cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hospital safety net burden is associated with increased inpatient mortality and postoperative morbidity after total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective multistate review, 2007–2014

Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most widely performed surgical procedures in the USA. Safety net hospitals, defined as hospitals with a high proportion of cases billed to Medicaid or without insurance, deliver a significant portion of their care to vulnerable populations, but little is known about the effects of a hospital’s safety net burden and its role in healthcare disparities and outcomes following THA. We quantified safety net burden and examined its impact on in-hospital mortality, complications and length of stay (LOS) in patients who underwent THA. Methods We analyzed 500 189 patient discharge records for inpatient primary THA using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s State Inpatient Databases for California, Florida, New York, Maryland and Kentucky from 2007 to 2014. We compared patient demographics, present-on-admission comorbidities and hospital characteristics by hospital safety net burden status. We estimated mixed-effect generalized linear models to assess hospital safety burden status’ effect on in-hospital mortality, patient complications and LOS. Results Patients undergoing THA at a hospital with a high or medium safety net burden were 38% and 30% more likely, respectively, to die in-hospital compared with those in a low safety net burden hospital (high adjusted OR: 1.38, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.73; medium adjusted OR: 1.30, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.57). Compared with patients treated in hospitals with a low safety net burden, patients treated in high safety net hospitals were more likely to develop a postoperative complication (adjusted OR: 1.11, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.24) and require a longer LOS (adjusted IRR: 1.06, 95% CI 1.05, 1.07). Conclusions Our study supports our hypothesis that patients who underwent THA at hospitals with higher safety net burden have poorer outcomes than patients at hospitals with lower safety net burden.
How the modified Bertrand theorem explains regularities of the periodic table I. From conformal invariance to Hopf mapping

Bertrand theorem permits closed orbits in 3d Euclidean space only for 2 types of central potentials. These are of Kepler-Coulomb and harmonic oscillator type. Volker Perlick recently extended Bertrand theorem. He designed new static spherically symmetric (Bertrand) spacetimes obeying Einsteins equations and supporting closed orbits. In this work we prove that the topology and geometry of these spacetimes permits to solve quantum many-body problem for any atom of periodic system exactly. The computations of spectrum for any atom of periodic system becomes analogous to that for hydrogen atom. Initially the exact solution of the Schrodinger equation for any multielectron atom was obtained by Tietz in 1956. However, neither himself nor others fully comprehended what actually was obtained. We recalculated Tietz results by applying the methodology consistent with new (different from that developed by Fock in 1936) way of solving Schro"odingers equation for hydrogen atom. In the light of this new result it had become possible to demonstrate rigorously that the Tietz-type Schro"odingers equation is in fact describing the quantum motion in Bertrand spacetime. As a bonus, we obtained the analytical proof of the Madelung rule defined in the text
Relating spatially resolved maps of the Schottky barrier height to metal/semiconductor interface composition

The Schottky barrier height (SBH) is mapped with nanoscale resolution at pure Au/Si(001) and mixed Au/Ag/Si(001) interfaces utilizing ballistic electron emission microscopy by acquiring and fitting spectra every 11.7 nm × 11.7 nm over a 1 μm × 1 μm area. The SBH distributions for the mixed interfaces are about four times broader than the pure gold interface and have a complex structure arising from the incomplete intermixing and its effects on the scattering of hot electrons. The maps of the barrier heights and amplitudes for the mixed samples are inhomogeneous with localization attributed to the disordered mixture of the Au and Ag. A method to calculate ratio of the Au to Ag Schottky barrier heights is presented and discussed in relationship to the interface composition. These results demonstrate how the Schottky barrier height is a function of position at the interface, and how mapping can capture the electrostatic nature of these and possibly other mixed metal–semiconductor interfaces.
Unbelievable: ERISA’s Broken Promise (ver. 3.3)

A central but generally neglected objective of federal regulation of pension and welfare benefit plans was to improve overall economic efficiency by providing workers with accessible and reliable information on which to base their career and financial planning. Simple dissemination of plan terms and financial data (full disclosure) cannot achieve that objective because few workers are equipped with the skills needed to evaluate the costs and benefits of complex retirement saving or health care programs. For that reason ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, requires curated disclosure of plan-related information: it must be presented a format that is both understandable to the average plan participant and sufficiently complete to empower workers to make best use of the program. The length and complexity of most employee benefit plans creates tension between understandability and completeness, calling for tradeoffs to achieve optimal disclosure. As implemented ERISA’s understandability standard has been jettisoned by plan sponsors seeking protection from liability for failing to tell workers enough. Required plan summaries became unreadable, but plan sponsors could get away with that, both because there was no administrative or judicial enforcement of the understandability standard, and because they could tout the advantages of their benefit plans to workers by means of unregulated informal communications. The demise of understandability is only half the story. The federal courts have also degraded the reliability of mandatory disclosures by finding that the obligation to provide reasonably accurate and complete information is enforceable only in a suit for appropriate equitable relief. In consequence, disclosure defects are often presented as estoppel claims, and the necessary showing of individual detrimental reliance translates into widespread under-enforcement of the reliability standard. This article explores the policy dimension of ERISA disclosure law and chronicles the decay of the equilibrium Congress envisioned. From the perspective of workers it is a saga of disappointment, disillusionment, and defeat. The new balance may serve the interests of federal courts (reduced caseload) and some employers (increased flexibility), but it also likely contributes to the increasing standardization of employee benefit plans, decreasing their utility as instruments of workforce management. Far worse, it abandons ERISA’s goal of improved economic performance through better-informed career and financial planning.
The effect of a content knowledge teacher professional workshop on enacted pedagogical content knowledge and student learning in a throwing unit

Background: Recent studies have found the effects of improvements in teachers’ content knowledge (CK) on enacted pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and student learning outcomes. However, there is...
Sarcopenic Obesity in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a public health epidemic that is projected to double over the next two decades. Despite the high prevalence of HFpEF, there are currently no FDA approved therapies for health-related outcomes in this clinical syndrome making it one the greatest unmet needs in cardiovascular medicine. Aging and obesity are hallmarks of HFpEF and therefore there is a high incidence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) associated with this syndrome. The presence of SO in HFpEF patients is noteworthy as it is associated with co-morbidities, worsened cardiovascular health, hospitalizations, quality of life, and mortality. Furthermore, SO plays a central role in exercise intolerance, the most commonly reported clinical symptom of this condition. The aim of this review is to provide insights into the current knowledge pertaining to the contributing pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical outcomes associated with HFpEF-related SO. Current and prospective therapies to address SO in HFpEF, including lifestyle and pharmaceutical approaches, are discussed. The urgent need for future research aimed at better understanding the multifaceted physiological contributions to SO in HFpEF and implementing interventional strategies to specifically target SO is highlighted.
Critical periods shaping the social brain: A perspective from Drosophila

Many sensory processing regions of the central brain undergo critical periods of experience-dependent plasticity. During this time ethologically relevant information shapes circuit structure and function. The mechanisms that control critical period timing and duration are poorly understood, and this is of special importance for those later periods of development, which often give rise to complex cognitive functions such as social behavior. Here, we review recent findings in Drosophila, an organism that has some unique experimental advantages, and introduce novel views for manipulating plasticity in the post-embryonic brain. Critical periods in larval and young adult flies resemble classic vertebrate models with distinct onset and termination, display clear connections with complex behaviors, and provide opportunities to control the time course of plasticity. These findings may extend our knowledge about mechanisms underlying extension and reopening of critical periods, a concept that has great relevance to many human neurodevelopmental disorders.
Hydride Transfer Catalyzed by Glycerol Phosphate Dehydrogenase: Recruitment of an Acidic Amino Acid Side Chain to Rescue a Damaged Enzyme.

K120 of glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) lies close to the carbonyl group of the bound dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) dianion. pH rate (pH 4.6–9.0) profiles are reported for kcat and (k...
Group-based acceptance and commitment therapy to enhance graduate student psychological flexibility: Treatment development and preliminary implementation evaluation

Graduate student mental health is a growing concern and the need for interventions is well-documented. This manuscript outlines an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group treatment for graduate stu...
Inservice Music Educators’ Perceived Comfort for Teaching and Performing on Secondary Band Instruments:

I surveyed inservice instrumental music educators (N = 96) to determine their comfort level for teaching and performing on secondary band instruments. Research questions included the following: (a)...
Impact of VCO and PLL Phase Noise on Distributed Beamforming Arrays With Periodic Synchronization

Distributed beamforming between separate wireless nodes in a distributed antenna array requires significant coordination of the relative electrical states of the systems to achieve and maintain a phase-coherent state. A principal factor impacting distributed phase coherence is the relative stability of the local oscillators on each node. Ensuring a coherent state requires the distribution of a reference frequency such that all nodes are operating on the same basis frequency. To support distributed beamforming, the reference frequency must furthermore be distributed wirelessly, typically using a phase-locked loop (PLL) on the secondary nodes. In large arrays, the wireless link used for frequency distribution will have limited capacity, necessitating intermittent updates during which the oscillators are locked, and between which their frequencies will drift. The stability of the oscillator therefore plays an important role in the overall performance relative to the update time. In this paper, we discuss the sources of phase noise generated by the reference oscillator and the PLL, and analyze the impacts of phase noise and update interval on distributed beamforming performance. We provide a framework for analyzing distributed beamforming performance from oscillator and PLL parameters in general, and we analyze beamforming performance for two specific cases using nominal high-stability and low-stability voltage-controlled oscillators, with a parametric comparison between their impact on beamforming performance.
Site- and Taxa-Specific Disease-Associated Oral Microbial Structures Distinguish Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background The gut and oral microbiome have independently been shown to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, it is not known to what extent gut and oral microbial disease markers converge in terms of their composition in IBD. Further, the spatial and temporal variation within the oral microenvironments of IBD remain to be elucidated. Patients and methods We used a prospectively recruited cohort of patients with IBD (n = 47) and unrelated healthy control patients (n = 18) to examine the spatial and temporal distribution of microbiota within the various oral microenvironments, represented by saliva, tongue, buccal mucosa, and plaque, and compared them with stool. Microbiome characterization was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results The oral microbiome displayed IBD-associated dysbiosis, in a site- and taxa-specific manner. Plaque samples depicted a relatively severe degree of dysbiosis, and the disease-associated dysbiotic bacterial groups were predominantly the members of the phylum Firmicutes. Our 16S rRNA gene analyses show that oral microbiota can distinguish patients with IBD from healthy control patients, with salivary microbiota performing the best, closely matched by stool and other oral sites. Longitudinal profiles of microbial composition suggest that some taxa are more consistently perturbed than others, preferentially in a site-dependent fashion. Conclusions Collectively, these data indicate the potential of using oral microbial profiles in screening and monitoring patients with IBD. Furthermore, these results support the importance of spatial and longitudinal microbiome sampling to interpret disease-associated dysbiotic states and eventually to gain insights into disease pathogenesis.
Third telescope project at the IOTA interferometer

The third telescope project to enable phase-closure observations at the IOTA interferometer is well underway, and is anticipated to be completed later this year. For this project, we present the main technical improvements which we have already made or expect to make, including a new VxWorks control system, improved star acquisition cameras, improved siderostat and primary mirror supports, five-axis control of the telescope secondary mirrors, automated control of the long delay line, trihedral retroreflectors, three-beam combination, the PICNIC camera, and fringe packet tracking.
A Synthesizing Conceptualization of Communication in a Marketing/Physical Distribution Setting

This paper reviews information systems requirements for the marketing and physical distribution management elements of a typical company's management information system. A Marketing Information System combining the subsystems of accounting, marketing intelligence, marketing research and marketing science with a logistics information system to optimize marketing decision making and distribution efficiency is presented.
Signal inversion for exospheric mass spectrometry: Mercury case study

Abstract A new era of exosphere study is beginning with observations being conducted by orbiting neutral mass spectrometers. We have developed a new analysis framework to improve our ability to invert the detection signal of these instruments into local and near-surface densities. By leveraging Liouville’s theorem we are able to rapidly reach a source solution that best matches exosphere filling processes to an observable signal. Two approaches are developed in this work, the Liouville Algorithm and a traditional Forward Monte Carlo model that acts as validation. The Liouville Algorithm can be applied to the interpretation of photometric observations but is especially powerful for in␣situ study. This type of analysis is motivated by the velocity dependence of mass spectrometers, which demands that the velocity space be fully resolved. Several examples are described to demonstrate the consistency of the two approaches and highlight the strengths of the new algorithm when used in conjunction with or in lieu of Monte Carlo. Our examples focus on Mercury and the BepiColombo instrument SERENA–Strofio, but these methods apply equally to other surface bounded exospheres like those of the Moon or other airless bodies.
Mostly About Screening

The issue in the use of screening or diagnostic tests is to strike the proper trade-off between the desire to detect the disease in people who really have it and the desire to avoid thinking you have detected it in people who really don’t have it.
Positive Curvature of the H c 2 -versus- T c Boundaries in Layered Superconductors

We have found what we believe to be a universal characteristic of layered superconductors: a positive curvature of the Hc2-versus-Tc boundary. The origins of the effect are believed to be associated with strong anisotropies of the Fermi surface and electron-phonon interaction.
The Big, Bad FBAR: Reporting Foreign Bank Accounts to the U.S. IRS

The IRS and other U.S. agencies have long seen foreign bank accounts of U.S. persons as potential instruments for tax evasion and other violations of U.S. law. A significant tool for uncovering these violations is a requirement that persons 'subject to the jurisdiction of the United States' must annually report to the IRS any 'financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, a bank, securities or other financial account in a foreign country.' This annual report is made to the IRS on Form TD F 90-22.1 ('Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts'), often known as FBAR. Although the FBAR is filed with the IRS, subject to IRS rules, governmental uses of the reported information are not limited to tax enforcement.The IRS revised its rules on FBARs for the calendar year 2008, significantly increasing the number of people required to file it and the number of foreign accounts required to be reported. Because penalties for failing to file complete and accurate FBARs can be heavy, these revisions have provoked widespread concern among lawyers, accountants, and their clients. This paper, an except from the treatise, Boris I. Bittker & Lawrence Lokken, Federal Taxation of Income, Estates & Gifts, explains the current rules on FBARs.
Parallel Signal Processing and System Simulation using aCe

Recently, networked and cluster computation have become very popular for both signal processing and system simulation. A new language is ideally suited for parallel signal processing applications and system simulation since it allows the programmer to explicitly express the computations that can be performed concurrently. In addition, the new C based parallel language (ace C) for architecture-adaptive programming allows programmers to implement algorithms and system simulation applications on parallel architectures by providing them with the assurance that future parallel architectures will be able to run their applications with a minimum of modification. In this paper, we will focus on some fundamental features of ace C and present a signal processing application (FFT).
Beyond Rape Myths: A More Complex View of Perceptions of Rape Victims

This research examined personal beliefs and perceptions of cultural stereotypes surrounding rape victims. Students (ages 18–21) at a primarily Caucasian University listed either their personal beliefs or their perceptions of cultural stereotypes surrounding rape victims and rated a specific rape victim either according to their personal beliefs or their perceptions of cultural stereotypes. Personal beliefs about rape victims tended to focus more on perceptions of victim reactions to the rape (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.) rather than on rape myths (e.g., she asked for it, was promiscuous, etc.). Perceptions of cultural stereotypes, however, comprised rape myths rather than the victim's reactions to rape. We propose that perceptions of rape victims are more multifaceted than has previously been suggested.
Neuronal DNA Methylation Profiling of Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Long-term molecular changes in the brain resulting from blast exposure may be mediated by epigenetic changes, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation, that regulate gene expression. Aberrant regulation of gene expression is associated with behavioral abnormalities, where DNA methylation bridges environmental signals to sustained changes in gene expression. We assessed DNA methylation changes in the brains of rats exposed to three 74.5 kPa blast overpressure events, conditions that have been associated with long-term anxiogenic manifestations weeks or months following the initial exposures. Rat frontal cortex eight months post-exposure was used for cell sorting of whole brain tissue into neurons and glia. We interrogated DNA methylation profiles in these cells using Expanded Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing. We obtained data for millions of cytosines, showing distinct methylation profiles for neurons and glia and an increase in global methylation in neuronal versus glial cells (...
Growth and characterization of high-speed InP/InGaAs bipolar transistors using n/sup +/-InP contacting layers

CBE growth with an elemental Si dopant source has produced InP/InGaAs single heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with excellent high frequency results. However, the reaction of metal-organics with the hot solid source dopant has lead to anomalous doping behavior which may have an effect on the reproducibility of the growth. As an alternative, gaseous SiBr/sub 4/ has been demonstrated as a highly efficient n-type dopant source for InGaAs and InP while maintaining excellent morphology. Using this source, CBE grown InP/InGaAs HBTs have been demonstrated. Yet, difficulties exist when using SiBr/sub 4/ doped InGaAs in the collector/subcollector region in that X-ray diffraction indicates that the lattice constant of InGaAs decreases with increasing SiBr/sub 4/ flow. This dependence leads to increased difficulty in the growth of Si-doped InGaAs since the shift in lattice constant has to be accounted for prior to growth. From a device standpoint, the use of a thick InGaAs layer for the collector/subcollector region may degrade HBT device performance due its low thermal conductivity. For integration of a p-i-n photodetector with an HBT by using the base/collector/subcollector regions, the n-type InGaAs layer detracts from the performance of the detector by allowing absorption of incident photons outside the active region of the device, thereby adding to the noise of the device and decreasing the speed of the response. By using heavily SiBr/sub 4/ doped InP contacting layers, these problems can be avoided since InP shows no lattice shift with doping while it maintains a high thermal conductivity.
Data reduction for weighted and outlier-resistant clustering

Statistical data frequently includes outliers; these can distort the results of estimation procedures and optimization problems. For this reason, loss functions which deemphasize the effect of outliers are widely used by statisticians. However, there are relatively few algorithmic results about clustering with outliers.For instance, the k-median with outliers problem uses a loss function [EQUATION] (x) which is equal to the minimum of a penalty h, and the least distance between the data point x and a center ci. The loss-minimizing choice of {c1,..., ck} is an outlier-resistant clustering of the data. This problem is also a natural special case of the k-median with penalties problem considered by [Charikar, Khuller, Mount and Narasimhan SODA'01].The essential challenge that arises in these optimization problems is data reduction for the weighted k-median problem. We solve this problem, which was previously solved only in one dimension ([Har-Peled FSTTCS'06], [Feldman, Fiat and Sharir FOCS'06]). As a corollary, we also achieve improved data reduction for the k-line-median problem.
Identification of an ADAM17 Cleavage Region in Human CD16 (FcγRIII) and the Engineering of a Non-Cleavable Version of the Receptor in NK Cells

CD16a and CD16b are IgG Fc receptors expressed by human natural killer (NK) cells and neutrophils, respectively. Both CD16 isoforms undergo a rapid down-regulation in expression by ADAM17-mediated proteolytic cleavage upon cell activation by various stimuli. We examined soluble CD16 released from activated NK cells and neutrophils by mass spectrometric analysis, and identified three separate cleavage sites in close proximity at P1/P1' positions alanine195/valine196, valine196/serine197, and threonine198/isoleucine199, revealing a membrane proximal cleavage region in CD16. Substitution of the serine at position 197 in the middle of the cleavage region for a proline (S197P) effectively blocked CD16a and CD16b cleavage in cell-based assays. We also show that CD16a/S197P was resistant to cleavage when expressed in the human NK cell line NK92 and primary NK cells derived from genetically-engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells. CD16a is a potent activating receptor and despite blocking CD16a shedding, the S197P mutation did not disrupt IgG binding by the receptor or its activation of NK92 cells by antibody-treated tumor cells. Our findings provide further characterization of CD16 cleavage by ADAM17 and they demonstrate that a non-cleavable version of CD16a can be expressed in engineered NK cells.
Identification and Functional Characterization of a Na-Independent Large Neutral Amino Acid Transporter, LAT1, in Human and Rabbit Cornea

Purpose The objective of this research was to investigate the presence of an Na(+)-independent, large neutral amino acid transporter, LAT1, on rabbit corneal epithelium and human cornea. Methods Freshly excised rabbit corneas were used for transport studies and SIRC (a rabbit corneal cell line) cells for uptake studies. Transport and uptake characteristics of [(3)H]-L-phenylalanine were determined at various concentrations and pH. Inhibition studies were conducted in the presence of other L- and D-amino acids and metabolic inhibitors, such as ouabain and sodium azide, and in the absence of sodium to delineate the mechanism of uptake and transport. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for large neutral amino acid transporter-1 (LAT1) was performed on total RNA from rabbit cornea, SIRC cells, and human cornea. Results SIRC uptake of L-Phe was found to be saturable, with K(m) of 73 +/- 9 microM, V(max) of 2.0 +/- 0.1 nanomoles/min per milligram protein, and K(d) of 0.44 +/- 0.6 microL/min per milligram protein. Uptake was independent of pH, energy, and Na(+); inhibited by D-Leu, D-Phe, and an L-system-specific inhibitor 2-aminobicyclo [2,2,1] heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH), but not inhibited by L-Ala and charged amino acids. Transport of L-Phe across rabbit cornea was also saturable (K(m) = 33 +/- 8 microM and V(max) = 0.26 +/- 0.03 nanomoles/min per square centimeter), energy independent, and subject to similar competitive inhibition. LAT1 was identified by RT-PCR in rabbit corneal, SIRC, and human corneal RNA. Conclusions A Na(+)-independent, facilitative transport system, LAT1, was identified and functionally characterized on rabbit cornea. LAT1 was also identified on human cornea.
Public Trust in (or Cynicism about) Other Nations across Time

This study uses survey data from 1994 and 1999 to examine the nature, causes, and consequences of Americans’ generalized beliefs about other nations during the decade prior to September 11, 2001—a relatively sedate era in international relations compared to the Cold War and post-September 11 periods. As was the case after the terrorist attacks, relatively few citizens expressed high levels of trust in other nations; more did in 1999 than in 1994, however. Partisanship, beliefs about government, age, and education were related to trust in other nations at the individual level, with some of these relationships varying over time. Trust in other nations, in turn, was related to preferences for diplomacy and support for military interventions. The strength of the former relationship varied over time, whereas the nature of the latter relationship depended on the nature of the intervention in question. The findings raise the question of why so few Americans trust other nations not only during periods of external threat but also during “quieter” times.
MODIFIED WHEAT STARCHES USED AS STABILIZERS IN SET‐STYLE YOGURT

Yogurt was formulated with gelatin; native wheat starch (MS); and modified wheat starches (MWS) (acetylated cross-linked, hydroxypropylated, or hydroxypropylated cross-linked). Yogurt samples were evaluated for chemical fat, total solids, pH, titratable acidity); microbiological (yeasts/molds and lactic acid bacteria); and physical (rheological, textural, color, syneresis) properties during 60 days of refrigerated storage. Yogurt formulated with hWS exhibited a significantly greater storage modulus (GI) andfirmness compared with yogurts prepared with MWS. Minimal syneresis was measured in all yogurt samples. me titratable acidity of yogurt samples increased and pH decreased during storage. Yeasts/moldr were not detected while lactic acid bacteria counts decreased -I log CFU/g by day 60 in all yogurt samples. This study showed that the characteristics of yogurt formulated with NWS and gelatin were similar. so NWS may be used as an alternative stabilizer. The MWS stabilized yogurts were stable but had different consistencies than gelatin- and NWS-stabilized yogurts.
Validation of the Soil Temperature Subroutine HEAT in the Cotton Simulation Model GOSSYM

The empirical soil temperature subroutine of the cotton simulation model GOSSYM did not perform well under bare and cotton-cropped (Gossypium hirsutum L.) surface conditions in the field. Therefore, it was replaced by a mechanistic soil temperature subroutine called HEAT. The HEAT subroutine was validated against soil temperature data collected in the field under bare and cotton-cropped surface conditions,and was compared with the empirical TMPSOL subroutine of GOSSYM. Soil temperatures were collected in the field under bare and cotton-cropped surface conditions at two locations (row and furrow) and four depths (5, 10, 25, and 60 cm) during the growing seasons of 1991 and 1992. Under bare surface conditions, HEAT underpredicted the average daily soil temperatures by 1 to 7°C at all locations and depths. However, under cotton-cropped surface conditions, HEAT calculated the soil temperature adequately, especially after canopy closure. Under bare surface conditions,the temperatures calculated by TMPSOL were closer to the measured values than those calculated by HEAT, but were still beyond the standard deviations of the measured values. It is recommended that the TMPSOL subroutine in GOSSYM be replaced by the HEAT subroutine.
Adaptation and professionalisation: challenges for teaching sisters in a pluralistic nineteenth-century America

Sisters, especially teaching sisters, were the principal agents of Americanisation for the millions of Catholics who settled in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The 1884 decision of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore that each parish should have its own school was less the initiation of sisters’ crucial roles in this regard as it was tacit acknowledgment of what they had already accomplished educationally in preventing “leakage” from the faith. But what did adaptation really mean? This essay argues that sisters – many themselves immigrants, of course – arrived at a range of responses to the challenge of determining what it meant to be American and Catholic, religious and educator. Based upon primary research in dozens of congregational archives in all regions of the US, and upon the experiences of communities that variously negotiated the challenges of adaptation in their own ranks, it suggests that the very diversity of sisters’ responses is itself central to the cre...
New matrix resins for glass polyalkenoates or glass-ionomers with pendant amino acid residues

The monomers N-acryloyl (AGA) and N-methacryloylglutamic acid (MGA) have been prepared and copolymerized with acrylic acid (AA) and itaconic acid (IA) to make polyelectrolytes for evaluation in glass polyalkenoates or glass-ionomers. It was shown that poly(AA-co-IA-co-AGA) and poly(AA-co-IA-co-MGA), having a monomers ratio, respectively, of 7:3:3 could be formulated with glass powders used in Fuji II (GC America), α-Silver (DMG-Hamburg), α-Fil (DMG-Hamburg) and Ketac-Molar (ESPE, Seefeld, Germany) to produce conventional glass-ionomers with improved compressive strength (CS), flexural strength (FS) and fracture toughness (FT), compared to Fuji II, α-Silver, α-Fil and Ketac-Molar controls. Since MGA is much easier to produce in high yields than AGA, it was important to show that MGA could be used as well as AGA to produce new matrix resins for glass-ionomers. Furthermore, we demonstrated that both the 7:3:3 AGA and MGA copolymers could be reacted with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) to produce interme...
Comparison of polyclonal antibody sera for early prophylaxis following cardiac transplantation

In an effort to obtain the maximum benefits of cyclosporine as an immunosuppressive agent, but minimize its potentially toxic side effects, combination immunosuppressive regimens, utilizing lower doses of cyclosporine, have been studied. Most combination regimens have included a lowered loading dose of cyclosporine. During the loading dose interval, protection against rejection is necessary for the heart, and antilymphocytic globulin used as early prophylaxis has been one method [5]. Although much clinical data on antithymocyte globulin (ATGAM) and antilymphoblast globulin (MALG, University of Minnesota) as antilymphocytic agents have accumulated, there has been no randomized prospective study comparing the two agents. This study randomized use of ATGAM or MALG in combination with tapering doses of steroids, azothiaprine, and cyclosporine, in 42 cardiac transplant patients.
Integrin αIIbβ3 in a Membrane Environment Remains the Same Height after Mn2+ Activation when Observed by Cryoelectron Tomography

Abstract Integrins perform the critical function of signalling cell attachment to the extracellular matrix or to other cells. This signalling is done through a structural change propagated bidirectionally across the plasma membrane. Integrin activation has been extensively studied with ectodomain constructs, but the structural change within intact, membrane-bound molecules remains a subject of live debate. Using cryoelectron tomography, we examined the simplest predication of the different integrin activation models, i.e., the change in height of the molecules. Analysis using techniques that compensate for the missing wedge during alignment and averaging and that search for patterns in the structure of the aligned molecular subvolumes extracted from the tomogram reveals that the vast majority of molecules show no dramatic height change upon Mn 2+ -induced activation of membrane-bound integrins when compared with an inactive integrin control group. Thus, the result is inconsistent with the switchblade activation model.
On the stability of systems of two first-order linear ordinary differential equations

We use the Riccati equation method to establish necessary and sufficient stability conditions and a stability criterion for a system of two first-order linear ordinary differential equations. We present examples in which these results are compared with the results obtained by the Lyapunov and Bogdanov methods, by a method involving estimates of solutions in the Lozinskii logarithmic norms, and by the freezing method.
Cholinergic receptors: functional role of nicotinic ACh receptors in brain circuits and disease.

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) can regulate neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system by acting on both the cys-loop ligand-gated nicotinic ACh receptor channels (nAChRs) and the G protein-coupled muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs). The hippocampus is an important area in the brain for learning and memory, where both nAChRs and mAChRs are expressed. The primary cholinergic input to the hippocampus arises from the medial septum and diagonal band of Broca, the activation of which can activate both nAChRs and mAChRs in the hippocampus and regulate synaptic communication and induce oscillations that are thought to be important for cognitive function. Dysfunction in the hippocampal cholinergic system has been linked with cognitive deficits and a variety of neurological disorders and diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. My lab has focused on the role of the nAChRs in regulating hippocampal function, from understanding the expression and functional properties of the various subtypes of nAChRs, and what role these receptors may be playing in regulating synaptic plasticity. Here, I will briefly review this work, and where we are going in our attempts to further understand the role of these receptors in learning and memory, as well as in disease and neuroprotection.
Introduction to several papers on special section of 'The Time varying Sun'

The Sun is at the origin of life on the Earth, and it influences all the Earth's environment, human life, climate, geomagnetism as well as many new technologies systems as for example navigation system. This is why the time varying sun deserves to a trans-disciplinary approach of many topics. In the following 8 papers, we will consider the sun itself its relation with the earth (geomagnetism and climate). (...)
First Report of Black Leg of Hydroponic Basil in the United States Caused by Plectosporium tabacinum.

During August 2007 and again in January 2008, compact sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese’) plants grown hydroponically in Indiana displayed dark, irregular, stem lesions extending 2 to 3 cm above the interface of the nutrient solution. These necrotic stem lesions (black leg), observed on 20 to 30% of the basil plants caused very weak, brittle stems so that they could not be marketed fresh. Although no wilting was noted, reduced plant height was observed. Similar symptoms of blackleg and poor growth have been reported from Italy on greenhouse-grown basil infected with Microdochium tabacinum (1,2). Diseased plant samples were sent to diagnostic clinics at Purdue University and the University of Massachusetts. Stem samples were surface sterilized and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) acidified with 1 ml of 85% lactic acid per liter as well as onto one-quarter-strength PDA. A fungus morphologically consistent with Plectosporium tabacinum (van Beyma) M.E. Palm, W. Gams, & H.I. Nirenberg (synonyms M. ta...
Mortgage‐Backed Futures and Options

This paper empirically tests valuation models for the mortgage-backed futures-options contracts that traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) from June of 1989 until March of 1992. A simple contingent-claim model is shown to produce call option values on mortgage-backed futures (MBF) contracts that are unbiased estimates of actual futures-options prices. The ability of the MBF contract to hedge positions in current coupon Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) securities relative to the effectiveness of cross-hedging GNMA positions with T-note and T-bond futures contracts is also examined.
Management of Uncomplicated Skull Fractures in Children:Is Hospital Admission Necessary?

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the necessity for routine hospital admission of children with skull fractures, a normal neurological exam, a normal head CT, and no
Dendritic cell vaccination against ovarian cancer – tipping the Treg/TH17 balance to therapeutic advantage?

The pathology of ovarian cancer is characterized by profound immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Mechanisms that contribute to the immunosuppressed state include tumor infiltration by regulatory T cells (Treg), expression of B7-H1 (PDL-1), which can promote T cell anergy and apoptosis through engagement of PD-1 expressed by effector T cells, and expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which can also contribute to effector T cell anergy. Expression of both B7-H1 and IDO has been associated with differentiation and recruitment of Treg, and clinical studies have shown that each of these mechanisms correlates independently with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with ovarian cancer. In a remarkable counterpoint to these observations, ovarian tumor infiltration with T(H)17 cells correlates with markedly improved clinical outcomes. In this Future Perspectives review, we argue that dendritic cell (DC) vaccination designed to drive tumor-antigen-specific T(H)17 T cell responses, combined with adjuvant treatments that abrogate immunosuppressive mechanisms operative in the tumor microenvironment, offers the potential for clinical benefit in the treatment of ovarian cancer. We also discuss pharmacological approaches to modulation of MAP kinase signaling for manipulation of the functional plasticity of DC, such that they may be directed to promote T(H)17 responses following DC vaccination.
Coenzyme M and methylcobalamin in methane biosynthesis: results of model studies.

Coenzyme M (2-mercaptoethanesulfonate, HS-CH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/SO/sub 3//sup -/) reacts with methylcobalamin nonenzymatically in the pH-range between 6 and 14 to yield the S-methyl derivative (CH/sub 3/-S-CH/sub 2/CH/sub 2/SO/sub 3//sup -/). In addition, and also at lower pH, methane is produced by reductive cleavage of the Co-C bond. With methylcobaloximes as the methyl group donors, methane production predominates, with insignificant S-methylation. The initial rates of methane production from methylcobaloximes with coenzyme M as the reductant correlate with the rates of methane production from these substrates with active cell extracts of Methanobacterium M.o.H.
Survey of oppositional algorithms

Evolutionary algorithms (EA) are gaining popularity due to their success in solving optimization problems. New methods are being introduced continuously in the literature. One such technique, biogeography-based optimization (BBO) is proving itself as an effective algorithm for real-world problems with large number of variables. Previous work shows that augmenting BBO and other EA with opposition-based learning increases their performance, specially for high-dimensional problems. Five different oppositional algorithms have already been separately introduced in the literature. This paper combines BBO with these five oppositional methods and tests their performance on 21 benchmark problems. Furthermore, a new oppositional algorithm, fitness-ranking-based central opposition (FCB), is introduced for the first time. FCB was able to solve two of the problems that other EA could not. FCB is also determined to be the oppositional algorithm with the highest success rate.
Outcomes of laparoscopic Toupet compared to laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Recent reports suggest that partial fundoplications such as the laparoscopic Toupet (LT) ultimately suffer from a higher recurrence rate compared to complete wraps such as the laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). This article summarizes our experience with LT and LNF. Over a 45-month period (February 1995 to November 1998), 206 patients underwent laparoscopic antireflux operations. The LNF group included 163 patients and the LT group included 43 patients. Global quality of life was measured using the Medical outcomes short form 36 (SF36). There were no differences in disease severity, except that the LT group had a higher incidence of esophageal dysmotility (37.2% 8.6%, p<0.05). Early outcomes were similar, with no perioperative deaths and morbidity occurring in 15 (9.2%) LNF and 5 (11.6%) LT patients (p=not significant). Long-term follow-up was available in 142 patients at a mean of 19.7 months. A greater number of LT patients required proton pump inhibitors (38 vs 20%) and were dissatisfied (21 vs 7%) with their surgery (p<0.05). SF36 physical function scores were better in the LNF group (85 vs 74; p<0.05). Significantly more (p<0.05) of the LT patients complained of dysphagia (34.5 vs 15%) on follow-up. There were no differences in the incidence of symptoms related to the gas-bloat syndrome. The observed differences between the LT and LNF groups did not appear to be related to differences in esophageal motility. Short-term results were similar for LT and LNF, but with longer follow-up, better results were seen with LNF. Even in the setting of moderate decreases of esophageal motility, complete fundoplication yields superior results.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimal control of distributed parameter systems subject to integral constraints

Abstract A class of optimal control problems for a damped distributed parameter system governed by a system of partial differential equations with side contraints(equality and/or inequality) is considered. Optimal control problems in structural mechanics are often formulated in this framework. A maximum principle is shown to be a necessary condition for the control to be optimal. Under additional convexity assumptions on state variables, the maximum principle is shown to be sufficient for optimality.
Origins of cat somatosensory far-ffield and early near-field evoked potentials

Abstract A complex pattern of potentials evoked by forelimb cutaneous nerve stimulation was recorded from the skull surface of barbiturate anesthetized cats and was resolved by computer averaging. Seven far-field components (designated I–VII) and several larger early near-field components (designated P 1 , N 1 , P 2 , N 2 and P 3 ) have been identified from averaged potentials. All far- and early nearfield components were elicited by activation of myelinated nerve fibers. Their latency and amplitude depended entirely on the number of large myelinated nerve fibers recruited into the nerve volley. Spinal lesions showed that peripherally evoked far- and early near-field potentials were generated from both lemniscal and extralemniscal sources. Far-field and early near-field potentials were evoked either from the lemniscal system by dorsal column stimulation or from the extralemniscal system by cutaneous nerve stimulation after dorsal column lesions. These potentials were similar in configuration to those evoked by cutaneous nerve stimulation in the intact cat. Sequential rostral to caudal ablations and lesions within the lemniscal or extralemniscal system eliminated the potentials selectively. The following sites of origin were proposed: I — peripheral nerve; II (IIa) — dorsal columns; IIb — spinothalamic tract; III — dorsal column nuclei or medial lemniscus; III, IV — spinocerebellar and spinoreticular tracts; V — lateral reticular nucleus or reticulocerebellar tract; VI, VII — cerebellum; P 1 — lateral and medial thalamic nuclei or thalamocortical projection; N 1 , P 2 — sensorimotor cortical areas; N 2 , P 3 — association cortical areas. Lemniscal and extralemniscal far- and early near-field potentials were generated from common as well as separate sites. The latencies of somatosensory far- and early near-field potentials recorded extracranially in this study closely correlated with the latencies of local potentials recorded by others at the proposed lemniscal and extra-lemniscal sites of origin. The contribution of extralemniscal sources to far- and early near-field potentials and their importance to clinical measurement of somatosensory evoked potentials and diagnosis of neurological disorders are discussed.