cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk and protective factors for health-related quality of life among persons aging with HIV

ABSTRACTFor persons living with HIV, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) may be threatened by physical and mental conditions but may be protected by positive psychological traits. We performed an exploratory look at the risk and protective factors for HRQOL in older adults living with HIV. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from the Rush Center of Excellence on Disparities in HIV and Aging (CEDHA), a community-based cohort of persons ages ≥50 living with HIV (n = 176) were performed. Analyses examined the relationship between risk/protective factors and two outcomes (i.e., self-reported health status [SRHS] and the healthy days index [HDI]). Having good/excellent health was associated with being a non-smoker (p = 0.002), greater purpose in life (p = 0.006), higher education (p = 0.007), fewer depressive symptoms (p = 0.004), fewer disabilities (p = 0.000), and less loneliness (p = 0.002) in bivariate analyses. Males (p = 0.03) and African Americans/Blacks (p = 0.03) reported higher HDI. Fewer de...
The drive for change in public organizations: A critical analysis of management fashions

For a number of different reasons, some more rational than others, public sector management has often fallen for the allure of the “quick fix” promised by the latest managerial fashion. Although it is commonly accepted that complex problems rarely, if ever, have simple solutions − this has not hindered public organizations from eagerly experimenting with trendy, increasingly radical, managerial practices. More often than not, these experiences, when weighed on the background of the original promises and eventual outcomes, prove to be utter failures. In order to clarify the reasons behind this pattern of failure, this article deconstructs two of the most notable recent managerial fashions: Total Quality Management (TQM) and Business Process Reengineering (BPR). It proposes that management fashions fail to lead to effective and productive organizational change primarily due to the fact that their logical construct, which relies on over-dramatization and oversimplification of organizational realities, is at odds with the operational complexities of public sector management. In particular, they fail to account for politics. To this extent, then, they are more likely to be destructive than productive when zealously adopted in public service.
An FE Model to Study the Strain State of the Filaments of a $\hbox{Nb}_{3}\hbox{Sn}$ Internal-Tin Strand Under Transverse Load

The superconducting performance of Nb3Sn cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) is sensitive to the strain state caused by the natural transverse Lorentz loads. To investigate the current degradation as a function of the load, the strain state of the filaments of a single strand was examined under transverse loads in finite element analysis. We develop a new finite element model of an internal-tin Nb3Sn strand with the capability of obtaining the peak transverse strain of the filaments along the twisting axis when the strand is under transverse compression. The details of the model and the post-processing are introduced to take into consideration the twisting of the filaments. Although more accurate material properties are needed to obtain a more precise strain state of the filaments, some conclusions based on the preliminary results on the strain distribution of the filaments are made.
Meningitis admitted to a military hospital: a retrospective case series.

ABSTRACTMeningitis is a common admission diagnosis. No case series or descriptive studies on meningitis have recently been published. Additionally, no recent data exist on meningitis in the U.S. Military Health System. We reviewed charts of adult patients admitted to Naval Medical Center San Diego between January 2004 and December 2008 with an admission diagnosis of meningitis. Charts were excluded if they did not meet our case definition of meningitis, if missing data, or if meningitis was nosocomial or iatrogenic. We reviewed results of cerebrospinal fluid cultures during this period. We compared rates and characteristics, and outcomes of bacterial and aseptic meningitis. Two hundred twenty-one cases met our criteria. Of these, 208 were aseptic. Cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction testing was positive for enteroviruses and herpes simplex viruses in 42 (20.2%) and 17 (8.2%) cases, respectively. Of culture/polymerase chain reaction/serologically positive cases, the pathogens were Neisseria menin...
Particle Size Effect of Volcanic Ash towards Developing Engineered Portland Cements

AbstractPromoting the use of naturally available materials as a partial substitute to portland cement can be a viable solution for producing low carbon footprint and durable cements. This work asse...
What’s New and What’s Old about the New Sociology of Morality

In this chapter I ask what’s new and what’s old about the new sociology of morality. What might it learn from earlier sociologies of morality? What wheels needn’t be reinvented? In the second section I discuss three old issues: (a) whether morality can and should be scientifically investigated; (b) the fact of moral variation; and (c) the explanation of moral variation. I spell out these three points using the writings of Martineau, Levy-Bruhl, and Durkheim. In the third section I discuss two new challenges: (a) the implications of moral realism; and (b) the implications of moral neuroscience. I argue that neither challenge can be easily dismissed. Finally, in the fourth section, I very briefly consider the future of the new sociology of morality: what’s next and what unique contributions it can make.
Architectures of Polymers Synthesized using ROMP

An overview of a wide range of polymeric architectures prepared via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) is described with many examples drawn from the past and current literature. The presentation of these materials is organized according to their structural complexity and includes detailed synthetic and characterization information as well as current or potential applications. The chapter concludes with a list of challenges and opportunities for the field.
Subcellular distribution of shear stress at the surface of flow-aligned and nonaligned endothelial monolayers

The stresses acting on the luminal surface of endothelial cells due to shear flow were determined on a subcellular scale. Atomic force microscopy was used to measure the surface topography of confluent endothelial monolayers cultured under no-flow conditions or exposed to steady shear stress (12 dyn/cm2 for 24 h). Flow over these surface geometries was simulated by computational fluid dynamics, and the distribution of shear stress on the cell surface was calculated. Flow perturbations due to the undulating surface produced cell-scale variations of shear stress magnitude and hence large shear stress gradients. Reorganization of the endothelial surface in response to prolonged exposure to steady flow resulted in significant reductions in the peak shear stresses and shear stress gradients. From the relationship between surface geometry and the resulting shear stress distribution, we have defined a hydrodynamic shape factor that characterizes the three-dimensional morphological response of endothelial cells to flow. The analysis provides a complete description of the spatial distribution of stresses on individual endothelial cells within a confluent monolayer on a scale relevant to the study of physical mechanisms of mechanotransduction.
User Defined Compiler Support for Constructing Distributed Arrays

This paper describes a preprocessor developed for supporting distributed arrays on parallel machines. The goal is to support Fortran90 like array operations on arrays that have been distributed using general, user defined mappings. To support both general mapping functions and efficient implementation of array operations, the user programs applications at two distinct levels. There is both a high level view where the programmer does most of the programming, and a low level where the user defines how the high level code is to be implemented on a specific target machine. The key to generating efficient runtime code while keeping flexible support for different types of data distributions is to incorporate the low level code into the high level code at compile time. This paper describes the operations performed by the preprocessor and how the user defines mapping functions.
Radiation Therapy for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the two main local treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer; radical prostatectomy (RP) is the other. The treatment options that are available for a particular patient are extensive and can include expectant management, RP, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), interstitial brachytherapy (IB), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), or any combination of these.
Nutrition and childhood diabetes.

The role of diet in the management of diabetes in children is usually presented in rather simphstic terms. The concept of balancing caloric intake against energy expenditure is presented in a manner suggesting that careful observation plus a pocket calculator will lead to success in this adventure.
Comparison of multi-wall carbon nanotube and nitrogen-doped multi-wall carbon nanotube effects on lung function and airway reactivity in rats

Abstract Incorporation of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into materials has raised concerns about their potential hazards to manufacturing workers. In animal models, airway inflammation and lung fibrosis follow aspiration, instillation, and inhalation exposures to MWCNT. However, the effects of MWCNT on pulmonary function, airway reactivity and airway epithelium function following inhalation exposure has not been studied. We investigated whether inhaled MWCNT affects lung resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn), reactivity to inhaled methacholine (MCh), epithelial regulation of airway reactivity to MCh in vitro, and airway epithelial ion transport. Male rats were exposed by whole body inhalation for 6 h to air or aerosolized MWCNT (0.5, 1 or 5 mg/m3) for one or nine days. Eighteen h after 1 d exposure to 5 mg/m3 MWCNT, basal RL was increased and basal Cdyn was decreased; changes did not persist for 7 d. Reactivity to MCh (RL) was increased and Cdyn responses were decreased at 18 h, but not 7 d after exposure to 1 and 5 mg/m3 MWCNT. The effects of i.t.-instilled MWCNT and nitrogen-doped MWCNT (N-MWCNT) on pulmonary function and reactivity to MCh at doses comparable to deposition after inhalation of 5 mg/m3 at 1 d and 0.5, 1, and 5 mg/m3 MWCNT 9 d-exposures were compared. Both nanoparticles increased airway reactivity (RL); N-MWCNT did not affect Cdyn responses. Lung function and airway reactivity are altered following a single MWCNT inhalation and generally subside over time. Given i.t., MWCNT's and N-MWCNT's effects were comparable, but N-MWCNT evoke smaller changes in Cdyn responses.
Temperature-concentration phase diagram of P 2 -Na x CoO 2 from first-principles calculations

Temperature-concentration phase diagrams for ${\text{Na}}_{x}{\text{CoO}}_{2}$ $(0.5\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}1)$ are obtained by combining density functional theory (DFT) in the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and in the GGA with Hubbard $U$ correction $(\text{GGA}+U)$ with the cluster expansion and Monte Carlo simulation technique. In the GGA, holes are delocalized over the Co layer, while in $\text{GGA}+U$ the charges on the Co layer completely localize, forming distinct ${\text{Co}}^{3+}$ and ${\text{Co}}^{4+}$ cations. The leading interactions in GGA are long-range in-plane electrostatics and relaxation effects, whereas in $\text{GGA}+U$ Co-Co interactions dominate. Comparison of ground states, $c$-lattice parameter, and Na1/Na2 ratio with experimental results consistently suggests that GGA is a better approximation for $0.5\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.8$.
Sleep, Consciousness and the Brain: A Perturbational Approach

Sleep reminds us every day that consciousness is something that can come and go, grow and shrink, depending on how our brain is functioning. Everyone is familiar with the impression of nothingness that lies in between our falling into and awakening from dreamless sleep. Of course, blank reports upon awakening from sleep are not the rule and many awakenings, especially from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, yield dream reports, and dreams can be at times as vivid and intensely conscious as waking experiences. Dream-like consciousness also occurs during various phases of slow wave sleep, especially at sleep onset and during the last part of the night. Nevertheless, there are always a certain proportion of awakenings that do not yield any dream report, suggesting a marked reduction of consciousness. Such “empty” awakenings typically occur during the deepest stages of NREM sleep (stages 3 and 4), especially during the first half of the night. Understanding why consciousness fades during certain phases of sleep is important not just with respect to brain function during sleep, but first and foremost because it can help us in identifying what is really necessary and sufficient for the brain to give rise to conscious experience.
Pseudo-Relevance Feedback Based on Locally-Built Co-occurrence Graphs.

In Information Retrieval (IR), user queries are often too short, making the selection of relevant documents hard. Pseudo-relevance feedback (PRF) is an effective method to automatically expand the query with new terms using a set of pseudo-relevant documents. However, a main issue in PRF is the selection of good expansion terms that allow improving retrieval effectiveness. In this paper, we present a new PRF method based on locally-built term co-occurrence graphs. We use a context window-based approach to construct our term co-occurrence graphs over top pseudo-relevant documents. For expansion terms selection, we propose an adapted version of the BM25 model, which allows to measure term-term similarity in co-occurrence graphs. This measure has the advantage of selecting discriminant expansion terms that are semantically related to the query as a whole. We evaluate our PRF method using four TREC collections, including the standard TREC Robust04 collection and the newest TREC Washington Post collection. Experimental results show that our proposal outperforms competitive state-of-the-art baselines and achieves significant improvements.
The Impact of Correlated and/or Interacting Predictor Omission on Estimated Regression Coefficients in Linear Regression

We examine cases of predictor omission defined by the relationship between the set of omitted predictor(s) and a set of remaining predictor(s), both of which are included in the full model. We consider a wider range of omitted predictors than previously studied by systematically accounting for both interaction and correlation between the included and the omitted predictors. Our study highlights the impact of predictor omission on the resulting estimated regression coefficients and their squared standard errors. Theoretical and simulated results are presented to illustrate the impact of predictor omission among cases of interaction and correlation. In our simulated results, bias diverged as correlation increased from zero to one. On its own, interaction amplified bias, but the impact of interaction was worse when combined with correlation. Overall, our discussions surround the known problem of predictor omission with a rigorous framework to quantify bias in the included predictor’s estimated regression coefficient and squared standard error.
Democracy, corruption, and the ethics of business lobbying

Following the “systemic turn,” democratic theory has moved away from simplistic accounts of the “public interest” as something that can be discovered through the right procedure or the right context where self-interest is bracketed. Instead, it focuses on the ways in which the terms of social cooperation are co-negotiated according to different standards in different sites of social interaction. Against this background, we revisit the question of what ethical obligations businesses have when lobbying government. We argue that in the context of a complex and differentiated understanding of democracy, the two common standards that are used to guide ethical dealing with government—being “truthful” and acting in the “public interest”—are misguided. Instead, we claim that the standard that should guide businesses in lobbying is corruption avoidance. We understand corruption, however, in broader terms than suitcases full of cash, or quid pro quo arrangements. Instead, building on Mark Warren’s definition of corruption in democracy as “duplicitous exclusion,” we offer a typology of how lobbying practices can exclude people in a corrupting manner, pointing toward an ethical framework business actors can use to avoid contributing to the corruption of democratic norms and procedures. The ethics of lobbying according to this model will be mainly concerned with not undermining democracy’s second-order competence through practices of duplicitous exclusion.
The origins of business analytics and implications for the information systems field

Like many other disciplines, the information systems (IS) community has embraced big data analytics and data science. However, in the rush to exploit the popularity of this latest trend, the areas ...
Time-lasting ceramic stains and glaze: A toothbrush simulation study.

Objective To evaluate and compare color stability and gloss retention of ceramic stains and glaze under simulated toothbrushing using dentifrices with different relative dentin abrasion (RDA). Materials and methods Feldspathic porcelain, lithium disilicate, 3 mol% yttria partially stabilized zirconia, and 5 mol% yttria partially stabilized zirconia were evaluated. Ceramics were externally stained, glazed and mounted in the toothbrush simulator. A toothbrush with 300 g force was applied. Regular toothpaste (72 RDA) and charcoal toothpaste (RDA Results ΔE00 was significantly different at 50 k cycles and with zirconia ceramics (P .0001). Loss of gloss was observed at 5 k and 30 k (charcoal and regular toothpaste respectively) regardless type of ceramic (P > .0001). Conclusion Glass-phase ceramics retain stains longer than zirconia ceramics. Charcoal toothpaste affect color and gloss stability. Ceramic glaze maybe lost within the first 6 months in patients' mouth. Clinical significance Long-term color and gloss stability of externally stained and glazed ceramics maybe a clinical concern. Charcoal toothpastes enhance loss of color and gloss of ceramic restorations.
Technology Implementation and Associated Pharmacy Interruptions

This study focuses on interruptions in an inpatient pharmacy setting and the impact of CPOE implementation on the types, frequency, and duration of interruptions. A cross-sectional observation study of pharmacy employees in an inpatient pharmacy was conducted. The independent variables included day of week, time of day, job position of the person interrupted, and description of each interruption. A total of 552 interruptions were observed with a mean frequency of 10.6 interruptions per hour lasting a mean (SD) duration of 1.34 (1.43) minutes. Incoming calls were the most frequent interruption type across all phases. Pharmacy employees spend almost a quarter of their time on interruptions, and pharmacists have longer interruptions than technicians. Immediately after CPOE implementation, durations tend to be one-and-a-half times longer than before. CPOE implementation did not affect the frequency of interruptions. Recommendations included redesign of work processes and job responsibilities.
Influence of Supraphysiologic Biomaterial Stiffness on Ventricular Mechanics and Myocardial Infarct Reinforcement

ABSTRACT Injectable intramyocardial biomaterials have promise to limit adverse ventricular remodeling through mechanical and biologic mechanisms. While some success has been observed by injecting materials to regenerate new tissue, optimal biomaterial stiffness to thicken and stiffen infarcted myocardium to limit adverse remodeling has not been determined. In this work, we present an in-vivo study of the impact of biomaterial stiffness over a wide range of stiffness moduli on ventricular mechanics. We utilized injectable methacrylated polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels fabricated at 3 different mechanical moduli: 5 kPa (low), 25 kPa (medium/myocardium), and 250 kPa (high/supraphysiologic). We demonstrate that the supraphysiological high stiffness favorably alters post-infarct ventricular mechanics and prevents negative tissue remodeling. Lower stiffness materials do not alter mechanics and thus to be effective, must instead target biological reparative mechanisms. These results may influence rationale design criteria for biomaterials developed for infarct reinforcement therapy.
Real-Time Applications of Monitoring and Empirical Performance

In the following we present the application of occupation time statistics for event studies. We first assume that the weak convergence of the absolute sums of abnormal returns to a continuous time Brownian motion and apply the Banach-valued Central Limit Theorem in function space.
Hematopoietic cell transplant for reversal of liver fibrosis in a pediatric patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria

Background EPP is a rare disorder of heme biosynthesis in which patients present with disabling photosensitivity. A subset of patients develop severe liver disease with progressive liver failure necessitating an OLT. A HCT can potentially cure EPP by replacing the native bone marrow, which is the primary site of heme synthesis. However, due to concerns for inherent risks of treatment-related toxicities, the use of HCT has been reserved for patients undergoing an OLT to avoid disease recurrence in the hepatic graft. Data for HCT in EPP are lacking, particularly in the pediatric population. Case (methods/results) We present the case of a 12-year-old patient with EPP photosensitivity and cirrhosis, whom we successfully treated with pre-emptive allogeneic HCT, significantly improving the patient's quality of life. We used a matched-unrelated donor bone marrow-derived graft. Our patient achieved full donor peripheral blood chimerism and has not had any evidence of GVHD. In addition to resolution of photosensitivity, our patient had reversal of liver fibrosis which we feel was largely due to intervention at an early stage of compensated cirrhosis. Conclusion Our case highlights the successful application of a known RIC regimen to this rare disorder that was well tolerated with sustained donor engraftment. It also emphasizes the importance of timing for HCT in patients with EPP and liver fibrosis. HCT should be considered early in pediatric patients with EPP-hepatopathy to prevent progression to liver failure and need for OLT with lifelong immunosuppression.
Race and Income in U.S. Suburbs: Are Diverse Suburbs Disadvantaged?:

Sociological narratives of communities of color often make two assumptions: that people of color are concentrated largely in cities and that communities of color are disadvantaged. However, the rec...
Pursuing Over-Criminalization at the Expense of Islamic Law: Symposium on Brunei’s New Islamic Criminal Law Code

In a short essay, Adnan A. Zulfiqar takes a more critical approach to aspects of Brunei’s criminal laws that have garnered less attention but that he finds more troubling. The international community has, rightly in his view, protested against and condemned the law’s potential violations of human rights norms against torture and individual freedom. Most condemnations have focused on provisions for capital punishment, whipping, and amputation for the new Code’s crimes of liwāṭ (sodomy), zinā (unlawful sexual intercourse between heterosexuals), and theft. But little attention has been paid to the Code’s departures from "classical Islamic law’s substantive and procedural constraints" thus allowing legislators and prosecutors to "criminalize more conduct." For example, the Code permits punishment of offenders who lack legal capacity, requires four eyewitnesses to prove rape, and prosecutes beliefs through punishing attempted apostasy. For these reasons, despite the procedural protections and heightened standards of doubt jurisprudence to which Mohamed and Muller point, the new Code entails many other provisions that signal the need for greater caution and perhaps further modification. Zulfiqar argues that Brunei codified Islamic criminal law in a way that creates novel crimes and disregards defendant rights, thus diverging from norms of fairness and cultural accommodation present in the precedents and mores of the very Islamic system which it seeks to reinterpret for its society today.
Insurance status as a mediator of clinical presentation, type of intervention, and short-term outcomes for patients with metastatic spine disease.

BACKGROUND It is well established that insurance status is a mediator of disease management, treatment course, and clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Our study assessed differences in clinical presentation, treatment course, mortality rates, and in-hospital complications for patients admitted to the hospital with late-stage cancer - specifically, metastatic spine disease (MSD), by insurance status. METHODS The United States National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2012-2014) was queried to identify patients with visceral metastases, metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) or pathological fracture of the spine in the setting of cancer. Clinical presentation, type of intervention, mortality rates, and in-hospital complications were compared amongst patients by insurance coverage (Medicare, Medicaid, commercial or unknown). Multivariable logistical regression and age sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS A total of 48,560 MSD patients were identified. Patients with Medicaid coverage presented with significantly higher rates of MSCC (p < 0.001), paralysis (0.008), and visceral metastases (p < 0.001). Patients with commercial insurance were more likely to receive surgical intervention (OR 1.43; p < 0.001). Patients with Medicaid < 65 had higher rates of prolonged length of stay (PLOS) (OR 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.55; p = 0.040) while both Medicare and Medicaid patients < 65 were more likely to have non-routine discharges. In-hospital mortality rates were significantly higher for patients with Medicaid (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.20-5.89; p = 0.016) and commercial insurance (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.09-2.27;p = 0.013) older than 65. CONCLUSION Given the differing severity in MSD presentation, mortality rates, and rates of PLOS by insurance status, our results identify disparities based on insurance coverage.
Quantum information processing with optical fibers

Fiber-based sources of entangled photons offer some unique advantages over their crystal counterparts. We present our recent progress in the development of such sources and their applications in quantum information processing.
Neuroimaging in multiple sclerosis.

The past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in our understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS), including the natural course of MS; the immunopathogenic interactive mechanisms between cerebral endothelial cells, activated CD4 T lymphocytes, macrophages, and other inflammatory mediators; and the development of new therapies that can reduce relapse rate and delay onset of disability. Undoubtedly, these achievements could not have been possible without the application of modern neuroimaging techniques. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies initiated in the 1980s have provided objective evidence of the dynamic and destructive nature of MS. Indeed, MRI and other MR techniques such as fluid attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion‐weighted imaging/ADC map, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetization transfer imaging, functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and single photon computed/positron emission tomography have altered our conception of MS as a purely demyelinating, immune‐mediated disease of the central nervous system (CNS) into a disease with far more complex effects on the CNS, including axonal loss and neuronal degeneration. These advanced techniques have enabled monitoring of complicated pathophysiological events, including the development of demyelinating lesions and the associated loss of oligodendrocytes, axons, and neurons. In addition, these imaging techniques have made it possible to better monitor a patient's response to MS therapies. This chapter presents an extensive review of the latest developments in the neuroimaging of MS.
Magnetic Resonance Elastography in the breast: initial reconstructions of damping coefficient

Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is an exciting imaging technique with application to clinical settings where quantitative maps of tissue mechanical properties may be diagnostic. This certainly includes breast imaging where hardness has been associated with malignancy. We have been developing time-harmonic MRE methods for the breast in anticipation of evaluating the approach in a controlled series of clinical exams. In this paper, we present initial experience with a 3-parameter image reconstruction technique which is based on a damped Maxwellian model approximation to tissue viscoelasticity. The algorithm estimates shear modulus and Poisson ratio along with a damping coefficient. Preliminary results in phantoms and in vivo in the breast show that the damping coefficient images recovered are likely to augment the diagnostic power of the technique for discriminating breast tissue characteristics.
The Intertemporal Impact of Non-Adherence on Separately Billable Medicare Allowable Payments in Medicare Hemodialysis Patients

Objective. To understand whether a causal relationship exists between non-adherence and health care costs in the concurrent period and to explore whether this impact extends to the following periods for Medicare hemodialysis (HD) patients. Data Sources. CMS Form 2728 and Medicare claims from 2004-2006. Study Design. I use a two-stage least square (2SLS) model to investigate the impact of non-adherence on health care costs. Non-adherence is measured by the number of dialysis sessions a HD patient skipped in each month. Health care costs are measured by Medicare Allowable Payments (MAP) for separately billable (SB) services, including Erythropoietin (EPO), iron, vitamin D, other injectables, and certain laboratory services. The estimates from this model are compared with the estimates from the ordinary least squares (OLS) and log-linear models. Additionally, three lagged effect models are fitted to see whether the fluctuation in SB MAP due to non-adherence stabilized after one, two, or three months. Principal Findings. The findings obtained through the 2SLS model, a more robust approach, suggest that dialysis facilities would lose $263.27 in payment if a patient skipped one treatment, which is higher than the average SB MAP per treatment of $86.75. From the dialysis facilities' perspective, this provides a financial incentive to monitor and improve patient adherence. From the CMS's perspective, this finding suggests a $263.27 cost saving when a patient does not show up at a regular session. Results from the lagged effect models did not support the postulation that non-adherent patients would make up for missed treatments by using more drug injectables to reach their clinical target level in subsequent periods. Conclusions. Medical costs and patient outcomes are two components used to evaluate the effect of non-adherence on treatment efficiency. As long as the saved cost of missed treatments offsets the cost of increased morbidity, non-adherence could potentially have cost saving effects for the CMS. Future research should focus on measuring the cost of increased morbidity due to non-adherence in order to fully examine the net cost effect.
Towards implementation of multi-Gb/s optical networks

The basic technologies and feasibility of multi-Gb/s optical LAN/MANs have been demonstrated. Broadcast and select passive star networks with less than 100 users operating at Gb/s data rates are feasible at this time. More complex technoligies such as wavelength translation and wavelength routing may be required to build fully scalable MAN/WANs. >
Assessing the impacts of climate: The issue of winners and losers in a global climate change context

Publisher Summary This chapter classifies the various countries, regions, and sectors into groups based on the positive and negative impact of climate change. Gains and losses at all levels of social organization, from local to international, may result directly from climate changes or from human responses to those changes. While there are several spokespersons for the extreme views, in all cases of changes (both relative and absolute), some will benefit, while others will be adversely affected. The currently identifiable relative advantages and disadvantages of different nations, sectors, and groups result from a combination of climatic factors (such as climate variability and the frequency and intensity of extreme meteorological events) and a wide range of unique (by country, region, sector, or group) economic, social, and political factors that must be taken into serious consideration in any analysis. The differences, attributable to climate factors such as recurrent droughts or floods, are likely to persist although the relative positions of those affected might change. If such differences become extreme, they can lead to population movements by the disadvantaged (i.e., generating environmental refugees) and to conflicts either within national borders or across them.
Run-time reconfiguration and Ada

The authors examine the support of runtime configuration for systems with the following attributes: applications are coded in Ada; target processors are data processors (specifically, MIL-STD-1750A with the extended memory option); and the target architecture is a loosely coupled, distributed system of data processor modules, whose backplane bus is a PI-Bus (or VHSIC Phase 1 IBus), with backplanes interconnected by either a MIL-STD-1553B or a high-speed data bus. The issues involved in implementing a reconfiguration during runtime once the desired configuration has been determined are addressed. Reconfiguration concepts are defined, and Ada constructs needed to facilitate their implementation as the necessary runtime support are discussed. It has been found that real-time systems that are developed in Ada and require runtime reconfiguration used the support of the Ada compiler/runtime. The network operating system also must be cognizant of a reconfiguration so that communication tables can be updated, and reconfiguration messages are given top priority. >
Pro-CrossLink. Software tool for protein cross-linking and mass spectrometry.

To facilitate structural analysis of proteins and protein−protein interactions, we developed Pro-CrossLink, a suite of software tools consisting of three programs (Figure 1), DetectShift, IdentifyXLink, and AssignXLink. DetectShift was developed to detect ions of cross-linked peptide pairs in a mixture of 18O-labeled peptides obtained from protein proteolytic digests. The selected candidate ions of cross-linked peptide pairs subsequently undergo tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis for sequence determination. Based on the masses of candidate ions as well as y- and b-type ions in the tandem mass spectra, IdentifyXLink assigns the candidate ions to cross-linked peptide pairs. For an identified cross-linked peptide pair, AssignXLink generates an extensive fragment ion list, including a-, b-, c-type, x-, y-, z-type, internal, and immonium ions with associated common losses of H2O, NH3, CO, and CO2, and facilitates a precise location of the cross-linked residues. Pro-CrossLink is automated, highly config...
Extraction of urban impervious surfaces from an IKONOS image

Impervious surface has been recognised as an important indicator in urban environmental assessment. However, accurate extraction of impervious surface information in urban areas is a challenge because of the complexity of impervious materials. This paper explores different approaches for impervious surface extraction with IKONOS imagery in Indianapolis, U.S.A., by using decision tree classifier (DTC) and linear spectral mixture analysis (LSMA). This research indicates that DTC is an effective approach for extraction of different impervious surface classes, including high-, medium-and low-reflectivity impervious surfaces and that LSMA-based approach can provide quantitative measure of imperviousness. A critical step is to separate dark impervious objects/features from shadows cast by tall buildings and tree canopy and from water.
Fibroblast adhesion to micro- and nano-heterogeneous topography using diblock copolymers and homopolymers

Polymeric substrates of different surface chemistry and length scales were found to have profound influence on cell adhesion. The adhesion of fibroblasts on surfaces of oxidized polystyrene (PS), on surfaces modified with random copolymers of PS and poly(methyl methacrylate) [P(S-r-MMA)] with topographic features, and chemically patterned surfaces that varied in lateral length scales from nanometers to microns were studied. Surfaces with heterogeneous topographies were generated from thin film mixtures of a block copolymer, PS-b-MMA, with homopolymers of PS and PMMA. The two homopolymers macroscopically phase separated and, with the addition of diblock copolymer, the size scales of the phases decreased to nanometer dimensions. Cell spreading area analysis showed that a thin film of oxidized PS surface promoted adhesion whereas a thin film of P(S-r-MMA) surface did not. Fibroblast adhesion was examined on surfaces in which the lateral length scale varied from 60 nm to 6 μm. It was found that, as the lateral length scale between the oxidized PS surfaces decreased, cell spreading area and degree of actin stress fiber formation increased. In addition, scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the location of filopodia and lamellipodia. It was found that most of the filopodia and lamellipodia interacted with the oxidized PS surfaces. This can be attributed to both chemical and topographic surface interactions that prevent cells from interacting with the P(S-r-MMA) at the base of the topographic features. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 71A: 462–469, 2004
Regulation of breathing in man at altitude.

SummaryWhen man breathes ambient air at high altitudes an hypoxic stimulus causes a rapid increase in pulmonary ventilation. The full effect of this hypoxic stimulus is counteracted, however, by concomitant hypo-capnia. With the addition of carbon dioxide to inspired air a more effective response to the hypoxic stimulus is manifested. It is concluded that hypoxia and hypercapnia are separate stimulating factors and additive in their effects and that regulation of respiration at altitude depends upon the manner of their interaction.
Plasma digitoxin levels and serial left ventricular ejection times after a digitalizing dose of digitoxin.

Abstract The property of digitoxin to inhibit active ion transport in the red blood cell was used to estimate the level of digitoxin in plasma. There was an inverse relation between the plasma level of digitoxin and the left ventricular ejection time after an intravenously administered “digitalizing” dose of digitoxin. The range of plasma digitoxin levels associated with the hemodynamic effect is partially defined. The accuracy of this assay method is not optimal at present.
Construction and Characterization of a Temperature‐Sensitive Expression System in Recombinant Yeast

A temperature-regulated system for the expression of cloned genes has been developed and studied in recombinant yeast. A temperature-sensitive (ts) strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was constructed which, in conjunction with plasmid promoters controlled by the yeast galactose regulatory circuit, allows induction of cloned gene product synthesis by temperature-shift. Induction of cloned gene expression by temperature-shift in the ts strain was compared with induction by galactose addition in a non-ts, but otherwise identical, strain. In batch fermentations at 35°C, the levels of product protein produced by temperature-shift induction were comparable or better than those produced by galactose induction. However, higher levels were formed by galactose induction at the preferred growth temperature of 30°C. At either temperature, β-galactosidase synthesis was greatest when the ts strain was cultivated in galactose-containing medium. Continuous culture experiments were performed to further characterize and compare the two induction methods. Induction by galactose addition at 30°C was superior, indicating the importance of temperature for cell growth and cloned gene expression.
Historical Review of Surgical Simulation—A Personal Perspective

Although simulation is relatively new to surgical education, there is a long history in many other disciplines, such as military, aviation, and nuclear power plant operations, among others. In the late 1980s these technologies began to be adapted to the surgical world, along with the new technology of virtual reality. This is a review of the introduction of manikins, computers, and virtual reality into education and training for surgical skills. Two concomitant revolutions occurred: objective assessment of surgical skills and converting training from the apprenticeship model to one of criterion-based training. A personal perspective on these developments adds information not previously published.
Nitric oxide-evoked transient kinetics of cyclic GMP in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Cyclic-3′,5′-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) mediates the intracellular signaling cascade responsible for the nitric oxide (NO) initiated relaxation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM). However, the temporal dynamics, including the regulation of cGMP turnover, are largely unknown. Here we report new mechanistic insights into the kinetics of cGMP synthesis and hydrolysis in primary VSM cells by utilizing FRET-based cGMP-indicators [A. Honda, S.R. Adams, C.L. Sawyer, V. Lev-Ram, R.Y. Tsien, W.R. Dostmann, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A 98 (5) (2001) 2437.]. First, 2-( N , N -Diethylamino)-diazenolate 2-oxide (DEA/NO) and 2,2′-(Hydroxynitrosohydrazono)-bis-ethanimine (DETA/NO) induced NO-concentration dependent, transient cGMP responses (“peaks”) irrespective of their rates of NO release. The kinetic characteristics of these cGMP peaks were governed by the concerted action of the NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (GC) and phosphodiesterase type V (PDE5) as shown by their respective inhibition using 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and Sildenafil. These responses occurred in the presence of moderately elevated cGMP (5–15% FRET ratio), and thus activated PKG and phosphorylated PDE5, suggesting a prominent role for GC in the maintenance and termination of cGMP peaks. Furthermore, cGMP transients could be elicited repeatedly without apparent desensitization of GC or by suppression of cGMP via long-term PDE5 activity. These results demonstrate a continuous sensitivity of the NO/cGMP signaling system, inherent to the phasic nature of smooth muscle physiology.
A linear algebraic approach to steady-state bifurcation of chemical reaction systems

Abstract A new linear algebraic method that makes use of the Carleman linearization procedure is given for determining the local multiplicity features of chemical reaction systems. The method requires no reduction of the original steady-state equations and gives exact multiplicity conditions in terms of the nullities of the successive Carleman matrices. The steady-state bifurcation problem of a general class of catalytic reaction systems is resolved using this method.
Auditory induction: Reciprocal changes in alternating sounds.

When portions of a sound are replaced by a potential masker, the missing fragments may be perceptually restored, resulting in apparent continuity of the interrupted signal. This phenomenon has been examined extensively by using pulsation threshold, auditory induction, and phonemic restoration paradigms in which two sounds, the inducer and the inducee, are alternated (ABABA...), and the conditions required for apparent continuity of the lower amplitude inducee are determined. Previous studies have generally neglected to examine concomitant changes produced in the inducing sound. Results from the present experiments have demonstrated decreases in the loudness of inducers using inducer/inducee pairs consisting of tone/tone and noise/noise, as well as the noise/speech pairs associated with phonemic restorations. Interestingly, reductions in inducer loudness occurred even when the inducee was heard as discontinuous, and these decreases in loudness were accompanied by graded increases in apparent duration of the inducee, contrary to the conventional view of auditory induction as an all-or-none phenomenon. Under some conditions, the reduced loudness of the inducer was coupled with a marked alteration in its timbre. Especially profound changes in the inducer quality occurred when the alternating stimuli were tones having the same frequency and differing only in intensity--it seems that following subtraction of components corresponding to the inducee, an anomalous auditory residue remained that did not correspond to the representation of a tone.
Impact of delayed childbearing on the birth prevalence of Down syndrome in the United States † 1279

Impact of delayed childbearing on the birth prevalence of Down syndrome in the United States † 1279
Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Congenital Left Ventricular Aneurysms

Congenital left ventricular (LV) aneurysm is a rare malformation of unknown cause that is often associated with a poor prognosis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with congenital LV aneurysms and to determine the relation between clinical manifestations and the morphologic and functional characteristics of the aneurysms. Among the 26 consecutive patients with congenital LV aneurysms included, the anomalies involved the apex or free wall in 15 and the submitral myocardium in 11. Cardiac magnetic resonance provided detailed anatomic and functional assessment of the aneurysms in all patients. Compared with submitral aneurysms, apical or free-wall aneurysms were larger (24 +/- 29 vs 3 +/- 2 ml/m(2), p = 0.02), were more frequently associated with scar tissue by myocardial delayed enhancement imaging (71% vs 0%, p = 0.03), and tended to be more commonly associated with symptoms (53% vs 18%, p = 0.08). Aneurysm volume but not location correlated with LV size (r = 0.735, p <0.0001) and the ejection fraction (r = 0.774, p <0.0001). Apical or free-wall aneurysms were resected in 5 patients, with no mortality. There was 1 death after aortic valve replacement in a patient with type B Niemann-Pick disease, which was not clearly related to the LV aneurysm. The remaining 25 patients are alive at a median age of 13.5 years. In conclusion, the experience with this cohort illustrates that cardiac magnetic resonance is well suited for the morphologic and functional evaluation of congenital LV aneurysms.
Cotton Response to Source and Timing of Nitrogen Fertilization on a Sandy Coastal Plain Soil

Abstract A three‐year field study was conducted to evaluate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) response to the source and timing of nitrogen (N) on an irrigated coastal plain soil (Lucy loamy sand; Arenic Kandiudults) in south Alabama. Cotton acreage in this region has increased in the past ten years and there was a need for current data describing cotton response to N fertilization. Treatments included N sources, timing of N application (ammonium nitrate), split applications of N (ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate), and a no‐N check. Nitrogen sources applied preplant included: (i) ammonium nitrate (34‐0‐0); (ii) ammonium sulfate (21‐0‐0‐24.2); (iii) urea (46‐0‐0); (iv) urea–ammonium nitrate solution (UAN; 32‐0‐0); (v) UAN + ammonium thiosulfate (28‐0‐0‐5). Non‐sulfur sources were applied with and without additional sulfur (S). Times of application were preplant, first true leaf, first square, and first bloom. Two treatments received split applications of N as a 50:50 mixture of ammonium sulfate with urea...