cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of the P1c1 repressor with P1 DNA: localization of repressor binding sites near the c1 gene.

The c1 repressor of phage P1 was previously shown (B.R. Baumstark and J.R. Scott, 1980, J. Mol. Biol. 140, 471-480) to bind specifically to P1BamHI-9, a 1.4-kb fragment that is closely linked to the c1 structural gene and spans the ends of the P1 genetic map. The position of the repressor binding site(s) relative to the ends of the genetic map and the c1 gene was investigated by testing cloned fragments of EcoRI-7 and BamHI-9 for c1 expression and repressor binding. Although sequences in both BamHI-9 and the adjacent 2.7-kb EcoRI/BamHI fragment were found to be required for the production of the c1 protein, c1 expression could be restored to the 2.7-kb fragment by the addition of a heterologous promoter (ptac). These observations are consistent with the localization of the c1 reading frame to the 2.7-kb fragment and at least part of the c1 promoter region to BamHI-9. The c1 repressor was shown to bind in vitro to two distinct cloned fragments of BamHI-9 derived from the far right side of the P1 map, indicating the presence of at least two recognition sites in this region. DNA sequence analysis revealed that these two fragments share a 23-bp region of homology. A synthetic DNA containing an 11-bp sequence from this region acts as an effective competitor for repressor binding in vitro, suggesting that at least part of the sequence shared by the fragments is involved in repressor-DNA recognition.
South Greenland ice-sheet collapse during Marine Isotope Stage 11

Varying levels of boreal summer insolation and associated Earth system feedbacks led to differing climate and ice-sheet states during late-Quaternary interglaciations. In particular, Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11 was an exceptionally long interglaciation and potentially had a global mean sea level 6 to 13 metres above the present level around 410,000 to 400,000 years ago, implying substantial mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet (GIS). There are, however, no model simulations and only limited proxy data to constrain the magnitude of the GIS response to climate change during this 'super interglacial', thus confounding efforts to assess climate/ice-sheet threshold behaviour and associated sea-level rise. Here we show that the south GIS was drastically smaller during MIS 11 than it is now, with only a small residual ice dome over southernmost Greenland. We use the strontium-neodymium-lead isotopic composition of proglacial sediment discharged from south Greenland to constrain the provenance of terrigenous silt deposited on the Eirik Drift, a sedimentary deposit off the south Greenland margin. We identify a major reduction in sediment input derived from south Greenland's Precambrian bedrock terranes, probably reflecting the cessation of subglacial erosion and sediment transport as a result of near-complete deglaciation of south Greenland. Comparison with ice-sheet configurations from numerical models suggests that the GIS lost about 4.5 to 6 metres of sea-level-equivalent volume during MIS 11. This is evidence for late-Quaternary GIS collapse after it crossed a climate/ice-sheet stability threshold that may have been no more than several degrees above pre-industrial temperatures.
The Clinton administration and regional security: The first two years

(1996). The Clinton administration and regional security: The first two years. Israel Affairs: Vol. 2, U.S.—Israeli Relations of the Crossroads, pp. 57-75.
Measurement of business environment characteristics in the US technical textile industry: an empirical study

Business environment has long been identified as an important contingency in the operations management literature. However, relatively little effort has been devoted to the empirical measurement of its characteristics. This study aims to develop a reliable and valid instrument for measuring business environment characteristics (BEC) in the context of operations management. The study proposes a conceptual model based on one of most widely accepted BEC frameworks – the four-dimension classification: diversity, complexity, dynamism, and hostility. A survey instrument was developed to collect primary data on US technical textile firms. Factor analysis was utilized to test the proposed BEC model using the data from 202 survey returns. The results indicate that the developed survey instrument can generate reliable data. The BEC model is proven valid, and the four dimensions account for the most variance in the business environment. This research provides the springboard for further systematic studies of BEC in ...
Pharmacologic approaches to protection against radiation-induced lethality and other damage.

Abstract Studies on mechanisms of radioprotection are leading to a more rational use of protectors for different applications. In considering the feasibility of radioprotectors that act through various mechanisms, it is necessary to distinguish the application needed, e.g., protection against accidental external or internal exposures, acute high-dose radiation injury or low doses over a long period, high-LET radiation exposures during space flight, and protection of normal tissues of cancer patients who are undergoing therapy. Protectors generally are classified as either sulfhydryl compounds, other antioxidants, or receptor-mediated agents (e.g., bioactive lipids, cytokines, and growth factors). This review focuses on comparative radioprotection and toxicity studies in mice using the most effective phosphorothioate agents designated as WR-compounds and other classes of protectors. The superiority of phosphorothioates (WR-2721, WR-151327) as radioprotectors appears to be related to their high affinity for DNA and the similarity in structure of phosphorothioate metabolites to polyamines, and their effects on processes related to DNA structure and synthesis. Drug tolerance levels are available from clinical trials using WR-2721 (amifostine) and provide a basis for discussions of the disadvantages of phosphorothioate administration outside a clinical setting. In this regard, arguments are presented against the current use of WR-2721 by Department of Energy personnel for planned radiation exposures during emergencies. Future research may demonstrate, however, that pharmacologic agents could be useful in accident scenarios, especially when used in combination with therapeutic measures. Assessment of potential prophylactic measures should consider compatibility with therapeutic measures currently in use or ones that might be available in the future for the treatment of radiation injuries. These include antiemetics, purified stem cells, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and other cytokines. Their potential usefulness against radiation-induced mutagenesis of pre- and postexposure administration of phosphorothioates and other classes of protectors should be corroborated in humans.
Children and outdoor play.

Only about half of preschoolers were taken outside to play at least once a day by a parent. . . . Being a girl, of nonwhite race/ethnicity and having a mother who worked part or full time were factors decreasing the likelihood of playing outside at least once day with a parent. AS A RESULT of the current focus on the obesity epidemic, the benefits of physical activity are being more widely discussed. A new study reveals that approximately half of all preschool-aged children are not being taken outside to play each day (Tandon, Zhou, & Christakis, 2012). Clinicians are advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle, which includes playing outdoors frequently, and according to the AAP, participating in physical activities by playing and playing outdoors is beneficial for mental health, vitamin D levels, motor development, vision, and cognition. The researchers examined data of 8,950 preschool-aged children from the Early Child Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, a nationally representative study that tracks children born in 2001. The researchers used parent's reports on how many physical activities their children had. They found that 51% of children went outside to walk or play at least one time per day with either parent, whereas 58% of children who were not in child care went outside on a daily basis. The researchers found that being a boy, having physically active parents, and having more regular playmates were linked to going outdoors at least one time per day. Girls were 16% less likely than boys their age to be taken outside by their parents to play. Asian, Black, and Hispanic mothers were less likely to take their children outside on a daily basis than White mothers (49%, 41%, and 20%, respectively). No significant connection was found between the mother's marital status, child's television viewing, parent perceptions of neighborhood safety, and household income with the frequency of outdoor play. Overall, 60% of mothers worked outside the home, and 79% exercised less than 4 days a week. Most of the children (80%) spent time in nonparental daycare—an average of 28.5 hours a week. Only 44% of mothers and
Effect of age and housing conditions on the behavioural and haemolytic reaction of piglets to weaning

Crossbred litters from multiparous sows were weaned at 2 or 4 weeks of age (11 litters per treatment) and either kept in their familiar environment, the farrowing pen (11 litters), or housed in a nursery pen, an unfamiliar environment (11 litters). The piglets were provided ad libitum with pelleted feed, starting 1 week before weaning. Observations started 3 days before weaning and were continued over a period of 10 days. Before weaning, 2-week-old piglets spent on average 0.3% of their time consuming 7g of solid feed per day compared with the 4-week-old piglets who spent 3.6% (P<0.001) of their time consuming 127 g (P<0.001). In both groups the amount eaten increased somewhat during the first day post-weaning, but eating time first increased on the second day, to about 8% in both groups, and further to about 12% on the 4th day in the 2-week-old piglets. Simultaneously, the amount of food eaten increased. The 4-week old piglets showed an increase in body weight on Day 3 and both groups showed increased weight by Day 7 post-weaning. Before weaning, the 2-week and 4-week-old piglets spent respectively 20.7 and 14.8% of their time suckling. After weaning, some belly-nosing developed in the 2-week-old litters, but was rare in the 4-week-old litters, resulting in a nearly significant difference (P=0.06) between the age groups on Day 6 post-weaning. Time spent lying before weaning was similar between the 2- and 4-week old piglets (67.8 and 66.1%, respectively; not significant). Both age groups reacted equally to weaning with a marked increase in lying time on the day of weaning, but on subsequent days this increase waned in the younger group. Weaning at an age of 2 weeks resulted in a significant increase in the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio compared with weaning at 4 weeks (P<0.05).
Indentation size effects in crystalline materials: A law for strain gradient plasticity

Abstract We show that the indentation size effect for crystalline materials can be accurately modeled using the concept of geometrically necessary dislocations. The model leads to the following characteristic form for the depth dependence of the hardness: H H 0 1+ h ∗ h where H is the hardness for a given depth of indentation, h, H0 is the hardness in the limit of infinite depth and h ∗ is a characteristic length that depends on the shape of the indenter, the shear modulus and H0. Indentation experiments on annealed (111) copper single crystals and cold worked polycrystalline copper show that this relation is well-obeyed. We also show that this relation describes the indentation size effect observed for single crystals of silver. We use this model to derive the following law for strain gradient plasticity: ( σ σ 0 ) 2 = 1 + l χ , where σ is the effective flow stress in the presence of a gradient, σ0 is the flow stress in the absence of a gradient, χ is the effective strain gradient and l a characteristic material length scale, which is, in turn, related to the flow stress of the material in the absence of a strain gradient, l ≈ b( μ σ 0 ) 2 . For materials characterized by the power law σ 0 = σ ref e 1 n , the above law can be recast in a form with a strain-independent material length scale l. ( builtσ σ ref ) 2 = e 2 n + l χ l = b( μ σ ref ) 2 = l ( σ 0 σ ref ) 2 . This law resembles the phenomenological law developed by Fleck and Hutchinson, with their phenomenological length scale interpreted in terms of measurable material parametersbl].
Direct and Inverse Modeling of Multiphase Flow Systems

A modeling study is presented which demonstrates how the combination of simulation and optimization techniques can be used to improve the design of a multi-component remediation system. A series of computer codes has been developed at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to solve forward and inverse problems in groundwater hydrology. Simulations of non-isothermal, three-phase flow of volatile organic compounds in three-dimensional heterogeneous media were performed. Inverse modeling capabilities have been developed which can be used for both automatic model calibration and optimization of remediation schemes. In this study, we discuss a sequence of simulations to demonstrate the potential use of numerical models to design and analyze cleanup of a contaminated aquifer.
Identification of the fifth subunit os Saccharomyces cerevisiae Replication Factor C

Abstract Yeast replication factor C (RF-C) is a multipolypeptide complex required for chromosomal DNA replication. Previously this complex was known to consist of at least four subunits. We here report the identification of a fifth RF-C subunit from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encoded by the RFC5 (YBR0810) gene. This subunit exhibits highest homology to the 38 kDa subunit (38%) of human RF-C (activator 1). Like the other four RFC genes, the RFC5 gene is essential for yeast viability, indicating an essential function for each subunit. RFC5 mRNA is expressed at steady-state levels throughout the mitotic cell cycle. Upon overexpression in Escherichia coli Rfc5p has an apparent molecular mass of 41 kDa. Overproduction of RF-C activity in yeast is dependent on overexpression of the RFC5 gene together with overexpression of the RFC1-4 genes, indicating that the RFC5 gene product forms an integral subunit of this replication factor.
Artificial intelligence in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia

This paper describes the development of an expert system to aid physicians in locating the origin of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). The system combines a traditional rule based system with digital signal processing routines which provide the input for the rule based system.
Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Self-Esteem in Women

Research shows that women both focus on the social aspects of jobs and rate their self-esteem on social factors, so it was hypothesized that women scoring high on a job-satisfaction questionnaire would score significantly higher on those scales of the Adjective Check List which are relevant to self-esteem than women scoring low in job-satisfaction. The results supported the hypothesis. Job-satisfied women were achievement-oriented, cooperative, tactful, social, self-confident, and comfortable with sex-appropriate roles. Job-unsatisfied women were self-critical, suffered from inferiority feelings, and displayed maladaptive tendencies. Further research was suggested.
Culture conditions affect the cholinergic development of an isolated subpopulation of chick mesencephalic neural crest cells

Abstract Although neural crest cells are known to be very responsive to environmental cues during their development, recent evidence indicates that at least some subpopulations may be committed to a specific differentiation program prior to migration. Because the neural crest is composed of a heterogeneous mixture of cells that contributes to many vertebrate cell lineages, assessing the properties of specific subpopulations and the effect of the environment on their development has been difficult. To address this problem, we have isolated a pure subpopulation of chick mesencephalic neural crest cells by fluorescence no-flow cytometry after labeling them with monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to a 75-kDa cell surface antigen that is associated with high affinity choline uptake. When cultures of chick mesencephalic neural crest cells are labeled with these Mabs and a fluorescent second step antibody, ∼5% of the cells are antigen-positive (A + ). After sorting, 100% of the resulting cultured mesencephalic neural crest cells are A + . The Mabs we used also label all of the neurons of the embryonic chick and quail ciliary ganglion in vivo and in vitro . We have compared the effect of various cell culture media on the isolated neural crest subpopulation and the heterogeneous chick mesencephalic neural crest from which it was derived. A + cells were passaged and grown in a variety of media, each of which differently affected its characteristics and development. A + cells proliferated in the presence of 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and high concentrations (10–15%) of chick embryo extract, but did not differentiate, although they retained basal levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity. However, in chick serum and high (25 m M as opposed to 7 m M ) K + , and heart-, iris-, or lung-conditioned medium, all of which are known to promote survival and/or cholinergic development of ciliary ganglion neurons, the cells ceased to proliferate and all of the cells in the culture became “neuron-like” within 10 days. No neuron-like cells were found in liver-, notocord-, or neural tube-conditioned media if FBS was used. When A + cells were eliminated either by complement-mediated cytotoxicity or by laser-ablating A + cells during no-flow cytometry, all ChAT activity was also eliminated, and no neuron-like cells or ChAT activity was found in cultures during a subsequent 3-week culture period. We conclude that culture conditions that normally promote ciliary ganglion neuron survival and cholinergic development also promote differentiation and development of cholinergic neuron-like cells from the isolated A + neural crest subpopulation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the A + subpopulation contributes to the formation of ciliary ganglion neurons in the embryo.
Auditory golf coaching system using perceptive sportswear based on hetero-core optics

A sports motion support system for golf swing has been described by using a perceptive sportswear and a wireless mobile device with Android application, in which a trainee is given real-time auditory feedback to be informed the performance of the swing. The wireless mobile device receives motion data from the perceptive sportswear designed in form of shirts and shoes in which hetero-core optical fibers are fastened or embedded for monitoring the body motion without restraint. Real-time feedback experiment has been demonstrated based on the system, in which the trainee performing golf swings could efficiently improve his swing motion.
The role of sex steroids in the acquisition and production of birdsong

Male birdsong is generally regarded as a secondary sexual characteristic under the control of gonadal steroids1,2. Song typically waxes and wanes with the seasonal cycle of testicular growth and regression and decreases after adult castration. Testosterone therapy reinstates song, induces it in females, augments it in intact males, and spring testosterone profiles correlate with seasonal song production3–10. Thus, testosterone has been viewed as a major factor in song acquisition and production3,11–14 acting either directly, or after aromatization within the brain15–16. We show here, however, that song learning and early phases of the development of singing both take place in castrated male birds with no significant levels of testosterone in their blood plasma. Testosterone seems to be required for song crystallization, however. Oestradiol was unexpectedly still present after castration, evidently from a non-testicular source, throughout the period of male song acquisition.
A Multivariant model for single crystal shape memory alloy behavior

Abstract A general 3-D multivariant model based on thermodynamics and micromechanics for single crystal shape memory alloy (SMA) behavior is presented. This model is based on the habit plane and transformation directions for the variants of martensite in a given material. From this information, the single crystal behavior of the material to temperature and mechanical loads is derived using the concept of a thermodynamic driving force. The Eshelby–Kroner approach is utilized to determine the interaction energy between the variants, where it is assumed that variants can be subdivided into several self-accommodating groups in which variants can grow together compatibly. This model is examined initially for a simple 2-variant case and then extended to the typical 24 variant case. The multivariant model is shown to exhibit appropriate responses for uniaxial results on single crystals : the transformations occur instantaneously when the critical stress\temperature is reached ; both pseudoelasticity and the shape memory effect are captured. The model is also examined for responses to multiaxial loadings and the distinction between perfectly compatible and imperfectly compatible variants (with nonzero volumetric transformation strain) is discussed.
Role and application of provocation in the diagnosis of occupational latex allergy.

INTRODUCTION Allergic sensitivity to the plant protein constituents of natural rubber latex has become a major occupational hazard for health care workers and for certain patients with repetitive latex exposures.1,2 Epidemiologic studies from Europe indicate that between 2.2% and 10.7% of health care workers and between 1% and 2% of laboratory personnel are latex allergic.3–5 More recently, Brown et al studied a group of anesthesiologists and found the prevalence of latex allergy with clinical symptoms to be 2.4% and the prevalence of asymptomatic latex sensitization to be 10.1%.6 The prevalence of latex sensitization in children with spina bifida approaches 45%, possibly due to prolonged or repeated latex allergen exposure due to multiple surgical procedures and/or chronic indwelling catheters.7–9 Contact urticaria is the most common manifestation of latex allergy. The clinical sequelae of latex allergy also include other rashes, rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, and systemic anaphylaxis.2 These allergic reactions are elicited in sensitized individuals by exposure to a group of allergenic latex proteins. Some allergen attaches to cornstarch particles and becomes airborne when powdered latex gloves are used.10 Latex proteins can also be absorbed through repeated contact with the skin (especially after abrasion) or mucosal surfaces. The diagnosis of latex allergy depends primarily on a clinical history in which latex exposure is associated with clinical allergy symptoms. Confirmatory skin tests and serologic tests that have been developed to measure specific anti-latex IgE often have reduced sensitivity and specificity.11–13 When the clinical history and anti-latex IgE tests are discordant, natural provocational procedures are useful to adjudicate the patients’ true latex sensitivity status.
Electrochemistry in Pyridine II. Polarographic Behavior of Benzophenone

The polarographic reduction of benzophnone at the dropping mercury electrode has been investigated in 20% to 100% pyridine solution with particular attention to the nature of the electrolytic process in dry pyridine. In the latter solvent, benzophenone is reduced in an apparently one-electron reversible process to an anion free radical, which would readily dimerize to a product, which would in turn hydrolyze in the presence of water to form benzpinacol. The reduction mechanism is thus generally similar to that of benzophenone in alkaline aqueous solution, where the relative lack of hydrogen ion results in an anionic free radical being the primary product.
Chemical reaction network structure and the stability of complex isothermal reactors—I. The deficiency zero and deficiency one theorems

Abstract The dynamics of complex isothermal reactors are studied in general terms with special focus on connections between reaction network structure and the capacity of the corresponding differential equations to admit unstable behavior. As in some earlier work, the principal results rely on a classification of reaction networks by means of an easily computed non-negative integer index called the deficiency. This index often provides nontrivial information about the kind of dynamics that can be expected. Part of the previously reported Deficiency Zero Theorem is substantially generalized by the Deficiency One Theorem. The foundation is laid for a companion article containing a theory of multiple steady states generated by reaction networks of deficiency one.
Development and Implementation of Delphi Corporation's Electrical Safe Work Practices (ESWP) Program

OSHA regulations CFR 1910.300 - .399 along with NFPA 70E standard for electrical safety in the workplace have set minimum standards for electrical safety in the industrial workplace. The documents have created minimum standards and guidelines for corporations to create and implement their own electrical safety programs. Delphi Corporation has developed the electrical safe work practices (ESWP) standard that is being successfully implemented throughout their North American (U.S.) facilities. Once implemented, Delphi plans to share this information with their Mexican facilities and other Delphi facilities throughout the world. This paper discusses the development of the Delphi ESWP standard and the steps required to implement their electrical safety program. We briefly discussed the development process of the ESWP standard and how facilities engineering, health & safety, and union representatives worked together to come up with a complete and comprehensive document. We then described how the ESWP standard was disseminated to key personnel at each division and plant location. We have described implementation procedures such as conducting short circuit coordination and arc flash studies, providing proper PPE, and labeling equipment from the incoming utility to the plant floor. Finally, we discussed how best practices are shared and the medium from which information was shared throughout Delphi. In addition to sharing best practices we also shared lessons learned that show how to reduce costs and/or reduce implementation time. In a nutshell, Delphi's ESWP program requires that all personnel exposed to the hazards of electricity on a daily basis wear hazard risk category (HRC) level 2 FR clothing as daily wear. In addition, when within certain live part boundaries, personnel are required to wear voltage rated gloves, hardhat and face shield. This requirement is for most "floor" level access. Substation and bus exposure require HRC level 4 flash suit and hood to be worn over the daily wear. These requirements can be downgraded at a particular site if the arc flash study results reveal site levels are lower. Delphi established six goals at the outset of the program. The goals are: 1) implement a daily wear FR clothing program using a two-tiered approach where HRC Level 2 and HRC Level 4 are the standard levels; 2) require the use of current limiting protective devices at the bus level wherever feasible; 3) investigate other engineering controls to reduce the level of the arc flash hazard wherever feasible; 4) complete a detailed electrical hazard analysis for each Delphi facility; 5) label all electrical enclosures to describe the arc flash hazard potential; and 6) locally reassess PPE requirements
Complications after surgery for metastatic humeral lesions.

Background Knowledge of surgical outcome and its predictors helps inform patients and aids in surgical decision-making. We aimed to assess the outcome—reoperation and systemic complication rate—of surgery for humeral metastases, myeloma, or lymphoma. Our null hypothesis was that there are no factors associated with these outcomes. Methods We included 295 consecutive patients in this retrospective study: 134 (45%) proximal, 131 (44%) diaphyseal, and 30 (10%) distal impending or pathologic fractures. Proximal lesions were treated by intramedullary nailing (43%, n = 57), prosthesis (34%, n = 46), plate-screw fixation (22%, n = 30), and a combination (n = 1). Diaphyseal lesions were treated by intramedullary nailing (69%, n = 91), plate-screw fixation (30%, n = 39), and a combination (n = 1). Distal lesions were treated by plate-screw fixation (97%, n = 29) and intramedullary nailing (3.3%, n = 1). Results We found 25 (8.5%) reoperations, and 17 (5.8%) patients had 18 systemic complications: pneumonia (3.7%, n = 11), pulmonary embolism (1.3%, n = 4), sepsis (0.68%, n = 2), and fat embolism (0.34%, n = 1). No factors were independently associated with reoperation. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that favorable cancer status (i.e., a higher modified Bauer score: odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.80; P = .005) was independently associated with a decreased systemic complication rate. Conclusion Poor cancer status was an independent predictor of postoperative systemic complications. This could help inform the patient and anticipate postoperative problems.
Maternal Labor Force Participation and Child Well-Being in Public Assistance Families

This study investigated the relationship between maternal labor force participation and the general health and school performance of school-age children in public assistance families. Data were obtained from face-to-face interviews with 97 mothers drawn froma random sample of public assistance recipients in one community. Using a measure of maternal labor force participation over the course of several years, logistic regression analysis revealed positive, but complex, relationships. Children whose mothers had recent, current, or long-term employment were in better health than children whose mothers had been unemployed for more than 2 years. Children’s school performancewas positively associated with either long-term unemployment or long-term employment, suggesting that the stability of maternal labor force participation, rather than work status per se, was an important factor. The study maintains a needed focus on child outcomes and provides an important conceptualization of maternal labor force participa...
The Lessons Of Medicare’s Prospective Payment System Show That The Bundled Payment Program Faces Challenges

Policy makers have been trying to replace Medicare’s fee-for-service payment system for years with approaches that pay one price for an aggregation of services. The intent is to reward providers for offering needed care in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner. Medicare’s first payment change designed to accomplish such a change was the hospital prospective payment system, introduced during 1983–84. But because it focused only on hospital care, its impact on total Medicare spending was limited. In 2011 Medicare began a new initiative to expand the “bundled payment” concept to link payments for multiple services that patients receive during an episode of care. The goal of Medicare’s current bundled payment initiative is to provide incentives to deliver health care more efficiently while maintaining or improving quality. This article provides a detailed analysis of how Medicare implemented the hospital prospective payment system, how hospitals responded to the new incentives, and lessons learned th...
Sweatshops in Sunset Park: A Variation of the Late 20th Century Chinese Garment Shops in New York City

The analysis in this study is primarily based on the author's research of the Chinese garment industry in New York over the last ten years, her visits to a number of shops in Sunset Park, and her interviews with several dozen workers in the area. By representing a complex picture of the industry, it argues that while labor organizing and law enforcement remain important ways to address labor abuse in the industry, it is imperative for the law enforcement agencies, organized labor and all concerned individuals to understand the complexity embedded in the highly competitive structure of the garment industry, the multi-dimensional impact of labor legislation and law enforcement, and the need to develop new forms of labor organizing informed and responsive to the challenge of the time. Without such an understanding, any effort to curb the sweating phenomenon is likely to be sporadic and have no lasting effect on the industry.
Relationship between glycemic control and gastric emptying in poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Background & Aims Acute hyperglycemia delays gastric emptying in patients with diabetes. However, it is not clear whether improved control of glycemia affects gastric emptying in these patients. We investigated whether overnight and short-term (6 mo) improvements in control of glycemia affect gastric emptying. Methods We studied 30 patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (level of glycosylated hemoglobin, >9%). We measured gastric emptying using the [ 13 C]- Spirulina platensis breath test on the patients' first visit (visit 1), after overnight administration of insulin or saline, 1 week later (visit 2), and 6 months after intensive therapy for diabetes. We also measured fasting and postprandial plasma levels of C-peptide, glucagon-like peptide 1, and amylin, as well as autonomic functions. Results At visit 1, gastric emptying was normal in 10 patients, delayed in 14, and accelerated in 6; 6 patients had gastrointestinal symptoms; vagal dysfunction was associated with delayed gastric emptying ( P half ) at visits 1 (r = -0.46; P = .01) and 2 (r = -0.43; P = .02). Although blood levels of glucose were lower after administration of insulin (132 ± 7 mg/dL) than saline (211 ± 15 mg/dL; P = .0002), gastric emptying t half was not lower after administration of insulin, compared with saline. After 6 months of intensive therapy, levels of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased from 10.6% ± 0.3% to 9% ± 0.4% ( P = .0003), but gastric emptying t half did not change (92 ± 8 min before, 92 ± 7 min after). Gastric emptying did not correlate with plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 and amylin. Conclusions Two-thirds of patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes have mostly asymptomatic yet abnormal gastric emptying. Higher fasting blood levels of glucose are associated with faster gastric emptying. Overnight and sustained (6 mo) improvements in glycemic control do not affect gastric emptying.
Changing Etiological Perspectives in Down's Syndrome: Implications for Early Intervention Programs

Identified shortly after birth, Down's syndrome babies will represent a substantial number of infants in need of early intervention services. The very nature of infant programs calls for parent involvement. Direct contact with parents of Down's syndrome infants can provide professionals with opportunities to share new genetic findings that may assist parents in adjusting to the birth of their handicapped child.
Controlling the surface coverage and arrangement of proteins using particle lithography.

Aims: The applicability of particle lithography with monodisperse mesospheres is tested with various proteins to control the surface coverage and dimensions of protein nanopatterns. Methods & Materials: The natural self-assembly of monodisperse spheres provides an efficient, high-throughput route to prepare protein nanopatterns. Mesospheres assemble spontaneously into organized crystalline layers when dried on flat substrates, which supply a structural frame or template to direct the placement of proteins. The template particles are displaced with a simple rinsing step to disclose periodic arrays of protein nanopatterns on surfaces. Results & Discussion: The proteins are attached securely to the surface, forming nanopatterns with a measured thickness of a single layer. The morphology and diameter of the protein nanostructures can be tailored by selecting the diameter of the mesospheres and choosing the protein concentration. Conclusions: Particle lithography is shown to be a practical, highly reproducible...
Distributed goal recognition algorithms for modular robots

Modular robots are systems composed of a number of independent units that can be reconfigured to fit the task at hand. When the modules are computationally independent, they form a large distributed system with no central controller. We are concerned with the ability of such modular robots to easily recognize the achievement (or lack thereof) of a given goal configuration. We present algorithms for a class of 2D and 3D modular robots, along with correctness and running time analysis. We have successfully implemented the 2D algorithm on the second-generation Crystalline Atomic robot, a self-reconfigurable modular robot under development in our laboratory and we present implementation details and experimental results.
Advancement of the RHIC beam abort kicker system

As one of the most critical system for RHIC operation, the beam abort kicker system has to be highly available, reliable, and stable for the entire operating range. Along with the RHIC commission and operation, consistent efforts have been spend to cope with immediate issues as well as inherited design issues. Major design changes have been implemented to achieve the higher operating voltage, longer high voltage hold-off time, fast retriggering and redundant triggering, and improved system protection, etc. Recent system test has demonstrated for the first time that both blue ring and yellow ring beam abort systems have achieved more than 24 hours hold off time at desired operating voltage. In this paper, we report on the system status and improvements.
Cavum septum pellucidum in schizophrenia: Clinical and neuropsychological correlates

Increased frequency of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) has been inconsistently observed in schizophrenia, and little is known about its functional implications. We investigated whether patients with schizophrenia were more likely than healthy controls to have CSP, and among patients assessed the relationship between CSP, psychiatric symptoms, and selected neuropsychological functions. Seventy-seven patients with diagnoses of DSM-IV schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 55 healthy controls were studied and completed a 1.5 T MRI scan. Two raters, blind to group membership, determined the presence, length and grade of the CSP. A subset of participants also underwent neuropsychological testing. A CSP of at least 1 mm in length was present in 68.8% of patients and 76.4% of controls, and the groups did not differ significantly with respect to presence or absence, length, overall size, or percent with an abnormally large CSP (≥ 6 mm). Patients with an abnormally large CSP demonstrated poorer performance on measures of verbal learning and memory than patients with smaller CSP. Among patients, CSP length was significantly correlated with negative symptoms, verbal learning, and sentence comprehension. Among patients with abnormally large CSP, CSP length was correlated with reaction time on two conditions of a Continuous Performance Test. CSP, while prevalent, was not more frequent in our sample of patients with schizophrenia, and had few associations with symptom severity or neuropsychological deficits.
An 8-bit 150-MHz CMOS A/D converter

This paper describes an 8-bit 5-stage pipelined and interleaved analog-to-digital converter that performs analog processing only by means of open-loop circuits such as differential pairs and source followers to achieve a high conversion rate. The concept of sliding interpolation is proposed to obviate the need for a large number of comparators or interstage digital-to-analog converters and residue amplifiers. The pipelining scheme incorporates distributed sampling between the stages so as to relax the linearity-speed tradeoffs in the sample-and-hold circuits, A clock edge reassignment technique is also introduced that suppresses timing mismatches in interleaved systems, and a punctured interpolation method is proposed that reduces the integral nonlinearity error with negligible speed or power penalty. Fabricated in a 0.6-/spl mu/m CMOS technology, the converter achieves differential and integral nonlinearities of 0.62 and 1.24 LSB, respectively, and a signal-to-(noise+distortion) ratio of 43.7 dB at a sampling rate of 150 MHz. The circuit draws 395 mW from a 3.3-V supply and occupies an area of 1.2/spl times/1.5 mm/sup 2/.
Catecholamines in Depression: An Update

Despite extensive research, the biochemical abnormalities underlying the predisposition to and the pathogenesis of affective disorders remain to be clearly established. Efforts to study norepinephrine (NE) output and function have utilized biochemical assays, neuroendocrine challenge strategies, and measures of peripheral blood cell receptors; the cumulative database points to a dysregulation of the noradrenergic system. Depressed patients (in particular, melancholic, unipolar subjects) excrete disproportionately greater amounts of NE and its major extraneuronal metabolite, normetanephrine, than do controls. Depressed patients also show subsensitive neuroendocrine (growth hormone) and biochemical (inhibition of adenylate cyclase) responses to alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, suggesting that subsensitivity of nerve terminal alpha 2 autoreceptors may underlie the exaggerated plasma NE observed in response to various challenges in affective disorders. Future advances in brain imaging techniques and in the molecular biology of adrenergic receptor-coupled signal transduction systems offer promise for meaningful advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of affective disorders.
Vocabulary competence in early childhood: measurement, latent construct, and predictive validity

We systematically examined relations among 6 measures of child language derived from 3 sources, including observations of the child's speech with mother, experimenter assessments, and maternal reports. A total of 184 20-month-olds and their mothers contributed complete information about child language comprehension and expression. Correlations of child language measures with socioeconomic status and maternal education were accounted for, as were correlations of child language measures with mothers' verbal intelligence, maternal report measures with mothers' tendency to respond in a socially desirable fashion, and experimenter assessments with child social competence. Structural equation modeling supported (1) strong relations among child language measures derived from observations of the child's speech with mother, experimenter assessments, and maternal reports; (2) the loading of multiple measures of child language from different sources on a single latent construct of vocabulary competence; and (3) the predictive validity of the vocabulary competence latent variable at 20 months, as well as receptive vocabulary specifically, for both verbal and performance IQ (verbal better than performance) at 48 months. Neither an index of child monologing (a nonvocabulary language measure) nor symbolic play (a nonlinguistic representational measure) covaried with vocabulary competence. Girls consistently outperformed boys on individual language measures, but no differences emerged in any model in the fit for boys and girls.
Job migration on a hypercube using the buddy method

An optimal strategy to find multiple shortest parallel free paths between two partitions of the same size, under the buddy method, is given. The buddy method provides a relatively efficient partitioning technique for a hypercube multiprocessor. When a hypercube multiprocessor is partitioned according to the buddy method, the links between partitions are not used. These unused links can be utilized to construct 2/sup k/ disjoint paths between two partitions of size k to migrate a job from one partition to another. The authors prove that 2/sup k/ disjoint paths using only the unused links always exist between an allocated partition of size k to an unallocated partition of the same size, and the number of such paths is 2/sup i-1/ if the addresses of two partitions differ by i bits. An efficient routing algorithm to construct such path with complexity O(i) is given. Simulation results support the usefulness of such paths. >
Rapid assessment of severe cognitive impairment in individuals with developmental disabilities.

Background Most standardized intelligence tests require more than 1 hour for administration, which is problematic when evaluating individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (IDDD), because a significant proportion of these individuals can not tolerate lengthy evaluations. Furthermore, most standardized intelligence tests are of limited usefulness for individuals with severe cognitive deficits because of floor effects. Methods A number of low-difficulty items were selected from standardized tests. A total of 271 participants with profound, severe, moderate and mild levels of cognitive impairment took part in this study. In the formative phase, 68 participants were evaluated with the selected items, and those items that differentiated between levels of cognitive impairment were retained in the battery. The instrument was then modified and standardized with an additional 203 participants. Results The instrument, referred to as the Rapid Assessment for Developmental Disabilities (RADD), required 10–25 min for administration. Internal reliability estimates from the RADD total score and from individual subtests satisfied conventional and rigorous statistical criteria (median alpha r = 0.93). The RADD total score was strongly correlated with the level of cognitive impairment (rho = 0.86). The RADD total score and individual subtests differentiated between all levels of cognitive impairment ( Wilks Λ = 0.135, F42,525.832 = 12.075, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated the instrument was particularly sensitive to the cognitive abilities of the most seriously impaired participants. Conclusions The RADD, composed of low-difficulty items from published tests, is rapidly administered, assesses a wide range of cognitive skills and differentiates among all levels of cognitive impairment. The battery has clinical utility with populations exhibiting short attention spans because of its ability to quickly assess a wide range of cognitive abilities. The RADD also has research potential for the documentation of cognitive function in studies of individuals with IDDD.
Time Average Holography in Vibration Analysis

This paper deals with the quantitative interpretation of time-average holograms of vibrating objects. It is shown that the images obtained during reconstruction of such holograms are modulated by a system of fringes described by the square of the zero-order Bessel function of the first kind. A procedure for quantitative interpretation of these fringes is described and illustrated with examples. The experimental results, obtained directly from the time-average holograms, show good agreement with the exact solution of the differential equation of motion based on the beam theory and with the mode shapes determined by the finite element modeling of the vibrating beam.
Why Do Teachers Need to Use Technology in Their Classrooms? Issues, Problems, and Solutions

Abstract Will computers repeat the failure that older technologies (e.g., film, radio, and television) experienced concerning educational applications of technology? A simple question seems to be helpful for us to gain more insight on this issue: “Why do teachers need to use technology in their classrooms?” To answer this question, first of all, the general expectations that people have for computers in education are examined. Then, a summary of the failures regarding educational uses of technologies are provided and analyzed. Next, the question of whether computers can escape the same fate as film, radio, and television is examined. Finally, a conclusion is presented that computers can bring great changes to classrooms in the next decade, but improper enthusiasm must be discouraged. To a great extent, the passion for computers can be managed by a more realistic research agenda. The paper concludes with recommendations for development research and design-based research.