cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Glycemic Effectiveness of Dulaglutide vs. Liraglutide and Exenatide QW in a U.S. Real-World Setting

The objective of this retrospective observational study was to compare 6-month and 1-year real-world glycemic effectiveness among patients initiating GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), dulaglutide (DULA) vs. liraglutide (LIRA) or DULA vs. exenatide QW (EQW), using U.S. claims data from the HealthCore Integrated Research Database (HIRD®) between November 2014 and May 2016 (index date=earliest GLP-1RA fill date). Patients ≥18 years old, with T2DM, no claim for any GLP-1RA in the 6 months pre-index period (baseline), continuous enrollment 6 months pre- and 1-year post-index, ≥1 HbA1c result pre-index and 1-year post-index were included. DULA users were propensity-matched 1:1 to LIRA (585 pairs) or EQW (422 pairs) users. Matched cohorts were balanced in baseline patient characteristics including mean HbA1c. The mean age of all cohorts was 53 years and approximately 50% were males. Among the DULA vs. LIRA matched cohorts, 59% and 41% initiated on DULA 0.75mg and 1.5mg QW, respectively, and 44% and 56% initiated on LIRA 0.6/1.2mg and 1.8 mg QD, respectively. The key effectiveness results are included in the table. At both 6-month and 1-year post-index, patients initiating DULA experienced a greater reduction in HbA1c compared to LIRA or EQW initiators (p Disclosure R. Mody: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Q. Huang: Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. M. Yu: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. H. Patel: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. R. Zhao: Other Relationship; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. M. Grabner: Employee; Self; HealthCore, Inc. L. Fernandez Lando: Employee; Self; Eli Lilly and Company. Stock/Shareholder; Self; Eli Lilly and Company.
Tacit Knowledge, Psychology of

The term tacit knowledge was first brought into the social scientist's lexicon by the philosopher Michael Polanyi. Polanyi, who wrote extensively on the role of consciousness in creativity and in the process of doing science, used the term in a manner that extended its standard, nontechnical connotations. Rather than simply having it refer to knowledge that is implied, Polanyi used it to refer to knowledge that was personal, private, and, importantly, knowledge that was not necessarily available for conscious introspection. This last meaning is the one that has had dramatic impact in contemporary psychology—although in many writings tacit has been replaced by the synonymous term implicit. However, no matter which term is used, the notion has become of considerable importance since it is now understood that a good deal of knowledge, as Polanyi suggested, is acquired and held largely independent of awareness. Moreover, the underlying neurological mechanisms that are responsible for acquisition and retention of implicit or tacit knowledge appear to be remarkably robust and to function virtually normally in individuals with several psychological and neurological disorders than compromise conscious, top-down processes.
Operating the Tractor and the Implement

The human operator is still essential for an efficient use of the tractor with attached implements. Its not likely that the operator will be replaced by mechanical devices in the near future even though mechanical devices will gradually take over a number of the functions currently performed by the human operator.
Resonance Energy Transfer Mediated by Metal–Dielectric Composite Nanostructures

Nanostructure-mediated energy transfer has attracted considerable attention as a template for photocatalysis and solar energy conversion, and the use of noble-metal nanoparticles that support localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) has been widely explored as a medium for realizing this paradigm. On the other hand, composite nanoparticles (CNPs) comprised of a large dielectric bead and smaller metal nanostructures have been shown to achieve efficient energy transfer to small-molecule adsorbates through the interplay between dielectric scattering resonances and the broad-band absorption associated with the metal nanostructure. This scattering-mediated absorption can enable selective photochemistry without relying on the plasmonic properties of noble-metal nanoparticles. While the precise photochemical mechanisms themselves remain unknown, resonance energy transfer (RET) is one feasible route for initiating the photochemistry. We demonstrate computationally that CNPs indeed facilitate RET to small-mole...
Formation of disinfection by-products under influence of shale gas produced water.

Abstract Accidental spills and surface discharges of shale gas produced water could contaminate water resources and generate health concerns. The study explored the formation and speciation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during chlorination of natural waters under the influence of shale gas produced water. Results showed the presence of produced water as low as 0.005% changed the DBP profile measurably. A shift to a more bromine substitution direction for the formation of trihalomethanes, dihaloacetic acids, trihaloacetic acids, and dihaloacetonitriles was illustrated by exploring the individual DBP species levels, bromine substitution factors, and DBP species fractions, and the effect was attributable to the introduction of bromide from produced water. The ratio of dichloroacetic and trichloroacetic acids also increased, which was likely affected by different bromination degrees at elevated bromide concentrations. Increasing blend ratios of produced water enhanced the formation of DBPs, especially the brominated species, while such negative effects could be alleviated by pre-treating the produced water with ozone/air stripping to remove bromide. The study advances understandings about the impacts of produced water spills or surface discharges regarding potential violation of Stage 2 DBP rules at drinking water treatment facilities.
Estimating multiproduct and product‐specific scale economies for agricultural cooperatives

This article estimates multiproduct and product‐specific scale economies, scope economies, and cost efficiency with single and annual cost frontiers using a nonparametric approach. Multiproduct scale and scope economies are found that suggests increasing scale and product diversification can reduce cost for agricultural cooperatives. Many agricultural cooperatives experience economies of scale indicating that variable returns to scale as opposed to constant returns to scale is the appropriate technology for modeling agricultural cooperatives. Product‐specific scale economies for all outputs are close to one indicating that individual outputs are operating close to constant returns to scale. Annual frontier estimates show that cooperatives have become less cost efficient over time, but scale and scope economies remain relatively consistent across years. Further, results show that economic measures obtained from the single frontier are statistically different from those measures calculated from annual frontiers, suggesting that the cost frontier has shifted over time. The trade‐off between cost efficiency and multiproduct scale economies indicates that smaller cooperatives can reduce a higher percentage of cost by increasing the scale of operations rather than just becoming cost efficient. Because larger incentives exist for small cooperatives to increase scale, mergers will likely continue until economies of scale are exhausted in the industry.
Updating and Extending National Models

The objective of this paper is to discuss the possibilities available for updating and extending the life and capability of national travel demand models. It is based on the experience of the author and of Hague Consulting Group (HCG) in several countries but most particularly in The Netherlands. A final section focuses specifically on the current major project to update and improve the Netherlands National Model (referred to subsequently as NMS).
A Latent Profile Analysis of Suburban Single-Family Rental Housing (SFR) Neighborhoods

ABSTRACTSingle-family rental housing (SFR) is an increasingly prevalent form of housing tenure in U.S. suburban neighborhoods, representing a paradigm shift in how households gain access to a subur...
Unpaired Two-Sample t-Tests

Social science students naturally have a lot of questions. Are college students majoring in the humanities more social than students majoring in the physical sciences? Are religious societies happier than secular societies? Do children with divorced parents have more behavioral problems than children with married parents? Are inmates who attended school in prison less likely to reoffend than inmates who do not receive education? These questions compare two groups (e.g., children of divorced parents and children of married parents) and ask which group has a higher score on a variable (e.g., number of behavioral problems). These kind of questions are extremely common in the social sciences, so it should not surprise you that there is a statistical method developed to answer them. That method is the unpaired two-sample t-test, which is a comparison of scores from two different unrelated groups. The topic of this chapter is the unpaired two-sample t-test , one of the most common statistical methods in the social sciences. Learning Goals • Explain when an unpaired two-sample t -test is an appropriate NHST procedure. • Conduct an unpaired two-sample t -test. • Calculate an effect size (i.e., Cohen's d) for an unpaired two-sample t -test. • Show how the unpaired two-sample t -test is a member of the general linear model (GLM). • Correctly find and interpret a p -value. Making Group Comparisons Answering the questions at the beginning of the chapter requires comparing two scores. When these groups are unrelated to one another, an unpaired-samples t-test is an appropriate method of analyzing data. You may remember in Chapter 9 we paired scores, the two sets of scores formed pairs across the datasets (e.g., pre-test and post-test data, or scores about a pair of siblings). This allowed us to simplify the two sets of scores into one group of difference scores and to conduct a one-sample t -test with the difference scores. However, in the social sciences our scores are often unrelated to one another. For example, a sociology student interested in the happiness levels in different societies would collect data on happiness levels from people in both religious and non-religious societies. After these data are collected, she would have two sets of scores – but there would be no logical reason to pair individuals from one group with individuals from another group because the people in the two groups had nothing to do with each other.
Exploring the bidirectional connection between belonging and women’s self-sexualization

Women’s self-sexualization and belonging may be inextricably connected. Self-sexualization, or intentionally engaging in activities to appear sexually appealing to others, may carry intrapersonal c...
Strong curvature singularities in quasispherical asymptotically de Sitter dust collapse

We study the occurrence, visibility, and curvature strength of singularities in dust-containing Szekeres spacetimes (which possess no Killing vectors) with a positive cosmological constant. We find that such singularities can be locally naked, Tipler strong, and develop from a non-zero-measure set of regular initial data. When examined along timelike geodesics, the singularity's curvature strength is found to be independent of the initial data.
Arm Ischemia and Posterior Stroke in a Patient With a Pulsatile Mass in the Right Upper Side of Chest

Aman in his late 60swith a history of laryngeal cancer was transferred to our institution. Thepatient had undergone laryngectomywith radiation,modified radical neck dissection, andapectoralismajor flap into the right-sidedneckwound in 1998.This operationwas subsequently complicated by right carotid blowout requiring right-sided carotid artery ligation on November 5, 2005. The patient initially presented to our hospital with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3. Findings from computed tomography of the head at the referring hospital showed acute right-hemispheric stroke with left-sided hemiparesis. Onexamination, thepatientwas afebrile,with aheart rate of 108beats/min andblood pressureof 169/91mmHgwith 100%oxygensaturation.Pertinent findings includedan improved Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 and left arm and leg hemiparesis. The right upper armwas cool to the touch below the elbow,with cyanotic right fingers, and the right-sided radial and brachial pulses were absent. The patient also presentedwith a pulsatile mass in theupperchestwall on the right side.Aconfirmatorymagnetic resonance imageof thehead isshowninFigure1A,andaselectiveangiogramofthe innominateartery isshowninFigure1B. 50 mm A B
Dai Zhen on Nature (Xing) and Pattern (Li)

The article discusses Dai Zhen's views on pattern (li 理). For Dai, pattern has to do with ensuring that the means by which one attains one's emotional propensities (qing 情) and satisfies one's desires (yu 欲) will not prevent others from doing the same. The heart/mind (xin 心) has the capacity to know (zhi 知) pattern on such basis and such knowledge will guide action. Ethical failure is due to a deficiency in knowledge, and self-cultivation involves developing one's capacity to know so that one can grasp the pattern in any affair one encounters.1
Dynamic Light Scattering Microscopy

The sections in this article are Introduction Theory Single Scattering Center Multiple Scattering Centers Temporal Autocorrelation of Intensity Phase Fluctuation Factors Number Fluctuation Factors Characteristic Times and Distances Spatial Autocorrelation of Intensity Variance of Intensity Fluctuations: Mobile Fraction Experimental Design Optical Setup Data Acquisition Sample Preparation: Polystyrene Beads Sample Preparation: Living Macrophages Buffer Changes during Data Acquisition Data Analysis Temporal Intensity Autocorrelation Function Spatial Intensity Autocorrelation Function Mobile Fraction Experimental Results Polystyrene Beads: Temporal Phase Autocorrelation Variance of Intensity Fluctuations on Beads: Phase Fluctuations Polystyrene Beads: Number Fluctuations Polystyrene Beads: Spatial Autocorrelation Polystyrene Beads: Mobile Fractions Living Macrophage Cells: Temporal Autocorrelation Living Macrophage Cells: Mobile Fraction Discussion Polystyrene Beads Macrophages Improvements for DLSM Acknowledgments
The transcription factor ThPOK suppresses Runx3 and imposes CD4(+) lineage fate by inducing the SOCS suppressors of cytokine signaling.

Lineage fate in the thymus is imposed by the antagonizing effects of the transcription factors ThPOK and Runx3. Park and colleagues show that ThPOK-induced SOCS factors are required for differentiation into the CD4+ T cell lineage.
Radioiodine treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer despite history of ‘iodine allergy’

Summary Radioiodine ( 131 I) is a critical component in the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer. We recently saw a patient with thyroid cancer who was hesitant to take 131 I treatment because he had previously encountered an allergic reaction to administration of iodine-containing radiocontrast agent for computed tomography (CT) scanning. We were able to administer 131 I treatment after discussion that his anaphylactic reaction was not due to iodine and that radioiodine ( 131 I) treatment is unlikely to cause a reaction in the patient.
Recording volume holographic memories with a phase conjugate mirror

We propose, demonstrate and analyze the application of phase conjugate mirrors during the recording of volume holographic memories. Our results show that by using phase conjugate mirrors during recording, the uniformity of the holographic gratings is improved and the recording speed is increased. Theoretical simulations and experimental results will be presented and discussed.
Monitoring biochemical changes in bacterial spore during thermal and pressure-assisted thermal processing using FT-IR spectroscopy.

Pressure-assisted thermal processing (PATP) is being widely investigated for processing low acid foods. However, its microbial safety has not been well established and the mechanism of inactivation of pathogens and spores is not well understood. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study some of the biochemical changes in bacterial spores occurring during PATP and thermal processing (TP). Spore suspensions (∼109 CFU/mL of water) of Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Bacillus sphaericus, and three strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were treated by PATP (121 °C and 700 MPa) for 0, 10, 20, and 30 s and TP (121 °C) for 0, 10, 20, and 30 s. Treated and untreated spore suspensions were analyzed using FT-IR in the mid-infrared region (4000–800 cm−1). Multivariate classification models based on soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were developed using second derivative-transformed spectra. The spores could be differentiated up to the strain level due to differences in their biochem...
Communicating from space (antenna metrology)

Worldwide, microwave holographic metrology is being considered as a very powerful diagnostic tool for identifying reflector surface distortions and defective radiating elements of an array. Important measurement improvements, algorithm developments, error evaluations, and display methodologies have been reported in recent years. The author discusses the application of microwave holographic metrology to space communication antennas. >
Optical and bonding model for non-crystalline SiOx and SiOxNy materials

Optical data for non-crystalline SiOx materials are presented and analyzed for the energy region 1 to 26 eV. The results indicate that amorphous substances of all intermediate compositions between Si and SiO2 can be formed and that these materials are not simple mixtures of particles of Si and SiO2 but rather the two atom species are blended on an atomic scale. The basic units of this structure are Si tetrahedra (perhaps highly distorted) of the type Si(SiyO4−y) in which the distribution of atoms for all y = 0 to 4 is statistical for any given atom ratio. Further it is found that the optical properties of these layers are determined by the presence and grouping of SiSi and SiO bonds and that clusters of like bonds of the dimension of a Si(Si4) or Si(O4) tetrahedra have optical properties comparable to those exhibited by amorphous silicon or quartz respectively “in bulk”.
An analysis of chlorine and bromine oxygen bonding and its implications for stratospheric chemistry

Trends in chlorine/oxygen and bromine/oxygen single and double bonds are examined for several molecules of interest in stratospheric halogen chemistry. Specifically, the relationships between bond distance and quadratic force constant, and bond distance and ionic bonding character are examined, together with bond energies. Similar to a previous study of FO bonding, it is found that the relationship between bond distance and force constant for Cl—O and Br—O single bonds is unusual and distinctly nonlinear. This is attributed to the through space interaction of halogen lone-pair electrons with the remainder of the molecule. Supporting evidence for this assertion is given by the fact that for X=O (X is Cl, Br) double bonds, where there are fewer halogen lone-pair electrons due to hypervalent bonding, this relationship is approximately linear. A detailed explanation for chlorine and bromine hypervalent bonding is presented which is consistent with all available data and with the trends studied here. In this m...
Attitudes of Older People Toward Suicide and Assisted Suicide: An Analysis of Gallup Poll Findings

OBJECTIVES: To describe the older population's attitudes toward suicide and assisted suicide, and to determine whether lenient attitudes are associated with known demographic and psychosocial risk factors for completed suicide. DESIGN: Telephone survey conducted by the Gallup Organization in November 1992. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 802 adults in the United States (541 women and 261 men) aged 60 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: The dependent variables, attitudes toward suicide, were assessed with five attitude statements. Participants rated their agreement with each statement on 4-point Likert-type scales, subsequently dichotomized for use in univariate analyses and logistic regressions. The independent variables included income and demographic and psychosocial risk factors for suicide: age, gender, race, marital status, religiousness, self-rated health, and satisfaction with family relationships. RESULTS: The majority of respondents did not express lenient attitudes. In comparison with survey findings of physicians and the general population, a relatively smaller percentage (41%) of these older respondents believe that physician-assisted suicide should be legalized. Agreement with one or more of the attitudes presented was associated with age, gender, race, marital status, and religiousness in univariate analyses (P Language: en
Fine scale spatial correlations between planktonic ciliates and dinoflagellates

Etude des relations positives entre la repartition spatiale de divers cilies (Favella, Balanion, Strobilidium) et celle des dinoflagelles dans le Perch Pond, Massachusetts
Free-Carrier Induced Optical Nonlinearities in Narrow Bandgap Semiconductors

Free-carrier induced third-order optical nonlinearities can be both large and fast in narrow-gap semiconductors. We have studied a variety of mechanisms in bulk semiconductors and heterostructures using CO2 lasers and found third-order susceptibilities as large as 2×10−3 esu with picosecond relaxation times. These mechanisms saturate at much higher intensities than do slower mechanisms and hence induce huge modulations of the dielectric function. In addition, most of these processes are nonresonant so they do not require the exact matching of material parameters and are relatively insensitive to temperature.
Intracellular translocation of rap I-B G-protein induced by prostaglandin E1 is blocked by phorbol ester in human platelets

Prostaglandin E1 induced increase in cytosolic immunoreactive rap 1-B G-protein in a time and concentration dependent manner in human platelets. However, this increase was completely blocked by simultaneous treatment of platelets with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA).
Psychological distress among targets for lateral violence: A conceptual framework

Incidences of lateral violence frequently occur within the profession of nursing. The Nurse as Wounded Healer theoretical framework provides a blueprint which nurses in staff development can use to identify and guide individuals who have endured lateral violence. This intervention may decrease incidences of lateral violence and improve staff nurse retention.
Theoretical analysis and empirical measurements of the effects of the Philadelphia income tax

Abstract This study develops policy-oriented measures of optimal local taxes and their maxima which take into account the existence of macro multipliers, other taxes, and discounting. It also presents an estimate of the effects of the Philadelphia income tax on employment tax and revenues. An upper bound for the optimal tax rate is suggested. The current tax rate is found to perhaps be above both the optimal and the revenue maximizing (or monopoly) point.
Primary spinal chondrosarcoma with eighteen-year follow-up: case report and literature review.

Although chrondrosarcomas are common primary bone tumors, their occurrence in the spine is very rare. Because total excision in such cases is seldom possible, few long term survivors have been reported. We are reporting one patient with a high thoracic spinal chondrosarcoma who survived with useful
Quasi-stationary population inversion on Kα transitions

In a search for an x-ray laser capable of operating in a quasi-cw mode, a suggested Kα-innershell scheme is examined using recently calculated rates. This scheme involves the decay of a K-shell vacancy followed by a more rapid (for certain elements) L-vacancy decay, which maintains the inversion. The present analysis indicates that the scheme is only marginally feasible unless a depletion of resonant absorbers is accomplished through line shifts associated with multiple ionization following K-vacancy production. The pumping requirements for overcoming photoionization losses in the beam and the associated gain conditions are estimated for three elements, namely silicon, calcium, and copper, and it is concluded that photoionization pumping in a selective energy band is required, with emission approaching the blackbody level. A multiline heavy-ion plasma source is suggested.
Amphetamine- and stress-induced turning after nigral transplants in neonatally dopamine-depleted rats☆

Neonatally dopamine-depleted rats fail to show the deficits seen in similarly lesioned adults, and no longer appear to require dopamine. Nevertheless, unilateral nigral transplants provided extensive reinnervation and were capable of modifying motor patterns. Both amphetamine and external stressors elicited contraversive turning. This raises the question of whether extrinsic dopamine innervation supplements or overrides alternative compensatory mechanisms in the neonate.
Blue Gene: a vision for protein science using a petaflop supercomputer

In December 1999, IBM announced the start of a five-year effort to build a massively parallel computer, to be applied to the study of biomolecular phenomena such as protein folding. The project has two main goals: to advance our understanding of the mechanisms behind protein folding via large-scale simulation, and to explore novel ideas in massively parallel machine architecture and software. This project should enable biomolecular simulations that are orders of magnitude larger than current technology permits. Major areas of investigation include: how to most effectively utilize this novel platform to meet our scientific goals, how to make such massively parallel machines more usable, and how to achieve performance targets, with reasonable cost, through novel machine architectures. This paper provides an overview of the Blue Gene project at IBM Research. It includes some of the plans that have been made, the intended goals, and the anticipated challenges regarding the scientific work, the software application, and the hardware design.
Simple models of non-Gaussian statistics for a turbulently advected passive scalar.

We study the probability distribution of a passive scalar undergoing turbulent mixing in the presence of a mean scalar gradient. Kerstein's model, which describes the turbulent mixing process as a collection of instantaneous local rearrangements of the scalar, is argued to be a plausible approximation when the size of the system is much larger than the velocity correlation length, and after the description has been coarse grained over a correlation volume. In the physical range of parameters, we find numerically that the fluctuations of the scalar \ensuremath{\theta} are close to exponentially distributed when a linear mean scalar gradient is imposed. The phenomenological mean-field-like theory of Pumir, Shraiman, and Siggia [Phys. Rev. Lett. 66, 2984 (1991)] is derived heuristically beginning with the Kerstein model. This theory predicts strictly exponential tails for the probability distribution of the scalar fluctuations P(\ensuremath{\theta}), i.e., P(\ensuremath{\theta})\ensuremath{\sim}exp(\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\Vert}). We also consider a simplified version of the Kerstein model which is analytically fully tractable and gives qualitatively similar results numerically. Under conditions of spatial homogeneity and imposed linear mean scalar gradient, this simplified model and the full Kerstein model are described by the same mean-field theory. However, for the simplified model, the large-\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\Vert} asymptotic behavior of P(\ensuremath{\theta}) is Poisson-like, i.e., P(\ensuremath{\theta})\ensuremath{\sim}exp[-\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\theta}\ensuremath{\Vert}ln\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\theta}/(const)\ensuremath{\Vert}].
A general Bayes weibull inference model for accelerated life testing

This article presents the development of a general Bayes inference model for accelerated life testing. The failure times at a constant stress level are assumed to belong to a Weibull distribution, but the specification of strict adherence to a parametric time-transformation function is not required. Rather, prior information is used to indirectly define a multivariate prior distribution for the scale parameters at the various stress levels and the common shape parameter. Using the approach, Bayes point estimates as well as probability statements for use-stress (and accelerated) life parameters may be inferred from a host of testing scenarios. The inference procedure accommodates both the interval data sampling strategy and type I censored sampling strategy for the collection of ALT test data. The inference procedure uses the well-known MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) methods to derive posterior approximations. The approach is illustrated with an example.
Bile Duct Injuries in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Nursing Perspective

The advent of laparoscopic cholecystectomy brought a new approach with many advantages to patients for the treatment of symptomatic gallstones. What was not anticipated was an increase in bile duct injuries as a major complication of this new technique. The advanced practice nurse (APN) must understand the technical aspects of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and routine perioperative care, because this knowledge provides a basis to recognize signs and symptoms of potential postoperative problems characteristic of a bile duct injury. The APN may be the initial healthcare provider who examines a patient or who is contacted by the patient with reports of symptoms that must be heeded and acted on. The APN responds to the patient by providing symptom management, initiating and coordinating care, and alerting the healthcare team. The APN at a specialty center may also be the consistent member of the healthcare team caring for a patient through nonoperative management and operative repair of the bile duct injury. Knowledge of the spectrum of bile duct injuries, their various manifestations, diagnostic tests, nonoperative management, and complex surgical repair is necessary for the APN to educate patients, coordinate care along the continuum, and support a patient with a bile duct injury. The medicolegal aspect of bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is also a topic the APN may encounter that requires thoughtful consideration and response. The recognition of subtle postoperative symptoms of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy may mean the difference between early diagnosis of and intervention in a minor injury or a major complication.
NMR study of cluster-assembled nanophase copper

{sup 63}Cu and {sup 65}Cu NMR spectra from cluster-assembled nanophase copper with an average grain size between 5 and 10mn show a broadened peak, at the normal Knight-shifted frequency for copper meta which arises from only the central 1/2 to -1/2 transition. A very broad background is observed on either side of that peak. Some samples exhibit a second broad peak at a position normally associated with non-metallic copper. Pulsed NMR measurements of the central peak show that virtually all the copper signals are significantly broadened and have a spin-spin relaxation time longer than larger grained copper samples. Line shape measurements, using spin echoes, as a function of delay between rf excitation and measurement show there are a number of copper sites with longer relaxation times which have a significantly larger broadening. Those sites are tentatively identified as being at or near a grain boundary or free surface. A small orientation effect is observed indicating an anisotropy within the samples. An isochronal anneal of one sample showed significant, but not complete, line narrowing after an anneal at 450C consistent with other nanophase metals which show grain growth above 40--50% of the melting temperature.
California/Lomatiums, Part IX. Isolation of a new isomer of α‐sinensal and its derivatives from Lomatium mohavense ssp. longilobum

The hydrodistilled oils from the fruits, stems and leaves of Lomatium mohavense ssp. longilobum were investigated. iso-α-Sinensal, iso-α-sinensol and iso-α-sinensyl actetate were isolated and their structures derived from their 2D NMR data.
Optical phonons in polar semiconductor nanowires

We show that the long-range dipolar interactions in a crystalline cubic polar semiconducting nanowire give rise to an important splitting of the Raman-active transverse optic (TO) and longitudinal optic (LO) phonons at the center of the Brillouin zone. The dipole sums that determine the two LO and two TO phonon frequencies in the nanowire are sensitive to the aspect ratio (L/D), where L and D are the length and diameter, respectively. In the limit L/D →∞, we predict the phonon frequencies for several important polar semiconducting nanowires. Our calculated results are also compared with Raman scattering data obtained on crystalline GaP and GaAs semiconducting wires.
Complementary dna and amino acid sequence of rat liver microsomal xenobiotic epoxide hydrolase

The coding nucleotide sequence for rat liver microsomal, xenobiotic epoxide hydrolase was determined from two overlapping cDNA clones, which together contain 1750 nucleotides complementary to epoxide hydrolase mRNA. The single open reading frame of 1365 nucleotides codes for a 455 amino acid polypeptide with a molecular weight of 52,581. The deduced amino acid composition agrees well with those determined by direct amino acid analysis of the rat protein, and the amino acid sequence is 81% identical to that of rabbit epoxide hydrolase. Analysis of codon usage for epoxide hydrolase, and that of rabbit epoxide hydrolase. Analysis of codon usage for epoxide hydrolase, and comparison to codon usage for NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase and cytochromes P-450b, P-450d, and P-450PCN, suggest that epoxide hydrolase is more conserved than cytochromes P-450b and P-450PCN; comparison of the extent of sequence conservation for 12 homologous proteins between the rat and rabbit, including cytochrome P-450b, supports this hypothesis, and indicates that much of epoxide hydrolase is constrained to maintain its hydrophobic character, consistent with its intramembranous location. The predicted membrane topology of epoxide hydrolase delineates 6 membrane-spanning segments, less than the 8 or 10 predicted for two cytochrome P-450 isozymes; the lower number of membrane-spanning segments predicted for epoxide hydrolase correlates with its lesser dependence on the membrane for maintenance of its tertiary structure and catalytic activity.
A new computational framework for 2D shape-enclosing contours

In this paper, a new framework for one-dimensional contour extraction from discrete two-dimensional data sets is presented. Contour extraction is important in many scientific fields such as digital image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, etc. This novel framework includes (but is not limited to) algorithms for dilated contour extraction, contour displacement, shape skeleton extraction, contour continuation, shape feature based contour refinement and contour simplification. Many of the new techniques depend strongly on the application of a Delaunay tessellation. In order to demonstrate the versatility of this novel toolbox approach, the contour extraction techniques presented here are applied to scientific problems in material science, biology, handwritten letter recognition, astronomy and heavy ion physics.
Annulment of amphotericin B inhibition of Coccidioides immitis endospores. Effects on growth, respiration and morphogenesis.

Studies by others have shown that the growth-inhibiting properties of amphotericin B for susceptible fungi and yeasts are associated with the antibiotic's capacity to injure the organism's membrane. There is a resultant loss of stored metabolites from the cell. We have observed partial lysis of Coccidioides immitis endospores exposed for 24 hr. to 2·0 μg./ml. amphotericin B, which is consistent with findings on alteration of the membrane. Endospores so-treated do not grow. However, even after treatment with 4·0 μg./ml. of the antibiotic for 5 days, the capacity to grow is restored to the cells by furnishing them with approximately 0·6 mg./ml. cysteine or glutathione. These nutrients apparently do not react with the antibiotic per se but appear to nullify its effect by lowering the oxidation-reduction potential of the growth medium. In this regard amphotericin inhibition may also be overcome by evacuating air from flasks with antibiotic-containing medium. Relatedly, amphotericin-treated endospores do not s...
Genetic selection of the ambush foraging entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema carpocapsae for enhanced dispersal and its associated trade-offs

Dispersal of organisms is influenced by environmental and innate population variability. It results in redistribution of populations with potential consequences for gene flow, population resilience and stability, and evolutionary diversification of traits in response to specific selection pressures. However, dispersal behavior in soil-dwelling organisms is understudied. Species of entomopathogenic nematodes, a group of soil-inhabiting lethal insect parasites used in biological pest control show a dichotomy in foraging behavior. Some species have been classified as ambushers while others as cruisers. We previously discovered that the ambush foraging Steinernema carpocapsae possesses a small group of sprinters that disperse faster than the fastest moving cruisers. In this study, we genetically selected S. carpocapsae for enhanced dispersal in the absence of hosts by capturing the fastest and farthest reaching infective juveniles (IJs) emanating from a nematode-infected Galleria mellonella cadaver, in soil. S. carpocapsae showed positive response to selection for dispersal with 13–23 and 21–37 fold increase in the percent IJs dispersing to the farthest distance from the source cadaver, after five and ten rounds of selection, respectively. There was also a significant increase in the average displacement of the selected lines (6.85–7.54 cm/day) than the foundation population (5.54 cm/day) maintained by passing through G. mellonella larvae in Petri dishes. The overall mean realized heritability for dispersal was 0.60. The farthest reaching IJs of the selected lines comprised more males (72 %) than the foundation population (44 %) at most time points. Trade-offs associated with enhanced dispersal included reduced reproduction capacity and nictation ability, a trait associated with ambush foraging. In conclusion, this study revealed the costs and benefits associated with selection for enhanced dispersal in a soil-dwelling insect parasite, enhancing our understanding of the evolution of new behavioral patterns, which could have important implications in biological control.
The occurrence of alpine permafrost in the Front Range of Colorado

Abstract Permafrost distribution, or ground that remains frozen for at least 2 years, has been modeled using a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) variables, and land cover in alpine regions of the world. In the Front Range, however, no such empirical models have been developed, and field data are restricted in spatial extent, but rock glaciers are in abundance. Here, I present a probabilistic logistic regression model that is based on topoclimatic information (elevation and aspect) for rock glaciers derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 10-m DEMs. Classes of land cover, obtained from an Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) image classification, were assigned weights and were then multiplied by the regression results to refine estimates. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated by comparing mean probability scores with rock glacier activity categories, Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT) from climatic stations on Niwot Ridge, and Bottom Temperature of winter Snow (BTS) measurements, while a Monte Carlo simulation was used to detect uncertainty associated with the original DEM. Permafrost scores >50% covered about 8.9% (242 km 2 ) of the study area (2722 km 2 ) with the highest scores clustered around Longs and Rowe Peaks. Permafrost locations showed a strong correlation with rock glacier activity classes, the −1.0 °C MAAT isotherm, and BTS measurements less than −3.0 °C. The uncertainty analysis revealed that slight global differences exist between the original and error prone DEM; however, local variations in aspect caused the most uncertainty. These results indicate that the model accurately represents regional distribution of permafrost. Therefore, topoclimatic information from rock glaciers and land cover, when combined with an uncertainty analysis, can effectively be used to map the occurrence of Front Range permafrost, providing an imperative tool for cartographers, planners, and geocryologists.
SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF DOMESTIC FELIDS IN THE PETEN REGION OF GUATEMALA

Abstract Blood samples were analyzed from 30 domestic cats (Felis domesticus) from the Peten region of Guatemala to determine the seroprevalence of common pathogens that may pose a potential risk to native wild felids. Eight of the cats had been vaccinated previously; however, owners were unable to fully describe the type of vaccine and date of administration. In addition, blood samples were obtained from two captive margays (Leopardus wiedii). Samples were tested for antibodies to feline immunodeficiency virus, Dirofilaria immitis, feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus, feline coronavirus, canine distemper virus, and Toxoplasma gondii and for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen. Fifty percent or more of the cats sampled were seropositive for feline herpesvirus (22 of 30), feline panleukopenia (15 of 30), and T. gondii (16 of 30). Five cats were positive for FeLV antigen. Both margays were seropositive for feline coronavirus and one was strongly seropositive to T. gondii. All animals were serone...
Zero- and low-field ODMR spectra of the triplet state of NO2− in NaHCO2

Abstract The zero- and low-field ODMR spectra of the triplet state of NO2− in NaHCO2 are reported and analyzed to yield the fine structure and the 14N nuclear hyperfine tensors. The magnetic interactions are consistent with simple theory and the expected 3B1 (νπ*) assignment, but the ODMR signal intensities show non-conventional behavior indicative of non-Condon effects.
Measuring what matters: quality in gynecologic surgery.

he measurement of quality has become a central focus of outcomes are less robust for many gynecological operations 6,7 T medicine in the United States. Although there is a pressing need to improve the quality of care in women’s health, gynecology has lagged behind other procedural specialties in defining appropriate measures of quality. Quality metrics can be broadly divided into 3 basic domains: structural, process, and outcomes measures. Structural measures reflect the underlying contextual factors in which care is delivered, process measures reflect the care a patient actually receives, and outcomes measures are a direct assessment of the outcomes of care. Surgical quality improvement often relies on an admixture of all 3 types of measures. The association between surgical volume and outcome has long been recognized and procedural volume is now a commonly used structural metric for high-risk surgical procedures. Process measures, such as use of perioperative antibiotics and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, are strongly associated with outcomes and have been validated in randomized trials and, as such, are routinely collected data points. Finally, direct outcome measures, such as morbidity and mortality, are readily quantifiable and are the ultimate endpoints of interest for most patients. For many general surgical procedures, components of these measures are not only publicly reported and tied to reimbursement but also have been directly used to drive policies that have improved the quality of surgical care patients receive. For most gynecological surgical procedures, the ideal quality measurement schema remains more elusive. For all but the highest risk procedures, significant morbidity and mortality are too infrequent to provide the discriminatory power needed to be a meaningful metric. Similarly, although procedural volume is associated with outcomes for gynecological procedures, the magnitude of the association is modest compared with higher-risk oncological and cardiovascular procedures. Lastly, although there is substantial variation in use of thromboprophylaxis and perioperative antibiotics and these measures are promising, data correlating adherence with
Insertion of molecular oxygen into a palladium(II) hydride bond.

Insertion of molecular oxygen into a palladium(II) hydride bond to form an (η1-hydroperoxo)palladium(II) complex is reported. The hydroperoxo palladium(II) product has been crystallographically characterized. A second-order rate law (first-order in palladium and first-order in oxygen) is observed for the reaction and a large kinetic isotope effect implicates Pd−H bond cleavage in the rate-determining step. The results of studies with radical inhibitors and light suggest that the reaction does not proceed by a radical chain mechanism.
The uses of homogeneous barycentric coordinates in plane Euclidean geometry

The notion of homogeneous barycentric coordinates provides a powerful tool for analysing problems in plane geometry. The paper explains the advantages over the traditional use of trilinear coordinates, and illustrates its power in leading to discoveries of new and interesting collinearity relations of points associated with a triangle.
Distribution of prostatic acid phosphatase isoenzymes in normal and cancerous states

Abstract We have studied the IEF (isoelectric focusing) profiles and the sedimentation characteristics of intracellular and secretory prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) in normal and cancerous states. IEF studies show a similar relative distribution of tartrate inhibitable pI 4.9 (approximately 80%) and 5.6 (approximately 20%) forms of this enzyme in normal as well as cancerous prostate. The same IEF profile is obtained regardless of whether an enzymatic or RIA method is utilized for detection of PAP. Of these two isoenzymes, only the form of pI 4.9 predominates in prostatic and seminal fluids and in Stage IV serum. Sedimentation analysis shows that the purified enzyme is exceptionally stable since it retains an S20,w0 value of 5.7 at low concentrations (ng/ml). While only the 5.7S form is observed in normal and cancerous tissues as well as in prostatic fluid, analysis of Stage IV serum reveals an additional form at 8.7S. Control experiments suggest that the 8.7S form is not induced by non-specific association with normal serum proteins or by the inhibitor tartrate. Our results suggest that: (a) of the two major isoenzymes in tissue, only the pI 4.9 isoenzyme predominates in secretion, (b) this relationship of intracellular to secretory forms is unaltered in the transition from normal to cancerous tissue, and (c) the utility of PAP as a tumor marker is derived at least in part by the intrinsic stability of the 5.7S form. The significance of the 8.7S form is unknown at the present time, but it does not distort the clinical (RIA) measurement of PAP in serum.
An arbitrary Hausdorff compactification of a Tychonoff space X obtained from a CD∗-base by a modified Wallman method

Abstract Let ( Z , h ) be an arbitrary Hausdorff compactification of a Tychonoff space X , D = { f | f = f ○ ○ h , f ○ ∈ C ( Z ) } and let B D be the collection of all finite unions of all nonempty finite intersections of elements of C = { f −1 ( [ a , b ] ) | a , b ∈ R , a b , f ∈ D and f −1 ( [ a , b ] ) ≠ ∅ } . Then B D is a base for the closed sets of X , and is called a C D ∗ - base for X induced by D . This paper will show that ( Z , h ) can be obtained from the C D ∗ -base B D for X by a modified Wallman method.
Leg weakness in a 66-year-old woman: a common presentation of an uncommon disease.

She has proximal leg weakness, weight loss, dry mouth, orthostatic hypotension, and diminished sensation in the arms and legs. What is the likely cause?