cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Data Party: Involving Stakeholders in Meaningful Data Analysis

A hallmark of Extension includes the involvement of stakeholders in research and program needs assessment, design, implementation, evaluation, and reporting. A data party can be used to enhance this stakeholder involvement specifically in data analysis. This type of event can not only increase client participation in Extension programming and research but also enhance community buy-in, reinforce human and community development, and provide more authentic data interpretation.
Applying workflow analysis tools to assess immunization delivery in outpatient primary care settings.

Article-at-a-Glance Background As health care organizations face increasing pressure to institute quality assurance activities, the already-underfunded community clinics that treat the poor and underserved are challenged to perform these activities within tight constraints of human and financial resources. With pediatric immunizations as a marker, a workflow observation tool was used to identify causal processes affecting immunization delivery. Methods Ten clinics and five private practices, located in areas designated as health professional shortage areas, participated in the study, gaining access to a tool that would have been unaffordable to them from the private sector. Trained observers followed families through the clinic, using a 127-item workflow observation form–the Observational Checklist of Patient Encounters (OCPE)–assessing discrete activities that families encountered during the check-in/pre-exam, exam, discharge, and billing processes. A convenience sampling of the targeted population–children younger than three years of age–included observations of scheduled acute, scheduled well-child, follow-up, and walk-in visits. In the feedback session, a summary of each clinic's immunization delivery patterns was presented, with an emphasis on the individual health center's operational issues. Results The workflow observation tool was used to identify operational errors affecting both clinical and fiscal processes in each of the clinics that had not been previously apparent to either clinic management or the quality improvement (QI) teams. Discussion Feedback addressed and encouraged process-oriented improvements in response to the workflow observations, which were incorporated into the clinics' QI procedures. Twelve of the 15 clinics have formed process action teams to address QI issues on an ongoing basis.
Normalization for Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data Analysis

In this chapter, we describe a robust normalization method for single-cell RNA sequencing data. The procedure, SCnorm, is implemented in R and is part of Bioconductor. Also included in the package are diagnostic functions to visualize normalization performance. This chapter provides an overview of the methodology and provides example work-flows.
Linear Strain Hardening of Nickel-Cobalt Solid Solutions at Large Strains

ABSTRACT The influence of composition on Stage III and linear (Stage IV) strain hardening in Ni-Co solid solutions has been investigated at large strains using torsion tests. Torsion tests using thin-walled Ni-Co tubes were performed at strain rates of 10-3 s-1 and 10-4 s-1 at 296 and 573 K. Typically, the torsion stress-strain curves show linear strain hardening (Stage II), followed by a regime of decreasing hardening rate (Stage III), and at larger strains, a second linear hardening regime, Stage IV. In Stage III, the strain hardening and dynamic recovery are affected by stacking fault energy (SFE) as expected. The rate of strain hardening in Stage IV is not significantly affected by SFE or grain size, although it is temperature dependent. However, the strain at which Stage IV begins, increases with decreasing SFE. Stacking fault energy was also found to influence the evolution of microstructure.
An Examination of the Shadow of Sexual Assault Hypothesis Among Men and Women in South Korea

Using a South Korean sample from 2010 National Crime Victim Survey, the current research examined the gender differences of fear of four different types of crime testing the shadow of sexual assaul...
The Impact of Clawback Adoption on Executive Cash Compensation Structure

Prior research suggests an asymmetric relation between CEO cash compensation and firm performance as measured by market-adjusted stock returns. As discussed by Leone et al. (2006), the underlying rationale for this asymmetry is the difficulty in the ex post settling- up of cash compensation. We examine a later period (2007-2014) and find asymmetry between cash compensation (for CEOs and CFOs) and firm performance as measured by market-adjusted stock returns as well as accounting-based measures. Further, we find that clawback adoption is followed by reduced asymmetry in this relation, a finding consistent with clawback’s ex post settling-up characteristics. We contribute to the literature by showing that clawback adoption has had a favorable impact on the structure of CEO/CFO compensation consistent with Holmstrom (1979).
Convex Optimization over Fixed Value Point Set of Quasi-Nonexpansive Random Operators on Hilbert Spaces

In this paper, a new optimization framework is defined that includes the optimization framework recently proposed in [1]-[2] as a special case. The convex optimization in [1]-[2] includes centralized optimization and distributed optimization over random networks, so does the optimization defined here. It is shown that the proposed algorithm in [2] converges almost surely and in mean square to a solution of the optimization problem here under suitable assumptions.
eWOM anatomy of online product reviews: interaction effects of review number, valence, and star ratings on perceived credibility

Consumers encounter many cues when making online purchases, particularly when reading product reviews. When competing heuristics are triggered, which emerges as more persuasive? This study explores...
Thresholds in woody and herbaceous component co‐existence inform the restoration of a fire‐dependent community

QUESTIONS: A paradoxical co‐existence challenges woodland and savanna restoration worldwide: How are shade‐intolerant, flammable herbaceous layers promoted while maintaining the shade‐casting, more fire‐sensitive woody regeneration that sustains overstorey structure? Where restoration success consisted of robust, diverse herbaceous layers and vigorous, well‐stocked Pinus echinata regeneration (hereafter, shortleaf‐bluestem response), we asked: are there targetable conditions of overstorey, understorey, topography, and proximity to mature Pinus echinata that simultaneously maximize desired woody and herbaceous understorey components? Do these conditions and dependent responses differ across canopy disturbance level and fire season? LOCATION: Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee, USA (36°04′8.11″ N, 84°50′38.36″ W). METHODS: We measured 12 shortleaf‐bluestem response and 17 explanatory condition variables at 345 plots spanning an experimental restoration gradient (canopy disturbance level and fire season combinations). We ordinated variation and identified response thresholds using a multivariate regression tree. Differences across tree groupings and splits associated response thresholds with specific explanatory conditions. RESULTS: Pockets of substantial Pinus echinata regeneration (>3,000 stems/ha), C₄ grass density (>40,000 ramets/ha), and herbaceous diversity (increase from 22 to 205 species) occurred 7–14 years after canopy disturbance and 3–8 fires. Such shortleaf‐bluestem response was maximized at 3 m²/ha residual tree basal area, 11% canopy closure, reduced midstorey density (5,000 small‐sapling stems/ha), and southwesterly aspects within 70 m of mature Pinus echinata. In contrast, shortleaf‐bluestem response was negligible at 11.3 m²/ha basal area and 68% canopy closure. Fire season, snag basal area, slope, and slope position effects were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: We identified specific conditions fostering the co‐existence of desired herbaceous and woody understorey components, addressing a major woodland and savanna restoration challenge and expanding on previous threshold concept applications by simultaneously considering multiple desired responses. Results can direct the restoration of imperiled shortleaf‐bluestem communities east of the Mississippi River, USA, where work has been scarce or ineffective, and similar approaches could inform fire‐dependent woodland and savanna restoration worldwide.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Survivors of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attacks: A Review of the Literature

Prior reviews of 9/11-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have not focused on the civilian survivors most directly exposed to the attacks. Survivors include those individuals who were occupants of buildings in or near the World Trade Center (WTC) towers, those whose primary residence or workplace was in the vicinity, and persons who were on the street passing through the area. This review reports published information on the prevalence of and risk factors for PTSD, as well as comorbidities associated with PTSD among 9/11 survivors. Articles selected for inclusion met the following criteria: (1) full-length, original peer-reviewed empirical articles; (2) published in English from 2002–2019; (3) collected data from persons directly exposed; (4) adult populations; and (5) focused on non-rescue or recovery workers (i.e., survivors). Data were extracted with focus on study design, sample size, time frame of data collection post-9/11, PTSD assessment instrument, and PTSD prevalence, risk factors, and comorbidities. Our review identified the use of cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, finding multiple direct comorbidities with PTSD, as well as the prevalence and persistence of PTSD. Future research would benefit from incorporating more mixed methods designs, and exploring the mediating mechanisms and protective factors of the known associations of PTSD among the 9/11 survivor population.
Pulling at the heart: COVID-19, race/ethnicity and ongoing disparities.

Social determinants of health in the African diaspora drive the lack of disease testing, increased prevalence of comorbid disease and reduced access to drugs, resulting in disproportionately higher COVID-19-related mortality among Black individuals than the rest of the population. We urge decisive attention to and action against ethnicity-based inequities that undermine cardiovascular health.
A Congressional Theory of the Size of Government

In this paper, we examine the implications of the party cartel model of congressional policy making on the level of redistributional social welfare spending in the United States. The party cartel model predicts an inverse relationship between the level of spending on social welfare programs and median family income of the district that the median member of the majority party represents. Specifically, the higher the median district income of the median member of the majority party, the smaller the amount of social welfare spending Congress will allocate. To test this hypothesis, we estimate a random coefficients model using time series cross sectional data on congressional Budget Authorization for redistributional social welfare spending. We find that for each $1000 increase in median district income for the median member of the majority party, each redistributional Budget Authority sub-function decreases by an average of $489 million (for a total decrease of $3.91 billion overall). Therefore, the party cartel model appears to be a significant predictor of the level of income redistribution in the U.S.
Using bus critical driving events as surrogate safety measures for pedestrian and bicycle crashes based on GPS trajectory data.

Pedestrian and bicycle safety is a key component in traffic safety studies. Various studies were conducted to address pedestrian and bicycle safety issues for intersections, road segments, etc. However, only a few studies investigated pedestrian and bicycle safety for bus stops, which usually have a relatively larger volume of pedestrians and bicyclists. Moreover, traditional reactive safety approaches require a significant number of historical crashes, while pedestrian and bicycle crashes are usually rare events. Alternatively, surrogate safety measures could proactively evaluate traffic safety status when crash data are rare or unavailable. This paper utilized critical bus driving events extracted from GPS trajectory data as pedestrian and bicycle surrogate safety measures for bus stops. A city-wide trajectory data from Orlando, Florida was used, which contains around 300 buses, 6,700,000 GPS records, and 1300 bus stops. Three critical driving events were identified based on the buses' acceleration rates and stop time; hard acceleration, hard deceleration, and long stop. The relationships between critical driving events and crashes were examined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. All three events were positively correlated with pedestrian and bicycle crashes. Long stop event has the highest correlation coefficient, followed by hard acceleration and hard deceleration. A Bayesian negative binomial model incorporating spatial correlation (Bayesian NB-CAR) was built to estimate the pedestrian and bicycle crash frequency using the generated events. The results were consistent with the correlation estimation. For example, hard acceleration and long stop events were both positively related to pedestrian and bicycle crashes. Moreover, model evaluation results indicated that the proposed Bayesian NB-CAR outperformed the standard Bayesian negative binomial model with lower Watanabe-Akaike Information Criterion (WAIC) and Deviance Information Criteria (DIC) values. In conclusion, this paper suggests the use of critical bus driving events as surrogate safety measures for pedestrian and bicycle crashes, which could be implemented in a proactive traffic safety management system.
A Matrix Trickle-Down Theorem on Simplicial Complexes and Applications to Sampling Colorings.

We show that the natural Glauber dynamics mixes rapidly and generates a random proper edge-coloring of a graph with maximum degree $\Delta$ whenever the number of colors is at least $q\geq (\frac{10}{3} + \epsilon)\Delta$, where $\epsilon>0$ is arbitrary and the maximum degree satisfies $\Delta \geq C$ for a constant $C = C(\epsilon)$ depending only on $\epsilon$. For edge-colorings, this improves upon prior work \cite{Vig99, CDMPP19} which show rapid mixing when $q\geq (\frac{11}{3}-\epsilon_0 ) \Delta$, where $\epsilon_0 \approx 10^{-5}$ is a small fixed constant. At the heart of our proof, we establish a matrix trickle-down theorem, generalizing Oppenheim's influential result, as a new technique to prove that a high dimensional simplical complex is a local spectral expander.
Facial Porokeratosis

A 34-year-old man from El Salvador was referred to our clinic with a 10-year history of a pruritic erythematous facial eruption. He reported increased pruritus and scaling of lesions when exposed to the sun. He worked as a construction worker and admitted to frequent sun exposure. Physical examination revealed well-circumscribed erythematous to violaceous papules with raised borders and atrophic centers localized to the nose (Figure 1). He did not have lesions on the arms or legs. He did not report a family history of similar lesions. A biopsy specimen was obtained from the edge of a lesion on the right ala. Histologic examination of the biopsy specimen showed acanthosis of the epidermis with focal invagination of the corneal layer and a homogeneous column of parakeratosis in the center of that layer consistent with a cornoid lamella (Figure 2). Furthermore, the granular layer was absent at the cornoid lamella base. The superficial dermis contained a sparse, perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. No evidence of dysplasia or malignancy was seen. These findings supported a diagnosis of porokeratosis. The patient underwent a trial of cryotherapy with moderate improvement of the facial lesions. Figure 1. Circumsribed erythematous papules with raised borders and atrophic centers. Download figure to PowerPoint Figure 2. (A) Skin biopsy specimen from the edge of the right ala showing hyperkeratosis and focal porokerastosis (hematoxylineosin stain, original magnification ×200). (B) Typical cornoid lamella (hematoxylineosin stain, original magnification ×400). Download figure to PowerPoint
Cost of Safety: Holistic Analysis of Market-Based Solutions for Housing in Haiti

AbstractAccess to affordable and safe housing represents a critical challenge for many low- and middle-income countries. Technical and economic constraints frequently lead aspiring homeowners in th...
Identification of SNPs in rice GPAT genes and in silico analysis of their functional impact on GPAT proteins

SNPs are the most common nucleotide variations in the genome. Functional SNPs in the coding region, known as nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs), change amino acid residues and affect protein function. Identifying functional SNPs is an uphill task as it is difficult to correlate between variation and phenotypes in association studies. Computational in silico analysis provides an opportunity to understand the SNPs functional impact to proteins and facilitate experimental approaches in understanding the relationship between the phenotype and genotype. Advancement in sequencing technologies contributed to sequencing thousands of genomes. As a result, many public databases have been designed incorporating this sequenced data to explore nucleotide variations. In this study, we explored functional SNPs in the rice GPAT family (as a model plant gene family), using 3000 Rice Genome Sequencing Project data. We identified 1056 SNPs, among hundred rice varieties in 26 GPAT genes, and filtered 98 nsSNPs. We further investigated the structural and functional impact of these nsSNPs using various computational tools and shortlisted 13 SNPs having high damaging effects on protein structure. We found that rice GPAT genes can be influenced by nsSNPs and they might have a major effect on regulation and function of GPAT genes. This information will be useful to understand the possible relationships between genetic mutation and phenotypic variation, and their functional implication on rice GPAT proteins. The study will also provide a computational pathway to identify SNPs in other rice gene families.
Classical Liberalism and Rawlsian Revisionism

A certain view of Anglo-American liberal political theory has been commonplace for a couple of generations. It is said that the philosophical foundations of contractarian liberalism lie in the 17th century, chiefly in the formulations given to it by Hobbes and Locke. But for two distinct reasons these 17th century formulations fail to provide an adequate basis for contemporary political theory. First, the development of our political and economic institutions in the past two or three hundred years has made it impossible to accept a theory which assumes a minimal, laissez-faire state and a highly competitive economy. Second, the individualist psychological and moral assumptions of the theory are highly dubious if not clearly false.In A Theory of justice John Rawls attempts to provide the systematic revision which liberalism so clearly needs. The revisionist intent of Rawls’ work has not received the attention it deserves, except by critics of the right who deny that such revision is needed.
Urine matrix metalloproteinase-7 and risk of kidney disease progression and mortality in type 2 diabetes

Abstract Aims The renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and WNT pathways are dysregulated in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Urine excretion of angiotensinogen, gremlin-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), components of the RAAS, BMP and WNT pathways, respectively, is increased in DKD. We asked if this increase is associated with subsequent progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death. Methods Using time-to-event analyses, we examined the association of baseline urine concentration of these proteins with progression to ESRD or death in a predominantly Mexican-American cohort with type 2 diabetes and proteinuric DKD (n=141). Results Progression to ESRD occurred for 38 participants over a median follow-up of 3.0years; 39 participants died over a median follow-up of 3.6years. Urine MMP-7 and gremlin-1 were associated with increased risk of ESRD after adjustment for demographic and clinical covariates. Angiotensinogen showed a U-shaped relationship with ESRD, with the middle tertile associated with lowest risk of ESRD. After additional adjustment for glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria, all associations with ESRD lost significance. Only urine MMP-7 was associated with mortality, and this association remained robust in the fully adjusted model with a Hazard ratio of 3.59 (95% confidence interval 1.31 to 9.85) for highest vs. lowest tertile. Serum MMP-7 was not associated with mortality and did not attenuate the association of urine MMP-7 with mortality (HR 4.03 for highest vs. lowest urine MMP-7 tertile). Conclusions Among people with type 2 diabetes and proteinuric DKD, urine MMP-7 concentration was strongly associated with subsequent mortality.
T. vaginalis Infection Is Associated with Increased IL-8 and TNFr1 Levels but with the Absence of CD38 and HLADR Activation in the Cervix of ESN.

Introduction Trichomonas vaginalis infection is associated with an increased risk of HIV infection in exposed-seronegative women (ESN) despite their unique immune quiescent profile. It is important to understand possible mechanisms, such as recruitment of activated T cells, by which T. vaginalis could facilitate HIV infection in this population. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study exploring the relationships between T. vaginalis infection, inflammatory markers and T cell activation in the cervix of ESN. During scheduled study visits, participants completed a behavioral questionnaire and physical exam, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening and collection of endocervical sponge and cytobrush specimens. T cell and monocyte phenotypes were measured in cervical cytobrush specimens using multi-parameter flow cytometry. Cervical sponge specimens were used to measure cytokines (IL-6, IL-8,IL-10, IP-10, RANTES) using Luminex immunoassays and the immune activation marker soluble TNF receptor 1 using ELISA. Results Specimens of 65 women were tested. Twenty-one of these women were infected with T. vaginalis. T. vaginalis infection was associated with significantly increased concentrations of IL-8 (1275pg/ml vs. 566pg/ml, p=.02) and sTNFr1 (430 pg/ml vs. 264 pg/ml, p=.005). However, T. vaginalis infection was not associated with increased percent expression of CCR5+ T cells nor increased CD38 and HLADR activation compared to uninfected women. It was also not associated with increased expression of CCR5+ monocytes. Conclusions Among ESN T. vaginalis infection is associated with increased levels of genital pro-inflammatory/immune activation markers IL-8 and TNFr1, but was not associated with an increased percentage of activated endocervical T cells along the CD38 and HLADR pathways. Thus, while T.vaginalis infection may result in some reversal of the immune quiescent profile of ESN, enhanced recruitment of activated CD38 and HLADR expressing CD4+ cells into the endocervix may not be part of the mechanism by which Trichomonas infection alters HIV susceptibility in this unique subset of women.
Protein adsorption dissociation constants in various types of biochromatography

Abstract The equilibrium kinetics, adsorption and desorption of various proteins on chromatographic adsorbents have been widely studied and published in the literature. What is lacking is a comprehensive review of the available information. In this article the equilibrium data has been summarized and presented in the form of dissociation constants. This summary leads to a chart of relative protein adsorption strength of various types of chromatography in terms of dissociation constants. Some of the factors affecting dissociation constants such as ligand concentration, pH, ionic strength and temperature have also been discussed. The results of this study can be used as important information for design, development, scale up and optimization of chromatographic processes for protein separations.
Courting Compliance: Case Managers as “Double Agents” in the Mental Health Court

An ethnographic study of four Midwest mental health courts was focused on how case managers influence the judicial response to offender noncompliance. Mental health courts, which bear little resemblance to traditional work group models, are staffed by teams of legal and social service professionals working collaboratively toward reducing recidivism and community reintegration for high-risk offenders. Few studies, however, have explored how treatment providers practice their trade in this new court organization. I investigate how case management professionals, working at the intersections of the social welfare and criminal justice systems, leverage courtroom decision making that results in greater leniency or enhanced punishment. The findings suggest that mental-health-court case managers act as boundary spanners in terms of their strategic use of resources to facilitate treatment goals. I conclude that case managers act as “double agents” challenging the state to advocate for clemency while enforcing client rules to uphold the integrity of the court.
Europe's refugee crisis

In this guest editorial Maurizio Albahari considers the refugee crisis, Europe's worst since WWII. Does this crisis represent a critical turning point?
Wave-front tomography by Zernike polynomial decomposition

By making a series of wave-front observations that differ in angle and degree of collimation and using subaperture testing theory, the Zernike polynomial representation of several aberrating screens may be determined from external measurements of the optical system. In this Letter, the analytical basis is presented, limitations to the technique are explored, and some results of numerical evaluation are described.
Genetic Tests To Evaluate Prognosis and Predict Therapeutic Response in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Management of patients with acute myeloid leukemia relies on genetic tests that inform diagnosis and prognosis, predict response to therapy, and measure minimal residual disease. The value of genetics is reinforced in the revised 2008 World Health Organization acute myeloid leukemia classification scheme. The various analytic procedures—karyotype, fluorescence in situ hybridization, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and microarray technology—each have advantages in certain clinical settings, and understanding their relative merits assists in specimen allocation and in effective utilization of health care resources. Karyotype and array technology represent genome-wide screens, whereas the other methods target specific prognostic features such as t(15;17) PML-RARA, t(8;21) RUNX1-RUNX1T1, inv(16) CBFB-MYH11, 11q23 MLL rearrangement, FLT3 internal tandem duplication, or NPM1 mutation. New biomarkers and pharmacogenetic tests are emerging. The pathologist's expertise is critical in 1) consulting with clinicians about test selection as well as specimen collection and handling; 2) allocating tissue for immediate testing and preserving the remaining specimen for any downstream testing that is indicated once morphology and other pertinent test results are known; 3) performing tests that maximize outcome based on the strengths and limitations of each assay in each available specimen type; and 4) interpreting and conveying results to the rest of the health care team in a format that facilitates clinical management. Acute myeloid leukemia leads the way for modern molecular medicine.
Infant nutrition and the consequences of differential market access in Nunoa, Peru.

Observational and interview data provide the basis for an analysis of infant feeding behavior in a rural Andean community. Generally, infants were first nursed within 48 hours of birth; co‐sleeping—and probably night‐nursing—continued far longer than day nursing; exclusive bottle‐use or exclusive nursing were very rare. Weaning was an extended process of continually modified feeding routines, rather than an abrupt event. There were significant differences in the feeding practices of poor and relatively less‐poor mothers that may have had health benefits for the infants of the latter women but may have been deleterious for poorer women's offspring. In particular, the quality of infant foods was a primary avenue by which economic variation influenced breastfeeding duration and, hence, infant health and maternal fecundity.
Utilization of the Brief Symptom Inventory to Discriminate between Violent and Nonviolent Male Relationship Partners

This study reports on the use of the Brief Symptom Inventory, a shortened version of the Symptom Check List-90-Revised, to measure psychopathological symptoms that predict male domestic violence. A sample of 152 men and their partners reported on the severity of violent behavior present in their relationship. Discriminant analysis indicated variation in men's violent status as a function of psychopathological symptoms. Violent men evidenced higher scores on 7 of the 9 subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory, namely, Depression, Anxiety, Hostility, Phobia, Paranoid Ideation, Interpersonal Sensitivity, and Psychoticism.
Optimal strategy for time-limited sequential search

An optimal strategy is developed for maximizing the expected benefit in time limited sequential search processes with very low candidate encounter rates. We formulate a model for searches where there are k types of candidates whose benefits and encounter rates are known prior to the start of the search. The optimal strategy consists of determining the specific times during the search at which the acceptable candidate pool should be expanded by including the next lower candidate type in the pool. Results indicate that, in general, candidate types with the higher benefits dominate the optimal strategy.
Comparative Analysis of Carrier-Based Obturation and Lateral Compaction: A Retrospective Clinical Outcomes Study

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome of primary endodontic treatment using a standardized cleaning and shaping technique and obturation with either lateral compaction or carrier-based obturation. Patients received primary endodontic treatment in the predoctoral dental clinic using a standardized cleaning and shaping protocol. All root canals were obturated using AH PlusTM sealer with lateral compaction of gutta-percha (LC) or carrier-based obturation (CBO). A total of 205 cases met the inclusion criteria. 71 teeth in 60 patients were recalled after 2 years and evaluated both clinically and radiographically by two independent examiners. Success was defined as a lack of clinical symptoms and a normal periodontal ligament space or reduction in size of a previously existing periapical radiolucency. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis with a significance level of . There was no difference in success rates between cases obturated with LC or CBO (); overall success rate was 83&#x25;. Molars had a significantly lower success rate (53&#x25;) than premolar and anterior teeth (89&#x25;) (), irrespective of the obturation technique used. When a standardized cleaning and shaping protocol was used by predoctoral dental students in a controlled university setting, there was no difference in success rates between cases obturated with LC or CBO.
A comparison of quantitative-competitive and realtime PCR assays using an identical target sequence to detect Epstein–Barr virus viral load in the peripheral blood

Monitoring the load of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the peripheral blood by quantitative PCR has been accepted as a useful tool for predicting the onset of EBV related diseases, confirming an EBV disease diagnosis and following the response to treatment interventions. In the present study, the use of a realtime polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) assay developed for unpurified cell preparations was examined and the results of the realtime assay were compared to an EBV quantitative-competitive PCR assay (QC-PCR). Both assays use the same target sequence and the same method for determining the standard value for the copy number of EBV genomes present. A comparison of 572 PCR results reveals that the realtime assay gave 5-10-fold higher values than the QC-PCR. Fifty-one results (8.9%) were discordant between the two sets of data. The most commonly encountered discordant result was detection of low amounts of EBV DNA by the rt-PCR assay that were not detected in specimens by QC-PCR. The two assays had a high degree of correlation across the range of load detection allowing clinically relevant threshold values determined in the QC-PCR assay to be inferred for the rt-PCR assay. External normalization of the rt-PCR assay was determined to be an important tool for monitoring the quality and/or quantity of human DNA in the starting material. rt-PCR assays with unpurified cell lysates compare favorably with quantitative-competitive assays and when normalized offer real advantages in specimen preparation, assay manipulations and reproducibility over both quantitative-competitive assays and realtime assays that require purified nucleic acid inputs.
Pairwise GB/SA Scoring Function for Structure-based Drug Design

An accurate and efficient energy model to compute free energies of ligand binding to proteins is essential to understanding protein−ligand interactions, particularly to structure-based drug design. A bottleneck to derive such an energy model is how to account for the solvent effect. A grid-based free energy model was proposed (Zou et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 8033−43),1 based on the generalized-Born (GB/SA) model of solvation for small molecules (Still et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 6127−9).2 Although the grid-based free energy model shows much improved results than the current DOCK force field energy model (Meng et al. J. Comput. Chem. 1992, 13, 505−24)3 by taking into account the solvent effect, the computational speed for the free energy model restricts the model from a direct drug screen of a huge compound database. Rather, the model is used for a second-step screening after a pre-screening by the force field method. Here, we present a fast algorithm, the pairwise free energy model, for li...
Dramaturgical analysis of organizational change and conflict

Purpose – To better understand the process of organizational change by broadening Goffman's dramaturgical analysis to apply to the organizational level.Design/methodology/approach – It is a case study of a failed organizational change effort focused on racial and gender harassment and intimidation in a federal organization. The data came from interviews and observation.Findings – Goffman's dramaturgical analysis is expanded from the interpersonal to the organizational level. This study argues that organizations, too, have performances, a front stage, a back stage, and an audience. Conflict in the organization is seen as the management team exerting expressive control to maintain the organization's line, while activist teams (a feminist group and the Equal Employment Opportunity office) create scenes that disrupt it. The researcher/consultants who were called into study the situation were thrust into meta‐complementary position. Dramaturgical analysis is posited as a separate perspective for organizational...
Potential sweep chronoamperometry in dimethyl sulfoxide at the hanging mercury drop electrode

Abstract Electroanalytical studies in dimethyl sulfoxide have been extended to the hanging mercury drop electrode. Potential sweep chronoamperometry was utilized with potentiostatic control of the working electrode. Several ions have been examined for diffusion control in this system by means of the Randies-Sevcik equation. Halfwave potentials of selected depolarizers and polarization limits of several carrier electrolytes have been measured.
Response and Analysis of Steel Trusses for Fatigue Truck Loading

In this research, the strain responses of several members of 2 different types of truss bridges to known truck loads are measured and compared to the responses calculated using typical structural analysis as well as 2-D and 3-D finite-element analysis. The simple calculations result in calculated stress ranges that significantly exceed the measured stress ranges in most cases, for many reasons, including: 1) flexural moments are carried by the deck; 2) trusses act in a way that is partially composite; 3) simple angle end corrections of floor beams act partially restrained; and 4) steel bearings on older large trusses typically do not respond to live loads like rollers. Typical ratios of the measured stresses to calculated stresses are developed for different parts of the superstructure if there is still a significant discrepancy after making reasonable refinements in the assumptions and analysis.
Nuclear proteins. VI. Fractionation of chromosomal non-histone proteins using hydrophobic chromatography

Abstract Mouse liver non-histone proteins, isolated by hydroxyapatite chromatography, were fractionated by hydrophobic chromatography using ω-amino decyl-agarose ω-amino butyl-agarose, decyl-agarose, butyl-agarose, phenyl-Sepharose, and CPAD-Sepharose. Two column loading techniques were used. In the 0.35 M NaCl technique, the proteins were dialized into 0.35 M NaCl, applied to the column and initially eluted with 0.35 M NaCl. In the 40% (NH4)2SO4 technique, the non-histone proteins were mixed with the hydrophobic agarose, dialized against 40% (NH4)2SO4, and initially eluted with 40% (NH4)2SO4. In both cases the columns were subsequently eluted with 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 0.35, 1.0 and 5.0 M LiBr, and finally with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The 0.35 M NaCl technique, using decyl-agarose and phenyl-Sepharose, resulted in a single step marked enrichment of the major hnRNA proteins (1 M LiBr fraction). The 40% (NH4)2SO4 technique resulted in a single step isolation of a pair of 15–20 000 dalton polypeptides.
A high-resistivity SiGe BiCMOS technology for WiFi RF front-end-IC solutions

We present for the first time a novel high resistivity bulk SiGe BiCMOS technology that has been optimized for a WiFi RF front-end-IC (FEIC) integration. A nominally 1000 Ohm-cm p-type silicon substrate is utilized to integrate several SiGe HBTs for power amplifiers (PAs), a SiGe HBT low-noise amplifier (LNA), and isolated nFET RF switch device. Process elements include trench isolation for low-loss passives and reduced parasitic coupling, and a lower-resistivity region for the FETs to minimize changes to the circuit library.
A INTERFACE HISTÓRIA-INVENÇÃO EM TRÊS ROMANCES DE JOSÉ SARAMAGO

O estudo "A Interface Historia-Invencao em Tres Romances de Jose Saramago" coloca em foco os romances Levantado do Chao (1980), Memorial do Convento (1982) eO Ano da Morte de Ricardo Reis (1984). Procura o autor demonstrar como, sendo o primeiro um "romance historico inventado" e os dois outros, "romances historicos documentados", todos fornecem uma via para sondar a relacao entre o factual e o narrativo, o que os torna historicos num novo sentido, diferente daquele dos romances historicos classicos.
A recursive Kalman window approach to image restoration

Recursive restoration of blurred and noisy images using Kalman algorithms is hindered by the correlated nature of the two-dimensional data and the excessive computing requirements of the very long state vectors. This paper uses a semicausal model for image representation to account for the correlated nature of the data. Such a model is subsequently used to develop a discrete linear imaging system model, suitable for applying Kalman algorithms, to process the images in strips whose width is a function of the point spread function. This method of restoration results in considerable savings in computing time and storage. Two examples are presented to illustrate the technique.
Characterization of organometallic polymers by size exclusion chromatography on preconditioned columns

Abstract Tin-bearing organometallic polymers (OMPs) having tributyltin substituents on pendant carboxylic acid groups are in current, extensive use as marine biocides. Fractionation of the substituted polymer by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) on plystyrene cross-linked with divinylbenzene (PS—DVB) is complicated by surface adsorption of cations even on this relatively inert packing material. This paper describes chromatography performed successfully on PS—DVB columns following pretreatment with an organometallic cation to establish a positively charged surface. Tin-specific SEC illustrates the methodology. The column packing is preconditioned with an organic solution of tributyltin-bearing cation dervied from monomer esters, to prevent cleavage of the tin-bearing moieties from the OMP. Mass-sensitive differential refractive index and element-specific graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy detectors in tandem give self-consistent values for key molecular parameters (molecular weight, molecular weight dispersion, and the distribution of tin in high- and low-molecular-weight fractions). Samples prepared on a laboratory scale or on commercial scale show no substantial differences in products prepared by two substantially different reaction pathways. The modified procedure is recommended as a critical method for comparing different organometallic polymers in organic solution.
Aging and the Influence of Contextual Contrast on Vowel Identification

This study examines possible differences between young and older adult listeners in the effect of contextual contrast on vowel identification using a vowel anchoring procedure. All listeners identified a 7-step [i]-[I] continuum under both an equiprobable control condition and an anchoring condition (in which one endpoint stimulus occurred four times more often than any other single stimulus token). Phoneme boundaries in the anchoring condition shifted toward the anchor endpoint, as expected, for both groups, but there was a significant effect of age when [i] served as the anchor. Evidence of an increase in response bias for older adult listeners was also found.
Incidence of minor complications and time lost from normal activities after screening or surveillance colonoscopy

Background Few studies address the development of minor complications after screening or surveillance colonoscopy. Objectives Our purpose was to examine in previously asymptomatic people the incidence of new symptoms after colonoscopy, risk factors for symptoms, and patients' perceptions of this examination. Design Prospective cohort study. Patients completed a standardized interview at 7 and 30 days after colonoscopy. Patients A total of 502 patients aged 40 years and older undergoing colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening, surveillance, or follow-up of another abnormal screening test result. Patients were excluded if they had a history of inflammatory bowel disease, visible GI bleeding, or anemia. Main Outcome Measures Incidence of minor complications and patient perceptions about colonoscopy. Results Minor complications occurred in 162 subjects (34%) before day 7 and in 29 subjects (6%) between day 7 and day 30, most commonly bloating (25%) and abdominal pain (11%). Six subjects had unexpected emergency department visits or hospitalizations within 30 days, including 2 with postpolypectomy bleeding. On multivariate analysis, minor complications were more common in women (odds ratio 1.78, 95% CI 1.21-2.62) and when the procedure lasted 20 minutes or longer. Bowel preparation was rated the most difficult part of the examination for 77%. Most subjects (94%) lost 2 or fewer days from normal activities for the colonoscopy itself, preparation, or recovery. Conclusions Minor complications were common after screening and surveillance colonoscopy. The bowel preparation was the most difficult part of the examination for most patients. Most subjects lost 2 or fewer days from normal activities because of colonoscopy.
In-vivo sensing of glutamate levels in the basolateral amygdala across sleep-wake states

In this research, chronic sensing parameters and an animal protocol for recording sleep-related changes in glutamate in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) were examined and verified. For chronic sensing, glutamate concentration was measured in rat BLA in real time by an enzyme electrode. In order to analyze the correlation of glutamate level with sleep stages, electroencephalography (EEG) and activity signals were simultaneously monitored by a wireless data acquisition system. From this experiment set-up, increases in glutamate concentration of around 60 nM level were observed in the BLA in shifts from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Characterization of the clinical characteristics, electrolytes, acid–base, and renal parameters in male cats with urethral obstruction

Objective: To characterize the clinical characteristics, electrolyte changes, acid–base changes, and renal parameters in a consecutive population of cats with urethral obstruction. Design: Retrospective clinical study. Setting: University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Animals: Two hundred and twenty-three male cats that presented consecutively with urethral obstruction between 1997 and 1999. Interventions: None. Measurements and main results: The medical records of 223 cats with urethral obstruction were reviewed for signalment, previous medical history, indoor/outdoor status, body weight, clinical signs, physical examination findings, renal function tests (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), and blood gas and electrolyte analysis. The majority of cats were relatively stable without serious metabolic derangements. Only 12% (24/199) of cats had severe hyperkalemia (>8.0 mmol/L). Hyperkalemia did not occur in isolation; the majority of these cats had concurrent acidemia and low ionized calcium concentrations. Potassium was significantly inversely correlated with pH, bicarbonate, pCO2, sodium, chloride, and ionized calcium, but positively correlated with blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Ionized calcium was positively correlated with pH and bicarbonate. Of the animals with a potassium concentration greater than 8.0 mmol/L, 75% (18/24) had an ionized calcium concentration of less than 1.0 mmol/L. Seventy-nine percent (19/24) of cats with a potassium concentration greater than 8.0 mmol/L had a blood pH<7.20. Similarly, 74% (23/31) of cats with a pH<7.20 had an ionized calcium concentration <1.00 mmol/L. Conclusions: The majority of cats with urethral obstruction presented with mild electrolyte and blood gas changes and were relatively stable, although 12% of cats had multiple, life-threatening metabolic derangements. Of 219 cats in this study, 205 (93.6%), where it could be determined, survived to discharge from the hospital, supporting the fact that most cats with urethral obstruction survive the acute episode with emergency treatment.
The struggle within: Microbial influences on colorectal cancer

Recently, an unprecedented effort has been directed at understanding the interplay between chronic inflammation and development of cancer, with the case of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated colorectal cancer at the forefront of this research endeavor. The last decade has been particularly fertile, with the discovery of numerous innovative paradigms linking various inflammatory, proliferative, and innate and adaptive immune signaling pathways to the development of colorectal cancer. Because of the preponderant role of the intestinal microbiota in the initiation and progression of IBD, recent efforts have been directed at understanding the relationship between bacteria and colorectal cancer. The microbiota and its collective genome, the microbiome, form a diverse and complex ecological community that profoundly impacts intestinal homeostasis and disease states. This review will discuss the differential influence of the microbiota on the development of IBD-associated colorectal cancer and highlight the role of innate immune sensor-dependent as well as -independent mechanisms in this pathology.