cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kazakhstan trade with its partners and the role of tenge: an asymmetric analysis

Previous research has shown that lack of any short-run and long-run relationship between the trade balance and the exchange rate could be due to ignoring non-linear adjustment of the exchange rate. In this paper, we introduce non-linearity of the exchange rate adjustment and consider the asymmetric response of Kazakhstan’s trade balance with each of its 13 trading partners. While we find short-run asymmetric response in almost all 13 models, short-run asymmetric effects translate into the long run only in the trade with Austria, China, France, and the U.S. Only in the trade with France a tenge depreciation had favorable long-run effects.
Substance Related Cognitive Dysfunction in Aging

Neurocognitive impairment secondary to substance use can be especially challenging to identify and diagnose in older adults. Metabolic and physical changes due to aging and psychosocial and psychiatric vulnerabilities unique to older adults as well as clinician biases may complicate the diagnosis of substance use in aging. Furthermore, the influence of acute substance use or withdrawal on the central nervous system of older adults can result in neuropsychiatric symptoms that mimic common neurodegenerative illnesses. This chapter will focus on helping clinicians identify substance use in older adults, with an emphasis on alcohol and prescription medication use disorders and their resulting cognitive sequelae.
Mexican Americans and wealth: economic status, family and place

We examine the effect of economic, family, and metropolitan area characteristics on Mexican Americans’ wealth outcomes. We use data from the Mexican American Study Project, a data set that allows u...
Prognostic value of FDG uptake on pretreatmen PET/CT in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis

1665 Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic significance of the semi-quantitative values derived from F-18 FDG PET/CT such as the maximum SUV (Standard Uptake Value), TLG (Total Lesion Glycolysis), and metabolic volume in predicting treatment response in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. Methods This retrospective study included 16 patients with suspected cardiac sarcoidosis who demonstrated abnormal myocardial FDG uptake on dedicated cardiac-inflammation FDG PET/CT encompassing the entire chest and upper abdomen, and subsequently underwent corticosteroid therapy for a diagnosis of active cardiac sarcoidosis. Semi-quantitative values (maximum SUV, TLG, and metabolic volume) were derived from the lesions with abnormal FDG uptake in each visualized organ system using a maximum SUV threshold of 2.5 and visual assessment. These values were compared to the daily dose of prednisone at 6 months, dichotomized as either equal or less than 10mg or greater than 10mg, on which the patient was successfully maintained for the following 3 months without any clinical progression. Evidence of disease progression or lack of it was established by review of all subsequent clinical records. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis. Results Out of 16 patients, 81.3% (13/16) of the patients showed extracardiac involvement in lymph nodes, 37.5% (6/16) in the lung parenchyma, 18.8% (3/16) in the liver, 25% (4/16) in the spleen, and 18.8% (3/16) in the bone. The lesion with the greatest SUV was identified in the heart in 11 patients (68.7%), in the liver in 1 patient (6.3%), and in either mediastinal or upper abdominal lymph node in 4 patients (25%). The maximum SUV, TLG, and metabolic volume of the total disease in all of the visualized organ systems were 8.8 +/- 3.1, 1340+/- 1849g, and 343 +/- 501mlfor the patients with prednisone therapy of equal or less than 10mg and 12.5 +/- 3.3, 1986 +/- 1054g, 449 +/- 215mlfor the patients with prednisone therapy of greater than 10mg (P= 0.04, 0.17, 0.13, respectively), with statistically significant difference in the maxmum SUV between two groups. None of the uptake metrices in the heart showed any significant statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusions The maximum SUV across all the involved organs of the chest and upper abdomen, not in the heart only, could be a predictor of treatment response to steroid therapy in patients with active cardiac sarcoidosis. This underscores the importance of imaging all sites of potential involvement when evaluating patients with suspected sarcoidosis and not limiting the scan to the cardiac region.
Improving performance of photovoltaic panel by reconfigurability in partial shading condition

A photovoltaic (PV) panel operating in partial shading condition results in lowering its power efficiency. In a worst-case scenario, it can create a hotspot that can eventually cause a fire hazard. To address this issue, bypass diodes are connected across a group of PV cells having series-parallel (SP) configuration. Owing to the placement bypass diodes in the PV panel, it can circumvent unshaded PV cells. Hence, topologies such as total cross-tied (TCT), bridge link (BL), and honeycomb (HC) for PV panels are proposed besides SP to reduce the effect of partial shading. Each configuration demonstrated advantages over SP topology. However, many of these configurations lack a mechanism to isolate PV cells that are affected due to the hotspot. Recently developed complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-embedded PV panel has been shown to offer many other benefits besides effectively dealing with shading conditions. We are comparing the performance of CMOS-embedded PV panel under various partial shading conditions with PV panel with fixed configuration topologies, such as SP, TCT, BL, and HC. SPICE-based equivalent PV modeling technique is used in this research to compare the maximum power generated in different topologies under changing partial shading conditions. Results show that CMOS-embedded PV panels are more efficient in coping with partial shading conditions compared to any other contemporary fixed topologies.
Beyond Samuel Moyn's Countermajoritatian Difficulty as a Model of Global Judicial Review

This essay responds to Samuel Moyn’s critique of judicial review and his endorsement of judicial modesty as an alternative. Moyn argues that judicial over-reach has become an unwelcome global phenomenon that should be re-examined and curbed. Moyn argues that legislatures are the ideal forums for the types of decisions he objects to courts making. To explain this view of judicial review, he invokes the counter-majoritarian difficulty to account for the limits of judicial review. He endorses Justice Felix Frankfurter’s notion of judicial modesty as an ideal alternative to what he considers judicial overreach. I reject Moyn’s claim that the kind of judicial modesty invited by the counter-majoritarian difficulty should define the role of courts for all time. By applying the counter-majoritarian difficulty well beyond its specific United States origins, Moyn assumes it is an unproblematic baseline against which to measure the role of courts anywhere, indeed everywhere — whether domestic or international. Further, the counter-majoritarian difficulty presents two starkly opposed choices — judicial supremacy under which the courts have the final word or majoritarian rule. This essay rejects the view that courts and legislatures are locked in a zero-sum struggle as contemplated by the counter-majoritarian difficulty. The vision of judicial modesty that Moyn endorses says nothing about when it would be appropriate for courts to rule against legislative majorities. This view of judicial modesty is defied in Constitutions such as those of South Africa and Kenya which both explicitly provide for the manner in which they should be interpreted and that empower Courts to ‘develop’ the law. In the often revolutionary conditions of new democracies such as South Africa and Kenya, the types of functions expected of judicial review has a significant role both in constituting the new order as well as in disabling the continuation of the old order. Moyn’s argument in favor of judicial modesty under-estimate the value of courts for litigants who have little power and ability to attain their objectives through direct political means. For such litigants, Courts are an important partner and catalyst in advancing their struggles. When such litigants file a case in court, they use the opportunity of litigating to advance their causes by publicizing and galvanizing their supporters. Using the example of litigation on access to essential medicines in South Africa, I show how hauling the government in Court was only one venue among others through which litigants engaged in seeking affordable access to essential medicines. The essay also uses examples from the East African Court of Justice to demonstrate that adopting judicial modesty, in accord with Moyn’s recommendation, would result in legitimizing authoritarian governance inconsistently with the promise of Bills of Rights and international treaty rights in newly democratizing countries and regions.
Organizational Systems’ Effect on Training Success: Why Covering the Content Is Not Enough

This design case examines the implementation of a new human performance technology within a non-profit context. In this design case, we explore how abstract and decontextualized training materials were shared with employees in order to comply with an accelerated implementation timeline for a new performance appraisal system. This approach resulted in a workforce that was ill-prepared to operate the new system when it was implemented. In addition, employees became frustrated and demotivated when they were unable to use the system that was considered to be a major improvement over the current paper-based system. Implications of this design case highlight the impact on employees’ ability to manage change, as well as the cost of learner insecurity when training fails to consider learning “beyond content.” Lessons learned and recommendations for instructional designers in diverse workplaces are discussed. Implications for theory and practice are also explored in this chapter.
Faculty Development: How Do We Encourage Faculty to Become Better Teachers and Mentors?

A healthy mentor relationship is a mutually beneficial experience and a necessary part of the natural progression of a career in academic medicine. We sought to explore the advantages of and challenges to becoming a mentor in current academic urology. Mentorship can promote self-confidence in the ability to choose a career, drive academic productivity, and even inspire a career in academic medicine. It is necessary to help promote advancement in diverse socioeconomic groups within medical trainees. Strong mentors can serve as role models to the next generation of doctors. However, the ability to be an effective mentor is being challenged in today’s world of academic medicine. By staying current with the issues surrounding mentorship, an individual can be fulfilled and successful in training and guiding doctors into the new era of medicine.
Recent Results of Experiments with Saffman-Taylor Flow

In this paper we summarize our recent work on the viscous fingering probleml,2. In its initially planar form, Saffman-Taylor flow3, viscous fingering represents the simplest of pattern formation problems. Thus the observation of its details provides a valuable opportunity for direct testing of the computer calculations which are now just becoming feasible for pattern formation4, Despite its extreme simplicity, Saffman- Taylor flow has much in common with the Mullins-Sekerka instability5 which gives rise to dendritic growth in alloys. In this paper we first discuss the formal similarity between the dispersion relations for the Saffman-Taylor and Mullins-Sekerka instabilities, then we set out some of our recent results on the Saffman-Taylor problem1.
Why do latent fingerprint examiners differ in their conclusions

Forensic latent print examiners usually but do not always reproduce each other's conclusions. Using data from tests of experts conducting fingerprint comparisons, we show the extent to which differing conclusions can be explained in terms of the images, and in terms of the examiners. Some images are particularly prone to disagreements or erroneous conclusions; the highest and lowest quality images generally result in unanimous conclusions. The variability among examiners can be seen as the effect of implicit individual decision thresholds, which we demonstrate are measurable and differ substantially among examiners; this variation may reflect differences in skill, risk tolerance, or bias. Much of the remaining variability relates to inconsistency of the examiners themselves: borderline conclusions (i.e., close to individual decision thresholds) often were not repeated by the examiners themselves, and tended to be completed more slowly and rated difficult. A few examiners have significantly higher error rates than most: aggregate error rates of many examiners are not necessarily representative of individual examiners. The use of a three-level conclusion scale does not precisely represent the underlying agreements and disagreements among examiners. We propose a new method of quantifying examiner skill that would be appropriate for use in proficiency tests. These findings are operationally relevant to staffing, quality assurance, and disagreements among experts in court.
Predictors of Venous Thromboembolism in Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Multi-Center Cohort Study (preprint)

Background: Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in severe COVID-19 patients is challenging. D-dimer was reported to be the strongest independent factor that can predict VTE. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study describes the factors that might predict VTE diagnosis in 219 critically-ill COVID-19 patients. The primary outcome of interest was D-dimer cutoff values to predict VTE diagnosis in anticoagulation vs. no-anticoagulation cohorts. Findings: Of all included patients, 57 (26%) patients were diagnosed with VTE. At baseline, patients in the VTE cohort were more likely to be male and to age between 50-70 years. The optimum cutoff value for D-dimer to predict VTE in all patients was 2000 ng/ml (sensitivity of 86·0% and NPV of 91·3%). Patients who didn’t receive thrombo-prophylaxis, D-dimer value of less than 500 ng/ml can be used to rule-out DVT (sensitivity of 100·0%, NPV of 100·0%, and negative LR of 0). Patients who received thrombo-prophylaxis, D-dimer value of less than 1000 ng/ml can be used to rule-out DVT (sensitivity of 94·4%, NPV of 93·9%, and negative LR of 0·2). A total of 36 (16%) deaths occurred during the follow-up period. Elevated D-dimer (>2000 mg/ml, OR 1·7 [0·8-3·8]) was not associated with an increased risk of death. The use of intensified prophylactic anticoagulation was not significantly associated with a better survival outcome (OR 0·801, CI:0·67-1·748). Interpretation: In patients with severe COVID-19, D-dimer levels can be used to predict and rule-out VTE. The use of intensified prophylactic anticoagulation was not associated with better survival outcomes; this finding requires validation by randomized clinical trials. Funding Statement: This study was not funded by any source. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: This study was approved by the institutional review board of Cleveland Clinic.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Microbubble Streaming in a Microfluidic Device: The Effect of the Bubble Protrusion Depth on the Vortex Pattern

Microbubble streaming in a microfluidic device has been increasingly studied and used in recent years, due to its unique flow pattern that can promote mixing, sort particles and trap particles in microscale flows. However, there have been few numerical studies of this subject. We performed a 3D direct simulation of a cylindrical-shaped micro-bubble, trapped in a pit of a microchannel and sandwiched between two parallel plates, vibrated by pressure oscillation. Our simulation was able to reproduce the experimentally observed relation between the bubble protrusion depth and the vortex pattern: As the bubble protrusion depth increased, new vortices emerged and grew larger. Our investigation of the streamlines near the bubble interface indicates that the number of non-spherical nodes in the bubble interface is closely related to the flow pattern in the liquid phase. It was also validated by our simulation that the flow velocity showed an exponentially decaying trend as the radial distance outward from the vortex center. Our numerical model was also used to investigate the effects of surface tension and channel size on the vortex pattern. Larger surface tension or smaller channel size showed a similar effect as the increased protrusion depth induced more vortices.
Teaching during a Pandemic: United States Teachers' Self-Efficacy During COVID-19

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic had significant implications on schools during 2020, with districts moving to all virtual instruction during the spring and facing the debate of how to return safely to school in the fall. With these decisions, teachers, schools, and districts faced many challenges when providing face-to-face, hybrid, and virtual teaching. The purpose of this study was to explore how the new teaching approaches and requirements have impacted teachers' self-efficacy, specifically instructional and engagement efficacy. The current study included 361 participants from across the United States who completed the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) subsections of instruction and engagement. The results found the average teacher self-efficacy scores for both instruction and engagement were lower than TSES scores of instruction and engagement in previous studies. The results also indicated teachers who are teaching virtually had the lowest efficacy scores compared to teachers teaching in a hybrid or all in-person model. However, the results suggested no difference in efficacy score based on years of teaching experience, teacher location, previous accolades, or instruction level.
The Strategy of Social Obligation

A comprehensive survey of history, which is after all the chronological study of cultures, discloses the immense range of human behavior. So many alternative paths are open to the individual that he cannot be helped in choosing by any simple formula. Man is capable of a very diverse range of actions and if left to himself will run the entire range. Just as everything edible has in some culture been eaten, so also in some culture probably everything has been forbidden as food for religious reasons; and in a wider context everything it is possible for man to do has been done—or been prohibited.
Photoelectric circuit applications

A PHOTOELECTRONIC CIRCUIT consists of a combination of electroluminescent cells (EL) and photoconductors (PC), interconnected by electrical as well as optical paths. This paper confines itself to a study of switching circuits in which the inputs and outputs take the form of electrical signals, and light is used as an intermediate actuating source.
Assuring data trustworthiness: concepts and research challenges

Today, more than ever, there is a critical need to share data within and across organizations so that analysts and decision makers can analyze and mine the data, and make effective decisions. However, in order for analysts and decision makers to produce accurate analysis and make effective decisions and take actions, data must be trustworthy. Therefore, it is critical that data trustworthiness issues, which also include data quality, provenance and lineage, be investigated for organizational data sharing, situation assessment, multi-sensor data integration and numerous other functions to support decision makers and analysts. The problem of providing trustworthy data to users is an inherently difficult problem that requires articulated solutions combining different methods and techniques. In the paper we first elaborate on the data trustworthiness challenge and discuss a framework to address this challenge. We then present an initial approach for assess the trustworthiness of streaming data and discuss open research directions.
United States multicenter clinical trial of the cochlear nucleus hybrid implant system

Objectives/Hypothesis To evaluate the safety and efficacy of acoustic and electric sound processing for individuals with significant residual low-frequency hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. Study Design Prospective, single-arm repeated measures, single-subject design. Methods Fifty individuals, ≥ 18 years old, with low-frequency hearing and severe high-frequency loss were implanted with the Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid L24 implant at 10 investigational sites. Preoperatively, subjects demonstrated consonant-nucleus-consonant word scores of 10% through 60% in the ear to be implanted. Subjects were assessed prospectively, preoperatively, and postoperatively on coprimary endpoints of consonant-nucleus-consonant words, AzBio sentences in noise, and self-assessment measures. Results Significant mean improvements were observed for coprimary endpoints: consonant-nucleus-consonant words (35.8 percentage points) and AzBio sentences in noise (32.0 percentage points), both at P < 0.001. Ninety-six percent of subjects performed equal or better on speech in quiet and 90% in noise. Eighty-two percent of subjects showed improved performance on speech in quiet and 74% in noise. Self-assessments were positive, corroborating speech perception results. Conclusion The Nucleus Hybrid System provides significant improvements in speech intelligibility in quiet and noise for individuals with severe high-frequency loss and some low-frequency hearing. This device expands indications to hearing-impaired individuals who perform poorly with amplification due to bilateral high-frequency hearing loss and who previously were not implant candidates. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 2015
Exercise increases muscle GLUT-4 levels and insulin action in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

A decline in insulin sensitivity is associated with aging, inactivity, and obesity. The effects of exercise training on glucose homeostasis independent of weight loss in older glucose-intolerant individuals are not well established. We examined the effects of exercise training on oral glucose tolerance, insulin action, and concentration of the GLUT-4 glucose transporters in skeletal muscle. Exercise training at 50 and 75% of heart rate reserve was performed for 12 wk in 18 individuals (age = 64 +/- 2, body fat = 37.0 +/- 1.5%). Peripheral insulin action was determined 96 h after the last exercise bout using a two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic glucose clamp (insulin = 192 and 708 pmol/l). Percent body fat and fat-free mass (FFM) were unchanged with training. Diet composition, assessed by diet record, did not change over the 12 wk. Improved oral glucose tolerance was observed, as exhibited by lower plasma glucose concentrations after training (P < 0.05), whereas plasma insulin response remained unchanged. The rate of glucose disposal was unchanged during the low insulin concentration but increased 11.0% at the high insulin concentration (P < 0.05) after training (54.4 +/- 4.4 vs. 60.4 +/- 5.5 mumol.kg FFM-1.min-1). Skeletal muscle glycogen and GLUT-4 concentration increased 24 and 60%, respectively, with training. There was no direct relationship between the change in GLUT-4 protein and the change in glucose disposal rate. These findings demonstrate that chronic exercise training without changes in body composition improves peripheral insulin action in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Having Scholarly Impact: The Art of Hitting Academic Home Runs

With more and more academics feeling more and more pressure to produce numbers of publications, I articulate the value of papers that are perhaps fewer in number, but have more impact on the subseq...
Electron allocation to alternative substrates of Azotobacter nitrogenase is controlled by the electron flux through dinitrogenase

The electron flux through dinitrogenase (MoFe protein, protein containing Mo and Fe) from Azotobacter vinelandii controls the relative effectiveness of alternative substrates as electron acceptors in the nitrogenase system. The electron flux through dinitrogenase reductase (Fe protein) or the concentration of MgATP do not directly control electron allocation but rather control it via their influence on the electron flux through dinitrogenase. Kinetic properties of substrate reduction were studied as a function of the electron flux through dinitrogenase. N2 was most effective at high electron fluxes, whereas H+ was the most effective acceptor at very low rates of electron flow through dinitrogenase. The Km for acetylene was dependent on the electron flux through dinitrogenase, whereas the Km for N2 was much less sensitive to this electron flux. The lag period before the onset of acetylene reduction was proportional to the turnover time of dinitrogenase, and was approx. 12 times greater than the dinitrogenase turnover time. pH has effects on the electron allocation to substrates beyond that expected from the effect of pH on the electron flux; thus, pH may alter the relative ability of the nitrogenase enzyme system to reduce alternative substrates.
Tail and perineal wounds

Tail and perineal wounds arise from various causes. Reconstructive techniques are beneficial to the resolution of congenital, traumatic, and neoplastic conditions that involve the tail and perineum. This article reviews some common and not so common conditions and the techniques to treat them effectively.
Lack of association of hepatic lipase polymorphisms with late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Several polymorphisms in hepatic lipase (LIPC) are similar to apoE4 because they associate with cholesterol concentrations and, for rs6084, coronary artery disease (CAD). Since apoE4 is also a primary genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), LIPC single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)s represent excellent candidates for LOAD association studies. Because this issue has not been addressed previously, we evaluated LIPC SNP association with LOAD. In a population from the Religious Orders Study (ROS), rs6084 was nominally associated with LOAD odds (p = 0.015 by χ2 test). However, this association was not confirmed in two subsequent series based at the University of Kentucky (UKY, p = 0.15) or the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville (MCJ, p = 0.97). Hence, rs6084 is not consistently associated with LOAD.
Managing Acquisitions: Creating Value Through Corporate Renewal

The article reviews the book “Managing Acquisitions: Creating Value Through Corporate Renewal,” by Philippe C. Haspeslagh and David B. Jemison.
Quantitative HPTLC determination of salicyclic acid in topical acne medications

A method was developed for determination of salicylic acid in anti-acne pharmaceutical preparations involving separation on a preadsorbent high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) silica gel plate with fluorescent phosphor, detection by fluorescence quenching, and quantification by densitometric scanning. Salicylic acid was directly detected and quantified on the plate at levels as low as 1 μg, and no interference was encountered from other ingredients in the medication formulations. The method was applied to the analysis of a commercial gel preparation with a label value of 2.0% salicylic acid, and an average value of 99.2% of theoretical was obtained (n=16). Accuracy was validated by analysis of a 10% benzoyl peroxide anti-acne gel spiked with 2% salicylic acid, and recovery averaged 100.0% (n=10). The coefficients of variation for the analyses were 3.9 and 5.6%, respectively. Advantages of the new HPTLC method are discussed.
Mothers' responses to infants' facial expressions of sadness, anger, and physical distress

It was hypothesized the mothers' predictions of their caregiving interventions would be differentially influenced by infants' facial expressions of sadness, anger, and physical distress. Mothers viewed slides of infants whose facial displays had first been objectively classified with the Maximally Discriminative Facial Movement Coding System (Izard, 1979). Mothers imagined their infants showing similar expressions while scaling their own tendencies to respond with a number of specific caregiving and socializing interventions and affective reactions. Multivariate ANOVAs showed that the mothers' predictions differed for the three types of negative display. In an emotion decoding task, mothers' responses did not differ as a function of the infants' sex. The patterns of decoded emotions were most similar between physical distress and anger expressions, and least similar between physical distress and sadness expressions. Generally, the findings supported the hypothesis that the negative facial displayes signaled different affective states and had differential motivational effects on the mothers.
Two-Electron U Centers in Ionic Crystals: Point-Ion Models

The Hartree-Fock-Slater (HFS) equations for the two-electron orbitals about a proton located substitutionally at an anion site have been solved numerically in the point-ion lattice potential. The lattice relaxation of the nearest-neighbor ions is included in the model. The five lowest-lying $U$-center states for NaCl, KCl, Cd${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Sr${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, and Ba${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ have been calculated within the framework of the above model. It is found that the low-lying singlet states have the following order for increasing values of the energy: $^{1}S(1s, 1s)$, $^{1}P(1s, 2p)$, and $^{1}S(1s, 2s)$. The energy levels for the triplet states $^{3}S(1s, 2s)$ and $^{3}P(1s, 2p)$ lie between the energy levels for the $^{1}S(1s, 1s)$ and $^{1}P(1s, 2p)$ states. The ordering of the triplet states depends upon the host crystal and the lattice relaxation. In some cases, these triplet states may be degenerate or very nearly so. In addition, the extent to which the peak energies of the $U$ bands obey Mollwo-Ivey relations is given for the alkali halides and for the alkaline-earth fluorides. The predictions based upon the numerical HFS wave functions are compared with the predictions based upon past variational wave functions and with experiment.
Bugs, drugs, and computers.

The paper describes the development, implementation, and review of a daily reporting system using data from two modules of a hospital information system: drug sensitivity reports from Microbiology, and patient drug profiles from Pharmacy. The system reviews each patient receiving antibiotics and compares that information with the patient's microbiology findings, looking for and flagging "no cultures," "negative cultures," and "mismatches," i.e., the patient is receiving an antibiotic to which the organism is resistant. Reports are produced daily and reviewed by the hospital's Infection Control nurse, who, in turn, notifies the attending physician when appropriate.
Evaluation of neat resins based on methacrylates modified with methacryl-POSS, as potential organic–Inorganic hybrids for formulating dental restoratives

Three series of neat resins, based on methacrylates or dimethacrylates modified with 1-[3-(methacryl)propyl]-3,5,7,9,11,13,15-heptacyclopentylpentacyclo[9.5.113,­9.15,15.17,13]octasiloxane (Methacryl-POSS or POSS-MA), were evaluated. Incorporation of POSS-MA into the polymeric matrix was accomplished in three ways: (a) resins series I was formulated with one-pot copolymerization of a bis-GMA/diluent monomer with POSS-MA; (b) the copolymer of 2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and POSS-MA, with a weight ratio of 1 : 1, was first made, then the copolymer hydroxyl groups were converted into methacrylate groups to get a macromer; finally the macromer was copolymerized with bis-GMA/diluents to formulate the second series of neat resins; (c) copolymer of POSS-MA and t-butyl methacrylate (t-BMA) or 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA) were first made, then they were combined with a mixture of bis-GMA and the corresponding diluent to make the third kind of neat resins. The amount of POSS incorporated into the neat resin matrix was controlled at 5, 10 and 15 wt%. Incorporating only 5 wt% substantially reduced the shrinkage of the prepared neat resins. The percentage of methacrylate-functionalized POSS monomer in the bis-GMA/diluent base, was compared to neat resins prepared without the POSS. The mechanical properties of neat resin having POSS were improved for approaches (b) and (c), but remained at the same level as the neat resins without POSS for approach (a). The results show that miscibility between the POSS component and the matrix, especially the diluent, plays a very important role in the improvement of the properties of the formulated thermosets. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereochemical determination of carbon partitioning between photosynthesis and photorespiration in C3 plants: use of (3R)-D-[3-3H1, 3-14C]glyceric acid.

Abstract When (3 R )- d -[3- 3 H 1 ,3- 14 C]glyceric acid is supplied in tracer amounts to illuminated tobacco leaf discs, the acid penetrates to the chloroplasts without loss of 3 H, and is phosphorylated there. Subsequent metabolism associated with the reductive photosynthetic cycle fully conserves 3 H. Oxidation of ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) by RuBP carboxylase-oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) results in the formation of (2 R )-[2- 3 H 1 , 14 C]glycolic acid which, on oxidation by glycolate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.1), releases 3 H to water. Loss of 3 H from the combined photosynthetic and photorespiratory systems is, therefore, associated with the oxidative photorespiratory loop. Assuming steady-state conditions and a basic metabolic model, the fraction of RuBP oxidized and the photorespiratory carbon flux relative to gross or net CO 2 fixation can be calculated from the fraction of supplied 3 H retained in the triose phosphates exported from the chloroplasts. This retention can be determined from the 3 H: 14 C ratio for glucose obtained from isolated sucrose. The dependence of 3 H retention upon O 2 and CO 2 concentrations can be deduced by assuming simple competitive kinetics for RuBP carboxylase-oxygenase. The experimental results confirmed the stereochemical assumptions made. Under conditions of negligible photorespiration 3 H retention was essentially complete. The changes in 3 H retention with O 2 and CO 2 concentrations were investigated. For leaf discs (upper surface up) in normal air, it was estimated that 39% of the RuBP was oxidized, 32% of the fixed CO 2 was photorespired, and the photorespiration rate was 46% of the net photosynthetic CO 2 fixation rate. These are minimal estimates, as it is assumed that the only source of photorespired CO 2 is glycine decarboxylation.
A method for assaying perchlorate concentration in microbial cultures using the fluorescent dye resazurin.

Abstract Low concentrations (μg/L) of the perchlorate anion, ClO4−, have been measured in surface and ground water supplies in many locations throughout the United States. Perchlorate is known to affect the function of the thyroid gland in mammals and its toxicity primarily results from its inhibition of thyroid hormone output. The major sources of perchlorate contamination in surface and ground waters are defense contractors, military installations, propellant manufacturers and agriculture. The currently accepted method of perchlorate analysis, recommended by the US EPA, is neither fast nor easy to use and requires purchase of an expensive high performance ion chromatograph (IC). The novel method described here uses dye resazurin to measure perchlorate reduction by bacterial cultures and bacterial consortia in a high-throughput, multi-well, culture plate format. The method is based on the observation that perchlorate reduction and the decrease of resazurin fluorescence occur simultaneously in perchlorate degrading cultures. The bioassays were performed in anaerobic serum bottles or 96-well plates with constant shaking, using a minimal ATCC medium with 10 mM acetate as electron donor/carbon source and 200 ppm perchlorate as an electron acceptor. Fluorescence measurements with excitation at 570 nm and emission at 590 nm were taken in 20 min intervals. Changes in perchlorate concentration were confirmed using IC. Based on the experimental data, a simple model showing the correlation between perchlorate concentration in microbial culture and resazurin fluorescence level was proposed. Other dyes including redox indicators, reactive azo dyes and electron shuttle chemicals were also tested for comparison and were found less useful.
Cell migration in response to the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase requires epidermal growth factor receptor activation through an ADAM-mediated mechanism.

Background Cell migration is an integral component of intimal hyperplasia development and proteases are pivotal in the process. Understanding the role of urokinase signaling within the cells of vasculature remains poorly defined. The study examines the role of amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of urokinase on a pivotal cross-talk receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR is transactivated by both G-protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases and is key to many of their responses. We hypothesize that A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase Domains (ADAM) allows the transactivation of EGFR by ATF. Objective To determine the role of ADAM in EGFR transactivation by ATF in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) during cell migration. Methods Human coronary VSMC were cultured in vitro. Assays of EGFR phosphorylation were examined in response to ATF (10 nM) in the presence and absence of the matrix metalloprotease (MMP) inhibitor GM6001, the ADAM inhibitors TAPI-0 and TAPI-1, heparin binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) inhibitor, CRM197, HB-EGF inhibitory antibodies, epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibitory antibodies, and the EGFR inhibitor AG1478. The small interference ribonucleic acid (siRNA) against EGFR and ADAM-9, ADAM-10, ADAM-12, and adenoviral delivered Gbg inhibitor, βARK CT were also used. Results ATF produced concentration-dependent VSMC migration (by wound assay and Boyden chamber), which was inhibited by increasing concentrations of AG1478. ATF was shown to induce time-dependent EGFR phosphorylation, which peaked at fourfold greater than control. Pre-incubation with the Gβγ inhibitor βARK CT inhibited EGFR activation by ATF. This migratory and EGFR response was inhibited by AG1478 in a concentration-dependent manner. Incubation with siRNA against EGFR blocked the ATF-mediated migratory and EGFR responses. EGFR phosphorylation by ATF was blocked by inhibition of MMP activity and the ligand HB-EGF. The presence of the ADAM inhibitors, TAPI-0 and TAPI-1 significantly decreased EGFR activation. EGFR phosphorylation by EGF was not interrupted by inhibition of MMP, ADAMs, or HB-EGF. Direct blockade of the EGFR prevented activation by both ATF and EGF. Incubation with siRNA to ADAM-9 and -10 significantly reduced HB-EGF release from VSMC and EGFR activation in response to ATF. The siRNA against ADAM-12 had no effect. Conclusion ATF can induce transactivation of EGFR by an ADAM-mediated, HB-EGF-dependent process. Targeting a pivotal cross-talk receptor such as EGFR is an attractive molecular target to inhibit cell migration.
Cone resistance in sand by incremental method.

Abstract A new method has been developed for the determination of cone resistance under drained conditions. Numerical methods are used for the solution of the differential equations of plasticity theory for soils and for the determination of the stress states in the soil produced by the penetration of the cone. It is assumed that the stresses produced by the penetration of the cone remain ‘locked in’ the soil and constitute boundary conditions for further penetration. The computation starts with the cone base at the surface and is continued by successively incrementing the depth by a small amount. Charts are given for the computation of cone resistance in sands for various friction angles. The importance of the effect of the shear stresses generated at the surface of the cone and characterized by the interface friction angle, δ, is discussed in detail.
CEO DUALITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: A CONTINGENCY MODEL

Several studies have addressed the CEO duality-performance relationship, with inconsistent results. This paper proposes that these inconsistencies can be resolved by integrating agency and stewardship perspectives on duality. Using data from 192 firms in 12 industries, both the direction and magnitude of the duality-performance relationship was found to vary systematically across Dess and Beard's (1984) environmental dimensions. These results provide partial support for both agency and stewardship perspectives.
Results of surgical treatment of kidneycancer with solitary metastasis to contralateral adrenal

A large series of patients were reviewed in two major teaching institutions, and patients with a carcinoma of the kidney with a solitary metastatic deposit in the contralateral adrenal were identified. Their survival was analyzed and compared with the survival of those patients having a solitary metastatic deposit in other organs.
IgG specific antibodies to rye grass and ragweed pollen antigens in the tear secretions of patients with vernal conjunctivitis.

We studied the tears of 30 patients (25 males and five females, ranging in age from 8 to 34 years) with vernal conjunctivitis for pollen-specific IgG antibodies to rye grass and ragweed antigen E by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Eighteen of 30 (60%) and 20 of 30 (67%) patients with vernal conjunctivitis had significant levels (more than 2 S.D. from the mean of control tears) of IgG antibodies in their tear secretions to rye grass (geometric mean = 68.7 ELISA units) and ragweed antigen E (geometric mean = 50 ELISA units), respectively. In contrast, the control groups (eight atopic individuals, four with seasonal rhinitis, and 12 with allergic conjunctivitis) had low amounts of specific IgG antibodies to these two pollen antigens in their tears. Total IgG and IgM were also increased in the tears of patients with vernal conjunctivitis. To evaluate whether these immunoglobulins and specific IgG antibodies were locally produced by the conjunctival tissues, we used transferrin as a marker for the leakage of plasma proteins into tears. We found that the specific IgG antibodies to rye grass or ragweed antigen E, or both, in the tears were locally produced by the conjunctival tissues. The local production ranged from 20% to 99.9%. of 17 patients with vernal conjunctivitis and undetectable pollen-specific IgE antibodies in their tears, 14 (82.4%) had tear specific IgG antibodies to rye grass or ragweed antigen E or both, whereas of those with measurable tear IgE antibodies, only nine of 13 (69%) had tear IgG antibodies to rye grass or antigen E or both. These results suggested that both IgE- and IgG-mediated immune mechanisms may be important in the pathogenesis of vernal conjunctivitis.
A Variational Construction of Chaotic Trajectories for a Reversible Hamiltonian System

Abstract A geometric criterion for the existence of chaotic trajectories of a reversible Hamiltonian system with the configuration space T × N , with N a compact manifold, is given. The main result is a variational version of the theorem of D. V. Turayev and L. P. Shilnikov ( Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 304 , 1989, 811–814) on the symbolic representation of trajectories of Hamiltonian systems possessing several homoclinics to a saddle equilibrium.
Neural control of behaviour in Ascaris

Abstract The Ascaris motor nervous system contains about 90 motorneurons and interneurons. In order to understand its function, our strategy has been to start with an extensive morphological analysis of the wiring diagram, and then to use this information as a framework for the electrophysiological and biochemical analysis of cellular properties and interactions. In this article we discuss the signalling mechanisms, predominantly passive, used by this nervous system. We also discuss a model for nematode locomotion that emerges from our work.
Racial variation in the frequency of intrapartum hemorrhage.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate racial variation in the frequency of intrapartum hemorrhage. Methods: Using information from birth certificates of live singleton births in North Carolina from 1990 to 1997 (n = 807,759), we evaluated the frequency of intrapartum hemorrhage and its association with maternal race. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of any intrapartum hemorrhage, placental abruption, placenta previa, and unspecified hemorrhage in each racial group, adjusted for other risk factors. Results: Black women had the highest rates of any hemorrhage (1.52% black, 1.47% white, 1.33% other race, P = .006) and placental abruption (0.79% black, 0.68% white, 0.56% other race, P = .001) but had lower rates of unspecified hemorrhage (0.37% black, 0.42% white, 0.42% other race, P = .001). Race was not associated with placenta previa. Maternal race remained associated with intrapartum hemorrhage after multivariable analysis, but the direction of the association was reversed. Black women were less likely to have any intrapartum hemorrhage (odds ratio [OR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77, 0.85), placental abruption (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70, 0.82), placenta previa (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81, 0.98), or other unspecified hemorrhage (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.76, 0.92) compared with white women. Women of other minority races were at lower risk for placental abruption (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67, 0.87) but were comparable to white women for risk of placenta previa (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.91, 1.24) and other unspecified hemorrhage (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.88, 1.19). Conclusion: Although black women had higher rates of intrapartum hemorrhage than whites, the increased frequency was attributable to differences in clinical presentation and other risk factors.
A Functional Explanation for Denticulation in Theropod Dinosaur Teeth

The serrated, or denticulated, ziphodont teeth of theropod dinosaurs display variability in their extent of denticulation. The functional model proposed here tests the hypothesis that denticles will not exist in areas that do not frequently contact the substrate. This area, defined as the "dead-space," is determined by the direction the tooth moves through the fleshy substrate. The extent of denticulation, as well as the dead-space dimensions, is measured from photographs of 235 isolated and in situ theropod teeth, to determine a meaningful relationship between the two variables. Both Euclidean and geometric morphometric methods are employed, and the data are expressed in bivariate and ordination plots. The model predicts the direction of tooth movement through the curvature of the tip/apex. Tooth position and taxon are considered. The results show that the mesial margin is usually partially denticulated, while the distal margin is usually totally denticulated. Curved teeth have large dead-spaces, and tend to be less denticulated mesially. Straighter teeth are more extensively denticulated, to the point where they became symmetrical. The mesial denticulation is determined by the dead-space, and dictated by the substrate contact. The dead-space almost always predicted less extensive denticulation; a consequence of the model's limitations. Tooth curvature increases with a more distal position, due to rotation based on the proximity to the hinge. Denticulation indicates that theropods used a distally oriented puncture to modify the substrate, similar to modern analogues. Although there is little taxonomic variation, Troodontidae show unique and extreme degrees of mesial denticulation.
River bed transport measurements show bed dilation and contraction

A new study of bed load transport—the movement of the gravel or other grains on a stream bed—has turned up a previously undetected effect. Marquis and Roy used several different methods to monitor bed load activity in a gravel bed river, Beard Creek in Quebec, Canada. They examined streamfow, bed load, and bed morphology before, during, and after 20 food events. The researchers found that two of the methods—measuring changes in bed topography between successive foods and surveying bed activity—gave inconsistent results. Changes in elevation of the bed did not always correspond to movement of bed load.