cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Panel of Biomarkers Is Associated With Increased Risk of the Presence and Progression of Atherosclerosis in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective An increased frequency of atherosclerosis (ATH) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is well-documented but not fully explained by the presence of traditional cardiac risk factors. Several nontraditional biomarkers, including proinflammatory high-density lipoprotein (piHDL) and leptin, have been individually associated with subclinical ATH in SLE. The aim of this study was to examine whether these and other biomarkers can be combined into a risk profile, the Predictors of Risk for Elevated Flares, Damage Progression, and Increased Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with SLE (PREDICTS), that could be used to better predict future progression of ATH. Methods In total, 210 patients with SLE and 100 age-matched healthy control subjects (all women) participated in this prospective cohort study. The longitudinal presence of carotid plaque and intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured at baseline and followup (mean ± SD 29.6 ± 9.7 months). Results At followup, carotid plaque was present in 29% of SLE patients. Factors significantly associated with plaque, determined using Salford Predictive Modeling and multivariate analysis, included age ≥48 years (odds ratio [OR] 4.1, P = 0.002), high piHDL function (OR 9.1, P < 0.001), leptin levels ≥34 ng/dl (OR 7.3, P = 0.001), plasma soluble TWEAK levels ≥373 pg/ml (OR 28.8, P = 0.004), and history of diabetes (OR 61.8, P < 0.001). Homocysteine levels ≥12 μmoles/liter were also a predictor. However, no single variable demonstrated an ideal combination of good negative predictive values (NPVs), positive predictive values (PPVs), sensitivity, and specificity. A high-risk PREDICTS profile was defined as ≥3 positive biomarkers or ≥1 positive biomarker plus a history of diabetes; for high-risk SLE patients, the PPV was 64%, NPV was 94%, sensitivity was 89%, and specificity was 79%. In multivariate analysis, SLE patients with the high-risk profile had 28-fold increased odds for the longitudinal presence of plaque (P < 0.001) and increased progression of IMT (P < 0.001). Conclusion A high-risk PREDICTS score confers 28-fold increased odds of the presence of any current, progressive, or acquired carotid plaque, both in patients with SLE and in control subjects, and is significantly associated with higher rates of IMT progression.
Alteration in the normal pattern of serum testosterone and 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol in the immature male rat following chronic treatment with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone or luteinizing hormone

Abstract A major component of sexual maturation in the male rat is a progressive decline in serum concentrations of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-diol) and a concomitant increase in testicular testosterone biosynthesis and secretion. Chronic administration of synthetic luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) or luteinizing hormone (LH)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to immature male rats has been shown to result in a delay in sexual maturation as evidenced by decreased sex accessory gland weights and altered testicular testosterone production. We have examined the postulate that such treatments may either reverse or retard the normal developmental pattern of serum testosterone and 3α-diol concentrations. Chronic in vivo treatment of 28 day old immature male rats for 2 weeks with daily injections of either 0.5 μg of LHRH, 1.0 μg of LHRH, or 30 μg of LH was found to result in significant reductions in weights of the seminal vesicles and ventral prostate glands and diminutions in serum testosterone concentrations. Serum content of 3α-diol was either unchanged or slightly elevated in the LHRH treated animals and increased significantly in the LH treated animals. These data suggest that either a reversal of or retardation in the normal developmental pattern of serum testosterone and 3α-diol content has been achieved in the immature male rat by chronic LHRH or LH treatment.
Electronic Health Record–Based Interventions for Improving Appropriate Diagnostic Imaging: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background One driver of increasing health care costs is the use of radiologic imaging procedures. More appropriate use could improve quality and reduce costs. Purpose To review interventions that use the computerized clinical decision-support (CCDS) capabilities of electronic health records to improve appropriate use of diagnostic radiologic test ordering. Data sources English-language articles in PubMed from 1995 to September 2014 and searches in Web of Science and PubMed of citations related to key articles. Study selection 23 studies, including 3 randomized trials, 7 time-series studies, and 13 pre-post studies that assessed the effect of CCDS on diagnostic radiologic test ordering in adults. Data extraction 2 independent reviewers extracted data on functionality, study outcomes, and context and assessed the quality of included studies. Data synthesis Thirteen studies provided moderate-level evidence that CCDS improves appropriateness (effect size, -0.49 [95% CI, -0.71 to -0.26]) and reduces use (effect size, -0.13 [CI, -0.23 to -0.04]). Interventions with a "hard stop" that prevents a clinician from overriding the CCDS without outside consultation, as well as interventions in integrated care delivery systems, may be more effective. Harms have rarely been assessed but include decreased ordering of appropriate tests and physician dissatisfaction. Limitation Potential for publication bias, insufficient reporting of harms, and poor description of context and implementation. Conclusion Computerized clinical decision support integrated with the electronic health record can improve appropriate use of diagnostic radiology by a moderate amount and decrease use by a small amount. Before widespread adoption can be recommended, more data are needed on potential harms. Primary funding source U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014007469).
Models for performance evaluation of a local area network with a file server

Abstract We consider a system of single user workstations connected to a file server over a local network. Users arrive at random intervals and occupy a workstation if one is available otherwise leave the system. Upon arrival, the user issues a request for file transfer from the server to the workstation local memory. Subsequent requests for additional transfers are issued in a random manner as needed. We consider two priority schemes for scheduling the two types of requests at the file server. Assuming that all relevant intervals are exponentially distributed, we propose two queueing models for the two scheduling schemes and develop computational procedures to analyze the performance of the system. Illustrative examples are presented to study the system behavior under various load conditions and to compare the performance of the two scheduling disciplines.
Calcium signaling mechanisms in dedifferentiated cardiac myocytes: comparison with neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes.

Our studies focused on calcium sparking and calcium transients in cultured adult rat cardiomyocytes and compared these findings to those in cultured neonatal and freshly isolated adult cardiomyocytes. Using deconvolution fluorescence microscopy and spec trophotometric image capture, sequence acquisitions were examined for calcium spark intensities, calcium concentrations and whether sparks gave rise to cell contraction events. Observations showed that the preparation of dedifferentiated cardiomyocytes resulted in stellate, neonatal-like cells that exhibited some aspects of calcium transient origination and proliferation similar to events seen in both neonatal and adult myocytes. Ryanodine treatment in freshly isolated adult myocytes blocked the calcium waves, indicating that calcium release at the level of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and t-tubule complex was the initiating factor, and this effect of ryanodine treatment was also seen in cultured-dedifferentiated adult myocytes. However, experiments revealed that in both neonatal and cultured adult myocytes, the inositol triphosphate pathway (IP3) was a major mechanism in the control of intracellular calcium concentrations. In neonatal myocytes, the nucleus and regions adjacent to the plasma membrane we re major sites of calcium release and flux. We conclude: (1) culturing of adult cardiomyocytes leads them to develop mechanisms of calcium homeostasis similar in some aspects to those seen in neonatal cardiomyocytes; (2) neonatal myocytes rely on both extracellular and nuclear calcium for contractile function; and (3) freshly isolated adult myocytes use sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium stores for the initiation of contractile function.
New group V κ-phases

Abstract New κ-phases (P. Rautala and J.T. Norton, Trans. AIME, 194 (1952) 1045; A. Harsta and S. Rundqvist, J. Solid State Chem., 70 (1987) 210) were discovered and crystallographically characterized in the Zr Ta S, Zr Nb S, Zr V S, Hf Nb S, and Hf V S systems, A κ-phase was also identified in the Hf Ta S system through Guinier powder diffraction. These compounds are the first examples of the κ-phase structure containing the Group V transition metals, Ta, Nb, and V. The Ta and Nb κ-phases exhibit the largest volumes (by about 13%) and the largest amounts of second row nonmetal per formula unit of the known κ-phases. X-ray single-crystal diffraction experiments were used to determine metal site occupancies in these κ-phases, and it was found that statistical mixing of the metals primarily on one site occurred for the Ta and Nb compounds. Refinements of the X-ray intensity data indicated that the octahedral nonmetal sites (denoted X2) are less than fully occupied by sulfur in the Ta and Nb κ-phases and less than fully occupied by oxygen in the V κ-phases. Combined neutron and X-ray powder refinements reliably determined that these nonmetal X2 sites are occupied by a mixture of sulfur, oxygen, and vacancies in the Zr Nh S and Zr Ta S κ-phases. The κ-phases in the Zr Nb S (G. Marking et al., Phys. Rev. B, 48 (1993) 16630) and Hf Nb S systems were found to be superconductors with T 2 s of 10.35 K and between 6 and 7 K respectively.
Vitamin D-Dependent Transcriptional Regulation of the Intestinal Plasma Membrane Calcium Pump

Abstract The vitamin D hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ], was shown to increase intestinal plasma membrane calcium pump (PMCA) gene expression. The present study was done to determine whether gene transcription is involved in this process. Nuclei were isolated from duodena of vitamin-D-deficient chicks given 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 intracardially at various times before experiment. The abundance of PMCA RNA in the nuclear and total cellular fractions, measured by a ribonuclease protection assay, was significantly increased above control values at 1.5 hr. and maximized at 3 hr. post-dose. As shown, cross-contamination of nuclear PMCA RNA by cytosolic RNA cannot account for these results. These studies are the first to show that 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 regulates expression of a plasma membrane calcium pump gene by increasing the rate of transcription.
Cross-Validation of Scatterometer Measurements via Sea-Level Pressure Retrieval

A combined analysis of ocean surface wind vector measurements by the European Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration QuikSCAT (QS) scatterometer using buoy measurements, numerical weather prediction model analyses, and spectral decomposition reveals significant statistical differences between the two data sets. While QS wind speeds agree better with buoy wind speeds than ASCAT above 15 m s-1, ASCAT wind directions agree better with buoy directions overall than QS. In contrast, it is shown that sea-level pressure (SLP) fields derived from ASCAT and QS measurements compare better with each other than the winds in a statistical sense, even though ASCAT bulk pressure gradients (BPGs) are slightly weaker than buoy pressure gradients and have slightly lower spectral energy than QS. Weaker BPGs in ASCAT are consistent with the low bias in ASCAT wind speeds. Thus, it is proposed that scatterometer-derived SLP fields can be used as a filter to improve the wind directions. This improves the QS wind directions but has less effect on the more accurate ASCAT wind directions. The unfiltered ASCAT wind vector statistics compare well with the statistics of the direction-filtered QS winds. It is suggested that this methodology might provide a basis for minimizing the discrepancies between various satellite wind measurement data sets in view of producing a long-term record of satellite-derived SLP fields and ocean surface wind vectors.
The Economics and Politics of Tax Increment Financing

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a popular yet controversial tool that allows local governments to use property tax revenue to fund the public costs of economic development. Since TIF gives one local government the power to affect the tax bases of the overlapping jurisdictions, there is uncertainty and argument on the part of government officials and taxpayers as to who really finances the program. To evaluate the alternative contentions, this paper presents a general methodology that identifies which taxpayers in which locations fund the TIF's expenditures, and sets forward the conditions under which such a local economic development policy can be beneficial to taxpayers. The paper applies the model to study the TIF program currently active in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The evidence indicates that the taxpayers in the entire metropolitan area subsidized the downtown activities in the early years, but now pay lower property tax rates due to the city's TIF-financed urban revitalization program.
Measuring Affective-Cognitive Experience and Predicting Market Success

We present a new affective-behavioral-cognitive (ABC) framework to measure the usual cognitive self-report information and behavioral information, together with affective information while a customer makes repeated selections in a random-outcome two-option decision task to obtain their preferred product. The affective information consists of human-labeled facial expression valence taken from two contexts: one where the facial valence is associated with affective wanting, and the other with affective liking. The new “affective wanting” measure is made by setting up a condition where the person shows desire to receive one of two products, and we measure if the face looks satisfied or disappointed when each of the products arrives. The “affective liking” measure captures facial expressions after sampling a product. The ABC framework is tested in a real-world beverage taste experiment, comparing two similar products that actually went to market, where we know the market outcomes. We find that the affective measure provides significant improvement over the cognitive measure, increasing the discriminability between the two similar products, making it easier to tell which is most preferred using a small number of people. We also find that the new facial valence “affective wanting” measure provides a significant boost in discrimination and accuracy.
The politics of external influence in the Dominican Republic

Foreword by Robert Wesson Introduction: A Nation with a Dual Identity Dominican History: The Sources of a Dual Identity The Contemporary Scene: Trujillo, Revolution, and the Struggle for Democracy The Politics of Democratic Development in the Dominican Republic Groups in Dominican Society: Internal Pressures, Foreign Influences The Dominican Economy: The Constant Struggle for Growth and Independence The Politics of International Relations in the Dominican Republic Conclusion: Assessing the Impact of Dependence, Interdependence, and Intervention Bibliography Index
Measurement of effective carrier lifetime at the semiconductor-dielectric interface by Photoconductive Decay (PCD) Method

Abstract The semiconductor–dielectric interface is of key importance to the performance of Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor transistors (MOSFETs). The near-surface Photoconductance Decay (ns-PCD) method using probe contacts is shown in this study to be very useful in measuring effective carrier lifetime at the semiconductor–dielectric interface. By doing so, it provides direct information on the condition of the charge transport environment in the MOSFET channel without a need to fabricate a transistor. The way measurement is implemented depends on the thickness of dielectric. For dielectric layers thicker than about 5 nm, etched windows in the dielectric layer are necessary to achieve an ohmic contact with the semiconductor layer. For dielectric layers thinner than about 5 nm, however, the ohmic contact to the semiconductor substrate, essential to the performance of this measurement, is established using probes and electrical contact formation process. The measurements were performed on thermally oxidized Si–SiO 2 structures as well as Si–Al 2 O 3 (3 nm) and Si–Ta 2 O 5 (3 nm) structures formed by means of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). The results obtained demonstrate that the PCD method adapted as discussed in this work can be very useful in monitoring condition of semiconductor – ultra-thin (
DNA homology among the T-even bacteriophages.

Abstract DNA-DNA hybridization studies involving reactions between labeled T-even phage DNA fragments and excess unlabeled T-even phage DNAs gave results which indicated that (a) as expected, close genetic similarities among the T2-T4 and T6 DNAs exist; (b) because reciprocal experiments (labeled T2 DNA reacted with T4 DNA and labeled T4 DNA reacted with T2 DNA, etc.) gave unequal values, different molecular weights are predicted for each of the three phage DNAs. Relative to the molecular weight of T2 DNA the molecular weights of T6 and T4 are 8 and 10% larger, respectively; (c) the differences of the thermal stabilities of the hybrid duplexes denote a closer genetic relationship between the T2 and T6 DNAs than to the T2 and T4 or T4 and T6 DNAs.
Maternal Employment and Parenting Through Middle Childhood: Contextualizing Factors

The authors used data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (N?=?1,364) to examine maternal work hour status and parenting (sensitivity and learning opportunities) from infancy through middle childhood. Work hour status was conceptualized as nonemployment, part time, and full time. Adjusting for covariates, mothers employed part time had higher sensitivity scores and higher provision of child learning opportunity scores than did mothers who were not employed, and these differences characterized families during early childhood rather than middle childhood. Mothers' provision of child learning opportunities was greater when she was employed full time (vs. part time) during early childhood. In addition to child age, mothers' ethnic minority status and partner status moderated the association between maternal work hour status and mothers' parenting. In general, the findings supported ideas forwarded by role expansionist theory.
Macromolecular properties of heparin in dilute solution: 1. Application of various hydrodynamic models in 0·5 M NaCl, pH 2·5

Abstract Bovine heparin was fractionated according to molecular weight by fractional precipitation utilizing a method described previously. The solution data from sedimentation analysis, intrinsic viscosities and partial specific volumes at pH 2·5 and in 0·5 M NaCl were treated according to the Mandelkern and Flory theory for random coil in calculating the constant β. It was found that the calculated β values for all the fractions were in close agreement with the theoretical value. Based on this observation, the solution data were then treated in light of various hydrodynamic theories for linear polymers to calculate various dimensional and other physical parameters, e.g., ( r 2 ) 1 2 , α (expansion factor), A 2 . In comparing ( r 2 ) 1 2 of a fraction to that calculated from the experimental value of ( s 2 ) 1 2 obtained from low angle X-ray scattering for a comparable molecular weight sample, it was found that heparin in solution with suppressed charges may best be described as approximating the closely related models of Debye and Bueche, Flory and Fox, or Kuhn and Kuhn.
Diffusion imaging with paired CPMG sequences

We report a method for mapping apparent diffusion coefficients using two interleaved CPMG sequences. Image slice selection is performed prior to each sequence, allowing the use of non-selective "hard" refocussing pulses. Phase cycling of the slice-selection process for each projection minimizes out-of-slice contributions to echo amplitudes. This permits an accurate evaluation of both T2 and apparent proton self-diffusion coefficients.
Epidemiological Trends of Infective Endocarditis: A Population-Based Study in Olmsted County, Minnesota

OBJECTIVE To provide a contemporary profile of epidemiological trends of infective endocarditis (IE) in Olmsted County, Minnesota. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study consists of all definite or possible IE cases among adults in Olmsted County from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2006. Cases were identified using resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. RESULTS We identified 150 cases of IE. The age- and sex-adjusted incidences of IE ranged from 5.0 to 7.9 cases per 100,000 person-years with an increasing trend over time differential with respect to sex (for interaction, P=.02); the age-adjusted incidence of IE increased significantly in women (P=.006) but not in men (P=.79). We observed an increasing temporal trend in the mean age at diagnosis (P=.04) and a decreasing trend in the proportion of cases with rheumatic heart disease as a predisposing condition (P=.02). There were no statistically significant temporal trends in the incidence of either Staphylococcus aureus or viridans group streptococcal IE. Data on infection site of acquisition were available for cases seen in 2001 and thereafter, with 50.0% designated as health care–associated, 42.5% community-acquired, and 7.5% nosocomial. CONCLUSION The incidence of IE among women increased from 1970 to 2006. Ongoing surveillance is warranted to determine whether the incidence change in women will be sustained. Subsequent analysis of infection site of acquisition and its impact on the epidemiology of IE are planned.
Stress management in medical education: a review of the literature.

ABSTRACTPurposeTo review systematically clinical studies providing empirical data on stress-management programs in medical training.MethodThe authors searched Medline and PSYCHINFO from 1966 to 1999. Studies were included if they evaluated stress-management programs for medical trainees (medical stu
On the Raman scattering from semiconducting nanowires

We present a short review of recent work on the unusual Raman scattering characteristics in semiconductor nanowires, focusing on the dependence of the intensity, spectral and spatial character of the scattering response on the size, shape and composition of the nanowires. Results of Raman scattering collected from individual Si and nanowires and nanocones indicate that the observed enhancement is dependent on the diameter (d), the excitation wavelength (λlaser) and the incident polarization state. Strong agreement between experimental data and model calculations of scattering from an infinite dielectric cylinder is found. This size dependence is in accordance with other recent findings in which a diameter-dependent dipolar ‘antenna’ pattern for the scattered intensity and a cross-sectional shape dependence of the surface optic (SO) phonon dispersions were seen. Further providing evidence of the nanowire shape and size dependence on Raman scattering, these results suggest manipulation of classical electromagnetic scattering signatures, thereby expanding opportunities for engineering the photonic and sensing properties of nanowires. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimization Studies on a Slit Virtual Impactor

This study reports the results of numerical investigations performed on a proposed slit virtual impactor configuration. Simulations were performed using the computational fluid dynamics program CFX-4.4. A detailed numerical investigation was carried out to determine the critical geometrical parameters of the proposed configuration that would optimize the performance for the anticipated operation conditions (specified Reynolds number and major-to-minor flow split ratio). A detailed sensitivity analysis was performed on the optimized configuration to determine its performance characteristics (impactor efficiency and wall loss curves) for (a) operation at different major-to-minor flow split ratios for a constant Reynolds number and (b) operation at different Reynolds numbers but at the same major-to-minor flow split ratio. Finally, the effect of modifying the radius of curvature of the receiving section of the optimized configuration on the impactor performance was studied for the anticipated operation condi...
Policy Update: Observing human CO2 emissions

The interaction between the Earth’s carbon cycle and climate change remains a top element of uncertainty within climate change projections. In order to better understand this relationship, carbon c...
An evaluation of thermal resistance as a measure of black carbon content in diesel soot, wood char, and sediment

Abstract The time dependence and efficacy of pretreatment by chemothermal oxidation for estimating black carbon (BC) content was evaluated using 28 samples of wood char, soot, activated carbon, and sediment. For 19 wood chars, 24-h carbon survival under air (at 375 °C) varied between 0 and 44%, with no survival in any char formed at ⩽850 °C and even in some low H/C chars formed at 1000 °C. Results depended not only on extent of carbonization, but also on physical attributes of particles. Because not all environmentally relevant BC is detected, the method is perhaps best considered as a semi-quantitative measure of soot content.
A criterion for using chloramphenicol to define different processes in the initiation of DNA synthesis in bacteria.

A criterion is proposed which must be met in order to demonstrate that two different proteins are required for the initiation of DNA synthesis, with each protein being synthesized at a different time prior to initiation, and with the synthesis of each protein having a different sensitivity to inhibition by chloramphenicol. Specifically, as the CM concentration is continuously varied, there must be a discontinuous variation in the number of origins able to be initiated at each concentration. In the light of this criterion, I suggest that there is no mm evidence for the proposal that there exist two different proteins which are required for initiation of DNA replication in Escherichia coli.
Probabilistic multidimensional scaling using a city-block metric

Abstract Using a probabilistic model, exact and approximate probability density functions (PDFs) for city-block distances and distance ratios are developed. The model assumes that stimuli can be represented by random vectors having multivariate normal distributions. Comparisons with the more common Euclidean PDFs are presented. The potential ability of the proposed model to correctly detect Euclidean and city-block metrics is briefly investigated. These results are then contrasted to those obtained using a deterministic, nonmetric model.
An Ultralow Phase Noise Coupled Optoelectronic Oscillator

Ultralow jitter optical pulse sources are much needed in optical communications, optical sampling, and metrology applications. We report a coupled optoelectronic oscillator employing nonpolarization-maintaining components and an erbium-doped fiber amplifier that generates 9.4-GHz microwave signals with -150-dBc/Hz phase noise at 10- to 100-kHz offset, and 2-fs jitter (integrated in 100-Hz to 100-kHz range) optical pulses. To our knowledge, this is the lowest phase noise and time jitter reported in the same frequency range for such mode-locked laser-based systems
OCCUPATIONAL WEBSITES AS LOCATIONS FOR REMOTE AND MOBILE WORKER CULTURE: AN EXAMINATION OF TEMPORARY WORKER WEBSITES

This article examines the instrumental role that websites play in developing and sustaining a work-related culture for remote and mobile employees that often find themselves working alone or without coworkers from their parent company. More specifically, this article focuses on temporary worker websites, such as http://www.notmydesk.com and http://www.Temp24-7.com, to illustrate how these on-line communities foster a distinctive occupational community for temporary workers. Specific stories, postings, and other information contained on these sites reveals the lived experiences of temporary workers. The author's personal experiences in the industry, combined with examples taken from specific temporary worker websites, illustrate how the remote and mobile nature of this occupation impacts workers both on and off the job.
Impact of Cultural Competence on Medical Care: Where are we Today?

The Institute of Medicine's 2002 Report on Unequal Treatment calls attention to disparities in health care and proposes corrective steps. Proposed actions included improvement in cross-cultural skills among providers. This article highlights evidence for unequal treatment, and delineates current medical educational efforts aimed at improving cultural competence. Improvement is needed in the uniform adoption of cultural competence curricula and focus needs to be placed on its impact through outcomes research.
CFI versus RMSEA: A comparison of two fit indexes for structural equation modeling

This article compares two structural equation modeling fit indexes—Bentler's ( 1990; Bentler & Bonett, 1980) Confirmatory Fit Index (CFI) and Steiger and Lind's (1980; Browne & Cudeck, 1993) Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). These two fit indexes are both conceptually linked to the noncentral chi‐square distribution, but CFI has seen much wider use in applied research, whereas RMSEA has only recently been gaining attention. The article suggests that use of CFI is problematic because of its baseline model. CFI seems to be appropriate in more exploratory contexts, whereas RMSEA is appropriate in more confirmatory contexts. On the other hand, CFI does have an established parsimony adjustment, although the adjustment included in RMSEA may be inadequate.
Electronic Effects in Transition Metal Porphyrins. 9. Effect of Phenyl Ortho Substituents on the Spectroscopic and Redox Properties and Axial Ligand Binding Constants of Iron(III) Tetraphenylporphyrinates

To obtain a better understanding of the effects of ortho-halogen and related substituents on the phenyl rings of TPPH2 and (TPP)Fe(III) complexes, a series of unsymmetrically substituted tetraphenylporphyrins have been synthesized. In each of these complexes one phenyl ring bears halogen(s) on one (or both) ortho position(s), while the other three phenyl rings carry para-methoxy substituents. The free-base porphyrins were characterized by UV−visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The resonance of the pyrrole protons closest to the phenyl ring bearing the ortho substituent, Ha, of the free-base porphyrins shows a progressive shift to higher shielding as the atomic radius and Hammett substituent constant σp of the substituent increases. However, the fact that 2,6-substitution has a similar effect as 2-substitution suggests that size effects are more important than through-bond electronic effects. Equilibrium constants, β2III, for addition of N-methylimidazole to the series of complexes (o-X)(p-OCH3)3(TPP)FeCl and...
Rash Words, insincere assurances, uncertain promises: verifying employers’ intentions in labour contracts

Abstract This paper critiques SFAS 106 and the accounting and legal institutions in which it is embedded for not informing labour of the nature, extent, and uncertainty of employers’ retirement health care promises in a timely and reliable manner. The critique consists of three parts. First, a review of ERISA provisions and influential court cases refutes the SFAS 106 extra-legal accounting basis which requires the accrual of liabilities for contingent commitments that are not legally binding and not nearly as costly to amend or terminate as SFAS 106 implies. Second, a speech act analysis of employer–employee communications and documented examples of employer deception refute the SFAS 106 presumption that postretirement benefit plans are “mutually understood" by both employers and employees. Third, the SFAS 106 recognition and disclosure requirements (and, more generally, financial reporting boilerplate) obscure rather than reveal the contingent nature of employers’ non-legally binding obligations. To better address labour’s information needs, the paper proposes an auditor’s report to verify whether an employer has expressed legally binding intentions to continue funding a health plan. Some practical implementation difficulties are also considered, including accountants’ lack of moral courage to intervene on behalf of labour. Finally, the paper discusses some broader implications of the critique.
Simian immunodeficiency virus lentivector corrects human X-linked chronic granulomatous disease in the NOD/SCID mouse xenograft.

X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the phagocyte nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate oxidase catalytic subunit gp91phox. Gene therapy targeting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can correct CGD, but permanent correction remains a challenge. Lentiviral vectors have become attractive tools for gene transfer, and they may have the potential to transduce very primitive HSCs. We used a self-inactivating RD114/TR-pseudotyped simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac)-based vector encoding human gp91phox for ex vivo transduction of peripheral blood-mobilized stem cells (PBSCs) from patients with X-CGD. In PBSCs from two patients, ex vivo transduction efficiencies of 40.5 and 46% were achieved, and correction of oxidase activity was observed in myeloid cells differentiating in culture. When transduced PBSCs from these patients were transplanted into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice and compared to normal control, 10.5 and 7.3% of the human myeloid cells in bone marrow developing at 6 weeks from the human xenografts expressed the gp91phox transgene. Sustained functional correction of oxidase activity was documented in myeloid cells differentiated from engrafted transduced PBSCs. Transgene marking was polyclonal as assessed by vector integration site analysis. These data suggest that RD114/TR SIVmac-based vectors might be suitable for gene therapy of CGD and other hereditary hematologic diseases.
Single cell time resolved quorum responses reveal dependence on cell density and configuration

Bacterial communication via quorum sensing has been extensively investigated in recent years. Bacteria communicate in a complex manner through the production, release, and reception of diffusible low molecular weight chemical signaling molecules. Much work has focused on understanding the basic mechanisms of quorum sensing. As more and more bacteria grow resistant to conventional antibiotics, the development of drugs that do not kill bacteria but instead interrupt their communication is of increasing interest. This study presents a method for analyzing bacterial communication by investigating single cell responses. Most conventional analysis methods for bacterial communication are based on the averaged response from many bacteria, masking how individual cells respond to their immediate environment. We applied a fiber-optic microarray to record cellular communication from single cells. Single cell quorum sensing systems have previously been employed, but the highly ordered array reported here is an improvement because it allows us to simultaneously investigate cellular communication in many different environments with known cellular densities and configurations. We employed this method to detect how genes under quorum regulation are induced or repressed over time on the single cell level and to determine whether cellular density and configuration are indicative of the single cell temporal patterns of gene expression.
Influence of type of stressor and sex of subject on time estimation.

Summary.-70 Ss estimated a fixed period of time under a no-stress condition and either a failure, pacing, or another no-stress condition. The results showed that men under failure reduced their estimates of the passage of time significantly more than women under failure and significantly more than men under pacing. These results were discussed primarily in terms of differential arousal of achievement motivation by the two stressors and differences between the sexes in achievement motivation. Results seem to support the hypothesis that unique stress-producing operations lead to unique effects on estimation of time. Further, the results highlight the role of sex in such research. Empirical studies of the effects of scressors upon estimation of time have produced inconsistent results (Wallace & Rabin, 1960). These inconsistencies may partially come from two sources. One is the oversimplified assumption that the various experimental procedures known as stressors, or stress-producing operations, are all similar enough to produce consistent findings. The other is the failure to take acconnt of subject variables and their possible interaction with stressor variables. In regard to the problem of diversity of stressors, the inconsistencies in findings suggest that the unidimensional conceptualization of stressors is inadequate to account for the data and that the experimental procedures labeled "stressors" do not have enough common properties to make it reasonable - to expect common effects on perception of cime. The present study was designed to investigace the possible unique effects of two stressors, failure and pacing, upon estimation of time, in a situation in which all Ss performed a card-sorting task under neutral (nonstressful) conditions and then repeated the task after they had been exposed to one of the stress-producing operations. It was expecced that Ss woi~ld change their estimates of passage of time in going from a no-stress to a stress situation. Further, it was hypothesized that Ss in the failure group would change their estimates of che passage of time in a different direction than Ss in the paced group because of differential arousal of achievement motivation. Explicitly, it was expecced that individuals in failure would be motivated to do well and therefore desire more time in order to pass the "test" successfully. In a study of the effects of motivation on temporal experience, Rosenzweig and Koht ( 1933) concl~~ded from their findings that the desire for time co be long will lead co the experiencing of time as short. Hence, it was expected, in the presented study, that there would be a shorter estimate of 'This article is based on an M.S. thesis completed by the first author under the direction of the second author.
Consolidation of Laboratories: Does it Work?:

INTRODUCTION Laboratory medicine has undergone many changes over the last two decades in terms of automation, information systems, the use of dry chemistry and the advent of point-of-care testing, just to mention a few. There is a major shift in emphasis at the present time. There is a strong focus on cost containment as reimbursement for testing is ratcheted down. In addition, “clinical resource management” has become the phrase of the moment. Clinical resource management stresses the need to evaluate what testing, either laboratory or diagnostic imaging, is actually necessary in any particular disease state. Predetermined pathways are designed so that in a disease such as asthma, the length of stay in the hospital and the testing modalities are predetermined, although obviously exceptions can be made in unusual circumstances.
Stopping rules for utility functions and the St. Petersburg gamble

We study, using the St. Petersburg paradox, the risk attitudes expressed by utility functions without the normal continuity and differentiability assumptions. We model the repeated St. Petersburg lottery with two parameters, starting wealth and return ratio, as a stochastic process with a simple control mechanism and the objective of maximizing utility of the outcome. A stopping function expresses the earliest stopping stage; a finite value resolves the paradox. This new approach can measure the risk attitude of discontinuous utilities in only a finite horizon repetition of the lottery, opening the door to new usefulness of the utility concept in modeling. As an Example we give an application to behavior of persons receiving entitlements towards additional income from working.
Impact of faculty-specific electronic reminders on faculty compliance with daily resident evaluations: a retrospective study

Abstract Study Objective To assess the effectiveness of faculty-specific electronic reminders on increasing faculty compliance with completing daily anesthesia resident evaluations. Design Retrospective study. Setting Anesthesiology Residency Program at Oregon Health & Science University. Measurements 41 faculty members on staff from February 2004 through January 2006 were studied for compliance with submitting daily anesthesia resident evaluations 12 months before and 12 months after implementation of a faculty-specific electronic reminder system. Evaluations were entered into a customized, web-based Daily Resident Evaluation database. Data for the reminders were obtained from the Surgical Schedule database. At the end of the study period, data on compliance with our daily resident evaluation system was aggregated by month and compared before versus after system implementation. Main Results A total of 1,222 of 3,893 possible evaluations (31.4%) were submitted before the faculty-specific electronic reminder system was in place, with 38 faculty submitting at least one evaluation (93% participation). After the intervention, 1,824 of 4,263 possible evaluations (42.8%) were submitted, with all 41 faculty submitting at least one evaluation (100% participation). The percentage of resident evaluations submitted by the faculty increased from 29.3% to 42.9% ( P Conclusions A faculty-specific electronic reminder system improved faculty compliance with submitting resident evaluations. The faculty members with the lowest compliance prior to implementation of this system benefited the most.
A population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic and logistic regression analysis of lotrafiban in patients.

Objective Our objective was to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of lotrafiban, an oral glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, in patients with a recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, transient ischemic attack, or stroke. Methods A 12-week, double-blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase II study of lotrafiban (the Anti-platelet Useful Dose Study) was conducted in patients. Lotrafiban or placebo was administered as a twice daily oral dose at four dose levels (5–100 mg) for 12 weeks with daily doses of aspirin (300–325 mg). The pharmacokinetics of lotrafiban were characterized with the use of a population approach and were described by a two-compartment model with first order absorption and first order elimination. The pharmacodynamic data, ex vivo platelet aggregation, were described with the use of a direct effect inhibitory sigmoidal model with a baseline. The relationship between the severity of bleeding episodes and predicted steady-state lotrafiban exposure was characterized by logistic regression. Results Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that increasing age and decreasing creatinine clearance resulted in increased exposure to lotrafiban. The concentration-effect relationship was steep, with near complete inhibition of platelet aggregation at lotrafiban concentrations in excess of 20 ng/mL. Logistic regression showed that at exposures that exceeded approximately 835 ng · h/mL, the severity of adverse bleeding events increased considerably; this suggested that dosing recommendations should be generated to minimize the likelihood of patients having an area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 hours in excess of this value. Conclusions Patients whose age exceeded 65 years or whose creatinine clearance was less than 60 mL/min should be given a lower dose of lotrafiban than younger patients with good renal function. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2001) 69, 210–222; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2001.114925
Human handling, flock size and responses to an E. coli challenge in young chickens

Abstract The effects of human handling and flock size on physiological, behavioral and production traits of female chickens were examined. Pullets maintained in smaller flocks were heavier at 28 days of age than those kept in larger flocks, with feed efficiency being superior for the latter by 35 days of age. Socialized pullets were heavier at 35 days of age than ignored pullets, with no difference in feed efficiency. The general pattern of weight change to the E. coli challenge, and scores of heart and air-sac lesions were similar for all groups. Behavioral differences between groups were marked; weighted behavior totals and individual encounter scores on a per bird basis were greater for larger flocks and ignored birds than for smaller flocks and socialized birds, signaling a greater occurrence of agonistic behaviors in ignored pullets and those maintained in larger flocks. These results, when seen in a comprehensive profile, demonstrate that the human-animal relationship is an important part of animal well-being.
Patients’ Perceptions of Care Are Associated With Quality of Hospital Care A Survey of 4605 Hospitals

Favorable patient experience and low complication rates have been proposed as essential components of patient-centered medical care. Patients' perception of care is a key performance metric and is used to determine payments to hospitals. It is unclear if there is a correlation between technical quality of care and patient satisfaction. The study authors correlated patient perceptions of care measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores with accepted quality of care indicators. The Hospital Compare database (4605 hospitals) was used to examine complication rates and patient-reported experience for hospitals across the nation in 2011. The majority of the correlations demonstrated an inverse relationship between patient experience and complication rates. This negative correlation suggests that reducing these complications can lead to a better hospital experience. Overall, these results suggest that patient experience is generally correlated with the quality of care provided.
Three worlds of relief: race, immigration, and public and private social welfare spending in American cities, 1929.

Using a data set of public and private relief spending for 295 cities, this article examines the racial and ethnic patterning of social welfare provision in the United States in 1929. On the eve of the Depression, cities with more blacks or Mexicans spent the least on social assistance and relied more heavily on private money to fund their programs. Cities with more European immigrants spent the most on relief and relied more heavily on public funding. Distinct political systems, labor market relations, and racial ideologies about each group’s proclivity to use relief best explain relief spending differences across cities.
The creative balance: The therapeutic relationship and thematic issues in trauma resolution

A case example of the psychotherapeutic treatment by a male therapist of a female incest survivor is presented in the present paper. The case illustrates how the evolution of the therapeutic relationship critically contributed to the resolution of thematic issues that defined the therapeutic work. The case also illustrates the use of hypnosis in facilitating the integration of traumatic memories and themes. The importance of a creative balance between autonomy and connection in the therapeutic alliance is emphasized. Data for the case include narrative material written by the client over the course of the therapy.