible Red Phosphorus Anode for High-Energy and Durable Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are promising candidates for energy storage application, but the absence of high-capacity and low-cost anode materials significantly limits their practical specific energy and ...
The Role of Parental Involvement, Including Parenting Beliefs and Styles, in the Academic Success of American Indian Students:

We collected data on parental involvement from 101 American Indian parents in the Southeastern United States with children enrolled in kindergarten–12th grade. We analyzed the data using Pearson pr...
Risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease in a teaching institution

The purpose is to identify risk factors for perioperative blood transfusion in patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign disease. This study is a retrospective chart review including all the patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign disease between January 1st 2018 and December 31st 2019. Patients who received perioperative blood transfusion were identified and compared to those who did not. The following risk factors for blood transfusion were analyzed: route of hysterectomy, BMI, presence of adhesions, history of cesarean section, uterine weight. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. A total of 517 patients were identified and included in the study. Forty-seven patients (9.09%) received a perioperative blood transfusion. The abdominal hysterectomy route (TAH) was a significant risk factor for receiving blood transfusion (p = 0.012). Other identified risk factors for blood transfusion included: Body mass index above 33.0 (p = 0.002), and uterine weight (p = 0.002). There was no association between the presence of pelvic adhesions (p = 0.91) or a personal history of cesarean section (p = 0.89) and receiving perioperative blood transfusion. When analyzing only the patients who underwent TLH, the presence of pelvic adhesion was found as a risk factor for perioperative blood transfusion (p = 0.024). The abdominal hysterectomy route, the presence of a large uterus, and obesity are risk factors for receiving a blood transfusion. Early identification of the patient at risk of requiring perioperative blood transfusion provides better patient counseling and surgical preparation.
Simulation Analyses of End-Around Taxiway Operations under Four Different Runway and Taxiway Choices:

End-around taxiways (EAT) have been implemented at four major U.S. airports to increase the safety and throughput of parallel runway systems. This paper proposes two new runway and taxiway choices ...
Reduced Form Information Design: Persuading a Privately Informed Receiver

We study information design problems where the designer’s payoff is a step function of the posterior mean of the state induced by her signals. Settings where the designer’s payoff depends on the receiver’s actions, the receiver’s payoff is affine in the state, and the receiver’s actions belong to a finite set are special cases. To maximize her payoff, the designer needs to induce certain atomic distributions over posterior means. We show that the relevant set of posterior means can be characterized in terms of a collection of convex constraints. Leveraging this characterization, we provide a reduced form approach to information design. In this approach, the designer first solves a convex optimization problem, where she optimizes over the aforementioned set and then she constructs an information structure that is consistent with the optimal solution. The approach is versatile and tractable. We apply it to characterize the optimal information structures when the receiver is privately informed and establish the optimality of information structures based on a laminar partition of the set of states.
Hysteresis based Triangular Current Mode Control for Bridgeless Totem Pole Converter

Bridgeless Totem-Pole PFC (BTPPFC) converter has become an attractive contender for front-end PFC converter in recent years owing to low component count and wide range ZVS capability. Triangular Current Mode (TCM) has been developed to achieve ZVS over full line cycle on the converter which require complex turn-on/turn-off calculation for optimal operation. In this paper, a simpler analog method to achieve ZVS is proposed which make high-end DSP requirement redundant in implementing TCM. Deadband analysis for ZVS is also discussed in detail for integrality of TCM based ZVS operation.
Registration Attendants Show Poor Readiness to Handle Advanced Care Planning Discussions

Background: Emergency departments (ED) and other medical points of care are required to provide patients with advance directive (AD) information. Although many hospitals provide AD information in E...
10 Fungal Diversity in the Fossil Record

Although there have been scattered reports of fossil fungi and funguslike organisms for more than 150 years, fungi have been largely ignored when interpreting the complexity and functioning of terrestrial paleoecosystems. To a large degree this is because fungi were long thought to be too delicate to be sufficiently preserved, and those who might discover them demonstrated insufficient interest and did not possess the appropriate training. Some of the methods traditionally used in the study of fossils have also contributed to a lack of recognition of the diversity of fungi in the fossil record. Today the importance of fungi as major constituents of ecosystem function is a primary focus of mycology. As a result, there has been a paradigm shift in the appreciation of the fungal world in time and space, including fungal diversity in ancient ecosystems. This chapter includes examples of fossil fungi from each of the major lineages and describes our current level of information about their morphology, biology, and evolution. It also provides some directions for future studies of fossil fungi and identifies some questions that only the fossil record can answer.
Signal Recognition Particle Autoantibodies

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the pathogenetic role, methods of detection, and clinical associations of signal recognition particle autoantibodies. Human autoantibodies to the signal recognition particle (anti-SRP) were first described in a polymyositis patient. Anti-SRP antibodies primarily target and bind to SRP54, the 54 kd protein of this ribonucleoprotein complex that is involved in facilitating the translocation of nascent polypeptides from the polysome to the endoplasmic reticulum. Characterized by a diffuse cytoplasmic staining pattern after indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells, anti-SRP are confirmed by immunoprecipitation of the characteristic six SRP proteins and 7SL RNA. The chapter shows that for all myositis-specific autoantibodies, anti-SRP delineate a relatively homogenous group of patients with similar clinical features, immunogenetics, and responses to therapy. Patients in the U.S. with the ‘anti-SRP syndrome” tend to be black females with an acute onset of severe polymyositis in the fall of the year, with a high incidence of cardiac involvement, resistance to corticosteroid, and progressive muscle weakness and atrophy.
Philosophy for Children and its Critics: A Mendham Dialogue

As conceived by founders Matthew Lipman and Ann Margaret Sharp, Philosophy for Children is a humanistic practice with roots in the Hellenistic tradition of philosophy as a way of life given to the search for meaning, in American pragmatism with its emphasis on qualitative experience, collaborative inquiry and democratic society, and in American and Soviet social learning theory. The programme has attracted overlapping and conflicting criticism from religious and social conservatives who don't want children to question traditional values, from educational psychologists who believe certain kinds of thinking are beyond children of certain ages, from philosophers who define their discipline as theoretical and exegetical, from critical theorists who see the programme as politically compliant, and from postmodernists who see it as scientistic and imperialist. The paper is written as a dialogue in order to illustrate the complex interactions among these normative positions. Rather than respond to particular criticisms in depth, I indicate the general nature of my position regarding them and provide references to published material where they have been made and responded to over the past 40 years.
Lassa Fever Virus

Lassa virus originates from West Africa where it is primarily a virus of the rodent, Mastomys spp. Human infection is through contact with infected rodents or infected humans and ranges from a mild asymptomatic infection to a life-threatening illness involving severe haemorrhage. Keywords: Lassa fever; Lassa virus; arenavirus; Arenaviridae; Mastomys spp; Sierra Leone
The allogeneic effect in inbred mice. V. Analysis of B cell immunoglobulin classes influenced by non-specific and carrier-specific T cell stimuli

Abstract The studies presented here show that the allogeneic effect on adoptive secondary responses to homologous and heterologous conjugates affects the plaque-forming cell response of immunoglobulin classes IgM, IgG, IgG 1 , IgG 2a + 2b and IgA. We have demonstrated that the increase in PFC resulting from the allogeneic effect varies among the immunoglobulin classes analyzed, most probably reflecting the relative frequencies of precursor B cells in a particular primed cell population, and not a preferential stimulation of one class of B lymphocytes. A comparison of the allogeneic effect and the syngeneic cooperative response between carrier-primed T cells and hapten-specific B cells showed parallel responses of DNP-specinc PFC of all classes studied.
RNA–DNA Molecules

RNA–DNA chimaeric molecules are important intermediates in many essential biological processes, including DNA replication and reverse transcription by retroviruses. Keywords: DNA replication; primer RNAs; B-form DNA; A-form RNA; reverse transcription
The multinational enterprise as a learning organization

According to top managers of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and the applied international management literature studies of their strategy and organization, a unique benefit that these firms seek to obtain from their multinational reach is a richer learning experience about products, processes and organizing principles.1 A major challenge is how to structure themselves to learn what is best for all their operating units and to diffuse what is learned in one part of the organization to other parts.
Cyclotetrabenzoin: Facile Synthesis of a Shape-Persistent Molecular Square and Its Assembly into Hydrogen-Bonded Nanotubes

Cyanide-catalyzed benzoin condensation of terephthaldehyde produces a cyclic tetramer, which we propose to name cyclotetrabenzoin. Cyclotetrabenzoin is a square-shaped macrocycle ornamented with four α-hydroxyketone functionalities pointing away from the central cavity, the dimensions of which are 6.9×6.9 A. In the solid state, these functional groups extensively hydrogen bond, resulting in a microporous three-dimensional organic framework with one-dimensional nanotube channels. This material exhibits permanent-albeit low-porosity, with a Langmuir surface area of 52 m(2) g(-1) . Cyclotetrabenzoin's easy and inexpensive synthesis and purification may inspire the creation of other shape-persistent macrocycles and porous molecular crystals by benzoin condensation.
New Gadgets on the Horizon: Part 2

Purpose – Aims to review some new technology “gadgets” that might address functional and entertainment needs of library service providers and library users.Design/methodology/approach – A review with descriptions of new technologies which might impact library services.Findings – The proliferation of computer technology has ensured that gadgets play a significant role in our daily routines. They are used at work, home and during playtime. The gadgets range from mouse devices, keyboards, headsets, camera accessories and more. The range of materials, functionality and application multiplies on a nearly quarterly basis and one can see many different products. This list of new gadgets is just that, a demonstration of creative genius at work to make life and work simpler, and more fun.Originality/value – Provides descriptions of some gadgets of value to information seekers.
Frequent and early loss of the EGR1 corepressor NAB2 in human prostate carcinoma

Abstract The transcription factor EGR1 is frequently overexpressed in human prostate cancer and regulates the expression of several genes important for tumor progression. In addition, mice lacking the Egr1 gene show a defect in prostate tumorigenesis. NAB2 is a novel corepressor molecule that modulates EGR1 activity and is induced by the same stimuli that induce EGR1. The human NAB2 gene has been localized to 12q13.3-14.1, within a chromosomal region that is thought to harbor a prostate tumor suppressor. We have examined the expression of NAB2 in human prostate carcinoma specimens. We show here that NAB2 protein expression is lost in a majority of primary prostate carcinoma specimens, including many samples that have high EGR1 levels. This loss occurs early in the tumorigenic process and is sustained, as it is seen in precursor prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions as well as in metastases. Furthermore, loss of NAB2 did not correlate with the tumor grade or stage. Our findings suggest that high levels of EGR1 coupled with low levels of NAB2 can result in high, unrestrained EGR1 transcriptional activity in human prostate cancers. HUM PATHOL 32:935-939. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Source size determination in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions.

We describe a technique whereby the freeze-out interaction volumes of nucleus-nucleus collisions are extracted from a cascade (plus coalescence) model, after comparison to measured abundances of light nuclei. We conclude that the interaction volume undergoes significant expansion before light nuclei are produced.
A curious and delicate correspondence: the Burhān of Ibn al-Munajjim and the Jawāb of Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq

An important collection of ninth-century apologetic texts in Arabic consists in the Burhān of one Ibn al-Munajjim, in which he attempts to construct a proof of Muhammad's prophethood, and separate responses by the Christian scholars Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq and Qusṭā ibn Lūqā. Although Zilio-Grandi and Samir's recent monograph Una corrispondenza islamo-cristiana sull'origine divina dell'Islam (Turin, 2003) focuses exclusively on the Ibn al-Munajjim–Qusṭā exchange, the present article argues that, in the form in which the texts have been preserved, Ibn al-Munajjim's Burhān is addressed to Ḥunayn, who responds to it directly. An analysis of Ḥunayn's Jawāb (a) explicates his strategy in responding to the Burhān, and (b) suggests that the Jawāb is a carefully constructed unity (rather than a few paragraphs of personal response with an appended ‘true religion’ apology). The article concludes that interreligious apologetic could be a delicate and potentially dangerous matter for Christian scholars at the Abbasid court ...
Waterhammer in a Horizontal Pipe Induced by Slug Formation and Rapid Condensation

The phenomenon of condensation-induced waterhammer in an ammonia refrigeration system was investigated experimentally. Waterhammer was generated by introducing warm ammonia gas over static subcooled ammonia liquid placed in a horizontal 146.3 mm diameter carbon steel pipe approximately 6.0 m long. By means of fast response piezoelectric pressure transducers and a high speed data acquisition system rapid dynamic pressures were recorded whenever a condensation-induced event occurred. Employing top-mounted diaphragm pressure transducers to sense gas pressure the speed of liquid slugs propagating along the pipe was determined.The occurrence of condensation-induced waterhammer depended upon three major variables; namely, (1) initial liquid depth, (2) liquid temperature, and (3) mass flow rate of warm gas. For given liquid depth and temperature, once the warm gas threshold conditions were exceeded, shocks occurred with greater magnitude as the mass flow rate of warm gas input was increased. With adequate subcooling condensation-induced waterhammer occurred for initial liquid depths ranging from 25% to 95% of internal pipe diameter. The threshold mass flow rate of warm gas necessary to initiate waterhammer was greater as the initial liquid depth was lowered. For numerous tests with sufficient gas mass flow rate a condensation-induced shock occurred at the end cap of the test pipe, generating an acoustic (pressure) wave that propagated at a modified speed of sound toward the gas-liquid interface at the back of the slug. Peak shock pressures could be correlated with the gas mass flow rate for various initial liquid depth and suction pressures and temperatures. As the initial liquid temperature and pressure were increased the hydraulic shocks became lower because of smaller subcooling.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Time reversal in polarized neutron decay: The emiT experiment

The standard electro-weak model predicts negligible violation of time-reversal invariance in light quark processes. We report on an experimental test of time-reversal invariance in the beta decay of polarized neutrons as a search for physics beyond the standard model. The emiT collaboration has measured the time-reversal-violating triple-correlation in neutron beta decay between the neutron spin, electron momentum, and neutrino momentum often referred to as the D coe$cient. The "rst run of the experiment produced 14 million events which are currently being analyzed. However, a second run with improved detectors should provide greater statistical precision and reduced systematic uncertainties. ( 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Complexity and Instability: The Response of Nongovernmental Organizations to the Recovery of Hurricane Katrina Survivors in a Host Community:

This case study of a single host city documents the complexity of the local response to displaced survivors of Hurricane Katrina by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs). Although additional disaster-related funding provided needed case management and financial services, it also added complexity to the service delivery system. Furthermore, changes in the federal disaster and income maintenance programs to address the crisis created an unstable service environment that was challenging for both survivors and service providers to navigate. NGOs and FBOs proved to be highly motivated, flexible, and creative. However, the response overall was marked by limited resources, equity, accountability, and coordination, illustrating some of the weaknesses of devolution and the increasing reliance on NGOs to provide basic services.
Random field modeling of the void phase of soils

The elements of a formal probabilistic characterization of the two-phased microstructure of a particulate random medium such as granular soil are described. First, the medium is idealized, within a region considered statistically homogeneous and isotropic, as a random arrangement of solid spheres of different sizes. In terms of the local-mean porosity and six characteristic particle sizes related to the moments of the grain size distribution, an efficient statistical description is possible of the complex geometry of the void and solid phases and the void–solid interface along a line, in a plane, and in a volume. Interpretation and practical use of the results are greatly facilitated when a lognormal model is adopted for the (central part of the) grain size distribution. The basic model is extended in various ways, to accommodate non-isotropy and non-spherical particles, and the case when it makes sense to count the fines – the smallest particles, with sizes less than a specified value – as part of the ‘e...