cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of a Bedside Risk Assessment for Sustained Prescription Opioid Use After Surgery.

Importance The increased use of prescription opioid medications has contributed to an epidemic of sustained opioid use, misuse, and addiction. Adults of working age are thought to be at greatest risk for prescription opioid dependence. Objective To develop a risk score (the Stopping Opioids After Surgery score) for sustained prescription opioid use after surgery in a working-age population using readily available clinical information. Design, Setting, and Participants In this case-control study, claims from TRICARE (the insurance program of the US Department of Defense) for working-age adult (age 18-64 years) patients undergoing 1 of 10 common surgical procedures from October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2014, were queried. A logistic regression model was used to identify variables associated with sustained prescription opioid use. The point estimate for each variable in the risk score was determined by its β coefficient in the model. The risk score for each patient represented the summed point totals, ranging from 0 to 100, with a lower score indicating lower risk of sustained prescription opioid use. Data were analyzed from September 25, 2018, to February 5, 2019. Exposures Exposures were age; race; sex; marital status; socioeconomic status; discharge disposition; procedure intensity; length of stay; intensive care unit admission; comorbid diabetes, liver disease, renal disease, malignancy, depression, or anxiety; and prior opioid use status. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was sustained prescription opioid use, defined as uninterrupted use for 6 months following surgery. A risk score for each patient was calculated and then used as a predictor of sustained opioid use after surgical intervention. The area under the curve and the Brier score were used to determine the accuracy of the scoring system and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to evaluate model calibration. Results Of 86 356 patients in the analysis (48 827 [56.5%] male; mean [SD] age, 46.5 [14.5] years), 6365 (7.4%) met criteria for sustained prescription opioid use. The sample used for model generation consisted of 64 767 patients, while the validation sample had 21 589 patients. Prior opioid exposure was the factor most strongly associated with sustained opioid use (odds ratio, 13.00; 95% CI, 11.87-14.23). The group with the lowest scores ( 50) had a mean (SD) risk of 35.8% (3.6%). Conclusions and Relevance This study developed an intuitive and accessible opioid risk assessment applicable to the care of working-age patients following surgery. This tool is scalable to clinical practice and can potentially be incorporated into electronic medical record platforms to enable automated calculation and clinical alerts that are generated in real time.
Tracking the distribution of microfiber pollution in a southern Lake Michigan watershed through the analysis of water, sediment and air

Microplastic waste is a worldwide problem, heavily afflicting marine and freshwater environments; the loading of this pollution in water, sediment and living organisms continues to escalate. Synthetic microfibers, resulting from the release of microscopic fibers from synthetic textiles, constitute the most prevalent type of microplastics pollution in aquatic environments. This study investigated the origin and distribution of synthetic microfibers in a representative Lake Michigan watershed in Indiana (USA) by analyzing water, sediment and air samples above and below wastewater treatment plant discharges, downstream in the watershed and water from the Lake Michigan shoreline. Synthetic microfibers were also quantified in wastewater from a local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and in laundry effluent. Laboratory testing of numerous fabrics suggests that Fenton oxidation, used to break down natural fibers, effectively eliminates non-polluting, natural fibers from the samples. However, the hydroxyl radical-mediated oxidation bleaches the dye from certain synthetic microfibers, which likely leads to under-reported values for these microplastics in natural samples. The data collected from the watershed samples indicate that approximately 4 billion synthetic microfibers are transported daily through the Lake Michigan tributary. Wastewater effluent is not the only source of synthetic microfibers, since surface water samples above the WWTP contained a similar load to downstream samples. Repeated sampling exhibited variability in the number of microfibers detected, substantiating the heterogeneous distribution of these pollutants and the requirement for multiple samples for a given site. The average load of synthetic microfibers from water sampled at the Lake Michigan shoreline was higher than the tributary water, suggesting the shoreline functions as a repository for the microfibers. Given the extent and potential consequences of this pollution, quantification of the ubiquitous plastic fibers can be instituted as part of the traditional total suspended solids (TSS) water quality monitoring parameter.
The status of theoretical L-shell x-ray production cross sections by protons based on their revised universal empirical fit

Abstract The present status of theoretical L-shell x-ray production cross sections is gauged by an updated and revised fit to 5771 measurements in elements ranging from 24Cr to 95Am in ionization by 0.035 to 1000 MeV protons. Both the theory and the fit are cast with a single scaling variable v1/v2L, which is the ratio of proton velocity to the orbital velocity of the L-shell electron. A review of possible theories shows that the ECUSAR theory extended to relativistic protons provides for the most comprehensive choice for comparison with empirical fit to the compiled data. Both the fit and the theory are in excellent agreement with the compiled data except for cross sections reported at v1/v2L
Evaluation of fiber content in GFRP bars using digital image processing

Abstract The tensile strength and elastic modulus of a fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bar are directly related to the percentage of fibers measured by weight or volume. Recognizing the increasing number of different commercially available FRP bars, the implementation of precise methods for quantification of constituent fractions is of high importance to determine physico-mechanical properties. In this study, the fiber and resin matrix contents of four commercially available glass FRP (GFRP) bars were evaluated by implementing micrograph analysis of representative cross-sectioned specimens and compared to a conventional resin matrix separation method. The micrograph analysis was performed through digital image processing (DIP) of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, while the conventional method was achieved by applying the standardized burn-off resin technique (ASTM D2584-18 ). The fiber volume fractions obtained from the DIP method were converted to weight fraction through constituent relationship equations. Comparable weight fraction values were obtained from both methods. However, the DIP method has the capability to provide additional microstructural information.
Micro-Range Micro-Doppler for Classification

Micro-range micro-Doppler radar approaches can separate different parts of a radar signature in range as well as in Doppler. The differences between individual human signatures and the signatures of groups of humans walking together can then be recognized. Using micro-range micro-Doppler, the signature from a group of people walking together toward the radar can be distinguished from a single person walking toward the radar with approximately 89% accuracy.
Research on Key Technologies of Power System Automation in Smart Grid

The paper summarizes the construction mode of distribution network automation system, and sorts out the operating characteristics of centralized intelligent mode and distributed intelligent mode. In view of the construction and operation of China's distribution network automation system, point out common problems in system construction, operation and management in most regions. At the same time, the paper proposes the optimization of distribution network automation technology based on the gravity search algorithm, and improves the algorithm. Finally, the improved gravity search algorithm is applied to the IEEE 6-node power system. The calculation results show that the active power loss and voltage obtained by the algorithm are Compared with the original state, the level has been greatly improved, which greatly improves the automation efficiency of the power system. In this paper, the gravity search algorithm is used to calculate the optimization of power system automation technology, and the algorithm is improved, which overcomes the shortcoming of easy convergence to the local optimum.
Rebel rivals: reinterrogating the movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa and the roots of Al-Qaeda-Islamic State Infighting in the Sahel

Terrorist group rivalries have become widely studied since Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda-loyal groups began clashing in Syria. While existing literature finds such rivalries increase terrorist gr...
The Collection of Ornithodoros turicata (Dugès) on a Feral Hog in Real County, Texas, USA.

The potential introduction of African swine fever virus (ASFV) into the United States has researchers evaluating routes of potential transmission and the establishment of sylvatic cycles. To help document vector-host associations related to ASFV transmission, the finding of O. turicata on a feral hog in Real County, Texas is reported.
Evaluation of direct in vivo gene transfer in an equine metacarpal IV ostectomy model using an adenoviral vector encoding the bone morphogenetic protein-2 and protein-7 gene.

Objective To evaluate gene transfer in an equine metacarpal IV (MCIV) ostectomy model using adenoviral vectors encoding the human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and protein-7 gene (Ad-BMP-2/-7). Study Design Experimental Animals Healthy adult horses (n = 15). Methods A plate stabilized, critical size 1.5 cm ostectomy was created in left and right MCIV. The ostectomy site was injected with either Ad-green fluorescent protein (Ad-GFP) or Ad-hBMP-2/-7 at completion of surgery; the same treatment was assigned to both the left and right forelimb of each horse (n = 5 horses/group). Bone healing was evaluated radiographically every 2 weeks for 16 weeks. Horses in a pilot study (n = 5) were used as untreated controls for radiographic evaluation to 8 weeks. After euthanasia at 16 weeks bone healing was evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and histomorphometry. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis test. Level of significance was P < .05. Results At 4 and 6 weeks, the Ad-GFP group had a significantly lower percentage defect ossification compared with the untreated control group. There was no significant difference between untreated and Ad-hBMP-2/-7 groups at any time point and no significant difference in bone healing radiographically, histologically, or using DEXA between any groups at 16 weeks. Conclusions Ad-hBMP-2/-7 did not improve bone healing in horses at 16 weeks.
The IFE: integration of multiple disciplines in a multi-lingual environment

The central philosophy of the International Faculty of Engineering (IFE) at the Technical University of Lodz (Politechnika Lodzka) in Poland is to educate international, technology-based leaders for the world economy of the 21st Century using the English language as the basis for instruction. Such leaders can expect a rapidly evolving, interrelated, global society. The faculty was established under the direction of an international advisory committee, including academicians from many countries. A broad curriculum was recommended to deal effectively with human and technological issues which span international boundaries. Faculty members include visiting professors who are native English speakers. The IFE has established a multidisciplinary program around a common core. This core includes a computer theme based upon a two-semester introductory computer science course in the first year. The first undergraduate degree program leading to a Bachelor of Engineering degree in electromechanical engineering began in Academic Year (AY) 93-94. Another program in business and technology which commenced in AY 94-95 is to be joined by the programs of (i) telecommunications and computer science and (ii) textile engineering in AY 95-96. A program leading to a Master of Engineering degree is now in preparation. Details of this expanding, integrated program and the methodology for computer science are presented.
Characterization of a restriction endonuclease, PhaI, from Pasteurella haemolytica serotype A1 and protection of heterologous DNA by a cloned PhaI methyltransferase gene

Pasteurella haemolytica is the leading cause of economic loss to the beef cattle industry in the United States and an important etiologic agent worldwide. Study of P. haemolytica is hindered by researchers' inability to genetically manipulate the organism. A new restriction endonuclease, PhaI, an isoschizomer of SfaNI (R. J. Roberts, Methods Enzymol. 65:19-36, 1980), was isolated from P. haemolytica serotype 1, strain NADC-D60, obtained from pneumonic bovine lung. PhaI recognizes the 5-base nonpalindromic sequences 5'-GCATC-3' and 5'-GATGC-3'. Cleavage occurs 5 bases 3' from the former recognition site and 9 bases 5' from the latter recognition site. A gene encoding a methyltransferase which protects against PhaI cleavage was cloned from P. haemolytica NADC-D60 into Escherichia coli. Whereas unmethylated plasmid DNA containing a P. haemolytica origin of replication was unable to transform P. haemolytica when introduced by electroporation, the same plasmid DNA obtained from E. coli which contained a cloned PhaI methyltransferase gene could do so. The data indicate that PhaI is an effective barrier to the introduction and establishment of exogenous DNA in P. haemolytica.
LINEAR PROGRAMMING (AN ALGEBRAIC APPROACH)

The simplex method is applicable only when a linear programming problem satisfies certain conditions. This chapter discusses a simplified version of these conditions as well as certain other preliminaries. A standard linear programming problem means that the objective function is to be maximized, the variables are all required to be non-negative, and in the other constraints, the expressions involving the variables are less than or equal to ( ≤ ) a non-negative constant. The row and column containing the pivot entry are called, respectively, the pivot row and pivot column. The new implicit variable is usually called the departing variable as it departs from the set of explicit variables and becomes implicit. There are certain difficulties that occur when the minimum non-negative quotient, which is computed to determine the departing variable, occurs in two or more rows. This situation is called degeneracy.
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to human group B rotavirus and their use in an antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)--B5C9, B5E4, and B10G10--to human group B rotavirus, an agent implicated in epidemic outbreaks of diarrhea in the People9s Republic of China, primarily in adults, were prepared. MAb reactivity was decreased when virus preparations were treated with EDTA, suggesting reactivity with the outer-capsid protein(s). Competition experiments suggested that these MAbs recognize overlapping epitopes within a single antigenic site. A simple antigen detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for the human group B rotavirus was established by using these MAbs as capture antibodies. Fifteen clinical samples obtained from three epidemic areas in the People9s Republic of China and previously shown by Chinese scientists to contain group B virus were all positive in the MAb capture antigen detection ELISA, whereas none of the 57 samples lacking the group B virus reacted in the test. The results suggest that this MAb capture antigen detection ELISA will be useful to identify outbreaks caused by the human group B rotavirus and to monitor possible spread of the virus. Images
Wave reflection by submerged vertical and semicircular breakwaters

Abstract This short manuscript presents a laboratory investigation on the effects of submerged vertical and semicircular breakwaters on local wave characteristics, particularly with the aim of determining the parameterizations for the wave reflection coefficients for submerged vertical and semicircular breakwaters. Experiments were conducted with normally incident monochromatic waves breaking at the breakwater on both sloping and horizontal sandy bottoms. The reflection coefficient ( C r ) is observed to rely mainly on the dimensionless submergence parameter, a / H i ( a —the breakwater's depth of submergence and H i —the height of the incident wave at the breakwater). Two semi-empirical parameterizations are proposed to predict reflection coefficients for submerged vertical and semicircular breakwaters. While both parameterizations share the same functional dependency on a / H i , the functions have different constant coefficients. For the limiting case when a approaches zero (breakwater crest is at the mean water level), the C r value tends toward 0.53 for both breakwaters. However, as a increases, the submerged vertical breakwaters reflect more energy than submerged semicircular breakwaters for the same a / H i value. Results of this study are expected to be of use to coastal engineers for preliminary feasibility and desk design of submerged vertical and semicircular breakwaters.
Differential gene expression in human cancer cells resistant to cisplatin.

(1989). Differential Gene Expression in Human Cancer Cells Resistant to Cisplatin. Cancer Investigation: Vol. 7, No. 6, pp. 581-587.
Heuristics for optimizing matrix-based erasure codes for fault-tolerant storage systems

Large scale, archival and wide-area storage systems use erasure codes to protect users from losing data due to the inevitable failures that occur. All but the most basic erasure codes employ bit-matrices so that encoding and decoding may be effected solely with the bitwise exclusive-OR (XOR) operation. There are CPU savings that can result from strategically scheduling these XOR operations so that fewer XOR's are performed. It is an open problem to derive a schedule from a bit-matrix that minimizes the number of XOR operations. We attack this open problem, deriving two new heuristics called Uber-CHRS and X-Sets to schedule encoding and decoding bit-matrices with reduced XOR operations. We evaluate these heuristics in a variety of realistic erasure coding settings and demonstrate that they are a significant improvement over previously published heuristics. We provide an open-source implementation of these heuristics so that practitioners may leverage our work.
Students' Self-Disclosure in the College Classroom

This study examined how college students (61 men, 72 women) differed in the breadth and the depth of self-disclosure when interacting with their instructors and their classmates as inferred from responses to the 25-item Self-disclosure Questionnaire of Jourard. For each item, respondents indicated the Breadth (the number of topics) and the Depth (the intimacy of the topic). Students reported a higher Breadth of self-disclosure with their classmates than with their instructors on 9 of the 25 items, but there were no significant differences for Depth of students' self-disclosure. These findings suggest that students are more apt to self-disclose with classmates rather than instructors but the self-disclosure may not be intimate.
Adaptive control of center of mass (global) motion and its joint (local) origin in gait

Dynamic gait stability can be quantified by the relationship of the motion state (i.e. the position and velocity) between the body center of mass (COM) and its base of support (BOS). Humans learn how to adaptively control stability by regulating the absolute COM motion state (i.e. its position and velocity) and/or by controlling the BOS (through stepping) in a predictable manner, or by doing both simultaneously following an external perturbation that disrupts their regular relationship. Post repeated-slip perturbation training, for instance, older adults learned to forward shift their COM position while walking with a reduced step length, hence reduced their likelihood of slip-induced falls. How and to what extent each individual joint influences such adaptive alterations is mostly unknown. A three-dimensional individualized human kinematic model was established. Based on the human model, sensitivity analysis was used to systematically quantify the influence of each lower limb joint on the COM position relative to the BOS and the step length during gait. It was found that the leading foot had the greatest effect on regulating the COM position relative to the BOS; and both hips bear the most influence on the step length. These findings could guide cost-effective but efficient fall-reduction training paradigm among older population.
Estimating benthic invertebrate production in lakes: a comparison of methods and scaling from individual taxa to the whole-lake level

Studies of aquatic invertebrate production have been primarily conducted at the level of individual taxa or populations. Advancing our understanding of the functioning and energy flow in aquatic ecosystems necessitates scaling-up to community and whole-lake levels, as well as integrating across benthic and pelagic habitats and across multiple trophic levels. In this paper, we compare a suite of non-cohort based methods for estimating benthic invertebrate production at subpopulation, habitat, and whole-lake levels for Sparkling Lake, WI, USA. Estimates of the overall mean benthic invertebrate production (i.e. whole-lake level) ranged from 1.9 to 5.0 g DM m−2 y−1, depending on the method. Production estimates varied widely among depths and habitats, and there was general qualitative agreement among methods with regards to differences in production among habitats. However, there were also consistent and systematic differences among methods. The size-frequency method gave the highest, while the regression model of Banse and Mosher (Ecol Monogr 50:355–379, 1980) gave the lowest production estimates. The regression model of Plante and Downing (Can J Fish Aquat Sci 46:1489–1498, 1989) had the lowest average coefficients of variation at habitat (CV = 0.17) and whole-lake (CV = 0.08) levels. At the habitat level, variance in production estimates decreased with sampling effort, with little improvement after 10–15 samples. Our study shows how different production estimates can be generated from the same field data, though aggregating estimates up to the whole-lake level does produce an averaging effect that tends to reduce variance.
Effect of audience reaction upon fluency rates of six stutterers

Abstract Each of six male stutterers spoke to a 14 member audience for 40 min. This speaking time was divided into eight 5-min periods during which several consequence conditions were in operation. Those consequence conditions consisted of various combinations of “good” and “stop” statements delivered by the audience following fluent and disfluent utterances, respectively. In one condition the speaker applied the consequences. It was found that while various combinations of consequences do not alter the total number of words spoken per minute, they affect the number of occasions of disfluences occuring per minute. It could not be determined which condition resulted in optimum rate changes. Suggestions are presented for maintaining fluent speech.
[Cu(I)(bpp)]BF4: the first extended coordination network prepared solvothermally in an ionic liquid solvent.

Use of an ionic liquid [bmim][BF4] (bmim = 1-butyl-3-methylimidozolium) as solvent has resulted in the first extended coordination structure, the two-dimensional network [Cu(bpp)]BF4 [bpp=1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane], produced via a solvothermal route.
Teaching Mindfulness at a Public Research University.

Given the lack of published spiritual practices in classroom settings, particularly in public colleges and universities, this article provides one way of promoting mindfulness in an academic course format. Personal insights and practices are shared as a way to encourage fellow instructors not only to teach mindfulness but more importantly, to teach mindfully.
Picosecond flash photolysis and spectroscopy: 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide (DODCI)

Abstract We demonstrate transient absorption spectroscopy with picosecond time resolution and nanometer spectral resolution over the entire visible region. To resolve multiple discrepancies in the literature, we studied 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine iodide. We measured both excited singlet lifetime and ground state depletion and recovery. The kinetics of the two processes are the same. The characteristics time is 1.15 ± 0.15 nsec in ethanol and 560 ± 70 psec in water. We report fluorescence yield determinations and comment on the controversy over photoisomer generation.
Phase diagrams for a semi-infinite nematic in contact with a micropatterned surface

Phase diagrams are calculated for the director configuration adopted by a nematic material in contact with a surface micropatterned periodically with homeotropic and planar stripes, and in which an azimuthal easy axis orthogonal to the length of the stripes has been imposed upon the planar stripes. Four stable configurations exist: a uniform homeotropic and a uniform planar state that are preferred when one of the sets of stripes is sufficiently narrow relative to the other, and two distorted states where the director either lies along the length of the stripes or perpendicular to them, depending on the period of the patterning and the polar and azimuthal anchoring coefficients.
Pharmacokinetics of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its analogs.

Introduction PHARMACOLOGICAL therapy must be based on a therapeutic aim coupled with an understanding of relevant normal physiology. As reviewed elsewhere in this issue, pituitary gonadotropes exposed to GnRH pulses outside the physiological range of 0.5–1 pulses/h fail to sustain gonadotropin output. Consequently, clinical applications of GnRH are designed to stimulate gonadal function when endogenous GnRH pulsatility is deficient (hypogonadism, delayed puberty) by mimicking physiological patterns using exogenous GnRH pulse frequencies of 0.5–1 pulses/h (1). Conversely, GnRH analog (superactive agonists or pure antagonists) treatment is intended to suppress gonadal function via pituitary desensitization as a result of sustained pituitary overexposure to GnRH effects by continuous or quasi-continuous administration (2, 3). Thus treatment regimens with GnRH or the analogs will have different optimal modes of application based on the pharmacokinetics of the compound and pharmacodynamics of the target physio...
Cyclotron motion in a microwave cavity: Lifetime and frequency shifts.

The interaction of a bound electron with the radiation field produced by the image charges that represent a surrounding cavity produces a shift in its orbital frequency and in its radiative decay time. We calculate the frequency shift and the change in the damping constant for a cyclotron motion at the midpoint of a lossy, cylindrical cavity. A change in the cyclotron damping constant has, in fact, been observed in the University of Washington g-2 experiments. These experiments employ electrodes with a hyperbolic shape, but our calculable model should give a useful indication of the size of the effects for them. The frequency shift can easily be so large as to have important consequences for the g-2 measurements, and this systematic effect warrants a thorough experimental investigation. As an intermediate step in this calculation, we also compute the corresponding alterations for a charged particle in the midplane between two infinite parallel conductors.
Data Acquisition and Processing System at the Novette Laser Fusion Facility

This paper describes the computer hardware and software used for acquisition and processing of data from experiments at the NOVETTE laser fusion facility. Nearly two hundred sensors are used to measure the performance of millimeter extent targets irradiated by multi-kilojoule laser pulses. Sensor output is recorded on CAMAC based digitzers, CCD arrays, and film. CAMAC instrument outputs are acquired and collected by a network of LSI-ll microprocessors centrally controlled by a VAX 11/ 780. The user controls the system through menus presented on color video displays equipped with touch panels. The control VAX collects data from all microprocessors and CCD arrays and stores them in a file for transport to a second VAX 11/780 which is used for processing and final analysis. Transfer is done through a high speed fiber-optic link. Relational data bases are used extensively in the processing and archiving of data.
Morphometric analysis and fine structure of the vestibular epithelium of aged C57BL/6NNia mice

The vestibular organs of young and very old C57BL/6NNia (B6) mice were compared by light and electron microscopy. Hair cell density decreased an average of 14% in the utricle, 19% in the saccule and posterior crista, 23% in the horizontal crista, and 24% in the anterior crista. Hair cell size remained the same throughout the mouse's life span as did the ratio of Type I to Type II hair cells. The most apparent sign of advanced age was dense inclusions found in sensory and supporting cells. Although small inclusions were present at five weeks, by 29 months, additional, larger forms appeared. An unusual melanin-like form was characteristic of old Type I hair cells. Synaptic morphology and synaptic bodies were well preserved even in very old B6 mice. Elongated bars were common in Type I hair cells and spheroid synaptic bodies were the most common form in Type II hair cells. Large clusters of synaptic bodies occurring in both young and old mice were seen only in Type I hair cells. Although the B6 strain suffers from genetically determined early cochlear degeneration, it does not experience early degeneration of the peripheral vestibular organs.
Nuclear power plant on-line sensor calibration monitoring implementation issues

The use of empirical models for on-line monitoring (OLM) of safety-critical instrumentation for calibration reduction has been investigated for over a decade. To help support the regulatory review of possible licence amendments for US nuclear power plants, a series of three NUREG/CRs is being developed for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The third of these volumes, entitled 'Limiting Case Studies', presents the results of applying OLM models to a wide variety of plant data. Specifically, Volume III summarises seven case studies investigating the effects of model development and data assumptions on model performance, and offers recommendations for identifying and handling these limiting cases. This paper discusses the seven case studies. Although this study is not an exhaustive review of the many issues in OLM system development, it provides a base set of considerations that must be accounted for and a method for testing these considerations with other model architectures.
Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and sensitivity to tulathromycin in goat respiratory bacterial isolates

Bacterial pneumonia is a common and often life-threatening respiratory problem in both meat and dairy goats. Options for approved antibiotic therapy in goats to combat these bacterial infections are severely limited and frequently drugs must be used in an extra-label manner. Tulathromycin, a triamilide macrolide antimicrobial drug shown to be effective against swine and cattle respiratory bacterial agents, has been identified as a potentially useful drug in caprines. The present study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of recognized bacterial respiratory pathogens to commonly prescribed antimicrobials, with a particular emphasis on the efficacy of tulathromycin against these agents. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing using microbroth dilution was performed on a collection of 45 Mannheimia haemolytica, 11 Pasteurella multocida, and 11 Bibersteinia trehalosi isolates from the lungs of goats with clinical pneumonia. To further characterize efficacy of tulathromycin against these pathogens, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) testing and kinetic killing assays were conducted. Most isolates were susceptible to the antimicrobials tested; however, increased resistance as demonstrated by higher MIC values was seen in all species to penicillin, in P. multocida to sulfadimethoxine, and in B. trehalosi to the tetracyclines. All isolates were susceptible to tulathromycin, which demonstrated a high killing efficiency in both bactericidal assays. Results of this study indicate that most goat pneumonic bacterial pathogens remain susceptible to commonly prescribed antibiotics, although some evidence of resistance was seen to certain drugs; and that tulathromycin is highly effective against goat respiratory pathogens which could make it a valuable medication in this species.
PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE CROSSROADS

... The results achieved during the past fifty years by a public health campaign based on the threefold program of environmental sanitation, control of communicable disease by bacteriological and serological methods and education in personal hygiene, constitute without exaggeration one of the most startling and revolutionary events in the whole history of the human race. The death rate from all causes in New York City (according to Dr. D. B. Armstrong) was 31 per 1,000 in 1824, 41 per 1,000 in 1851, and still 29 per 1,000 in 1875. Then began the fall, from 29 in 1875, to 12 in 1925, a reduction of threefiftfhs in a period of fifty years. As Professor Willcox has recently pointed out, "the statement that in 1879-80 the crude death rate or average number of persons dying annually in each 1,000 of the population ofNew York-Brooklyn was 22, while in 1919-20 it was 13, does not convey much meaning to the average citizen. But when the
A Structured Approach to LCA Improvement Analysis

Summary The third stage of life-cycle assessment, interpretation analysis (and improvement analysis, one of its components), has received relatively modest attention from LCA developers, especially as regards approaches for effecting improvements. However, this latter step is crucial if the LCA is to produce environmental benefits. A structured approach to improvement analysis is proposed, in which it is recognized that decisions regarding the recommendations that flow from the first two LCA stages are based not only on the environmental aspects of the recommended actions but also on such factors as technical feasibility, economic benefit, implications for product management, and effects on customer perception. A prioritization technique based on these factors is developed, as are two prioritization diagrams, one segmented by action agent and one segmented by life stage.
Politics by Peaceful Means: Artisan Mutual Aid Societies in Mid-Nineteenth-Century Lima, 1860-1879

In July 1866, Lima conducted its independence celebrations with great fanfare. The festivities began at the main portal of the walled city, where the members of various patriotic associations gathered to celebrate Independence Day. The participants included the Sociedad de Fundadores de la Independencia, the veteran corps from both the Independence Wars and from the recent war with Spain, the national fire brigades, and the members of an artisan society named the Sociedad de Artesanos de Auxilios Mutuos. Together they sang the national anthem while standing at the foot of a Tree of Liberty, a republican symbol dating back to the French Revolution. They subsequently marched into the city, thus initiating two days of celebrations that included fireworks displays and an intricate reenactment, in Lima's central plaza, of the recent naval combat with Spain. In the course of the ceremonies, two artisans were presented with prizes, one for the most outstanding piece of craftsmanship (in the 1866 celebration the prize was won by Vicente Pedraza for making an organ) and the other for the artisan who had shown the most bravery during the recent military encounter with Spain. The prizes were in the amount of 200 soles. At another point in the celebrations the Chief of the Artisan Fire Brigade gave a patriotic speech and following the speech a young girl offered the President Mariano Ignacio Prado a laurel wreath in the name of the artisans.
Determining the crystal structure of fibrinogen

Summary. I have enjoyed reading previous historical sketches that have appeared in Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and especially those by Ted Tuddenham on factor VIII and Bjorn Dahlback on activated protein C resistance. Like those authors, I have tried to capture some of the excitement-as well as the disappointments-that occurred along the way to a long-term goal.
The lateral reticular nucleus of the opossum (Didelphis virginiana). II. Connections.

Conformational, histochemical and histofluorescent studies reveal that the entire lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) of the Virginia opossum is positive for cholinesterase activity and that its rostral portion is rich in fluorescent varicosities of the catecholamine type. Although neocortical-LRN connections are relatively meagre, projections to the LRN from the red nucleus are extensive and topographically organized. Rubral-LRN fibers arise from large-medium sized neurons and distribute to the trigeminal division of the LRN as well as to specific portions of its external and internal divisions. Certain areas of the midbrain and pontine reticular formation, as well as the vestibular nuclei, project to the LRN and there is some evidence that reticular neurons adjacent to the LRN provide additional input. Although a relatively small fastigial-LRN projection exists, no evidence was found for a contribution from any of the other deep cerebellar nuclei. Spinal-LRN connections are extensive and topographically organized. Each of the inputs to the LRN have specific terminal targets, but there are varying degrees of overlap. Most of the LRN projects in an organized fashion to the anterior lobe of the spinal cerebellum, whereas only relatively restricted areas relay to the paramedian lobule and the pyramis. Lateral reticular axons distribute to specific longitudinal zones in such areas and the available material suggests that both convergence and divergence exist. The LRN also relays to the lobus simplex, and perhaps to crus I, as well as to visual-auditory areas of the cerebellar vermis. The distribution of the various afferent connections of the LRN is interpreted in light of LRN-cerebellar connections. Although we have described details that have not been elucidated in other species, where comparisons can be made it appears that the connectivity of the opossum LRN is comparable in most respects to that of placental mammals.
Teaching aids for nurse-midwifery education.

Simulated learning situations using models and visual aids can provide more efficient use of available teaching time and more complete conceptualization of manual skills by nurse-midwifery students. Five inexpensive teaching aids with directions for each are presented. Further sharing of teaching aids between nurse-midwifery programs is encouraged.
Some loci in Teichmüller space for genus seven defined by vanishing thetanulls

In H. F. Baker’s monumental tomb on Abelian varieties [3, p. 273] there is an exercise which must surely catch the eyes of those few readers whose fortitude carries them that far.
Improvements to the Image Processing of Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Observations with Multiple Readouts

We report on improvements made to the standard NICMOS processing pipeline. The calculation of the uncertainties on the signal accumulation rate has been modified to include the statistical correlations between the consecutive readouts. This leads to a ∼30% correction in the photometric weight of individual pixels containing faint objects. In order to correct a problem with the existing cosmic-ray rejection algorithm, we have developed and implemented a joint fit procedure, where the accumulating signal is fit as linear functions of time with the same rate both before and after the cosmic-ray (CR) impact. This procedure leads to significantly smaller uncertainty in the count rate for pixels affected by CRs. We also show that regions neighboring CRs found by the standard NICMOS pipeline are systematically brighter. This interpixel correlation substantially increases the footprint of CR impacts and is treated for the first time by our new pipeline. The new processing is most relevant for photometry from deep observations of faint targets, for which accurate, optimal, and unbiased uncertainty estimates are important. We present examples of these improvements for deep NIC2 images of a high-redshift supernova from the Supernova Cosmology Project. The net improvement is a factor of 2 reduction in the number of 3 j photometric outliers.
The Influence of Different Parameters of Remodeling Rule on the Resultant Density Distribution of the Proximal Femur

The process of adaptive bone remodeling can be described mathematically and simulated with a self-optimizing finite element (FE) model. The aim of this study was to find the bone density distribution of the proximal femur which is affected by the muscle loadings and the hip joint contact force. The basic remodeling rule, which is an objective function for an optimization process relative to external load, was applied to predict the bone density. Its purpose is to obtain a constant value for the strain energy per unit bone mass, by adapting density. The precise solution is dependent on the loads, initial conditions and the parameters in the remodeling rule. The forces at different phases of the gait cycle (walking) were applied as boundary conditions. The density distributions from these loadings were averaged to find the density distribution in the proximal femur. Three different initial densities were considered to investigate the effect of initial conditions. The influence of different parameters and functions on the density distribution and its convergence rate was also investigated. The results were comparable with an actual bone density distribution of the femoral neck head and proximal femoral shaft. It was shown that by applying more boundary conditions through the gait cycle, the converged density distribution is smoother, and more comparable with actual proximal femur.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Hospital mortality for Norwood and arterial switch operations as a function of institutional volume.

Regionalization of complex surgical procedures to high-volume centers is a model for improving hospital survival. We analyzed the effect of institutional volume on hospital mortality for the Norwood and arterial switch operations (ASO) as representative high-complexity neonatal cardiac procedures. Analysis of discharge data from the 2003 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) was conducted. Association between institutional volume and in-hospital mortality was examined for the ASO or Norwood procedure. Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the probability of hospital mortality for both procedures.
Shared expectations for protection of identifiable health care information: report of a national consensus process.

OBJECTIVE: The Ethical Force Program is a collaborative effort to create performance measures for ethics in health care. This report lays out areas of consensus that may be amenable to performance measurement on protecting the privacy, confidentiality and security of identifiable health information. DESIGN: Iterative consensus development process. PARTICIPANTS: The program’s oversight body and its expert panel on privacy include national leaders representing the perspectives of physicians, patients, purchasers, health plans, hospitals, and medical ethicists as well as public health, law, and medical informatics experts. METHODS AND MAIN RESULTS: The oversight body appointed a national Expert Advisory Panel on Privacy and Confidentiality in September 1998. This group compiled and reviewed existing norms, including governmental reports and legal standards, professional association policies, private organization statements and policies, accreditation standards, and ethical opinions. A set of specific and assessable expectations for ethical conduct in this domain was then drafted and refined through seven meetings over 16 months. In the final two iterations, each expectation was graded on a scale of 1 to 10 by each oversight body member on whether it was: (1) important, (2) universally applicable, (3) feasible to measure, and (4) realistic to implement. The expectations that did not score more than 7 (mean) on all 4 scales were reconsidered and retained only if the entire oversight body agreed that they should be used as potential subjects for performance measurement. Consensus was achieved on 34 specific expectations. The expectations fell into 8 content areas: addressing the need for transparency of policies and practices, consent for use and disclosure of identifiable information, limitations on what information can be collected and by whom, individuals’ access to their own health records, security requirements for storage and transfer of information, provisions to ensure ongoing data quality, limitations on how identifiable information may be used, and provisions for meaningful accountability. CONCLUSIONS: This process established consensus on 34 measurable ethical expectations for the protection of privacy and confidentiality in health care. These expectations should apply to any organization with access to personally identifiable health information, including managed care organizations, physician groups, hospitals, other provider organizations, and purchasers. Performance measurement on these expectations may improve accountability across the health care system.
Effect of perspective on two trapezoid illusions.

Ames (1951) was the first to demonstrate that a trapezoidal window rotating through 360' appears to oscillate through approximately 100 to 120'. Although he made no attempt at quantification, he investigated the parameters of illumination, size, background, speed of rotation, and target design. Ames and Zegers and Murray (1962) found that increases in perspective increased the number of reported oscillations with a rotating trapezoid. Preliminary to his final demonstrations, Ames experimented with a variety of figures in order to determine the target which would maximize the illusion. The trapezoidal shape resulted in the most consistent perception of the phenomenon. Furthermore, any cues which made the target appear more like a rectangle in perspective, increased the force of the illusion. Zegers and Murray found that, while changes in the window design changed the perception of the illusion, the outer dimensions of the target were more important than these internal changes. Zegers and Murray ( 1962 ) and Zegers and Malone ( 1964) found that distance, per se, did not increase the perception of the illusion, but an important parameter was the visual angle subtended by the target on the retina. With a single target, however, increases in distance up to 18 ft . increased the number of reported oscillations. Another finding reported by Zegers and Murray was the existence of three perceiver types of the Ames illusion. The high perceiver was an S who reported a large number of illusory experiences under a wide variety of conditions; the low perceiver reported very few illusory experiences under a wide variety of conditions; and the intermediate or distance perceiver reported an increasing number of illusory experiences as a function of increasing discance. They explained the individual differences in terms of a differential use of perceptual cues. In an attempt to specify this differential use of cues, Cahill ( 1967) isolated the three perceiver groups. She assumed that S's ability to orient the target in space would be related to his perception of the illusion. That is, S who could best determine the position of a stationary target would be least prone to the