cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Language Death and Subject Expression: First-person-singular subjects in a declining dialect of Louisiana French

Louisiana French is undergoing gradual language death. In such situations, it is common to find increased variability and rapid change, as speakers use the language less often and in fewer domains (Wolfram 2004; Palosaari and Campbell 2011). These processes have been observed in the pronominal system of Louisiana French (Rottet 1996; Girard 2013), with both phonological and morphological sources of variation leading to an exceptionally large inventory of first-person-singular forms in the French of the Pointe-Au-Chien Indians of Pointe-Aux-Chenes, Louisiana. Using data from a translation task, we examine the range of forms used by French speakers from this community varying in age and fluency. We note a sharp distinction in forms used by fluent versus non-fluent speakers, with the latter making use of the non-clitic form mon. To answer the question of why mon is so common amongst non-fluent speakers in this task, we apply insights from the field of second language acquisition, considering the systems of these non-fluent speakers as autonomous and systematic. We ultimately propose a potential interaction between the previously documented phonological and morphological patterns observed in this community, influencing in the forms observed.
Techno-Racial dynamics of denial & difference in weapons control

This paper argues that there is an urgent need for postcolonial scholars to engage with the problem of arms control and disarmament. It is also an invitation for experts on arms control and disarma...
PI31 is an adaptor protein for proteasome transport

Protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is critical for neuronal function, plasticity and survival. Neurons rely on axonal transport of proteasomes to mediate protein breakdown at synapses, but how proteasomes are coupled with molecular motors and how this transport is regulated remains largely unknown. We show that the conserved proteasome-binding protein PI31 mediates axonal transport of proteasomes. PI31 directly interacts with both proteasomes and dynein light chain proteins (DYNLL1/2) and thereby serves as an adaptor to couple proteasomes with motors. Moreover, phosphorylation of PI31 at a conserved site by p38 MAPK promotes binding of PI31 to DYNLL1/2, suggesting a mechanism to regulate loading of proteasomes onto DYNLL1/2. Consistent with this model, both knockout and non-phosphorable mutants of PI31 impair proteasome movement in axons of Drosophila motor neurons. Because mutations affecting PI31 activity are associated with human neurodegenerative diseases, impairment of PI31-mediated axonal transport of proteasomes may be the root cause of these disorders.
Homogenization of Plasma Emission Collection for Multichannel Spectrometers.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has recently demonstrated its unrivaled performance for broadband elemental imaging of surfaces. The dimensions of the laser sampling spot still being potentially larger than the interfaces of chemical domains, the plasma created at each location can be largely varying and inhomogeneous with contributions from the different sides of the interface. This variation can become problematic when imaging it on fiber bundles connected to multiple spectrometers. A spatially heterogeneous signal would lead to spatially dependent image on the fiber bundle causing inconsistent readings and loss of efficiency. Kohler illumination is used in this study to create a homogenous illumination, regardless of the source homogeneity, thus improving light collection efficiency. The performance of this approach was demonstrated with inhomogeneous spectral sources and applied to the LIBS analysis of a metallic interface, showing up to a sixfold improvement of the homogeneity of the plasma collection.
When time's arrow doesn't bend: APOE-ε4 influences episodic memory before old age.

Episodic memory impairment is the hallmark symptom of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, episodic memory has also been shown to decline across the lifespan. Here, we investigated whether episodic memory is differentially affected relative to other cognitive abilities before old age, and whether being an Apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 carrier -a genetic risk factor for developing AD-exacerbates any such impairments. We used general linear models to test for performance differences within 4 composite measures of cognition - episodic memory, semantic memory, speed of processing, and fluid reasoning-- as a function of age group (young, Mage = 30.21 vs. middle-aged, Mage = 50.84) and APOE-e4 genotype status (e4+ vs. e4-). We replicated findings of age-related reductions in episodic memory, speed of processing, and fluid reasoning, and age-related increases in semantic memory. However, we also found that APOE genotype status moderated the age-related declines in episodic memory: APOE-e4+ middle-aged adults exhibited impairments relative to both APOE-e4- middle-aged participants, and APOE-e4+ younger adults. These results suggest specific and dynamic alterations to episodic memory as a function of APOE allelic variation and age.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Positive Symptoms in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been proposed as a potential treatment add-on for positive symptoms in schizophrenia. To summarize the current evidence for its efficacy, we reviewed clinical trials from the last 20 years that investigated TMS for positive symptoms. We performed a search on the PubMed database for clinical trials that used TMS for the treatment of positive symptoms published in peer-reviewed journals. We excluded reviews, case reports, and opinion papers. Of the 30 studies included, the majority (n = 25) investigated auditory verbal hallucinations. Twelve studies found evidence for a positive treatment effect of TMS on positive symptoms, while 18 did not find enough evidence to conclude that TMS is effective for positive symptoms. However, the small sample size of the majority of studies is a limiting factor for the reliability of previous findings. In conclusion, evidence for an effect of TMS on positive symptoms was mixed. Since most of the studies were performed in patients with auditory verbal hallucinations, further research of TMS for other positive symptoms including thought disorder and delusions is warranted.
Enhancing Peer Support Interventions in Diabetes Care

Among the individual- and community-level strategies that have been implemented to improve care for people with diabetes, peer support from trained laypersons stands out as a versatile approach that has been effective and often cost-effective. This chapter discusses research that has found peer support to have significant impacts on diabetes knowledge, self-care behaviors, glycemic control, and emotional well-being. Furthermore, peer support interventions are proving to be cost-effective by improving clinical status, reducing long-term complications, reducing excess health-care utilization, and improving the efficiency of care delivery. Born of pragmatism and necessity, peer support helps fill the gaps in diabetes care and strengthens the public health system. Health-care systems around the world are increasingly tapping into peer support for diabetes care by partnering with community-based programs and integrating peer support into clinical care. This chapter summarizes the evidence for organized, intentional peer support in diabetes, recommendations for implementing high-quality programs, and implications for future research.
Discrete convolutions of $$\mathrm {BV}$$BV functions in quasiopen sets in metric spaces

We study fine potential theory and in particular partitions of unity in quasiopen sets in the case $$p=1$$. Using these, we develop an analog of the discrete convolution technique in quasiopen (instead of open) sets. We apply this technique to show that every function of bounded variation ($$\mathrm {BV}$$ function) can be approximated in the $$\mathrm {BV}$$ and $$L^{\infty }$$ norms by $$\mathrm {BV}$$ functions whose jump sets are of finite Hausdorff measure. Our results seem to be new even in Euclidean spaces but we work in a more general complete metric space that is equipped with a doubling measure and supports a Poincare inequality.
Statin intensity and risk for cardiovascular events after heart transplantation.

AIMS Statins improve survival and reduce rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy after heart transplantation (HT). The impact of different statin intensities on clinical outcomes has never been assessed. We set out to determine the impact of statin exposure on cardiovascular outcomes after HT. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a retrospective study of 346 adult patients who underwent HT from 2006 to 2018. Statin intensity was determined longitudinally after HT based on American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines. The primary outcome was the time to the first primary event defined as the composite of heart failure hospitalization, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included time to significant rejection and time to moderate-severe cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Adverse events were evaluated for subjects on high-intensity statin therapy. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the relationship between clinical variables, statin intensity, and outcomes. Most subjects were treated with low-intensity statin therapy although this declined from 89.9% of the population at 1month after HT to 42.8% at 5years after HT. History of ischaemic cardiomyopathy, significant acute rejection, older donor age, and lesser statin intensity (p ≤ 0.001) were associated with reduced time to the primary outcome in a multivariable Cox model. Greater intensity of statin therapy was most beneficial early after HT. There were no statin-related adverse events for the 14 subjects on high-intensity statin therapy. CONCLUSIONS Greater statin intensity was associated with a reduction in adverse cardiovascular outcomes after HT.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma: First Manifestation as Solitary Humeral Bone Metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) most commonly presents with abdominal pain or mass, fever of unknown etiology, weight loss, and decompensation of known liver disease or at an asymptomatic stage through surveillance. Rarely, presenting symptoms can be exclusively related to extrahepatic metastases. Herein, we write a case of a patient with no known liver disease, presenting with a pathological fracture of the proximal humerus bone secondary to a massive solitary metastasis from HCC. This case represents an unusual appendicular skeletal metastasis in a patient with unknown primary HCC, successfully treated with sorafenib. The prognosis of HCC patients with extrahepatic metastasis is poor, and in the presence of bone metastases, the mean survival rate is severely reduced. However, the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib has been the standard of treatment. Recently, there has been developments of other therapeutic class of drugs (i.e., immune check inhibitors), which have shown promising benefits and better side effect profiles. Still, there is a need for further studies, owing to challenges in recognizing cellular and molecular markers.
The role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric abdominal transplant patients: A qualitative systematic review of literature.

Background Advances in ECMO have made it a useful adjunct in critically ill pediatric patients; however, a dearth of evidence exists regarding risks and benefits in pediatric abdominal transplantation. The purpose of this study was to perform a qualitative systematic review of outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing ECMO support pre- or post-abdominal organ transplantation. Methods This was a systematic review conducted from Jan 1, 1989, to April 24, 2020, via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov of all pediatric solid abdominal organ transplant recipients (pre- and post-transplant) and donors who underwent V-A or V-V ECMO cannulation. Death was the primary outcome, with graft function and complications as secondary outcomes. Results Fourteen articles were identified that fit criteria, with 88% being case reports. Three patients were donors placed on ECMO, with no mortality among the 8 recipients of organs from these donors. Nineteen recipients were placed on ECMO. All were liver transplants. Most patients experienced at least one complication (84%), with bleeding as the most common cause (44%). Mortality was 26%. Causes of death included multiorgan system failure (n = 3), heart failure (n = 1), Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (n = 1), abdominal compartment syndrome (n = 3), bleeding (n = 1), septic shock from aspergillus (n = 1), and hepatic artery thrombosis (n = 2). Conclusions The data are poor on ECMO usage in pediatric abdominal transplantation. While complications were high, mortality did not appear to be related to ECMO usage and was relatively low given the severity of patient illness.
The Potential of Narrative Repair to Ethically Process Death Witnessed During Medical School and the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, death has been increasingly at the forefront of the publics’ mind. Banners permanently pinned to major news organizations’ websites highlight the cumulative death toll of the pandemic both nationally and globally on a daily basis [1]. Health care workers on the front lines, secondary to strict quarantine guidelines, are often the only witness to the death of victims of COVID-19. These circumstances have had worrisome consequences for the mental wellbeing of health care workers and trainees, with those closest to the care of COVID-19 patients experiencing the most anxiety and depression [2, 3]. Death is often witnessed directly during the clinical years of medical school. However, research suggests that medical students graduate with inadequate training regarding end of life care in both formal and informal means [4]. Much of this learning is left in the hands of the ever present but yet elusive “hidden curriculum” [5]. There is a paucity of conversation regarding the mental processing of what it means to witness suffering and death in medical education. As we cumulatively heal from the long term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the historic death toll, it is critical that strategies of healing are widespread and accessible. The way we discuss death in any circumstance is in dire need of a shift of viewpoint. Narrative medicine and storytelling from the viewpoint of a physician or trainee offer direct insight to unpacking and processing medical ethics and professionalism [6, 7]. Hilde Lindemann Nelson’s theory of narrative repair offers a potential means to achieve this [8]. Nelson posits that there is an oppressive “master” narrative that is widely culturally accepted and that moral agency can be regained by the development and telling of “counterstories.” In this presentation, I will discuss how the creation of counterstories by medical students can provide an ethical way to process suffering and the witnessing of death. Narrative repair has the potential to help restore the well-being of students and health-care workers during the pandemic.
Evaluation of Deviation From Planned Cohort Size and Operating Characteristics of Phase 1 Trials.

Importance The cohort size of phase 1 clinical trials and thus the timing of the interim decisions are typically prespecified in the trial protocol. During trial implementation, however, the cohort size often deviates from the planned one, which shifts the schedule of the interims. Despite its pervasiveness in phase 1 trials, the association of cohort size deviation with the operating characteristics of these trials is not clear. Objective To explore the association between cohort size deviation and the operating characteristics of phase 1 clinical trials. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional simulation study, a review was conducted of 102 phase 1 dose-escalation trials published between January 2017 and May 2018 in 3 peer-reviewed journals (Journal of Clinical Oncology,Clinical Cancer Research, andCancer). After exclusion of studies that did not report the cohort size, 45 trials remained for analysis. Based on the analysis results, a simulation study was performed to systematically investigate the association of cohort size deviation with the operating characteristics of the trials. Main Outcomes and Measures The prevalence of cohort size deviation and the percentage of correct selection of the maximum tolerated dose. Results Of the 45 reviewed trials, 10 (22.2%) adhered strictly to the planned cohort size. The simulation study showed that when cohort size deviation was random, it had little association with the performance of novel model-based and model-assisted designs (mean reduction in the percentage of correct selection of the maximum tolerated dose was 0.87 percentage point for the continual reassessment method and 0.84 percentage point for the bayesian optimal interval design). When the cohort size deviation was informative and made based on the observed data on toxicity (eg, if dose-limiting toxicity was observed, the size of the next or current cohort was reduced or expanded), the variation of the design performance increased. The range of the change in the percentage of correct selection was −3.7 to 1.3 percentage points for the continual reassessment method and −4.5 to 0 percentage points for the bayesian optimal interval design. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that when novel phase 1 clinical trial designs are used, some cohort size deviation is acceptable and has little association with the performance of the designs. These deviations may be used by expert investigators to properly interpret the data, ensure safety, and leverage flexibility in the protocol.
Building reusable phage and antibiotic treatments via exploitation of bacteria-phage coevolutionary dynamics

Abstract People with chronic (long-lasting) infections face the problem that treatment options diminish in time as the pathogen evolves increasing resistance. To address this challenge, we exploit phage and bacterial co-evolution, producing dynamic selection pressures that can return the pathogen to a state of susceptibility to the initial (regulator-approved) therapy. We show that phage OMKO1 alone triggers Arms Race Dynamic (ARD) co-evolution with the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, leading to generalized phage resistance and crucially – failure at reuse. In contrast, co-administration of the phage with antibiotics triggers Fluctuating Selection Dynamics (FSD) co-evolution, allowing for effective reuse after 20 days of treatment. We pursue medical relevance in our experiments with the use of clinically important pathogens, antibiotics, phage, and a benchmarked synthetic sputum medium. Phenotypic and genomic characterization of evolved isolates demonstrates that efflux-targeting phage OMKO1 exerts continued selection for antibiotic susceptibility regardless of co-evolutionary dynamic or antibiotic co-treatment, opening the door for evolutionary robust phage therapy.
Modified technique for trocar-based sutureless scleral fixation of intraocular lenses: A new approach to haptic externalization.

Author(s): Bever, Gregory J; Liu, Yingna; Stewart, Jay M | Abstract: PurposeTo describe a modified technique of haptic externalization for trocar-based sutureless scleral fixation of intraocular lenses, in order to avoid working with forceps in the iris plane in a manner that may be unfamiliar to the vitreoretinal surgeon.MethodsThis prospective, interventional case series included four eyes of four patients with dislocated intraocular lens (IOL). The modified haptic externalization technique avoids the pitfalls of iris-plane maneuvers by intentionally dropping the IOL onto the retina and using the forceps to grasp the tips of the haptics prior to direct externalization from the same grab.ResultsFour patients underwent scleral fixation of IOL using modified haptic externalization technique. One patient was lost to follow up after postoperative day 1. At the last follow up, all eyes demonstrated stability and good centration of scleral fixated IOL. All three patients achieved a best corrected visual acuity same or better compared to before the operation. One patient developed vitreous hemorrhage which later spontaneously resolved.ConclusionsThe modified haptic externalization technique is a simple and quick modification using maneuvers familiar to vitreoretinal surgeons. It has demonstrated safety among a small pilot group of patients.
Shared Physiologic Pathways Among Comorbidities for Adults With Cerebral Palsy

Objective: Aging with cerebral palsy is accompanied by a declining health and function status across neurological and non-neurological systems. There is a need to understand the shared pathophysiology among comorbidities for adults with cerebral palsy, to inform clinical assessment and guidelines for interventions to improve healthful aging. To begin defining multimorbidity, this study identified the most common comorbidity combinations and their association with mortality among a representative sample of adults with cerebral palsy. Methods: Data from 2016 to 2018 were used from a random 20% sample from the fee-for-service Medicare database. Adults ≥18 years with cerebral palsy and 25 neurological and non-neurological comorbidities were obtained from 2016. Principal component (PC) analysis identified the most common comorbidity combinations, defined as individual PCs. Cox regression estimated the hazard ratio (HR) of 2-year mortality including all PCs and demographics in a single model. To facilitate comparisons, PC scores were transformed into quintiles (reference: lowest quintile). Results: Among the 16,728 adults with cerebral palsy, the most common comorbidity combinations (PCs) in order were: cardiorespiratory diseases, dysphagia, and fluid/electrolyte disorders; metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, renal disease, hypertension); neurologic-related disorders (e.g., dementia, cerebrovascular disease); gastrointestinal issues; and orthopedic-related disorders. During the 2-year follow-up, 1,486 (8.9%) died. In the adjusted model, most PCs were associated with an elevated mortality rate, especially the first PC (5th quintile HR = 3.91; 95%CI = 3.29-4.65). Discussion: This study identified the most common comorbidity combinations for adults with cerebral palsy, many of them were deadly, which may inform on the underlying pathophysiology or shared characteristics of multimorbidity for this population.
A Prion that regulates genome diversification

Epigenetic mechanisms mediate diverse gene expression programs in growth and development. Here we report a protein-based epigenetic element, a prion, formed by the conserved DNA helicase Mph1/FANCM. [MIX+] is a cytoplasmically inherited state with propagation driven by the non-amyloid prion templating of Mph1. [MIX+] provides resistance to DNA damage, a gain-of-function trait that requires helicase activity. [MIX+] reduces mitotic mutation rates, but promotes meiotic crossovers, driving measurable phenotypic diversification in wild outcrosses. Remarkably, [MIX+] can be induced by DNA-damaging stresses in which it is beneficial. Thus, [MIX+] fuels a quasi-Lamarckian form of inheritance that promotes survival of the current generation and diversification of the next.
Further Inspection: Integrating Housing Code Enforcement and Social Services to Improve Community Health.

As a result of working inside homes, city housing inspectors witness hidden and serious threats to public health. However, systems to respond to the range of problems they encounter are lacking. In this study, we describe the impact and enabling environment for integrating a novel Social Service Referral Program within the Inspectional Services Department in Chelsea, MA. To evaluate the first eight months of the program, we used a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from 15 referrals and qualitative interviews with six key informants (inspectors, a case manager, and city leadership). The most common services provided to residents referred by inspectors were for fuel, food, and rent assistance; healthcare; hoarding; and homelessness prevention. Half of referred residents were not receiving other social services. Inspectors reported increased work efficiency and reduced psychological burden because of the program. Interviewees described how quality of life improved not only for referred residents but also for the surrounding neighborhood. A simple referral process that made inspectors’ jobs easier and a trusted, well-connected service provider funded to carry out the work facilitated the program’s uptake and impact. Housing inspectors’ encounters with residents present a unique opportunity to expand the public health impact of housing code enforcement.
Restriction of Range Effects in Post-Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Research: Considerations for Clinical Decision-Making

Abstract: Background Pre-surgical psychopathology does not consistently predict post-surgical outcomes in patients who undergo metabolic and bariatric (MBS) surgery. Individuals with elevated pre-MBS psychopathology may be less likely to undergo surgery, which may create a floor effect due to the limited range of scores on measures of psychopathology included in post-surgical analyses, thereby decreasing power to detect clinically significant differences between groups. Objectives We compared rates of clinically significant pre-MBS psychopathology across domains of functioning in patients who did and did not undergo MBS: surgical completers (SC, n = 286) and non-surgical completers (NSC, n = 125). Setting Academic Medical Center, United States Methods Participants (N = 411) were a racially diverse sample of MBS candidates who completed a pre-surgical psychosocial evaluation including measures of disordered eating, alcohol and tobacco use, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depressive symptomatology. Results Compared to SC, NSC had larger scale score variance on measures of psychopathology and were more likely to be African-American, to report clinically significant scores on measures of binge eating, depression, anxiety, and pain catastrophizing, and to use tobacco. Conclusions Results support the presence of a restriction of range effect, but do not demonstrate a floor effect. These data suggest that current outcome data for MBS patients may not generalize to those who report clinically significant psychopathology at the pre-MBS psychosocial evaluation, and warrant caution when using the current literature to inform clinical decision-making for this group. Findings also suggest a need for interventions that will better engage African-American patients.
Ideology in America

Public opinion in the United States contains a paradox. The American public is symbolically conservative: it cherishes the symbols of conservatism and is more likely to identify as conservative than as liberal. Yet at the same time, it is operationally liberal, wanting government to do and spend more to solve a variety of social problems. This book focuses on understanding this contradiction. It argues that both facets of public opinion are real and lasting, not artifacts of the survey context or isolated to particular points in time. By exploring the ideological attitudes of the American public as a whole, and the seemingly conflicted choices of individual citizens, it explains the foundations of this paradox. The keys to understanding this large-scale contradiction, and to thinking about its consequences, are found in Americans' attitudes with respect to religion and culture and in the frames in which elite actors describe policy issues.
A Theory of State Space Reconstruction in the Presence of Noise

Takens’ theorem demonstrates that in the absence of noise a multidimensional state space can be reconstructed from a single time series. This theorem does not treat the effect of noise, however, and so gives no guidance about practical considerations for reconstructing a good state space. We study the problem of reconstructing a state space with observational noise, examining the likelihood for a particular state given a series of noisy observations. We define a quantity called the distortion, which is proportional to the covariance of the likelihood function. This is related to the noise amplification, which corresponds to the root-mean-square errors for time series prediction with an ideal model. We prove that in the low noise limit minimizing the distortion is equivalent to minimizing the noise amplification.
Data Warehousing: Concepts, Technologies, Implementations, and Management

The basics technologies decision support technologies building and management checklist - critical success factors common pitfalls.
Posttraumatic growth, social support, and social constraint in hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors.

Objective: The relation between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and aspects of the social context, such as social support and social constraint, continues to be unclear in cancer survivors. Social cognitive processing theory is a useful framework for examining the effect of the social context on PTG. In theory, support interactions may either facilitate or hinder cognitive processing and thus lead to different PTG outcomes. The current study tested the hypothesis that emotional support and instrumental support would each explain a unique amount of the variance in PTG in distressed hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors. Additionally, it was predicted that social constraint on cancer-related disclosure would be negatively associated with PTG. Methods: Forty-nine distressed HSCT survivors with a spouse or partner completed the posttraumatic growth inventory and measures of social support received from their spouse/ partner and social constraint from people close to them as part of a larger clinical trial. Results: Both emotional and instrumental social support were positively correlated with PTG, and social constraint on disclosure was not associated with PTG. Contrary to hypotheses, instrumental support was the only unique social contextual predictor of PTG. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the importance of examining the effects of subtypes of social support on PTG separately. Findings are discussed in the context of the cognitive (i.e., processing of the traumatic event) versus non-cognitive (i.e., buffering stress) pathways between the social context and PTG. Future research directions are presented. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethics and Ethical Analysis

This chapter builds upon Chap. 1 in setting up the philosophical framework and analysis tools for discussing moral theories and problems in ethical relativism. We discusses the moral and ethical premises and their corresponding values in the changing technology arena. In particular, we give two fitting definitions of ethics: the traditional definition of ethics and the functional definition of ethics as involving value mapping. We discuss ethical decision making as a process of making a decision that may result in one or more moral conflicts. We end the chapter with a list of codes of ethics in use by different professional organizations.
Hypoxia‐inducible factor pathway activation in restless legs syndrome patients

Background and purpose: These studies tested the hypothesis that hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) pathway activation occurs in substantia nigra neurons and brain microvasculature in patients with restless legs syndrome. Methods: Immunohistochemical analyses of substantia nigra tissue from six RLS and six control subjects were analyzed for HIF-1α, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity. Microvessel lysates were obtained from cortex tissue from four RLS and four control subjects and the lysates were quantified for HIF-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression using immunoblot analyses. HIF-1α activation of peripheral blood monocyte cells (PBMCs) (14 RLS and 9 control) was determined through immunoblot analysis of PBMC lysates for EPO. Results: HIF-1α immunoreactivity in substantia nigra neurons was significantly increased in five of six RLS patients as compared with controls. In addition, nNOS and nitrotyrosine expression are up-regulated in the substantia nigra of four of six RLS patients as compared with controls. HIF-2α and VEGF expression are significantly up-regulated in the microvasculature lysates from four RLS cortical brain tissue as compared with controls. Erythropoietin levels are significantly increased in RLS PBMCs. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the hypoxia pathway is activated in multiple cell types in individuals with RLS. Increased nNOS and nitrotyrosine suggests that nitric oxide is involved in the activation. Activation of the hypoxia pathway can result from or contribute to cellular iron deficiency. These observations suggest a novel direction to explore in RLS that is tied to the iron deficiency model but better explains the findings in postmortem studies.
Wavelength tunable asymmetric cladding ridge waveguide distributed Bragg reflector lasers

A thin upper cladding layer is used to simplify the fabrication of a wavelength tunable ridge waveguide distributed Bragg reflector laser. Only a shallow etch (0.2 /spl mu/m) is necessary for the grating fabrication.
A New Direction for TPC

This paper gives the author's opinion concerning the contributions the Transaction Processing Council (TPC) has made in the past, how it is viewed in the present by me and my colleagues, and offers some suggestions on where it should go in the future. In short, TPC has become vendor-dominated, and it is time for TPC to reinvent itself to serve its customer community.
On the isotropy and homogeniety of the Universe

It is generally believed that the Universe began from a hot big bang. Among the clues to its very early history are the present day observations that the Universe is isotropic and homogeneous (as shown by the 3 K microwave background1 and galaxy counts2,3) and that there are about 109±1 photons per baryon4. Penrose and others5,6 argue that these two observations imply that the Universe was initially very nearly isotropic and homogeneous. Their arguments rely on absolute baryon conservation so that the baryon number of the Universe can be used as a fiducial to which the number of photons can be compared. In recently proposed grand unified theories of particle interactions, baryon number is not absolutely conserved7,8 and thus the baryon number of the Universe is no longer a constant. It is argued here that in the absence of this fiducial the photonJbaryon ratio is not a ‘footprint’ of the initial conditions, and therefore the initial singularity could well have been highly irregular as Misner suggested9.
An exploratory pilot study of the relationship between neural correlates of cognitive control and reduction in cigarette use among treatment-seeking adolescent smokers.

Despite high rates of tobacco use during adolescence, few empirically validated smoking cessation strategies exist for adolescent smokers. Developing an understanding of the neural underpinnings of cognitive control processes in adolescent smokers, and their relationship to quit behaviors, may help advance the development of enhanced behavioral and pharmacological therapies. The current pilot study explored the relationship between brain responses during performance of the Stroop color-word interference task and reduction in tobacco use (as measured by changes in cotinine levels) in treatment-seeking adolescent smokers participating in a high-school-based smoking-cessation program. Eleven adolescent daily smokers participated in a pre-quit session during which neural activity in response to congruent and incongruent events in a Stroop task was examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Changes in urine cotinine levels from pre-quit baseline to end of treatment were calculated and correlated with brain activity. Adolescents with greater activation in the inferior frontal gyrus, insula, thalamus and anterior cingulate had greater reductions in cotinine levels. The preliminary observation of a relationship between treatment outcome and neural correlates of cognitive control prior to treatment onset provides insight into individual differences in adolescent brain function that might relate importantly to treatment outcome.
The Relative Effects of Verbal and Nonverbal Behavior, Appearance, and Social Skills on Evaluations Made in Hiring Interviews1

One hundred and two student volunteers were randomly assigned to either a lecture format interview training session or a no training condition. All subjects also completed a standardized measure of social skills. Each subject was then videotaped in a mock hiring interview. Groups of judges viewed the videotaped interviews and evaluated each subject's interview performance. Subjects were also rated on physical attractiveness and dress. Finally, a significant positive and negative verbal statements and a numbre of nonverbal cues occuring during the interviews were tallied. There were no significant effects for training on interview performance. The judges' evaluations were most strongly influenced by subjects' verbal behavior and appearance. Implications for interview training and interview evaluation processes are discussed.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit in Colonial America: The Foundations of Modern Business History

This wide-ranging discussion of the extent of entrepreneurship in colonial America surveys the recent historiography of the field and offers a reconceptualization. The article advances the view that a society “with pervasive entrepreneurial values” existed from the first years of English settlement in North America, and it examines the activities and goals of the primary occupational groups to demonstrate that thesis.
A subsonic flow investigation on a research body at high angles of attack

Tests conducted in the Ames 12-foot pressure wind tunnel on a rotating research body at angles of attack of 45 to 90 deg yielded results that were inconsistent with simple cross-flow theory. Consequently, force and pressure distribution tests along with oil and sublimation flow-visualization studies were conducted in the same tunnel on a nonrotating model to attempt to explain the behavior observed in the rotary tests. These studies indicate that at appropriate conditions of Reynolds number and angle of attack, inflectional instabilities occur in the boundary layer that materially affect separation and, hence, the aerodynamic forces. Calculations of cross-flow Reynolds numbers are made and compared with other works on inflectional instability.
Pyrazinoic acid and urate transport in the rat.

SummaryThese results indicate that urate secretion is inhibited by PZA and that the degree of inhibition is dose dependent. In the highest dose tested (1.6 mM/kg body wt/hr), PZA not only inhibits secretion but also inhibits urate absorption. Thus, PZA appears to inhibit both urate secretion and reabsorption. The inhibition of these processes is dose dependent but not necessarily of equal sensitivity.These studies were presented in part to the American Federation for Clinical Research, Southern Section meeting, New Orleans, LA, January 27–29, 1977, and national meeting, Washington, D.C., April 30-May 2, 1977, and have appeared in abstract form in Clin. Res. 24: 416A, 1976. The studies were supported in part by a Clinical Investigator award to Dr. Weinman and an Associate Investigator award to Dr. Frankfurt from the Veterans Administration, and were performed while Dr. Frankfurt was a Fellow in Nephrology of Baylor College of Medicine. Pyrazinoic acid was kindly supplied by Dr. George Fanelli of the Merck ...
A Meta-analysis of Studies on Plant Growth Rate and Allocation to Roots and Shoots

I performed a meta-analysis of studies examining the relationships among nutrient availability, plant growth rate and allocation to roots vs. shoots. Species characteristic of high fertility habits grew faster than species characteristic of less fertile habitats. While species were highly plastic in root/shoot ratio, there was a strong correlation in root/shoot across fertility levels when plants were grown across fertility gradients. This suggests that the proportional mass allocation to roots is a consistent characteristic of individual species relative to other species. There was no consistent relationship between allocation to roots and either growth rate or the fertility of habitats that species typically are found in.
“Out of complacency and into action”: an exploration of professional development experiences in school/home literacy engagement

Parents can provide interaction that is crucial to student learning. Helping teachers connect students’ home and school lives and assisting parents in understanding possible roles in student learning can contribute to student achievement. A one‐year funded project focused on: (1) helping teachers involve parents in the literacy achievement of their children; (2) developing responsible, effective, technologically enhanced partnerships between teachers and parents; and (3) providing a model for professional development in home/school literacy connections. This article explains the research base and procedures for the project, outcomes that impact how parent–teacher engagement can be formed, examples of effective activities, and guidelines for teacher educators to promote successful professional development in home/school engagement.
Thermal ionization of quaternary ammonium salts

Abstract Thermal ionization of quaternary ammonium salts is shown to be an efficient and soft ionization method at high ionization-filament temperatures. Evidence is also presented in support of previous postulates concerning the mechanisms of formation of fragment ions, and the combination of thermal ionization with mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is demonstrated.
Compact optical microcavity structures for enhancement of absorption and transmission cross sections of subwavelength plasmonic devices

Resonant subwavelength plasmonic apertures can efficiently concentrate light into deep subwavelength regions, and therefore significantly enhance the optical transmission through the apertures, or the absorption in the apertures. In addition, grating structures, consisting of periodic arrays of grooves patterned on the metal film on both sides of a metal aperture, are commonly used to enhance the coupling of incident light into the aperture through the excitation of surface plasmons. For efficient surface plasmon excitation, however, the period of the grating has to be equal to the surface plasmon wavelength, and several grating periods are required. Thus, such structures need to be several microns long. In this paper, we show that a compact submicron structure consisting of multiple optical microcavities on both the entrance and exit sides of a subwavelength plasmonic slit filled with an absorbing material can greatly enhance the absorption cross section of the slit. We show that such microcavity structures can increase both the coupling of incident light into the slit mode, as well as the resonant absorption enhancement in the slit by fine tuning the reflection coefficients at the two sides of the slit. An optimized submicron structure consisting of two microcavities on each of the entrance and exit sides of the slit leads to ~9.3 times absorption enhancement compared to an optimized slit without microcavities at the optical communication wavelength of 1.55 microns. Finally, we show that multiple microcavity structures can also be used to greatly enhance the coupling of free-space radiation into subwavelength plasmonic waveguides.
Methamphetamine synthesis via hydriodic acid/red phosphorus reduction of ephedrine

Abstract The illicit manufacture of methamphetamine from ephedrine via reduction with hydriodic acid and red phosphorus is discussed. The stereochemistry, mechanism, synthetic impurities, and analysis of clandestine methamphetamine samples are addressed.
Where has all the fusion gone

Abstract Charge distributions, kinetic energy spectra, and angular distributions were measured for the reverse kinematics reactions, 19.7 MeV/nucleon 40 Ar+ 12 C, 27 Al. Invariant cross section plots constructed in the V∥-V⊥ plane give a global view of the several competing reaction mechanisms. The evaporation residue cross section, which dominates the fusion cross section for the 40 Ar+ 12 C reaction, decreases dramatically in the 40 Ar+ 27 Al reaction and is replaced by isotropic binary decay, arising presumably from compound nucleus decay.
Abnormal Carotid Artery Structure and Function in Children and Adolescents With Successful Renal Transplantation

Background— Abnormal carotid artery compliance and increased intima-media thickness (IMT), markers of early atherosclerosis, are prevalent in adults with chronic kidney failure. However, little is known about the extent of these abnormalities in children after transplantation. Methods and Results— Thirty-one children (age, 14.5±4.1 years) with renal transplant (estimated glomerular filtration rate, 78.1±24.5 mL/min per 1.73 m2; range, 44 to 128 mL/min per 1.73 m2) and 33 age- and sex-matched control subjects had ultrasound of the carotid artery, echocardiography, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (transplant patients only). IMT was measured, and distensibility and stiffness parameter (β) were calculated to assess carotid artery structure and function. The results were correlated with demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables. Compared with control subjects, children with transplant had higher IMT (P=0.03) and β (P<0.0001) and lower distensibility (P<0.001). In multiple regression analysis, i...
Interrelationships between volcanism, seismicity, and anelasticity in western South America

Abstract Anelasticity studies of the upper mantle beneath South America show that while the thickness of the continental lithosphere is generally in excess of 300 km, there are differences in the interaction between this lithosphere and the downgoing oceanic plate underthrusting the west coast. In the Chile—southern Peru region, there is asthenospheric material between the continental and oceanic lithospheres. The seismicity is mainly confined to the subducting slab, and volcanoes occur in the same relative position to this seismicity as in other subduction regions such as Japan. In central Peru, however, the asthenosphere seems to be absent, the seismicity is dispersed, and there are no volcanoes. This suggests that the contact of hot and weak material (asthenospheric) with the subducting plate is necessary for the release of magma from it.
A coupled finite element-boundary element method of stress analysis

Abstract The finite element and boundary element of stress analysis are both well established numerical techniques for determination of stress and displacement distributions in bodies subject to applied load. The inherent advantages of the boundary element method are the ease with which infinite body problems may be analysed, and the efficiency of analysis typically associated with a boundary value solution procedure. Application of the method is limited by the requirement of linear constitutive behaviour for the medium. The finite element method presents antithetical advantages and limitations. Complex constitutive behaviour may be modelled, at the expense of numerical efficiency and, for infinite bodies, inadequate representation of remote boundary conditions. Coupling of finite element and boundary element methods of stress analysis is shown to preserve the advantages of each procedure, and eliminates their individual disadvantages. Procedures employed in the development of a first-generation coupled FE-BE algorithm are described. Solutions of some simple problems verifying the performance of the coupled code are presented.