cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parent responsiveness mediates the association between hyporeactivity at age 1 year and communication at age 2 years in children at elevated likelihood of ASD.

Studies suggest that higher parent responsiveness is associated with higher child language abilities. Infants and toddlers later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display hyporeactivity to sensory stimuli, which has also been associated with lower child communication abilities and lower parent responsiveness. Yet, whether parent responsiveness mediates the relationship between child hyporeactivity and later communication outcomes remains unexplored. This study is a secondary data analysis which includes children (n = 83; 56 males) identified as at elevated likelihood of later ASD. Children completed an observational measure of sensory reactivity and a standard developmental assessment at 14 (Time 1) and 23 months old (Time 2). At each time point, parents reported on the child's adaptive communication behaviors and sensory behaviors, and Parent Verbal Responsiveness (AvgPVR) was coded from parent-child free-play videos. Results indicated that the association between child sensory hyporeactivity at Time 1 (observed and parent-reported) and communication at Time 2 (observed and parent reported) was significantly mediated by AvgPVR. Although child hyporeactivity predicts poorer communication outcomes, increased parent verbal responsiveness may attenuate this negative impact. Parent responsiveness, a focus of many parent-mediated interventions, may be an important mechanism of treatment response that should be directly tested in future research. LAY SUMMARY: Toddlers at elevated likelihood of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often under-reactive (hyporeactive) to sensory stimuli. This hyporeactivity slows learning of communication skills and provides parents with fewer opportunities to respond to their children. In this study, children with hyporeactivity at 14 months generally had poorer communication at 23 months; however, the more responsive their parents were, the weaker the relationship between early hyporeactivity and later communication. Thus, increasing parent responsiveness may lead to better communication outcomes for toddlers with the early ASD symptom of hyporeactivity.
Tracking distinct microglia subpopulations with photoconvertible Dendra2 in vivo.

Author(s): Miller, Eric B; Karlen, Sarah J; Ronning, Kaitryn E; Burns, Marie E | Abstract: BackgroundThe ability to track individual immune cells within the central nervous system has revolutionized our understanding of the roles that microglia and monocytes play in synaptic maintenance, plasticity, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, distinguishing between similar subpopulations of mobile immune cells over time during episodes of neuronal death and tissue remodeling has proven to be challenging.MethodsWe recombineered a photoconvertible fluorescent protein (Dendra2; D2) downstream of the Cx3cr1 promoter commonly used to drive expression of fluorescent markers in microglia and monocytes. Like the popular Cx3cr1-GFP line (Cx3cr1+/GFP), naive microglia in Cx3cr1-Dendra2 mice (Cx3cr1+/D2) fluoresce green and can be noninvasively imaged in vivo throughout the CNS. In addition, individual D2-expressing cells can be photoconverted, resulting in red fluorescence, and tracked unambiguously within a field of green non-photoconverted cells for several days in vivo.ResultsDendra2-expressing retinal microglia were noninvasively photoconverted in both ex vivo and in vivo conditions. Local in vivo D2 photoconversion was sufficiently robust to quantify cell subpopulations by flow cytometry, and the protein was stable enough to survive tissue processing for immunohistochemistry. Simultaneous in vivo fluorescence imaging of Dendra2 and light scattering measurements (Optical Coherence Tomography, OCT) were used to assess responses of individual microglial cells to localized neuronal damage and to identify the infiltration of monocytes from the vasculature in response to large scale neurodegeneration.ConclusionsThe ability to noninvasively and unambiguously track D2-expressing microglia and monocytes in vivo through space and time makes the Cx3cr1-Dendra2 mouse model a powerful new tool for disentangling the roles of distinct immune cell subpopulations in neuroinflammation.
Dynamics of incommensurate structures

The case of infinite range interactions is solved exactly, using both analytic and graphical techniques. The ground states and all metastable states are identified. The AC response has a low-frequency singularity at threshold, but the dielectric constant is bounded, as seen in CDW experiments. The solution is also presented for the deplnning transition; the sliding threshold; and the excitation spectra.
What Are Food Stamps Worth

The carte-blanche principle implies that food stamp recipients would be better off if they were given cash instead of an equivalent amount in food stamps. I estimate the cash-equivalent value of food stamps and the lowest price a recipient would accept to sell her "extra" food stamps on the underground market. I estimate that between 20 and 30 percent of food stamp recipients spend less on food than their food stamp benefit amount if they receive cash instead of stamps, and therefore would be better off with cash. Using a theoretical model I present and data from experiments conducted in two states, I estimate that on average "distorted" food stamp recipients value their total benefits at 80 percent of their face value. Aggregating over recipients, the annual deadweight loss associated with the food stamp program is one-half billion dollars. Food diary data indicate that providing cash instead of stamps causes some distorted recipients to decrease their food spending - especially on soda and juice - but has no negative consequence for nutrition. As predicted by theory, inframarginal food stamp recipients do not alter their behavior if they are given cash instead of food stamps. Although paying in-kind benefits results in some deadweight loss, it is thought that an underground market for the excess stamps will be created to alleviate some of the loss. I present new survey evidence indicating that stamps trade for only about 65 percent of their face value on the underground market.
Current controversies in experimental philosophy

Introduction: Experimental Philosophy: What is it Good For? Elizabeth O'Neill and Edouard Machery I Language 1 "What is the Significance of the Demographic Variation in Semantic Intuitions?" Edouard Machery 2 "Reference and Experimental Semantics" Genoveva Marti Part I Suggested Readings II Consciousness 1 "You, Robot" Brian Fiala, Adam Arico, and Shaun Nichols 2 "The Robots of the Dawn of Experimental Philosophy of Mind" Justin Sytsma Part II Suggested Readings III Free Will and Responsibility1 "Free Will and the Scientific Vision" Joshua Knobe 2 "A Naturalistic Vision of Free Will" Eddy Nahmias and Morgan Thompson Part III Suggested Readings IV Epistemology and the Reliability of Intuitions 1 "The Reliability of Epistemic Intuitions" Kenneth Boyd and Jennifer Nagel 2 "The 'Unreliability' of Epistemic Intuitions" Joshua Alexander and Jonathan M. Weinberg Part IV Suggested Readings Supplemental Guide to Further Controversies Index
Common Law Remedies for Environmental Wrongs: The Role of Private Nuisance

Today’s environmental plaintiff has a myriad of federal statutes upon which to base a claim against a polluter. In many cases, however, common-law actions such as nuisance, negligence, trespass, and strict liability for abnormally dangerous activities still provide attractive features. This paper attempts to illustrate those features by focusing on the common-law doctrine of private nuisance. What is its place in today’s environmental litigation? To what extent, if any, has it been preempted by federal legislation? What are its potential pitfalls and problems? This paper attempts to answer these questions and provide guidance to the environmental litigator interested in attaining favorable results without extensive reliance upon federal legislation.
Cadmium promotes the proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells through EGFR-mediated cell cycle regulation

Cadmium (Cd) is a carcinogenic metal which is implicated in breast cancer by epidemiological studies. It is reported to promote breast cancer cell growth in vitro through membrane receptors. The study described here examined Cd-mediated growth of non-metastatic human breast cancer derived cells that lack receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2. Treatment of triple-negative HCC 1937 cells with 0.1-0.5 μM Cd increased cell growth by activation of AKT and ERK. Accelerated cell cycle progression was achieved by increasing the levels of cyclins A, B, and E, as well as those of CDKs 1 and 2. Although triple negative cells lack estrogen receptor, they express high levels of EGFR. Therefore, further studies on HCC 1937 and another triple-negative cell line, HCC 38, were conducted using specific siRNA and an inhibitor of EGFR to determine whether EGFR was responsible for mediating the effect of Cd. The results revealed that in both cell types EGFR was not only activated upon Cd treatment, but was also essential for the downstream activation of AKT and ERK. Based on these observations, it is concluded that, in breast cancer cells lacking estrogen receptor, sub-micromolar concentration of Cd can promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, that EGFR plays a critical role in this process.
Development and validation of the tool to assess inpatient satisfaction with care from hospitalists

OBJECTIVES To develop and validate a new inpatient satisfaction metric to assess patients' perceptions of hospitalist performance. PATIENTS AND METHODS We developed the Tool to Assess Inpatient Satisfaction with Care from Hospitalists (TAISCH) by building upon the theoretical underpinnings of the quality of care measures that the Society of Hospital Medicine endorses. TAISCH was completed by inpatients at an academic institution between September 2012 and December 2012 after they had been cared for by the same hospitalist provider for at least 2 consecutive days. Content, internal structure, and convergent/discriminant validity evidence were assessed for TAISCH. RESULTS A total of 203 patients each rated 1 of our 29 hospitalists (patient response rate: 88%). Factor analyses resulted in a single factor with 15 items. Reliability of TAISCH was good (Cronbach's α = .88). The hospitalists' average TAISCH score ranged from 3.25 to 4.28 (mean [standard deviation] = 3.82 [0.24]; possible score range: 1–5). The relationship between TAISCH with a validated empathy scale and a global provider satisfaction question revealed significant positive associations (β = 12.2, and β = 11.2 respectively, both P < 0.001). At the provider level, no significant correlation was noted between the Press Ganey Physician score and TAISCH (r = 0.91, P = 0.51). CONCLUSION TAISCH collects patient satisfaction data that are attributable to specific hospitalist providers. The timeliness of the TAISCH data collection also makes real-time service recovery possible, which is unachievable with other commonly used patient satisfaction metrics. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:553–558. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Minimum-color path problems for reliability in mesh networks

In this work, we consider the problem of maximizing the reliability of connections in mesh networks against failure scenarios in which multiple links may fail simultaneously. We consider the single-path connection problem as well as multiple-path (protected) connection problems. The problems are formulated as minimum-color path problems, where each link is associated with one or more colors, and each color corresponds to a given failure event Thus, when a certain color fails, all links which include that color will fail. In a single-path problem, by minimizing the number of colors on the path, the failure probability of the path can be minimized if all colors have the same probability of causing failures. In the case of two paths, where one path is a protection path, if all colors have the same probability of causing failures, the problem becomes that of finding two link-disjoint paths which either have a minimum total number of colors, or which have a minimum number of overlapping colors. By minimizing the total number of colors, the probability that a failure will occur on either of the paths is minimized. On the other hand, by minimizing the number of overlapping colors, the probability that a single failure event will cause both paths to fail simultaneously is minimized. The problems are proved to be NP-complete, and ILP formulations are developed. Heuristic algorithms are proposed for larger instances of the problems, and the heuristics are evaluated through simulation.
Surgical and radiation therapy management of recurrent anal melanoma.

Background: Melanoma of the anorectal mucosa is a rare but highly aggressive tumor. Its presenting symptoms are frequently confused with hemorrhoids, thereby causing a delay in diagnosis. Anorectal melanoma carries with it a very poor prognosis. There is a paucity of data investigating management options for anorectal melanoma, and even fewer data reporting recurrent or refractory cases. Case presentation: This case documents a 41-year-old female with a long history of hemorrhoids presenting with anorectal discharge. She was incidentally found have anorectal melanoma following surgical resection. Systemic diagnostic work-up demonstrated PET-avid lymphadenopathy in her right groin. She underwent right groin dissection. However, seven months later she recurred in her right groin and a new recurrent mass was found in her pelvis. She underwent a second groin dissection and resection of the pelvic recurrence. This was followed by a course of hypofractionated radiation therapy then systemic immunotherapy. Discussion: Surgery has been the mainstay of treatment. However, the extent of surgery has been the topic of investigation. Historically, radical resections have been performed but they result in high rates of post-operative morbidity. Newer studies have compared radical resection with wide local excisions and found comparable outcomes. Anorectal melanoma is frequently a systemic disease. The ideal systemic therapy regimen has not yet been determined but numerous studies show a benefit to multi-agent treatments. Radiation therapy is typically given in the post-operative or palliative setting. Conclusions: Anorectal mucosal melanoma is a very rare but aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. The overall treatment goal should strive to optimize quality of life and tumor control while minimizing treatment-related morbidities.
The Challenge of Microelectronics

There have been many technological changes in this century, but the most influential is the recent revolution in electronics and its applications. As a result, so much was said and written last year about microelectronics that some people called it, incorrectly in my view, the year of the microprocessor. Most microelectronic devices look alike so I will start by defining the terms I shall use.
Ngugi and the World of Christianity: A Dialectic:

Although it can be argued that, in order to expose Christianity’s role as a tool to pacify the masses in capitalist exploitation, a revolutionary can appropriate and use Christianity to undermine itself, there is ambiguity as to how far this re-appropriation can go without running the danger of re-affirmation. After converting to Marxism, the literary Ngugi was consciously aware that his abstract economic analysis needed a credible vehicle of delivery to his peasant and worker audience’s communicative repertoire, but his conversion also meant that he should abandon the rather romantic indulgence in Gikuyu mysteries of imagination, and turn instead to Christian mythology and imagery that provided him the rich and effective vessel so evident in Devil on the Cross and Matigari. But how does Ngugi reconcile the strategic value of religion with basic Marxism that categorizes it as opium to desensitize people from the realization of their material situation, and thus rob them of the potential action for their s...
Some comments on anderson and pospahala's correction of bias in line transect sampling

ANDERSON and POSPAHALA (1970) investigated the estimation of wildlife population size using the belt or line transect sampling method and devised a correction for bias, thus leading to an estimator with interesting characteristics. This work was given a uniform mathematical framework in BURNHAM and ANDERSON (1976). In this paper we show that the ANDERSON-POSPAHALA estimator is optimal in the sense of being the (unique) best linear unbiased estimator within the class of estimators which are linear combinations of cell frequencies, provided certain assumptions are met.
Early-maturing soybean in a wheat-soybean double-crop system : Yield and net returns

Double-cropping soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] after harvesting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important production system in the mid-southern USA. Field studies were conducted at Stoneville, MS (33°26' N lat) to evaluate the seed yield and net returns from early soybean maturity groups grown in a double-crop system under limited irrigation and to compare the results with those from a full-season system. Soybean cultivars from maturity groups (MG) III, IV, and V were used. Double-cropped soybean yields ranged from 2055 to 3767 kg ha -1 and were 10 to 40% lower than their full-season counterparts. For both systems, the average yield and net returns from MG IV, in particular the late IV cultivars, were among the highest, whereas those from MG III and late V were generally the lowest. The net returns from the full-season soybean averaged $85 to 274 ha -1 higher than those from the double-cropped soybean; however, the net returns from the double-cropped wheat more than compensated for these differences. The 3-yr average wheat yield was 5170 kg ha -1 and accounted for more than 60% of the -combined net returns from the double-crop system. These results indicate that yields and net returns from double-cropped MG III or IV soybean could be equal or greater than MG V cultivars, but the late MG IV provided the highest yield and economic return. The data indicated that wheat-soybean double-crop system using MG III or IV under limited irrigation was more profitable than the full-season soybean system.
An approach to triquinane synthesis using the Pauson–Khand reaction

Abstract Tricyclic skeletons have been generated from acyclic enyne precursors by using an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction in combination with aldol, Michael and alkylation reactions.
THE EFFECT OF FUMIGANTS ON FOOD QUALITY

Fumigants are used to prevent pest infestations in food and other stored commodities. The quality of the commodity may be affected by fumigant treatment in several ways. Residues of unchanged fumigant may remain in the commodity. Reaction of the individual chemical components of the commodity with the fumigant may alter its chemical or physical properties, thus resulting in changes in flavor, taste, odor, nutritional value or processing qualities. Methyl bromide, ethylene dibromide, ethylene dichloride, carbon tetrachloride, phosphine and ethylene oxide are the major fumigants used for treatment of grains, vegetables and fruits. Their effects on food quality and the significance of residues in treated commodities are reviewed.
The Impact of Operator Error Using Optical Probes to Estimate Pork Carcass Value

Live-weight pricing is the dominant system currently used by pork packing firms to procure hogs (Jekanowski and Akridge). Under this system, value is determined by multiplying the live weight of the animal by the live-weight price. Assuming that there is little variation in physical characteristics of animals and/or end-use requirements for the carcass are not important, live-weight pricing is an appropriate method for valuing live hogs. For this scenario, a liveweight procurement program is simple and low cost. However, changing consumer preferences for leaner pork products, genetics which make possible the production of leaner hogs, new swine production management practices, and new technologies for measuring lean content of pork carcasses have shifted pork production away from a commodity orientation to a focus on value-added, differentiated products (Boland, Foster, and Akridge). In response to consumer desire for leaner protein sources, there has been a reduction in fat at the retail level. Buege et al. reported that pork cuts currently available at the retail level have 31 percent less fat compared to 1982 pork cuts, primarily because packers have begun trimming carcasses closer. Using a knife to trim external fat is costly, so packers prefer that the amount of trimmable fat be at a minimum. Morgan et al. reported that packers and processors identified excessive fat as their primary concern in the processing of pork carcasses and primal cuts.
Taylor-model-based enclosure of invariant manifolds for planar diffeomorphisms and applications

Fundamental questions in the study of interesting dynamics of planar diffeomorphisms like the Henon map involve homoclinic phenomena, topological entropy and strange attractors. Inherently, answering these questions requires knowledge about the stable and unstable manifolds, which in the typical case in the plane are smooth curves. We present a method to find highly accurate Taylor Model enclosures of the invariant curves near hyperbolic fixed points. Successive iteration of these local enclosures yields similarly accurate enclosures of pieces of the global manifold tangle. Applications presented include the automatic computation of rigorous enclosures of all homoclinic points up to finite iterates. This allows to find symbolic dynamics in the original system and consequently compute rigorous lower bounds for its topological entropy. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Resonant ion-dip infrared spectroscopy of hydrogen-bonded clusters

Resonant ion-dip infrared spectroscopy (RIDIRS) is used to record near-infrared spectra of several size-selected (benzene)m(solvent)n molecular clusters. In benzene-H2O and benzene-HOD, large-amplitude motions of the water molecule on the benzene ring produce unusual OH stretch infrared absorptions. In the former complex, seven resolved transitions appear in the OH stretch region, rather than the two expected of a rigid complex. In C6H6-HOD, several combination bands involving internal rotation and in-plane torsion of the HOD have intensities greater than the OH stretch fundamental. Similar spectra of the (C6H6)2-H2O complex show that such large-amplitude motions are effectively quenched by the presence of the second benzene molecule. RIDIR spectra of C6H6-(CH3OH)n with n equals 1 - 5 are also presented. In C6H6-(CH3OH)3, the OH stretch infrared spectrum provides clear evidence that the three methanol molecules attach to benzene as a hydrogen-bonded chain. This occurs despite the fact that the lowest energy structure for the free methanol trimer is a cyclic structure, indicating that the presence of benzene has caused a structural rearrangement of solvent molecules near it.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Parenthood and the earnings of married men and women.

Abstract We use longitudinal data to examine the relationship between parenthood, wages, and hours worked for married men and women. We find evidence of negative selection into parenthood, substantial child-related reallocations of time within the household, and heterogeneity in the effects of children on household behavior. In households in which the wife experiences an interruption in employment, mothers' wages and hours worked fall, while fathers' hours and wages increase. In households in which the mother remains continuously attached to the labor force, however, there is no evidence of a wage decline for mothers, and the hours worked by fathers decrease substantially.
Probing and inducing surface chemistry with the STM: the reactions of Si(111)-7 × 7 with H2O and O2

Abstract We discuss the applications of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to both probe and induce surface chemistry with atomic resolution. The reactions of Si(111)-7 × 7 with H2O and O2 are considered. In the case of the H2O reaction, we find a site selectivity consistent with a dominant dissociative chemisorption mechanism. In the case of the oxidation reaction we image two distinct oxygen containing species being formed in the early stages of oxidation. With the help of electronic structure calculations we are able to identify the nature of these species and propose an oxidation mechanism. Through the combined effects of strong electric fields and chemical interactions between the STM tip and individual adsorbates on the H2O-exposed surface at close range, we are able to remove individual adsorbates and thus restore local reactivity.
Replication of the entomopoxvirus from Amsacta moorei in serum-free cultures of a gypsy moth cell line

Abstract The entomopoxvirus isolated from Amsacta moorei (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) replicated to the mature occluded stage during six serial passages in the serum-free cultured cells of a continuous cell line (IPLB-LD-652) from the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Replication of the virus in cells grown in serum-free RIL-14 (Table 1) medium was similar to replications of the same virus observed in the same and other susceptible cell lines in various serum-containing media. Virus developmental stages are described from cells grown in serum-free medium after virus passages two and six, and from cells in vivo from gypsy moth larval fat body infected by intrahemocoelic inoculation with extracellular virus from infected cultures of the same cell line.
Comparison of malnourished children selected by weight-for-age, mid-upper-arm circumference, and maximum thigh circumference.

Although universal growth monitoring of preschool children in developing countries is a high priority scarce resources sometimes make it advisable to screen the community for malnutrition and to use growth chart monitoring for the subset of children who are at highest nutritional risk. This study contrasts equal numbers of children selected by arm circumference (AC) weight-for-age (W/A) and maximum thigh circumference (TC) screening from the same low income population in the Greater Manila area. The 3 indicators detect the same children 2/3 to 3/4 of the time. In the remaining 30-40% of cases the circumferences select a younger less stunted group than W/A. Study results suggest that the circumferences select children who are more malnourished with respect to their genetic potential or less well-adapted to an inadequate diet. They may be higher in W/A because they have more bone mass and more abdominal distension. At the same time they may have less muscle and fat tissue in proportion to height than those screened by W/A. W/A and W/H also fail to distinguish between large-boned thin children and small-boned less thin children. AC and TC appear to be sensitive to these distinctions. The quality and convenience of AC and TC should make them measures of choice for community screening of children under 5. Because AC and TC select proportionately younger children at earlier stages of malnutrition their use in screening may serve to prevent the occurrence of severe malnutrition between the ages of 2 and 5.
Electromagnetic and thermal-flow modeling of a cold-wall crucible induction melter

An approach for modeling cold-wall crucible induction melters is described. Materials in the melt and melter are nonferromagnetic. In contrast to other modeling studies reported in the literature, the numerical models use commercial codes. The ANSYS finite-element code[1] is employed for electromagnetic field simulations and the STAR-CD finite-volume code[2] for thermal-flow calculations. Results from the electromagnetic calculations in the form of local Joule heat and Lorentz force distributions are included as source terms in the thermal-flow analysis. This loosely coupled approach is made possible by the small variation in temperature and, consequently, small variation in electrical properties across the melt as well as the quasi-steady-state nature of the thermal-flow calculations. A three-dimensional finite-element grid for electromagnetic calculations is adapted to a similar axisymmetric finite-volume grid for data transfer to the thermal-flow model. Results from the electromagnetic model compare well with operational data from a 175-mm-diameter melter. REsults from the thermal-flow simulation provide insight about molten metal circulation patterns, temperature variations, and velocity magnitudes. Initial results are included for a model that simulates the formation of a solid (skull) layer on the crucible base and wall. Overall, the modeling approach is shown to produce useful results that relate operational parameters to the physics of steady-state melter operation.
Predicting pneumonia mortality using CURB‐65, PSI, and patient characteristics in patients presenting to the emergency department of a comprehensive cancer center

The prognostic accuracy of the CURB-65 criteria and pneumonia severity index (PSI) in immunocompromised cancer patients with pneumonia is unknown. We sought to determine whether CURB-65 and PSI predict 28-day mortality in cancer patients with pneumonia, and identify other factors that predispose cancer patients with pneumonia to a high mortality risk. We assessed sensitivities, specificities, predictive values, and areas under the receiver operating curve area under the curve (AUC) of the CURB-65 and PSI in predicting the 28-day mortality of cancer patients presenting to our institution's emergency department with pneumonia. We used the DeLong and Clarke–Pearson approach to determine whether the addition of other risk factors improved the scales' performances. The overall and pneumonia-related 28-day mortality rates were 20.2% (n = 44) and 17.4% (n = 38), respectively. In predicting 28-day mortality, the CURB-65 score had sensitivity of 45% and specificity of 81%, and the PSI score had sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 34%. The CURB-65 and PSI discriminated poorly between fatal and nonfatal pneumonia cases (AUCs, 0.664 and 0.658, respectively; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.75 for each). The addition of radiation therapy (RT) within 4 weeks and stem cell transplant (SCT) significantly improved the AUCs of the CURB-65 (0.75; 95% CI, 0.67–0.83) and PSI (0.73; 95% CI, 0.65-0.82). Inadequate performances of CURB-65 and PSI demonstrate that a tool for predicting pneumonia-related mortality in cancer patients and other immunocompromised populations is needed. Pneumonia patients who have undergone recent RT or (SCT) are at a high risk of dying from pneumonia and require special consideration when assessing pneumonia-related mortality risk.
Characteristics and outcome of patients with Philadelphia chromosome negative, bcr/abl negative chronic myelogenous leukemia.

BACKGROUND. Up to 5% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) do not have the Philadelphia (Ph) translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) or a bcr/abl molecular rearrangement. Although the diagnostic criteria of this entity are still under debate, there is general agreement that patients with Ph negative, bcr/abl negative CML have a severe clinical course that is not affected significantly by current treatment options. METHODS. A population of 76 patients with bcr/abl negative CML who had received minimal or no previous therapy was characterized carefully with the intent of investigating clinical and hematologic variables and their association with survival by univariate, correlation, and multivariate analyses. A group of 73 patients with Ph negative CML who were not tested for the bcr/abl rearrangement (bcr/abl unknown) was analyzed separately and used for extension of the analysis. RESULTS. In the bcr/abl negative patient population, the median overall survival was 24 months. At the time of the analysis, 38 patients (50%) had died, and blastic transformation preceded death in 31%. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 30% of the 76 patients, with trisomy 8 the most common abnormality. Complex chromosomal abnormalities were rare, and monosomy 7 was not observed. Survival was not affected significantly by treatment. Multivariate analysis identified older age ( 65 years), anemia (hemoglobin 10 g/dL), and severe leukocytosis (white blood cells 50 10 9 /L) as variables with independent prognostic significance for poor survival. A prognostic scoring system stratified patients into a low-risk group (53%) and a high-risk group (47%), with median survivals of 38 months and 9 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. Bcr/abl negative CML is a distinct clinical entity associated with very poor prognosis. Two risk categories are identifiable using a simple scoring system based on age, hemoglobin level, and leukocyte number. Cancer 2002;95:1673– 84. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10832
Virulence races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in 2006 and 2007 and development of wheat stripe rust and distributions, dynamics, and evolutionary relationships of races from 2000 to 2007 in the United States

Abstract Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (PST), has historically been the most frequently destructive disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the western United States and has become a more frequent problem in the central and southeastern states since 2000. The race composition of PST has been determined every year from rust-infected leaf samples of wheat and grasses collected in the United States on a set of 20 differential wheat genotypes. In 2006, a total of 18 races were detected, of which five were detected for the first time. In 2007, a total of 30 races were detected, of which 11 were newly detected. Among the 16 new races detected in 2006 and 2007, PST-127 was the most important as it has the broadest virulence spectrum identified so far (virulent to all 20 differential genotypes except for ‘Moro’, AVS/6*Yr5 (Yr5), and ‘Tres’) and combined virulence factors to ‘Tyee’ (YrTye) and ‘Hyak’ (Yr17 and YrTye) and those common in the race group detected since 2000. The distribut...
The Diversity of State Interest Group Systems

As part of a larger effort to develop an independent system-level theory of interest groups, we explore the system-level trait of interest group diversity. A model of state interest group diversity...
Which algebras deform into a total matrix algebra

It is known that the associative algebra f K) of all n by n matrices over a field K cannot be deformed over K into any other algebra: M(n; k) is rigid in the deformation theory of Gerstenhaber [5, p. 651. Equivalently, the set of structure constants for the total matrix algebra is Zariski-open in the algebraic set of all associative structure constants; roughly put, every algebra which is not too far removed from the matrix algebra is actually isomorphic with it. For the geometric point of view, see [2] and [6]. The opposite question, as posed in the title of this report, has an immediate geometric answer: “those algebras whose structure constants lie in the parameter variety (irreducible component) of structure constants determined by the matrix algebra.” However, this answer affords little insight into either the algebras themselves or the explicit deformations involved. We desire an internal analysis of these “pre-matrix” algebras, involving the Wedderburn decomposition, idempotents, bases, and multiplication table and so forth, as well as explicit deformation formulas. (Relevant terminology will be recalled in Section 2.) The “ pre-matrix” algebras are of interest in more general deformation questions. Deformation of an algebra implies a movement towards semisimplicity and away from nilpotence. The basic example of this phenomenon, one to which many other examples reduce, is the deformation of one of our “pre-matrix” algebras into its total matrix algebra. Thus the present work continues our program in [3]. In a certain sense, there are too many “pre-matrix” algebras. Thus, both M(n; K) and, at the opposite extreme, the trivial K-algebra Zof dimension n2 with Z” = (0) may be deformed into a total matrix algebra. To organize matters we have found it useful to distinguish between deformations in
The divergent effect of capture depth and associated barotrauma on post-recompression survival of canary (Sebastes pinniger) and yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus)

Abstract We evaluated the external signs of barotrauma and 48-h post-recompression survival for 54 canary and 81 yelloweye rockfish captured at depths of 46–174 m, much deeper than a similar prior experiment, but within the depth range of recreational fishery catch and discard. Survival was measured using specialized sea cages for holding individual fish. The external physical signs associated with extreme expansion and retention of swimbladder gas (pronounced barotrauma), including esophageal eversion, exophthalmia and ocular emphysema, were common for both species at these capture depths and were more frequent than in prior studies conducted at shallower depths. Despite similar frequencies of most external barotrauma signs, 48-h post-recompression survival of the two species diverged markedly as capture depth increased. Survival of yelloweye rockfish was above 80% across all capture depths, while survival of canary rockfish was lower, declining sharply to just 25% at capture depths greater than 135 m. Fish of both species that were alive after 48 h of caging displayed very few of the external signs of pronounced barotrauma and had a high submergence success rate when released at the surface. Logistic regression analysis, using a combined data set from this and an earlier experiment conducted at shallower capture depths, was used to more broadly evaluate factors influencing post-recompression survival. For canary rockfish, depth of capture was negatively related to survival (P 0.05). Exophthalmia and ocular emphysema were each negatively associated with survival for canary rockfish (P 0.05).
Calculation of safe float use in risk-analysis-oriented network scheduling

Abstract One of the criticisms of the pert/cpm technique is that it ignores the uncertainty influence of noncritical activities on project-duration estimation. As a result of this problem, the pert/cpm technique gives an optimistic estimation of project duration and float use. The paper introduces a new concept of time-disturbance analysis for a project network. Time-disturbance analysis is a process of simulating the change of the expected time of a given merge event or total project duration with the changes in float use of noncritical activities. The computations of the late start and finish times of the noncritical activities on the basis of the rational use of the float are introduced by using the back-forward uncertainty estimation ( bfue ) procedure, an analytical risk-analysis model. Time-disturbance analysis can assist in project scheduling to reduce project risks rationally.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment: Perceived Effectiveness of Inpatient Combined Treatment Programs

The present study did not address directly the comparative superiority of treatment approaches for combined versus separate treatment. It reflects, instead, the perceptions of staff and clients fro...
The direct effects of strain on burning rates of composite solid propellants

A mathematical model is developed to predict burn rate augmentation due to strain in a composite solid propellant. The model assumes the effect is due to the ability of the flame to penetrate the small fissures and voids that form when a propellant is strained. The number and size of these fissures is obtained by applying a flaw propagation analysis to randomly distributed flaws that form when the binder-oxidizer particle bonds break under stress. A flame height is calculated with Summerfield's burn rate equation and is used to compute the burn rate augmentation based upon the additional burn area created when the flame penetrates the fissures. Comparisons are made with data obtained from published sources. The existence of threshold pressure and strains, above which augmentation occurs, is verified although the model predicts a lower threshold pressure and higher threshold strain than expected. Further results and applications of the model are discussed.
Bands of HCN at 14 μ

Abstract New measurements of the HCN bands observed at 14 μ have been reported. The theory of l -resonance has been applied in interpreting the “hot” bands 2 ν 2 - ν 2 . In applying this theory, several uesful combination relations for evaluating the molecular constants have been discussed explicitly. In the 02 2 0 state, the energy of the Δ c component has been found to be higher than that of the Δ d component unlike in the 01 1 0 state where Π d is higher than Π c . Such a result was also recently found in the C 2 D 2 and C 2 H 2 bands studied in this laboratory.
Values and Evaluation: Assessing Processes and Outcomes of Restorative Justice Programs

Increased interest in the restorative justice programs is accompanied by concern for whether they work andthrough what basic processes. Yet the task of evaluating restorative justice programs is a daunting one because they are so diverse, pursuing unique andmultiple objectives. Restorative justice is guidedby values that emphasize healing andsocial well-being of those affectedby crime. These values must guide program evaluation. The authors explore ways to conceptualize andmeasure program inputs and outputs for the purpose of assessing both processes and outcomes of restorative justice programs.
The Intracellular Trafficking of Opioid Receptors Directed by Carboxyl Tail and a Di-leucine Motif in Neuro2A Cells *

The mu- and delta-opioid receptors (MOR and DOR) differ significantly in their intracellular trafficking. MORs recycle back to the cell surface upon agonist treatment, whereas most internalized DORs are targeted to lysosomes for degradation. By exchanging the carboxyl tail domains of MOR and DOR and expressing the receptor chimeras in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2A cells, it could be demonstrated that the carboxyl tail domain is not the sole determinant in directing the intracellular trafficking in these Neuro2A cells. Deletion of the dileucine motif (Leu245-Leu246) within the third intracellular loop of DOR or the mutation of Leu245 to Met slowed the lysosomal targeting of these delta-opioid receptors. Meanwhile the mutation of Met264 to Leu increased the rate of agonist-induced receptor internalization and the lysosomal targeting of the wild type and the delta-opioid receptor carboxyl tail chimera of the mu-opioid receptor. These studies suggest interplay between a di-leucine motif and the carboxyl tail in the lysosomal targeting of the receptor.
Perception of Enclosure Effects of Architectural Surfaces in a Large Scale Interior Space

It was hypothesized that the perceived enclosure effect of spaces would be dependent upon the explicitness of presented architectural surfaces according to the 1961-1970 model of Thiel. It was also hypothesized that the contribution of the surfaces would adhere to theoretical weights proposed by Thiel. It was further hypothesized that the perceived contribution of the surfaces to enclosure would be similar for men and women. 20 women and 10 men were presented 24 line drawings in one-point, eye-level perspective of the same furnished and occupied interior space. The line drawings differed only in the absence or presence of floor, wall, or ceiling surfaces. On an initial task the spaces represented by the drawings were ordered by the subjects from least enclosed (most open) to most enclosed (least open). In a second task the surfaces in a diagram were ranked according to their relative importance in determining the perception of the enclosing effect. The hypotheses were confirmed, and so provided support for the model that the explicitness of perceived surfaces contribute differentially to the perception of the openness of an environment.
Esterification of cholesterol and cholestanol in the whole body, tissues, and frass of Heliothis zea

The quantity of free and esterified sterols in the whole body, intestine, hemolymph, fat body, and frass of 6th-instar larvae of H. zea, fed cholesterol or cholestanol, was measured in order to determine if there was a difference in the utilization of these two molecules. The principal sterol in the tissues of the larvae was cholestanol or cholesterol, when they were fed diet containing these two molecules, respectively; there was little, if any, metabolism of dietary cholestanol to cholesterol. There was little or no difference in the amount of total sterol in the whole body, tissues, or frass of larvae fed the two different diets, indicating that the absence of a Δ5-bond in cholestanol does not prevent the uptake or distribution of this sterol to various tissues. However, the relative percentage of steryl ester was significantly higher in prepupae reared on a diet containing cholestanol instead of cholesterol (6–7-, 4-, 13-, 4-, and 2-fold increase, for the whole body, intestine, hemolymph, fat body, and frass, respectively). The average percentage of total sterol that was esterified in the tissues was greater in the fat body (10.8 ± 15.4 and 44.2 ± 12.3%, respectively, for larvae fed cholesterol and cholestanol) than in the hemolymph (0.5 ± 0.1 and 6.3 ± 0.8%) and intestine (1.2 ± 0.1 and 4.7 ± 1.1%). The percentage of sterol that was esterified in the frass of larvae was large (26.9 ± 3.7 and 48.2 ± 0.5%, respectively, for larvae fed cholesterol and cholestanol). Therefore, the fact that larvae of H. zea fed cholestanol, instead of cholesterol, contain this saturated molecule as their principal tissue sterol and preferentially esterify it may explain, at least in part, why their rate of growth on cholestanol is slower than on cholesterol.
A comparison of the accuracy of the Box-Jenkins method with that of automated forecasting methods

Abstract The focus of the research described in this paper is on presenting an automated forecasting system that encompasses an objective ARIMA method with the Holt-Winters procedure in a weighted averaging scheme. The system is applied to M-Competition data and the results are compared to the subjective Box-Jenkins forecasts as well as to results from two other automated methods, CAPRI and SIFT. The comparison reveals that especially for one-step ahead forecasting, the automated system competes favorably with both automated methods and the individualized Box-Jenkins analysis.
Effects of temperature and humidity fluctuations on the optical refractive index in the marine boundary layer

The variance and power spectrum of atmospheric optical refractive-index fluctuations are shown to be composed of three terms: the variance and power spectra of the temperature and humidity fluctuations and the correlation and cospectrum of the temperature and humidity fluctuations, respectively. Humidity fluctuations are found to be significant because of the correlation term. The signs of the temperature–humidity correlation and cospectrum can be positive or negative, and therefore can add to or subtract from refractive-index fluctuations caused by only temperature fluctuations. The results of two atmospheric boundary-layer experiments are reported, which show the large effect of the temperature–humidity correlation term. For cold air blowing over warm ocean water, the correlation term was positive and accounted for 17% of the total refractive-index variance. For dry hot desert air blowing over the cold Salton Sea, the correlation was −268% of the total, effectively cancelling the contribution due to temperature variance.