cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of an innovative method of shoulder range-of-motion measurement using a smartphone clinometer application

Background: An accurate and reliable measurement of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is important in the evaluation of the shoulder. A smartphone digital clinometer application is a potentially simpler method for measuring shoulder ROM. The goal of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of shoulder ROM measurements among varying health care providers using a smartphone clinometer application in healthy and symptomatic adults. Methods: An attending surgeon, fellow, resident, physician assistant, and student served as examiners. Bilateral shoulders of 24 healthy subjects were included. Fifteen postoperative patients served as the symptomatic cohort. Examiners measured ROM of each shoulder, first using visual estimation and then using a goniometer and smartphone clinometer in a randomized fashion. Results: The interobserver reliability among examiners showed significant correlation, with average intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(2,1)] values of 0.61 (estimation), 0.69 (goniometer), and 0.80 (smartphone). All 5 examiners had substantial agreement with the gold standard in healthy subjects, with average ICC(2,1) values ranging from 0.62 to 0.79. The interobserver reliability in symptomatic patients showed significant correlation, with average ICC(2,1) values of 0.72 (estimation), 0.79 (goniometer), and 0.89 (smartphone). Examiners had excellent agreement with the gold standard in symptomatic patients, with an average ICC(2,1) value of 0.98. Conclusion: The smartphone clinometer has excellent agreement with a goniometer-based gold standard for measurement of shoulder ROM in both healthy and symptomatic subjects. There is good correlation among differentskilllevelsofprovidersformeasurementsobtainedusingthesmartphone.Asmartphone-basedclinometer is a good resource for shoulder ROM measurement in both healthy subjects and symptomatic patients. Level of evidence: Level III, Nonconsecutive Patients, Diagnostic Study. 2014 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees.
Long-Term Performance of Aluminide Coatings on Fe-Base Alloys

Abstract Aluminide coatings made by chemical vapor deposition on ferritic (Fe-9Cr-1Mo) and austenitic (Type 304L) substrates are being evaluated in humid air at 650°–800 °C. A humid air environment is used to identify coating failure during exposure, as uncoated substrates experience rapid oxidation at these temperatures. One goal of this work was to demonstrate the potential benefits and problems with alumina-forming coatings of two different thicknesses. The higher exposure temperatures were selected to accelerate the degradation of the coating by interdiffusion with the substrate. Another goal is to develop a lifetime model based on the results. The critical Al content of the coating at which failure occurs is a key parameter needed to complete the model, and a coating failure after ∼10 kh at 700 °C provides some information.
Potentially Mobile Lead Fractions in Montane Organic-Rich Soil Horizons

Anthropogenic emissions during the 20th century resulted in global lead (Pb) contamination of soils. Recent studies have demonstrated that the organic horizons of temperate montane Spodosols in the northeastern United States retain Pb on timescales of 50 to 150 years. The precise mechanism(s) of this strong Pb partitioning to organic-rich soil material remain elusive, but a detailed understanding of Pb retention by organic layers and mineral topsoils is critical for predicting the fate of pollutants deposited on ecosystems. Here we use selective extractions to quantify potentially mobile pools of Pb in the surface horizons of relatively remote montane Spodosols from New Hampshire and Vermont. Using 10 consecutive rinses of water, we extracted a total of 1 to 5% of the carbon, and 4 to 12% of the Pb. Dialysis equilibration experiments demonstrate that this Pb is >5,000 molecular weight, and not truly dissolved as Pb2+. When soil was extracted with a single rinse of 0.02 M HCl (pH 1.7), 5 to 11% of the Pb was mobilized. However, hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 0.02 M HCl (a reducing agent) extracted 30 to 40% of the Pb. Repeated rinses with sodium hydroxide and sodium pyrophosphate, which target organic matter but may extract other soil phases removed 16 to 75% and 60 to 100% of the Pb, respectively. We show that significant Fe, Pb, and Al can be released from soils under reducing conditions, and that this fraction can be underestimated if sodium pyrophosphate is used in a previous step for leaching the organic-metal phase, as is typically done in sequential extraction schemes. Our results indicate that inorganic phases play an important role in determining Pb mobility and bioavailability, even in surface soil horizons dominated by organic matter.
Synthesis and biological evaluation of certain 4‐alkylamino and 4‐arylalkylamino derivatives of the imidazo[4,5‐d]pyridazine and v‐triazolo[4,5‐d]pyridazine ring systems

Certain 4-alkylamino and 4-arylalkylamino derivatives of the imidazo- and v-triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine ring systems were prepared and evaluated against two human colon carcinomas (DLD-1 and HCT-15) and one human lung carcinoma (LX-1), in vitro. 4-Methylthioimidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine (1) and 4-methylthio-v-triazolo-[4,5-d]pyridazine (9) served as precursors to the title compounds. Treatment of these heterocycles with the appropriate amine (ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, benzylamine and hydrazine) provided the desired derivatives of that ring system. 4-AIP (2) and 2-aza-4-AIP (10) served as precursors to the 4-dimethylaminomethyleneamino derivatives 6 and 14, respectively. Likewise, the 4-hydrazino analogs (7 and 15) served as intermediates in the syntheses of benzaldehyde-p-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]amino[4,5-d]-pyridazin-4-yl-hydrazone (8) and benzaldehyde-p-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]amino-v-triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazin-4-yl-hydrazone (16), respectively.
The value of behaviorally based performance appraisals

Employee performance appraisal is typically considered by managers to be necessary, but difficult and usually unpleasant. Such appraisals seem to promise so much for the effective and efficient functioning of organizations, yet they often deliver so little. At times, they create as many problems, or more, than they solve; the aftereffects often defeat their purposes, and the residue of ill feeling lingers on a n d on . A review of the literature on performance appraisal instruments suggests the following:
Myo-Inositol Monophosphatase: Binding of Terbium and a Cross-Linking Reagent to the Catalytic Site Cavity

Abstract In the presence of myo -inositol monophosphatase, terbium ions can be excited by energy transfer from the aromatic side chains of the protein. This enhancement of Tb 3+ luminescence due to its binding to the enzyme at pH 6.5 was used to determine the dissociation constant (56 μM) for the monophosphatase-Tb 3+ complex. Competition luminescence studies also indicated that calcium ions could compete with terbium ions for binding to the enzyme with a dissociation constant of 200 μM. Conditions were determined in which approximately 1 mol of o -phthaldehyde reacts with one subunit of the dimeric protein, yielding a stable fluorescent isoindole derivative. The kinetics of the reaction, monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy, yields a second-order rate constant ( K 2 = 110 M −1 s −1 ). The inactivation of the monophosphatase by o -phthaldehyde has been shown to be protected by the substrate β-glycerolphosphate. Essentially, no formation of any isoindole derivative is detected after one sulfhydryl residue of the enzyme is reacted with N -ethylmaleimide. It is suggested that the site of the isoindole chromophore formed upon reaction of the enzyme with o -phthaldehyde includes one lysyl and one cysteinyl residue located in the cavity of the catalytic site.
Do Public Health and Infection Control Measures Prevent the Spread of Flu

Not much is known about influenza transmission or ways to prevent it. An effective response to an influenza pandemic will hinge on the availability of vaccine and antivirals. If they are in limited supply, as is anticipated, then disease control will depend on public health and infection control measures. Unfortunately, not much is known about the efficacy of such interventions for preventing the transmission of flu. In fact, very little is known about influenza transmission. A review of the literature found no English-language experimental studies of person-to-person spread of flu and no studies of the use of masks or hand-washing as means of preventing transmission of flu. Despite the absence of scientific data, some reasonable inferences and extrapolations can be drawn based on what is known, which is discussed below. Asymptomatic carriers play an important role. As many as half of all infections with normal seasonal flu may be asymptomatic, which in part may be due to preexisting partial immunity.1 Asymptomatic patients shed virus and can transmit the disease but not at the same rate as symptomatic individuals, thus creating an invisible “reservoir” for the virus. The implication of this is that public health disease containment measures and infection control measures alone may slow but cannot stop a flu epidemic. Isolation of the sick may slow the spread of flu. The degree of viral shedding in flu is directly proportional to the severity of symptoms and level of fever.1 Therefore, virus is shed to a greater degree by symptomatic individuals as compared with those who are asymptomatic. As a result, isolating the sick can be expected to reduce transmission and therefore slow the spread of disease. Flu may not be as transmissible as imagined. The incubation period for seasonal flu averages 2 days, with a range of 1 to 4 days, and viral shedding may begin as much 24 hours before symptoms appear.1 The generation time, which is the time between when the first person becomes infectious and when a person in the next “generation” becomes infectious, is estimated to be approximately 2 days as well. The speed with which a contagious disease spreads is a function of the number of additional people infected by each victim (R0) and the generation time. Influenza, which has a very short generation time, will spread very quickly even if each infected individual does not spread it to many others. The R0 for the 1918 pandemic is estimated to be only 1.8.2 Other recent estimates of R0 for seasonal and pandemic flu typically range from 1.5 to 3.3,4 In contrast, SARS had an R0 of 3 (excluding super-spreaders), and measles has an R0 of 10 to15, 5
On Rado's boundedness conjecture

We prove that Rado's Boundedness Conjecture from Richard Rado's 1933 famous dissertation Studien zur Kombinatorik is true if it is true for homogeneous equations. We then prove the first nontrivial case of Rado's Boundedness Conjecture: if a1, a2, and a3 are integers, and if for every 24-coloring of the positive integers (or even the nonzero rational numbers) there is a monochromatic solution to the equation a1x1 + a2x2 + a3x3=0, then for every finite coloring of the positive integers there is a monochromatic solution to a1x1 + a2x2 + a3x3=0.
Effects of reducing agents on premature browning in ground beef

Abstract This study was performed to investigate the effects of food-grade reducing agents on counteracting premature browning (PMB) and to determine the relative heat stability of different redox states of bovine myoglobin (Mb). Sodium erythorbate (SE), erythorbic acid (EA), sodium ascorbate (SA), ascorbic acid (AA) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) were added to ground beef (15% fat) at a concentration of 2.3 mM; patties were prepared and stored at 4 °C and at −18 °C. Surface redness ( a * values), lipid oxidation and total reducing activity (TRA) were measured on raw beef, and a * values recorded from cooked internal surfaces. Bovine Mb was purified from biceps femoris muscle and heat capacity was measured using differential scanning calorimetry. All reducing agents decreased lipid oxidation and increased TRA relative to controls ( p p T m , of metmyoglobin appeared lower than that of oxymyoglobin and deoxymyoglobin. Reducing agents can maintain Mb in the reduced state, and their addition to ground beef may be one method of preventing PMB.
The reduction of parent-youth problems by reciprocity counseling

Abstract A reciprocity counseling program had previously been used for adult marital problems and for child classroom problems. The present study extended the method to youth problems in the home and community with 29 youths aged 6–16, including 12 teenagers. The principal features of the components of the program were reciprocal behavioral contracting, positive communication training and self-correction. The number of problems reported by the parents and youths decreased by about 75% after counseling vs little or no decrease for the wait-listed controls. The ratings of problem severity were also reduced and endured at the 6-month follow-up.
Experimental specific serum therapy of Staphylococcus.

SummaryProtection at significant levels was shown in experimental mouse infection with Staphylococcus aureus by globulins from immune rabbit blood serum and from goat colostrum. Immunizations to produce the protection were made with benzalkonium-kil-led organisms alone, or followed by injections of live organisms. Both the intraperitoneal and oral route of protection proved efficacious in the mice. Experimental subcutaneous abscesses in rabbits were similarly studied and the suppression of inflammation and necrosis shown.
Dextransucrase: Donor substrate reactions

Abstract Previous studies have indicated that α- d -1-fluoroglucose is a glycosyl donor for glucosyl transferases (5, 6) including dextransucrases formed by Leuconostoc and Streptococcus mutans. The present report confirms these observations with dextransucrase isolated from S. sanguis and conclusively establishes the details of this reaction as well as proving that mechanism of fluoroglucose transfer is comparable to that glucosyl transfer from sucrose. A new procedure for monitoring the reaction is reported, and is based on the measurement of proton formation using the pH indicator, bromcresol purple. Production of F− was found to be stoichiometric with proton production. Rate studies with the substrate indicate that α-1-fluoroglucose undergoes spontaneous hydrolysis, which is greatly increased in the presence of nucleophilic buffers. When [14C]maltose and α-1-fluoroglucose or [14C]α-1-fluoroglucose and maltose were incubated with dextransucrase, a series of oligosaccharide products was observed. The results indicate that the glucosyl moiety of α-1-fluoroglucose transferred to the acceptor. The nature of formation of the products are consistent with a series of precursor-product reactions. Product analysis of the saccharides by borohydride reduction analysis demonstrated that the glucosyl unit was added to the nonreducing end of maltose. When either [14C]fructose or [14C]-α-1-fluoroglucose were incubated with enzyme, a reaction was observed which was analogous to the isotopic-exchange reaction catalyzed by the enzyme in the presence of [14C]fructose and sucrose.
Residual Visual Function after Brain Wounds involving the Central Visual Pathways in Man

IT is generally believed that total destruction of visual cortex and optic radiations in man should lead to blindness, and that regional (subtotal) destruction should correspondingly produce circumscribed areas of blindness (“scotomata”) in the visual field1. Such areas of blindness are defined by a patient's inability to detect and report visual stimuli projected into the affected region. Standard methods of visual field testing (perimetry) suggest that such scotomata may be “absolute”, that is the patient seems to be unable to distinguish between the presence and absence of visually presented targets whenever they are presented in the scotomatous area. Suspecting that the response of the visual system may depend on the task requirements, we used a technique which requires a localizing response from the patient2, in addition to clinical perimetry. As a result, we have found evidence for the processing of information about the locus of light stimuli presented in areas of the visual field which are “blind” by the traditional definition.
Against Moral Fictionalism

Moral nihilists need an answer: if moral discourse is fatally flawed, how are we to proceed? A popular option is fictionalism, to uphold the flawed discourse in the mode of a fiction. My thesis is that fictionalism is not the best available answer to the nihilist; a better one is revisionism, the proposal to refashion the discourse so as to cure it of all flaws. Should it be possible to revise the discredited practice, by removing what is erroneous while keeping what is beneficial, the twisted allegiance to the original practice already recognized as flawed which characterizes fictionalism becomes entirely moot. Fictionalism fully worked out, I argue in this paper, is going to lead us to the very doorsteps of revisionism.
Experimental Investigation of Evaporation from Low-Contact-Angle Sessile Droplets

Evaporating sessile drops remain pinned at the contact line during much of the evaporation process, and leave a ring of residue on the surface upon dryout. The intensive mass loss near the contact line causes solute particles to flow to the edge of the droplet and deposit at the contact line. The high vapor diffusion gradient and the low thermal resistance of the film near the contact line are responsible for very efficient mass transfer in this region. Although heat and mass transfer at the contact line have been extensively studied, well-characterized experiments remain scarce. The local mass transport in a 100−400 μm region near the contact line of a water droplet of radius 1810 μm on a glass substrate is experimentally quantified in the present work. Microparticle image velocimetry measurements of the three-dimensional flow field near the contact line are conducted to map the velocity field. Combined with high-resolution transient liquid profile shapes, the measured velocity field yields transient loc...
Sialic Acid as an Index of the κ-Casein Content of Bovine Skimmilk

Summary The sialic acid content of skimmilk proteins has been examined, using a modification of Warren's thiobarbituric acid method. Lactose interferes with this method and was removed by thorough washing of the proteins. κ -casein and proteose-peptone appear to be the only two skimmilk proteins containing significant amounts of sialic acid. Treatments with DEAE cellulose almost completely removed the low concentrations of sialic acid present in α s - and β -caseins, and examination of these caseins by starch gel electrophoresis indicates that such removal involved traces of κ -casein. Since the stability of α s - κ -casein mixtures in the presence of calcium appeared to be directly related to the sialic acid content of the mixture at all levels below the 0.37% (uncorrected for moisture) needed to give complete stability, it is concluded that sialic acid measurements can be used as an index of the intact κ -casein content of such mixtures. Proteose-peptone is precipitated by 12% TCA, but remains in solution at pH 4.5, so analysis of sialic acid can also be used as an index of the κ -casein concentration of whole acid casein. Values of 0.26–0.59% sialic acid were obtained in washed whole acid caseins prepared from individual lots of milk, indicating that the proportion of κ -casein is variable. The sialic acid content of κ -casein appears to be close to 2.3%; on this basis, the proportion of κ -casein in whole acid casein varies between 11–26%.
Metformin Protects Against Glucose-Induced Mouse Microvascular Endothelial Cell (Mmec) Death

Background and Objectives: Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are associated with an elevated incidence of cardiovascular disease. An early indicator of cardiovascular disease is endothelial dysfunction wherein there is a blunted blood flow response following activation of the endothelium. The elevated blood glucose associated with diabetes is thought to be a key factor associated with endothelial dysfunction and, in particular, the development of microvascular disease. Elevated blood glucose also has a negative effect on endothelial cell survival and thus enhances the ageing effect of diabetes on cardiovascular function. Clinical data suggests that metformin, a widely used orally effective hypoglycaemic drug, has an endothelial cell protective action. Metformin may also be beneficial in preventing endothelial cell death via a cellular pathway(s) that involves the activation of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) - a master metabolic sensor for glucose and lipid metabolism. However, a link between metformin and AMPK and ...
Chlorophyll Stability During Continuous Aseptic Processing and Storage

Spinach puree was aseptically processed and packaged at four time-temperature treatments (19.2 and 5.3 sec @ 142°C; 19.2 and 12.2 sec @ 137°C). Samples processed at 142°C for 5.3 sec retained 68% of total chlorophyll compared to blanched samples while all chlorophylls were degraded in retorted product. The rate of chlorophyll b degradation and pheophytin b formation during storage in flexible containers at 4, 25, and 40°C fit a first order kinetic model. Apparent activation energies during storage for each time-temperature treatment ranged between 11.1 and 14.3 kcal/mol. Analyses of degradation products indicated oxidation during storage was not a dominant factor in chlorophyll conversion and color loss.
Structural remodeling of rat uterine veins in pregnancy.

Abstract Objective: This study characterized the cellular remodeling that contributes to uterine venous growth during gestation and evaluated the effect of pregnancy on the mechanical properties of the uterine vein. Study Design: Diameter and distensibility were calculated in pressurized uterine veins from virgin and pregnant (19-20 days of gestation) rats; the rates of cellular division (endothelial, vascular smooth muscle) were quantified with an intraperitoneal bromodeoxyuridine injection and immunohistochemistry. Elastin content, adrenergic nerve density, and wall thickness were determined in fixed uterine veins and quantified with an imaging program. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the diameter and mitotic indices (endothelial, vascular smooth muscle) in uterine veins from late pregnant versus nonpregnant animals. Adrenergic nerve density was diminished significantly during gestation. Venous distensibility increased during pregnancy, with an associated reduction in elastin content. Conclusion: Pregnancy results in coordinated and multifaceted structural remodeling of uterine veins with subsequent changes in caliber, mechanical properties, rates of cellular division, adrenergic innervation, and matrix composition. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:1647-52.)
An efficient implementation of Lawson's algorithm with application to complex Chebyshev FIR filter design

This paper presents an efficient implementation of Lawson's algorithm and illustrates its application in complex Chebyshev FIR filter design. It is shown that the update terms in Lawson's algorithm can be efficiently achieved by computing a proper subspace projection, provided that the number of points involved in Lawson's algorithm is sufficiently small (not much greater than n where n is the number of variables). An application of this particular implementation form for Lawson's algorithm is then demonstrated by using it to solve the subproblems involved in a multiple exchange algorithm. In particular, this exchange algorithm is based on generalizing Remez second exchange algorithm to the complex case which requires solving a sequence of subproblems where each subproblem is itself a complex Chebyshev approximation problem defined over a finite number of points; the subproblems are systematically defined using a simple exchange procedure. The effectiveness of this multiple exchange algorithm for designing complex FIR filters is illustrated through various design examples, including a long filter with length n=125. >
Understanding local reception of globalized cultural products in the context of the international cultural economy: A case study on the reception of Hero and Daggers in China

The populist-oriented Hollywood blockbuster movies that tend to target the lowest common denominator are often accused by Chinese intellectuals of being culturally debilitating. Yet China's nationwide debate revolving around two recent technocratic, spectacle-driven domestic blockbusters by its renowned film director Zhang Yimou, Hero (2002) and House of Flying Daggers (2004), and their flamboyant marketing have demonstrated Hollywood's broader and more systemic impact on China's film style, marketing practice and media culture, which are increasingly in line with the unified global standard set by Hollywood and marked by relentless commercialism. By studying the two movies' reception in China, this article discusses how a national culture receives globalized versions of its own traditions, the role of Hollywood, and the implications for international cultural exchange and national identity in the context of the international cultural economy.
Definitive percutaneous treatment of lymphatic malformations of the trunk and extremities

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate a new treatment regimen for macrocystic and microcystic lymphatic malformations (LMs) of the trunk and extremities. Methods Sixteen patients (aged 2 months-22 years) underwent percutaneous treatment for LM of the trunk and extremities from 2002 to 2007. The LM involved the arm, leg, axilla, chest, abdomen, scrotum, and penis. Eleven patients underwent primary treatment of LM; 5 were treated for recurrence after prior operative resection. Macrocysts (≥1 cm) were treated with dual-drug chemoablation (sequential intracystic sodium tetradecyl sulfate and ethanol); doxycycline was used for microcysts. Macrocysts and microcysts were treated after complete cyst aspiration using sonographic guidance. Twenty-four macrocysts and 103 microcysts were treated. The goal of treatment was complete cyst ablation documented by sonography or magnetic resonance imaging. Results The mean number of treatments was 1.7 per patient; the mean number of treatments for macrocysts was 1.3 and for microcysts was 1.7. Ablation efficacy was 100% (127/127 cysts). Treatments included massive intraperitoneal cysts and cysts surrounding the adventitia of the brachial artery and brachial nerve. Infection occurred in 2 (13%) of 16 patients. No patient experienced postprocedural pain, skin necrosis, neuropathy, bowel obstruction, skin retraction, or myoglobinuria. Conclusions Percutaneous sclerotherapy provides effective treatment for macrocystic and microcystic LM as primary treatment or for recurrence after surgical resection.
Bilateral burning foot pain: Monitoring of pain, sensation, and autonomic function during successful treatment with sympathetic blockade

We describe a patient with burning pain in both feet associated with local autonomic disturbances following bilateral traumatic sciatic mononeuropathies. The diagnosis of a sympathetically maintained pain was confirmed through a prompt response to sympathetic blockade. Although a mild alcohol-nutritional neuropathy was found, the clinical findings strongly suggested a diagnosis of bilateral causalgia. Clinical evaluation and quantitative sensory testing were performed prior to and after successive unilateral lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks. After unilateral blockade, bilateral improvement was recorded in measures of pain, sudomotor function, and foot temperature. Other measures of autonomic function showed variable responses to sympathetic blockade. Quantitative sensory testing revealed a dramatic alteration in the contralateral limb's thermal sense following unilateral block. This case underscores the potential for bilateral causalgia and provides additional evidence for a central mechanism operating in this disorder. The relationship between bilateral causalgia and the "burning feet syndrome" in alcoholic neuropathy is discussed.
AN APPROACH TO OBJECT SYSTEM MODELING BY STATE-BASED OBJECT PETRI NETS

For many years, Petri nets have been used for modeling the behavior of various types of concurrent systems. While these net models are especially well suited to capture the behavior of concurrent systems, it is still the case that net models do not easily capture some important structural aspects of a system, such as modularity. In terms of software systems for distributed applications, the object-oriented paradigm has become a standard for defining modularity and reuse of software. Thus, an evolving direction in Petri net technology is the blending of net features with object-oriented capability. This paper discusses one such approach for state-based object systems.
Geostatistical interpolation of chemical concentration

Abstract Measurements of contaminant concentration at a hazardous waste site typically vary over many orders of magnitude and have highly skewed distributions. This work presents a practical methodology for the estimation of solute concentration contour maps and volume averages (needed for mass calculations) from data obtained from the analysis of water and soil samples. The methodology, which is an extension of linear geostatistics, produces a point estimate, i.e., a representative value, as well as a confidence interval, which contains the true value with a given probability. The approach uses a parsimonious model that accounts for the skewness by adding only one parameter to those used in linear geostatistics (variograms or generalized covariances). The resulting nonlinear kriging method is not substantially more difficult to use than linear geostatistics. The methodology is most appropriate when concentration measurements are available on a reasonably dense grid and no additional information (based on modeling flow and transport) can be used. We present and illustrate through an application, a practical approach to estimate all the parameters needed and to select and test the model.
Control of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: The Ambivalence Persists

The ambivalence regarding methods of dealing with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among hospitals and nursing facilities is highlighted in this issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. On the one hand, the American Hospital Association (AHA) special report on MRSA1 is a rational but somewhat inconsistent evaluation of various measures to deal with MRSA. The overall tone of the special report is one of moderation in handling this problem. In contrast, a letter by Simor al2 reports an intense epidemiologic effort (culturing all residents and staff) after finding two residents with MRSA infection or colonization in a long-term care facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. These two reports are sending two different messages regarding MRSA to hospitals and nursing facilities trying to deal with this organism. The AHA report implies that hospitals and nursing facilities should be concerned about endemic MRSA and provides opinions as to which approaches may be useful. The Task Force suggests that each hospital and nursing facility adopt a plan that is based on surveillance data and resources available. The message by Simor et al2 is that MRSA needs to be sought out and eliminated at all cost to prevent it from becoming an increasing problem in an institution. This editorial will try to put these reports into perspective and to highlight issues that are not addressed. AHA SPECIAL REPORT
Comparison of Acoustic Impedance Eduction Techniques for Locally-Reacting Liners

Typical acoustic liners used in current aircraft inlets and aft-fan ducts consist of some type of perforated facesheet bonded to a honeycomb core. A number of techniques for determining the acoustic impedance of these locallyreacting liners have been developed over the last five decades. In addition, a number of models have been developed to predict the acoustic impedance of locallyreacting liners in the presence of grazing flow, and to use that information together with aeroacoustic propagation codes to assess the noise absorption provided by these liners. These prediction models have incorporated the results from databases acquired with specific impedance eduction techniques. Thus, while these prediction models are acceptable for liners that are similar to those tested in these databases, their application to new liner configurations must be viewed with caution. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a comparison of impedance eduction techniques that have been implemented at various aerospace research laboratories in the United States (NASA Langley Research Center, General Electric Aircraft Engines, B. F. Goodrich and Boeing). A secondary purpose is to provide data for liner configurations that extend the porosity range beyond that which has been previously used in common aircraft engine nacelles. Two sets of liners were designed to study the effects of three parameters: perforate hole diameter, facesheet thickness and porosity. These two sets of liners were constructed for testing in each of the laboratories listed above. The first set of liners was designed to fit into the NASA Langley and Boeing test facilities. The second set was designed to fit into the General Electric Aircraft Engines and B. F. Goodrich test facilities. By using the same parent material, both sets of liners were identical to within the limits of material and fabrication variability. Baseline data were obtained in the normal incidence impedance tubes at NASA Langley and B. F. Goodrich. The results were found to compare extremely well. The
MPA design using sliding windows: Case study designating a research area

Coastal managers presently rely on a limited set of decision support tools for designing marine protected areas (MPAs) or subzones. A new approach, defining potential sizes and shapes of MPA boundaries early in the design process, is presented in a case study. A sliding window of the same dimensions as potential boundary configurations was regularly shifted throughout the study area and used to quantify variables representing preferred biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics. The technique offers advantages in spatially restricted areas, areas where habitat connectivity is critical, and situations wherein providing stakeholders with an up-front understanding of potential boundaries is required.
An analysis of some delegation protocols for distributed systems

This papers gives a precise analysis of some of the delegation protocols described by V. Varadharajan et. al. (1991). They analysed the problem of delegation in distributed systems and proposed three delegation protocols-chained, nested and linked-based on different inter-object trust assumptions in the system. They also considered some delegation protocols for the Kerberos authentication system. The authors give an analysis of the chained, nested, and linked delegation protocols using the calculus for access control by M. Abadi et. al. (1991), and analyse the delegation protocols for Kerberos using the belief logic of R. Kaislar and V.D. Gligor (1991). >
Axillary Arterial Monitoring of Pediatric Patients

Use of the axillary artery for hemodynamic monitoring has gained acceptance in critically ill adults. However, there is little information concerning the safety and complications of such catheters in the pediatric population. Sixteen pediatric patients who had axillary lines placed for pressure monitoring were evaluated for neurologic and vascular function, by comparing the arm with the axillary line with the contralateral arm. There were no major complications during axillary artery monitoring. After decannulation, systolic blood pressure did not differ between arms. In a pediatric critical care environment with skilled ongoing nursing care, the axillary artery can be used as a site for intraarterial monitoring in pediatric patients without a detrimental effect on concurrent or future blood pressure monitoring.
Effects of feeding bile acids and a bile acid sequestrant on hepatic bile acid composition in mice

An improved ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method was established for the simultaneous analysis of various bile acids (BA) and applied to investigate liver BA content in C57BL/6 mice fed 1% cholic acid (CA), 0.3% deoxycholic acid (DCA), 0.3% chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), 0.3% lithocholic acid (LCA), 3% ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), or 2% cholestyramine (resin). Results indicate that mice have a remarkable ability to maintain liver BA concentrations. The BA profiles in mouse livers were similar between CA and DCA feedings, as well as between CDCA and LCA feedings. The mRNA expression of Cytochrome P450 7a1 (Cyp7a1) was suppressed by all BA feedings, whereas Cyp7b1 was suppressed only by CA and UDCA feedings. Gender differences in liver BA composition were observed after feeding CA, DCA, CDCA, and LCA, but they were not prominent after feeding UDCA. Sulfation of CA and CDCA was found at the 7-OH position, and it was increased by feeding CA or CDCA more in male than female mice. In contrast, sulfation of LCA and taurolithocholic acid (TLCA) was female-predominant, and it was increased by feeding UDCA and LCA. In summary, the present systematic study on BA metabolism in mice will aid in interpreting BA-mediated gene regulation and hepatotoxicity.
On fixed-parameter tractability and approximability of NP-hard optimization problems

Fixed-parameter tractability and approximability of NP-hard optimization problems are studied based on a model GC(s(n), Pi /sub k//sup L/). The main results are (1) a class of NP-hard optimization problems, including dominating-set and zero-one integer-programing, are fixed-parameter tractable if and only if GC(s(n), Pi /sub 2//sup L/) contained in P for some s(n) in omega (log n); (2) most approximable NP-hard optimization problems are fixed-parameter tractable. In particular, the class MAX NP is fixed-parameter tractable; (3) a class of optimization problems do not have fully polynomial time approximation scheme unless GC(s(n), Pi /sub k//sup L/) contained in P for some s(n) in omega (log n) and for some k>l; and (4) every fixed-parameter tractable optimization problem can be approximated in polynomial time to a non-trivial ratio. >
Diffusion control of garnet growth, Harpswell Neck, Maine, USA

A detailed analysis of chemical zoning in two garnet crystals from Harpswell Neck, Maine, forms the basis of an interpretation of garnet nucleation and growth mechanisms. Garnet apparently nucleates initially on crenulations of mica and chlorite and quickly overgrows the entire crenulation, giving rise to complex two-dimensional zoning patterns depending on the orientation of the thin section cut. Contours of Ca zoning cross those of Mn, Fe and Mg, indicating a lack of equilibrium among these major garnet constituents. Zoning of Fe, Mg and Mn is interpreted to reflect equilibrium with the rock matrix, whereas Ca zoning is interpreted to be controlled by diffusive transport between the matrix and the growing crystal. Image analysis reveals that the growth of garnet is more rapid along triple-grain intersections than along double-grain boundaries. Moreover, different minerals are replaced by garnet at different rates. The relative rate of replacement by garnet along double-grain boundaries is ordered as muscovite > chlorite > plagioclase > quartz. Flux calculations reveal that replacement is limited by diffusion of Si along double-grain boundaries to or from the local reaction site. It is concluded that multiple diffusive pathways control the bulk replacement of the rock matrix by garnet, with Si and Al transport being rate limiting in these samples.
Partitioning and Dynamic Load Balancing for the Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations

In parallel simulations, partitioning and load-balancing algorithms compute the distribution of application data and work to processors. The effectiveness of this distribution greatly influences the performance of a parallel simulation. Decompositions that balance processor loads while keeping the application’s communication costs low are preferred. Although a wide variety of partitioning and load-balancing algorithms have been developed, their effectiveness depends on the characteristics of the application using them. In this chapter, we review several partitioning algorithms, along with their strengths and weaknesses for various PDE applications. We also discuss current efforts toward improving partitioning algorithms for future applications and architectures.
The cross-talk of HIV-1 Tat and methamphetamine in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically improved the lives of HIV-1 infected individuals. Nonetheless, HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which range from undetectable neurocognitive impairments to severe dementia, still affect approximately 50% of the infected population, hampering their quality of life. The persistence of HAND is promoted by several factors, including longer life expectancies, the residual levels of virus in the central nervous system and the continued presence of HIV-1 regulatory proteins such as the transactivator of transcription (Tat) in the brain. Tat is a secreted viral protein that crosses the blood brain barrier into the central nervous system, where it has the ability to directly act on neurons and non-neuronal cells alike. These actions result in the release of soluble factors involved in inflammation, oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, ultimately resulting in neuronal damage. The percentage of methamphetamine abusers is high among the HIV-1-positive population compared to the general population. On the other hand, methamphetamine abuse is correlated with increased viral replication, enhanced Tat-mediated neurotoxicity and neurocognitive impairments. Although several strategies have been investigated to reduce HAND and methamphetamine use, no clinically approved treatment is currently available. Here, we review the latest findings of the effects of Tat and methamphetamine in HAND and discuss a few promising potential therapeutic developments.
Presidential Mandates and the Dynamics of Senate Advice and Consent, 1885-1996:

We examine the dynamics of Senate advice and consent for executive branch nominations from 1885 to 1996 using multinomial logit and hazard analysis. We add to the literature by considering the importance of elections on the process. In particular, we assess how presidential mandates might influence the duration and success of nominations to the executive branch. The analysis captures political nuances previously unconsidered that follow from the different ways that nominations terminate, whether through confirmation, rejection or withdrawal by the president, or expiration. As shown previously, divided government matters, especially during periods of ideological polarization in the Senate. Nominations fail more of ten and take longer. However, perceptions of electoral mandate strengthen the president’s position vis-a-vis the Senate, smoothing the president’s path to a more effective transition and staffing of the federal bureaucracy.
Combined Effects of Deforestation and Doubled Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations on the Climate of Amazonia

Abstract It is generally expected that the Amazon basin will experience at least two major environmental changes during the next few decades and centuries: 1) increasing areas of forest will be converted to pasture and cropland, and 2) concentrations of atmospheric CO2 will continue to rise. In this study, the authors use the National Center for Atmospheric Research GENESIS atmospheric general circulation model, coupled to the Integrated Biosphere Simulator, to determine the combined effects of large-scale deforestation and increased CO2 concentrations (including both physiological and radiative effects) on Amazonian climate. In these simulations, deforestation decreases basin-average precipitation by 0.73 mm day−1 over the basin, as a consequence of the general reduction in vertical motion above the deforested area (although there are some small regions with increased vertical motion). The overall effect of doubled CO2 concentrations in Amazonia is an increase in basin-average precipitation of 0.28 mm da...
British Politics and the Demise of the Roman Republic: 1700–1939

During the past quarter century scholars from several disciplines have established the central metaphorical function of the demise of the ancient Roman Republic for both literary and political discourse in eighteenth century Britain. But the reverse side of that inquiry – the impact of the analogy between Britain and Rome on the modern historical interpretation of the ancient republic – has received virtually no attention. This oversight has concealed a remarkable modern British historiographical phenomenon that did not end at the close of the eighteenth century. Rather, for over two hundred years modern British political ideologies and preoccupations determined not only how the collapse of the Roman republic would be interpreted but also in large measure even whether it would receive historical examination. The various shifts of historical interpretation from the age of Queen Anne through that of Chamberlain illustrate with stunning and disturbing clarity the relentless manner in which contemporary political concerns can shape, revise, and eventually overwhelm modes of historical understanding without discovery of significant new evidence or the application of new methodology. By the twentieth century methodology itself, in the form of prosopography, in part served the ends of political commentary.
GENDER, EXCESSIVE BODY WEIGHT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN ADULTHOOD

We examined gender differences in the association between body mass index (BMI) and psychological well-being. Regression analysis involving 3,251 adults indicated that gender moderated the BMI–psychological well-being link. In follow-up analyses, higher BMI predicted lower psychological well-being only among women. When participants were categorized into 5 BMI groups, women reported lower psychological well-being than men in the overweight and obese I groups, but no gender differences were observed in the more seriously obese or normal-weight groups. Also, among women, all 4 groups with higher-than-normal BMI had lower psychological well-being than normal-weight women; for men, no significant differences were found across the 5 groups. These findings are discussed in relation to research on stigma theory and gender-differentiated cultural norms regarding weight.
Biases in casino betting: The hot hand and the gambler's fallacy

We examine two departures of individual perceptions of randomness from probability theory: the hot hand and the gambler’s fallacy, and their respective opposites. This paper’s first contribution is to use data from the field (individuals playing roulette in a casino) to demonstrate the existence and impact of these biases that have been previously documented in the lab. Decisions in the field are consistent with biased beliefs, although we observe significant individual heterogeneity in the population. A second contribution is to separately identify these biases within a given individual, then to examine their within-person correlation. We find a positive and significant correlation across individuals between hot hand and gambler’s fallacy biases, suggesting a common (root) cause of the two related errors. We speculate as to the source of this correlation (locus of control), and suggest future research which could test this speculation.