cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Green product design in supply chains under competition

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the green product design issues in supply chains under competition. Our research questions address how supply chains’ decisions on the “greenness” of products are affected by factors such as supply chain structures (centralized and decentralized), the green product types (development-intensive product or marginal-cost intensive product), and the types of competition (price competition and greenness competition). With a game-theoretic approach, our model starts with a simple supply chain with one manufacturer and one retailer. Then the model is expanded to include a horizontal retailer competition case and six cases of competing supply chains. Our results indicate that, 1. the distortion from a non-coordinated supply chain (the double marginalization effect) has counter-intuitive impact on the degree of product “greenness”; 2. supply chain price competition at the retailer level may positively influence the equilibrium greenness while the product greenness competition reduces the equilibrium greenness, and the joint impact from price and greenness competition on equilibrium greenness depends on the relative strength of the two types of competition.
Atomic mutagenesis in ion channels with engineered stoichiometry

C-type inactivation of potassium channels fine-tunes the electrical signaling in excitable cells through an internal timing mechanism that is mediated by a hydrogen bond network in the channels' selectively filter. Previously, we used nonsense suppression to highlight the role of the conserved Trp434-Asp447 indole hydrogen bond in Shaker potassium channels with a non-hydrogen bonding homologue of tryptophan, Ind (Pless et al., 2013). Here, molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the Trp434Ind hydrogen bonding partner, Asp447, unexpectedly 'flips out' towards the extracellular environment, allowing water to penetrate the space behind the selectivity filter while simultaneously reducing the local negative electrostatic charge. Additionally, a protein engineering approach is presented whereby split intein sequences are flanked by endoplasmic reticulum retention/retrieval motifs (ERret) are incorporated into the N- or C- termini of Shaker monomers or within sodium channels two-domain fragments. This system enabled stoichiometric control of Shaker monomers and the encoding of multiple amino acids within a channel tetramer.
Hierarchy of simulation approaches for hot carrier transport in deep sub-micron devices

The purpose of this brief review is to survey the hierarchy of physical approaches for semiconductor transport and device simulation, giving an indication of the limits of applicability and approximations underlying the various approaches. The main focus is on the relevance of the approaches for the simulation of hot carrier effects in deeply scaled devices.
625. Arming a Tumor Targeted Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 With Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 for Enhanced Vector Distribution and Killing Activity

Early phase human clinical trials using several versions of oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV) have shown promise in the treatment of GBM, but efficacy has been limited. Impediments to oHSV therapy include poor virus spread due in part to the tumor extracellular matrix, and insufficient replication in tumor cells as a result of attenuating mutations. Thus, the central goal of this project is to improve oncolytic vector delivery, replication and spread while maintaining safety and tumor specificity. We have already developed a new class of two stage tumor targeted oHSV combining (i) selective infection through tumor-specific receptors and (ii) selective replication based on differential expression of microRNAs (miRs) in tumor and normal cells. We further modify our vector by arming with the matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) as a means to reduce vector trapping in the tumor extracellular matrix. Here we show that MMP9 expression (i) enhances Oncolytic vector spreading in GBM neruospheres in vitro and (ii) improves tumor killing in a xenogeneic model of primary human GBM with significant long-term survival (≥50%) comparable to the control.
Two-Photon Absorption at Milliwatt Powers with Rb in Photonic Bandgap Fibers

We observe large enhancement of Doppler-free two-photon absorption on the 5S1/2 → 5D5/2 transition in Rb vapor confined to a photonic bandgap fiber. We estimate ~1% absorption with ~1 mW of power in the fiber.
Are esophagocrural sutures needed during laparoscopic fundoplication: A prospective randomized trial.

Abstract Purpose Historically, fundoplication has been performed with extensive dissection of the esophageal attachments to the diaphragm. Previously, we conducted a randomized trial demonstrating that minimal esophageal dissection and mobilization reduce the rate of wrap herniation and the need for reoperation. In that study, four esophagocrural (EC) sutures were placed in both groups to help obliterate the space between the esophagus and diaphragmatic crura. In this current study, we evaluate the need for these EC sutures. Methods Children less than age 7 undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication were randomized to receive four EC sutures or none. Exclusion criteria included an existing hiatal hernia. The primary outcome was transmigration of the fundoplication wrap through the esophageal hiatus into the mediastinum. A contrast study was performed around 1year postoperatively. Telephone follow-up was performed at a minimum of 1.5years. Results 120 patients were enrolled from 2/2010 to 2/2014, and 13 did not survive. One patient was excluded because a hiatal hernia was found at laparoscopy, leaving 52 patients with EC sutures (S) and 54 without EC sutures (NS). Operative time was 20min longer in the S group (P Conclusion When minimal phrenoesophageal dissection is performed, EC sutures offer no advantages and increase operating time. Level of evidence Level II.
An ecological perspective on managing weeds during the great selection for herbicide resistance

More than 70 years after modern agriculture declared a 'war on weeds', they continue to thrive and suppress crop yields. Viewing weeds as an enemy that can be defeated if only a powerful enough technology can be deployed is a losing proposition. The latest evidence for the inadequacy of this approach, rampant evolution of multiple herbicide-resistant weed genotypes and dwindling options for chemical control in many production systems, should be seen as an urgent message to all those concerned with the science and practice of weed management: we need another way of thinking about the weed resistance issue. Fortunately, the theoretical and practical foundation of this alternative approach, ecological weed management, has been in development for decades. Here, we use Barry Commoner's laws of ecology as a conceptual frame for a review of some of the fundamental concepts of ecological weed management. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
The Application of Ion Implantation to Quantitative SIMS Analysis

The applicability of SIMS analysis for the micro and depth characterization of semiconducting matrices has been widely realized in recent years. Efforts for quantification have been hindered, however, by the absence of a workable theoretical model of the sputtering ionization process and more critically by the unavailability of homogeneously distributed standard materials for elements present in trace concentrations. The use of quantitative ion implantation and its particular applicability to single crystal semiconductors offers a solution to this difficulty.
The Comparative Utilities of Real Time Cross-Sectional Echocardiographic Imaging Systems in Complex Congenital Heart Disease

Of the currently available real time cross-sectional echocardiographic techniques, the multiple crystal system and the mechanical sector-scanner differ significantly with regards to the images produced. Their comparative utility for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease has yet to be evaluated simultaneously. Accordingly, the present study was designed to compare imaging characteristics and describe diagnostic criteria in 44 children (age 6 months–18 years) with known congenital heart disease who were studied with both systems. In 8 patients with “corrected” transposition, the multiple crystal system imaged a large area of cardiac anatomy in the transverse plane to demonstrate the abnormal septal orientation and side by side atrio-ventricular valves while the sector-scanner allowed a detailed analysis of insertion of the mitral and tricuspid valves. Although the abnormal great artery orientation could be assessed by both systems, different diagnostic criteria were relied upon; with the sector-scanner, diagnosis was based on the absence of the normal spiraling pattern in the transverse plane while with the multiple crystal system the course and contour of the anteriorly placed aorta was used. The presence of dextrocardia (n=2) did not preclude these observations. Similiar observations of great artery relations were made in 6 patients with d-transposition and in 6 patients with single ventricle (2 with dextrocardia).
Structure of high- T c superlattices

We have determined the structure of ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{x}}$/${\mathrm{PrBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{x}}$ and ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{x}}$/${\mathrm{GdBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{x}}$ high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superlattices using a novel method to refine the structure from x-ray diffraction spectra. This technique allows quantitative determination of disorder in superlattices in good agreement with independent measurements where available. The results show that layer thickness fluctuations, interdiffusion, and strains are present in the high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superlattices and cannot be neglected when studying the physical properties.
Metalworking I: Rolling

The advent of suitable technology to produce roiled beryllium sheet on a commercial basis has not resulted in the wide scale use of sheet products that might have been expected. One of the chief reasons for this lack of acceptance is the strong tendency for basal planes to become oriented in the plane of the sheet during rolling. Although this texture and the cold-working attendant with the deformation in rolling combine to produce very high strength and ductility in the plane of the sheet, the through thickness properties are very poor.(1)
Metformin use in diabetic patients with multiple myeloma (MM): A SEER-Medicare study.

e18127Background: Metformin, an oral hypoglycemic agent, has been linked to favorable outcomes among patients (pts) with cancer (Coyle et al. Ann Oncol 2016). Wu et al. demonstrated better overall ...
Outcomes of Infliximab in Management of Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft Versus Host Disease

Corticosteroids are considered the standard first-line treatment for moderate/severe acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), yet there is no consensus on the optimal management of patients that are steroid-refractory (SR). Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody with anti-TNF-α activity that has previously demonstrated efficacy in SR-aGVHD. We performed a retrospective review of 59 patients at Indiana University who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation and developed SR grade III-IV aGVHD from January 2007 to August 2018. Infliximab was administered 10 mg/kg weekly intravenously. Response criteria was in accordance with Martin et al (BBMT 2009; 12:777-784). Median age of treated patients was 49.5 years (range, 34.5-60) and median time from transplant to diagnosis of aGVHD was 106 days (range, 42-185) Patients received a median of 12 days (range, 8-20) of systemic steroids prior to infliximab. At the start of infliximab, 52 (88%) patients were on non-steroidal immunosupressants and 39 (66%) on non-absorbable steroids concurrently with systemic steroids. Patients received a median of 3 doses of infliximab with 37 (62.7%) patients receiving There was no significant difference between responders (n=16) and non-responders (n=43) in baseline demographic, transplant-related characteristics, initial GVHD prophylaxis regimen, number of non-steroidal systemic immunosuppressants at time of aGVHD diagnosis, or use of non-absorbable steroids. There was no difference in time from diagnosis of aGVHD to start of infliximab (median 16 vs. 11 days, P=0.06). Responders were less likely to have liver aGVHD involvement vs. non-responders (18% vs. 53%, P=0.016) and had slower tapering of systemic steroids, both at median time to 50% steroid dose (18 vs. 12 days, P=0.02) and 25% steroid dose (36 vs. 24 days, P=0.01). Responders had lower incidence of bacterial infection (44% vs. 74%, P=0.04), but not viral infections (56% vs. 47%, P=0.57). Responders had a longer overall survival (median 20.3 vs. 2.8 months, P=0.01). Our single center report of 59 patients with SR-aGVHD treated with infliximab is among the largest reported. The outcomes of response to SR-aGVHD are poor and there is an unmet need for better agents. Additional studies with greater patient numbers are needed to identify factors associated with improved response to infliximab.
What Are We Measuring? Evaluating Physician-Specific Satisfaction Scores Between Emergency Departments.

Author(s): Sharp, Brian; Johnson, Jordan; Hamedani, Azita G.; Hakes, Emilia B.; Patterson, Brian W. | Abstract: Introduction: Most emergency departments (ED) use patient experience surveys (i.e., Press Ganey) that include specific physician assessment fields. Our ED group currently staffs two EDs – one at a large, tertiary-care hospital, and the other at a small, affiliated, community site. Both are staffed by the same physicians. The goals of this study were to determine whether Press Ganey ED satisfaction scores for emergency physicians working at two different sites were consistent between sites, and to identify factors contributing to any variation.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients seen at either ED between September 2015 and March 2016 who returned a Press Ganey satisfaction survey. We compiled a database linking the patient visit with his or her responses on a 1-5 scale to questions that included “overall rating of emergency room care” and five physician-specific questions. Operational metrics including time to room, time to physician, overall length of stay, labs received, prescriptions received, demographic data, and the attending physician were also linked. We averaged scores for physicians staffing both EDs and compared them between sites using t-tests. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the impact of visit-specific metrics on survey scores.Results: A total of 1,012 ED patients met the inclusion criteria (site 1=457; site 2=555). The overall rating-of-care metric was significantly lower at the tertiary-care hospital ED compared to our lower volume ED (4.30 vs 4.65). The same trend was observed when the five doctor-specific metrics were summed (22.06 vs 23.32). Factors that correlated with higher scores included arrival-to-first-attending time (p=0.013) and arrival-to-ED-departure time (p=0.038), both of which were longer at the tertiary-care hospital ED.Conclusion: Press Ganey satisfaction scores for the same group of emergency physicians varied significantly between sites. This suggests that these scores are more dependent on site-specific factors, such as wait times, than a true representation of the quality of care provided by the physician.
Detailed-balance analysis of Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3 quantum-cutting layers for high-efficiency photovoltaics under real-world conditions

Yb3+-Doped lead-halide perovskites (Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3) have emerged as unique materials combining strong, tunable broadband absorption with near-infrared photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) approaching 200% at ambient temperature. These remarkable properties make Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3 an extremely promising candidate for spectral shaping in high-efficiency photovoltaic devices. Previous theoretical assessments of such “downconversion” devices have predicted single-junction efficiencies up to 40%, but have been highly idealized. Real materials like Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3 have practical limitations such as constrained band-gap and PL energies, non-directional emission, and an excitation-power-dependent PLQY. Hence, it is unclear whether Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3, or any other non-ideal quantum-cutting material, can indeed boost the efficiencies of real high-performance PV. Here, we examine the thermodynamic, detailed-balance efficiency limit of Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3 on different existing PV under real-world conditions. Among these, we identify silicon heterojunction technology as very promising for achieving significant performance gains when paired with Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3, and we predict power-conversion efficiencies of up to 32% for this combination. Surprisingly, PL saturation does not negate the improved device performance. Calculations accounting for actual hourly incident solar photon fluxes show that Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3 boosts power-conversion efficiencies at all times of day and year in two representative geographic locations. Predicted annual energy yields are comparable to those of tandem perovskite-on-silicon technologies, but without the need for current matching, tracking, or additional electrodes and inverters. In addition, we show that band-gap optimization in real quantum cutters is inherently a function of their PLQY and the ability to capture that PL. These results provide key design rules needed for development of high-efficiency quantum-cutting photovoltaic devices based on Yb3+:CsPb(Cl1−xBrx)3.
AB1332 COST EFFECTIVE BIOMARKER IN PREDICTING SLE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES – NEUTROPHIL LYMPHOCYTE RATIO (NLR), PLATELET LYMPHOCYTE RATIO (PLR), MPV

Background SLE is a disease which is easily missed in regular clinical practice. In developing countries due to lack of investigation modalities and rheumatologist, early identification of the diseases process is delayed. By the time the patient reaches a higher medical care centre there is a significant time loss and advancement of the disease. NLR, PLR, RDW and MPV can be calculated from a complete blood count which will be available at any grass route heath centre. Objectives To identify Cost effective biomarkers in predicting SLE in developing countries. Focussing on markers - Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), MPV. Methods This is a retrospective hospital based observational study conducted screening patients admitted from January 2016- November 2018 in with a diagnosis of SLE. We identified 150 patients with SLE and their NLR, PLR, and MPV data were collected and were correlated with equal control group without SLE Results We found that NLR, PLR, and MPV were highly significant with a p-value of 0.001 to be used as bio marker and also when further analysis was done using ROC curve with an area under curve of 76%, 81% and 78% respectively when compared with the control group. Conclusion We conclude that NLR,PLR,and MPV is cost-effective bio marker which costs ( References [1] Qin B, Ma N, Tang Q, Wei T, Yang M, Fu H, Hu Z, Ling Y, Yang Z, Zhong R Neutrophil, to Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) were useful markers in assessment of inflammatory response and disease activity in SLE patients. ModRhematol.2016;26(3):372-6. doi: 10.3109/14397595.2015.1091136. Epub 2016 Mar 4. [2] Wu Y1, Chen Y1, Yang X2, Chen L1, Yang Y3 Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were associated with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.Int Immunopharmacol. 2016 Jul;36:94-99. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.04.006. Epub 2016 Apr 22. [3] Soliman WM1, Sherif NM1, Ghanima IM1, El-Badawy MA2. Neutrophil to Lymphocyte and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratios in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Relation With Disease Activity and Lupus Nephritis. [4] Reumatol Clin. 2018 Aug 27. pii: S1699-258X(18)30167-0. doi: 10.1016/j.reuma.2018.07.008. [Epub ahead of print] Disclosure of Interests None declared
Non-invasive sensor technology for prehospital stroke diagnosis: Current status and future directions.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of stroke in the prehospital environment is the subject of intense interest and research. There are a number of non-invasive external brain monitoring devices in development...
A Study of Telecontraception

A Study of Telecontraception Telecontraception is the provision of contraception prescriptions online as an alternative to traditional clinic visits. In this study, standardized patients were asked...
The Gigaton Ice Theatre: Performing Ecoactivism in Antarctica

Drawing on the author’s own experiences as a journalist, this chapter provides an overview for understanding Antarctic ecoactivist protests in the late 1980s and early 1990s—a time when environmental groups lobbied to have the continent declared a World Park—as a political performance for low-latitude audiences. It focuses primarily on Greenpeace’s actual Antarctic engagements: building World Park Base, protesting at McMurdo and completing larger survey tours of Antarctic bases. It identifies actions, symbols and media strategies shaping Antarctic environmental history and providing the history with coherence. It further examines what happens when political systems are challenged, exploring Greenpeace’s environmental activism in the 1980s in terms of an acute dichotomy in which human beings shame each other for failing to respect and champion nature, or die with nature as we fail to monitor, regulate and shift human exploitation of the Earth.
Assessing the Value of a Novel Augmented Reality Application for Presurgical Planning in Adolescent Elbow Fractures

Objectives: We retrospectively assess the potential impact of a novel, investigational Augmented Reality (AR) software application, RadHA (Radiology with Holographic Augmentation), on pediatric orthopedic surgeon’s confidence in surgical planning, hardware selection, hardware fit, and estimated potential intra-operative time savings in the setting of complex adolescent elbow fractures. Methods: After study selection, 12 individual cases of complex elbow fractures in adolescent pediatric patients were identified for review. AR models were generated for each case derived from the patient’s CT. Five fellowship-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons reviewed each case for a total of 60 separate observations. Surgeons reviewed clinical data, radiologic imaging, and AR models, and then answered Likert Scale questions on measures of confidence in presurgical planning and projected potential time savings. These data were reviewed and analyzed using various statistical tools. Results: Surgeons reported high confidence in the quality of the AR models created. Additionally, surgeons reported increased confidence in their surgical plan, increased confidence in hardware selection, and increased confidence in hardware fit. Within the sub-analysis of complex (comminuted) fractures, surgeons reported greater expected increases in confidence of their surgical plan and hardware fit. Overall, surgeons estimated potential intra-operative time savings, averaging 17.3 minutes for all fracture types, and 17.6 minutes for complex fractures. Conclusions: Preoperative planning using AR-based models can increase surgeon confidence in preoperative planning, hardware selection, and confidence in hardware fit.
Structural characteristics of the Late Proterozoic (post-Grenville) continental margin of the Laurentian craton

Distribution and orientation data of 2676 segments of 2119 Late Proterozoic to Early Cambrian felsic and mafic dikes were compared with other Late Proterozoic to Early Cambrian features associated with two stages of Iapetan extension, including: (1) the trend of the Robertson River rift zone; (2) the distribution of granitoid plutons; (3) the distribution of volcanic fields; (4) trends of previously recognized surface and subsurface extensional faults; (5) kinematic indicators from previous studies; and (6) some Paleozoic foliation data. This comparison suggests the following: Felsic dikes in northern Virginia are spatially related to the N25°E-trending rift zone filled with Robertson River granitoids and have a principal relict trend of N25°E. Mafic dikes, identified as Catoctin dikes in the same area, have a principal relict orientation of N35°E but exhibit a wider range of orientations than the dikes associated with the rift — many locally bimodal or trimodal. Other mafic dikes in the same area have a N25°E principal trend. Previous studies indicate chemical similarity between these dikes and Catoctin dikes. These other mafic dikes could be either associated with the earlier stage of extension, when the Robertson River rift zone developed but are, coincidently, from chemically similar magmas as the Catoctin volcanic rocks, or they could be associated with the younger stage of Catoctin volcanism but intruded along fractures developed during the earlier stage. Many amphibolite dikes in the eastern part of the Blue Ridge where Paleozoic metamorphic grade was higher (commonly garnet) have preferred orientations parallel to regional Paleozoic foliation trends and generally lack diverse secondary or minor trends. These amphibolites are interpreted to have been partially transposed (≈ 10°-20° rotation) during Paleozoic orogenesis, but they could reflect original trends that coincidentally are parallel to younger foliation. Overall, preferred relict orientations for all dikes suggest Late Proterozoic-Cambrian extension was primarily along an axis oriented ≈ N55°-85°W — nearly perpendicular to documented Late Proterozoic subsurface faults in the southern Appalachians and to the reconstructed Laurentian margin during Iapetan extension.
Developing a Novel Operator Performance Measure for Procedural Tasks Based on Safety-II Perspective

This paper proposes a novel framework to evaluate procedural task performance from a Safety-II perspective. While deviations from procedural steps have been a major focus of Safety-I approach, the ...
PUDLE: Implicit Acceleration of Dictionary Learning by Backpropagation.

The dictionary learning problem, representing data as a combination of few atoms, has long stood as a popular method for learning representations in statistics and signal processing. The most popular dictionary learning algorithm alternates between sparse coding and dictionary update steps, and a rich literature has studied its theoretical convergence. The growing popularity of neurally plausible unfolded sparse coding networks has led to the empirical finding that backpropagation through such networks performs dictionary learning. This paper offers the first theoretical proof for these empirical results through PUDLE, a Provable Unfolded Dictionary LEarning method. We highlight the impact of loss, unfolding, and backpropagation on convergence. We discover an implicit acceleration: as a function of unfolding, the backpropagated gradient converges faster and is more accurate than the gradient from alternating minimization. We complement our findings through synthetic and image denoising experiments. The findings support the use of accelerated deep learning optimizers and unfolded networks for dictionary learning.
Fabrication of Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Lasers (PCSELs) by Epitaxial Regrowth

Epitaxial regrowth is investigated as a method of PCSEL fabrication and is compared to non-regrowth methods. The influence of regrowth to photonic crystal morphology is explored and optically pumped and electrically injected devices are demonstrated.
Paying for Health Care : Quantifying Fairness, Catastrophe, and Impoverishment, with Applications to Vietnam, 1993-98

The authors compare egalitarian concepts of fairness in health care payments (requiring that payments be linked to ability to pay) and minimum standards approaches (requiring that payments not exceed a prespecified share of prepayment income or not drive households into poverty). They develop indices for both sets of approaches. The authors compare the "agnostic" approach, which does not prespecify exactly how payments should be linked to ability to pay, with a recently proposed approach that requires payments to be proportional to ability to pay. They link the two approaches using results from the income redistribution literature on taxes and deductions, arguing that ability to pay can be thought of as prepayment income less deductions deemed necessary to ensure that a household reaches a minimum standard of living or food consumption. The authors show how both approaches can be enriched by distinguishing between vertical equity (or redistribution) and horizontal equity, and show how these can be quantified. They develop indices for "catastrophe" that capture the intensity of catastrophe as well as its incidence and also allow the analyst to capture the degree to which catastrophic payments occur disproportionately among poor households. Their measures of the poverty impact of health care payments also capture both intensity and incidence. To illustrate the arguments and methods, the authors use data on out-of-pocket health spending in Vietnam in 1993 and 1998-an interesting application, since 80 percent of health spending in that country was out-of-pocket in 1998. They find that out-of-pocket payments had a smaller disequalizing effect on income distribution in 1998 than 1993, whether income is measured as prepayment income or as ability to pay (that is, prepayment income less deductions, regardless of how deductions are defined). The underlying cause of the smaller disequalizing effect of out-of-pocket payments differs depending on whether the benchmark distribution is prepayment income or ability to pay. The authors find that the incidence and intensity of catastrophic payments-in terms of both prepayment income and ability to pay-declined between 1993 and 1998, and that both the incidence and the intensity of catastrophe became less concentrated among the poor. They also find that the incidence and intensity of the poverty impact of out-of-pocket payments diminished over the period. Finally, they find that the poverty impact of out-of-pocket payments is due primarily to poor people becoming even poorer rather than the nonpoor becoming poor and that in Vietnam in 1998 it was not expenses associated with inpatient care that increased poverty but nonhospital expenditures.
Evaluation of 3D Breast Surface Reconstruction Accuracy Using Non-contact Scanner Images: A Phantom Study

Analysis of the breast surface deformation during mammographic compression will provide insight into breast tissue elastic properties. Our long term goal is to accurately estimate physical properties of breast tissue for the purpose of realistic deformation simulation. As a first step, we analyzed the acquisition accuracy of the reconstructed breast phantom surface using a non-contact laser scanner. The effect of the acquisition angle and the presence of the transparent compression plate covering the phantom were considered. Comparing 48 phantom surfaces, each reconstructed from 4 scanner images acquired at different positions, we observed an average acquisition error of 1.94 mm for images without the compression plate; the average acquisition error for images with the compression plate was 3.26 mm. Performance of two observers showed little variation.
Fault Sensitivity and Tolerance of Successive Approximation and Δ-Σ Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs)

The reliability of ADCs used in highly critical systems can be increased by applying a two-step procedure starting with sensitivity analysis followed by redesign. The sensitivity analysis is used to identify the most sensitive blocks which could then be redesigned for better reliability by incorporating fault tolerance. This paper illustrates the steps involved in incorporating fault tolerance in an ADC. Two redesign techniques to improve the reliability of a circuit are presented. Novel selective node resizing algorithms for increased tolerance against α-particle induced transients are discussed.
Capturing, eliciting, predicting and prioritizing (CEPP) non-functional requirements metadata during the early stages of agile software development

Agile software engineering has been a popular methodology to develop software rapidly and efficiently. However, this methodology often considers Functional Requirements (FRs) due to the nature of agile software development and strongly neglects Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs). Neglecting NFRs has negative impacts on software products that have resulted in poor quality and higher cost to fix problems in later stages of software development. This research proposes a study to effectively gather NFRs metadata from software requirement artifacts such as documents and images. This will be accomplished by reducing false positives to include NFRs in the early stages of software requirements gathering along with FRs. In addition, this study will use historical trending to predict additional NFRs that are overlooked by architects and can be included along with FRs in the early stages of agile software development. Furthermore, prioritization of NFRs using existing FRs methodologies is important to stakeholders as well as software engineers in delivering quality software. This research builds on prior studies by specifically focusing on NFRs during the early stages of agile software development. The goal of this study is to improve upon prior studies of NFRs in order to provide effective techniques to prioritize and predict NFRs during the early stages of agile software development and the impacts that NFRs have on the software development process.
Information Technology Investment, Economic Growth, and Employment

During the past thirty years, the economy of the USA, along with other industrialized countries, has experienced several noticeable trends, namely, the economic slowdown, the tremendous increase in the amount of information technology investment, and fast structural change in terms of employment. With slow economic growth and fast IT capital accumulation, the so-called “information technology (IT) productivity paradox” becomes a prevailing concept in literat ure. Many researchers have attempted to solve the paradox in firm-level analysis, but a macroeconomic analysis, using a nation as an analysis unit, is not common in MIS research. By considering the complex triangular relationship of the above economic trends, this paper applies econometric models and macroeconomic theories to solving the IT productivity paradox. An emphasis is placed at the impact of information technology on the structural change of employment, and at the impact of the structural change on productivity. The authors demonstrate that the structural change could unravel the IT productivity paradox and provide a prediction of the future economic growth.
The added worker effect

Abstract This paper uses the Gross Change data and cointegration, error-correction modeling to test the hypothesis of added worker effect in the U.S. labor market. It is shown that prime-age males' unemployment ( U m ) and flows from unemployment to out of the labor force ( UN m ) cause an increase in prime-age and young females' flows from not in the labor force (‘keeping house’) to employment and decrease their flows into unemployment.
Higher University Administration

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the various issues that influence the administration of higher universities. It starts by discussing some of the differences among universities that affect their administration. When a university has research as a high priority, the culture is very different from other institutions of higher education. Within the institutions that emphasize research, there is a considerable difference in culture, depending on the uniformity in the quality of the faculty. The chapter describes how the meaning and demands of commonly named positions among these institutions can vary substantially and demonstrates how the university is not a single culture, and how life can become easier for the administrator who understands the importance of multiple cultures. Decision making in universities also tends to be irrational, as university administrators who have typically received no formal training in administration often don't know how to judge the merit of an administrative request. Frequently, they substitute the persistence of the requesting unit for any kind of rational basis to a decision. Moreover, administrators typically distrust the numbers underlying any request and don't know how to judge what the optimum numbers should be. Consequently, there is a strong tendency among university administrators to cut any requests for money in half.
A ratio ergodic theorem for commuting, conservative, invertible transformations with quasi-invariant measure summed over symmetric hypercubes

Let $T(1),\dots,T(d)$ be conservative, invertible, non-singular, commuting transformations on the Polish measure space $(X,m)$. Then for $f$ and $p$ in $L^1(m)$ with $p>0$, \[ \frac{{\hat T}(1)_{-N}^N \dotsb {\hat T}(d)_{-N}^Nf}{{\hat T}(1)_{-N}^N \dotsb {\hat T}(d)_{-N}^Np}\to E[f | {\mathcal I}]/E[p| {\mathcal I}]\quad \text{as }N\to\infty. \]
Behavioral insensitivity to progesterone during lactation in female rats

Abstract Lactating female rats failed to display sexual receptivity after receiving 50 μg of estradiol benzoate followed by 1 mg of progesterone. Lactating rats appear to be insensitive to progesterone, based on several experiments. In ovariectomized control rats receiving moderate estrogen priming (1 μg EB for 3 days), progesterone greatly facilitated sexual receptivity; similarly estrogen-primed lactating females showed no responsiveness to progesterone injections, even at a high dose of progesterone (10 mg). Consistent with this reduced behavioral responsiveness to progesterone, lactating females had significantly reduced nuclear progestin receptor levels after an injection of 1 mg progesterone compared to ovariectomized controls. On the other hand, both ovariectomized controls and lactating rats responded with high levels of receptivity to 3 days of priming with 10 μg of estradiol benzoate (without progesterone). Lactating females treated for 3 days with a moderate dose (1 μg) of estradiol benzoate showed slightly reduced receptivity compared to ovariectomized controls; this result could reflect a reduced sensitivity to estrogen but is more likely related to the somewhat lower serum levels of estradiol and consequently lower nuclear estrogen receptors in lactating females compared to ovariectomized controls. The possibility of reduced sensitivity to estrogen leading to a reduced sensitivity to progesterone cannot be eliminated (since animals respond to progesterone only after estrogen priming); however, the reported results favor the idea that lactating females are primarily refractory to progesterone and do not have a generalized insensitivity to estrogen.
Vortical mode instability of shear layers with temperature and density gradients

The linear inviscid instability of a low Mach number shear layer with imposed temperature and density gradients is analyzed in terms of its vortical, acoustic, and entropy modes. The conditions under which the acoustic mode is decoupled from both the vortical and entropy modes in the linear instability region of the shear layer are first discussed. It is then shown that for a two-dimensiona l parallel shear layer, satisfying these conditions, the vortical mode also decouples from the entropy mode. The instability of such a shear layer is then identified with the instability of the vortical mode. Two examples that illustrate the strong influence of the steady-state temperature profile on the growth rates of the unstable vortical mode are presented and discussed. Finally, it is demonstrated that the initial value of the unstable vortical mode is determined by the acoustic mode. Nomenclature A\ = eigenfunction in Eq. (12) a — local speed of sound a, = reference speed of sound B ' = Bernoulli enthalpy fluctuation B = Fourier component of B ' C — constant in the solution of the unstable vortical wave Cf, = specific heat at constant pressure cpl} = phase velocity of vortical wave F —Fourier
Pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and classification

In this article, we discuss kidney stones from the perspectives of the factors that produce excessive urinary supersaturation of the stone-forming elements that comprise clinical calcium (oxalate and phosphate), uric acid, struvite, cystine, or drug stones. These factors include low urine volume, hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, hypocitraturia, hyperuricosuria, the presence of bacterial urease, cystinuria, the effects of urine pH, excessive phosphaturia, and the excessive excretion of drugs or metabolites. We describe the various locations of stones throughout the urinary tract and discuss their development from initial single crystal formation and attachment through the clinically appreciable stone. In particular, we present the major competing hypotheses of stone initiation: intratubular crystallization and attachment vs interstitial formation of Randall's plaques. Finally, we discuss in some depth the role of various urine macromolecules, osteopontin, Tamm-Horsfall protein, urninary prothrombin fragment 1, and serum inter-α-inhibitor, as modulators of crystallization processes and stone formation.
Alterations in the Levels of Vesicular Trafficking Proteins Involved in HIV Replication in the Brains and CSF of Patients with HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorders

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain prevalent despite improved antiretroviral therapies. A HAND-specific biomarker indicative of neuropsychological impairment (NPI) would give insight into disease progression and aid clinicians in designing therapy. Endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) proteins such as tumor susceptibility gene (TSG)-101, vacuolar protein sorting (VPS)-4 and LIP-5 are important for HIV replication and recently antiviral interferon stimulated gene (ISG)-15 was proposed as a biomarker for CNS injury. Here, we analyzed a well-characterized cohort of HIV+ cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and postmortem brain specimens for multiple vesicular trafficking proteins and a related innate immune protein, ISG-15, TSG-101, VPS-4 and LIP-5. All protein levels trended higher with increased NPI and neuropathology. ISG-15 CSF levels were increased in HIV encephalitis (HIVE) compared to normal cases, and three quarters of HIVE samples had above average CSF ISG-15 levels. VPS-4 CSF levels were increased in NPI/NPI-O compared to normal patients. VPS-4 CSF levels in HIV-associated dementia were equivalent to that of normal patients. LIP-5 CSF levels positively correlate with ISG-15 levels, and higher than average ISG-15 levels indicate elevated viral load. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses show increased expression of ISG-15, VPS-4 and LIP-5 in neuronal cell bodies and astroglial cells. ESCRT protein CSF levels analyzed in conjunction with viral load may be indicative of NPI stage, and may aid in the diagnosis and design of therapies for HIV patients. Further studies on the ESCRT protein expression during HIV infection may lead to a promising biomarker for predicting progression of NPI.
Insulin Injection and Hemolymph Extraction to Measure Insulin Sensitivity in Adult Drosophila melanogaster

Conserved nutrient sensing mechanisms exist between mammal and fruit fly where peptides resembling mammalian insulin and glucagon, respectively function to maintain glucose homeostasis during developmental larval stages. Studies on largely post-mitotic adult flies have revealed perturbation of glucose homeostasis as the result of genetic ablation of insulin-like peptide (ILP) producing cells (IPCs). Thus, adult fruit flies hold great promise as a suitable genetic model system for metabolic disorders including type II diabetes. To further develop the fruit fly system, comparable physiological assays used to measure glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mammals must be established. To this end, we have recently described a novel procedure for measuring oral glucose tolerance response in the adult fly and demonstrated the importance of adult IPCs in maintaining glucose homeostasis. Here, we have modified a previously described procedure for insulin injection and combined it with a novel hemolymph extraction method to measure peripheral insulin sensitivity in the adult fly. Uniquely, our protocol allows direct physiological measurements of the adult fly's ability to dispose of a peripheral glucose load upon insulin injection, a methodology that makes it feasible to characterize insulin signaling mutants and potential interventions affecting glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the adult fly.
Differences in sensitivity of children and adults to chemical toxicity: the NAS panel report.

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Committee on Pesticides in the Diets of Infants and Children worked for some 4 years to evaluate the extent and the health-related consequences of exposure of infants and children to pesticides. The focus of this paper is on deliberations and recommendations of the committee relevant to protection of infants and children from toxic effects of pesticides. The most comprehensive data available for contrasting the toxicity of chemicals in the young and adults were compilations of rodent mortality studies. Age-dependent differences in chemical lethality were less than 1 order of magnitude and usually varied no more than 2- to 3-fold. Findings in studies of pesticides and other chemicals revealed that toxicity was age- and compound-dependent. The younger and more immature the subject, the more different its response from that of an adult. Substantial anatomical, biochemical, and physiological changes occur during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. These maturational changes can substantially affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of chemicals. The net effect of immaturity on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics is difficult to predict. Measurements of physiological functions in different age groups can be made and input into physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models. The committee felt that PBPK models could be effectively utilized for different exposure scenarios, to predict the time course of potentially toxic chemicals and metabolites in different organs of children. The committee recognized that maturing organ systems of infants and children may be susceptible to injury by chemicals. There may be developmental periods (i.e., windows of vulnerability) when the endocrine, reproductive, immune, visual, or nervous systems are particularly sensitive to certain chemicals. The committee recommended early assessments using sensitive indices of injury to these organ systems of test animals. Only limited information was available on the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of drugs in pediatric populations. The most definitive data were maximally tolerated doses (MTDs) of chemotherapeutic agents. MTDs were frequently higher for children than adults, though the differences between age groups were usually < or =2. It was concluded by the NAS committee that immaturity does not necessarily entail greater sensitivity to chemical toxicity; age-dependent toxicity is chemical-dependent; and the existing 10-fold interspecies uncertainty factor provides adequate protection of infants and children, based on current knowledge.
An Efficient Formula for Estimating the Generalized Moments of the Power Spectral Density (PSD) Without Computing the Fourier Transform

Estimates of the moments of the power spectral density (PSD) are derived from a rapidly converging series of weighted samples of the autocorrelation function (ACF). As a result of the rapid convergence of the weighting coefficients of this series, accurate PSD moment estimates are obtained from a small number of ACF samples without computing the Fourier transform of the time series, thereby greatly reducing the computational requirements for generatiing the generalized moments of the PSD. The general expression for the moment generating series is presented along with explicit expressions for computing the first four moments from which mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis of the PSD are obtained.