cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Social and Health Systems Context for Health Services Planning

Any planning activity requires a complete understanding of the context in which planning is taking place. Effective planning cannot occur without an in-depth comprehension of the population that the plan is meant to serve and the social attributes that have influenced it. The social, political, and economic characteristics of the target population must be thoroughly understood. This chapter addresses the key social and health systems characteristics that are important for framing a health plan. It reviews the evolution of the US healthcare system from the second half of the twentieth century to today. Since health care is a requisite need that every society must fulfill, the sociocultural context provides the framework for the establishment of the healthcare institution. A healthcare system reflects both the social structure and the culture of its society and is influenced by the beliefs, values, and norms characteristic of that society. This chapter goes on to review the history of the US healthcare system in this context and chronicles its emergence as a dominant institution. Changes initiated by the healthcare system itself are noted and their interplay with changing social attributes is highlighted.
Bewusstsein und Computationalismus

Was haben Rachael aus dem Kult-SF-Film Blade Runner, Samantha aus der Hollywoodkomodie Her, Ava aus dem dunklen Psychodrama Ex Machina und Dolores aus der TV-Serie Westworld gemeinsam? Keine von ihnen hat eine Mutter, alle vier weisen attraktive weibliche Attribute auf und alle sind ein Objekt der Begierde fur ihre mannlichen Protagonisten, was zeigt, dass sich Lust und Liebe auch auf kunstlich Geschaffenes erstreckt.
Severe multisystem organ dysfunction in an adolescent with simultaneous presentation of Addison's and Graves' disease.

OBJECTIVES To report an unusual case of simultaneous presentation of Addison's and Graves' disease in an adolescent female previously diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and Hashimoto's. CASE PRESENTATION A 15-year-old female with T1D and hypothyroidism presented to the emergency department with altered mental state, fever, and left arm weakness for one day. Clinical work-up revealed coexistent new-onset adrenal insufficiency and hyperthyroidism. Her clinical course was complicated by severe, life-threating multisystem organ dysfunction including neurologic deficits, acute kidney injury, and fluid overload. Thyroidectomy was ultimately performed in the setting of persistent signs of adrenal crises and resulted in rapid clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS Endocrinopathy should be included in the differential diagnosis of altered mental status. This case additionally illustrates the challenges of managing adrenal insufficiency in the setting of hyperthyroidism and supports the use of thyroidectomy in this situation.
Impact of a pharmacist-facilitated, evidence-based bundle initiative on Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia management

Abstract Objective To evaluate a pharmacist-facilitated evidence-based bundle (EBB) initiative with infectious disease consultation (IDC) for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). Methods This was a before-and-after quasi-experimental study of adult patients with SAB before and after the pharmacist-facilitated EBB initiative, which included IDC, timely definitive antibiotics, source control, echocardiography, and repeat blood cultures. Results Ninety and 111 patients were included in pre- and post-intervention cohorts, respectively. We observed significant increases in adherence to all 5 (4.4% vs 68.5%, P Conclusions Our pharmacist-facilitated SAB initiative was associated with improved EBB adherence and clinical outcomes.
Reflections from the Field Seeking Wholeness: The Black Women Patient Experience.

Doctors are to Black women what cops are to Black men. —Ms. C, age 62At the intersection of gender and race are Black women, who experience higher levels of racism, sexism, and discrimination than ...
Additively manufactured electrodes for supercapacitors: A review

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) printing, a form of additive manufacturing (AM), has been adapted across industries to manufacture customized structures using multiple materials. This has been of special advantage in applications where conventional manufacturing techniques limit the potential of the products either due to the inability to impart complex geometries or utilize different materials in their production. Energy storage devices, such as electrochemical capacitors attract increasing interest for applications in disparate fields ranging from automobiles to heath care. As such, the need of the hour is to develop low-cost, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly devices. The development of 3D printed electrodes for supercapacitors is increasingly being seen as a more viable alternative to conventionally manufactured ones. Different structures and forms of electrodes can be produced with 3D printing, all of which contribute to optimizing the performance of the supercapacitor. A comprehensive review that unifies the current research on 3D printed supercapacitors will help researchers establish a baseline on which to base future studies. This review focuses on the current state of both ECs and AM techniques and takes a critical look at the fabrication processes and materials used for 3D printed electrodes. An in-depth analysis of associations between the electrochemical properties of the device and the methods and materials used is provided. Following that, recommendations are made regarding possible research directions to overcome the existing shortcomings of 3D printed supercapacitors.
Eco-evolutionary dynamics: investigating multiple causal pathways linking changes in behavior, population density and natural selection

Correlations between population density, natural selection and phenotypic change are widespread and may comprise an eco-evolutionary feedback loop, yet we still know very little about the causes of connections between them. Isolating the mechanistic links in eco-evolutionary feedback loops, both in terms of identifying sources of variation in traits and in terms of determining how and why natural selection varies with population density, can provide key insight into avian population dynamics. Here, we summarize more than a decade of findings in western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) to illustrate the multiple and potentially interacting mechanisms that can cause simultaneous changes in traits and population density. In previous work, we discovered correlated changes in aggression, population density and natural selection during the process of colonization. Here we provide evidence that density-dependent selection, maternal effects and demographic consequences of selection on aggression may all play a role in driving feedback between phenotypic change and population density. Thus, this system provides an example of the multiple mechanistic links that can produce such feedback loops and emphasizes the importance of investigating alternative hypotheses for correlated patterns of ecological and phenotypic change even when there is strong evidence that natural selection is acting on a trait. Ultimately, identifying these mechanisms is crucial, as eco-evolutionary feedback have the potential to explain avian population cycles, range dynamics, population persistence, and even patterns of species coexistence.
Understanding the Codes and Assumptions of New Media

Special language and cultural codes are important aspects of new media. But beyond these codes, new media users tend to overlook the context of embodied, personal perspectives that affect assumptions and preconceptions. In the light of a semiotic perspective, this study explores media as an extension of identity and communication. An emphasis on Peirce’s semiotic concept of secondness, the relationship between a sign and its meaning, helps to explain the inadequacies of code-based social network communication and new media’s broader potential for identity and interpretations.
Whole-brain hippocampal sparing radiation therapy: Volume-modulated arc therapy vs intensity-modulated radiation therapy case study

The hippocampus is responsible for memory and cognitive function. An ongoing phase II clinical trial suggests that sparing dose to the hippocampus during whole-brain radiation therapy can help preserve a patient׳s neurocognitive function. Progressive research and advancements in treatment techniques have made treatment planning more sophisticated but beneficial for patients undergoing treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare hippocampal sparing whole-brain (HS-WB) radiation therapy treatment planning techniques using volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). We randomly selected 3 patients to compare different treatment techniques that could be used for reducing dose to the hippocampal region. We created 2 treatment plans, a VMAT and an IMRT, from each patient׳s data set and planned on the Eclipse 11.0 treatment planning system (TPS). A total of 6 plans (3 IMRT and 3 VMAT) were created and evaluated for this case study. The physician contoured the hippocampus as per the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0933 protocol atlas. The organs at risk (OR) were contoured and evaluated for the plan comparison, which included the spinal cord, optic chiasm, the right and left eyes, lenses, and optic nerves. Both treatment plans produced adequate coverage on the planning target volume (PTV) while significantly reducing dose to the hippocampal region. The VMAT treatment plans produced a more homogenous dose distribution throughout the PTV while decreasing the maximum point dose to the target. However, both treatment techniques demonstrated hippocampal sparing when irradiating the whole brain.
Is transduodenal pancreatography ever contraindicated?: A case report of provoked pancreatitis and pseudocyst

An exacerbation of acute pancreatitis probably precipitated by endoscopic pancreatography and complicated by pseudocyst is here reported. Details of the technic are reviewed and modifications are proposed to minimize the hazards of the procedure. The pancreas of patients with relapsing and chronic pancreatitis may be particularly vulnerable to complications after cannulation, and special precautions, as described in this paper, are worthy of consideration.
A Consideration Which Happens to Fail

Recent English commentary employs the timeworn expression “failure of consideration” in an unprecedented way. It can now designate an expansive residual category of grounds for restitution: at its fullest, “the failure to sustain itself of the state of affairs contemplated as a basis” for a transaction by which one party is enriched at the expense of another. (Because the result is plainly to incorporate a civilian-style “absence of basis” test within common-law unjust enrichment, the new “failure of consideration” carries an incidental implication for Canadian restitution law: if Garland v. Consumers’ Gas really announced a shift from common-law “unjust factors” to civilian “absence of basis,” the change may not make that much difference.) Contrasting approaches to “failure of consideration” illustrate a broader difference in attitudes toward “restitution in a contractual context”: English law looks “off the contract” in situations where US law finds answers in the contract itself.
Religion and Multiculturalism: A Web of Legal, Institutional, and Cultural Connections

The relationship between religion and multiculturalism is complex, depending on definitions of the key concepts and the societal contexts in which it occurs. Unlike Western Europe and the United Ki...
Membrane function affected by genetic muscular dystrophy. I. Erythrocyte ghost protein kinase.

Abstract Erythrocyte membranes isolated from individuals with myotonic dystrophy exhibit elevated protein kinase activity when compared to those from normal individuals. In contrast, membranes from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and from heterozygous carriers of that condition exhibit activity within normal limits. Activity in the myotonic case shows an altered temperature dependency (Arrhenius plot), suggesting that altered activity reflects an abnormal lipid environment in the region around the enzyme. This conclusion is supported by altered activity on addition of a lipid extract from serum of myotonic patients as well as certain purified lipids, notably phospholipids.
The minimal time change detection algorithm for intelligent control system

System parameters should be tracked online to build an intelligent control systems even though there exists an abrupt change. For this purpose, a new performance index that we are studying is the speed of adaptation-how quickly does the system determine that a change has occurred? In this paper, a new, robust algorithm that is optimized to minimize the time delay in detecting a change for fixed false alarm probability is proposed. Simulation results for the aircraft lateral motion with a known or unknown change in control gain matrices, in the presence of doublet input, indicate that the algorithm works fairly well. One of its distinguishing properties is that detection delay of this algorithm is superior to that of Whiteness Test. >
A Brief Review of the Relevant Basic Equations of Physics

This chapter contains sections titled: The Equations of Classical Mechanics, Application to Lattice Vibrations The Equations of Quantum Mechanics This chapter contains sections titled: Problems References
Marching along to an Offbeat Drum: Entrainment of Synthetic Gene Oscillators by a Noisy Stimulus

Modulation of biological oscillations by stimuli lies at the root of many phenomena, including maintenance of circadian rhythms, propagation of neural signals, and somitogenesis. While it is well established that regular periodic modulation can entrain an oscillator, an aperiodic (noisy) modulation can also robustly entrain oscillations. This latter scenario may describe, for instance, the effect of irregular weather patterns on circadian rhythms, or why irregular neural stimuli can still reliably transmit information. A synthetic gene oscillator approach has already proven to be useful in understanding the entrainment of biological oscillators by periodic signaling, mimicking the entrainment of a number of noisy oscillating systems. We similarly seek to use synthetic biology as a platform to understand how aperiodic signals can strongly correlate the behavior of cells. This study should lead to a deeper understanding of how fluctuations in our environment and even within our body may promote substantial ...
What T cells see in WT-1.

The Wilms tumor protein, WT-1, is a widely recognized tumor antigen that is aberrantly expressed in myeloid and lymphoid leukemia and in this issue of Blood , Doubrovina et al report the most extensive catalog heretofore of HLA-restricted immunogenic peptides derived from WT-1, which are recognized
An air pressure system for the injection of tracer substances into the brain

Abstract A system for injecting tracers and other substances into the brain through glass micropipettes using mechanically or electromechanically regulated air pressure as the driving force is described. The system has a number of advantages over currently used devices including: accurate ejection of a wide range of volumes (2 nl to several microliters); the capability to inject all currently utilized tracers; and, the direct visualization of the volume of solution injected. This system has proven reliable for a number of tract tracing experiments ranging from the injection of tracers into deep structures of the monkey brain to injecting small quantities of tracers into the brains of fetal rats.
Friction and wear behaviour of boron based surface treatment and nano-particle lubricant additives for wind turbine gearbox applications

Abstract Gears and other mechanical assemblies are some of the key components for conversion of wind energy to electrical energy in wind turbines, but their durability and efficiency are severely impaired by some tribological issues like micro-pitting, wear, scuffing, and spalling. To address these issues, in this study, a combinational approach is proposed to incorporate surface treatment (electrochemical boriding) in coordination with the use of nano-colloidal lubricant additives. Boron nitride based solid lubricants were manufactured and flat gear steel samples were borided using a novel electrochemical boriding process. Combinations of nano-colloidal lubricant additives and borided surfaces are tested for their tribological performance, mainly friction and wear, over a wide range of contact conditions using a sliding contact linear reciprocating rig. Post-test surface analyses were carried out to investigate tribochemical interactions of colloidal lubricants with the steel surface and the chemical characterization of the tribofilms was investigated using XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). Wear was also characterized and measured using optical profilometry. The borided surfaces enhanced the mechanical properties of the surface layer, leading to improved wear resistance. Moreover, it was observed that boron nitride stayed well dispersed within the oil and formed a stable tribofilm which was important to achieve improved tribological performance. The results of this current investigation are expected to aid in ongoing research efforts aimed at prolonging durability and efficiency of drivetrain components in advanced wind turbines.
Enhanced activity of polymer-supported phase transfer catalysts

Phase transfer catalysis has been a weapon in the arsenal of synthetic organic chemists for over three decades now. While phase transfer catalysts (PTCs) have found widespread use in the industry, the polymer-supported phase transfer catalysts, also known as triphase catalysts, have not gained industrial acceptance. Triphase catalysts offer many advantages associated with heterogeneous catalysts such as easy separation from the reaction mixture, reusability, and use in continuous reactors. These significant advantages notwithstanding, the main reason for the lack of interest in the industry for the use of triphase catalysts has been its reduced activity in comparison with soluble-phase transfer catalysts. Due to their heterogeneous nature, triphase catalysts, in general, have lower reactivity. In this paper, we address this issue of reduced activity of triphase catalysts for a specific reaction, that is, phase transfer esterification of benzyl chloride with aqueous sodium acetate. It has been found that the triphase catalyst has a higher reactivity than its soluble analogs. The kinetics of the phase transfer reaction using both soluble and polymer-supported catalysts has been determined and the results are presented.
Heavy metal removal and recovery by contained liquid membrane permeator

Heavy metals like Cu2+, Cr6+, and Hg2+ were removed successfully from wastewater and concentrated in a strip aqueous solution for recycle using the hollowfiber-contained liquid membrane (HFCLM) technique. Using cotransport, Cr6+ and Hg2+ present as anions in the feed solution were transferred individually through a liquid membrane containing tri-n-octylamine in xylene and concentrated in an alkaline solution on the strip side. The removal efficiency of each heavy metal was studied as a function of the aqueous feed flow rate in an HFCLM permeator. Copper present as cation Cu2+ was removed and concentrated by countertransport using LIX84 in n-heptane as the liquid membrane. The efficiency of copper removal was studied as a function of feed copper concentration, feed flow rate, strip flow rate, and area ratio between the feed fiber set and strip fiber set. The strip side flow rate did not affect the Cu2+ transfer rate. A theoretical model presented predicts the copper transport rate from the feed solution to the strip solution in an HFCLM permeator with a variable feed to strip-side membrane area. Both feed aqueous boundary layer and interfacial complexation reaction on the feed side dominate the observed Cu2+ removal process through LIX 84 in n-heptane for feed concentration levels used 90–500 mg/L. It was verified by providing two times larger liquid-liquid interfacial area in the feed aqueous side or in the strip aqueous side. The model can be used to design the membrane area required on the feed and strip fiber sides to remove essentially all of the copper from a given wastewater stream.
Explaining Helping Relationships through Learning Theories and the Question of Human Agency.

It is argued that counselors too readily accept the mechanistic terminology of learning theories to account for client behavior, when in fact such terminology is not capturing what really takes place in the consulting room. Following a definition of agency, classical causation theory is presented. Psychology has patterned itself after Newtonian precepts, which rely upon material and efficient causation. As an antidote to this narrow usage, the concept of telosponsivity is presented. A telosponse is behavior carried out “for the sake of” purposes, and draws from the meaning of formal and final causation. Oppositional meanings in experience are what makes telosponsivity both possible and, indeed, necessary. A review of one counseling theory is carried out, and it is then shown how the mechanistic biases of psychology have been incorporated into this theoretical account. Corrective theoretical measures, in line with an agential view of behavior, are then recommended.
Effects of social support, stress, and level of Illness on caregiving of children with AIDS

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the relationship between social support, stressors, level of illness, and perceived caregiver burden in caregivers of children with HIV/AIDS. Instruments used were: (1) the Classification System for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection in Children Under 13 Years of Age (1987), (2) the Daily Hassles Scale, (3) the Tilden Interpersonal Relationship Inventory (IPRI), (4) the Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP), and (5) the Caregiver Appraisal Scale. The sample was drawn from two medical centers in New Jersey. The 49 caregivers of children with perinatally acquired HIV were predominantly HIV-positive biological mothers of African American descent whose education ranged from 8th grade through college. One-half of the children were classified at the CDC P2 level. Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze the data. The results of the DSP indicated subjects were slightly below the 70th percentile for anxiety, depression, hostility, and work stressors and that subjects' social support levels were in the upper end of the low support category. Stepwise regression indicated that depression and anxiety predicted 40% of the variance in caregiver burden ( R 2 =.399; F =14.985; p =.000). Hostility and level of social support predicted 37% of the variance in caregiving impact ( R 2 =.37; F =13.254; p =.000). Finally, social support predicted 17.5% of the variability in the caregivers' sense of caregiving competency ( R 2=.175; F =9.788; p =.003). The child's level of illness and HIV status of caregiver did not significantly predict variance in caregiving appraisal.
Qualitative Exploration of Adolescent Discrimination: Experiences and Responses of Mexican-American Parents and Teens

The Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies in Minority Children argues that while discrimination and prejudice are normative experiences for ethnic minority children, promoting environments, family factors and adaptive culture may help minority youth develop effective coping strategies to deal with discrimination. Although this model emphasizes the critical role of family, there are relatively few studies on discrimination that include data from both parents and youth. In the current study, we qualitatively investigated themes of teen discrimination experiences and youth/parent responses in a sample (N = 40) of Mexican descent parents (n = 20) and middle school aged (11–15 years old) adolescents (n = 20) who participated in separate youth and parent focus groups. Adolescents indicate that stereotypes are pervasive, as evidenced in media, anti-immigrant comments, and insults from peers. Yet, adolescents expressed few specific strategies to deal with discrimination, and often expressed concern that standing up to discrimination may lead to physical altercation. Parents discussed the pervasiveness of prejudice and ethnic slurs, and specifically identified school as a setting where teens experience discrimination. Parents discussed strategies of teaching children not to use derogatory terms against others, telling them not to engage in fighting, encouraging children to report school incidents to teachers, and trying to prevent criminalization of male youth by talking to them about clothing choices. Mixed race families especially talked about inclusivity, ethnic/racial pride, and sharing family history (immigration, language, racial diversity). The Integrative Model for Developmental Competencies guides our discussion of implications for adolescent well-being and future research.
Can Audio Enhance Visual Perception and Performance in a Virtual Environment

Does the addition of audio enhance visual perception and performance within a virtual environment? To address this issue we used both a questionnaire and an experimental test of the effect of audio on recall and recognition of visual objects within different rooms of a virtual environment. We tested 60 college-aged students who had normal visual acuity, color vision, and hearing. The between-participants factor was audio condition (none, low fidelity, and high fidelity). The questionnaire results showed that ambient sounds enhanced the sense of presence (or “being there”) and the subjective 3D quality of the visual display, but not the subjective dynamic interaction with the display. We also showed that audio can enhance recall and recognition of visual objects and their spatial locations within the virtual environment. These results have implications for the design and use of virtual environments, where audio sometimes can be used to compensate for the quality of the visual display.
A localized orbital study of the rearrangements CH3CH → CH2=CH2 and (CH3)2C → CH3CH=CH2

Abstract The structures of ethylidene and propylidene in their lowest singlet states are considered using INDO and MINDO/2 calculations. Using a gradient optimization method, it is found that MINDO/2 predicts no energy minimum for singlet ethylidene, while INDO predicts non-classical bridged structures for the singlets of ethylidene and propylidene. INDO barriers to conversion of the carbenes to the corresponding alkenes are estimated to be 3.1 and 18.3 kcal/mole for ethylidene and propylidene, respectively. The localized orbitals for these molecules are followed through the “transition state” to the alkene, and it is found that the carbene lone pair and three-center CCH bond transform into a CC “banana” bond and vinyl CH bond, respectively.
X-ray Induced Fluorescence Optical Imaging Enabled by Injectable Nano-Scintillators

Nanosized inorganic phosphor scintillators are being investigated for their potential to mediate X-ray activated optical imaging. This work investigates the feasibility of X-ray luminescence imaging using 50nm nano-phosphors.
Tracer age symmetry in advective–diffusive flows

Abstract The “age” of a trace constituent is a common diagnostic of its transport in a geophysical flow. Deleersnijder et al. (Bull. Soc. R. Sci. Liege 70 (2001a) 5) and Beckers et al. (SIAM J. Appl. Math. 61 (2001) 1526) analyzed tracers released from point sources in unbounded advective–diffusive flows with uniform coefficients and noted a surprising feature: the “mean tracer age” (the averaged elapsed time since tracer was injected) is symmetric about the source, despite the directionality of the flow. Although the majority of tracer is swept downstream, the small fraction that diffuses upstream does so at the same average rate. We explore this symmetry physically by examining the random walk trajectories that underlie the advective–diffusive description of transport. Using physical arguments, we show that symmetry in the tracer age field is a natural consequence of symmetry in the velocity and diffusivity fields.
Quantitative methods to direct exploration based on hydrogeologic information

Quantitatively Directed Exploration (QDE) approaches based on information such as model sensitivity, input data covariance and model output covariance are presented. Seven approaches for directing exploration are developed, applied, and evaluated on a synthetic hydrogeologic site. The QDE approaches evaluate input information uncertainty, subsurface model sensitivity and, most importantly, output covariance to identify the next location to sample. Spatial input parameter values and covariances are calculated with the multivariate conditional probability calculation from a limited number of samples. A variogram structure is used during data extrapolation to describe the spatial continuity, or correlation, of subsurface information. Model sensitivity can be determined by perturbing input data and evaluating output response or, as in this work, sensitivities can be programmed directly into an analysis model. Output covariance is calculated by the First-Order Second Moment (FOSM) method, which combines the covariance of input information with model sensitivity. A groundwater flow example, modeled in MODFLOW-2000, is chosen to demonstrate the seven QDE approaches. MODFLOW-2000 is used to obtain the piezometric head and the model sensitivity simultaneously. The seven QDE approaches are evaluated based on the accuracy of the modeled piezometric head after information from a QDE sample is added. For the synthetic site used in this study, the QDE approach that identifies the location of hydraulic conductivity that contributes the most to the overall piezometric head variance proved to be the best method to quantitatively direct exploration.
Multiple partners in the age of AIDS: Self-consciousness theory and HIV risk behavior

In two studies, we found consistent correlations among gender, self-consciousness, and high-risk sexual behavior in college students. Men higher in public self-con-sciousness reported more sexual partners, but less pleasurable sexual experiences. Among women higher in private self-consciousness, using sex to assuage feelings of loneliness was associated with a greater number of sexual partners. However, higher levels of private self-consciousness coupled with a view of sex as a way to satisfy emotional needs predicted fewer sexual partners. A closer examination of how self-consciousness, attitudes toward sexual activity, and gender influence decisions to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors is proposed.
Computer Girls, Dinner Planning, and My Miracle Machines [My First Job]

The author was asked to share a few words about her leadership experiences as a woman working in industry, so she relates some of her experiences within the field of computer science from the perspective of her background, which is heavily defense and industry. She considers that we are all somewhat a product of the times in which we live, and so her perspective on leadership is being presented against the backdrop of a few of her career experiences. She strongly believes that leadership development is a lifelong journey. Any leadership ability is a sum of the activities and challenges we experience, the opportunities we take, and the goals we set.
Instance-based cognitive mapping: a process for discovering a knowledge worker's tacit mental model

This paper addresses tacit-to-explicit knowledge externalization, arguably the most critical, and yet problematic, phase of Nonaka's knowledge creation theory. Specifically, we propose and describe instance-based cognitive mapping (ICM), a unique externalization process that analyzes multiple decision instances using the inductive learning algorithms of artificial intelligence to generate a polynomial representation of the knowledge worker's mental model, explicitly relating how the knowledge worker implicitly selects and weighs key factors in making decisions within a specific problem domain. After reviewing current externalization techniques, we describe the characteristics, and evaluate the advantages, of the ICM process. An exploratory test of the process suggests that inductive learning algorithms, such as the group method of data handling, can be used to discover a reasonable polynomial estimate of a knowledge worker's tacit mental model. This estimate can then be compared with other explicit models and standards, updated with new information and knowledge, and internalized by all interested knowledge workers.
Theory-practice: Hugo's “Réponse à un acte d'accusation”

Cooperation entre l'auteur et le lecteur (Grice) dans ce texte. L'imitation de la rhetorique revolutionnaire et les actes performatifs occasionnels impliquent un besoin d'innovation
Volume processing of gas using two-dimensional microplasma arrays

Non-thermal microplasma sustained at atmospheric pressure is a very promising technology for thin film deposition, biomedical engineering, and chemical sensors. However, microplasma with small size is ineffective in the treatment of large scale substrates or large gas flows. Arrays of microwave resonators, however, have opened the possibility of generating stable, moderate volume atmospheric plasma as shown in our previous studies.1, 2
Abstract 4492: Blockade of angiopoietin-2 or Tie2 is equally effective at inhibiting tumor growth and reducing tumor vessel density in most human tumor xenograft models

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) and -2 (Ang2) regulate angiogenesis via the endothelial cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2. Blocking Ang2 binding to Tie2 decreases vessel density and inhibits tumor growth in various human xenograft models. However, not all tumors respond to Ang2 blockade, which could be due to high Ang1 levels acting as another ligand for Tie2, to Ang2 activities independent of Tie2, or to a weak role for Ang-2/Tie2 signaling in these tumors. To elucidate if Ang1 plays an integral role in tumor angiogenesis and growth, we compared the effects of blocking Ang2 or Tie2 in various tumor xenografts with differing levels of Ang1 expression. We found that in six out of seven tumor models, antibodies that specifically bind Ang2 (REGN910, 10 mg/kg 2x/wk) or that bind Tie2 and block binding of both Ang1 and Ang2 (REGN1376, 10 mg/kg 2x/wk) were equally efficacious at inhibiting tumor growth and decreasing vessel density. In only one tumor model (Calu-6), blockade of Tie2 with REGN1376 was more effective than blockade of Ang2 (REGN910) at reducing tumor growth and decreasing tumor vessel density. Although Calu-6 tumors express high Ang1 levels, other tumors tested (Lox, LS174T) have comparable or higher Ang1 levels and respond similarly to Ang2 and Tie2 blockade, thus the levels of Ang1 do not account for the differential response of Calu-6 tumors. Taken together, our data suggest that Ang2 is the dominant ligand for Tie2 in the microenvironment of most tumors, and further, that the effects of Ang2 are mediated primarily via Tie2. These findings support the approach to specifically block the binding of Ang2 to Tie2 as an anti-angiogenic therapy. Citation Format: Alexander P. Adler, Christopher Daly, Asma A. Parveen, Thomas Nevins, Jing Shan, Jeanette Fairhurst, Tammy Huang, Joel Martin, Nicholas Papadopoulos, George D. Yancopoulos, Gavin Thurston, Gavin Thurston, Alexandra Eichten. Blockade of angiopoietin-2 or Tie2 is equally effective at inhibiting tumor growth and reducing tumor vessel density in most human tumor xenograft models. [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 4492. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4492
Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or medroxyprogesterone for heavy menstrual bleeding: a randomized controlled trial.

This letter to the editor comments on an article which compared the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system and short-course oral medroxyprogesterone acetate in terms of menstrual bleeding. It states that in the interest of assisting clinicians to choose the most effective medical management for heavy menstrual bleeding it would be helpful if comparison groups for future studies were chosen from the methods with stronger supporting evidence.
Probabilistic methods in cancer biology

Recent advances in experimental techniques have made it possible to generate an enormous amount of ‘raw’ biological data, with cancer biology being no exception. The main challenge faced by cancer biologists now is the generation of plausible hypotheses that can be evaluated against available data and/or validated through further experimentation. For persons trained in control theory, there is now a significant opportunity to work with biologists to create a virtuous cycle of hypothesis generation and experimental validation. Given the large number of uncertain factors in any biological experiment, probabilistic methods are natural in this setting. In this paper, we discuss four specific problems in cancer biology that are amenable to study using probabilistic methods, namely: reverse engineering gene regulatory networks, constructing context-specific gene regulatory networks, analyzing the significance of expression levels for collections of genes, and discriminating between drivers (mutations that cause cancer) and passengers (mutations that are caused by cancer or have no impact). Some research problems that merit the attention of the controls community are also suggested.
Longitudinal assessment of changes in sexual function and bother in patients treated with external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy, with and without neoadjuvant androgen ablation: Data from CaPSURE

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effects of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), with or without brachytherapy (BT) boost or brachytherapy monotherapy with and without short-term androgen ablation (≤6 months; STAD) on sexual function (SF) and sexual bother (SB) in men treated for localized prostate cancer. Methods and materials A total of 992 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer enrolled in the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research Endeavor database were studied to assess treatment-related changes in SF and SB. Six treatment subgroups (EBRT − STAD, EBRT + STAD, BT − STAD, BT + STAD, EBRT + BT − STAD, EBRT + BT + STAD) were compared. Results The greatest reported changes in SF occurred during the first 2 posttreatment years. Patients receiving BT reported greater SF and the least change in SF overall; those receiving EBRT + BT reported the greatest decline in SF. SF scores associated with STAD were initially lower than in patients without STAD; however by 1 year no statistically significant difference in SF or SB was noted. Conclusion Each treatment for prostate cancer can negatively affect SF and SB. Initial differences among treatment subgroups exist, but diminish with time. SF changes associated with EBRT ± BT were statistically significant and those for BT were not. STAD appeared to confer only temporary and recoverable impairment of erectile function.
High-resolution workstations for primary and secondary radiology readings

We have implemented two high resolution workstations within our pediatric radiology PACS module: a two-monitor 2K x 2K station and a six-monitor 1K x 1K station. The 2K x 2K workstation is under evaluation for primary reading of pediatric radiographs from a computed radiography unit. System implementation and evaluation methods are described. Operational efficiency measures of both film and digital systems are reported. This study is our first attempt to integrate a primary viewing station into a busy clinical environment. The 1K x 1K workstation is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week for fast reviews by referring physicians. Images from a compated radiography system are available at the workstation in about 8 minutes. A digital voice reporting system is being developed to communicate radiology reports from the 2K x 2K workstation to the 1K x 1K secondary review station.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dependence of rate constants for photoinduced charge separation and dark charge recombination on the free energy of reaction in restricted-distance porphyrin-quinone molecules

Rate constants for both radical ion pair formation and recombination in porphyrin - quinone donor-acceptor molecules are reported. The ion pair formation and recombination depend on the exothermicity of the respective electron-transfer reaction in a manner previously reported. The question as to what fraction of energy change is due to relaxation processes involving the solvent vs. the porphyrin - quinone molecules has not been answered by these studies. However, the measured reorganization energy was found to be approximately solvent independent. It was observed that in these molecules the donor-acceptor distance is restricted, and the highly exothermic charge recombination reactions do not produce electronically excited states to the donor or acceptor. 11 references, 2 figures.
Nutritional Investigation of the Metabolism of Glycine and Its Precursors by Chicks Fed a Crystalline Amino Acid Diet

Abstract Wixom et al. (1958) presented data suggesting that both serine and aminoethanol exert a sparing effect on the dietary glycine requirement of growing chicks. Subsequently, it was established that serine could replace dietary glycine on a mole for mole basis (Baker et al., 1968; Akrabawi and Kratzer, 1968) . Work with the rat suggests that several metabolites might conceivably serve as a precursor of glycine through one of the following biosynthetic pathways: choline → betaine → dimethylglycine → sarcosine → glycine; and aminoethanol → glycolic acid → glyoxylic acid → glycine ↔ serine (Meister, 1965). The purpose of the two assays reported here was to evaluate several metabolic intermediates in glycine-choline metabolism to determine if their inclusion in a glycinefree diet would elicit a growth response.…
Why are different features central for natural kinds and artifacts?: the role of causal status in determining feature centrality

Ahn and Lassaline [Ahn, W., Lassaline, M.E., 1995. Causal structure in categorization. Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, Pittsburgh, PA, pp. 521-526] recently proposed a causal status hypothesis which states that features that play a causal role in a relational structure are more central than their effects. This hypothesis can account for previous research demonstrating that compositional features are generally important for natural kinds but functional features are generally important for artifacts. The causal status hypothesis explains this category-feature interaction effect in terms of differences in the causal status of compositional and functional features between natural kinds and artifacts. Experiments 1 and 2 examined real-life categories used in previous studies, and found positive correlations between the causal status of the features and their centrality across natural and artifactual kinds. Experiments 3 and 4 manipulated the causal status of compositional and functional features in artificial categories, and showed that it was causal status rather than the interaction between the type of feature and the type of category per se that accounted for feature centrality. The implications of these results on the distinctions between natural kinds and artifacts are discussed.
San Andres Formation, East-Central New Mexico: ABSTRACT

The lower part of the San Andres Formation in east-central New Mexico consists of three cyclical zones, commonly known as the P-3, P-4, and P-5 porosity zones. Each of these, typically, consists of a thin, widespread evaporite at the top, followed by carbonates in the middle and a thin shaly carbonate zone at the base. Locally, halite may replace anhydrite. The rest of each zone consists of carbonates; dolomite normally underlies the upper anhydrite and may be as much as 100 ft or more thick. The dolomite may contain one or more layers of anhydrite and is underlain by limestone. Lithofacies studies of the lower San Andres indicate that where the carbonate consists entirely of dolomite, there is an above-average amount of evaporites. Lithofacies studies also indicate that porosity trends are mappable and help to determine favorable areas for petroleum exploration. The lower San Andres of east-central New Mexico was deposited along a north to northeast-trending coast that prograded southward and eastward except during the deeper water beginning of each cycle when shale or limestone typically was deposited. The north and west limits of traceable San Andres zones seem to be gradual limits where the San Andres becomes more evaporitic. Porosity in the P-4 and P-5 zones persists farther north than in the P-1, P-2, and P-3 zones, demonstrating the general southward shift of facies with time. End_of_Article - Last_Page 767------------
Frequency Spectrum Analysis of Impact-Echo Waveforms for T-Beams

Numerical and experimental studies were performed to assess the transient impact response of 11 T-beams with various dimensions and aspect ratios. Numerical modeling was performed using a three stage finite-element modeling procedure which included modal analysis, resonant analysis, and three-dimensional transient dynamic analysis. The response at impact locations on both the top centerline of the flange and the bottom centerline of the web was investigated. Physical models of three of the beams were constructed in the laboratory to determine the physical response of the beams when subjected to a transient impact and to verify the numerical results. Relationships between the fundamental frequencies and the frequencies of higher cross-sectional modes of vibration were established for the various aspect ratios. Shape factors were derived from the numerical and experimental results. The practical significance of the results is demonstrated for a project where impact-echo testing was used to nondestructively assess the condition of a decommissioned concrete T-shaped girder.