cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total duration of antimicrobial therapy resulting from inpatient hospitalization

Objective: To assess the feasibility of electronic data capture of postdischarge durations and evaluate total durations of antimicrobial exposure related to inpatient hospital stays. Design: Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. Setting: Two community hospitals and 1 academic medical center. Patients: Hospitalized patients who received ≥1 dose of a systemic antimicrobial agent. Methods: We collected and reviewed electronic data on inpatient and discharge antimicrobial prescribing from April to September 2016 in 3 pilot hospitals. Inpatient antimicrobial use was obtained from electronic medication administration records. Postdischarge antimicrobial use was calculated from electronic discharge prescriptions. We completed a manual validation to evaluate the ability of electronic prescriptions to capture intended postdischarge antibiotics. Inpatient, postdischarge, and total lengths of therapy (LOT) per admission were calculated to assess durations of antimicrobial therapy attributed to hospitalization. Results: A total of 45,693 inpatient admissions were evaluated. Antimicrobials were given during 23,447 admissions (51%), and electronic discharge prescriptions were captured in 7,442 admissions (16%). Manual validation revealed incomplete data capture in scenarios in which prescribers avoided the electronic system. The postdischarge LOT among admissions with discharge antimicrobials was median 8 days (range, 1–360) with peaks at 5, 7, 10, and 14 days. Postdischarge days accounted for 38% of antimicrobial exposure days. Conclusion: Discharge antimicrobial therapy accounted for a large portion of antimicrobial exposure related to inpatient hospital stays. Discharge prescription data can feasibly be captured through electronic prescribing records and may aid in designing stewardship interventions at transitions of care.
Analyses of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Molecular Machinery for Cellular Oxygen Level Response

Gregg L. Semenza, William G Kaelin, Jr, and Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine on October 7, 2019. Their work led to the understanding of how cells ...
Acoustic Matching By Embedding Impulse Responses

The goal of acoustic matching is to transform an audio recording made in one acoustic environment to sound as if it had been recorded in a different environment, based on reference audio from the target environment. This paper introduces a deep learning solution for two parts of the acoustic matching problem. First, we characterize acoustic environments by mapping audio into a low-dimensional embedding invariant to speech content and speaker identity. Next, a waveform-to-waveform neural network conditioned on this embedding learns to transform an input waveform to match the acoustic qualities encoded in the target embedding. Listening tests on both simulated and real environments show that the proposed approach improves on state-of-the-art baseline methods.
Clinical Perspective Concerning Abdominal Entry Techniques.

Abstract Objective Entry into the abdomen during operative laparoscopy is a source of some controversy regarding the safest and most useful method. The objective of this review is to describe, compare and contrast the most popular entry techniques. Data Sources Data was collected from historical until present day English language journal articles and book chapters. Methods of Study Selection Descriptive accounts dating back to the start of laparoscopy in the 1970s spanning to present day well-designed randomized controlled trials and Cochrane reviews were compiled to evaluate the evidence for effectiveness and safety of abdominal entry techniques. Tabulation, Integration, and Results The most common sites of entry are the umbilicus and the left upper quadrant. Between the Veress needle, direct trocar insertion, and open entry there is no high-quality evidence to suggest that any offers a universal safety advantage. Veress needle is still the most used among gynecologists and facilitates primary trocar placement. Direct trocar entry under laparoscopic visualization may be underutilized, is faster, and may result in fewer failed entries. Open (Hasson) entry can be more technically challenging but may be best for patients with suspected intraabdominal adhesions. Conclusion Surgeon comfort is critical in choosing entry site, method and equipment. Surgeon familiarity with entry failure trouble-shooting, possible complications and management is essential as major entry complications are rare in modern laparoscopy, but critical as the essential steps of recognition and management can be lifesaving.
Policy Views and Negative Beliefs About Vaccines in the United States, 2019

Objectives. To determine whether holding vaccine misconceptions, in the form of negative beliefs about vaccines, correlates with opposing governmental action at all levels designed to increase vaccination (e.g., removing personal belief and religious vaccine exemptions).Methods. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey of 1938 US adults, we assessed the relation between negative beliefs about vaccines and provaccination policies.Results. Beyond sociodemographic and policy-relevant variables, such as gender and partisan affiliation, questionable negative beliefs about vaccines are the strongest predictor of opposition to policies designed to increase vaccination.Conclusions. Negative beliefs about vaccines in the general population may thwart the passage or implementation of policies designed to increase vaccination. Implementing strategies that reduce these negative beliefs should be a priority of educators and public health officials.
Highly-efficient electrically-driven localized surface plasmon source enabled by resonant inelastic electron tunneling

On-chip plasmonic circuitry offers a promising route to meet the ever-increasing requirement for device density and data bandwidth in information processing. As the key building block, electrically-driven nanoscale plasmonic sources such as nanoLEDs, nanolasers, and nanojunctions have attracted intense interest in recent years. Among them, surface plasmon (SP) sources based on inelastic electron tunneling (IET) have been demonstrated as an appealing candidate owing to the ultrafast quantum-mechanical tunneling response and great tunability. However, the major barrier to the demonstrated IET-based SP sources is their low SP excitation efficiency due to the fact that elastic tunneling of electrons is much more efficient than inelastic tunneling. Here, we remove this barrier by introducing resonant inelastic electron tunneling (RIET)—follow a recent theoretical proposal—at the visible/near-infrared (NIR) frequencies and demonstrate highly-efficient electrically-driven SP sources. In our system, RIET is supported by a TiN/Al2O3 metallic quantum well (MQW) heterostructure, while monocrystalline silver nanorods (AgNRs) were used for the SP generation (localized surface plasmons (LSPs)). In principle, this RIET approach can push the external quantum efficiency (EQE) close to unity, opening up a new era of SP sources for not only high-performance plasmonic circuitry, but also advanced optical sensing applications. On-chip circuits based on plasmonic systems are a promising potential technology. Here the authors present efficient, on-chip, localized plasmonic excitation based on resonant inelastic electron tunneling with metallic quantum well junction.
Stroke Risk before and after Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Population-based Analysis.

Purpose To determine the risk of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and transient monocular vision loss (TMVL) before and after a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Design Population-based, retrospective case series. Participants Patients diagnosed with a CRAO in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1976 to 2016. Methods Patients living in Olmsted County with a diagnosis code of CRAO from 1976 to 2016 were reviewed. New CRAOs were confirmed, and stroke, TIA, and TMVL events in the 15 days before and after CRAO were recorded. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of stroke, TIA, and TMVL events in the 15 days before and after CRAO. Results Eighty-nine patients with a CRAO were identified, providing an annual incidence of 2.58/100 000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04–3.11). Median age at the time of CRAO was 76 years (range, 46–100 years); 56.2% were male, and 89.9% of the cohort was White. In the 15 days before and after CRAO, there were 2 ischemic strokes (2.2%), 1 hemorrhagic stroke (1.1%), 2 TIAs (2.2%), and 9 TMVL events (10.1%). Starting in 1999, 15 of 45 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging within 2 months of CRAO. One patient (6.7%) had evidence of asymptomatic diffusion restriction, and 9 patients (60%) had a remote infarct. Conclusions This population-based study demonstrated that the risk of symptomatic ischemic stroke is 2.2% in the 15 days before and after a CRAO, which is slightly lower than most studies from tertiary centers. These data should be considered as practice recommendations are developed regarding the urgency of neurovascular workup in patients with acute CRAO.
Physician-pharmacy integration and oral cancer drug use and quality.

39Background: Public reports suggest increasing integration of in-house specialty pharmacies by independent and system-based oncology practices. Understanding the impact of such integration has imp...
Signaling by the integrated stress response kinase PKR is fine-tuned by dynamic clustering

The double-stranded RNA sensor kinase PKR is one of four integrated stress response (ISR) sensor kinases that phosphorylate the alpha subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) in response to stress. The current model of PKR activation considers the formation of back-to-back PKR dimers as a prerequisite for signal propagation. Here we show that PKR signaling involves the assembly of dynamic PKR clusters. PKR clustering is driven by ligand binding to PKR′s sensor domain and by front-to-front interfaces between PKR′s kinase domains. PKR clusters are discrete, heterogeneous, autonomous coalescences that share some protein components with processing bodies. Strikingly, eIF2α is not recruited to PKR clusters, and PKR cluster disruption enhances eIF2α phosphorylation. Together, these results support a model in which PKR clustering buffers downstream signaling, which may enable proofreading the ISR.
"Turning Points" Revisited: How Effective Middle-Grades Schools Address Developmental Needs of Young Adolescent Students.

(1993). “Turning Points” Revisited: How Effective Middle-Grades Schools Address Developmental Needs of Young Adolescent Students. Journal of Health Education: Vol. 24, Addressing the Health Education Needs of Young Adolescents, pp. S-24-S-27.
Patient navigation to increase colorectal cancer screening among Latino Medicare enrollees: a randomized controlled trial.

Latino Medicare enrollees report suboptimal rates of colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) despite Medicare policies designed to improve CRCS access for older persons. Patient navigation (PN) may address many underlying barriers to CRCS, yet little is known about the effectiveness of PN to increase CRCS adherence among Latino Medicare enrollees. Using a randomized controlled trial study design, we evaluated tailored PN delivered outside of primary care settings as an intervention to increase CRCS adherence in this population. Intervention participants (n = 135) received tailored PN services which included education, counseling, and logistical support administered in their language of choice. Comparison participants (n = 168) received mailed cancer education materials. We compared CRCS rates between interventions and used multivariable logistic regression to assess the odds of CRCS adherence for PN versus comparison groups after adjusting for covariates of interest. More navigated than non-navigated participants became CRCS adherent during the study period (43.7 vs. 32.1 %, p = 0.04). The odds of CRCS adherence were significantly higher for PN relative to comparison participants before and after adjusting for covariates (unadjusted OR 1.64, p = 0.04; adjusted OR 1.82, p = 0.02). Higher CRCS adherence rates were observed primarily in the uptake of endoscopic screening methods. This study demonstrates that PN delivered outside of the primary care environment is modestly effective in increasing CRCS adherence among Latino Medicare enrollees. This intervention strategy should be further evaluated as a complement to primary care-based PN and other care coordination strategies to increase adherence with CRCS and other evidence-based screenings among older Latinos.
Abstract 2738: Expression of p73 isoforms regulates proliferation and chemotherapeutic response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). TP73 gene is a member of the p53 tumor suppressor gene family, which is critical in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. TP73 is located in distal 1p36 chromosomal region that is commonly disrupted in DLBCL. TP73 gene function is controlled by a balance between two isoforms with opposing functions, the full length TAp73 protein (pro-apoptotic) and the NH2-terminally truncated ΔNp73 protein (anti-apoptotic by antagonizing both TAp73 and p53). Up-regulated expression of -Np73 isoforms has been reported in activated and germinal center B- cells as compared to very low levels in memory B- cells and follicular mantle cells, suggesting temporal expression of -Np73 isoforms during specific B- cell developmental stages. In the present study we have investigated the biological relevance of p73 isoforms in DLBCL. The DLBCL cell line DHL-16 was transfected with TAp73 encoded mammalian expression vector. The ‘control cells’ comprised of DHL-16 cells transfected with control vector. To evaluate growth differences under basal conditions as well as with serum deprivation, phenotypic comparison was performed between the two cell lines. Further, to evaluate the response to chemotherapy and to determine the differences in transcriptional targets, the p73 transfected and control cells were studied for the expression of p73 transcriptional targets PUMA, BIM, and GRAMD4. TAp73-transfected cells were more sensitive to serum deprivation and chemotherapy and showed an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic p73 transcriptional targets compared to control cells. We transfected DHL-16 cells with a truncated p73 isoform functionally similar to ΔNp73. These ΔNp73-transfected cells were resistant to serum deprivation and chemotherapy and showed a reduction in the expression of the pro-apoptotic p73 transcriptional targets PUMA, BIM, and GRAMD4 compared to control-vector transfected cells. Together, our data demonstrate that modulation of p73 isoform expression can alter the behavior of DLBCL and highlights p73 as a potential new therapeutic target in DLBCL. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Hesham M. Hassan, Michelle L. Varney, rakesh K. Singh, Bhavana J. Dave. Expression of p73 isoforms regulates proliferation and chemotherapeutic response in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2738. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2738
Ordinal Distances in Transfinite Graphs

The idea of distances in connected finite graphs has been quite fruitful, with much research directed toward both theory and applications. See, for example, [8], [9], [14] and the references therein. Such distances are given by a metric that assigns to each pair of nodes the minimum number of branches for all the paths connecting those two nodes. Thus, the metric takes its values in the set 1Zo if natural numbers. The objective in this chapter is to extend that metric to connected transfinite graphs and then to establish several transfinite generalizations of distance-related facts about finite graphs. This requires that our distance metric now take its values in the set R of all countable ordinals.
Bioavailability assessment from pharmacologic data: Method and clinical evaluation

A novel method is described for assessing drug bioavailability from pharmacologic data. The method is based upon a generalized model for the relationship between the observed effect (E) and the input rate (f): E = Φ(ceδ * f), where * denotes convolution, ceδis effect site unit impulse response (“amount” of drug at the effect site resulting from the instantaneous input of a unit amount of drug) and Φ is transduction function (relates “amount” of drug at the effect site to E). The functions Φ and ceδare expressed as cubic splines for maximum versatility. Pharmacologic data collected after the administration of two different doses by iv infusion are analyzed simultaneously to estimate the function parameters. This experimental design addresses the fact that Φ and ceδcannot be uniquely estimated from the results of a single dose experiment. The unknown f from a test treatment is then estimated by applying an implicit deconvolution method to the pharmacologic data collected during that treatment. The method was tested with simulated data. The method and the model were further evaluated by application to a clinical study of verapamil (V) pharmacodynamics in 6 healthy volunteers. Simulations showed that the method is accurate and precise in the presence of a high degree of measurement error, but large intrasubject variability in the model functions can result in biased estimates of the amount absorbed. The method produced reasonably accurate estimates of the V input rate and systemic availability (F) in the 6 human volunteers though there was a trend towards underestimation (estimated total F%=93.6±14 vs. the true F% of 100).
High-multiplicity processes

Asymptotic expansions in the variablev=n/logE (wheren is the secondary multiplicity andE is the primary energy) are given for the phase space and for an amplitude satisfying some general conditions. The leading term in the momentum distribution is found to be independent of further details of the dynamics except for one constant, then andE dependence of which is determined only by some dynamic properties of the system. The predicted distribution agrees with experimental data on 25 GeVπ−-p interactions. A study of these data allows us to predict dσ/d3p for arbitrary primary-energy and high-multiplicity interactions. A thermodynamic picture equivalent to our results is given.
Glycosidases of aspergillus niger. II. Purification and general properties of 1,2-alpha-L-fucosidase.

Abstract A highly purified preparation of 1,2-α-l-fucosidase, free of β-galactosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activities, has been obtained from a commercial preparation of Aspergillus niger by a simple isolation procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, pressure dialysis, repeated gel filtration on Sephadex G-150, and chromatography on diethylaminoethyl Sephadex A-50. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 3.8 ± 0.2 and Km and Vmax values of 8.3 x 10-5 m and 16.0 µmoles per mg per hour, respectively, at 37° for methyl 2-O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-β-d-galactoside as substrate. The detailed specificity studies indicate that it is highly specific for nonreducing terminal l-fucose residues linked to d-galactose residues by 1 → 2-α linkage. It hydrolyzes fucose residues quantitatively from 2-O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-d-galactose, 2-O-α-l-fucosyllactose, and lacto-N-fucopentaose I. It does not split p-nitrophenyl-α-l-fucoside, 2-O-, 3-O-, and 4-O-α-l-fucopyranosylfucoses, and 3-O- and 4-O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-d-galactoses. It also does not release any focuse from oligosaccharides of human milk such as lacto-N-fucopentaose II, lacto-N-fucopentaose III, and 3'-O-α-l-fucosyllactose. The enzyme liberates 80 to 90% of fucose residues from porcine and canine submaxillary mucins. It has no action on orosomucoid, human chorionic gonadotropin, and fucan sulfate. The enzyme is extremely active against human blood group substance H, destroying virtually all of the detectable activity.
Comparison of five assays for antibody to varicella-zoster virus and the fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen test.

Three commercially available assays (the Varicelisa Test Kit [Whittaker M.A. Bioproducts, Walkersville, Md.], the VZV Indirect Fluorescent-Antibody Test [Electro-Nucleonics, Inc., Columbia, Md.], and the Litton VZV Bio-EnzaBead Screen Kit [Litton Bionetics, Inc., Charleston, S.C.]) and two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays used in our laboratory, one using a membrane-associated antigen and the other using a soluble antigen dotted on nitrocellulose paper, were compared with a varicella-zoster virus antibody reference assay, the fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen test. All of the assays compared favorably to the fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen test when evaluated for sensitivity (0.95), specificity (0.84), and test-retest reliability (79 to 96%), except for the Litton assay, which demonstrated significantly different results for all of the parameters tested (0.55, 1.0, and 69%, respectively).
Versatile models and expanded application of the IEC 61000-4-2 test

An all-purpose circuit model and associated shorting current waveform expression for the IEC 61000-4-2 pulse is presented. Criteria include agreement with existing IEC guidance plus zero field derivative at t=0, for accurate radiation modeling. Also, a capacitive coupling tool for IEC pulsers is used to simulate platform I/O port hazards.
Application of a Nested, Multiplex PCR to Psittacosis Outbreaks

We developed a nested, multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of three species of chlamydiae in human and avian specimens. The PCR was designed to increase sensitivity and to circumvent inhibitors of PCR present in clinical specimens. The target sequence was the 16S rRNA gene. The first-step PCR was genus specific, and the second-step PCR was multiplexed (i.e., had multiple primer sets in the same tube) and could discriminate among Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, and Chlamydia trachomatis on the basis of the molecular weight of the amplicon. The limit of detection of each of the two PCR steps was 5 inclusion-forming units. We used PCR and serologic evidence during outbreaks of psittacosis to infer that C. psittaci had been transmitted from birds purchased in pet stores to humans. We also used this method to test both live and dead birds from pet stores for infection with C. psittaci. Compared with culture, the application of PCR to avian specimens increased the rate of C. psittaci detection.
The effect of BCNU (carmustine) on tissue glutathione reductase activity.

A single, 50 mg/kg i.p. dose of 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) to mice significantly inhibited glutathione reductase activity in liver within 10 min, and in lung and heart within 30 min. Maximal inhibition was reached at 4 h in all tissues and glutathione reductase activity remained significantly depressed for 48 h in liver and for 96 h in lung and heart. BCNU doses of less than 25 mg/kg had no effect on glutathione reductase activity. Increasing the BCNU dose to 100 mg/kg caused greater inhibition of glutathione reductase activity in all tissues. In spite of significantly decreased glutathione reductase activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were unaffected in all tissues both 1 and 24 h after 50 mg/kg BNCU. These results suggest that lower than normal glutathione reductase activity is sufficient to maintain GSH levels. These results also demonstrate that BCNU inhibits tissue glutathione reductase activity for several days, but only at doses significantly greater than previously reported.
FDG PET appearance of a postpartum uterus.

A 21-year-old woman with lymphoma underwent an F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) scan for cancer follow up. She was 5 days postpartum at the time of the scan. Intense increased FDG uptake was noted corresponding to the uterus and cervix on a computed tomography (CT) scan. The patient did not have any clinical evidence of infection, retained products of conception, or other postpartum complication. A follow-up PET scan done 5 months later did not demonstrate uterine activity. Diffuse intense increased uptake can be an expected finding in the postpartum uterus and does not necessarily indicate a postpartum complication.
SURFACE CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SURFACE-ACTIVE MATERIAL IN SEAWATER

Seawater samples were collected using a technique that isolated the upper 0.15 mm of surface water. Much of their organic matter was surface-active, slick-forming material that was originally at the seawater-air interface. These surface-active molcculcs are of interest because of their influence on many properties of the sea surface. Determinations were made of the effect of monolayers of these materials on the surface tension, on the surface potential, on the damping of capillary waves, ancl on the surface viscosity. The measurements were made as functions of the area of surface occupied by the adsorbed molecules. Organic materials collected from widely different locations were surprisingly similar in their behavior, suggesting that the more strongly adsorbed, stable, film-forming materials at the interface were chemically similar. It is suggested that th’e more stable components of the films are primarily polar-nonpolar compounds containing long-chain hydrocarbon groups, such as the high molecular weight saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their esters.
Coefficient of thermal expansion: Reduced state correlation for water in the gaseous and liquid states

A reduced state correlation for the coefficient of thermal expansion of water has been developed from PVT data available in the literature for the substance. The coefficient of thermal expansion was expressed in terms of reduced variables and a reduced state density correlation was developed for water. This density correlation was then utilized to develop plots of the dimensionless variable, β Tc, against TR and Pa for reduced temperatures up to TR = 3.0 and reduced pressures up to PR = 20. On a etabli une equation exprimant le coefficient d'expansion thermique de l'eau en fonction des conditions reduites de pression et de temperature a partir des donnees PVT existantes. Une relation similaire est alors developpee pour la densite. Cette equation fut par la suite utilisee pour l'elaboration de graphiques du facteur sans dimensions β Tc en fonction de TR et PR pour des valeurs jusqu'a 3 et 20 respectivement.
Potentially problematic postures during work site keyboard use.

OBJECTIVE. We described the frequency and distribution of keyboard users� potentially risky postural behaviors. METHOD. Forty-three participants� keyboard postural behaviors were rated with the Keyboard�Personal Computer Style instrument (Baker & Redfern, 2005). The frequency and distribution of keyboard postural behaviors and the associations and differences between the right and left sides were assessed. RESULTS. Generally, each static posture had one criterion that occurred frequently, whereas dynamic postures were distributed throughout the criteria. The right and left sides were significantly associated for shoulder flexion, elbow flexion, hand displacement, wrist extension, forearm rotation, isolated fifth digit, metacarpophalangeal hyperextension, and wrist support use and significantly different for hand displacement, isolated thumb, number of digits, and metacarpophalangeal hyperextension. CONCLUSION. Potentially problematic postural behaviors are common among keyboard users. Our results suggest that occupational therapists must systematically assess postures on both the right and the left sides to develop the most effective intervention strategies.
Distorted-Wave Approximation and Its Application to the Differential and Integrated Cross Sections for Electron-Impact Excitation of the 2 1 P State of Helium

Theoretical results are given for the application of the distorted-wave approximation to electron-atom impact excitation for transitions from an $L\ensuremath{-}S$ coupled initial state to an arbitrarily coupled final state. Expressions for the differential cross section and spin polarization of the emitted electrons are given for unpolarized electron beams incident upon unpolarized atoms. These results are applied to excitation of helium from its ground state to the $1s2p^{1}P_{1}$ excited state for incident-electron energies between 26.5 and 300 eV. The results are compared with previous theoretical and experimental works. It is found that the distorted-wave calculation is superior to previous calculations in fitting the absolute magnitude and angular distribution of the experimental data. The improvement over the plane-wave calculations is greater at large angles, where the plane-wave approximations fail by several orders of magnitude.
Farm-gate tomato price negotiations under asymmetric information

This article provides an empirical analysis of farm-gate tomato price negotiations under asymmetric information. Regression models are estimated to analyze when and by how much sellers stick to their initial ask prices and what explains the variation in the initial ask–offer price spread. Detailed information on 66 farm-gate tomato transactions and daily tomato wholesale price data from the central vegetable market in Addis Ababa are used for the analysis. Estimation results show that farmers are less committed to their initial ask price when the buyer speaks out the transaction price first, when their quality perceptions of the tomatoes being transacted differ from those of the buyers, and when their tomato farm is at a large distance from the main road. Sellers stick more to their initial ask price when they know that the central market price is high. The initial ask–offer price spread decreases when the buyer speaks out the initial negotiation price first, but increases in the difference in quality perception between buyer and seller, and in the quantity of tomatoes being transacted.
Phylogenetic reticulation in subtribe Helianthinae

Incongruence between phylogenetic estimates based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers was used to infer that there have been at least two instances of chloroplast transfer, presumably through wide hybridization, in subtribe Helianthinae. One instance involved Simsia dombeyana, which exhibited a cpDNA restriction site phenotype that was markedly divergent from all of the other species of the genus that were surveyed but that matched the restriction site pattern previously reported for South American species of Viguiera. In contrast, analysis of sequence data from the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region showed Simsia to be entirely monophyletic and placed samples of S. dombeyana as the sister group to the relatively derived S. foetida, a result concordant with morphological information. A sample of a South American species of Viguiera was placed by ITS sequence data as the sister group to a member of V. subg. Amphilepis, which was consistent with cpDNA restriction site data. Samples of Tithonia formed a single monophyletic clade based on ITS sequence data, whereas they were split between two divergent clades based on cpDNA restriction site analysis. The results suggested that cpDNA transfer has occurred between taxa diverged to the level of morphologically distinct genera, and highlight the need for careful and complete assessment of molecular data as a source of phylogenetic information.
Correlations between Reaction Dynamics Experiments and the Detonation of Explosives

Data and information reported from reaction dynamics experiments appear to correlate very well with data and calculations from the detonation of chemical explosives. Comparisons are presented of particle and vibratiional velocities, atomic and molecular kinetic energics, time scales for reaction, bond strengths, and shock velocity data. A rationale and method for determining detonation velocities and evidence for rate-determining kinetics from the reaction dynamics data and molecular dynamics calculations are presented. It is concluded that first order values for detonation characteristics can be calculated from the energy and reaction rate factors considered, and that the methods of reaction dynamics discussed could be applied to the study of probable detonation reactions to give refined quantitative values for detonation processes.
Acromegaly caused by a growth hormone-releasing hormone-secreting carcinoid tumor: case report.

Objective and importance We describe a patient with acromegaly and pituitary hyperplasia secondary to a growth hormone-releasing hormone-secreting gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor. This case report illustrates the importance of including this rare clinical syndrome in the differential diagnosis of acromegaly for patients with suspected or known neuroendocrine tumors. Clinical presentation A 19-year-old, Asian-American, male patient with a 2-year history of a nonresectable, metastatic, intestinal carcinoid tumor presented with complaints of headaches, arthralgias, sweats, and changing features. The examination revealed a young subject with acromegalic features, without visual field deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a diffuse sellar mass that extended suprasellarly to compress the optic chiasm. Endocrinological studies demonstrated a growth hormone level of more than 100 ng/ml and an inappropriately elevated growth hormone-releasing hormone level. Intervention The patient underwent transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary mass for diagnostic and decompressive purposes. The pathological examination revealed pituitary hyperplasia, without evidence of an adenoma. Therapy with long-acting repeatable octreotide (Sandostatin LAR; Novartis AG, Basel, Switzerland) was initiated postoperatively, to further control the acromegaly and carcinoid tumor. The soft-tissue swelling resolved, and the patient remained free of headaches, arthralgias, and sweats at the 6-month follow-up examination. Conclusion Ectopic acromegaly is a rare syndrome that must be recognized by neurosurgeons because its treatment differs from that of classic pituitary acromegaly. We describe a patient for whom this syndrome was documented with magnetic resonance imaging, endocrinological testing, and pathological examinations.
Management of angiogram positive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage: long term follow-up of non-operative treatments

After positive mesenteric angiography for massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage, one is faced with a localized bleeding site and the therapeutic options of embolization, vasopressin infusion, observation, or operation. This review was designed to determine long term outcomes of angiographically controlled bleeding. All cases of mesenteric angiography for hemorrhage performed over a twelve year period were reviewed, with focus on those treated non-operatively. A total of 37 patients had angiographically localized bleeding distal to the ligament of Treitz. Twenty-one patients were controlled with vasopressin, embolization, or spontaneous cessation. Only three patients had recurrent bleeding, at one month, one year, and eight years. No patients died from recurrent bleeding. Five patients died without any further bleeding; mean time to death was 2 years. Twelve patients had no further bleeding at a mean follow-up of 2.6 years. Bleeding controlled by any angiographic measure, was followed by recurrent bleeding in 14% without the need for operative intervention.
Homological algebra and (semi)stable homotopy

Abstract If A is a complete and cocomplete abelian category, which we allow ourselves to conflate with the corresponding representable homotopy theory then the 2-functors HochA , taking the small category C to the homotopy category of chain complexes over A C and Hoch + A , with value the homotopy category of positive chain complexes, are both homotopy theories (in the sense of my monograph, A.M.S. Memoirs 383), the former being stable in the sense that the suspension hyperfunctor is an equivalence, while the latter is semistable . The hyperfunctors res : A → HochA and res + : A → Hoch + A which take an X in A C to a chain complex concentrated in degree 0 may be characterized as “resolvent”. Then the two chain-complex theories associated to A are, respectively, the universal resolvent stabilization and semistabilization of A . In other words, a “universal problem” of stabilization leads, for abelian categories, to the construction of chain complexes, just as a corresponding problem for topological spaces leads to the construction of spectra.
Grain boundary structure, chemistry, and failure

AbstractThe goal of this paper is to provide a review of the interrelationship between grain boundary structure, chemistry, and failure. The main thrust of the paper is that one must consider structure and chemistry in order to assess various failure mechanisms and that one must also address these issues in high angle, asymmetric grain boundaries. One of the key themes of the paper is that the boundary is best considered as a chain of molecular or structural units and that, during such processes as fracture or sliding, the ability of the boundary to sample many of these units determines whether or not a material will ultimately fail. The ease of sampling different boundary structures will depend on the chemical composition of the boundary.
Staff Smart, Part 1: Motivation

If you're a manager, for the most part, you can only be as capable and productive as your staff. It thus behooves you to develop skills to make your staff as capable and as productive as they can reasonably be. How do you do this? It depends to a large extent on your skills in recruiting, your artistry in motivating, and your knack in delegating.
“We love Hawaii”... kids ride a rainbow of learning

Kids love to go places and to things. Although Hawaii is thousands of miles away, the islands extend a warm welcome. Look beyond the basics and plan to take your young travelers on a super, educational experience.
Lateral surface magnetoplasmon in a semiconductor superlattice and edge magnetoplasmon in a two-dimensional electron gas

Abstract The charge density collective excitation associated with the lateral surface of a semiconductor superlattice is studied for the first time. An approximate dispersion relation of the surface plasma and magnetoplasma modes is obtained from an approximate solution to the wave equation.
Targeted disruption of the mouse Asna1 gene results in embryonic lethality.

Abstract The bacterial ArsA ATPase is the catalytic component of an oxyanion pump that is responsible for resistance to arsenicals and antimonials. Homologues of the bacterial ArsA ATPase are widespread in nature. We had earlier identified the mouse homologue (Asna1) that exhibits 27% identity to the bacterial ArsA ATPase. To identify the physiological role of the protein, heterozygous Asna1 knockout mice (Asna1+/−) were generated by homologous recombination. The Asna1+/− mice displayed similar phenotype as the wild-type mice. However, early embryonic lethality was observed in homozygous Asna1 knockout embryos, between E3.5 (E = embryonic day) and E8.5 stage. These findings indicate that Asna1 plays a crucial role during early embryonic development.
The Influence of Perceptions of Task Similarity/Difference on Learning Transfer in Second Language Writing

This study investigates the influence of students' perceptions of task similarity/ difference on the transfer of writing skills. A total of 42 students from a freshman ESL writing course completed an out-of-class writing task. For half of the students, the subject matter of the writing task was designed to be similar to the writing course; for the other half, it was designed to be different. All students were also interviewed about the writing task. Reports of learning transfer were identified in the interview transcripts, and students' performances on the task and on a recent assignment from the course were assessed. Results indicate that the intended task similarity/difference (i.e., in subject matter) did not have the expected impact on learning transfer; however, students' perceptions of task similarity/difference did influence learning transfer. Implications of these findings for theory, practice, and future research are discussed.
The mouse RANKL gene locus is defined by a broad pattern of histone H4 acetylation and regulated through distinct distal enhancers

RANKL is a stromal cell-derived tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like factor that plays a primary role in osteoclast formation and function. Recent studies suggest that 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) induces Rankl expression via vitamin D receptor (VDR) interaction at several enhancers located up to 76 kb upstream of the gene's transcriptional start site (TSS). In the current studies, we explored these interactions further using ChIP-chip and RNA analysis. We confirm VDR and RXR binding to the five enhancers described previously and identify two additional sites, one located within the Rankl coding region. We also show that RNA polymerase II is recruited to these enhancers, most likely through transcription factors TBP, TFIIB, and TAF(II) 250. Interestingly, the recruitment of these factors leads to the production of RNA transcripts, although their role at present is unknown. We also discovered that histone H4 acetylation (H4ac) marks many upstream Rankl enhancers under basal conditions and that H4ac is increased upon 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) treatment. Surprisingly, the hormone also induces C/EBPβ binding across the Rankl locus. C/EBPβ binding correlates directly with increased H4ac activity following 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) treatment. Finally, elevated H4ac is restricted to an extended region located between two potential insulator sites occupied by CTCF and Rad21. These data suggest a mechanism whereby 1,25(OH)(2) D(3) functions via the VDR and C/EBPβ to upregulate Rankl expression.
Reduction of dehydroascorbic acid by homocysteine.

To determine the reductive process of extracellular dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), molecules (homocysteine, homocysteine thiolactone, methionine, cysteine, and homoserine) were tested to identify those with the potential to reduce DHA to ascorbic acid (AA). Homocysteine (Hcy) was the most potent of the molecules tested. The efficacy of Hcy was compared with that of other molecules able to reduce DHA (reduced glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cy)). Although all three molecules were able to reduce DHA, GSH and Cy were not to reduce DHA to AA at concentrations lower than 100 Wmol/l, and only less than 5% DHA was reduced to AA at concentrations of 200^300 Wmol/l. In contrast, Hcy reduced DHA to AA stoichiometrically at concentrations as low as 10 Wmol/l. In Jurkat and U937 cells, the increasing concentrations of extracellular Hcy suppressed intracellular dehydroascorbic acid uptake, indicating that extracellular reduction of DHA by Hcy leads to decreasing extracellular DHA available for its intracellular uptake. Simultaneous oxidation and reduction of Hcy and DHA were accelerated extracellularly in the presence of quercetin, an inhibitor of DHA uptake, suggesting that extracellular ascorbic acid concentration increased via blocking DHA uptake by quercetin and reducing extracellular DHA by Hcy. The effect of homocysteine on DHA reduction and uptake was confirmed with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The oxidation of Hcy also prevented the decrease in DNA synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which would occur following exposure to Hcy. fl 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A tool that detects plagiarism in Pascal programs

Plagiarism has become a problem in introductory Computer Science courses. Programmed assignments can be copied and transformed with little human effort. A pertinent recommendation has resulted from this realization; an on-line system to detect programs that are “too similar” and hence suspected of plagiarism should be developed [4]. This paper discusses such a system for Pascal programs.
Sensitivity of Micrurgically Removed Chromosomal Spindle Fibres to Enzyme Disruption

THE physio-chemical nature of chromosomes and chromosomal spindle fibres isolated by micrurgy is being studied by enzyme disruption of these structures, recorded by phase contrast cinematography.
After-pulse suppression for 8850 and 8854 photomultipliers

Abstract After-pulsing suppression of semi-conducting first dynode photomultipliers (RCA 8850 series) ∗ has been successfully accomplished by applying a positive pulse to a wire mesh directly in contact with the tube face.
Rethinking primate origins.

The Linnean concept of the order Primates, which included the bats and colugos, was still current as late as 1870. In 1873, Charles Darwin's antagonist St. G. Mivart proposed ordinal boundaries which excluded these animals, but which included the prosimians as a suborder of Primates. If progressive adaptation to living in trees transformed a tree-shrew-like ancestor into a higher primate, then primate-like traits must be better adaptations to arboreal locomotion and foraging than are their antecedents. Wood-Jones proposed that the absence of primate-like traits in other arboreal lineages resulted from a period of adaptation in each lineage to terrestrial locomotion. F. W. Jones's version of the arboreal theory holds, not that the primate characteristics will be selected for in any arboreal mammal lineage, but that they all result from the primates' unique preservation of the grasping hands and mobile forelimbs supposedly found in the arboreal ancestors of the Mammalia.
Measurement of the Solid Dielectric Permittivity of Clay Minerals and Granular Samples Using a Time Domain Reflectometry Immersion Method

Both porosity and water content of rocks, sediments, and soils can be estimated from measurements of the effective dielectric permittivity. To achieve accurate modeling to obtain either water content or porosity the permittivity of the solid phase must be known. Until recently the most common method of obtaining the permittivity of the solid phase of granular materials relied on packing samples in air and using a mixing model to estimate the permittivity of the solid. This approach preassumes the correctness of the mixing models that we want to test. This work develops a recently proposed immersion methodology suitable for fine-grained mineral samples and clay minerals. Measured permittivity values were 4.4 for ground quartz, 9.1 for Iceland Spar calcite, 6.0 for biotite mica, 5.8 for phlogopite mica, 5.3 for talc, 5.1 for kaolin, 5.8 for illite, and 5.5 for montmorillonite. The methodology was found to work well other than for the high surface montmorillonite sample where the immersion polar fluid adsorbed to the clay.
The determination of ethosuximide in serum by gas chromatography. Preliminary results of clinical application.

Abstract A rapid gas-chromatographic method for the determination of ethosuximide in serum is reported. Clinical application has confirmed the reliability of the method.
Pipeline prime-factor DFT for VLSI using cyclic shuffling

The fast prime-factor discrete Fouriertransform (DFT) algorithm [2?4] can be used to reduce the number of basic cells when the transform length of a DFT is not a highly composite number. This pipeline prime-factor DFT can be realised by a one-to r-dimensional index mapping by (r ? 1) one-to two-dimensional mappings. Hence, only the one-to two-dimensional shuffling algorithm is needed to realise a practical prime-factor DFT. Recently, it was shown that a new algorithm can be developed to perform the shuffling operations needed in implement the above-mentioned one-to two-dimensional mapping for a prime-factor DFT. In the paper, the new shuffling algorithm is established and proved for the general case. It is evident that this algorithm can be applied directly to many different implementations of the prime-factor DFT, including a pipeline VLSI implementation.
Nanomotor-based ‘writing’ of surface microstructures

This communication demonstrates the ‘writing’ of surface microstructures by localized material deposition through the predefined movement of enzyme modified catalytic nanomotors.