cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Cataract Surgery in Patients With Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration and Macular Fluid

Purpose To investigate whether having macular fluid on optical coherence tomography (OCT) prior to cataract surgery adversely affected vision or anatomic outcomes after cataract surgery in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods We examined all patients who underwent cataract surgery and were receiving intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016. There were 81 eyes that underwent cataract surgery and had received at least 1 intravitreal anti-VEGF injection for a diagnosis of exudative AMD within 6 months prior to surgery. Data collected included the development of subretinal or intraretinal macular fluid, or subretinal hemorrhage, in the 6 months following surgery; number of injections; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); and central subfield thickness (CST). Results There was a significant improvement between preopertive and postoperative BCVA when comparing all patients (P values .05). There were 23 eyes with fluid on the preoperative OCT. There were no differences in final BCVA or CST and no difference in the development of fluid postoperatively when compared to patients without fluid preoperatively (all P values > .05). These patients also saw a significant improvement in BCVA (P = .006). Conclusion In a real-world setting, patients with both cataracts and wet AMD may safely undergo cataract surgery. Patients with stable preoperative fluid on OCT should be considered for cataract surgery, as these patients did well postoperatively, with no worsening of their neovascular process.
Region-based deformable fully convolutional networks for multi-class object detection at signalized traffic intersections: NVIDIA AICity challenge 2017 Track 1

Multi-class object detection is critical for intelligent traffic monitoring applications in smart cities as well as connected autonomous vehicles. Although, numerous research works evaluate the performance of image processing algorithms for on-vehicle cameras, the body of research evaluating performance of image processing of stationary cameras located near intersections is limited. In this research, we use region-based deformable fully convolutional networks to detect 14 different object classes within images from traffic surveillance cameras. The object classes include vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic signals. The goal of the NVIDIA AICity challenge is to provide accurate localization and correct classification of objects for stationary cameras mounted near signalized traffic intersections. Our proposed method scores mean average precision of 0.41, 0.37, and 0.34 for aic480, aic1080, and aic540 challenge datasets.
The Roles of Self-Socialization and Parent Socialization in Toddlers' Gender-Typed Appearance.

Children’s gender-stereotypical dress and appearance might be one of the first representations of children’s emerging sense of gender identity. Gender self-socialization theories posit that as children become more aware of gender categories, they become motivated to adhere to gender stereotypes, such as by expressing interest in dressing in feminine or masculine ways. Socialization theories predict that children’s gender-typed appearance reflects parents’ choices. For example, gender-traditional parents might dress their children in gender-stereotypical ways. At the same time, dressing in gender-stereotypical ways might contribute to children’s growing awareness of gender categories. The current study investigated the factors associated with gender-typed appearance among 175 (87 girls, 88 boys) Mexican American, Dominican American, and African American 2-year-olds. We examined both child and parent contributions to early gender-typed appearance. To measure children’s early conceptual understanding of gender categories, we assessed children’s use and recognition of gender verbal labels. To examine the influence of parent socialization, we assessed mothers’ gender-role attitudes. Children’s gender-typed appearance was observed and coded during an assessment. Surprisingly, mothers’ gender-role attitudes were not significantly associated with toddlers’ gender-typed appearance. However, toddlers’ gender labeling was associated with their gender-typed appearance, suggesting that self-socialization processes can be found as early as 24 months of age.
Enucleation and the appearance of second primary tumors in cats bearing virally induced intraocular tumors

The effect of enucleation of an eye containing a malignant intraocular neoplasm on the occurrence of secondary tumors was studied in cats with tumors, mainly melanomas, induced by Gardner feline fibrosarcoma virus. Enucleation of eyes containing progressively growing tumors was followed by a sharp increase in the frequency of secondary tumors. Secondary tumors were detected in 13 of 14 (92.8%) cats subjected to enucleation but in only seven of 21 (33.3%) untreated cats. The data suggest that the secondary tumors were not metastases but rather second primary tumors induced by local transformation of fibrosarcoma virus shed from the intraocular neoplasms. The increased incidence of these second primary tumors in cats subjected to enucleation was associated with depressed antibody titers to a tumor-specific transplantation antigen, the feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen.
Disciplined Heterogeneous Modeling - Invited Paper.

Complex systems demand diversity in the modeling mech- anisms. One way to deal with a diversity of requirements is to create flexible modeling frameworks that can be adapted to cover the field of interest. The downside of this approach is a weakening of the semantics of the modeling frameworks that compromises interoperability, under- standability, and analyzability of the models. An alternative approach is to embrace heterogeneity and to provide mechanisms for a diversity of models to interact. This paper reviews an approach that achieves such interaction between diverse models using an abstract semantics ,w hich is a deliberately incomplete semantics that cannot by itself define a use- ful modeling framework. It instead focuses on the interactions between diverse models, reducing the nature of those interactions to a minimum that achieves a well-defined composition. An example of such an abstract semantics is the actor semantics, which can handle many heterogeneous models that are built today, and some that are not common today. The actor abstract semantics and many concrete semantics have been imple- mented in Ptolemy II, an open-source software framework distributed under a BSD-style license.
Countermeasures to Attacks

The purpose of a countermeasure is to thwart an attack on hidden information. Depending upon the intent of the hidden information, countermeasures may be to make the hidden information more difficult to detect (typical for steganography) or more robust to distortion (typical for digital watermarks).
Wage distribution and firm size: The case of the United States

Substantial literature has been produced on the increasing wage gap in the United States, invoking various possible factors, but largely ignoring the relationship between firm size and wage distribution. In this study, the author decomposes wage differences over time between large, medium and small firms, identifying the effects of observed characteristics (and their returns) along with residual inequality, i.e. inequality among workers with the same observed characteristics. From 1992 to 2012, trends at small, medium and large firms became more uniform, while wage inequality rose across the board. Significantly, it increased more quickly in the upper half of the wage distribution and at large firms, where residual inequality was highest.
Distributed multiple access with a general link layer channel

Abstract This paper investigates the problem of distributed medium access control in a time slotted wireless multiple access network with an unknown finite number of homogeneous users. Assume that each user has a single transmission option. In each time slot, a user chooses either to idle or to transmit a packet. Under a general channel model, a distributed medium access control framework is proposed to adapt transmission probabilities of all users to a value that maximizes an arbitrarily chosen symmetric network utility. Probability target of each user in the proposed algorithm is calculated based upon a channel contention measure, which is defined as the success probability of a virtual packet. It is shown that the proposed algorithm falls into the classical stochastic approximation framework with guaranteed convergence when the contention measure can be directly obtained from the receiver. On the other hand, when the contention measure is not directly available, computer simulations show that a revised medium access control algorithm can still help the system to converge to the same designed equilibrium.
Foxi3 transcription factor activity is mediated by a C-terminal transactivation domain and regulated by the Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) complex

The Forkhead box (FOX) family consists of at least 19 subgroups of transcription factors which are characterized by the presence of an evolutionary conserved ‘forkhead’ or ‘winged-helix’ DNA-binding domain. Despite having a conserved core DNA binding domain, FOX proteins display remarkable functional diversity and are involved in many developmental and cell specific processes. In the present study, we focus on a poorly characterized member of the Forkhead family, Foxi3, which plays a critical role in the development of the inner ear and jaw. We show that Foxi3 contains at least two important functional domains, a nuclear localization sequence (NLS) and a C-terminal transactivation domain (TAD), and that it directly binds its targets in a sequence specific manner. We also show that the transcriptional activity of Foxi3 is regulated by phosphorylation, and that the activity of Foxi3 can be attenuated by its physical interaction with the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) complex.
Large Scale Open Source Video Recommender Tool Using Metadata Surrogates

Video and multi-media sharing is a significant activity on social media platforms. Learning patterns of activities using raw video data is computationally intensive and impractical, and manual inspection is not scalable and prohibitively expensive. An alternate strategy is to learn information about video content using far less compute intensive metadata surrogates. This paper describes a video recommender tool implemented in GovCloud using a novel approach of using lightweight video metadata to learn and classify video content. In contrast to popular video recommender systems that use consumption models for classification, the new approach used in our tool is based solely on the video metadata along with domain expertise used to truth a relatively small subset of relevant video content. The tool is very user-friendly and captures practical knowledge of the user resulting in good learning model. The architecture and implementation specifics of the tool is outlined in this paper. The classifier performance using metadata from tens of thousands of real postings exceeds 90% for both recall and ROC metrics. This tool has shown promise in providing a console for aggregating social media videos for analysts to train the system consistent with the context and task at hand.
Optimal Glycemic Control in a Patient With HNF1A MODY With GLP-1 RA Monotherapy: Implications for Future Therapy

We present the case of a 27-year-old woman with inadequately controlled HNF1A maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) who was successfully transitioned from sulfonylurea therapy to once-weekly monotherapy with dulaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA). More than a decade from diabetes diagnosis, she has maintained optimal glycemic control without hypoglycemia for >12 months while receiving GLP-1 RA therapy alone. This case illustrates the potential for successful use of GLP-1 RA monotherapy in patients with HNF1A MODY.
Heterojunction of vertically aligned MoS2 layers to Hydrogenated Black TiO2 and Rutile Based Inorganic Hollow Microspheres for the highly enhanced visible light arsenic photooxidation

Abstract In this research, Black TiO2 (BTiO2), which consisted of Rutile Based Inorganic Hollow Microspheres (RBIHM) and hydrogenated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, decorated with MoS2 nanosheets (HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2 photocatalyst) was synthesized using Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL) followed by microwave irradiation. Formation of vertically aligned MoS2 nanosheets, RBIHM and HBTiO2 nanoparticles were confirmed by different characterization techniques. The spectroscopic analysis revealed phase transitions in HBTiO2/RBIHM nano and microstructures along with the formation of different crystal disorders such as amorphous layers, oxygen vacancies, trivalent titanium ions and formation of molybdenum oxide (MoO3-x) in MoS2. In addition, MoS2 films in HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2 nanocomposite showed both Mo5+ and Mo6+ oxidation state, which was inferred that these films have a p-type conductive behavior. Furthermore, the interconnected layers of MoS2 nanosheets led to the formation of a porous like 3D nanostructure in HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2, which could significantly improve its photocatalytic performance. Arsenite photooxidation efficiencies of 70.3% and 96.6% and arsenate adsorption capacities of 1600 and 5200 μg g−1 were obtained for HBTiO2/RBIHM and HBTiO2/RBIHM-MoS2, respectively. The synergetic effects originated from making RBIHM-HBTiO2, RBIHM-MoS2 and MoS2–HBTiO2 heterojunctions along with the surface and morphology modification in MoS2 NSs and HBTiO2/RBIHM can explain the nanocomposite superior photocatalytic performance. The present work can trigger a broad interest in the cost-effective nanoarchitecture of visible light driven heterostructured photocatalysts.
Gaps in Dyslipidemia Care Among Working‐Aged Individuals With Employer‐Sponsored Health Care

Background The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology guidelines defined patient‐management groups that would benefit from lowering of low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LD...
Chapter III – Optical Properties

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the effect of structure on the optical properties of thin films. In the past, the optical properties of thin films that were important consisted of the solar and thermal reflectances and transmittances because these films were used as passive coatings of lenses, windows, etc. With the advent of the possibility of integration of optical and electrical devices in telecommunication and computing, another group of optical properties became significant for thin films—namely, luminescence, wave guide transmission, and various non-linear optical properties. The chapter also discusses the passive and active optical properties of thin films. The passive optical properties include: refractive index, solar absorptance, and absorption coefficient. The active optical properties include: thermochromism and electro-optical properties (polarization and electro-optic coefficients, linear electro-optic properties, and nonlinear electro-optic properties). The discussion on optical properties of thin film is based on qualitative concepts and phenomenology. The chapter describes nonlinear electro-optic materials—namely, ferroelectric thin films, organic thin films, and semiconductor thin films.
Engaging South Asian youth and families: A clinical review.

Objective:South Asians (SAs), a rapidly growing minority group in the United States are underrepresented in mental health research. They represent a unique sub-group of Asian immigrants in that the...
Domain-decomposition least-squares Petrov–Galerkin (DD-LSPG) nonlinear model reduction

Abstract A novel domain-decomposition least-squares Petrov–Galerkin (DD-LSPG) model-reduction method applicable to parameterized systems of nonlinear algebraic equations (e.g., arising from discretizing a parameterized partial-differential-equations problem) is proposed. In contrast with previous works, we adopt an algebraically non-overlapping decomposition strategy rather than a spatial-decomposition strategy, which facilitates application to different spatial-discretization schemes. Rather than constructing a low-dimensional subspace for the entire state space in a monolithic fashion, the methodology constructs separate subspaces for the different subdomains/components characterizing the original model. During the offline stage, the method constructs low-dimensional bases for the interior and interface of subdomains/components. During the online stage, the approach constructs an LSPG reduced-order model for each subdomain/component (equipped with hyper-reduction in the case of nonlinear operators), and enforces strong or weak compatibility on the ‘ports’ connecting them. We propose several different strategies for defining the ingredients characterizing the methodology: (i) four different ways to construct reduced bases on the interface/ports of subdomains, and (ii) different ways to enforce compatibility across connecting ports. In particular, we show that the appropriate compatibility-constraint strategy depends strongly on the basis choice. In addition, we derive a posteriori and a priori error bounds for the DD-LSPG solutions. Numerical results performed on nonlinear benchmark problems in heat transfer and fluid dynamics that employ both finite-element and finite-difference spatial discretizations demonstrate that the proposed method performs well in terms of both accuracy and (parallel) computational cost, with different choices of basis and compatibility constraints yielding different performance profiles.
The Design of Critical Place-Based Inquiry

Critical place-based inquiry differs from simply sending students on scavenger hunts or visiting a particular location. In this chapter, the authors explore design considerations associated with critical place-based inquiry that distinguish this pedagogy from others. Because each student approaches place-based inquiry differently depending on previous experiences, their own spatial stories, and their social location within the community, instructional activities make explicit connections between course content and students’ lived experiences. Additionally, contextual factors (social, political, and economic dimensions) that shape our understanding, experiences, and knowledge about place are addressed throughout critical place-based inquiry; prior histories of exploitation or historical inequality become integral. Langran and DeWitt’s model of critical place-based inquiry has four components: read the world; understand how place matters; leverage technology; and tell stories from multiple perspectives. In addition to a discussion of design considerations, this chapter contains planning tools, an exploration of assessment, and sample rubrics.
RETIREMENT AND PENSIONS Teachers Retirement System of Georgia: Permit Retired Teachers to Return to Service and Maintain Benefits; Define Terms Relating to Retirement; Provide Conditions Upon Which a School System May Employ a Retired Teacher

The Act allows retired teachers to return to teaching full-time while also drawing their retirement benefits. Specifically, the Act permits school systems to hire teachers who retired on or before December 31, 2001 to fill full-time vacancies. Additionally, the Act mandates that retired teachers return only to low-performing schools.
Content clouds as exploratory qualitative data analysis

This article proposes the use of content clouds as a method of exploratory qualitative data analysis. Content clouds are a type of visualisation that summarises the contents of a document by depicting the words that appear most often in larger, darker type within the cloud. When utilised as a form of qualitative GIS, content clouds provide a powerful way to summarise and compare information from different places on a single issue. Two examples using different types of documents and differently-scaled environmental issues demonstrate the possible utility of this method in summarising qualitative data and suggesting avenues for research.
Energy cost and efficiency of a demanding combined manual materials-handling task.

Energy cost and crew performance were studied during a 45-hour continuous field-artillery loading exercise using a howitzer simulator. An interrupted peak $\dot{V}_{0_{2}}$ test, conducted in the simulator, was used to develop individualized equations to predict energy cost from heart rate. Nine experienced crew members rotated through six 1.5-hour loading cycles. Mission time (the time elapsed from the order to fire until task completion) was recorded and summed over cycles. Measures made at the end of each cycle included profile of mood state (POMS); rating of perceived exertion (RPE); rating of pain, soreness, and discomfort (RPSD); and isometric hand-grip strength. Results showed a significant decrease (p<0.01) in energy cost (8.0-6.2 kcal·min-1) and mission time (28.1-24.3 min) from Cycle 1 to Cycle 6. The POMS revealed an increase in fatigue and tension and a decrease in vigor (p<0.05); RPE increased (p<0.05) over time as did RPSD reported for the shoulders, arms, and hands (p<0.05). Isometric hand-grip strength decreased 8.6% (p<0.05) from Cycle 1 to Cycle 6. The efficiency of howitzer loading performance increased; however, the changes in RPE, POMS, hand-grip, and RPSD suggest that longer duration exercises may result in performance decrements. These data indicate that simulators can improve the performance of this task.
Pressure and current effects on the thermal efficiency of an MPD arc used as a plasma source

Measurements of arc voltage and energy loss to the cooled electrodes of a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) arc, operating without an applied magnetic field, were made at chamber pressures of 26 to 950 torr, argon mass flow rates of 0.08 to 44 g/s and current of 200 to 2000 A. The resulting arc thermal efficiency varied from 22% at a chamber pressure of 26 torr to 88% at 950 torr. Thermal efficiency was only weakly dependent on arc current. It is concluded that the MPD arc operating without an applied magnetic field and at higher pressure than normally used in thruster applications is a reliable and efficient steady-state plasma source.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes

The multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes form a heterogeneous set of familial disorders featuring diverse neoplasias—hyperplasia, adenomas, even carcinomas—of endocrine glands. This collection of syndromes, made up of MEN types 1, 2A, and 2B, and the related familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC) are caused by mutations of discrete genetic loci inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Prior to the identification of the respective, relevant genes for MEN types 1 and 2 in the 1990s, all offspring of affected individuals were considered at risk and were subjected to annual biochemical and radiographic screening. The possibility of carrier status confirmation has obviated the need for routine biochemical screening in all such children.
NADPH-dependent reductive ortho dehalogenation of 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid in Corynebacterium sepedonicum KZ-4 and Coryneform bacterium strainNTB-1 via 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl coenzyme A.

Corynebacterium sepedonicum KZ-4, described earlier as a strain capable of growth on 2,4-dichlorobenzoate (G.M. Zaitsev and Y.N. Karasevich, Mikrobiologiya 54:356-369, 1985), is known to metabolize this substrate via 4-hydroxybenzoate and protocatechuate, and evidence consistent with an initial reductive dechlorination step to form 4-chlorobenzoate was found in another coryneform bacterium, strain NTB-1 (W.J.J. van den Tweel, J.B. Kok, and J.A.M. de Bont, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53:810-815, 1987). 2-Chloro-4-fluorobenzoate was found to be converted stoichiometrically to 4-fluorobenzoate by resting cells of strain KZ-4, compatible with a reductive process. Experiments with cell extracts demonstrated that Mg - ATP and coenzyme A (CoA) were required to stimulate reductive dehalogenation, consistent with the intermediacy of 2-chloro-4-fluoro-benzoyl-CoA and 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl-CoA thioesters. 2,4-Dichlorobenzoyl-CoA was shown to be converted to 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA in a novel NADPH-dependent reaction in extracts of both KZ-4 and NTB-1. In addition to the ligase and reductive dehalogenase activities, hydrolytic 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA dehalogenase and thioesterase activities, 4-hydroxybenzoate 3-monooxygenase, and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase activities were demonstrated to be present in the soluble fraction of KZ-4 extracts following ultracentrifugation. We propose that the pathway for 2,4-dichlorobenzoate catabolism in strains KZ-4 and NTB-1 involves formation of 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl-CoA, NADPH-dependent ortho dehalogenation yielding 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA, hydrolytic removal of chlorine from the para position to generate 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA, hydrolysis to form 4-hydroxybenzoate, oxidation to yield protocatechuate, and oxidative ring cleavage.
Does Postoperative Radiation Decrease Heterotopic Ossification After the Kocher-Langenbeck Approach for Acetabular Fracture?

Background Controversy regarding heterotopic ossification (HO) prophylaxis exists after Kocher-Langenbeck for treatment of acetabular fracture. Prophylaxis options include antiinflammatory oral medications, single-dose radiation therapy, and debridement of gluteus minimus muscle. Prior literature has suggested single-dose radiation therapy as the best prophylaxis to prevent HO formation. However, recent reports have emerged of radiation-induced sarcoma after radiotherapy for HO prophylaxis, which has led many surgeons to reconsider the risks and benefits of single-dose radiation therapy. We set out to determine if radiotherapy, in addition to standard debridement of gluteus minimus muscle, affected postoperative HO formation after a Kocher-Langenbeck approach for acetabular fracture.
Regulation of neurogenesis by interactions between HEN1 and neuronal LMO proteins.

Basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factors regulate neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation by as yet unknown mechanisms. We show that an embryonic neuronal-specific basic-helix-loop-helix protein, HEN1 (also known as NSCL1 or NHLH), interacts with ‘LIM only’ proteins. Examination of the expression patterns of XHEN1 and XLMO-3, the Xenopus homologues of these human genes, reveals extensive overlap during early neurogenesis: at the onset of gastrulation on the dorsal side of the blastopore lip and, subsequently, in the prospective neural plate. Binding of XLMO-3 increases the transcriptional activity of XHEN1 in vivo. Co-expression of these two genes in Xenopus embryos induces a cascade of expression of neuronal-specific basic-helix-loop-helix proteins that leads to neuronal differentiation. We propose that XHEN1, in concert with XLMO-3, is a critical regulator of neurogenesis. SUMMARY
Barriers to disaster preparedness among medical special needs populations

A medical special needs (MSN) assessment was conducted among 3088 respondents in a hurricane prone area. The sample was female (51.7%), Hispanic (92.9%), aged >45 years (51%), not insured for health (59.2%), and with an MSN (33.2%). Barriers to preparedness were characterized for all households, including those with inhabitants reporting MSN ranging from level 0 (mild) to level 4 (most severe). Multivariable logistic regression tested associations between hurricane preparedness and barriers to evacuation by level of MSN. A significant interaction effect between number of evacuation barriers and MSN was found. Among households that reported individuals with level 0 MSN, the odds of being unprepared increased 18% for each additional evacuation barrier [OR = 1.18, 95% CI (1.08, 1.30)]. Among households that reported individuals with level 1 MSN, the odds of being unprepared increased 29% for each additional evacuation barrier [OR = 1.29, 95% CI (1.11, 1.51)]. Among households that reported individuals with level 3 MSN, the odds of being unprepared increased 68% for each additional evacuation barrier [OR = 1.68, 95% CI (1.21, 1.32)]. MSN alone did not explain the probability of unpreparedness, but rather MSN in the presence of barriers helped explain unpreparedness.
Nurse practitioner graduates “Speak Out” about the adequacy of their educational preparation to care for older adults: A qualitative study

AbstractPurpose:With a shortage of primary care providers prepared to care for an aging U.S. population, nurse practitioner (NP) programs are integrating gerontological content. This qualitative descriptive study explored NP graduate perceptions on the adequacy of their education to prepare them to
Power to the Neighborhoods: The Devolution of Authority in Post-Katrina New Orleans

Economic success depends on institutions that favor competition and openness to innovation. This is well understood in the private sector and could also be applied to government. For example, New Orleans faces the tough challenge of rebuilding after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. An influx of competition could improve the rebuilding process and the long-term life of New Orleans.There has been substantial dissatisfaction with several rebuilding plans for post-Katrina New Orleans. This Policy Comment proposes various steps that policy makers might take in order to inject competition into local government. In particular, it shows how neighborhoods may improve their control over policies that influence their destiny.While the current interest in neighborhood "citizen participation" may sound positive, it falls far short of the openness to innovation required for the rebuilding process of New Orleans. One way to encourage innovation is devolution. Many devolution options are possible - including a credible threat of neighborhood secession. Private neighborhood associations, the main option for devolution, could perform the functions of municipalities in many existing neighborhoods. This would inject competition and increase innovation in the stagnant environment of city government.
Ab initio molecular-dynamics method based on the restricted path integral: Application to the electron plasma and liquid alkali metal

We introduce an ab initio molecular-dynamics method based on the discretized path-integral representation of quantum particles. Fermi statistics is automatically generated by an effective exchange potential. This path-integral molecular-dynamics method is able to simulate electron plasmas at the border of the degenerate and the semidegenerate regimes with a satisfactory level of accuracy. Application of the method to the simulation of a liquid alkali metal demonstrates its potential in the simulation of real systems from first principles.
Crohn's disease of the appendix: Report of a case and review of the literature

A case of Crohn's disease of the appendix that simulated a cecal tumor is presented and 27 additional cases are reviewed. Crohn's disease of the appendix most commonly occurs in the younger patient, with 90 per cent in the second and third decades of life. Before operation, appendicitis or an appendiceal abscess is commonly diagnosed. Appendectomy should be performed, if possible; otherwise a limited ileocolectomy should be done. These patients should have a long-term follow-up program because inflammation can develop later in any part of the bowel. Crohn's disease of the appendix should be included in the differential diagnosis of pain or a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant, especially in the young adult patient.
Intracellular Absorption Difference Spectrum of Limulus Extra-Ocular Photolabile Pigment

Microspectrophotometric measurements on single cell bodies located on the surface of the"lateral olfactory nerve" of Limulus polyphemus show they contain a photolabile pigment with a absorption-difference spectrum similar in shape to that of most other visual pigments and with a maximum absorption at 529 ± 5 nanometers.
Conservative treatment of neural arch fractures of the axis: computed tomography scan and X-ray study on consolidation time.

C 2 neural arch fractures, or traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis (hanged-man fractures), have been classified by Effendi et al. They defined three types with ubtypes: Type I neural arch fracture, with minimal displaceent; type II neural arch fracture, with displacement of fragents, usually in flexion; and type III neural arch fracture, with 2 displacement in flexion and C2-3 fractured or locked facet oints. Following this clarification and characterization of the anged-man fracture, articles describing the surgical manageent for selected patients were published. A trend toward an ncreasingly surgically aggressive approach to this fracture hen seemed to emerge. This trend occurred despite the ell-known superb vascularity of the ventral and dorsal comonents of the fracture and the ease with which most fracures could be reduced and the reduction maintained.
Examining Project Commitment in Cross-Functional Teams: Antecedents and Relationship with Team Performance

The purpose of this study was to test a model positing both antecedents and consequences of project commitment for members of cross-functional teams. Signaling theory and previous research guided study hypotheses. We collected primary data from 142 team members and 31 team leaders across 24 cross-functional product development teams nested within six manufacturing organizations in the US and Canada. Findings suggest that project commitment among team members is an important driver of team performance as rated by the team leader. In addition, several factors contribute toward shaping project commitment among cross-functional team members, including team leaders’ encouragement of self-expectation, as well as team members’ perceptions of an organization’s support for the team project. Cross-functional teams are often charged with completing projects critical to the profitability, growth, and even survival of a firm. Especially as we show that members’ project commitment is a meaningful predictor of team performance, managers may draw insight from study results as to what actions may be taken to promote the development of this important psychological state among members of cross-functional teams. Use of cross-functional teams for accomplishing a wide variety of firm objectives is becoming commonplace in organizations. Although theorized as an important construct in cross-functional team settings, empirical examinations of the nature and implications of project commitment have been limited. By examining both antecedents and potential team performance consequences of project commitment in multiple organizations, we contribute toward filling this gap.
Dislocation dynamics. I. A proposed methodology for deformation micromechanics.

A new methodology in computational micromechanics, dislocation dynamics (DD), is introduced. Dislocation dynamics is developed for examining the dynamic behavior of dislocation distributions in solid materials. Under conditions of externally applied stress, dislocations exhibit glide with a velocity proportional to a power of the applied stress ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}^{\mathit{m}}$ and climb motion with a velocity that is a function of the applied stress and temperature. These motions result from long-range force fields, comprising both externally applied stress and long-range interactions between individual dislocations. Short-range reactions are represented as discrete events. The DD methodology is to be differentiated from particle methods in statistical mechanics (e.g., molecular dynamics and the Monte Carlo method) in two respects. First, DD is developed to study the dynamical behavior of ``defects'' in the solid. Generally, the density of defects is less than that of the particles that make up the solid. Second, the small number of dislocations allows for a complete dynamical representation of the evolution of dislocations in the material medium without the requirement of statistical averaging. The purpose of the DD methodology is to bridge the gap between experimentally observed phenomena and theoretical descriptions of dislocation aggregates, particularly the evolution of self-organized dislocation structures under temperature, stress, and irradiation conditions.
Targeting cytoskeleton reorganisation as antimetastatic treatment

Metastatic relapse is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. The process of distant spreading is a cascade of events that is regulated in a highly complex manner; one cellular phenomenon underlying all the events is cytoskeletal reorganisation. Despite the fact that the ability to leave the primary site and establish a viable mass in a distant site is a hallmark of cancer, targeting cytoskeletal reorganisation is an emerging field. In this review we describe the key signalling pathways controlling cytoskeletal reorganisation and the current targeted therapies against the “druggable” nodes. Finally, we discuss potential implications of trial design that can play a role in detecting the specific activity of this drug class.
Molecular Simulation Study of Anisotropic Wetting

We study anisotropic wetting in systems governed by Lennard−Jones interactions. Molecular simulation is used to obtain the macroscopic contact angle a fluid adopts on face-centered-, body-centered-, and simple-cubic lattices with the (100), (110), or (111) face in contact with the fluid. Several amorphous substrates are also examined. Substrates are modeled as a static collection of particles. For a given set of calculations, the atomistic density of the substrate and the particle−particle interactions (surface−fluid and fluid−fluid) remain fixed. These constraints enable us to focus on the extent to which substrate structure influences the contact angle. Three substrate−fluid interaction strengths are considered, which provide wetting conditions that span from near-dry to near-wet. Our results indicate that the manner in which particles are organized within the substrate significantly influences the contact angle. For strong substrates (near-wet case), a change in the substrate structure can change the c...
Coronary heart disease mortality rates in United States blacks, 1968–1978: Interstate variation

Abstract It has been shown that, among white males and females, recent declines in mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) have not been uniform by region or state. Some clustering has emerged. To describe trends for the black population by states, we compared CHD death rates for persons aged 35 to 74 years for the years 1968–1972 in combination with rates for 1978. Reported mortality from 34 states with reasonably large black populations was described. Not all of the recent geographic shifts for white CHD mortality rates were apparent for blacks. Yet there were similarities, chief of which were the slower decline, and therefore worsening, of relative CHD mortality in certain states in Appalachia.
Propofol detection and quantification in human blood: the promise of feedback controlled, closed-loop anesthesia

The performance of a membrane-coated voltammetric sensor for propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) has been characterized in long term monitoring experiments using an automated flow analytical system (AFAS) and by analyzing human serum and whole blood samples by standard addition. It is shown that the signal of the membrane-coated electrochemical sensor for propofol is not influenced by the components of the pharmaceutical formulation of propofol (propofol injectable emulsion). The current values recorded with the electrochemical propofol sensor in buffer solutions and human serum samples spiked with propofol injectable emulsion showed excellent correlation with the peak heights recorded with an UV-Vis detector during the HPLC analysis of these samples (R2 = 0.997 in PBS and R2 = 0.975 in human serum). However, the determination of propofol using the electrochemical method is simpler, faster and has a better detection limit (0.08 ± 0.05 μM) than the HPLC method (0.4 ± 0.2 μM). As a first step towards feedback controlled closed-loop anesthesia, the membrane-coated electrochemical sensor has been implemented onto surface of an intravenous catheter. The response characteristics of the membrane-coated carbon fiber electrode on the catheter surface were very similar to those seen using a macroelectrode.
Relationship between response style on the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory and Occupational Scales (for men).

Recently, Broday (1990) provided data on the relationship between female clients' response-style percentages and their scores on the Occupational Scales of the 1985 version of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (Hansen & Campbell, 1985). The present study repeated the same procedure for male clients. The Strong-Campbell was completed by 70 men who had sought career counseling at an university counseling service between June 1988 and June 1989. Their mean age was 24 yr., and 66% were undergraduates. The clients represented a variety of declared majors. The clients' total response percentages were correlated by Pearson's method with their scores on each of the Occupational Scales. The "like" responses were moderately correlated with scores on scales for school administrator (.73), YMCA director (.68), minister (.67), public administrator (.65), flight attendant (.63), recreation leader (.63), persome1 director (.62), executive housekeeper (.59), food service manager (.59), and nursing home administrator (.59). The "inuferent" responses were less strongly correlated with scores on scales for guidance counselor (-.44), marketing executive (-.40), psychologist (-.39), social worker (-.38), YMCA director (-.34), public administrator (-.33), chamber of commerce executive (-.32), public relations director (-.32), elected public official (-.31), recreation leader (-.31), and school administrator (-.30). The "dislike" percentages were moderately correlated with scores on scales for marketing executive (.58), nurse-registered (-.56), Navy officer (-.53), flight attendant (-.52), respiratory therapist (-.51), medical technologist (-,481, executive housekeeper (-.47), investments manager (.47), and nursing home administrator (-.47). These correlations indicate that high "likes" and low "indifferent" responses are associated primarily with leadership occupations and that low "dislikes" are related at least somewhat to health-related occupations. It is interesting to note that, for both men and women (Broday, 1990), high "likes" are associated with leadership occupations. These data can be useful to practitioners when interpreting Strong-Campbell profiles.
The Nature of Pin-Point Colonies in Raw and Pasteurized Milk.

The question "what are 'pin-point' colonies?" has puzzled workers in dairies and scientific laboratories since the World War, 1914 to 1918. At that time, the importation of German products for culture mediums was prevented and America had to use domestic products. A condition arose simultaneously in the bacteriologic analysis of milk for a new type of colony appeared at times on the agar plates used in routine analysis. These colonies were very minute and Jacobsen (Fay, p. 350)11 was the first to deal with the problem of the "pin-point colony." Since the time these colonies were first recognized, numerous workers have tried experimentation with these organisms in milk. The greatest difficulty seemed to be that "pin-point" was such a flexible term and might embrace any colony that was minute. Ayers and Johnson 3 define "pin-points" as "colonies that are just visible to the naked eye and appear small under a hand lens." This description may fit one or many types of colonies. Fay :L1 in advising against the unrestricted use of the term pin-points was the first to give definite measurements and descriptions of the colonies. As a result of his work, he divided the colonies into two types, describing the type by the shape of the colony, viz.:? type A colony was spindle-shaped, measuring 0.150 to 0.175 mm. in its longest diameter. Type B colony was circular, measuring 0.250 to 0.350 mm. in diameter. Furthermore, he separated the organisms he found into three groups: group 1, organisms resembling Streptococcus lactis; group 2, chains of 4 to 10 irregular shaped cells, and group 3, long, narrow rods in pairs?one cell being smaller than the other as a daughter cell and measuring 1.95 by 0.70 microns. There seems to be no relationship, however, between the two types of colonies specified and the above three groups.
Cast-gold core and post construction for multirooted teeth

Abstract A technique has been described for making a cast core for multirooted endodontically treated teeth which mechanically interlock to prevent displacement. The procedure is rapid because only one direct pattern and casting is made. The cast core places minimal stress on the tooth or roots and is retained by the cement film and the interlocking dowels.
Self in relation: A prolegomenon for holistic nursing

We have outlined some of the characteristics of holistic nursing and have named and explored the concepts that we believe are important to holistic practice. We have outlined assumptions that offer to nursing a more caring and connected way of interacting with clients than currently exists in nursing practice. We do not have answers to the questions of how to implement this practice within the structure of current nursing practice. Occasionally when we discuss these ideas with other nurses, they tell us that nursing as currently practiced in hospitals and community agencies is just the "real world," as though we had better get used to it. Maybe the world that we have presented is the "unreal world," for the moment at least. We are proud to live and learn in this unreal world and in a community of folks who make their living in holistic practice. If we had to make our living working in the "real world" of health care, could we do something to change it before the conflicts drove us away? The concluding question is, "Will nurses use their joint power to build therapeutic environments within nursing, or must they defect from nursing to practice holistic care?"
Modeling, validation and analysis of mechanical stress generation and dimension changes of a pouch type high power Li-ion battery

Abstract Mechanical stress is generated in electrode particles of a Lithium ion Polymer Battery (LiPB) during charge and discharge. The stress can cause cracks and fractures in the solid particles over time when cells are cycled, which leads to a disorder and a fracture of the electrodes. In order to understand the mechanism, a stress model for a pouch type high power LiPB is developed based on electrochemical and thermal model, where the stress induced by the ion concentration in the electrode particles is considered. The stress in the particles causes changes in the electrode volumes and leads to changes in the thickness of a battery cell, which is measured using a device designed with two linear voltage displacement transducers (LVDT). This model is validated against experimental data obtained from a pouch cell. Analysis shows that the magnitude of stress depends upon locations and C rate, while the thickness of a single cell is mainly affected by the state of charge (SOC), but not C rate.