cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perspective: Cohort Studies

This issue of Epidemiologic Reviews on cohort studies is published five decades after the initiation of the Framingham study, one of the landmark investigations of epidemiologic research and, more generally, contemporary biomedical research. Within a few years other cohort studies—for example, of British physicians and of the atomic bomb survivors—were initiated. As follow-up of the participants in some of these studies has continued, the studies provide information on changing risks over time and the modification of risks by increasing age. The findings from many subsequent cohort studies have been widely applied as bases for developing public health policy. Evidence from cohort studies has tended to have greater credibility as a basis for decision-making than that from other epidemiologic designs, in part because cohort studies can directly describe the sequence from exposure to disease. Thus, the place of cohort studies in epidemiologic research is assured, and cohort studies are certain to figure prominently in future epidemiologic and clinical research. In spite of its widespread application, there have been remarkably few texts and collections of papers on this central study design. Also lacking are contributions to the literature that link new developments in statistical methods for longitudinal data analysis with epidemiologic applications. The contributions to this issue of Epidemiologic Reviews provide a broad review of epidemiologic aspects of the cohort study that should complement the literature on statistical techniques for longitudinal data. The papers address both the conduct of cohort studies and conceptual issues in the design of cohort studies and in the interpretation of their findings. Two contributions, those authored by Thomas and by Munoz and Gange, focus on analytical issues. Considered together, the papers in this volume provide a starting point for learning about the use of the cohort
Switching antipsychotics: an updated review with a focus on quetiapine.

Atypical antipsychotics offer broader efficacy and improved tolerability compared with conventional agents. Many patients currently treated with conventional antipsychotics continue to experience persistent symptoms or troublesome side effects and may benefit from a change to one of the newer atypical agents. There are also significant differences in the side-effect profiles of the atypicals, such that a switch from one atypical agent to another could offer advantages to many patients. Unfortunately, many clinicians remain uncertain about the switching process and are reluctant to initiate change. The aim of this review is to identify the indications for a switch in antipsychotic therapy with a focus on recent switching data for the atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine. The clinical aspects of quetiapine’s receptor binding characteristics are reviewed including the implications of the low D2 antagonist properties that make quetiapine the treatment of choice when EPS persists with other atypical antipsychoti...
Smart charging and appliance scheduling approaches to demand side management

Abstract Various forms of demand side management (DSM) programs are being deployed by utility companies for load flattening amongst the residential power users. These programs are tailored to offer monetary incentives to electricity customers so that they voluntarily consume electricity in an efficient way. Thus, DSM presents households with numerous opportunities to lower their electricity bills. However, systems that combine the various DSM strategies with a view to maximizing energy management benefits have not received sufficient attention. This study therefore proposes an intelligent energy management framework that can be used to implement both energy storage and appliance scheduling schemes. By adopting appliance scheduling, customers can realize cost savings by appropriately scheduling their power consumption during the low peak hours. More savings could further be achieved through smart electricity storage. Power storage allows electricity consumers to purchase power during off-peak hours when electricity prices are low and satisfy their demands when prices are high by discharging the batteries. For optimal cost savings, the customers must constantly monitor the price fluctuations in order to determine when to switch between the utility grid and the electricity storage devices. However, with a high penetration of consumer owned storage devices, the charging of the batteries must be properly coordinated and appropriately scheduled to avoid creating new peaks. This paper therefore proposes an autonomous smart charging framework that ensures both the stability of the power grid and customer savings.
An Assessment of Precipitation Changes over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean since 1989 in Contemporary Global Reanalyses

AbstractThis study evaluates the temporal variability of the Antarctic surface mass balance, approximated as precipitation minus evaporation (P − E), and Southern Ocean precipitation in five global reanalyses during 1989–2009. The datasets consist of the NCEP/U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project 2 reanalysis (NCEP-2), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) 25-year Reanalysis (JRA-25), ECMWF Interim Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim), NASA Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Application (MERRA), and the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR). Reanalyses are known to be prone to spurious trends and inhomogeneities caused by changes in the observing system, especially in the data-sparse high southern latitudes. The period of study has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of satellite observations used for data assimilation.The large positive and statistically significant trends in mean Antarctic P − E and mean Southern Ocean precipitation in NCEP-2, JRA-25, and ...
Unaided and aided performance with a directional open-fit hearing aid.

Differences in performance between unaided and aided performance (omnidirectional and directional) were measured using an open-fit behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid. Twenty-six subjects without prio...
A new 1223-type high Tc cuprate (Tl, V) Sr2Ca2Cu3O9

A new 1223-type (Tl, V)-based superconducting layered cuprate (Tl1−x V x ) Sr2Ca2Cu3O9 withx=0.25 and 0.50 has been successfully synthesized in the nearly-pure form and identified by powder X-ray diffration analyses. An excessive quantity of Tl is necessary for the preparation of the (Tl, V)-based 1223-type compound. Resistance and ac susceptibility measurements showed that the new (Tl, V)-based 1223 cuprate exhibits Tc above 110 K.
Hitching a ride: an overview of the SOFIA aircraft modification

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a joint NASA/DLR program in airborne infrared astronomy. The observatory consists of a 2.5 meter telescope mourned in a modified B747SP aircraft The telescope is being provided by a consortium of German contractors. Raytheon Systems Company (RSC), a subcontractor to Universities Space Research Association (USRA), will modify the B747SP, provide the Mission Controls and Communications System (MCCS), and provide the overall observatory integration at its Waco, Texas location. This paper will address the unique aspects of providing an FAA certified observatory piatform for a 44,000 pound telescope operating at altitudes between 41,000 and 45,000 feet. This paper will also provide an overview of the MCCS, both hardware and software functionality, and describe the tasks of integrating and verifying the TA and Aircraft operations. Finally, the paper will describe the operational limitations imposed on SOFIA by the reality of maintaining and flying a B747SP aircraft for the 20 year lifetime ofthe observatory.
Applications of the matrix operators vech and vec

Abstract We apply the matrix operators vech and vec to obtain generalization of some of the matrix results given by Szatrowski. In particular the variance-covariance matrix of the Wishart distribution is obtained in a very compact nonsingular form.
Riesz representation theorem, Borel measures and subsystems of second-order arithmetic

Abstract Yu, X., Riesz representation theorem, Borel measures and subsystems of second-order arithmetic, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 59 (1993) 65-78. Formalized concept of finite Borel measures is developed in the language of second-order arithmetic. Formalization of the Riesz representation theorem is proved to be equivalent to arithmetical comprehension. Codes of Borel sets of complete separable metric spaces are defined and proved to be meaningful in the subsystem ATR0. Arithmetical transfinite recursion is enough to prove the measurability of Borel sets for any finite Borel measure on a compact complete separable metric space.
Ngas values of the Memorial parallel-plate chambers determined in 60Co and high-energy electron beams.

The cavity‐gas calibration factor N gas for Memorial parallel‐plate chambers was determined against calibrated Farmer chambers using two different calibration methods as suggested in the TG 21 protocol. These methods are: (a) 60Co calibration at 5‐cm depth; and (b) high‐energy electron beamcalibration. The N gas values determined from the 60Co in‐phantom calibrations were approximately 1.9% higher than the values determined from the high‐energy electron beams.
Origin of aldosterone in the rat heart

Aldosterone has been demonstrated in the perfusate of the ex situ rat heart and heart homogenates; however, the origin of aldosterone in the heart is controversial, with some reporting a primary role for extraadrenal synthesis within the heart, and others finding that all of the aldosterone in the heart is sequestered from the circulation. In an attempt to resolve this controversy, we measured the aldosterone and corticosterone contents of plasma and hearts of rats on a normal salt (NS), low salt (LS), or high salt (HS) diet, adrenalectomized (ADX+HS), and ADX with aldosterone replacement or deoxycorticosterone excess (ADX+HS+DOC) before tissue harvest. The sodium content of the diet had no significant effect on corticosterone levels in the plasma or heart. LS significantly increased, whereas HS decreased the aldosterone content of plasma and heart compared with NS. Corticosterone levels in both plasma and heart and aldosterone levels in plasma of ADX-HS rats were undetectable in most individuals and were extremely low in very few. Although plasma aldosterone was undetectable, aldosterone was measurable in 30% of the hearts of 84 ADX+HS rats, albeit at low levels. The aldosterone and corticosterone contents of the hearts of ADX+HS+DOC were similar to those of ADX+HS, indicating that aldosterone synthase and 11beta-hydroxylase, not substrate, are the limiting factors for extraadrenal synthesis of corticosteroids in the heart. In conclusion, we found that the level of aldosterone content in the healthy rat heart in vivo is significantly lower than that reported elsewhere and reflects plasma levels in intact rats.
Characterization for multipurpose exploitations of genetic resources from the germplasm collection of pasture species owned by the CNR-ISPAAM in Sassari, Italy.

Summary: This paper reports the results of genetic resources characterization of some pasture species from the germplasm collection held at ISPAAM-CNR in Sassari, Sardinia, Italy. According to the peculiarities of each species, some of the uses suggested by the experimental results were phytoremediation, wildfi re prevention, biomass production for bioenergy, forage production and multiple uses, bioactive compounds for health care of domestic animals.
Selective purine release from P388D1 macrophages injured by silica

Silica particles are toxic to primary cultures of macrophages or the P388D1 cell line in vitro. Loss of viability in these model systems is accompanied by depletion of ATP content within 3 to 6 hours. The mechanisms responsible for ATP depletion will be explored in this paper. After prelabeling for 1 hour with 3H-adenine, silica-treated cells released 60-80% of their labeled acid-soluble pool into the culture medium. This release did not occur after phagocytosis of nontoxic titanium dioxide particles and was specific for purines. ATP depletion was accompanied by purine catabolism: inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uric acid were detected in the culture medium using thin layer or high-performance liquid chromatography. The final xanthine oxidase step in purine catabolism generates reactive oxygen metabolites. Silica toxicity was not prevented by the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol nor exogenous purines. It is concluded that adenine nucleotide depletion and purine catabolism are not solely responsible for irreversible injury in silica toxicity. It is hypothesized that purine catabolism and release from injured macrophages may lead to generation of reactive oxygen species, injury to surrounding tissue, and fibrosis.
Mobility-Pattern-Based Anomaly Detection Algorithm in Mobile Networks

Numerous approaches have been proposed for intrusion detection in immobile networks. However, little research work has been done in actually implementing them, especially for anomaly detection, in mobile networks. In this paper, we present an efficient mobility-pattern-based (MPB) anomaly detection algorithm. It can effectively identify abnormal mobility patterns of the nodes in mobile networks. In the proposed algorithm, the normal mobility profile of a specific node is characterized by a multi-leaf tree structure in which each node corresponds to a possible destination cluster. A normal mobility profile is generated during the training process through data mining and fuzzy logic techniques. More specifically, data mining techniques are used for cluster classifications, and fuzzy logic techniques are used to integrate the 'similar'' pattern strings after the corresponding cluster generation. These two techniques are also used during the testing process for distinguishing abnormal mobility patterns of the node from those of the normal in mobile networks. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed MPB anomaly detection algorithm can achieve good performance in terms of detection rate and false alarm rate for nodes with regular movement behaviors by fine tuning the design parameter - threshold, that can be chosen efficiently.
Inducing Cross-Clade Neutralizing Antibodies against HIV-1 by Immunofocusing

Background: Although vaccines are important in preventing viral infections by inducing neutralizing antibodies (nAbs), HIV1 has proven to be a difficult target and escapes humoral immunity through various mechanisms. We sought to test whether HIV-1 Env mimics may serve as immunogens. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using random peptide phage display libraries, we identified the epitopes recognized by polyclonal antibodies of a rhesus monkey that had developed high-titer, broadly reactive nAbs after infection with a simianhuman immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) encoding env of a recently transmitted HIV-1 clade C (HIV-C). Phage peptide inserts were analyzed for conformational and linear homology using computational analysis; some peptides mimicked various domains of the original HIV-C Env, such as conformational V3 loop epitopes and the conserved linear region of the gp120 Cterminus. Next, we devised a novel prime/boost strategy to test the immunogenicity of such phage-displayed peptides and primed mice only once with HIV-C gp160 DNA followed by boosting with mixtures of recombinant phages. Conclusions/Significance: This strategy, which was designed to focus the immune system on a few Env epitopes (immunofocusing), not only induced HIV-C gp160 binding antibodies and cross-clade nAbs, but also linked a conserved HIV Env region for the first time to the induction of nAbs: the C-terminus of gp120. The identification of conserved antigen mimics may lead to novel immunogens capable of inducing broadly reactive nAbs.
Structural and Functional Evolution of Vertebrate Neuroendocrine Stress Systems

The vertebrate hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA; or interrenal) axis plays pivotal roles in animal development and in physiological and behavioral adaptation to environmental change. The HPA, or stress axis, is organized in a hierarchical manner, with feedback operating at several points along the axis. Recent findings suggest that the proteins, gene structures, and signaling pathways of the HPA axis were present in the earliest vertebrates and have been maintained by natural selection owing to their critical adaptive roles. In all vertebrates studied, the HPA axis is activated in response to stressors and is controlled centrally by peptides of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family of which four paralogous members have been identified. Signaling by CRF-like peptides is mediated by at least two distinct G protein-coupled receptors and modulated by a secreted binding protein. These neuropeptides function as hypophysiotropins and as neurotransmitters/neuromodulators, influencing stress-related behaviors, such as anxiety and fear. In addition to modulating HPA activity and behavioral stress responses, CRF-like peptides are implicated in timing key life history transitions, such as metamorphosis in amphibians and birth in mammals. CRF-like peptides and signaling components are also expressed outside of the central nervous system where they have diverse physiological functions. Glucocorticoids are the downstream effectors of the HPA axis, playing essential roles in development, energy balance and behavior, and feedback actions on the activity of the HPA axis.
Random replication of the inactive X chromosome

In eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA replicates in a defined temporal order. The inactive X chromosome (Xi), the most extensive instance of facultative heterochromatin in mammals, replicates later than the active X chromosome (Xa), but the replication dynamics of inactive chromatin are not known. By profiling human DNA replication in an allele-specific, chromosomally phased manner, we determined for the first time the replication timing along the active and inactive chromosomes (Xa and Xi) separately. Replication of the Xi was different from that of the Xa, varied among individuals, and resembled a random, unstructured process. The Xi replicated rapidly and at a time largely separable from that of the euchromatic genome. Late-replicating, transcriptionally inactive regions on the autosomes also replicated in an unstructured manner, similar to the Xi. We conclude that DNA replication follows two strategies: slow, ordered replication associated with transcriptional activity, and rapid, random replication of silent chromatin. The two strategies coexist in the same cell, yet are segregated in space and time.
ISCHEMIA ELICITS A COORDINATED EXPRESSION OF APOPTOTIC PROTEINS IN MOUSE MYOCARDIUM

INTRODUCTION. Cardiac ischemia has been associated with distinct structural and intersecting cellular pathways that contribute to the ventricular remodeling process. Damaging effects of ischemic injury may trigger the apoptotic cascade while a counterbalancing stimulation of cell survival pathways may limit cell death to the infarcted region. The ARC (apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain) protein is predominantly expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle, and functions as an inhibitor of apoptosis via selective interactions with caspases (1). An evaluation of the role that ARC plays during ischemia/hypoxia remains sparse. Protein expression of ARC was examined and compared to other prominent apoptotic molecules using an in vivo murine model of ischemia. METHODS. Cardiac ischemia was induced using an established microsurgical murine model involving constriction of the left anterior coronary artery (2). Specific primers to Bcl-xL and Bax mouse genes were obtained from Clontech and RT-PCR assays conducted as recommended. Myocardial protein levels were monitored by western blot analysis from at least 3 separate animals. Antibodies were obtained from the following sources: ARC, p53 (Oncogene Research Products); BID, Bcl-xL, Bax (BD Sciences); phosphospecific Akt (Cell Signaling Technology). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Initial experiments using a cDNA expression array strategy showed that transcription levels of anti-apoptotic molecules such as Bcl-xL, BAG-1 (bcl-2 binding protein) and Akt were unaltered after 24-hr ischemia (2). We found an increase in Bax to Bcl-xL transcript levels after 3 to 14 days of ischemia relative to sham-operated heart tissue, with similar findings after examination of protein expression (Table 1). In this study, a reduction in ARC expression (30-60%) was observed after 24-hr of ischemia without alterations in protein levels at longer periods. These data support other in vitro studies that show lower ARC protein levels after hypoxia in an embryonic derived heart cell line (3). Truncated levels of BID (t-BID) were seen at all time points of ischemia which suggest that factors other than ARC may interact with caspase-8. The amounts of p53 (Bax gene transcription factor) protein remained unaltered despite increases in Bax expression. Therefore, cardiac ischemia may occur via a p53-independent pathway that differs from tumor models of apoptosis. At extended periods of ischemia (after 14 days), increases in Bcl-xL and the phosphorylated form of Akt indicated that anti-apoptotic factors limit myocardial ischemic injury.
A portable communication system for video-on-demand applications using the existing infrastructure

Video on demand (VOD) systems are becoming popular. They have special requirements for receiving VOD data steadily, but common general communication protocols cannot meet their requirements. Several new protocols have been designed to fulfil this service requirement, but it takes a long time for a protocol to be supported from end to end. We propose a VOD communication system that is implemented as an user-level library on top of a common existing protocol. This protocol is easy to port, and the level of connectivity is almost the same as in the underlying existing protocol. We describe the important points related to its implementation, such as the low overhead of implementation and the flow control mechanism. We implemented a prototype system, measured its performance, and concluded that implementing a communication system as a user-level library enables us to implement a VOD portable communication system with a practical level of performance.
PEP-II and KEKB Operational Status

The present two B-Factories, PEP-II at SLAC in California and KEKB at KEK in Tsukuba, Japan, operate at the Upsilon 4S and have reached parameter levels unprecedented for e+e- colliders. They have provided very large data samples for their respective particle detectors, BaBar and BELLE. Luminosity has exceeded 1.5 x 1034/cm2/s. Beam currents have reached 2.5 A with 1600 positron bunches spaced by 4 nsec. Continuous injection with the detectors taking data has added significantly to data collection rates by about 40%. Bunch-by-bunch feedback systems damp strong longitudinal and transverse coupled bunch instabilities. The beam-beam interaction has allowed high tune shift levels even in the presence of parasitic crossing and crossing angle effects. Both B-Factory colliders have significant near term luminosity improvement programs.
Inexpensive microcomputer systems for research and instruction: A dream or reality?

This paper presents a detailed introduction to two microcomputer systems useful for research and instruction. The systems are ready for immediate use, fully assembled, and require no knowledge of electronics. They also possess the high-level programming language, BASIC, which can be easily learned by researchers and students. The application of microprocessor technology and mass production has allowed the cost for a single microcomputer to be reduced to about $600. At this price, virtually any psychology department or individual researcher can begin to employ computer technology in psychological research and instruction. The hardware specifications, software characteristics, criteria for selection, and possible applications of these systems are considered, with emphasis on use in psychological applications.
Surgical outcomes of photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis by inexperienced surgeons.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedures performed by novice ophthalmologists and compare the results with those of experienced refractive surgeons. Setting Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA. Methods In this retrospective case series, data were examined from the first PRK procedures by 33 consecutive ophthalmologists and the first LASIK procedures by 19 consecutive ophthalmologists. Preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), as well as intraoperative and early postoperative complications, were recorded. Results In the PRK group, 33.3% of eyes achieved a UCVA of 20/20 and 87.8%, 20/40 or better; 54.5% were within ±0.5 diopter (D) of emmetropia and 87.8%, within ±1.0 D. Two eyes with a preoperative spherical equivalent of greater than –11.0 D lost 2 lines of BSCVA. If eyes with low myopia (≤ –6.5 D) only were included, 40.7% achieved a UCVA of 20/20 and 96.3%, 20/40 or better. In the LASIK group, 52.6% achieved a UCVA of 20/20 and 84.2%, 20/40 or better; 78.9% were within ±0.5 D of emmetropia and 89.5%, ±1.0 D. No eye in the LASIK group lost 2 or more lines of BSCVA. Conclusions Photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK are reasonably safe procedures that can be learned quickly by ophthalmic surgeons. Our data suggest that results achieved by beginning surgeons are comparable to those reported by experienced surgeons.
Evidence of Solid Water Bridges Found in Hydrating Tricalcium Silicate Paste

The D2O hydration of pure tricalcium silicate (Ca3SiO5 )w as examined at 231C with parallel measurements using deuterium NMR spectral analysis, deuterium NMR T1 relaxation measurements at several magnetic fields, isothermal calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and Vicat needle tests. The results show that the maximum rate of decrease in the deuterium T1 relaxation time of the D2O resonance, the maximum rate of increase in heat production, and the maximum rate of decrease in Vicat needle penetration occur simultaneously within experimental error. Together with results from other recent deuterium NMR studies in our laboratory, these observations support the new hypothesis that the formation of solid water bridges between closely adjacent developing hydrate surfaces causes initial setting. As a confirmatory experiment, it was found that microwave heating immediately after setting, i.e. immediately after zero Vicat needle penetration, softened the paste sufficiently to once again allow some needle penetration, and furthermore, that upon cooling, the paste reset. This process could be repeated several times.
MOS fabrication process integrating self-aligned polysilicon gate and post-processed metal gate devices on a single die

A microelectronic process allowing successful fabrication of polysilicon gate and replacement metal gate devices on the same die is described. The characteristics of aluminium replaced gate devices are compared to those of coexistent polysilicon gate devices showing agreement with theoretical predictions. Following standard processing, plasma back-etching steps are used to form the replacement gates. Virtually any material which can be deposited and patterned on silicon dioxide can be used as the replacement gate material. >
Growth and properties of coherent twinning superlattice nanowires

Although coherent twin boundaries require little energy to form in nanoscale single crystals, their influence on properties can be dramatic. In recent years, some important steps forward have been made in understanding and controlling twinning processes at the nanoscale, making possible the fabrication of nanoengineered twinning superlattices in crystalline nanowires. These advances have opened new possibilities for properties and functionalities at the atomic and quantum scales by modulating twin densities. This article presents a brief overview of recent theoretical and experimental progress in growth mechanisms and promising properties of coherent twinning superlattice nanowires with special emphasis toward cubic systems in semiconductor and metallic materials. In particular, we show how nanoscale growth twins can considerably enhance bandgap engineering and mechanical behaviour in quasi-one-dimensional materials. Opportunities for future research in this emerging area are also discussed.
Does availability of informal care within the household impact hospitalisation

This study assesses the effect of having informal support available at home on inpatient care use in Switzerland. The main contributions are to consider the availability of care regardless of its source, measured by multiple-adult living arrangements, and to examine this effect by type of inpatient care and source of potential support. A two-part model with region and time fixed effects is estimated to determine the impact of informal care availability on the likelihood of hospitalisation and length of stay, conditional on hospitalisation. The analysis is conducted on a sample of individuals aged 18+ from four waves of the Swiss Household Panel survey (2004-2007). Overall, availability of informal care has no impact on the likelihood of hospitalisation but does significantly reduce length of stay by 1.9 days. Available support has no effect on the shortest stays (up to 10 days), but has a significant impact on acute care stays up to 30 days and longer stays. Additionally, the effect does not significantly vary whether the source of informal support is a spouse only, a spouse and other adults, or other adults only. These results indicate that social changes leading to an expansion in the proportion of one-person households may increase future inpatient care use.
Freedom, Sex Roles, and Anti-Discrimination Law

In this paper I consider the role of freedom in the justification of prohibitions on discrimination. As a case study, I focus mainly on U.S. constitutional and employment law and, in particular, restrictions on sex-stereotyping. I present a new argument that freedom can play at least some important role in justifying these restrictions. Not just any freedom, I claim: the Millian freedom to challenge existing stereotypes and contribute to social change. This ‘social change account’, I argue, can be a useful supplement to the existing theories where their explanations run out. It also draws support from familiar liberal justifications for speech and other liberties, and provides an attractive role for the courts.
Assessing Employer Satisfaction: a test of several survey techniques

ABSTRACT Assessing employer satisfaction with the preparation their employees receive in institutions of higher education is a matter of growing importance world‐wide as students, governments and the public seek tangible evidence of educational quality through workforce competitiveness. Three techniques for surveying college and university graduates and employers were conducted over the space of three academic years for the purpose of comparing the effectiveness of these methodologies. Response rates obtained indicate that gaining permission for employer contact directly on a questionnaire mailed to graduates can be as effective as more costly phone contacts, and is more effective than two successive mailings to graduates. The results also suggest that in general employers give relatively undifferentiated positive ratings of employee characteristics unless forced by the method of questioning to differentiate among items. The study provides evidence that a mailed survey methodology for graduates and their ...
Bone Scanning in the Evaluation of Patients with Lung Cancer

Abstract Sixty patients suspected of having lung cancer were evaluated for bone metastasis by means of technetium 99m stannous-polyphosphate bone scanning and correlative radiographic bone survey. Diagnosis of lung cancer was histologically proved in all patients. Scans demonstrated evidence of bone metastasis in 20 patients (33.4%) and radiographs, in 10 patients (16.6%). Twenty-four patients had repeat skeletal evaluation at one to eleven months after the first study. Of these patients, 7 initially demonstrating both negative scans and radiographs showed abnormal scans within five months. Bone scans correlated with radiographs in 53.3% and with accompanying bone pain in 33.3% of patients. False negative and false equivocal results were noted in 4 patients. This study suggests that bone scanning with 99m Tc stannous-polyphosphate detected early bone metastasis in patients with lung cancer before these lesions became evident clinically or radiographically. Bone scanning is of value during the initial evaluation to determine operability in patients with lung cancer.
A New RF Radiometer for Absolute Noninvasive Temperature Sensing in Biomedical Applications

Temperature sensing using microwave radiometry has proven value for non-invasively measuring the absolute temperature of tissues inside the human body. However, current clinical radiometers operate in GHz or infrared frequency ranges; this limits their depth of penetration since the human body is not "transparent" at these frequencies. To address this problem, we have designed and built an advanced, near-field radiometer operating at VHF frequencies (64MHz) with a ~100 KHz bandwidth. In the core of the radiometer lie an embedded impedance analyzer and an automatic antenna matching network; they compensate in-real time for any load variation that may occur due to near-field antenna coupling and movements of the human body. The radiometer has performed accurate temperature measurements to within plusmn0.1degC, over a tested physiological range of 28-40degC in saline phantoms whose electric properties match those of human tissue. The current method has the potential of being integrated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities.
Improving the Effectiveness of Health Care and Public Health: A Multiscale Complex Systems Analysis

The US health care system is struggling with a mismatch between the large, simple (low-information) financial flow and the complex (high-information) treatment of individual patients. Efforts to implement cost controls and industrial efficiency that are appropriate for repetitive tasks but not high-complexity tasks lead to poor quality of care. Multiscale complex systems analysis suggests that an important step toward relieving this structural problem is a separation of responsibility for 2 distinct types of tasks: medical care of individual patients and prevention/population health. These distinct tasks require qualitatively different organizational structures. The current use of care providers and organizations for both purposes leads to compromises in organizational process that adversely affect the ability of health care organizations to provide either individual or prevention/population services. Thus, the overall system can be dramatically improved by establishing 2 separate but linked systems with distinct organizational forms: (a) a high-efficiency system performing large-scale repetitive tasks such as screening tests, inoculations, and generic health care, and (b) a high-complexity system treating complex medical problems of individual patients.
Northeast Pacific Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene Glycymeridid Bivalves

Abstract The Late Cretaceous to late Paleocene record of glycymeridid bivalves in the region extending from the Alaska Peninsula, southward to Baja California, Mexico is studied in detail for the first time. Glycymeris pacifica (Anderson, 1902), of late Cenomanian to late Turonian age, is the earliest known glycymeridid in the study area. Very locally, it is found with the middle to late Turonian Glycymeris yoloensis n. sp. The latter apparently represents some intermediate state between genus Glycymeris da Costa, 1778 and genus Glycymerita Finlay and Marwick, 1937. In the study area, Glycymerita is represented by Glycymerita veatchii (Gabb, 1864), middle to late Turonian to late Campanian; Glycymerita banosensis (Anderson, 1958) new combination, late Campanian to latest Maastrichtian; Glycymerita aleuta n. sp., known only from Alaska and of early Maastrichtian age; and Glycymerita major (Stanton, 1896) new combination, Selandian to Thanetian. All the studied species lived in warm-temperate, shallow-marin...
Levy-flight cellular automata on the IBM RISC-6000 workstation

In view of the importance of CA (cellular automata) as prototypes of massively parallel architectures (for which locality is an essential ingredient), it is of interest to understand the impact of the nonlocal part of the dynamics on the overall performance of the LFLG (Levy-flight lattice gas) algorithm. All computations presented pertain to the implementation on an IBM RISC-6000 model 530 workstation. This machine belongs to the family of superscalar architectures, in which the parallelism is implemented at the instruction level. Single workstation performance is presented. >
Age and consumer product-related eye injuries in the United States

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of consumer product (CP) related eye injuries presenting to US emergency departments (EDs) stratified by age. METHODS: The Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (CPSC-NEISS) database was used to derive national, weighted estimates of nonfatal Emergency Department visits for eye injuries by patients' age, gender, diagnosis, injured body part, locale of incidence, and related CP. RESULTS: The CPs causing the highest proportion of injury visits varied among the different age groups: chemicals in the very young (0-4 yr), household items in 5-9 year olds, sports products in 10-24 year olds, cutting and construction tools in 25-64 year olds, and chemicals in the elderly (65+). Patients aged 0-4 also represented the age interval with the highest rate of injury visits (92 visits per 10,000). CONCLUSION: This study identified the CPs responsible for the most eye injury visits by age groups. Further research is needed on how to effectively change the behavior of individuals and their environment so that we can minimize preventable eye injuries from consumer products. [Full text available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2014-01.asp, free with no login]. Language: en
An Implementation Strategy For Developing Interdisciplinary Professional Skills Within The Accounting Curriculum

Accounting students are aware of the increasing demand generated from the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems within the world’s major companies. This paper describes the use of this technology within an undergraduate accounting curriculum. The objective is to teach business processes and integration issues. Students simulated a manufacturing ERP implementation by organizing themselves as an implementation team, developing an implementation plan, designing a simple product and product structures, populating the master records, and executing a system walk-through. Students also script core business processes and develop a demonstration of their implementation system for interested parties in the business school. The paper evaluates the implementation project and offers suggestions for enhancing the benefits capable from such pedagogy.
Dark matter, black holes and old-fashioned exploitation: transnational corporations and the US economy

In advanced economies, foreign direct investment (FDI) is usually a two-way process, involving both inwards and outwards investment, often in the same industries. Why, then, is US FDI so profitable whilst FDI in the USA is conspicuous in its unprofitability? Using sectoral-based data from 1999 to 2005 to investigate this puzzle, I find that US-owned FDI (USDIA) demonstrates far higher returns particularly relative to foreign-owned direct investment in the USA (FDIUS) but also compared to all US-based industries (NIPA). FDIUS is the worst performing of all three portfolios, exhibiting the poorest and most volatile returns for the period examined. These results hold for both the aggregate non-financial data as well as for the ‘narrow measured value added’. For the period tested, US inwards FDI isn’t employment generating whereas US direct investment abroad produces the fastest gains in labour productivity, output, employment, investment expenditures and tax revenues. Whilst it is debatable that ‘dark matter’ or intangible proprietary assets drive superior relative returns to USDIA, labour exploitation appears to play a role. Increases in labour productivity coupled with declining wage shares for all three portfolios (especially pronounced for USDIA) suggest ‘race to bottom’ outcomes. A burgeoning aspect of this race is cross-border profit-shifting to minimise firms’ global tax burdens. I suspect but am unable to confirm that profits are being shifted overseas—vanishing into the ‘black holes’ of tax havens, transfer pricing and other modes of tax avoidance.
Dual Electrochemical and Physiological Apoptosis Assay Detection of in Vivo Generated Nickel Chloride Induced DNA Damage in Caenorhabditis elegans

Environmental nickel exposure is known to cause allergic reactions, respiratory illness, and may be responsible for some forms of cancer in humans. Nematodes are an excellent model organism to test for environmental toxins, as they are prevalent in many different environments. Nickel exposure has previously been shown to impact nematode life processes. In this study, Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes exposed to NiCl2 featured high levels of programmed cell death (PCD) in a concentration-dependent manner as measured by counting apoptotic corpses in the nematode germ line. A green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter transgene was used that highlights cell corpse engulfment by fluorescence microscopy. Analysis of the reporter in a p53 mutant strain putatively indicates that the PCDs are a result of genomic DNA damage. In order to assay the potential genotoxic actions of NiCl2, DNA was extracted from nematodes exposed to increasing concentrations of NiCl2 and electrochemically assayed. In vivo damaged DNA was i...
Nanostructured Co2P Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and Direct Comparison with Morphologically Equivalent CoP

Metal phosphides have emerged as promising Earth-abundant alternatives to platinum for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic aqueous solutions. Here, Co2P nanoparticles having a hollow, multifaceted, crystalline morphology have been evaluated as HER electrocatalysts at a mass loading of 1 mg cm–2 on Ti foil substrates. The Co2P/Ti electrodes required low overpotentials of −95 and −109 mV to produce operationally relevant cathodic current densities of −10 and −20 mA cm–2, respectively. These values establish Co2P nanoparticles as highly active Earth-abundant HER catalyst materials. Importantly, the Co2P nanoparticles are morphologically equivalent to previously reported CoP nanoparticle HER catalysts, allowing a direct side-by-side evaluation of their HER activities. Such comparisons of different metal phosphide HER catalysts with the same constituent elements and morphologies are important for identifying the key materials characteristics that lead to high activity.
Characteristics of Patients Referred to a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic With Unexplained Fever

BACKGROUND Older case series established diagnostic considerations for children meeting a priori definitions of fever of unknown origin (FUO). No recent study has examined the final diagnoses of children referred for unexplained fever. METHODS This study was conducted with a retrospective chart review of patients referred to a pediatric infectious diseases clinic from 2008 to 2012 for unexplained fever. RESULTS Sixty-nine of 221 patients were referred for "prolonged" unexplained fever. Ten of these were not actually having fever, and 11 had diagnoses that were readily apparent at the initial visit. The remaining 48 were classified as having FUO. The median duration of reported fever for these patients was 30 days; 15 had a diagnosis made, 5 of which were serious. None of the serious FUO diagnoses were infections. Of 152 patients with "recurrent" unexplained fever, 92 had an "intermittent" fever pattern, and most of these had sequential, self-limited viral illnesses or no definitive diagnosis made. Twenty of the 60 patients with a "periodic" fever pattern were diagnosed with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome. Overall, 166 patients either were not having fever, had self-limited illnesses, or ultimately had no cause of fever discovered. Only 12 had a serious illness, 2 of which were infections (malaria and typhoid fever). CONCLUSIONS Most children referred with unexplained fever had either self-limited illnesses or no specific diagnosis established. Serious diagnoses were unusual, suggesting that these diagnoses rarely present with unexplained fever alone, or that, when they do, the diagnoses are made by primary care providers or other subspecialists.
Deterministic Spin-Orbit Torque Switching of a Perpendicularly Polarized Magnet Using Wedge Shape of the Magnet

Spin–orbit torque provides an efficient way to switch magnets for low power memory applications by reducing the current density needed to switch the magnetization. Perpendicularly polarized magnets are preferred for high density data storage applications because of their high thermal stability in scaled dimensions. However, spin–orbit torque cannot switch a perpendicularly polarized magnet deterministically from up to down and down to up in the absence of an external magnetic field because spin–orbit torque alone cannot break the symmetry of the system. This poses a severe challenge to the applicability of spin–orbit torque for memory devices. In this paper, we show through micromagnetic simulations that when spin–orbit torque is applied on a magnet with a wedge shape, the moments of the magnet are aligned in-plane. On removal of the spin–orbit torque the moments deterministically evolve to vertically upward or downward direction because the anisotropy axis of the magnet is tilted away from the vertical direction owing to the wedge shape of the magnet. Thus, spin–orbit torque driven deterministic switching of the magnet in the absence of an external magnetic field is possible.
Functional Data and Elastic Registration

Functional data analysis (FDA) is a branch of statistics where one observes, models, and analyzes quantities that are functions on certain intervals. This kind of data naturally arises in nearly every branch of science, ranging from engineering to geology, biology, medicine, and chemistry.