cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactivity Factors in Visualization-Based Exploratory Search

Designing interactive visualizations is challenging, especially in complex, open-ended contexts. Although numerous interaction techniques have been developed, there is a lack of holistic theoretical guidance in the visualization literature on designing interactivity, where interactivity refers to the overall quality of interaction between a user and a visualization tool. In this work, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the design and evaluation of interactivity by exploring user perceptions in an exploratory context. We report the findings of a lab study and reflect on its potential implications for visualization designers and researchers.
Diurnal variation in the proinflammatory activity of urban fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) by in vitro assays

Background: Ambient particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5) undergoes diurnal changes in chemical composition due to photochemical oxidation. In this study we examine the relationships between oxidative activity and inflammatory responses associated with these diurnal chemical changes. Because secondary PM contains a higher fraction of oxidized PM species, we hypothesized that PM 2.5 collected during afternoon hours would induce a greater inflammatory response than primary, morning PM 2.5. Methods: Time-integrated aqueous slurry samples of ambient PM 2.5 were collected using a direct aerosol-into-liquid collection system during defined morning and afternoon time periods. PM 2.5 samples were collected for 5 weeks in the late summer (August-September) of 2016 at a central Los Angeles site. Morning samples, largely consisting of fresh primary traffic emissions (primary PM), were collected from 6-9am (am-PM 2.5), and afternoon samples were collected from 12-4pm (pm-PM 2.5), when PM composition is dominated by products of photochemical oxidation (secondary PM). The two diurnally phased PM 2.5 slurries (am- and pm-PM 2.5) were characterized for chemical composition and BV-2 microglia were assayed in vitro for oxidative and inflammatory gene responses. Results: Contrary to expectations, the am-PM 2.5 slurry had more proinflammatory activity than the pm-PM 2.5 slurry as revealed by nitric oxide (NO) induction, as well as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and CCL2 (MCP-1), as assessed by messenger RNA production. Conclusions: The diurnal differences observed in this study may be in part attributed to the greater content of transition metals and water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) of am-PM 2.5 (primary PM) vs. pm-PM 2.5 (secondary PM), as these two classes of compounds can increase PM 2.5 toxicity.
The Theory of Unique Rotational Resolution by Confactor, Procrustes, and Simple Structure Principles

Having determined the number of factors, and holding in his hands an unrotated factor matrix V0 with consistent communalities, the investigator stands at the most perilous phase of a factor analysis. However, excellent the work up to this point, the way in which the next step is carried out—that of finding the uniquely meaningful rotation—will decide whether a conclusion is drawn that is enlightening, or somewhat misleading, or positively absurd.
Electronic States in Heavily and Ordered Doped Superlattice Semiconductors

We have calculated the electronic band structure of two heavily and ordered doped superlattice semiconductors: (I) GaAs/AlAs doped with Si and (II) Ge/Si doped with Al and As. For case (I), the properties of the donor states in 2- and 3-layers of GaAs and ALAs have been examined. The donor state charge is found to be non-hydrogenic. The polarization of the charge affects the band alignment. For case (II), superlattice grown on Si substrate with 2 atomic layers of Ge and 10 atomic layers of Si is considered. We have doped Al and As in the Si region but near the interfaces. The properties of the acceptor and the donor states in the presence of the thin Geregion have been analyzed. No impurity related states emerge in the band gap region.
Bacterial Two-Component Regulatory Systems

Two-component regulation involves a stimulus-sensitive sensor (histidine protein kinase) that controls the phosphorylation state, and therefore the activity, of its cognate response regulator. Specific two-component systems regulate bacterial response to a wide range of environmental conditions, and many variations on the basic theme have been identified. Specific sensor-regulator examples considered here are the NtrB-NtrC system controlling nitrogen assimilation enzyme synthesis, the EnvZ-OmpR system controlling outer membrane protein synthesis, and the NarX-NarL/NarQ-NarP system controlling anaerobic respiratory enzyme synthesis.
Towards understanding speaker discrimination abilities in humans and machines for text-independent short utterances of different speech styles.

Little is known about human and machine speaker discrimination ability when utterances are very short and the speaking style is variable. This study compares text-independent speaker discrimination ability of humans and machines based on utterances shorter than 2 s in two different speaking styles (read sentences and speech directed towards pets, characterized by exaggerated prosody). Recordings of 50 female speakers drawn from the UCLA Speaker Variability Database were used as stimuli. Performance of 65 human listeners was compared to i-vector-based automatic speaker verification systems using mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, voice quality features, which were inspired by a psychoacoustic model of voice perception, or their combination by score-level fusion. Humans always outperformed machines, except in the case of style-mismatched pairs from perceptually-marked speakers. Speaker representations by humans and machines were compared using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). Canonical correlation analysis showed a weak correlation between machine and human MDS spaces. Multiple regression showed that means of voice quality features could represent the most important human MDS dimension well, but not the dimensions from machines. These results suggest that speaker representations by humans and machines are different, and machine performance might be improved by better understanding how different acoustic features relate to perceived speaker identity.Little is known about human and machine speaker discrimination ability when utterances are very short and the speaking style is variable. This study compares text-independent speaker discrimination ability of humans and machines based on utterances shorter than 2 s in two different speaking styles (read sentences and speech directed towards pets, characterized by exaggerated prosody). Recordings of 50 female speakers drawn from the UCLA Speaker Variability Database were used as stimuli. Performance of 65 human listeners was compared to i-vector-based automatic speaker verification systems using mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, voice quality features, which were inspired by a psychoacoustic model of voice perception, or their combination by score-level fusion. Humans always outperformed machines, except in the case of style-mismatched pairs from perceptually-marked speakers. Speaker representations by humans and machines were compared using multi-dimensional scaling (MDS). Canonical correlation analysi...
Facility Placement as a Barrier to Hospice for Older Adult Patients Discharged From a Palliative Care Unit

Context:Many older adults discharged from an inpatient stay require postacute facility placement, which can be a barrier to hospice enrollment since the Medicare hospice benefit does not cover faci...
Successful percutaneous transhepatic recanalization of a completely obstructed hepatico‐jejunal anastomosis in a child with liver transplantation: Unusual employment of the transseptal puncture system

Abstract Stenosis of the HJ is a common complication of pediatric split LT with high morbidity and possible evolution to secondary biliary cirrhosis and re-transplantation if not treated. Because the endoscopy is generally infeasible in the Roux-en-Y, percutaneous interventional radiology management is usually the safest and most effective approach to avoid surgical revision of a stenotic bilio-enteric anastomosis. We present the case of a child with acute onset of cholestasis 7 months after left lateral segment partial LT due to occlusion of the HJ. The biliary stricture was found to be non-crossable with conventional interventional radiological techniques. The obstruction was resolved creating a new bilio-digestive communication via percutaneous transhepatic approach using the TPS. This device is usually employed by the interventional cardiologist to perform some procedures requiring the direct access to the left atrium through interatrial septal puncture. In conclusion, percutaneous transhepatic recanalization of the hepato-jejuno anastomosis is a rare but feasible and valuable procedure alternative to the surgical resolution even in small infants. Although few cases have been reported in literature, it has to be considered an additional treatment option when the conventional approaches fail.
The Effect of Leadership and Framing on Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior

The goal of this paper is to examine how leadership impacts employees’ willingness to engage in unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB; Umphress & Bingham, 2011). We draw on the full range mode...
Stationary and Deterministic Leader Election in Self-organizing Particle Systems

We propose the first stationary and deterministic protocol for the leader election problem for non-simply connected particle systems in the geometric Amoebot model in which particles have no unique identifiers but have common chirality. The solution does not require particle movement to break symmetry (stationary) and does not allow particles to make probabilistic choices (deterministic). We show that leader election is possible if and only if the proposed protocol succeeds in electing a unique leader. We show that if the protocol fails to elect a leader, it will always succeed in finding a finite set of \(k \le 6\) leader candidates and the system must have k-symmetry that prevents the selection of less than k candidates. The protocols runs in \(O(n^2)\) steps, where n is the number of particles in the system. Other solutions to the leader election problem in the Amoebot model are either probabilistic, assume that the system is simply connected, and/or require stronger primitives to break symmetry.
Inelastic Response of Beams to Moving Loads

The dynamic response of elasto-inelastic beams to moving loads is studied analytically based on a discrete beam model consisting of massless rigid panels connected by flexible joints with point masses. In determining the response, both the elastic and inelastic properties (including strain hardening) are taken into account. The moving load may be an unsprung mass or a sprung mass, or both, moving at a uniform speed. A feature in the analysis is the consideration of the discontinuities in vertical velocities and accelerations as an unsprung mass crosses a joint of the model beam. The emphas of the numerical results, obtained for simply supported bilinear beams, is on unsprung loads. Results indicate that for an elastic perfectly-plastic beam, loads smaller than the static yield load can cause permanent deformations. However, loads considerably heavier than the static yield load can still cross the beam. In addition to the load mass, the major factors influencing the inelastic deformations of the beam are the load speed and the inelastic stiffness of the beam. Even a small amount of positive inelastic stiffness reduces the permanent beam displacements significantly.
Emotion Regulation and Attrition in Parent–Child Interaction Therapy

As evidence of the importance of emotion regulation (ER) continues to mount, little is known about how families dealing with child behavior problems can better develop this important ability. We explored the relations among a caregiver training program for children with severe problem behavior (Parent–Child Interaction Therapy; PCIT), child ER, caregiver ER, parenting stress, and attrition. This study was part of a larger investigation evaluating the impact of incentives on treatment outcomes. Measures of caregiver and child ER, child behavior problems, and parenting stress were completed by caregivers referred for PCIT from a predominantly low-income community sample of 66 caregiver–child dyads. Caregiver–child interactions were coded for caregiver verbalizations during three play situations. ANCOVA, t-test, and correlational analyses were conducted to examine changes in ER across treatment and compare those who completed treatment with those who dropped out of treatment early. Caregiver ER and child ER lability/negativity improved significantly across both phases of PCIT. Child adaptive ER improved significantly from pre- to post-treatment and during the second phase of treatment for those children in the non-incentives group only. Baseline levels of child and caregiver ER were not significant predictors of attrition. Findings are discussed with respect to the importance of both caregiver and child ER in the provision of PCIT and other behavioral parent training programs.
Demand for Orientation and Mobility Specialists in 1980

State agencies, private nonprofit agencies, residential schools and public schools were surveyed to determine the demand for orientation and mobility specialists in 1980. When measures of economic ...
Rapid nutritional assessment and intervention in orthopedic rehabilitation patients

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to identify the effect of early nutritional assessment and nutritional intervention on outcomes of older adult patients after discharge from an acute care hospital following fall related fracture. Methods This was a feasibility pilot study with post intervention data. One group pretest-posttest study design was implemented. All participants were admitted to a rehabilitation facility in the Southwestern US after a fall related fracture. Measures Discharge destination, Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and length of stay (LOS). Results A total of 69% of the participants were discharged home. Total FIM scores improved (p Conclusion Nutritional interventions are important for recovery during rehabilitation of a fall-related fracture. Summary This project supports early nutritional evaluation and intervention for older adult patients after major orthopedic procedure. Participants who received early intervention had improved outcomes. (194 characters).
Cell and extracellular matrix growth theory and its implications for tumorigenesis

Cells associated with an abnormal (cancerous) growth exchange flows, morph freely and grow hand-in-glove with their immediate environment, the extracellular matrix (ECM). The cell structure experiences two mass flows in counterflow. Flowing into the structure are nutrients and flowing out is refuse from the metabolically active biomass within. The physical effect of the evolution of the cell and extracellular structure is more flow and mixing in that space, that is, more mixing than in the absence of a biological growth in that space. The objective of the present theory is to predict the increase in the size of the cell cluster as a function of its structure, and also to predict the critical cluster sizes that mark the transitions from one distinct cluster configuration to the next. This amounts to predicting the timing and the main features of the transitions from single cell to clusters with two, four, eight and more cells, including larger clusters with cells organized on its outer surface. The predicted evolution of the size and configuration of the cell cluster is validated successfully by comparison with measurements from several independent studies of cancerous and non-cancerous growth patterns.
Case Study: Brief CBT-I and Medication Taper with a Veteran Experiencing Insomnia and Suicidal Ideation

Whether presenting as a symptom or disorder, providers should act upon insomnia symptomatology observed in their patients. Insomnia presents in a myriad of medical and psychiatric conditions, and the alleviation of insomnia symptoms can have profound effects on the onset and course of co-occurring pathology. Findings are presented regarding the treatment of a 62-year-old veteran experiencing suicidal ideation, who was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, insomnia disorder, and back pain. The treatment regimen consisted of brief cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (bCBT-I; four sessions) with a concurrent melatonin taper. The case is illustrative of (1) the importance of assessing patients’ utilization of over-the-counter medications and substances that may influence sleep, (2) the delivery of adjunctive bCBT-I in a patient with co-occurring disorders, and (3) the utility of bCBT-I in the reduction of co-occurring depressive symptomatology.
An Angle Included Optimal Power Flow (OPF) Model for Power Distribution Network Using Second Order Cone Programming (SOCP)

In recent years, penetration of distributed generation (DG) has increased rapidly in the power distribution network, which demands novel and optimal power flow solutions for improving the power system reliability, resiliency and better-operating conditions. In this paper, we propose a branch flow-based SOCP model for the optimal power flow of radial networks. In the proposed model, the voltage and current angles are relaxed and a quadratic equation is converted to a conic form for convexification. Though the angles are relaxed, a convex equation is also proposed to recover the angle which makes the solution efficient. In the simulation, we have shown that for radial networks the relaxation is exact when there are no upper bounds on loads. Also, theoretical analysis for the branch flow model is deduced for the convexification of the model. Finally, the proposed model was tested on two radial networks (modified 32 bus network and IEEE 123 bus network) and the simulation results are verified with the OpenDSS and MatPower software packages.
From Atutasi to Atulasi: Relational Theologizing and Why Pacific Islanders Think and Theologize Differently

Theologizing in many local theological institutions, while slowly recovering from the colonial theological agenda, revere atutasi (single-layered or single-strandic) ways of theologizing to satisfy the onefication agenda of the gospel of uniformity promoted by the centers of knowledge. This way focuses less on the multidimensionality of life and ignores how relationship is critical to such an endeavor. This chapter highlights that because of the important role of relationality in navigating the complexity that many Pacific islanders experience, they think and theologize differently, attuned to atulasi (multi-layered or multi-strandic). Because of this, theological education needs to go through a de-onefication process to shift from atutasi to atulasi in order to give the islanders the power to articulate and analyze as islanders and not as foreigners; the freedom to be creative without fear of being policed; and the passion to be deeply rooted in our ever flowing trans-generational life-affirming values.
Sonography of the post-operative rotator cuff: normal postoperative findings, postsurgical complications and common artifacts.

Abstract This review sets forth an approach to performing and interpreting shoulder ultrasound in patients with prior rotator cuff repair and presents a comprehensive review of normal expected findings, postsurgical complications and common artifacts encountered in clinical practice.
Complaints Handling Satisfaction mediates between Complaints Handling to Customer Loyalty for the Indonesian Banking Industry

This study aims to explain and investigate the effect of complaint handling on complaints handling satisfaction, consequently impacting customer loyalty. This study uses 110 respondents at Conventional Commercial Banks and Indonesian Shariah banking in the DKI Jakarta – Indonesia. Path analysis modeling and mediation test using PROCESS Macro and SAS 3 with SPSS 26. The research findings explain that complaints handled correctly and adequately can increase complaint handling satisfaction. Handling customer complaints can increase customer loyalty. Complaint handling satisfaction can also increase customer loyalty. Complaint handling satisfaction acts as a mediator between the relationship of complaint handling and customer loyalty. In terms of its positive effects, customer complaints are inputs and strategic assets that provide essential knowledge for the bank to improve its performance. For this reason, the bank can manage relationship management with customers to better respond to customer complaints. The research results can act as an input for the bank’s management to develop efforts to handle complaints and expand service recovery strategies, creating satisfaction in handling complaints and customer loyalty.
Methods of recovering platinum-group metals from Stillwater Complex ore

As part of its strategic and critical minerals program, the U.S. Bureau of Mines investigated methods for beneficiating and recovering platinum-group metals (PGM) from ores found in the Stillwater Complex, the only primary resource of platinum-group metals located in the United States. Because the ore is sulfidic in nature, it was concentrated by froth flotation. A 45 kg/h process development unit (PDU) was constructed and 85 to 95% of the platinum and palladium were recovered from the ore by using mercaptobenzothiazole or sodium isobutyl xanthate as collectors. Bench-scale research showed that conventional matte smelting and leaching methods could be used to recover the precious metals from the flotation concentrate. More than 95% of the precious metals reported to the matte phase during smelting. Several leaching schemes were evaluated that selectively extracted the base metals from the matte and allowed recovery of high-grade PGM residues that were suitable as feed material for a precious metals refinery. Oxidative leaching of roasted flotation concentrate to selectively extract precious metal values was also investigated as an alternative to conventional matte smelting-leaching strategies.
Selectins in leukocyte extravasation: function of a common epitope on L- and E-selectin.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an overview of the studies of a novel antiselectin monoclonal antibody (mAb) that binds both E- and L-selectin and effectively blocks the function of both molecules. A brief and noncomprehensive review of the historical background of the selectins is presented in the chapter. L-selectin is the primary focus because of the extensive work with this molecule, but a brief review of E- and P-selectin is also provided in the chapter. The control of the inflammatory process is necessary in the treatment of many infectious and noninfectious diseases. Leukocyte migration into tissues is the hallmark of inflammation and if this process can be inhibited, inflammation can be prevented. The characterization of the selectins has led to tremendous advances in the understanding of the process of leukocyte extravasation and has given clues to the design of novel anti-inflammatory drugs. The next step is the testing of these new treatments in different models of inflammation. It may be that in the near future inhibitors of selectins can be used to treat arthritis, pericarditis, reperfusion injury, transplant rejection, and many other inflammatory processes in humans.
The Transactional Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics: The Reality of Possibility

A comprehensive exposition of the transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics (TI), this book sheds new light on longstanding problems in quantum theory and provides insight into the compatibility of TI with relativity. It breaks new ground in interpreting quantum theory, presenting a compelling new picture of quantum reality. The book shows how TI can be used to solve the measurement problem of quantum mechanics and explain other puzzles, such as the origin of the 'Born Rule' for the probabilities of measurement results. It addresses and resolves various objections and challenges to TI, such as Maudlin's inconsistency challenge. It explicitly extends TI into the relativistic domain, providing new insight into the basic compatibility of TI with relativity and the physical meaning of 'virtual particles'. This book is ideal for researchers and graduate students interested in the philosophy of physics and the interpretation of quantum mechanics.
How do you feel? Neurotrophins and mechanotransduction

In addition to supporting neuronal survival during development, neurotrophins are involved in maintaining the sensitivity of touch receptors within the skin.
High-pressure homogenization for the inactivation of human enteric virus surrogates.

Novel inactivation methods are needed to control the spread of foodborne viruses responsible for nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. The advent of high-pressure homogenization combining high pressure, shear stress, and cavitation provides the opportunity to evaluate this technology for viral inactivation in fluid foods under continuous processing conditions. Our objective was to evaluate murine norovirus (MNV-1) and MS2 coliphage (single-stranded RNA) as human enteric virus surrogates for their susceptibility to a novel high-pressure homogenization process for application in commercial settings. Experiments were conducted in duplicate with MNV-1 and MS2 coliphage in phosphate-buffered saline, using homogenization pressures of 0, 100, 200, 250, and 300 MPa (the maximum achievable by the homogenizer), resulting in exposure temperatures of 24, 46, 63, 70, and 75°C, respectively, for <2 s. Only homogenization pressures of 300 MPa at 75°C showed inactivation of ~3 log PFU for MS2 from an initial ~6 log PFU...
Selecting Appropriate Pharmacological Maintenance of Bowel Function in the Hemodialysis Patient

Abstract The hemodialysis patient frequently experiences deviation from normal bowel function that may require pharmacological intervention. Constipation is commonly encountered in this population. The most desirable laxative for a dialysis patient would be one that accounts for fluid restriction, use of phosphate-binding agents, dietary and electrolyte restrictions, and toxicity. Laxatives are classified as bulk forming, emollient, lubricant, saline, stimulant, and hyperosmotic. Bulk laxatives are recommended for initial treatment of constipation and may be used long term. However, the main disadvantage of the use of these products in the dialysis population is the required concomitant ingestion of water. Laxatives intended for short-term use are routinely abused. Acute use of these agents (ideally an emollient laxative) can provide effective therapy and avoid problems associated with long-term use. Diarrhea occurs less frequently and may be treated with a variety of agents. Polycarbophil, also considered a bulk laxative, can be used effectively for the treatment of diarrhea in this population.
Activation and Entrainment Mapping of Hemodynamically Unstable Ventricular Tachycardia Using a Percutaneous Left Ventricular Assist Device

Objectives Our goal was to investigate the effects of percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pLVAD) support during catheter ablation of unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT). Background Mechanical cardiac support during ablation of unstable VT is being increasingly used, but there is little available information on the potential hemodynamic benefits. Methods Twenty-three consecutive procedures in 22 patients (ischemic, n = 11) with structural heart disease and hemodynamically unstable VT were performed with either pLVAD support (n = 10) or no pLVAD support (intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, n = 6; no support, n = 7). Procedural monitoring included vital signs, left atrial pressure, arterial blood pressure, cerebral perfusion/oximetry, VT characteristics, and ablation outcomes. Results The pLVAD group was maintained in VT significantly longer than the non-pLVAD group (66.7 min vs. 27.5 min; p = 0.03) and required fewer early terminations of sustained VT for hemodynamic instability (1.0 vs. 4.0; p = 0.001). More patients in the pLVAD group had at least 1 VT termination during ablation than non-pLVAD patients (9 of 10 [90%] vs. 5 of 13 [38%]; p = 0.03). There were no differences between groups in duration of cerebral deoxygenation, hypotension or perioperative changes in left atrial pressure, brain natriuretic peptide levels, lactic acid, or renal function. Conclusions In patients with scar-related VT undergoing catheter ablation, pLVAD support was able to safely maintain end-organ perfusion despite extended periods of hemodynamically unstable VT. Randomized studies are necessary to determine whether this enhanced ability to perform entrainment and activation mapping will translate into a higher rate of clinical success.
Tradeoffs in cardiovascular disease prevention, treatment, and research

It is widely believed that the US health care system needs to transition from a culture of reactive treatment of disease to one of proactive prevention. As a tool for understanding the appropriate allocation of spending to prevention versus treatment (including research into improved prevention and treatment), a simple Markov model is used to represent the flow of individuals among states of health, where the transition rates are governed by the magnitude of appropriately-lagged expenditures in each of these categories. The model estimates the discounted cost and discounted effectiveness (measured in quality adjusted life years or QALYs) associated with a given spending mix, and it allows computing the marginal cost-effectiveness associated with additional spending in a category. We apply the model to explore interactions of alternative investments in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to identify an optimal spending mix. Under the assumptions of our model structure, we find that the marginal cost-effectiveness of prevention of CVD varies with changes in spending on treatment (and vice versa), and that the optimal mix of CVD spending (i.e., the spending mix that maximizes the overall QALYs achieved) would, indeed, shift spending from treatment to prevention.
The political economy of OPEC

Abstract We develop a conceptual model that captures OPEC pricing behavior, and apply it to explain the large gap observed between domestic fuel prices in OPEC countries and prices in the rest of the world. We model OPEC as a cartel of nations, not firms, and assume that politicians use two instruments: production quotas and domestic fuel consumption subsidies. The cartel-of-nations model suggests that introduction of alternatives to petroleum products may lead OPEC to reduce exports and increase domestic fuel consumption. The empirical analysis suggests that when OPEC sets production quotas, it places similar weights on consumer and producer surplus. But when OPEC countries set domestic fuel subsidies, on average 6% more weight is given to consumer surplus with some of the OPEC countries pursuing very aggressive domestic cheap fuel policies.
Baryon number diffusion and shape instabilities in the quark-hadron phase transition for heavy-ion collisions and cosmology.

If the quark-hadron transition is first order, hadron bubbles nucleate with a radius ${R}_{\mathrm{nuc}}$ and grow into the quark sea. Baryon number prefers to reside in the quark phase and must diffuse away from the interface in order for the phase transition to proceed. This slowly diffusing excess baryon number that forms on the surface of the bubble wall may drive a shape instability of the bubble wall. This instability to non-spherical structure occurs when the bubbles have grown to a critical size of $(7\ensuremath{-}1000){R}_{\mathrm{nuc}}$, a much shorter length scale than the instabilities studied previously; this effect can thus be important for heavy-ion collisions. The stability of the bubbles depends very sensitively on the ratio $\ensuremath{\epsilon}=\frac{{n}_{h}}{{n}_{q}}$ of baryon number in the two phases (in local thermodynamic equilibrium). For the expected values of the parameters, bubbles of the hadronic phase are likely to be stable in the early Universe and unstable in heavy-ion collisions. The phenomenology of heavy-ion collisions could be altered by the instability of the hadron bubbles, although future work that takes into account mutual heating effects of the bubbles and the expansion of the hot underlying plasma will be required to confirm this.
An Innovation in Auditing: Matrix Summaries of Journal Entries

The authors of this paper propose a databse which summarizes journal entries in a way that can be used for audit planning and accumulating data for matrix-derived financial statements. This dedicated system provides a significant internal control procedure hitherto unavailable. In addition, this system is expected to be more practical and easier for accountants to use than mainframe database systems.
A catalytic diad involved in substrate-assisted catalysis: NMR study of hydrogen bonding and dynamics at the active site of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C.

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase Cs (PI-PLCs, EC 3.1.4.10) are ubiquitous enzymes that cleave phosphatidylinositol or phosphorylated derivatives, generating second messengers in eukaryotic cells. A catalytic diad at the active site of Bacillus cereus PI-PLC composed of aspartate-274 and histidine-32 was postulated from the crystal structure to form a catalytic triad with the 2-OH group of the substrate [Heinz, D. W., et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14, 3855-3863]. This catalytic diad has been observed directly by proton NMR. The single low-field line in the 1H NMR spectrum is assigned by site-directed mutagenesis: The peak is present in the wild type but absent in the mutants H32A and D274A, and arises from the histidine Hdelta1 forming the Asp274-His32 hydrogen bond. This hydrogen is solvent-accessible, and exchanges slowly with H2O on the NMR time scale. The position of the low-field peak shifts from 16.3 to 13.8 ppm as the pH is varied from 4 to 9, reflecting a pKa of 8.0 at 6 degrees C, which is identified with the pKa of His32. The Hdelta1 signal is modulated by rapid exchange of the Hepsilon2 with the solvent. Estimates of the exchange rate as a function of pH and protection factors are derived from a line shape analysis. The NMR behavior is remarkably similar to that of the serine proteases. The postulated function of the Asp274-His32 diad is to hydrogen-bond with the 2-OH of phosphatidylinositol (PI) substrate to form a catalytic triad analogous to Asp-His-Ser of serine proteases. This is an example of substrate-assisted catalysis where the substrate provides the catalytic nucleophile of the triad. This hydrogen bond becomes shorter as the imidazole is protonated, suggesting it is stronger in the transition state, contributing further to the catalytic efficiency. The hydrogen bond fits the NMR criteria for a short, strong hydrogen bond, i.e., a highly deshielded proton resonance, bond length of 2.64 +/- 0.04 A at pH 6 measured by NMR, a D/H fractionation factor significantly lower than 1.0, and a protection factor > or = 100.
Synthesis of 25-hydroxy-[6,19,19′-2H3vitamin D3 and 1α,25-dihydroxy-[6,19′-2H3]vitamin D3

Abstract Syntheses of polydeuterated analogs of 25-hydroxyvitamin d3 and lα,25-dihydroxy vitamin d3 are described. These analogs, containing stable isotope atoms at metabolically stable positions, are potentially useful in studies involving catabolism of hydroxylated metabolites of vitamin D3.
Perturbed Heme Binding Is Responsible for the Blistering Phenotype Associated with Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans Dual Oxidase 1 (DUOX1) Peroxidase Domain

Dual oxidase (DUOX) enzymes support a wide variety of essential reactions, from cellular signaling to thyroid hormone biosynthesis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the DUOX system (CeDUOX1/2) plays a crucial role in innate immunity and in stabilizing the cuticle by forming tyrosine cross-links. The current model suggests that superoxide generated by CeDUOX1 at the C-terminal NADPH oxidase domain is rapidly converted to H2O2. The H2O2 is then utilized by the N-terminal peroxidase-like domain to cross-link tyrosines. We have now created a series of mutations in the isolated peroxidase domain, CeDUOX11–589. One set of mutations investigate the roles of a putative distal tyrosine (Tyr105) and Glu238, a proposed covalent heme-binding residue. The results confirm that Glu238 covalently binds to the heme group. A second set of mutations (G246D and D392N) responsible for a C. elegans blistering cuticle phenotype was also investigated. Surprisingly, although not among the catalytic residues, both mutations affected heme co-factor binding. The G246D mutant bound less total heme than the wild type, but a higher fraction of it was covalently bound. In contrast, the D392N mutant appears to fold normally but does not bind heme. Molecular dynamics simulations of a CeDUOX11–589 homology model implicate displacements of the proximal histidine residue as the likely cause. Both enzymes are structurally stable and through altered heme interactions exhibit partial or complete loss of tyrosine cross-linking activity, explaining the blistering phenotype. This result argues that the CeDUOX peroxidase domain is primarily responsible for tyrosine cross-linking.
Production of amyloid-β-peptide by cultured cells : no evidence for internal initiation of translation at Met596

It has been suggested that the A beta fragment of the amyloid precursor protein in Alzheimer's disease arises from internal translation initiation at Met596 (1). Here we use the recently described in vitro model of A beta production and secretion (2) to examine this hypothesis. We show that A beta is no longer detectable when the beta APP reading frame is destroyed by introduction of frame shift mutations that leave the A beta coding region intact. This result strongly suggests that internal initiation at Met596 does not contribute significantly to the amount of A beta observed.
Bureaucratic Neutrality among Competing Bureaucratic Values in an Ethnic Federalism: The Case of Ethiopia

This article uses Kaufman's theory of competing bureaucratic values as a foundation for studying bureaucratic values in a developing society. It discusses civil service reform within a socio-bureaucratic-political exchange, as well as characteristics associated with bureaucratic values and ethnic federalism. The inherent conflicts between a civil service grounded in the values of bureaucratic neutrality, representativeness, or executive leadership and practices within a government structured on the basis of ethnicity are explored. Factors related to Ethiopia's postconflict status, which further complicate the governance environment, are identified, and building blocks for postconflict governance are suggested.
Biochemical and ultrastructural studies of collagen and proteochondroitin sulfate in normal and nanomelic cartilage

Abstract Biochemical and ultrastructural analysis of the sternal cartilage of chick embryos homozygous for the autosomal recessive gene nanomelia suggest that the mutant cells are functional chondrocytes in all respects except in proteochondroitin sulfate synthesis. Proteochondroitin sulfate synthesized by normal and mutant sterna in vitro was chromatographed on 1% agarose. Two distinct fractions of proteochondroitin sulfate were resolved from both normal and mutant cartilage. In normal cartilage, the major fraction represents approximately 90% of the total material, and in the mutant, this fraction is reduced to 10%, while the second fraction remains unchanged. It is suggested that at the onset of chondrogenesis in the mutant, an augmentation in the syntheis of the major fraction does not occur. Collagen synthesis in the mutant cartilage was analyzed by hydroxyproline determination, carboxymethylcellulose chromatography, and amino acid analysis to determine the percentage hydroxylation of lysine residues. By these procedures, collagen synthesis in the mutant was found to be both quantitatively and qualitatively similar to normal. Ultrastructural studies on the mutant sterna revealed that while the mutant chondrocytes were normal in appearance, the amount of extracellular matrix was decreased. In conjunction with this decrease, there is a severe reduction in the number of proteochondroitin sulfate matrix granules. No differences were observed in the collagen fibrils.
Dexamethasone associated systemic hypertension in low birth weight babies with chronic lung disease

To assess the role of dexamethasone treatment as a cause of systemic hypertension and associated complications, blood pressure was registered prospectively before, during and after a 4-week dexamethasone course in 22 neonates with chronic lung disease. In all patients systolic blood pressure rose significantly during treatment (median rise 34 mm Hg, range 4→59 mm Hg), without complications attributable to hypertension. In all but one patient blood pressure returned to pretreatment values within 2 weeks after stopping dexamethasone treatment.
Mechanisms of thrombogenesis in polycythemia vera

Thrombotic and cardiovascular events are among the leading causes of death for patients with polycythemia vera (PV), and thrombosis history is a key criterion for patient risk stratification and treatment strategy. Little is known, however, about mechanisms of thrombogenesis in patients with PV. This report provides an overview of thrombogenesis pathophysiology in patients with PV and elucidates the roles of conventional and nonconventional thrombotic risk factors. In addition to several conventional risk factors for thrombosis, clinical data have implicated increased hematocrit and red blood cell adhesiveness, activated platelets, leukocytosis, and elevated JAK2(V617F) allele burden in patients with PV. Furthermore, PV-related inflammation may exacerbate thrombogenesis through varied mechanisms, including endothelial damage, inhibition of natural anticoagulant pathways, and secretion of procoagulant factors. These findings suggest a direct link between myeloproliferation and thrombogenesis in PV, which is likely to provide new opportunities for targeted antithrombotic interventions aimed at decreasing PV-related morbidity and mortality.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of a complementary health intervention: the case of smoking relapse prevention.

Objectives: We assess the cost-effectiveness of smoking relapse prevention interventions designed to keep quitters from resuming the use of cigarettes. Because relapse prevention is complementary to smoking cessation efforts, the appropriate test of its cost-effectiveness is whether it reduces the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of smoking cessation. The major goal of the study is to carry out such a test. Methods: Data from a randomized trial that ascertained the effectiveness of alternative modes of smoking relapse prevention are combined with ICER estimates of smoking cessation to assess whether relapse prevention is cost-effective. Results: The trial produced convincing evidence that relapse prevention yields statistically significant reductions in the proportion of quitters who are smoking at 24 months postquit. The intervention effects are substantial enough to raise the denominator terms of the smoking cessation ICER and, thereby, offset the amount relapse prevention adds to cost numerator terms. In this sense, smoking relapse prevention tends to pay for itself. Conclusions: Smoking relapse prevention is a highly cost-effective addition to current efforts to curb cigarette consumption. Complementary health interventions of this sort should be assessed by different methods than those commonly found in the cost-effectiveness literature.
Generalized Mathematical Programming for Optimal Replacement in a Semi-Markov Shock Model

We analyze a semi-Markovian decision process for optimal replacement of a device in a shock model, using a generalized mathematical programming approach. By means of a simple proof, we obtain a weak sufficient condition for the existence of an optimal control-limit replacement policy. We also present a convergent algorithm to find an optimal replacement policy.
Changes in midgut active ion transport and metabolism during the fifth instar of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)

During the last larval instar of Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm), the insect enters the wandering phase, in which the animal ceases feeding and the structural reorganization of the midgut begins. Midgut metabolism and ion transport in midguts of feeding and wandering (day 5) fifth-instar tobacco hornworms were compared by measuring midgut short-circuit current (Isc), enzyme activities, tissue respiration, and mitochondrial oxidation of substrates. The midgut Isc of wandering larvae was 80% lower than the Isc of midguts from younger larvae. The activities of midgut citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase declined significantly at wandering, indicating that aerobic capacity and fatty oxidation are diminished at this phase of development. This view was supported by the low rate of fatty acyl carnitine oxidation by mitochondria isolated from the midguts of wandering larvae. Although the activity of midgut pyruvate kinase, an index of glycolysis, did not change between feeding and wandering, lactate dehydrogenase activity was highest in the midguts of wandering larvae. This finding indicates that anaerobic glycolysis may play a role in midgut metabolism during wandering. One day prior to wandering there is a significant decline in tissue respiration and mitochondrial succinate oxidation. These metabolic changes may be early indicators of the more dramatic changes in midgut function that are to occur upon reaching the wandering phase. Because changes in midgut function occur abruptly over a 24-hr period prior to wandering, it is argued that midgut function is modulated by the commitment peak of ecdysteroids, which induces the external and behavioral characteristics associated with the wandering phase. J. Exp. Zool. 280:135–141, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An Atlas of the Absorption Spectrum of the Lower Atmosphere from 5400Å to 8520Å

This paper presents microphotometer traces which show, as film density vs wavelength, the absorption spectrum of an uncontaminated 16-km path in the lower atmosphere. The spectra were recorded with a small grating spectrograph over the spectral range from 5400A to 8520A with a resolution of about 0.2A. Wavelengths are presented for the absorption lines, and most lines are identified by absorbing species which are considered to be either water vapor or molecular oxygen.
Minimum description length constrained LiDAR waveform decomposition

Waveform decomposition is a necessary step for the exploitation of full waveform LiDAR data. Much effort has been focused on designing algorithms to decompose the waveform into a fixed number of components. However, the determination of the appropriate number of components in a waveform, though crucial, is rarely studied. This paper introduces an order identification method, Minimum Description Length (MDL) to estimate the number of components. MDL requires the addition of a penalty term in the model fitness to account for the over-fitting of high order models. The convexity of MDL in terms of the number of components makes it possible to find out optimal model with 2-4 iterations in most cases. We applied the MDL-based estimation method to analyze a dataset collected by a Riegl Q680i LiDAR system. The procedure is demonstrated in this paper.