cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amazonian Conquests and the Politics of Deforetation

A recent New York Times publication reported on the relationship between deforestation in the Amazon and a policy shift from Brazil’s recently elected President Dilma Rousseff (Barrionuevo 2012). The article underscored recent advances in preservation, noting that deforestation in Brazil had successfully slowed over the past ten years. Yet environmental activists are now contending with a provision allowing Rousseff to reduce the land set aside for conservation, testing the Forest Code enacted forty seven years ago. International pressure faces Brazil’s Congress as Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development this summer. Agriculture accounts for twenty two percent of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product, and thus the pressure to continue developing while also protecting the rainforest is immense. In the popular imaginary, the debate between conservation and land use is reduced to the question of protectionism at the expense of negative global climate change.
Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race

Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race is an essential read for anyone interested in alleviating disparities and inequalities through me...
Comparison of reading performance on screen and on paper: A meta-analysis

Abstract This meta-analysis looked at 17 studies which focused on the comparison of reading on screen and reading on paper in terms of reading comprehension and reading speed. The robust variance estimation (RVE)- based meta-analysis models were employed, followed by four different RVE meta-regression models to examine the potential effects of some of the covariates (moderators) on the mean differences in comprehension and reading speed between reading on screen and reading on paper. The RVE meta-analysis showed that reading on paper was better than reading on screen in terms of reading comprehension, and there were no significant differences between reading on paper and reading on screen in terms of reading speed. None of the moderators were significant at the 0.05 level. In the meanwhile, albeit not significant, examination of the p-values for the difference tests prior to 2013 and after 2013 respectively (not shown here) indicated that the magnitude of the difference in reading comprehension between paper and screen followed a diminishing trajectory. It was suggested that future meta-analyses include latest studies, and other potential moderators such as fonts, spacing, age and gender.
Thermal Conductivity of Microsphere Cryogenic Insulation

Recently, evacuated powders, particularly microspheres, have received considerable attention as potential cryogenic insulations[1–10]. The heat transfer mechanism in powders and microspheres is yet to be fully understood, although several fundamental studies have been reported[2–7]. There is also a need for detailed experimental studies similar to other recent studies[8–10]. The present study, conducted with these objectives, introduces some new concepts in the analytical prediction of the thermal conductivity of powders. Experimental confirmation of the predicted trends is provided. These results further improve the understanding of microsphere insulation performance.
IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RED CELL SURFACE STRUCTURES IN REACTIONS BETWEEN MAN AND MICROBES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the importance of human red-cell surface structures in reactions between man and microbes and also discusses the biological and chemical relations between the human blood-group ABH(O) glycoproteins and microbial substances with human blood-group ABH(O) specificity. Blood-group specificity is not rare among gram-negative bacteria that constitute the bulk of the human intestinal flora. The blood-group specificity of human glycoproteins is based on recurring oligosaccharide chains spread over the surface of the macromolecule. The blood-group MN erythrocyte membrane antigens and virus receptors possess some conformational order. Conformational order decreases with decreasing molecular size. Various bacterial antigens readily become attached in vitro to erythrocytes of numerous animal antigens species, including man. They can be detected on the red cells by their corresponding antibodies. Microbial antigens can coat erythrocytes in vivo under extreme conditions.
Transfusion in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Pedicled Flap Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE Blood product utilization is monitored to prevent unnecessary transfusions. Head-and-neck pedicled flap reconstruction transfusion-related outcomes were assessed. METHODS One hundred and thirty-six pedicled flap patients were reviewed: 64 supraclavicular artery island flaps (SCAIF), 57 pectoralis major (PM) flaps, and 15 submental (SM) flaps. Outcome parameters included flap-related complications, medical complications, length of stay (LOS), and flap survival. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to adjust for relevant pre- and perioperative factors. RESULTS Of all head-and-neck pedicled flap patients included in our analyses (n = 136), 40 (29.4%) received blood transfusions. The average pretransfusion hematocrit (Hct) was 24.3% ± 0.5%, with 2.65 ± 0.33 units transfused and a posttransfusion Hct increase of 5.0% ± 0.6%. Transfusion rates differed with PM (47.4%), SCAIF (17.2%), and SM (13.3%) flaps (P < 0.005). Patients undergoing PM reconstruction trended toward higher transfusion requirements (PM 2.89 ± 0.47 units, SC 2.18 ± 0.28 units, and SM 2.00 ± 0.0 units), with transfusion occurring later in the postoperative course (4.9 ± 1.3 days vs. 2.4 ± 0.1 days for all other flaps; P = 0.08). Infection, dehiscence, fistula, or medical complications were not different. Transfusion thresholds of Hct < 21 versus Hct < 27 exhibited no difference in LOS, flap-survival, or medical/flap-related complications. CONCLUSION Transfusion is not associated with surgical or medical morbidity following head and neck pedicled flap reconstruction. There were no differences in outcomes between transfusion triggers of Hct < 21 versus Hct < 27, suggesting that a more conservative transfusion trigger may not precipitate adverse patient complications. Our data recapitulate findings in free flap patients and warrant further investigation of transfusion practices in head and neck flap reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4. Laryngoscope, 128:E409-E415, 2018.
A Method for Condition Evaluation of CVT Based on Online Error Distribution

Insulation test is the mainly technical means on CVT's condition evaluation. However, insulation test is usually performed offline. The total work is so heavy that the interval is too long. For the reason, the paper proposes a method to evaluate the insulation performance based on online error distribution. It is realized by error group measurement. By analyzing the impact of each component of the CVT on the error, and the data get by error group measuring device, the insulation status of CVT could be evaluated. To verify the effectiveness of the method, a test was experimented at a $220\mathrm {k}\mathrm {V}$ substation. The result shows that the method is easy to operate, safe for devices and people, and clear for judgment. By using the method, the maintenance plan only needs to focus on the suspected CVT. In this way, the maintenance work is reduced and the efficiency is improved.
Chapter 52 – Prostate Cancer: A Patient's Perspective

This chapter presents a patient's survival story after suffering from prostate cancer. The patient, an African American male, was recommended a digital rectal examination (DRE) and a blood test called prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening. He had physical and urological examinations along with an ultrasound and a biopsy. Results of testing showed that he was suffering from prostate cancer. He opted for radical prostatectomy to remove the entire prostate gland and adjacent glands. After surgery, he was instructed to engage in exercise and physical activities. When he survived prostate cancer, he discovered that there were many men, especially African Americans, who needed advice and education about prostate cancer and diet. Thus, he worked as volunteer for the American Cancer Society to help organize a man-to-man prostate cancer support group for the Southeast Region of Pennsylvania Division.
Analytical Modeling of Heat Deposition in Propellant for Nuclear Thermal Rockets

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) is an enabling technology for expanding spaceflight capability beyond cislunar space. Hydrogen propellant is required for best efficiency by mass, but long-term hyd...
Arhgef1 Plays a Vital Role in Platelet Function and Thrombogenesis.

Background Platelets are the cellular mediators of hemostasis and thrombosis, and their function is regulated by a number of molecular mediators, such as small GTPases. These small GTPases are them...
Distributed Usage Logging: What to Consider

AbstractThis article will examine the use of Distributed Usage Logging (DUL) via the Digital Object Identifier (DOI). Implications for the future will be discussed. Also, the article will discuss w...
Spatial Heterodyne Raman Spectrometer (SHRS) for In Situ Chemical Sensing Using Sapphire and Silica Optical Fiber Raman Probes.

A spatial heterodyne Raman spectrometer (SHRS), constructed using a modular optical cage and lens tube system, is described for use with a commercial silica and a custom single-crystal (SC) sapphir...
The coupling of experiments with density functional theory in the studies of the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is the cathodic reaction of water electrolysis, which is a cleaner and more sustainable approach to produce hydrogen gas compared to the conventional steam reforming method. Electrocatalysts are essential to lower the overpotential of the HER and, thus, the overall energy cost of water electrolysis. The search for high performance HER catalysts has been facilitated by coupling experiments with first principles calculation, e.g., density functional theory (DFT). This article will first review the factors determining the performance of HER electrocatalysts. Then, we will discuss the power of coupling experiments with DFT in obtaining insights into the fundamentals of the HER, including explaining experimental results and revealing reaction mechanisms, and facilitating the development of new HER electrocatalysts. The last section of this review focuses on the limitations and progress of coupling experiments with DFT from three perspectives: experimental measurements, characterization and DFT simulation. Finally, we share some opinions about how to better couple experiments with DFT.
Monitoring the accounting profession under the AICPA code of professional conduct: An analysis of state board of accountancy participation

Abstract We study state board of accountancy participation in monitoring the conduct of accounting professionals under the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) Code of Professional Conduct (CPC). In doing so, we examine all sanctions imposed by the AICPA under its CPC from 2008 to 2016 to determine the extent to which a state board’s reporting of violations to the AICPA is associated with its full, partial, or non-adoption of the AICPA’s CPC. Our findings suggest that widespread full adoption of the AICPA’s CPC might not result in enhanced state board participation in reporting violations to the AICPA, as might otherwise be expected. Indeed, we find that state boards that partially adopt the AICPA’s CPC report the most violations. We also highlight the variability of state board participation in monitoring the misconduct of accounting professionals and provide suggestions for enhanced monitoring.
A tail of CRY selectivity.

The discovery of selective modulators of two Cryptochrome isoforms, CRY1 and CRY2, permits a deeper understanding of how circadian clock proteins impact diverse aspects of our daily 24-h rhythms and how this intersects with metabolic pathways relevant to disease.
How Organizations can Capitalize on Customer-Caused Failures: An Abstract

Prior research has shown that attributional judgments about the cause of a service failure are linked to post-consumption activities and intentions (Richins 1983). Specifically, these judgments are related to opinions about redress. Consumers feel more deserving of compensation when a failure is attributed to an external (vs. internal) cause (Folkes 1984). This phenomenon has been fairly well established in the literature, yet several unanswered questions remain. First, how do service recovery outcomes differ when a firm steps up and corrects a service failure that was caused by the customer versus failures perpetrated by service providers? Does this change the mindset of the consumer? Can goodwill and future value be obtained by the service organization if it amends an issue it did not cause? Ample research has been conducted regarding service recovery strategies for firm-based failures (external attributions), but little has been done to answer questions relating to customer’s self-failures (internal attributions).
Survey of Explainable Machine Learning with Visual and Granular Methods Beyond Quasi-Explanations

This chapter surveys and analyses visual methods of explainability of Machine Learning (ML) approaches with focus on moving from quasi-explanations that dominate in ML to actual domain-specific explanation supported by granular visuals. The importance of visual and granular methods to increase the interpretability and validity of the ML model has grown in recent years. Visuals have an appeal to human perception, which other methods do not. ML interpretation is fundamentally a human activity, not a machine activity. Thus, visual methods are more readily interpretable. Visual granularity is a natural way for efficient ML explanation. Understanding complex causal reasoning can be beyond human abilities without “downgrading” it to human perceptual and cognitive limits. The visual exploration of multidimensional data at different levels of granularity for knowledge discovery is a long-standing research focus. While multiple efficient methods for visual representation of high-dimensional data exist, the loss of interpretable information, occlusion, and clutter continue to be a challenge, which lead to quasi-explanations. This chapter starts with the motivation and the definitions of different forms of explainability and how these concepts and information granularity can integrate in ML. The chapter focuses on a clear distinction between quasi-explanations and actual domain specific explanations, as well as between potentially explainable and an actually explained ML model that are critically important for the further progress of the ML explainability domain. We discuss foundations of interpretability, overview visual interpretability and present several types of methods to visualize the ML models. Next, we present methods of visual discovery of ML models, with the focus on interpretable models, based on the recently introduced concept of General Line Coordinates (GLC). This family of methods take the critical step of creating visual explanations that are not merely quasi-explanations but are also domain specific visual explanations while these methods themselves are domain-agnostic. The chapter includes results on theoretical limits to preserve n-D distances in lower dimensions, based on the Johnson-Lindenstrauss lemma, point-to-point and point-to-graph GLC approaches, and real-world case studies. The chapter also covers traditional visual methods for understanding multiple ML models, which include deep learning and time series models. We illustrate that many of these methods are quasi-explanations and need further enhancement to become actual domain specific explanations. The chapter concludes with outlining open problems and current research frontiers.
A novel in situ simulation framework for introduction of a new technology: the 3-Act-3-Debrief model

New technologies for clinical staff are typically introduced via an “in-service” that focuses on knowledge and technical skill. Successful adoption of new healthcare technologies is influenced by multiple other factors as described by the Consolidated Framework in Implementation Research (CFIR). A simulation-based introduction to new technologies provides opportunity to intentionally address specific factors that influence adoption. The new technology proposed for adoption was a telehealth cart that provided direct video communication with electronic intensive care unit (eICU) staff for a rural Emergency Department (ED). A novel 3-Act-3-Debrief in situ simulation structure was created to target predictive constructs from the CFIR and connect debriefing to specific workflows. The structure and content of the simulation in relation to the framework is described. Participants completed surveys pre-simulation/post-simulation to measure change in their readiness to adopt the new technology. The scenario was designed and pilot tested before implementation at two rural EDs. There were 60 interprofessional participants across the 2 sites, with 58 pre-simulation and 59 post-simulation surveys completed. The post-simulation mean ratings for each readiness measure (feasibility, quality, resource availability, role clarity, staff receptiveness, and tech usability) increased significantly as a result of the simulation experience. A novel 3-stage simulation-debriefing structure positively targets factors influencing the adoption of new healthcare technologies.
Discussion of Mental Illness and Mental Health By NBA Players on Twitter

Abstract In 2019, the National Basketball Association (NBA) expanded it’s mental health rules to include mandating that each team have at least one mental health professional on their full-time staff and to retain a licensed psychiatrist to assist when needed. In this work, we investigate the NBA players’ discussion of mental health using historical data from players’ public Twitter accounts. All current and former NBA players with Twitter accounts were identified, and each of their last 800 tweets were scraped, yielding 920,000 tweets. A list of search terms derived from the DSM5 diagnoses was then created and used to search all of the nearly one million tweets. In this work, we present the most common search terms used to identify tweets about mental health, present the change in month-by-month tweets about mental health, and identify the impact of players discussing their own mental health struggles on their box score statistics before and after their first tweet discussing their own mental health struggles.
DNR: A Tunable Robust Pruning Framework Through Dynamic Network Rewiring of DNNs

This paper presents a dynamic network rewiring (DNR) method to generate pruned deep neural network (DNN) models that are robust against adversarial attacks yet maintain high accuracy on clean images. In particular, the disclosed DNR method is based on a unified constrained optimization formulation using a hybrid loss function that merges ultra-high model compression with robust adversarial training. This training strategy dynamically adjusts inter-layer connectivity based on per-layer normalized momentum computed from the hybrid loss function. In contrast to existing robust pruning frameworks that require multiple training iterations, the proposed learning strategy achieves an overall target pruning ratio with only a single training iteration and can be tuned to support both irregular and structured channel pruning. To evaluate the merits of DNR, experiments were performed with two widely accepted models, namely VGG16 and ResNet-18, on CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100 as well as with VGG16 on Tiny-ImageNet. Compared to the baseline un-compressed models, DNR provides over 20× compression on all the datasets with no significant drop in either clean or adversarial classification accuracy. Moreover, our experiments show that DNR consistently finds compressed models with better clean and adversarial image classification performance than what is achievable through state-of-the-art alternatives. Our models and test codes are available at https://github.com/ksouvik52/DNR_ASP_DAC2021.
Role of adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with node-positive bladder adenocarcinoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database.

e16504Background: Given the rarity of bladder adenocarcinoma, there is a paucity of data examining the role of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with regional lymph node positivity. This study...
Erfahrungen mit Cefoxitin aus bakteriologischer Sicht

Die antibakterielle Wirkung von Cefoxitin wurde in Routine-Resistenzbestimmungen mit dem Agar-Diffusionstest (Blattchentest) bei 2232 ausschlieslich von Krankenhauspatienten frisch isolierten Stammen der haufigsten als unspezifische Infektionserreger hier auftretenden grampositiven und gramnegativen Bakterienarten untersucht. Im einzelnen handelte es sich um Staphylokokken(Staphylococcus aureus haemolyticus), Enterokokken,Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Proteus mirabilis und indolpositiveProteus species. Vergleichend zu Cefoxitin wurde ihr Resistenzverhalten noch gegen drei weitere Cephalosporine, und zwar Cephalothin, Cefamandol und Cefuroxim sowie gegen Ampicillin, Carbenicillin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Tetracyclin und Co-trimoxazol ausgewertet. Cefoxitin ist, wie auch die anderen Cephalosporine, gegen Staphylokokken sehr gut wirksam; gegenuber Enterokokken erweist es sich, wie bekannt, als unwirksam. Bei den gramnegativenEnterobacteriaceae zeigt Cefoxitin eine gute Wirksamkeit gegenE. coli, Klebsiella, P. mirabilis undP. species; als weitgehend resistent erweisen sich hingegenEnterobacter undCitrobacter. Am empfindlichsten gegenuber Cephalosporinen erscheinenE. coli undP. mirabilis; neben Cefoxitin sind die beiden anderen Beta-Laktamase-stabilen Praparate Cefamandol und Cefuroxim gleich gut wirksam. Bei den Klebsiellen zeigt nur noch Cefuroxim gute Wirksamkeit. Sehr unterschiedlich ist die Empfindlichkeit vonEnterobacter undCitrobacter gegen Cephalosporine; meist besteht eine deutliche Wirkungseinbuse.
Isolation and Properties of a New Species of Ribonucleic Acid Synthesized in Sporulating Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A new species of ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected in sporulating culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This RNA was isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and partially characterized. It has a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 20S and a nucleotide composition distinct from other known RNA species in yeast, and it hybridizes with nuclear but not with mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid.
Copper in Mitochondria

Copper is an essential micronutrient required in mitochondria for energy production in aerobic eukaryotes. Copper is a cofactor in the enzymes cytochrome c oxidase and superoxide dismutase. Metallochaperone proteins such as Cox17, Sco1, Cox11, and Ccs1 transiently bind copper in the intermembrane space to deliver it to cytochrome c oxidase or superoxide dismutase. However, the bulk of copper is in a labile pool within the mitochondrial matrix. This pool of copper is required for activation of intermembrane space cuproenzymes. Matrix copper is bound to an anionic, fluorescent molecule known as the copper ligand. Using basic framework discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a context, the current state of knowledge for each of these pools of copper will be presented. In addition, the authors highlight the unexpected activities of the SCO proteins in cellular copper homeostasis in mammals and speculate on the unresolved questions of mitochondrial copper. Keywords: matrix copper; cytochrome c oxidase; Cox17; Sco1; Cox11; mitochondria
Attenuation of hydrophobic phospholipid barrier is an early event in Helicobacter felis-induced gastritis in mice

Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked tothe development of gastritis which can then progress toa number of disease entities including peptic ulcerdisease and gastric cancer. Since the pathogenic mechanism by which the bacteria causesgastritis is unresolved, we employed a model system, theH. felis-infected mouse to investigate the temporalrelationship between bacterially-induced alterations in the hydrophobic phospholipid barrier of thestomach and the development of gastritis. In the presentstudy, C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with 109CFU of H. felis and the changes in gastric wet weight, histology, surface hydrophobicity,phospholipid/phosphatidylcholine concentration,phospholipase A2 activity, and the pH ofcollected gastric juice were measured 0.5-2 monthspostinoculation. In related experiments, we investigated the effects oftreating H. felis infected mice with antibiotic/bismuththerapy on the above gastric properties. It wasdetermined that both gastric surface hydrophobicity and phospholipid composition were significantlyattenuated as early as 2-4 weeks postinfection,preceding signs of mucosal inflammation and glandularatrophy as indicated by increases in gastric wet weight, pH and a disappearance in parietal cells. Theseearly H. felis-induced changes in gastric surfacehydrophobicity and phospholipid concentration werereversed by antibiotic/bismuth therapy. Based on these results we conclude that H. felis infectioninduces an early transformation of the stomach from ahydrophobic to an acid-sensitive hydrophilic state thatmay trigger the subsequent development ofgastritis.
Temporal accumulation patterns of defence response gene transcripts in relation to resistant reactions in oat inoculated withPuccinia graminis

Abstract Transcript accumulation patterns for six defence response genes in oat inoculated with an incompatible isolate of Puccinia graminis f.sp. avenae ( Pga -1H) or an isolate of an inappropriate forma specialis , P. graminis f.sp. tritici ( Pgt -8D), were compared to the occurrence of hypersensitive cell death (HCD) and inhibition of colony elongation. HCD here occurred at 4–6% of infection sites by 36 h after inoculation (AI) increasing to only 26–32% of sites at 72 h AI, whereas colony growth was completely or partially inhibited at 42–48 h AI, indicating that HCD was not a major factor in growth inhibition. By 24–30 h AI, transcripts of three genes accumulated preferentially in the incompatible or inappropriate interactions: 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (3-PGK), an enzyme of glycolysis, possibly associated with early respiratory increase; phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), related to increased phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and a gene of unknown function which hybridized to a cDNA, pCRL120, previously obtained from the incompatible interaction. These transcripts accumulated before HCD or fungal growth inhibition, implicating activation of the three genes in early events leading to resistance. By 36 h AI, at the time HCD was beginning to occur, transcripts of a gene for the glucose-regulating protein 94 (GRP94) began to accumulate in response to isolate Pga -1H. Finally, at 42–48 h, in association with HCD and colony growth inhibition, transcripts of genes for a pathogenesis-related protein (PR-1) and for thaumatin-like protein ( tlp ) accumulated. The results indicate sequential activation of genes, beginning with 3-PGK, PAL and the gene corresponding to pCRL120, followed by GRP94, and ending with PR-1 and tlp .
The management of hypertrophic lochs: case studies in southwest Scotland

This paper considers the range of management techniques which are currently available for the remediation of eutrophic lakes, with respect to two lochs within southwest Scotland. Preliminary studies of sources of nutrients identified the need for the development of different management prescriptions for each. Such studies will ensure that the management is tailored to meet the specific needs of the site. The two lochs, Carlingwark Loch at Castle Douglas and Castle Loch at Lochmaben, both support algal blooms but have different nutrient sources. Carlingwark Loch appears to be receiving large quantities of nutrients from the surrounding catchment, whereas Castle Loch shows a net loss of nutrients over its surface inflows, indicating release from the sediments and/or input from overwintering wildfowl. In these cases, if preliminary studies had not been undertaken, the management programmes developed may not have used the most effective control measures.
The VXIbus from an instrument designer's perspective

The VXIbus specification defines a technically sound modular instrument standard addressing electrical, mechanical, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)/power, and communication requirements for modules. The standard does not cover certain information that is critical to the instrument module designer. For this reason, it becomes necessary for a VXIbus instrument manufacturer to define an internal standard to supplement the VXIbus specification. The author describes Hewlett-Packard's instrument module design standard, which addresses instrument language, front panel design, and common interface hardware, and other supplemental HP standards. >
Dental Students’ Reflections on Their Experiences with a Diverse Patient Population

Recent developments, including national reports and new accreditation standards, have emphasized the need for dental students to be prepared to address the needs of a diverse patient population. The purpose of this study was to explore students’ descriptions of and reflections on their day-to-day interactions with a diverse patient population in the clinical setting, using a qualitative approach. All dental students (sixty-six) enrolled in the third year of the D.M.D. program at a Midwestern dental school were required to write a paper reflecting on their experiences working with a diverse patient population in the general dental clinic of the school as part of a behavioral sciences course. All third-year dental students were invited to participate in the study. The students’ papers were deidentified prior to data analysis. Forty-two students’ papers describing a total of 126 patient-student interactions were reviewed. Data analysis resulted in identification of three key themes: 1) development of cultural awareness and recognition of the need to understand each patient as a unique individual, 2) desire to build rapport with all patients, and 3) realization that the development of cultural competence is a lifelong learning process requiring ongoing experiences working with a diverse patient population. Review of student reflection papers is valuable in providing faculty with an understanding of students’ degree of development of cultural competence. A greater understanding of students’ day-to-day experiences with a diverse patient population can provide insights for dental educators who develop cultural competence curricula.
Diode laser absorption measurements of CH 3 Cl and CH 4 near 1.65 µm

Two distributed-feedback (InGaAsP) diode lasers were used to record high-resolution absorption spectra of the parallel and the perpendicular components of the 2ν4 band of methyl chloride (CH3Cl) and the 2ν3 band of methane (CH4) near 1.65 µm. The room-temperature absorption measurements, which were conducted in a multipass cell with a variable path length (878–1020 cm), were used to determine the mole fractions of the constituent gases and thus demonstrate species-specific, nonintrusive concentration measurements of species with overlapping spectra.
Pars plana lensectomy and intraocular lens implantation in pediatric radiation-induced cataracts in retinoblastoma.

Objective To investigate visual outcomes, surgical complications, and tumor recurrence among children with retinoblastoma (RB) undergoing pars plana lensectomy, vitrectomy, and simultaneous intraocular lens insertion for radiation-related cataract secondary to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Design Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series. Methods The medical records for all patients treated with pars plana lensectomy, vitrectomy, and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation for radiation-induced cataract after EBRT for RB at a single institution between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2000, were reviewed. Participants The study included 16 eyes of 12 children with Reese-Ellsworth stage V RB. Main Outcome Measures Visual acuity, surgical and postoperative complications, postoperative refraction, and tumor recurrence. Results The median age at diagnosis of RB was 6 months (range, 1–49 months). All patients received EBRT as primary treatment and experienced radiation-induced cataracts. The median interval from RB diagnosis to cataract surgery was 42 months (range, 28–95 months). Preoperative mean visual acuity was 20/400, with 12 of 16 eyes (75%) having macular tumor involvement. All patients underwent pars plana lensectomy, vitrectomy, and posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion. Vitreous samples were evaluated by cytopathologic examination, and no viable tumor cells were identified in any of the vitreous specimens. Postoperative complications included transient cystoid macular edema in 5 eyes (31%) and iridocyclitis in 3 eyes (19%). The mean follow-up after cataract surgery was 66 months (range, 30–94 months). Final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 11 of 16 eyes (69%). No late intraocular recurrence, orbital tumors, or metastatic disease was noted in this study. Conclusions Pars plana lensectomy, vitrectomy, and simultaneous intraocular lens implantation is an effective means of managing EBRT-induced cataracts in eyes with previously treated RB. There was no evidence of active tumor in eyes undergoing surgery at least 28 months after the diagnosis and commencement of therapy for RB, and no late intraocular, orbital, or metastatic tumors were detected. Visual acuity was limited by the presence of primary macular tumor pathologic features in a subset of patients, but final vision better than 20/400 may be achieved in these eyes.
Measurement of Smoothed Wigner Phase Space Distributions in Multiple Scattering Media

We use a simple heterodyne method to measure smoothed Wigner phase space distributions for light transmitted through a turbid medium. A three component distribution is seen to emerge from the sample, consisting of a ballistic peak, a narrow diffractive pedestal and a broad background. The narrow pedestal is found to decay with an extinction coefficient that is 0.65 as large as that of the ballistic component. These results are in excellent agreement with a simple analytical model that treats diffractive scattering explicitly, but includes large angle scattering only as a loss.
Effect of rapid intravenous administration of 50% dextrose solution on phosphorus homeostasis in postparturient dairy cows.

Background:Dextrose is commonly administered to postparturient dairy cows, which often have low plasma phosphorus concentration ([P]) as a result of anorexia and sudden onset of lactation. Intravenous (IV) dextrose administration causes hypophosphatemia in other species. Hypothesis:Bolus administration of dextrose to postparturient dairy cows results in a transient decrease in plasma [P]. Animals:Six healthy postparturient dairy cows. Methods:Using a crossover design, cows were administered 500 mL of 50% dextrose solution IV or a sham treatment. Plasma concentrations of glucose ([glucose]), immunoreactive insulin ([IRI]), and phosphorus were monitored for 12 hours after each treatment. Urine [P], [glucose], and volume and salivary [P] were also determined. Results:Plasma [glucose], [IRI], and [P] were stable during sham treatment. Plasma [P] decreased rapidly after dextrose administration, dropping by 35% in 1 hour and remaining below baseline for 90 minutes. Salivary [P], urine [P], and urine volume per hour remained stable after dextrose administration, but glucose was detected in urine for up to 6 hours. The amount of glucose excreted in urine in 12 hours (11.9 ± 4.5 g) was less than 5% of the administered dose. Regression analysis revealed a stronger association between plasma [P] and [IRI] than between plasma [P] and [glucose], suggesting that hyperinsulinemia drove the hypophosphatemia. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Results indicate that low plasma [P] should be expected in cows that have received IV dextrose within 1 hour before blood sampling. Caution is advised when administering dextrose solution to cows already at risk of hypophosphatemia.
Mammals as a Key to Evolutionary Theory

Mammalogy provides exceptionally fertile grounds for advancing evolutionary theory, because its data spans from diverse researches on living forms to a rich fossil record. I illustrate this by integrating interdisciplinary evidence and hypotheses in the habitat theory, including : 1) the context of paleoclimatic changes, and how species' distributions responded to them; 2) geographical biases in turnover rates of species; 3) the turnover-pulse hypothesis; 4) breadth of resource use as a cause of phylogenetic turnover rates. Preliminary tests using the late Neogene records of the Americas and Africa suggest that major aspects of the Great American Interchange have parallels in the African record, as predicted by the habitat theory
Asymmetric sternotomy and sternal wound complications: assessment using 3-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction.

ObjectiveWound complications after midline sternotomy result in significant morbidity and mortality. Despite many known risk factors, the influence of sternal asymmetry has largely been ignored. Th...
INTEGRAL REPRESENTATIONS FOR SCATTERING AMPLITUDES. II. APPLICATION

Abstract In this paper the formalism developed previously is applied to a phenomenological analysis of high energy proton-proton elastic scattering. The general experimental features appear to be satisfactorily reproduced by a simple empirical spectral function. Spin effects have been neglected; for this reason the numerical comparison given here has to be taken simply as a qualitative indication and no least squares analysis has been carried on. Restricting ourselves to a potential picture and solving the inversion problem in the W.K.B. approximation, the potential is roughly reconstructed from the empirical scattering amplitude and is found to be an energy dependent generalization of a Yukawa potential whose Fourier transform is exponentially damped for large values of the momentum variable.
Contested memory: Notes on Robert K. Merton’s“the Thomas Theorem and the Matthew Effect”

Merton’s 1995 article shows the sociological complexity of a question that appears on the surface to be a simple one: Who wrote,“ If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”? Yet, simple things can be stated simply: the evidence for W. I. Thomas’s authorship of this sentence is far from conclusive; therefore I believe it should be attributed to both authors of the book in which it appears. It is ironic that Merton, having spent much of his professional career studying the role of citations in science, bears some responsibility for the lack of credit Dorothy Swaine Thomas has received regarding these words. This incident should therefore act as a cautionary tale about what happens when we stray too far from the scholarly practice of documenting our sources, even though we may believe we have good reasons for doing so. I am averse, however, to conclude my response to Merton’s article on a strident note. My hope is that this episode will help us move toward a“new era” of not the politically but the scholarly correct citation. It would be a pity if this issue leads to citation wars where old scores are settled and political correctness wins out over scholarly civility. On this point, I am sure Merton and I can both agree.
High-dose rapamycin blocks mossy fiber sprouting but not seizures in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Summary Purpose The role of granule cell axon (mossy fiber) sprouting in temporal lobe epileptogenesis is unclear and controversial. Rapamycin suppresses mossy fiber sprouting, but its reported effects on seizure frequency are mixed. The present study used high-dose rapamycin to more completely block mossy fiber sprouting and to measure the effect on seizure frequency. Methods Mice were treated with pilocarpine to induce status epilepticus. Beginning 24 h later and continuing for 2 months, vehicle or rapamycin (10 mg/kg/day) was administered. Starting 1 month after status epilepticus, mice were monitored by video 9 h per day, every day, for 1 month to measure the frequency of spontaneous motor seizures. At the end of seizure monitoring, a subset of mice was prepared for anatomic analysis. Mossy fiber sprouting was measured as the proportion of the granule cell layer and molecular layer that displayed black labeling in Timm-stained sections. Key Findings Extensive mossy fiber sprouting developed in mice that experienced status epilepticus and were treated with vehicle. In rapamycin-treated mice, mossy fiber sprouting was blocked almost to the level of naive controls. Seizure frequency was similar in vehicle-treated and rapamycin-treated mice. Significance These findings suggest that mossy fiber sprouting is not necessary for epileptogenesis in the mouse pilocarpine model. They also reveal that rapamycin does not have antiseizure or antiepileptogenic effects in this model.
Financial performance of leveraged buyouts: An empirical analysis☆☆☆

Abstract This study compares management performance before and after leveraged buyouts of 25 sample companies. Average performance for the two years before a leveraged buyout is compared to average performance for the two years after a buyout. The year of the buyout is omitted from comparisons because it usually includes recognition of a number of atypical events which distort comparisons. Managers must acquire some equity ownership as part of the buyout, and a major restructuring must not occur in either the pre- or post-buyout periods. Seven accounting variables, adjusted in the pre-buyout periods to reflect values reflected in the post-buyout periods, are used to measure performance. Comparison of pre- and post-buy out performance are made directly for the same entity. Comparisons are also made of pre- and post-buyout performance in terms of the ratios of company performance to industry performance. Multivariate analyses of variance, using all seven variables, reflect change in both comparisons which is significant at the .001 level. Post-hoc tests are performed to attempt to identify the extent of change in the separate variables and to examine the significance of income tax savings. Financial performance after the buyouts is superior to performance before the buyouts. The evidence is convincing that management focus changes, apparently from minimizing variability in reported profits to maximizing cash flow. The improvement is greater than from income tax savings alone. Three groups of LBO participants are interviewed to gain insight into the forces behind the changes which are reflected in the financial data. Executives of institutional investors, LBO house principals and chief executive officers of LBO companies, all anticipate a higher return on investment in the post-buyout period and more efficient use of corporate assets. They tend to consider cashflow to be the primary measure of performance of LBO companies. The reason for the improvement in performance cannot be identified with certainty, but no explanation is more persuasive than the introduction of entrepreneurial management by the small group of new owner-managers. Interviewees provide anecdotal evidence that the utility functions of on-site managers and other investors converge on the task of debt reduction, indicating a reduction of agency costs. Absence of free cash flow in the post-buyout period also provides support for lesser agency costs. However, the introduction of entrepreneurial management is interpreted to include the exploitation of a wider set of opportunities to achieve wealth and position for owner-managers than from the reduction of agency costs alone. The findings are important for investors, future LBO players, and for makers of public policy. Efficiency improvements can reasonably be expected from similar future leveraged buyouts, improvement not dependent on income tax savings.
X‐ray Powder Diffraction Structural Phase‐Transition Study of La(Cr1‐xMnx)O3 (x = 0 to 0.25) Using the Rietveld Method of Analysis

This paper reports on the La(Cr{sub 1{minus}x}Mn{sub x})O{sub 3} (x = 0 to 0.25) system which exhibited a displacive phase transformation from an orthorhombic to a rhombohedral structure at temperatures ranging from about 256{degrees}C at x = 0 to 305{degrees}C at x = 0.2. The Rietveld method of X-ray analysis was used to determine structural characteristics and to assay phase concentrations when multiple phases were present. Indications were than the Mn ions on the B site affected the transition temperature through an ionic size effect; i.e., Mn{sup 3+}, with a larger ionic size than Cr{sup 3+}, increased the transition temperature while the presence of the smaller Mn{sup 4+} ions reduced it. A hysteresis was also observed with respect to the phase transformation as a function of temperature. The phase transformation was associated with a change in the rotation of the oxygen octahedra from an antiphase to an in-phase tilt sequence.
Comparison of Four Assays for the Detection of Cryptococcal Antigen

ABSTRACT We compared the performance of four assays for the detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum samples ( n = 634) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples ( n = 51). Compared to latex agglutination, the sensitivity and specificity of the Premier enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Alpha CrAg EIA, and CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) were 55.6 and 100%, 100 and 99.7%, and 100 and 99.8%, respectively, from serum samples. There was 100% agreement among the four tests for CSF samples, with 18 samples testing positive by each of the assays.
Predicting performance in the savings and loan association industry

Abstract The purpose of this study is to develop a system for identifying serious financial problems in savings and loan associations. A ‘serious problem S&L’ is defined as one for which the Federal Savings & Loan Insurance Corporation provides financial assistance or where the S&L is supervisorly merged with a sounder institution. The technique used is to compare operating characteristics of problem S&L's with those of S&L's in various degrees of good standing. The results of the study show that a 12-variable econometric system is both accurate and practical for at least three semi-annual periods preceding the serious problem data. The system involves (1) quadratic discriminant analysis, and (2) a composite S&L rating based on three two-group discriminant models.
Prenatal substance exposure and child self-regulation: Pathways to risk and protection

Abstract A conceptual model of the association between prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) and child self-regulation via maternal harshness and language development was examined. Specifically, the model tested whether PCE was associated with self-regulation either directly or indirectly via high maternal harshness and poor language development. The role of child sex, autonomic reactivity, and cumulative environmental risk as potential moderators was also explored. The sample was 216 mother–child dyads recruited at birth and assessed at 2, 7, 13, 24, 36, and 48 months of child ages. Participating mothers were primarily African American (72%). Results indicated a significant indirect association between PCE and child effortful control at 36 months via higher maternal harshness. Autonomic reactivity moderated the association between maternal harshness and self-regulation such that among children with poor autonomic reactivity, high maternal harshness was associated with lower conscience at 3 years. Child sex and environmental risk did not moderate the association between PCE and self-regulation. Thus, the quality of caregiving experience played a significant role in the development of self-regulation among PCE children, especially those at higher autonomic risk. In particular, PCE children who also exhibit poor autonomic reactivity may be particularly susceptible to environmental influences such as parenting.