cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reforming the National Practitioner Data Bank to Promote Fair Med-Mal Outcomes

In 1990, the federal government created a clearinghouse to track, among other things, all medical malpractice payments made in the United States. Congress created this entity, the National Practitioner Data Bank, as a repository to hold information about individual doctors’ malpractice and disciplinary histories. Doctors’ NPDB files, while not visible to the public, are available to medical organizations and serve to aid them make better hiring decisions, as well as to prevent incompetent doctors from moving from state to state in the hope of escaping local regulators. The NPDB’s existence, though, has become a significant barrier to malpractice claims settlement. Many doctors fear being listed in the NPDB and this has significantly diminished the likelihood of payment when a claim is made (a claim made post-NPDB is only 59% as likely to attract a settlement as a pre-NPDB claim). Fear of being listed in the NPDB has also resulted in a culture of evasion and exploitation of reporting loopholes that weaken the NPDB’s data collection efforts.This Article argues that, while the NPDB seeks to protect potential malpractice victims from inept doctors; part of the cost has been borne by actual malpractice victims. These patients are now more likely to go without compensation because payments would create a paper trail of past performance that some doctors are unwilling to allow to exist. This article tells the story of the NPDB – and organized medicine’s response to it – and argues for improvements to remove barriers to fair compensation and to improve the NPDB’s ability to track malpractice data.
Complementary Energy Theorem for Symmetric Shells

A variational theorem is presented for the stresses and meridional slopes in axially symmetric thin shells with large strains, displacements, and slope changes, made of material having linear or nonlinear elasticity. This theorem represents a generalization of the stationary complementary energy theorem for infinitesimal deformations. The shell may have orthotropy consistent with axial symmetry and its elastic constants may vary meridionally. The following loadings are considered: On the shell middle surface, distributed radial and axial forces of prescribed magnitude per unit undeformed middle-surface area plus radial centrifugal forces; on the shell boundaries, prescribed radial force of displacement, prescribed axial force of displacement, and prescribed meridional bending moment or rotation. The theorem represents a particular application of a general stationary complementary energy theorem developed by the writer previously. In the present paper, the shell theorem is proved independently of the earlier paper by means of the calculus of variations. As a further check, the theorem is shown to reduce to the conventional form when the deformations are infinitesimal.
Heroines of Jiangyong: Chinese Narrative Ballads in Women's Script

Reviewed Medium: book Translators: Wilt L. Idema Year: 2009 Pages: 192 Publisher: University of Washington Press ISBN: 9780295988412 (hard cover). Prices: $60.00 USD(hard cover).
Trainable Cantonese/English dual language speech synthesis system

The paper introduces a Cantonese/English dual language text to speech (TTS) system. It was developed on IBM's trainable TTS technology, which uses trainable statistical models to automate speech data processing and selection. The Cantonese and English phonological, syntactic and prosodic rules were built into a dual-language delta module, which processes the mixed-language input accordingly and generates mixed Cantonese and English speech with coherent prosody. To approximate the speaker's characteristics, a speaker prosody profile was extracted from the dataset and incorporated into the delta speech rule processing for the enhancement of duration, lexical tone and intonation prediction. In the selection of the concatenative unit set, we experimented with different Cantonese syllable decomposition schemes. Though this system is currently only implemented for Cantonese, it can be easily adapted to other tonal languages.
Limitations of the Henle—Koch Postulates

Robert Koch early recognized that the postulates of causation he had included in 1882 in papers on the etiology of tuberculosis (Koch, 1882a,b; 1938) had their limitations. In a subsequent paper on bacteriological research presented at the International Medical Congress in Berlin (see Koch, 1890) he stated that while the bacteria of anthrax, tuberculosis, tetanus, and many animal diseases fully fulfilled his postulates, many others did not. These latter included the organisms of typhoid fever, diphtheria, leprosy, relapsing fever, and Asiatic cholera. The biggest problem was the failure to reproduce “the disease anew” in an experimental animal. He therefore felt that fulfillment of only the first two postulates was necessary to establish causation. Many other diseases have subsequently failed to fulfill the three postulates, or even two of them. In this chapter, I will discuss the limitations of the postulates from three standpoints: (1) those limitations that directly affected each of the three postulates, as stated in Rivers’s (1937) translation, (2) the effect of newer concepts of pathogenesis and epidemiology on the need to modify the postulates, and (3) the influence of new technological developments that permitted identification of new organisms that could not be grown in pure culture, even if one includes tissue cultures for viruses as the equivalent of standard culture methods for bacteria. A summary of the limitations of the postulates is given in Table 7.1 as derived from previous publications (Evans 1977, 1980).
The Lower Subjective Social Status of Neurotic Individuals: Multiple Pathways Through Occupational Prestige, Income, and Illness

ABSTRACT Subjective social status seems to predict health outcomes, above and beyond the contribution of objective status. The present hypothesis was that neuroticism predicts subjective status and does so via the influence of neuroticism on objective status (i.e., education, occupation, and income), self-perceived illness, and greater negative affect. In turn, lower subjective status would be associated with more severe self-perceived illness. Older adults (N=341) shortly after retirement completed measures of neuroticism, attainment in education, occupation, and salary, and over 2 subsequent years, they completed measures of current subjective status, self-reported illness, and current negative affect. As hypothesized, greater neuroticism was associated with lower subjective status via lower objective status and more severe self-reported illness. However, current negative affect was not associated with subjective status, and subjective status did not predict future poorer subjective health.
Likability of Strangers as a Function of Their Winner/Loser Status, Gender, and Race

Abstract A sample of adult American white women and men (N = 384), approached randomly in shopping malls, read and responded to newspaper stories that differed in the winner/loser status (situation), gender, and race of the person who was the focus of the story. After reading a news story, each participant responded to three dependent measures—an Adjective Checklist, a Liking Rating Scale, and Social Closeness Scales—from which were derived six scores that reflected liking for the person described in the story. The results indicated unambiguously that persons in winning, positive situations were viewed as significantly more attractive, and were more likely to be approached than persons in losing, negative situations, regardless of their gender or race. These findings were obtained on all six measures of liking for both female and male respondents. The results were discussed in terms of relationships assumed to hold between social status and such permanent attributes as gender and race, and in terms of the...
Breastfeeding by mothers infected with hepatitis B carries no increased risk of transmission to infants who receive proper immunoprophylaxis: a meta-analysis

Commentary on: Z Shi, Y Yang, H Wang, et al.. Breastfeeding of newborns by mothers carrying hepatitis B virus: a meta-analysis and systematic review.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med2011;165:837–46.
Telepathos: Medium Cool Romanticism

This essay argues for the critical value of situating Romantic poetry—particularly as it’s theorized by Wordsworth and Scott—as a “medium” between the two extremes that often shape accounts of media history: the “primary orality” of Walter Ong and the “techno-informatic vanishing point” of aesthetics recently described by Alan Liu in The Laws of Cool. I propose that Sir Walter Scott’s story, “My Aunt Margaret’s Mirror,” offers a “supernatural” or occulted account of how literature operates as a kind of telepathic medium, enabling readers to be “affected by absent things as if they were present.” But it offers at the same time, in its almost anachronistic play with the concept of “resolution” as a feature of the televisual screen, an account of all perception—both “immediate” and mediated—as a process of discretization and resynthesis that works remarkably like Wordsworth’s “digital” theory of meter.
Mitochondrial Biogenesis through Activation of Nuclear Signaling Proteins

The dynamics of mitochondrial biogenesis and function is a complex interplay of cellular and molecular processes that ultimately shape bioenergetics capacity. Mitochondrial mass, by itself, represents the net balance between rates of biogenesis and degradation. Mitochondrial biogenesis is dependent on different signaling cascades and transcriptional complexes that promote the formation and assembly of mitochondria—a process that is heavily dependent on timely and coordinated transcriptional control of genes encoding for mitochondrial proteins. In this article, we discuss the major signals and transcriptional complexes, programming mitochondrial biogenesis, and bioenergetic activity. This regulatory network represents a new therapeutic window into the treatment of the wide spectrum of mitochondrial and neurodegenerative diseases characterized by dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetic deficiencies.
Emissions from laboratory combustion of wildland fuels: emission factors and source profiles.

Combustion of wildland fuels represents a major source of particulate matter (PM) and light-absorbing elemental carbon (EC) on a national and global scale, but the emission factors and source profiles have not been well characterized with respect to different fuels and combustion phases. These uncertainties limit the accuracy of current emission inventories, smoke forecasts, and source apportionments. This study investigates the evolution of gaseous and particulate emission and combustion efficiency by burning wildland fuels in a laboratory combustion facility. Emission factors for carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), total hydrocarbon (THC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), PM, light extinction and absorption cross sections, and spectral scattering cross sections specific to flaming and smoldering phases are reported. Emission factors are generally reproducible within ±20% during the flaming phase, which, despite its short duration, dominates the carbon emission (mostly in the form of CO2) and the productio...
Conceptive delay, nonsusceptible period, and cohort fertility patterns.

A model of cohort fertility pattern by duration of marriage is built on the parameters of conceptive risk, its decline along parity, and the length of the nonsusceptible period. The model is found to fit satis-factorily a variety of cohort fertility patterns. Birth intervals by parity are then inferred from the estimated parameters. The present model is developed for comparative analyses of fertility trends and for fertility projections which take into account ongoing changes in birth intervals and completed family-size distributions which may be observed in current sample surveys.
Embeddable induced strain actuator using a framed 3-3 piezoceramic stack: modeling and characterization

In an earlier SPIE paper, we described the development of a strain actuator consisting of a thin, co-fired, multilayered, PZT stack mounted within a titanium frame. The frame concept was designed to facilitate integration of the piezoceramic stack into a composite material during the fabrication process. The frame preloads the stack in compression, protects it during material fabrication and most importantly, provides an efficient shear transfer path to the surrounding host material. Because the piezoceramic stack power requirements are quite high, a special amplifier was also designed to meet the high current and voltage requirements. In this paper we focus on assessing the performance of the framed stack actuator for a variety of loading conditions. The calibration procedure uses a specially designed apparatus which loads the framed stack with a variety of impedances ranging from very compliant to very stiff. The mechanical power generated by the stack is measured directly in terms of the force transmitted to these loads along with their displacement. Electrical power is measured directly in terms of electrical current and voltage and is also computed in terms of the electrical admittance of the stack. Results show that the actuator is most efficient when a nearly matched impedance condition exists between the framed stack and its corresponding load.
Theoretical studies of atom-solid elastic scattering by iterative integration using the Green function

Abstract The elastic scattering of low-energy light atoms from a perfect crystalline surface is studied by an iterative integration scheme using the Green function. The atom-solid interaction is represented by the often used Morse type surface potential. A varying number of closed and open channels is included in the calculation, according to necessicity. For a beam incident along the cyrstal symmetry directions, a scheme to utilize the symmetry condition for efficient computation is proposed. The diffraction intensities at a bound state resonance (selective adsorption) are calculated by properly selecting a reference potential for the calculation of the Green function. The calculations yield the resonant diffraction intensity patterns in agreement with previous calculations using a different numerical technique and with the experimental observations for the HeLiF and HeNaF systems. A calculation including 69 allowed diffracted beams (open channels) for the HeLiF system at normal incidence is also presented and comparison with experimental results is made to estimate the periodic potential parameter.
Social Organization of the Bat, Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

The social organization of the frugivorous bat, Carollia perspicillata, was studied by frequent visual censuses of a population in northwestern Costa Rica. A pattern of resource defense polygyny was found, based on male defense of roosting sites in caves and hollow trees. Protected roost sites were apparently limited. Harem compositions were relatively labile and female groups did not appear to be cooperative. Harem males were among the oldest and heaviest members of the population and these attributes were also correlated with the size of the harems they defended.
Fraction of Pt surface covered with coke following hydrogenolysis of hexane

This paper reports that following hydrogenolysis of n-hexane on an alumina-supported platinum catalyst, the surface of the metal is covered partially with carbonaceous residues or coke. The fraction of surface platinum not covered with coke has been found to be about one half by four independent techniqu3s: titration of preadsorbed oxygen by dihydrogen, chemisorption of carbon monoxide, infrared spectroscopy of chemisorbed carbon monoxide, and hydrogenation rate of ethylene. The first of these techniques suggests itself as the simplest one for further studies of deactivation by coking of platinum catalysts.
Postswirl Maneuvering Propulsor

This research examines the novel use of a postswirl propulsor to generate side forces sufficient for undersea vehicle control. Numerical simulations using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Fluent® were used to predict the side forces for open and ducted, post-swirl propulsors configured with an upstream rotor and movable downstream stator row. By varying the pitch angles of the stator blade about the circumference, it is possible to generate a mean stator side force that can be used to maneuver the vehicle while generating sufficient roll to counter the torque produced by the rotor. A simple geometric configuration was used to minimize body geometry effects to better understand the flow physics with simulations conducted in a water tunnel environment. Flow computations highlighted the component forces and were used to characterize the velocity fields between the rotor and stator blade rows as well as the velocity field in the stator wake. There was significant coupling between the rotor and stator blade rows as demonstrated by the rotor wake velocity profiles. While the flow fields were coupled, there was not a significant difference in rotor axial or side forces except for the largest pitch amplitudes. Predictions showed that the maneuvering propulsor generated side forces predominantly by the stator and body that significantly exceeded those produced by conventional undersea vehicle control surfaces with side force coefficients on the order of 0.5. These forces are approximately three times larger than those generated by conventional control surfaces on 21 in. unmanned undersea vehicles (UUV's). Even for zero flow velocities, side forces were produced due to the induced flow produced by the rotor over the stator, further demonstrating the potential for this technology to be used for undersea vehicle maneuvering.
Passive Scalar Diffusion in a Turbulent Flow

The turbulent diffusion of a scalar contaminant passively advected by a homogeneous stationary flow is investigated by expanding the velocity and scalar fields in stochastic Wiener-Hermite functionals. The time-evolution integrodifferential equation for the mean scalar concentration and the concentration covariance function are derived in terms of Eulerian one-point multitime velocity correlations and include all orders of the expansions.
A 500-year-old skull with cleft lip.

PALEOPATHOLOGY is a recent trend in the field of medical investigation, from which it is possible to deduce the form of disease that once existed and to visualise the recovery process and the possible treatment. The study is also of some interest to the pathological anatomist, but the historical features are of most importance. The history of medicine is of interest also to the practitioner, because he can learn the evolution of his science, and the early physicians often had a deep
A moral and economic critique of the new property-owning democrats: on behalf of a Rawlsian welfare state

Property-owning democracies combine the regulative and redistributive functions of the welfare state with the governmental aim of ensuring that wealth and capital are widely dispersed. John Rawls, political philosophy’s most famous property-owning democrat, argued that property-owning democracy was one of two regime types that best realized his two principles of justice, though he was notoriously vague about how a property-owning democracy’s institutions are meant to realize his principles. To compensate for this deficiency, a number of Rawlsian political philosophers have tried to add institutional and policy content to the idea. While their efforts have advanced the discussion, few have criticized the soundness of these attempts. This article attempts to fill the void. I claim that, in comparison to welfare-state capitalism, property-owning democracy is both prohibitively impractical and unjust on Rawlsian grounds. I first argue that property-owning democracy is economically ineffective. Even granting the assumptions of Rawlsian ideal theory, property-owning democracies generate bad incentives and face severe information problems in comparison to more market-friendly welfare states. Further, in nonideal theory the motivations of political officials and citizens will likely be corrupted by the temptation to abuse the awesome state power at their disposal. Second, I argue that property-owning democracy is unjust relative to welfare-state capitalism. The three principles used to defend property-owning democracy—the difference principle, the principle of fair equality of opportunity and the “political liberty” proviso—do not vindicate property-owning democracy and may even prohibit it. Welfare-state capitalism does much better.
Size and Interface Effects on Thermal Conductivity of Superlattices and Periodic Thin-Film Structures

Superlattices consisting of alternating layers of extremely thin films often demonstrate strong quantum size effects that have been utilized to improve conventional devices and develop new ones. The interfaces in these structures also affect their thermophysical properties through reflection and transmission of heat carriers. This work develops models on the effective thermal conductivity of periodic thin-film structures in the parallel direction based on the Boltzmann transport equation. Different interface conditions including specular, diffuse, and partially specular and partially diffuse interfaces, are considered. Results obtained from the partially specular and partially diffuse interface scattering model are in good agreement with experimental data on GaAs/AlAs superlattices. The study shows that the atomic scale interface roughness is the major cause for the measured reduction in the superlattice thermal conductivity. This work also suggests that by controlling interface roughness, the effective thermal conductivity of superlattices made of bulk materials with high thermal conductivities can be reduced to a level comparable to those of amorphous materials, while maintaining high electrical conductivities. This suggestion opens new possibilities in the search of high efficiency thermoelectric materials.
The Effect of Tumor Location on Prognosis in Patients Treated with Radical Nephroureterectomy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Background The prognostic impact of primary tumor location on outcomes for patients with upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is still contentious.
Introduction to "Coping with Environmental Risk and Uncertainty: Individual and Cultural Responses"

The papers in this special issue of Human Nature collectively consider societal and individual responses to a wide variety of environmental and social risks. The first paper considers societal level effects of pathogen risk on collectivism and conformity, avoidance of outsiders, and in-group loyalty in a worldwide cross-cultural sample. The second deals with societal-level effects of resource unpredictability on the nature and conduct of warfare in eastern Africa. The third deals with effects of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and mediating factors on individual perceptions of risk in Mexico and Ecuador. The final paper deals with effects of various types of father absence on women's reproductive life histories in Bangladesh.
Should my outpatient center have a β-blocker protocol?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Perioperative beta-blockade has been advocated by multiple authors and recent guidelines as a strategy to reduce cardiac risk in noncardiac surgery. Knowledge about application of this treatment modality to the ambulatory surgery population is poor. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the initial trial in patients with a positive stress test undergoing major vascular surgery demonstrated significantly fewer perioperative cardiac events among those randomized to perioperative beta-blocker therapy, more recent studies in patients without documented coronary artery disease undergoing major noncardiac surgical procedures were unable to demonstrate efficacy. Guidelines from the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology have been reported and advocated class I recommendations for perioperative beta-blockade only for patients previously taking beta-blockers and those patients with a positive stress test undergoing vascular surgery. There was insufficient evidence to make a recommendation in low-risk surgery. SUMMARY: Based upon the available evidence and guidelines, patients currently taking beta-blockers and undergoing ambulatory surgery should continue these agents and protocols employing this strategy should be beneficial. In patients who are not currently taking beta-blockers and in whom long-term therapy is not warranted, current evidence does not support instituting prophylactic therapy in the ambulatory surgery population.
Observations of interplanetary energetic ion enhancements near magnetic sector boundaries

All the energetic medium-nuclei (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) flux increases observed by the satellites IMP 7 and IMP 8 at 1 AU during Bartels rotations 1906-1974 are examined. After removing flare-related increases, the remaining 145 events were compared to interplanetary-maganetic-field and solar-wind parameters. A class of flux enhancements is discovered in which the ion increases occur close to the onset of magnetic-sector boundary crossings. This observation is interpreted as a facilitated access to 1 AU of energetic ions from the corona or chromosphere via the magnetic-sector structure. It appears that this access is more significant for medium than for lighter nuclei, suggesting a possible charge or rigidity-dependent transport mechanism.
Nonlinear passive cam-based springs for powered ankle prostheses

This article studies the design of passive elastic elements to reduce the actuator requirements for powered ankle prostheses. The challenge is to achieve most of the typically nonlinear ankle response with the passive element so that the active ankle-torque from the actuator can be small. The main contribution of this article is the design of a cambased lower-limb prosthesis to achieve such a nonlinear ankle response. Results are presented to show that the addition of the cam-based passive element can reduce the peak actuator torque requirement substantially, by � 74%. Moreover, experimental results are presented to demonstrate that the cam-based design can achieve a desired nonlinear response to within 10%. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4028653]
Heparin-induced coagulopathy associated with staphylococcal protein A immunoadsorption treatment columns: an in vitro and in vivo analysis.

BACKGROUND: The staphylococcal protein A (SPA) column used to treat refractory autoimmune and alloimmune thrombocytopenia and rheumatoid arthritis patients is primed with heparin to prevent possible fibrin clot formation when the patient's plasma is passed through the column. A BMT patient with refractory alloimmune thrombocytopenia had prolonged activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs) at the end of SPA column treatments. This observation led to in vivo and in vitro analysis of the kinetics of heparin elution from the SPA column. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Two patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis, who were treated on five occasions with the SPA column (as a part of a national trial) primed with 5000 U of heparin, were monitored for aPTT and heparin in their plasma. In addition, two in vitro analyses were performed with FFP for heparin elution from the SPA column. RESULTS: The in vivo studies showed the presence of 0.3 to 1.5 U per mL of heparin in patients' plasma at the end of the SPA column treatments that corresponded with the prolonged aPTTs. The in vitro studies showed that 82 to 85 percent heparin (approx. 4400 U) was eluted from the SPA column during rather than before the procedure. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing SPA column treatments, especially those with thrombocytopenia, may be at increased risk of bleeding as a result of the presence of a significant amount of heparin in their circulation during the entire period of SPA column treatment.
Estimating the Impact of Migration and Remittances on Agricultural Technology

The rapid growth of international migration and remittances has led to a wealth of research examining these trends. One of these lines of research attempts to determine the relationship between migration, remittances and the adoption of “Green Revolution” high yield variety (HYV) seeds. This literature proposes that migration and remittances may increase HYV use by reducing household risk and credit constraints. Given the large scale of both migration and remittances, getting an accurate measurement of these impacts is crucial to designing and implementing policies in rural areas. This paper examines the relationship between migration, remittances and agricultural technology. The credit and risk hypotheses are tested using data from the Mexican Migration Project. The main focus of the paper is examining the issue of endogeneity with respect to migration and remittances. When the probit approach is tested, evidence of endogeneity bias with respect to migration and remittances is found. The risk and credit hypotheses are then tested with two-stage and three-stage analyses, in order to address the problem of endogeneity. The results are found to be significantly different when methodologies are employed to deal with endogeneity; suggesting this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Overall, the results find some evidence to support both the credit and risk hypotheses; although the results for the risk hypothesis are more mixed.
Persistence among American Indians and Alaska Natives at a Bible College: The Importance of Family, Spirituality, and Validation.

Research on American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students indicates that only about 47% persist to complete their freshman year, meaning that one of out two students drops out before the sophomore year. Using a focus group methodology, the study reported in this paper examined the extent to which in- and out-of-class academic, social, and spiritual experiences are associated with persistence among AI/AN students at a Bible college. Family, spirituality, and validation were the most important influences on student persistence.
Correlation of mucociliary clearance and symptomatology before and after adenoidectomy in children.

Abstract Objective The goal of this study is to better understand the role of adenoid hypertrophy and its impact on mucociliary clearance as it relates to the symptoms of chronic sinusitis in children. More specifically, the goal is to better understand which symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis might be most likely to improve in children undergoing an adenoidectomy. Methods We conducted this study on 35 healthy children (>3 and Results Symptomatic improvement was seen in all categories, as measured by the mean score improvement postoperatively. The greatest improvements were seen in nasal obstruction (mean = 2.67 points ± .59) on the symptom survey, and emotional distress (mean = 2.56 ± .47) on the SN5 survey. Quality of life improved by a mean = 2.61 ± .49. Both MCT and MCV improved postoperatively (mean 3.64 min ± .84 and mean 1.96 cm/min ± .90, respectively). Conclusions We believe this study has the potential to provide otolaryngologists across the country with a benchmark to communicate the specific symptomatic benefits from adenoidectomy.
Phonetic repertoire and syllable characteristics of 15-month-old babies with cleft palate

Abstract This study examined the vocalizations of four 15-month-old babies with repaired cleft palate and four without cleft palate. They were audiotaped at home during play interaction with a parent. In general, the babies with cleft palate exhibited a smaller phonetic repertoire, a limited number of compensatory articulations and more isolated vowel productions. As syllable complexity increased, both groups produced similar numbers of syllable structures. However, the syllables produced by the babies with cleft palate had less phonetic diversity than those of the babies without cleft palate. Babies with cleft palate who produce fewer compensatory articulations were similar to the babies without cleft palate in the number of canonical syllables per utterance. Babies with cleft palate may show a less mature phonetic system that may impact the phonetic diversity of their syllable productions. The smaller number of syllable combinations may place these children at risk for expressive language delay.
Polyploidy and gene dosage effects on chloroplasts of fern gametophytes.

Abstract Increasing the complement of nuclear genes in fern gametophytes through polyploidy results in an increase in cell volume and dry weight of plants. The concentration of chlorophyll per cell remains constant but as ploidy increases the chloroplasts also increase in size primarily from the accumulation of starch. Studies of 14CO2 fixation support the thesis that the increased nuclear gene dosage is without direct effect on photosynthesis.
DNA content of Phaseolus coccineus x P. vulgaris suspensors

At the globular stage of embryo development, the level of DNA, as determined from microspectrophotometric analysis of Feulgen-stained squashes, was significantly higher in the interspecific hybrid suspensor than in suspensors from self-pollination of Phaseolus coccineus, the maternal parent. However, at the early-heart and early-cotyledonary stages of development, DNA content of interspecific hybrid suspensors was significantly lower than that of suspensors formed after self-pollination of either P. coccineus or P. vulgaris. The relationship between DNA content and suspensor cell length for P. coccineus and P. vulgaris at all developmental stages and between DNA content and cell area for P. coccineus at the early-cotyledonary stage was altered in hybrid suspensor cells. Nuclei in large cells of interspecific suspensors exhibited uneven distribution of polytene chromosomes and no clear nuclear outline.
An examination of quantity and quality of performance under conditions of overpayment in piece rate

Abstract This study examines the differential emphasis of quantity vs. quality under conditions of overpayment in piece rate. Problems in interpreting previous equity studies using a piece rate system were discussed. A hypothesis incorporating both equity theory and an instrumental reward model was advanced and supported. Overpaid subjects perceiving either quantity or quality as instrumental for equity resolution exhibit greater differences in production than comparable equitably paid control groups.
E 2 R: Energy efficient routing for multi-hop green wireless networks

Wireless communication consumes a significant amount of energy in wireless networks. Most multi-hop wireless routing protocols are adopted from wired network routing protocols and use pre-selected single or multiple minimum cost paths to forward data packets. However unlike wired networks, a wireless network has unique characteristics such as unreliable wireless links and multiple receivers associated with a single packet transmission. These particular characteristics of wireless network make it energy inefficient by using preselected paths to forward data packets. In this paper we propose a scalable, opportunistic, and energy efficient routing protocol (E2R) that uses an opportunistic forwarding scheme to deliver control messages and data packets in a multi-hop wireless network. To further reduce the overhead of control message, we introduce a novel greedy forwarding algorithm and an efficient self-suppression scheme. Extensive analysis and simulations show that E2R can provide high packet delivery ratio and effectively reduce redundant packet transmissions which results in less energy consumption.
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis associated with influenza.

Fatal invasive pulmonary aspergillosis may follow viral influenza infections. Two cases with verified influenza A infection were followed by fatal necrotizing pneumonia due toAspergillus fumigatus. Both patients demonstrated cutaneous anergy and lymphocytopenia. Influenza and perhaps other viruses that depress T-cell function may result in increased susceptibility to infections in which T cells are important in host defenses. (JAMA241:1493-1494, 1979)
Patient empowerment and optimal glycemic control.

This review updates the clinician on strategies of insulin use and educational approaches to empower their patients to use insulin correctly in self-management treatment plans.A PubMed literature s...
Innovations in performance measurement systems: a comparative perspective

The common emphasis in recent performance measurement systems is that they focus on achieving results by changing the incentives for managers and organizational cultures across the entire public sector or some segment of it. This is done by introducing quasi-market mechanisms and incentives similar to those found in the private sector. This paper examines some of the theoretical and other influences that have shaped the design of performance measurement systems across cultures.
Development of bulk heavy-metal fluoride glass optics

Fluoride glasses based on ZrF4 are being developed for various applications including ultralow loss fiber optics and mid-infrared optical components. Advantages of these glasses include a very high transparency from about 225 nm to about 6000 nm. Also, these glasses show a negative temperature coefficient for the change in refractive index so that the thermal optical distortion is very low. The objective of this program is to develop large infrared windows for use with high power mid-infrared lasers. Major problems in preparing these glasses include very low viscosities at the melting and casting temperatures, and high crystal growth rates. Glass preparation techniques have been developed which are suitable for melting and casting quantities of this glass up to 100 kg. Good quality castings have now been made up to 53 cm diameter X 4 cm thick weighing about 40 kg. Finished windows up to 51 cm X 3.8 cm have been made which show few inclusions and low distortion of transmitted light. Glass compositions and melting processes used for the preparation of these disks are described.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pulmonary marrow embolism: a dog model simulating dual component cemented arthroplasty.

The cardiopulmonary changes resulting from cemented arthroplasty procedures were monitored in 11 dogs with a single prosthesis implanted and nine dogs with a dual arthroplasty procedure. These changes were characterized by decreased BP, elevated Ppa, and elevated PVR, associated with decreases in PaO2, cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen tension. All changes were more pronounced and prolonged in the dual component arthroplasty group. Histologic lung examination and morphometry demonstrated significant degrees of marrow (fat) microembolism in the dual arthroplasty model. Cardiopulmonary collapse has been associated with Guepar dual component arthroplasties clinically and these patients are at increased risk and should be monitored continuously. Prophylactic measures include meticulous lavage of the intramedullary cavity, increased FiO2, and maintenance of intravascular volume and cardiac output. The bilateral arthroplasty model is useful in investigating therapeutic interventions which may detect and prevent the marrow microembolism syndrome intraoperatively.
TREE NUTRITION AND FAST-GROWING PLANTATIONS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

SUMMARY Intensively managed plantations have been recommended for developing countries to substitute for unmanaged natural stands with their rapidly diminishing wood resources. Although plantations will play a significant role in supplying fuelwood for domestic consumption, caution must be exercised if the high productivity of these stands is to be maintained over several rotation. Theoretical nutrient balance sheets for potassium and nitrogen are developed for different harvest systems for two species on both high and low fertility soils. These show that on some soils contemplated for plantation establishment, high yields cannot be maintained without supplemental nutrient applications.
Categorical tone identification in speech and NonSpeech sounds for Chinese- and English-native listeners

The goal of this study was to examine how language background affects tonal identification in speech and non-speech signals for Mandarin-Chinese and American-English native speakers. The fundamental frequency (F0) contour was systematically manipulated from tone 4 (falling), to tone 1 (level), and to tone 2 (rising) for three types of signals: Chinese vowel, English vowels, and non-speech (tonal glide). An ABCX identification paradigm was used to measure tonal identification. The two groups of listeners showed categorical perception in the identification of tone 1, 2 and 4. While Chinese-native speakers showed sharper slopes for the onset F0 continuum, but shallower slopes for the offset F0 continuum than English-native speakers, the tone boundary across tone categories was different between the two groups of listeners.
Shaking of Particle Beams to Remove Neutralizing Ions

Positive ions produced through ionization of the residual gas by the electron beam in an accelerator or storage ring can be trapped in the potential well of the beam and produce focusing forces on the beam that can shift the betatron frequency onto a resonance or stimulate other beam-dynamics effects. At low beam intensity the ions can be removed by means of the electric field imposed by clearing electrodes; however, at high intensity clearing electrodes can become ineffective when the local field of the beam is greater than that imposed by the electrodes or even harmful because of electromagnetic interaction between the beam and the electrode system. The ions can be removed also by letting them coast to the walls in the interval during an empty gap in the beam, but the length of the necessary gap in many cases is impractical. In this paper a new method, called "beam shaking", is proposed for removing the neutralizing ions by inducing increasingly larger amplitudes of ion oscillation about the beam until they are driven to the walls.
Quantification of endothelin-1 in human umbilical venous endothelial cell culture supernatants of small for gestational age and preeclampsia neonates

Purpose : It was generally accepted now a days that the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), intrauterine growth retardation and fetal origin of adult diseases were related with a endothelial cell dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to know the relation of such diseases by assessing the level of endothelin-1. Methods : SGA babies, newborns of preeclampsia and normal control mother were included in this study. Isolated endothelial cells were centrifugated and mixed with media in 37℃, 5% CO2 to obtain confluent monolayer of cultured human umbilical venous endothelial cell (HUVEC). Endothelin-1 levels were determined by Endothelin-1 colorimetric (EIA) Kits. We examined the endothelin-1 level in the HUVEC supernatants from SGA baby, and newborns from preeclampsia as well as normal mother. Also, we compared the endothelin-1 level of cultured normal HUVEC incubated with serum from cord blood of SGA, babies of preeclampsia or normal control mother. Results : The endothelin-1 levels in cultured HUVEC supernatants of three groups showed no significant difference but the endothelin-1 levels of cultured normal HUVEC incubated with serum from preeclampsia mother or SGA mother was significantly higher than those from newborns of control mothers (P
MicroRNAs in solid tumors.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small, noncoding RNAs (∼20–22 nucleotides) that have critical functions in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. These evolutionarily conserved RNA sequences are the result of a complex sequence of processing steps, which can regulate the expression of tens, and even hundreds, of genes. Their regulatory effect is based upon the degree of complementarity between the mature miRNA and the 3′ untranslated region region of the target mRNA resulting in either complete degradation or translational inhibition of the target mRNA. In vertebrates they are often tissue specific in their expression patterns and dysregulated in malignancies. Thus, miRNA profiling has been used to create signatures for many solid malignancies. These profiles have been used to not only classify tumors, but also to help predict survival and outcome. Herein, we review the role of miRNAs in the development and progression of solid tumors.
Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules communicate with growth factor receptors: an interactive signaling Web.

AbstractThe review article by Weiner and Zagzag in this volume of Cancer Investigation highlights some of the more current data relating to the important interactions that can occur between cell surface growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and the cell adhesion kinases (CAKs). This is an important biologic and clinical topic because oncogenic activation of RTKs, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor, c-erb B-2. or the fibroblast growth factor receptor-1, by gene amplification and/or by overexpression can lead to malignant transformation in vitro and is involved in the pathogenesis of several different types of human carcinomas (1,2). In addition. a decrease in cell adhesion is an initial prerequisite for engaging the initial stages of tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Selective therapeutic targeting of RTKs or effectors in the metastatic cascade have already shown to be effective in the treatment of some types of human tumors (3).
Discrete neural substrates underlie complementary audiovisual speech integration processes

article i nfo The ability to combine information from multiple sensory modalities into a single, unified percept is a key element in an organism's ability to interact with the external world. This process of perceptual fusion, the binding of multiple sensory inputs into a perceptual gestalt, is highly dependent on the temporal synchrony of the sensory inputs. Using fMRI, we identified two anatomically distinct brain regions in the superior temporal cortex, one involved with processing temporal-synchrony, and one with processing perceptual fusion of audiovisual speech. This dissociation suggests that the superior temporal cortex should be considered a "neuronal hub" composed of multiple discrete subregions that underlie an array of complementary low- and high-level multisensory integration processes. In this role, abnormalities in the structure and function of superior temporal cortex provide a possible common etiology for temporal-processing and perceptual-fusion deficits seen in a number of clinical populations, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and schizophrenia.
Frequency of external iliac artery branch injury in blunt trauma: improved detection with selective external iliac angiography.

Abstract Purpose To assess the utility of selective external iliac artery (EIA) angiography and the frequency of injury to branches of the EIA in cases of blunt pelvic trauma. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of pelvic angiograms in 66 patients with blunt pelvic trauma was conducted over a 12-month period. Pelvic and femur fracture patterns were correlated to the presence of EIA injury. Pelvic arteriography was compared versus selective EIA angiography for the detection of arterial injury. Results Fifty-four of 66 patients (82%) exhibited pelvic arterial injury or elicited enough suspicion for injury to warrant embolization. Internal iliac artery embolization was performed in 50 of 66 (76%). EIA branch injury was identified in 11 of 66 patients (17%), and 10 were successfully embolized. EIA branch vessel injury was identified more frequently when there was ipsilateral intertrochanteric fracture ( P = .07) or ipsilateral ilium fracture ( P = .07). The sensitivity of nonselective pelvic angiography in the detection of EIA branch vessel injury was 45%. Conclusions EIA branch injury occurs in a substantial fraction of patients with blunt pelvic trauma who undergo pelvic angiography. Selective EIA angiography should be considered in all patients undergoing pelvic angiography in this situation.