cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Remitting Sixth Nerve Palsy in Skull Base Tumors

Objective: Spontaneous recovery of a sixth nerve palsy is thought to rule out a neoplastic origin. We reviewed cases of sixth nerve palsy that improved without treatment but that ultimately proved to be caused by a tumor at the base of the skull. Design: Case series. Setting: Hospital-based, neuro-ophthalmology referral practice. Patients: Seven patients with an age range from 7 to 61 years had sixth nerve palsy secondary to a slow-growing neoplasm at the skull base. Main Outcome Measures: Return of lateral rectus function and resolution of diplopia without intervention. Results: Seven patients with sixth nerve palsy caused by skull base tumors experienced spontaneous improvement of their deficit. Recovery time ranged from 1 week to 18 months. No patient was diabetic or had evidence of vascular disease. In one patient, the palsy improved once prior to becoming a fixed deficit, and spontaneous improvement occurred on two to five occasions in the other patients. Conclusion: Spontaneous recovery of a sixth nerve palsy can occur in the presence of an extramedullary compression by a tumor at the base of the brain. Possible mechanisms for recovery include remyelination, axonal regeneration, relief of transient compression (eg, resorption of hemorrhage), restoration of impaired blood flow, slippage of a nerve previously stretched over the tumor, or immune responses to the tumor.
Simulation of Mating Between Non-Analytic Surfaces Using a Mathematical Programming Formulation

In this paper we describe a new method for simulating mechanical assembly between components that are composed of surfaces that do not have perfect geometric form. Mating between these imperfect form surfaces is formulated as a constrained optimization problem of the form “minimize the distance from perfect fit, subject to non-interference between components.” We explore the characteristics of this mating problem and investigate the applicability of several potential solution algorithms. The problem can be solved by converting the constrained optimization formulation into an unconstrained problem using a penalty-function approach. We describe the characteristics of this unconstrained formulation and test the use of two different solution methods: a randomized search technique and a gradient-based method. We test the algorithm by simulating mating between component models that exhibit form errors typically generated in end-milling processes. These typical component variants are used as validation problems throughout our work. Results of two different validation problems are presented. Using these results, we evaluate the applicability of the mating algorithm to the problem of mechanical tolerance analysis for assemblies and mechanisms.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The Post-2000 Round of Redistricting: An Entangled Thicket within the Federal System

A new round of revisions in the geographical districts used to elect federal, state, and local legislators in the United States has followed the 2000 census of population. While legislators themselves typically have the initial responsibility to perform this frequently contentious task, courts play an active supervisory role as well. This article reviews how United States Supreme Court decisions concerning the post-1990 round of redistricting have resulted in the rules concerning the design of districts being more ambiguous in this post-2000 round. This, it is argued, enhances the opportunity to gerrymander for partisan or other political reasons, a practice that is virtually immune to judicial invalidation. The article also notes the more active role of state courts in this process. The districting process now involves not only competing districting plans, but more often than in previous rounds, competing courts as well. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
Studies of safety, infectivity and immunogenicity of a new temperature-sensitive (ts) 51-1 strain of Salmonella typhi as a new live oral typhoid fever vaccine candidate

This report describes the results of a phase 1 study evaluating the safety, infectivity, and immunogenicity of a new live oral Salmonella typhi temperature-sensitive (ts) 51-1 typhoid fever vaccine in the human. Three normal male subjects aged 23-32 years received three oral doses of S. typhi ts 51-1, each dose containing 10(9) organisms. Prior to and following immunization each subject was carefully monitored by clinical and laboratory parameters over a 2 week period during which serial specimens of blood and stool were analysed for the presence of the organism. Blood specimens were also obtained for the determination of serum antibody and cell-mediated immune responses and stool filtrates were analysed for the development of coproantibody. The results of these studies indicate that: (1) the vaccine is well tolerated with no clinical or laboratory evidence of adverse reactions; (2) ts 51-1 was detected in only one stool specimen from one volunteer; the organism recovered displayed characteristics of the ts 51-1 vaccine strain; and (3) although no significant humoral or cell-mediated lymphocytotoxic immune responses were detected in the blood, coproantibody was detected in stool specimens from all of the three immunized subjects and IgA-armed ADCC activity was detected in two of three subjects. These studies indicate that S. typhi ts 51-1 may be a suitable strain for the development of an improved oral typhoid fever vaccine. Studies are in progress to determine optimal methods of vaccine delivery preparatory to large phase 2 studies of efficacy.
Hydration of the Alite Phase in Portland Cement

CALORIMETRIC studies1–3 indicate that the rate of hydration of the alite phase (tricalcium silicate) in neat Portland cement pastes reaches a maximum 6–11 h after mixing. Two heating cycles, or periods of high heat evolution, are found with all cements; some show a third. The first, occurring immediately on mixing, is most likely due to the dissolving of soluble species and to an initial rapid reaction of the aluminate phase. The second cycle, which reaches a maximum 6–11 h after mixing, is assigned largely to the alite phase. The third heating cycle shown by some cements is attributed to the exhaustion of sulphate ion (gypsum), the breaking down of the ettringite coating on the tricalcium aluminate particles, and the subsequent rapid hydration of the remaining aluminate to Ca4Al2O10·XH2O. X-ray diffraction work in this laboratory offers direct evidence that the foregoing conclusion regarding the alite phase is correct.
Killing Death (That Bastard's Been Here Again)

Regarding the recent passing of Toni Flores and Marea Teski, the ever-gentle Miles Richardson said to me that it was enough to "make you want to stand and shake a fist." I agree. Death enrages and defeats. Sometimes it inspires retaliation. The present piece engages death in a poetic mode properly called romantic irony. Its absurdity is therefore licensed. The ethnographic setting is an Irish pub. It is very easy to find someone in a classic Irish pub who will talk about anything, if not someone who is an expert on everything. Smooth and influential talk—blarney —is common in such settings. Sometimes deceitful, it is seldom just bullshit. Blarney draws its mark in fact from a sacred stone. And the best blarney always contains a bittersweet truth. In this case, a recent passing creates great sadness and raises the ancient and perennial prospect of giving personified death a dose of its own project—of defeating death by killing it. The magic weapon is language. Talking is balm for the survivor's grief, and it protects others from more of the same, even as it chokes the life out of death itself. The text is marked for performance context.
Sputter erosion and deposition in the discharge chamber of a small mercury ion thruster

A 5 cm diameter mercury ion thruster similar to one tested for 9715 hours was operated approximately 400 hrs each at discharge voltages of 36.6, 39.6, and 42.6 V, with corresponding discharge propellant utilizations of 58, 68, and 70 percent. The observed sputter erosion rates of the internal thruster parts and the anode weight gain rate all rose rapidly with discharge voltage and were roughly in the ratio of 1:3:5 for the three voltages. The combined weight loss of the internal thruster parts nearly balanced the anode weight gain. Hg(+2) ion apparently caused most of the observed erosion.
What types of neighbourhoods are redlined

This paper presents a case study of lending behaviour in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It shows what types of neighbourhoods are redlined by analyzing redlining data of the two largest suppliers of mortgage loans and comparing it to social-demographic and housing market data at the neighbourhood level. Although this approach cannot explain redlining, it can show which factors are related to lending behaviour. Low income, unemployment and ethnicity are strongly positively correlated to redlining. A discriminant analysis shows that the interaction between low income, unemployment or ethnicity on the one hand, and the average value of sold units on the other hand can best approximate redlining. Lastly, this paper also highlights the importance of scale.
Assessment of sulfur mustard interaction with basement membrane components.

Bis-2-chloroethyl sulfide (sulfur mustard, HD) is a bifunctional alkylating agent which causes severe vesication characterized by slow wound healing. Our previous studies have shown that the vesicant HD disrupts the epidermal-dermal junction at the lamina lucida of the basement membrane. The purpose of this study was to examine whether HD directly modifies basement membrane components (BMCs), and to evaluate the effect of HD on the cell adhesive activity of BMCs. EHS laminin was incubated with [14C]HD, and extracted by gel filtration. Analysis of the [14C]HD-conjugated laminin fraction by a reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylaminde gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed the incorporation of radioactivity into both laminin subunits and a laminin trimer resistant to dissociation in reduced SDS-PAGE sample buffer, suggesting direct alkylation and cross-linking of EHS laminin by [14C]HD. Normal human foreskin epidermal keratinocytes were biosynthetically labeled with [35S]cysteine.35S-labeled laminin isoforms, Ae. B1e. B2e. laminin and K.B1e.B2e. laminin (using the nomenclature of Engel), fibronectin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan were isolated by immunoprecipitation from the cell culture medium, treated with HD or ethanol as control, and then analyzed by SDS-PAGE. On reduced SDS gels, these three BMCs not treated with HD showed the typical profile of dissociated subunits. However, HD treatment caused the appearance of higher molecular weight bands indicative of cross-linking of subunits within these BMCs. The HD scavengers sodium thiosulfate and cysteine prevented the cross-linking of BMC subunits by HD. Finally, Tissue culture dishes coated with laminin or fibronectin were treated with HD or ethanol as a control, and human keratinocytes were plated on the BMC-coated surfaces. After 20 h of incubation, it was observed that cell adhesion was decreased significantly on the BMC-coated surfaces treated with HD. As expected, the preincubation of HD with cysteine diminished the HD inhibition of cell adhesion. Thus, HD alkylates adhesive macromolecules of the basement membrane zone and inhibits their cell adhesive activity. These findings support the hypothesis that the alkylation of basement membrane components by HD destabilizes the epidermal-dermal junction in the process of HD-induced vesication. The failure of the HD-alkylated BMCs to support the attachment of keratinocytes might also contribute to the slow reepithelialization of the wound site which is characteristic of HD-induced blistering.
Exploring agency as a basis for ethical theory in American public administration

This articale argues that agency, the normative theory associated with the “acting for” relationship in society, has had a profound, but often unrecognized affect on ethics in public administration. Accordingly, it seeks to provide a brief review of agency theory as it applies to contemporary American public adminis- tration. The review provides an overview of agency theory, gives an example of how deeply it influences American public administration, shows how it facilitates ethical action in administration and reviews some of the major obstacles to employing agency theory in the modern American administrative state.
Education and the labor market in Uruguay

Abstract This paper uses data from the 1989 Uruguayan Household Survey to investigate the relationship between earnings and education in that country. Mincerian earnings functions fitted to nearly 10.000 workers reveal that each extra year of schooling yields a private rate of return of 9.2 per cent. which is comparable to the returns observed in the more industrialized countries. Among the other findings of the study: females realize a full percentage point advantage over males on the return to their educational investment while private sector employees enjoy a nearly five percentage point advantage over public sector employees — a finding that highlights the recognition of the productive value of education by industry. When the full cost of education (both public and private) is considered and education is broken down by level of schooling, primary education exhibits the highest rate of return-nearly double that of secondary education — whereas graduates of technical/vocational schools and teacher training courses enjoy only minor returns on this type of investment.
Key moments in the evolution of liquid chromatography

Abstract The paper is focusing on the work and activities of a few key scientists, from the very beginning to the mid- 1940s, who had a key role in the evolution of liquid chromatography, and who laid the foundation on which present-day high-performance liquid chromatography could be developed.
End-product Repression and Tissue Phenotype

RECENT work from a number of laboratories suggests that the acquisition of tissue-specific enzyme patterns during embryonic development, and maintenance of these patterns in the adult, probably involves control of the expression of polycistronic operons by specific regulator compounds. These compounds can be recognized hormones1, specific macromolecules2,3, or, quite possibly, metabolic end-products of controlled cistrons. The number of regulator compounds required depends on the complexity of the organism and on the number and size of its operons; it is conceivable that an individual operon may carry instructions for more than one biosynthetic sequence. In this report the role of end-products in establishing tissue phenotypes will be examined.
A convergent algorithm modelling photon migration in tissue

In this paper, we present work that is part of an ongoing project to develop a method of reconstructing the three-dimensional distribution of the absorption and scattering parameters of the Interior of the human body from Photon Migration Imaging (PMI) data. This paper will specifically discuss our work in solving the forward problem: the prediction of the data set given knowledge of the distribution of physical parameters within the object imaged. A satisfactory solution to the forward problem Is essential to any approach to developing a reconstruction technique. Specifically, we model photon migration using the diffusion equation.
Balance performance with a cognitive task: a dual-task testing paradigm.

ABSTRACTPurpose:Athletic performance demands simultaneous use of cognitive and postural control capabilities. Decrements to both systems have been observed following concussion. This study evaluated a dual-task methodology to establish the tenability of using this testing model in concussed athletes
EOS predictions of compressibility and phase behavior in systems containing water, hydrocarbons, and CO2

Two cubic equations of state (EOS) have been adopted to compute multicomponent two-phase compressibility, CO/sub 2//water and hydrocarbon/water phase behavior, and gas- and liquid-phase densities. The equations used in this paper are the Schmidt-Wenzel (SW) EOS and the Peng-Robinson (PR) EOS. While these cubic equations have the same form, the SW is reported to be more accurate for predicting hydrocarbon gas- and liquid-phase densities. Density predictions are compared with experimental data to confirm the superiority of the SW EOS. The use of EOS to predict equilibrium phase compositions of water/hydrocarbon and water/CO/sub 2/ systems is discussed. For the water/hydrocarbon systems, the aqueous-phase interaction coefficient between water and the dissolved component shows a strong temperature dependency, while in the gas phases, a constant value of interaction coefficient is adequate. In the case of the CO/sub 2//water systems, the interaction coefficients for both the aqueous and gas phases show temperature dependency. A scheme to compute the two-phase compressibility of multicomponent reservoir fluid systems is also introduced. Our results show the expected sharp change in the compressibility during phase change. Such computations are required in some reservoir simulators.
Hemodynamic, mechanical, and metabolic determinants of thrombolytic efficacy: A theoretic framework for assessing the limitations of thrombolysis in patients with cardiogenic shock

Abstract Although thrombolytic therapy has been shown to limit infarct size, preserve left ventricular function, and improve survival in most subgroups of patients with acute MI, a benefit has not been demonstrated in patients with clinical left ventricular dysfunction or overt cardiogenic shock before treatment is initiated. The reason(s) for the lack of benefit derived from thrombolytic therapy in these settings is unclear. Left ventricular dysfunction and overt cardiogenic shock are the result of extensive myocardial necrosis, typically in excess of 30% of the left ventricle, which progresses over time. The available data suggest that thrombolytic efficacy is decreased because of either hemodynamic, mechabical, or metabolic factors. As a result coronary patency is rarely achieved in a timely fashion, and if patency is achieved it typically is not maintained. The ability of mechanical revascularization by means of balloon angioplasty to reduce mortality suggests that reperfusion is a key determinant of outcome even among patients with large infarctions and early signs of left ventricular dysfunction. Thrombolytic therapy, which is widely available and extensively tested, represents the standard of care for patients with acute MI. Its apparent lack of efficacy in patients with congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock is poorly understood. Further investigation must there-fore be undertaken.
A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF A SERVICE GUARANTEE ON SERVICE QUALITY

This paper develops a theoretical framework that relates a service guarantee to service quality. The framework hypothesizes that a service guarantee can positively affect service quality through its positive effect on both learning through service failure and employee motivation and vision. A longitudinal, empirical study was conducted to test these hypotheses. Surprisingly, the service guarantee was not found to have a direct effect on learning through service failure. However, the service guarantee clearly had a positive effect on service quality primarily through its positive effect on employee motivation and vision. The research strongly supports using a service guarantee to improve service quality.
The stock-flow distinction: A suggested interpretation☆

Abstract The stock-flow distinction has once again become a popular subject for methodological and applied analytical consideration by economists. Readers of the recent literature cannot, however, fail to be impressed by the apparently problematic nature of the stock-flow distinction. This essay argues that these difficulties arise predominantly because of a failure to identify the three conceptually separate ways in which “stocks” and “flows” are commonly distinguished. We provide an explicit discussion of this threefold distinction, and then relate our simple taxonomy to several recent influential articles that do not seem to have kept all three separate. A number of analytical results introduced by the recent literature are shown to be fallacious.
Raman spectral studies of supersaturated bisulfate solution droplets

Abstract Raman spectra of supersaturated solution droplets of ammonium bisulfate, potassium bisulfate and sodium bisulfate were obtained in the region 800–1300 cm−1 with a resolution of 1 cm−1. Under supersaturation condition, these solution droplets show new molecular vibrations, not found in the spectra of either the bulk crystalline or the solution samples. The results demonstrate the existence of an ion pair in the supersaturated bisulfate solution, which consists of both the cation and the anion of the dissociated solute as well as the solvent molecules. They also provide a new interpretation of the asymmetry commonly found in the 1050 cm−1 bisulfate ion vibration band.
A Study of Fatigue and Fracture Response of Cantilevered Luminaire Structures Made from Aluminum Alloy 6063

Abstract In the experimental results elegantly and exhaustively elaborated upon in this paper the local stresses, obtained from finite element analysis, was used to develop estimates of the stress intensity factor (SIF). In combination with crack growth data, the fatigue lives of both the through-plate and an integrally stiffened socket connection were estimated using software developed by the U.S. Air Force (and referred to as AFGROW). The fatigue life estimates correlated well with the test results provided the crack growth rate data was obtained under conditions of minimal closure at higher stress ratios (of the order R = 0.7). In an attempt to establish the fatigue lives in the high cycle regime, the measured residual stresses had to be included in the analysis. For identical stress ranges, the 25 mm thick through-plate socket connection exhibited noticeably lower fatigue lives when compared to the integrally stiffened shoe-base structure. Scanning electron microscopy observations revealed pockets of well-defined striations consistent with stable growth of the crack through the microstructure prior to the onset of unstable crack growth culminating in catastrophic fracture. In the slow growth region, the fracture surface revealed pockets of shallow, well-defined striations that were uniformly spaced indicative of the occurrence of localized microplastic deformation.
Visualizing the anatomical-functional correlation of the human brain

Three-dimensional tomographic images obtained from different modalities or from the same modality at different times provide complementary information. For example, while PET shows brain function, images from MRI identify anatomical structures. In this paper, we investigate the problem of displaying available information about structures and function together. Several steps are described to achieve our goal. These include segmentation of the data, registration, resampling, and display. Segmentation is used to identify brain tissue from surrounding tissues, especially in the MRI data. Registration aligns the different modalities as closely as possible. Resampling arises from the registration since two data sets do not usually correspond and the rendering method is most easily achieved if the data correspond to the same grid used in display. We combine several techniques to display the data. MRI data is reconstructed from 2D slices into 3D structures from which isosurfaces are extracted and represented by approximating polygonalizations. These are then displayed using standard graphics pipelines including shaded and transparent images. PET data measures the qualitative rates of cerebral glucose utilization or oxygen consumption. PET image is best displayed as a volume of luminous particles. The combination of both display methods allows the viewer to compare the functional information contained in the PET data with the anatomically more precise MRI data.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Association studies of polybrominated biphenyls in aquatic systems

Our study deals with the factors that determine the mode of action PBB may take in its movement through the water column to its deposition and adsorption onto the sediments, which are potential sources as well as sinks for most chemicals. Several factors influence the adsorption process. A controversy continues to exist over the influence of particle size and type of sediment versus the organic content of the sediment on adsorption. LELAND et al. (1973), CHOI & CHEN (1976) and SIMMONS et al. (1980) have shown that organic content of the sediment is directly related to the adsorptive capacity of the sediment for a specific contaminant. KARICHOFF et al. (1979) believe that organic content of the sediment is the most significant factor in the adsorption process. SCHWARZENBACH & WESTALL (1981) indicate that adsorption of nonpolar compounds was highly correlated to the organic carbon content of sorbents with greater than 0.1% organic carbon. Desorption from the sediments of the contaminant however, is favored where high concentration of organic matter in the water column exists (HUANG 1971). The presence of organic matter in the water column may also enhance the partitioning of the contaminant in the water column and thus facilitate further movement with the water mass (HASSETT & ANDERSON 1979). Our study, therefore, examined not only the influence of the organic content of the sediment but also that of the overlying water on the adsorption process. Our results indicate that the total organic content (TOC) of the natural water will decrease the adsorption of PBB onto the sediment and therefore keep the PBB in the water phase.
LCP-Tm: An Assay to Measure and Understand Stability of Membrane Proteins in a Membrane Environment

Structural and functional studies of membrane proteins are limited by their poor stability outside the native membrane environment. The development of novel methods to efficiently stabilize membrane proteins immediately after purification is important for biophysical studies, and is likely to be critical for studying the more challenging human targets. Lipidic cubic phase (LCP) provides a suitable stabilizing matrix for studying membrane proteins by spectroscopic and other biophysical techniques, including obtaining highly ordered membrane protein crystals for structural studies. We have developed a robust and accurate assay, LCP-Tm, for measuring the thermal stability of membrane proteins embedded in an LCP matrix. In its two implementations, protein denaturation is followed either by a change in the intrinsic protein fluorescence on ligand release, or by an increase in the fluorescence of a thiol-binding reporter dye that measures exposure of cysteines buried in the native structure. Application of the LCP-Tm assay to an engineered human β2-adrenergic receptor and bacteriorhodopsin revealed a number of factors that increased protein stability in LCP. This assay has the potential to guide protein engineering efforts and identify stabilizing conditions that may improve the chances of obtaining high-resolution structures of intrinsically unstable membrane proteins.
Indications for and results of intraocular lens explantation

We reviewed the medical records of 97 patients who had 101 consecutive intraocular lens (IOL) explantation procedures, with or without exchange, at the University of Florida Eye Center from January 1, 1983, to December 31, 1987. The majority of the removed IOLs were anterior chamber styles (53.9%), followed by iris-fixated lenses (33.7%). The most common indications for surgery included pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK)--69%, uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema (UGH) syndrome--9%, and IOL instability--7%. The best visual outcome was seen in patients with IOL instability; 50% achieved 20/40 or better visual acuity. Forty one percent of patients with PBK, who had IOL explantation/exchange combined with penetrating keratoplasty, achieved 20/40 or better visual acuity. The poorest visual outcome was seen in patients with the UGH syndrome; 83% had a final acuity of 20/200 or worse. However, these patients achieved resolution of their pain and inflammation and better control of their intraocular pressure as a result of the surgery. Complications leading to IOL explantation tended to occur months to years after the original surgery in patients with closed-loop, semi-flexible anterior chamber lenses and iris-fixated lenses. Posterior chamber lenses were most often removed because of complications unrelated to the implant.
Sodium and chloride concentrations, pH, and depth of airway surface liquid in distal airways.

The composition and depth of the airway surface liquid (ASL) are key parameters in airway physiology that are thought to be important in the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis and other diseases of the airways. We reported novel fluorescent indicator and microscopy methods to measure [Na+], [Cl−], pH, and depth of the ASL in large airways (Jayaraman, S., Y. Song, L. Vetrivel, L. Shankar, and A.S. Verkman. 2001. J. Clin. Invest. 107:317–324.). Here we report a stripped-lung preparation to measure ASL composition and depth in small distal airways. Distal ASL was stained with ion- or pH-sensitive fluorescent indicators by infusion into mouse trachea of a perfluorocarbon suspension of the indicator. After stripping the pleura and limited microdissection of the lung parenchyma, airways were exposed for measurement of ASL [Na+], [Cl−], and pH by ratio imaging microscopy, and depth by confocal microscopy. The stripped-lung preparation was validated in stability and tissue viability studies. ASL [Na+] was 122 ± 2 mM, [Cl−] was 123 ± 4 mM and pH was 7.28 ± 0.07, and not dependent on airway size ( 250-μm diameter), ENaC inhibition by amiloride, or CFTR inhibition by the thiazolidinone CFTRinh-172. ASL depth was 8–35 μm depending on airway size, substantially less than that in mouse trachea of ∼55 μm, and not altered significantly by amiloride. These results establish a novel lung preparation and fluorescence approach to study distal airway physiology and provide the first data on the composition and depth of distal ASL.
Higher order Peierls distortion of one-dimensional carbon skeletons

Abstract In some one-dimensional chains with metallic band structures the energetically most advantageous distortion opens an energy gap non-linear in the distortion. The absence of a linear Peierls effect is due to the symmetry of the degenerate pair of orbitals at the Fermi level: they do not interact directly in the distorted system. The effect provides a natural bridging of the one-dimensional polyacetylene (linearly Peierls-distorted) to the two-dimensional graphite (not distorted) carbon skeletons. The simple explanation bears some generality.
The effects of data sources, cohort selection, and outcome definition on a predictive model of risk of thirty-day hospital readmissions

Display Omitted Hospitals seek to predict readmissions, but there are many proposed models.The study aims to show the impact of varying factors of model design on performance.Targeting reason for readmission improves discrimination. ROCs range from 0.68 to 0.92.Patient visit and laboratory results contribute most to prediction.Performance is highly cohort-dependent. Comparing models across studies may be hard. BackgroundHospital readmission risk prediction remains a motivated area of investigation and operations in light of the hospital readmissions reduction program through CMS. Multiple models of risk have been reported with variable discriminatory performances, and it remains unclear how design factors affect performance. ObjectivesTo study the effects of varying three factors of model development in the prediction of risk based on health record data: (1) reason for readmission (primary readmission diagnosis); (2) available data and data types (e.g. visit history, laboratory results, etc); (3) cohort selection. MethodsRegularized regression (LASSO) to generate predictions of readmissions risk using prevalence sampling. Support Vector Machine (SVM) used for comparison in cohort selection testing. Calibration by model refitting to outcome prevalence. ResultsPredicting readmission risk across multiple reasons for readmission resulted in ROC areas ranging from 0.92 for readmission for congestive heart failure to 0.71 for syncope and 0.68 for all-cause readmission. Visit history and laboratory tests contributed the most predictive value; contributions varied by readmission diagnosis. Cohort definition affected performance for both parametric and nonparametric algorithms. Compared to all patients, limiting the cohort to patients whose index admission and readmission diagnoses matched resulted in a decrease in average ROC from 0.78 to 0.55 (difference in ROC 0.23, p value 0.01). Calibration plots demonstrate good calibration with low mean squared error. ConclusionTargeting reason for readmission in risk prediction impacted discriminatory performance. In general, laboratory data and visit history data contributed the most to prediction; data source contributions varied by reason for readmission. Cohort selection had a large impact on model performance, and these results demonstrate the difficulty of comparing results across different studies of predictive risk modeling.
CORRELATION EFFECT ON UNIQUE FORBIDDEN DECAYS.

Abstract The hindrance in some unique first-forbidden beta decays is related to the repulsive T = 1 particle-hole force. Calculations are performed for 17 N, 39 Ar and 41 K. The qualitative trend agrees with experiment, but not the numerical results.
Subduction of a segmented ridge along a curved continental margin: Variations between the western and eastern Sanak–Baranof belt, southern Alaska

Abstract Between the western and the eastern parts of the southern Alaskan Sanak–Baranof belt there exist variations in pluton spacing, geochronology, geochemistry and metamorphism. All such characteristics can be explained by increase in heat flux towards the eastern parts of the belt. Despite such differences, the initiation of magmatism propagated eastward at a constant rate of 19 cm/year throughout the entire belt. The average spacing of magmatic centers changes from 165 ± 88 km in the west to 67 ± 41 km in the east. The duration of magmatism as measured by U/Pb zircon and monazite ages increases from 1–2 Ma in the west to 4–5 Ma in the east. The duration of Ar–Ar biotite cooling ages also increases to the east. In agreement with the extended cooling times, large regions of greenschist and amphibolite facies metamorphism are present in the eastern segments, whereas outside of narrow pluton aureoles high-temperature metamorphism is not present in the western Sanak–Baranof belt. Finally, intrusions with adakitic characteristics such as high Sr/Y ratios are present in the east, but not in the west suggesting that some degree of slab melting occurred in the eastern Sanak–Baranof belt. We suggest that the above east–west thermal and magmatic variations can be explained by a decreasing rate of subduction and a persistent slab window in the eastern Sanak–Baranof belt caused by the oblique subduction of a segmented spreading ridge along a curved continental margin, and that this model is compatible with the Resurrection plate hypothesis.
Cross-generational fitness effects of infection in Drosophila melanogaster

Activation of the immune system is beneficial in defending against pathogens, but may also have costly side effects on an organism's fitness. In this study we examine the fitness consequences of immune challenge in female Drosophila melanogaster by examining both direct (within generation) and indirect (between generations) costs and benefits of immune challenge. Though passing immunity to offspring has been studied in mammals for many years, only recently have researchers found evidence for a cross-generational priming response in invertebrates. By examining both potential fitness costs and benefits in the next generation, we were able to determine what effect immune challenge has on fitness. In agreement with other studies, we found a direct cost to infection, where immune challenged females laid fewer eggs than unchallenged females in two of the three lines we examined. In addition, we found some evidence for indirect costs. Offspring from immune challenged mothers had shorter lifespans than those from unchallenged mothers in two of the three lines. Interestingly, we do not see any effect of maternal immune challenge on offspring's ability to overcome an infection, nor do we see an effect on other fitness traits measured, including egg size, egg-adult viability and offspring resistance to oxidative stress. While previous studies in bumblebees and beetles have demonstrated cross-generation priming, our results suggest that it may not be a general phenomenon, and more work is needed to determine how widespread it is.
The Indian Health Worker in the Cornell-Navaho Project

In the literature on acculturation of American Indians there has been a great deal written about the individual from a tribal society who, when educated away from home or upon return from long residence "on the outside," comes back to his family and community a misfit. He has taken on the values, beliefs, and behavior of that majority society little understood by the members of his own group. That other society has been a reference group to which his behavior has been patterned—but now his reference group has changed again with his return home. Lateral sanctions of kin and community are leveled at him; as he conforms to these group pressures, he becomes like those who never left home. He loses his marginal identity and occasionally he may even, in reaction, become the leader of the conservatives.
Patent statistics as a measure of technological vitality

Abstract Statistical patent data is useful as a relative measure when applied to patent applicants following similar strategies. This is contrasted with the use of such data in efforts to assess technological trends and assess vitality in an absolute sense. The value of consultation with the patent profession as part of a program of statistical assessment is underlined, owing to its experience of the evolving technological environment and the changing patent systems to which the data apply.
Loss localisation in smart distribution networks

A sizable fraction of expensive resources such as water, gas, and electricity are lost in the process of distribution due to leaks, theft, and inefficiencies like aging infrastructure. Utilities worldwide are looking for solutions to localise losses and improve the overall efficiency of their distribution systems. The introduction of new sensing, communication, and control infrastructure in the next generation smart distribution networks offers hope that fine grained knowledge of the system will allow for more efficient operation. In this work, we present a novel loss localisation system that uses only a time series of inflow and outflow measurements to localise and quantify losses in tree distribution networks. The inflow and outflow measurements are used to set up a system of linear equations based on the principle of conservation of flows and these are solved to estimate loss rates of source destination paths and then localise losses on each internal link in the tree. We draw parallels with loss localisation in computer networks and show how ideas from network tomography could be applied in these settings. We demonstrate the efficacy of proposed estimators using preliminary simulation experiments.
The effects of hypophysectomy, growth and adrenocorticotropic hormones on the incorporation of P32 into liver phospholipids.

IT HAS been reported that growth hormone causes an increase of liver fat during fasting (Szego and White, 1949; Li, Simpson and Evans, 1949), and that administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone results in a marked increase of fat content in the liver (Baker, Ingle, Li and Evans, 1948; Li, Ingle, Evans, Prestrud and Nezamis, 1949). On the other hand, hypophysectomy does not influence the fat content of the liver (Chaikoff, Entenman, Gillman, and Reichert, 1948). It would, therefore, seem apparent that the anterior lobe of the pituitary must in some way influence fat mobilization and metabolism. The present investigation concerns a study on the phospholipid fraction of the liver and attempts to elucidate the role of anterior pituitary hormones in lipid metabolism. EXPERIMENTAL Three separate experiments were carried out. The first was designed to study the effects of ageing on phospholipid P32 incorporation: normal male rats (Long-Evans strain, 25, 55, and 240 days of age) were used.
Forecasting mortality: a parameterized time series approach.

This article links parameterized model mortality schedules with time series methods to develop forecasts of U.S. mortality to the year 2000. The use of model mortality schedules permits a relatively concise representation of the history of mortality by age and sex from 1900 to 1985, and the use of modern time series methods to extend this history forward to the end of this century allows for a flexible modeling of trend and the accommodation of changes in long-run mortality patterns. This pilot study demonstrates that the proposed procedure produces medium-range forecasts of mortality that meet the standard tests of accuracy in forecast evaluation and that are sensible when evaluated against the comparable forecasts produced by the Social Security Administration.
Expression profiling of four defense-related buffalograss transcripts in response to chinch bug (Hemiptera: Blissidae) feeding.

Oxidative enzymes are one of many key players in plant tolerance responses and defense signaling pathways. This study evaluated gene expression of four buffalograss transcripts (two peroxidases, a catalase, and a GRAS (gibberellic acid insensitive [GAI], repressor of GAI, and scarecrow) and total peroxidase activity in response to western chinch bug (Blissus occiduus Barber) feeding in susceptible and resistant buffalograsses (Buchloe dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann). Basal levels of all four transcripts were consistently higher in the resistant buffalograss when compared with the susceptible genotype, which suggests important physiological differences exist between the two buffalograsses. The four defense-related transcripts also showed differential expression between infested and control plants for both the resistant and susceptible buffalograsses. Differences in total peroxidase activity were also detected between control and infested plants, and basal peroxidase activity was higher in the resistant genotype. Overall, this study indicates that elevated basal levels of specific peroxidases, catalases, and GRAS may be an effective buffalograss defense strategy against chinch bug feeding and other similar biotic stresses.
Self-Interests and Beliefs: Predictors of Mothers’ Views of Child Care1

Mothers (N= 270) completed questions related to child care for their children who were between 2 and 6 years of age. They completed a 9-page questionnaire that included scales used to assess their attachment to their careers, financial need to work, and gender-role beliefs as predictors of their ratings of the effects of child care on 4 criterion measures. Findings supported the hypothesized model that a mother's needs and her self-interests and beliefs would influence her ratings of the benefits and costs of child care, her anxiety in leaving her child in child care, and her views of the effects of child care on her child. It is suggested that future research should avoid biases that might arise from participant or observer self-interest and seek more objective approaches to the examination of the impact of child care on children.
Power provisioning for a warehouse-sized computer

Large-scale Internet services require a computing infrastructure that can beappropriately described as a warehouse-sized computing system. The cost ofbuilding datacenter facilities capable of delivering a given power capacity tosuch a computer can rival the recurring energy consumption costs themselves.Therefore, there are strong economic incentives to operate facilities as closeas possible to maximum capacity, so that the non-recurring facility costs canbe best amortized. That is difficult to achieve in practice because ofuncertainties in equipment power ratings and because power consumption tends tovary significantly with the actual computing activity. Effective powerprovisioning strategies are needed to determine how much computing equipmentcan be safely and efficiently hosted within a given power budget.In this paper we present the aggregate power usage characteristics of largecollections of servers (up to 15 thousand) for different classes ofapplications over a period of approximately six months. Those observationsallow us to evaluate opportunities for maximizing the use of the deployed powercapacity of datacenters, and assess the risks of over-subscribing it. We findthat even in well-tuned applications there is a noticeable gap (7 - 16%)between achieved and theoretical aggregate peak power usage at the clusterlevel (thousands of servers). The gap grows to almost 40% in wholedatacenters. This headroom can be used to deploy additional compute equipmentwithin the same power budget with minimal risk of exceeding it. We use ourmodeling framework to estimate the potential of power management schemes toreduce peak power and energy usage. We find that the opportunities for powerand energy savings are significant, but greater at the cluster-level (thousandsof servers) than at the rack-level (tens). Finally we argue that systems needto be power efficient across the activity range, and not only at peakperformance levels.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Work Orientations as Moderators of the Effect of Annual Income on Subjective Well-Being: A Longitudinal Study:

Income is only weakly associated with both subjective well-being (SWB) and job satisfaction in the United States, a surprising finding in light of the importance placed on financial status in capitalistic societies. To explore this further, the authors examined intrinsic and extrinsic work orientations as potential moderators of the effects of financial compensation on SWB and job satisfaction. Master's of business administration students (N = 124) completed measures of work orientation and, 4 to 9 years later, reported their current salary, SWB, and job satisfaction. As predicted, individuals high in extrinsic orientation experienced higher SWB and job satisfaction to the degree that they earned more money, whereas those high in intrinsic orientation were lower on SWB at higher income levels. These findings are discussed in terms of the Values as Moderators Perspective of SWB and Cognitive Evaluation Theory.
A Quantitative Trait Locus on Chromosome 5p Influences D-Dimer Levels in the San Antonio Family Heart Study

Background. D-dimer is associated with increasing severity of atherosclerosis and with increased risk of a cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods and Results. To better understand this risk factor, we performed a genome scan on 803 (301 males and 502 females) Mexican Americans in the San Antonio Family Heart Study (SAFHS). The SAFHS is ideal for the discovery of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) influencing CVD because CVD risk factors are prevalent in Mexican Americans of San Antonio and because the study design involves large families, which is optimal for QTL discovery. D-dimer levels were normalized in our study. We found that D-dimer levels were heritable, at about 23&#x25; heritability (). In a linkage analysis employing 432 microsatellite markers, we found strong evidence of a QTL on chromosome 5p with a lod score of 3.32 at 21 centiMorgans (cM). We also found suggestive evidence of a QTL on chromosome 2q with a lod score of 2.33 at 207&#x2009;cM. Conclusions. To our knowledge, the putative QTL on chromosome 5p is novel. The possible QTL on chromosome 2q is discussed in relation to a recent report of linkage of a related hemostatic factor to the same location. These results warrant further investigation.