cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative proteomic analysis of ovarian cancer cells identified mitochondrial proteins associated with paclitaxel resistance

Paclitaxel has been widely used as an anti-mitotic agent in chemotherapy for a variety of cancers and adds substantial efficacy as the first-line chemotherapeutic regimen for ovarian cancers. However, the frequent occurrence of paclitaxel resistance limits its function in long-term management. Despite abundant clinical and cellular demonstration of paclitaxel resistant tumors, the molecular mechanisms leading to paclitaxel resistance are poorly understood. Using genomic approaches, we have previously identified an association between a BTB/POZ gene, NAC1, and paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer. The experiments presented here have applied multiple quantitative proteomic methods to identify protein changes associated with paclitaxel resistance and NAC1 function. The SKOV-3 ovarian serous carcinoma cell line, which has inducible expression of dominant-negative NAC1, was used to determine the paclitaxel treatment associated changes in the presence and absence of functional NAC1. Quantitative proteomic analyses were performed using iTRAQ labeling and MS. Two label-free quantitative proteomic methods: LC-MS and spectral count were used to increase confidence of proteomic quantification. Candidate proteins related to paclitaxel and NAC1 function were identified in this study. Gene ontology analysis of the protein changes identified upon paclitaxel resistance revealed that cell component enrichment related to mitochondria. Moreover, tubulin and mitochondrial proteins were the major cellular components with changes associated with paclitaxel treatment. This suggests that mitochondria may play a role in paclitaxel resistance.
Counting the lives lost: how many black trauma deaths are attributable to disparities?

BACKGROUND: The number of black trauma deaths attributable to racial disparities is unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the excess mortality experienced by black patients given disparities in the risk of mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients aged 16-65 y with blunt and penetrating injuries, who were included in the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007-2010. Generalized linear modeling estimated the relative risk of death for black patients versus white patients, adjusting for known confounders. This analysis determined the difference in the observed number of black trauma deaths at Level I and II centers and the expected number of deaths if the risk of mortality for black patients had been equivalent to that of white patients. RESULTS: A total of 1.06 million patients were included. Among patients with blunt and penetrating injuries at Level I trauma centers, white males and females had a relative risk of death of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.85) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.74-0.83), respectively, compared with black patients. Similarly, at Level II trauma centers, white males and females had a relative risk of death of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.80-0.88) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.73-0.91). Overall, of the estimated 41,613 deaths that occurred at Level I and II centers, 2206 (5.3%) were excess deaths among black patients. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 4-y period, approximately 5% of trauma center deaths could be attributed to racial disparities in trauma outcomes. These data underscore the need to better understand and intervene against the mechanisms that lead to trauma outcomes disparities. Language: en
Paradox of Mother's Curse and the Maternally Provisioned Offspring Microbiome

Strict maternal transmission creates an "asymmetric sieve" favoring the spread of mutations in organelle genomes that increase female fitness, but diminish male fitness. This phenomenon, called "Mother's Curse," can be viewed as an asymmetrical case of intralocus sexual conflict. The evolutionary logic of Mother's Curse applies to each member of the offspring microbiome, the community of maternally provisioned microbes, believed to number in the hundreds, if not thousands, of species for host vertebrates, including humans. Taken together, these observations pose a compelling evolutionary paradox: How has maternal transmission of an offspring microbiome become a near universal characteristic of the animal kingdom when the genome of each member of that community poses a potential evolutionary threat to the fitness of host males? I review features that limit or reverse Mother's Curse and contribute to resolving this paradox. I suggest that the evolution of vertical symbiont transmission requires conditions that mitigate the evolutionary threat to host males.
Normal values for aortic diameters in children and adolescents – assessment in vivo by contrast-enhanced CMR-angiography

Background Contrast-enhanced CMR angiography (CE-CMRA) is being increasingly used for diagnosing aortic arch anomalies, planning interventions and follow-up assessment. We sought to establish normal values for the diameters of the thoracic aorta and reference curves related to body growth in children using CE-CMRA.
Quest Religion, Anti-Fundamentalism, and Limited Versus Universal Compassion

Goldfried and Miner (2002) claimed to provide evidence that those high in quest religion are less likely to help a religiously closed-minded person even when the help does not promote closed-mindedness. As a result, they concluded that quest religion is associated with limited, not universal, compassion. An experiment modeled on theirs hut avoiding several methodological problems suggested a very different conclusion. Although participants high in quest religion helped a religiously closed-minded person less when doing so promoted closed-mindedness, they were no less likely to help such a person when it did not promote closed-mindedness. These results suggest that quest religion is associated with antipathy toward promoting closed-mindedness, not with antipathy toward religiously closed-minded persons. The .scope of compassion associated with quest religion does not appear to he limited in the way Goldfried and Miner claimed.
Plane-Strain Crack Problem in Transversely Isotropic Solids for Hydraulic Fracturing Applications

AbstractThis paper aims at understanding and predicting how pressurized cracks propagate in anisotropic brittle solids, a situation frequently encountered in hydraulic fracturing. Special attention is paid to transverse isotropy, often used to model shale. Although the theory of linear elastic fracture mechanics of anisotropic solids is well established at present, this paper shows that the application of Muskhelishvili’s formalism to Lekhnitskii’s anisotropic complex potentials provides a powerful tool to extend the validity of the classical tools of isotropic fluid-driven crack models to the anisotropic case, provided that the appropriate elastic constants are used. These elastic constants are identified and derived in closed form for transversely isotropic solids. The constants are shown to be directly related to quantities easily measured in a laboratory at macroscopic scale through indentation tests and acoustic measurements. Moreover, several crack-kinking criteria are compared. Contrary to the isot...
Concurrent error detection in fast unitary transform algorithms

Discrete fast unitary transform algorithms, of which the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and fast discrete Cosine transform (DCT) are practical examples, are highly susceptible to temporary calculation failures because of their interconnected computational flows. Many error detection techniques for FFT algorithms have been reported, but fault tolerance issues for other important transforms have not been addressed as vigorously. A general design and analysis approach for all fast unitary transforms is presented. It relies on fundamental linear algebra methods coupled with associated dual space representations that are natural descriptions of real parity values. Basic output error patterns from single computational errors are used to define an equal-sized group of dual space basis vectors on which practical parity weighting functions may be evaluated. An iterative design approach leads to complete single error detection capabilities. FFT and fast DCT examples are given.
Distrusting Democrats and Political Participation in New Democracies: Lessons from Chile

Distrusting democrats seek accountability and advocate reform in established democracies. Do they behave similarly in new democracies? Using AmericasBarometer survey data, cluster analysis identifi...
SERVOGrid Complexity Computational Environments (CCE) Integrated Performance Analysis

In this paper we describe the architecture and initial performance analysis results of the SERVOGrid complexity computational environments (CCE). The CCE architecture is based on a lightly coupled, service oriented architecture approach that is suitable for distributed applications that are tolerant of Internet latencies. CCE focuses on integrating diverse Web and grid services for coupling scientific applications to geographical information systems. The services and coupling/orchestrating infrastructure are mapped to problems in geophysical data mining, pattern informatics, and multiscale geophysical simulation.
A Quantitative History of the Journal of Economc History and the Cliometric Revolution

What do economic historians do? I analyze quantitatively The Journal of Economic History's contents since its founding, showing subfields, nations, and periods studied, and which scholars and universities have contributed. The timing, extent, and participants of the cliometric revolution are investigated. New rankings of economic history programs are made.
A decision feedback based scheme for Slepian-Wolf coding of sources with hidden Markov correlation

We consider the problem of compression of two memoryless binary sources, the correlation between which is defined by a hidden Markov model (HMM). We propose a decision feedback (DF) based scheme which when used with low density parity check codes results in compression close to the Slepian-Wolf limit.
Anti-ADAMTS13 IgG autoantibodies present in healthy individuals share linear epitopes with those in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies, predominantly of the IgG class, are found in plasma of patients with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)[1][1] but also in approximately 5% of healthy individuals.[1][1] Antibodies from TTP patients have previously been studied using various epitope
Estimation Issues for Precipitation Extreme Quantile Determination

Engineering hydrology is primarily conducted using rainfall frequency atlases and return period design storms. Recent anecdotal experience has suggested that this method may result in extreme event estimates which are underestimates of actual events. In this research, 332 rain gages covering the southeastern United States were analyzed for trends in the 100 year quantile estimate, using annual maxima values derived from daily precipitation data covering the past 79+ years. A nonparametric trend test was applied by use of a moving cumulative 100-year storm estimate calculated using the GEV distribution and confidence intervals generated by a Monte Carlo simulation. The results show about 40% of the stations exhibited some form of nonstationarity, although any upward or downward trends were difficult to ascertain, as were geographic trends. The cumulative sample aggregation method resulted in large fluctuations in quantile estimates. Furthermore, empirical confidence intervals for the extreme quantiles were very wide for much of the moving cumulative range, because of the inherent small sample sizes.
Extending the Theory of Reactance to Guilt Appeals

Abstract. This study examines the process of reactance induced by guilt appeals. Participants (N = 240 US high school students) received messages that advocated taking school seriously. The results of a 3 (guilt appeal level: low, moderate, high) × 2 (message referent: other, self) experiment indicated that guilt directly influenced the affective component of reactance – anger – but its effect on the cognitive component of reactance – relevant negative thoughts – was mediated via the awareness that messages used guilt to induce persuasion. Subsequently, reactance was negatively related to the advocated position. These findings suggest that employing guilt appeals in mass media campaigns for adolescents may be counterproductive: The guiltier the participants felt, the less positive were their attitudes toward taking school seriously. The study expands the scope of reactance theory by associating reactance with guilt appeals and examining the process by which reactance is induced. These and other results ar...
Early Detection and Treatment Opportunities in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a malignancy with a relatively static incidence of approximately 12 to 13 per 100,000 during the past several decades. However, with an increasingly older population and changing demographics in the West, the prevalence of this disease has increased, which has resulted in ongoing and future major public health implications, given the high case fatality rate and the large burden of morbidity that this disease incurs. For meaningful progress to be effected in this disease, maximal gain is anticipated to accrue from a focus on screening, early detection, and diagnosis of early-stage pancreatic adenocarcinoma, opportunities that, heretofore, have not yet been fully capitalized on.
Preliminary Evidence Of SFAS No. 130's Effect On Gains Trading In The Insurance Industry

Gains trading represents a form of earnings management whereby appreciated marketable securities are sold at a gain while those with a loss are retained. By not requiring unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities to flow through income, SFAS No. 115 failed to close the door on this type of earnings management. With SFAS No. 130, however, these unrealized gains and losses must now be reported prominently in a financial statement as a component of comprehensive income. By examining the level of gains trading for a sample of companies in the insurance industry both before and after the implementation of SFAS No. 130, the current study provides evidence suggesting that this form of earnings management subsided subsequent to the adoption of SFAS No. 130.
Small Molecules Alone or in Combination to Treat Joint Disease and Progress Toward Gene Therapy

The field of biologics for joint disease, specifically articular cartilage injury and osteoarthritis, is one that has stimulated much excitement in the area of orthopaedics. The deficit of growth factors and anticatabolics in joint disease is now a well-recognized problem; however, unraveling the mystery associated with appropriate dose and timing of administration and when these molecules might have their most therapeutic benefits would be the subject of study for decades to come. Further, the technique of how these proteins are enhanced in the joint to result in the greatest influence remains in question. Shall we deliver individual therapeutic proteins in one dose? Shall we enhance the joint environment through biologic solutions that mimic the body's response to injury? Or shall we strive to maintain continued elevated levels of these proteins through gene therapeutic strategies given the timeline of cartilage healing is slow and can sometimes require months to years to heal? The scientific community recognizes that the short half-life of recombinant proteins combined with the question of whether one individual protein can influence healing to the point of augmenting cartilage repair or change the outcome of an osteoarthritic joint leads to asking bigger questions such as what can we attain in multiple combinations of these factors and what is the best way to enhance the joint environment. The evidence is mounting in various studies that increasing levels of anabolic and anticatabolic proteins may have influential therapeutic effects in joints and may change the outcome of cartilage injury and osteoarthritis. This is a summary of the common biologic approaches to enhancing various proteins that may have important effects in joint disease.
Computing Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors Without Determinants

(1998). Computing Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors Without Determinants. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 71, No. 1, pp. 24-33.
Gender, Basque nationalism and women’s associations: The case of Lanbroa:

Since the beginning of the twentieth century in the Spanish Basque Country, Basque nationalism has served as a unifying movement that encouraged women to participate in women’s associations. Women’...
Wake Vortex Core Profiles and Stability from Enroute Flight Data

-1 and core radii of 2-6 m, and resulted in sharp-peaked velocity profiles, adequately described by the potential or Rankine vortex model. Occasionally, the profiles were rounded with no secondary or tertiary elements - such profiles were adequately described by the Burnham-Hallock model. Tertiary vortex elements were small and intense, induced wind speeds and core radii to approximately 35-45 ms -1 and 0.3-0.6 m, respectively When normalized, and considered statistically - about 25% of profiles were of Burnham-Hallock shape with low turbulence levels. The remainder were full-shape profiles: 50% of profiles were between B-H and potential profiles, whilst 25% of profiles had induced velocities greater than potential, of which 5% were > twice potential peak velocity. Numerical differentiation of the profiles showed that many of profiles were characterized by a strong Rankine radial mode instability between .95rC and 1.5rC. The instability was harmonically mirrored at 2rC and 4rC. Radial analysis indicated that strong, unsteady radial velocities existed for the full-profiles (but not B-H profiles) near core edges and inside cores. The radial flows were both in-flows and outflows. Associated with the inflows was intensification of quasi-vorticity, wherefore spatial gradients of wind gusts were measured under the assumption of frozen-flow, at small scale level.
Reference range concentrations of N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine, a common metabolite of several volatile organic compounds, in the urine of adults in the United States.

Reference range concentrations of N -acetyl- S -(2-hydroxyethyl)- L -cysteine, a common metabolite of several volatile organic compounds, in the urine of adults in the United States
A Comparison of Student Performance in an Online Introductory Accounting Course with Traditional Classroom Students

Use of e-courses in higher education has become increasingly widespread in recent years. Educators continue to debate the effectiveness of the technology and some argue that e-courses may be appropriate for some courses, but not for others. Each discipline must determine the effectiveness of e-courses consistent with its own priorities. Within accounting education, no consensus has been reached. Recently, an opportunity to compare student performance in an ecourse setting with that in a traditional classroom setting presented itself. A professor taught the introductory accounting course in the two settings; classes were conducted in such a way that student performance could be compared. This paper describes results and conclusions drawn from the comparisons.
Lignin-Based Polymers

Lignin is the most abundant phenolic polymer on the planet. Its utilization for non-fuel sources, mostly water-soluble surfactants and components of network polymers and thermoplastic polyblends is reviewed. Limiting solubility and thermal deformability properties are addressed by molecular fractionation and/or chemical modification. Simple ester and ether derivatives are beginning to attract commercial interest in markets for materials with a basis of sustainable biopolymers.
The Role of Clinical Examination in the Accurate Diagnosis of Bovine Neurologic Disease

Accurate, specific diagnosis of bovine neurologic disease is both possible and necessary in practice settings. The requirements for accurate diagnosis are a knowledge of the pathogenesis and epizootiology of the bovine neurologic diseases as described in this issue and a systematic approach to clinical examinations including accurate history taking, careful physical examination, neurologic examination, and inspection of the environment. Support for an accurate diagnosis can be obtained by use of the clinical pathology laboratory and, in herd problems, necropsy. The value of a precise diagnosis in bovine neurologic disease lies in the avoidance of costly, inappropriate therapy, the restriction of transmission of zoonotic disease, avoidance of ineffective treatment, more efficient salvage of affected individuals, and cost-efficient implementation of appropriate preventive measures as well as a sense of professional satisfaction in overcoming a challenging and difficult diagnostic problem.
Confident reasoning on Raven's progressive matrices tests

We report a novel approach to addressing the Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM) tests, one based upon purely visual representations. Our technique introduces the calculation of confidence in an answer and the automatic adjustment of level of resolution if that confidence is insufficient. We first describe the nature of the visual analogies found on the RPM. We then exhibit our algorithm and work through a detailed example. Finally, we present the performance of our algorithm on the four major variants of the RPM tests, illustrating the impact of confidence. This is the first such account of any computational model against the entirety of the Raven's.
Low-concentration carbon dioxide is an effective adjunct to positive airway pressure in the treatment of refractory mixed central and obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of added carbon dioxide as adjunctive therapy to positive airway pressure-refractory mixed obstructive and central sleep-disordered breathing, using a prototype device-the positive airway pressure gas modulator. DESIGN Open-label evaluation of low concentrations of carbon dioxide added to a positive airway pressure circuit. SETTING Physician-attended polysomnographic titration in a free-standing sleep laboratory with end-tidal and transcutaneous carbon-dioxide monitoring. PATIENTS Six adult men (age 54 +/- 5.7 years) with severe poorly controlled mixed sleep-disordered breathing in the absence of renal or heart failure. INTERVENTIONS Flow-independent addition of incremental concentrations of carbon dioxide during sleep. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The respiratory disturbance index before treatment was 66 +/- 14.5 events per hour of sleep, with a nocturnal desaturation low of 84.6% +/- 10.1%. Residual respiratory disturbance index on best treatment was 43 +/- 9 events per hour of sleep. There was an immediate (<1 minute) response to the addition of 0.5% to 1% carbon dioxide, and minimal changes were required to be made across the night. There was no discomfort, shortness of breath, palpitations, headache, or significant increase in respiratory or heart rate. The residual respiratory disturbance index on carbon dioxide, scored irrespective of desaturations, was in the normal range (< 5 / hour of sleep). Two subjects had a second night at the concentration of carbon dioxide determined to be efficacious, with no required concentration change. No adverse effects on overall sleep architecture were noted. CONCLUSIONS Low concentrations of carbon dioxide added to conventional positive airway pressure effectively control severe treatment-resistant mixed obstructive and central sleep-disordered breathing.
Dosimetric assessment of brass mesh bolus for postmastectomy photon radiotherapy

Brass mesh bolus has been shown to be an acceptable substitute for tissue-equivalent bolus to increase superficial dose for chest wall tangent photon radiotherapy. This work investigated the increase in surface dose, the change in the dose at depth, and the safety implications of higher energy photon beams when using brass mesh bolus for postmastectomy chest wall radiotherapy. A photon tangent plan was delivered to a thorax phantom, and the superficial dose ranged from 40%-72% of prescription dose with no bolus. The surface dose increased to 75%-110% of prescription dose with brass mesh bolus and 85%-109% of prescription dose with tissue-equivalent bolus. It was also found that the dose at depth when using brass mesh bolus is comparable to that measured with no bolus for en face and oblique incidence. Monte Carlo calculations were used to assess the photoneutron production from brass mesh bolus used with 15 MV and 24 MV photon beams. The effective dose from photoneutrons was approximated and found to be relatively small, yet not negligible. Activation products generated by these photoneutrons, the surface dose rate due to the activation products, and the half-life of the activation products were also considered in this work. The authors conclude that brass mesh bolus is a reasonable alternative to tissue-equivalent bolus, and it may be used with high-energy beam; but one should be aware of the potential increased effective dose to staff and patients due to the activation products produced by photoneutrons.
Reviewers’ Perceptions of the Peer Review Process in Journalism and Mass Communication:

This survey of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) scholars (N = 547; response rate = 39.3%) examines perceptions of peer review, a study last undertaken in 1...
Integrated Microgrid Expansion Planning in Electricity Market With Uncertainty

This paper addresses the microgrid expansion planning problem. In such a competitive electricity market, it will assist community microgrid (COMG) companies in deciding whether or not they should invest in microgrid installation. A two-stage stochastic optimization approach is proposed to eliminate the traditional centralized planning, which has led to competition among COMGs, generation companies (GENCOs), and transmission companies (TRANSCOs) for power delivery. The objective of the two-stage stochastic programming model is to maximize the expected revenue from these three power companies while ensuring the cost-effectiveness and reliability of the power system under uncertain factors, such as load growth and component outages. The proposed model is solved by decomposing the planning problem into two stages. The goal of the first stage is to maximize the profits of COMGs, GENCOs, and TRANSCOs; the goal of second stage is to minimize short-term operation cost considering uncertainty to enhance the reliability of the system. Computational results from two IEEE test systems are presented to analyze the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Suspect Bodies, Suspect Milk: Milk Sharing, Wetnursing, and the Specter of Syphilis in the Twenty-First Century

Peer human milk sharing (the giving of human milk from one person to another with the intention of feeding an infant) has emerged as a controversial practice in recent years. In this chapter, we consider the contemporary phenomenon of human milk sharing and banking through the lens of nineteenth- and twentieth-century concerns about syphilis and wetnursing. We draw on ethnographic observation, qualitative survey responses, and media representations of peer breast milk sharing to construct our analysis. We identify echoes of earlier concerns with morality and milk in contemporary conversations, noting an interesting contrast between alarmist media representations of peer milk sharing and the way in which milk-sharing mothers understand the risks and realities of peer milk sharing.
Supervised short-stretch compression therapy in mixed leg ulcers.

Summary Objectives This study was conducted to determine hemodynamic and clinical tolerance under short-stretch compression therapy in elderly patients suffering from mixed-etiology leg ulcers. Design Transversal observational study conducted in 25 hospitalized patients with a moderate peripheral arterial occlusive disease defined as an ankle-brachial pressure index > 0.5, an ankle pressure of > 70 mmHg and a toe cuff pressure (TP) > 50 mmHg. Material and Methods Short-stretch bandages were applied daily with pressures from 20 to 30 mmHg. Ankle-brachial pressure, great toe laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) on dorsum of the foot were measured at baseline and after its removal at 24 hours. Great toe LDF was also measured at 10 minutes after bandage application. Compression pressure (CP) was measured with a sub-bandage device at baseline, at 10 minutes and before bandage removal at 24 hours. Clinical tolerance was evaluated taking into account the patient's pain and skin tolerance. Results Mean age of patients was 80 ± 15 years. Median duration of ulcers was 18 months. Hypertension was highly prevalent. One third of patients had diabetes. Toe pressure index and TcPO2 values did not significantly change under compression therapy (P = 0.51 and P = 0.09, respectively) whereas CP decreased significantly during 24 hours. The loss of CP was significant 10 minutes after bandage application (P Conclusions In elderly patients with mixed leg ulcers and with an absolute TP > 50 mmHg, short-stretch compression of up to 30 mmHg does not adversely affect arterial flow and appears clinically well tolerated. Such bandages with appropriate levels of compression may aid ulcer healing by treating the venous part of the disease.
Toward a Theory of Scandinavian Cooperative Advantage

The field of strategic management in the U.S. has traditionally focused attention on competition and the U.S. business context is characterized as having a “romance” with competition. In contrast, ...
A breadth-first parsing model

Recent attempts at modeling humans' abilities at processing natural language have centered around depth first parsing algorithms, and control strategies for making the best choices for disambiguation and attachment. This paper proposes a breadth-first algorithm as a model. The algorithm avoids some of the common pitfalls of depth-first approaches regarding ambiguity, and by using more pre-ccmputed information about the grammar, avoids same of the usual problems of parallel parsing algorithms as well.
Hospital expenditures and utilization: the impact of HMOs.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether hospital utilization and expenditures have declined more rapidly in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with high health maintenance organization (HMO) penetration compared with MSAs with low HMO penetration. STUDY DESIGN Levels and rates of change in hospital expenditures and hospital utilization in MSAs with varying levels of HMO penetration (1982 to 1996) were compared in a natural experiment. METHODS MSAs were grouped into 4 categories based on HMO penetration rates in 1996. Levels and rates of change in hospital admission rates, hospital inpatient days, emergency room visits, total expenditures per capita, and expenditures per adjusted inpatient day from 1982 to 1996 were compared. A first-difference multivariate model was evaluated for 1993 to 1996. RESULTS At the MSA level, the rates of change in hospital utilization and hospital expenditures varied only modestly with the level of HMO penetration. Changes in hospital admission rates did not vary systematically with HMO penetration rates except in the 1993 to 1996 period, when MSAs with the highest HMO penetration had the largest decline. Reductions in hospital days per capita and expenditures per day did not vary systematically by level of HMO penetration. Emergency room days declined most rapidly in the MSAs with the highest HMO penetration in the 1982 to 1993 period and were similar in the 1993 to 1996 period. Hospital expenditures per capita showed the greatest association with managed care penetration. They averaged 1.6% slower annual growth in MSAs with high versus low HMO penetration in the 1982 to 1996 period. CONCLUSIONS This national study using data from 1982 to 1996 suggests that the effects of HMO penetration on hospital expenditures and hospital utilization at the MSA level are small (generally less than 1% per year).
Geostatistical Software For Evaluation of Line Survey Data Applied to Radio-Echo Soundings in Glaciology

ABSTRACT The program LSUNIMC is designed to evaluate regionally distributed geoscientific data, with specific options to adapt to line survey data. By assigning values to the nodes of a regular grid, a digital terrain model of the survey variable is set up that then can be contoured. The algorithms are based on the geostatistical method of universal kriging. LSUNIMC allows a wide range of kriging applications that can be directed by the user via input parameters. In order to meet the specific data distribution of surveys along track lines– as result from (aero) magnetic, gravimetric, bathymetric, and radio-echo sounding survey campaigns–search routines are open to adaptation to the individual survey device by the associated user-entered input parameters. Survey gaps between the tracks can be bridged efficiently. Prior to the estimation of the digital terrain model, a structural analysis (variography) of the data has to be carried through, the result of which is entered into the kriging. LSUNIMC is written in FORTRAN 77 and implemented on an IBM PC/XT/AT compatible. To demonstrate the usage of the program, radio-echo sounding data from the Scharffenbergbotnen glacier, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica, are evaluated to investigate ice thickness and subglacial bed topography.
Hookworm disease: Puerto Rico's secret killer.

Drs. Bailey Ashford and Pedro Gutierrez, with the economic aid of the United States and Puerto Rican governments, were able to implement a program to reduce the incidence of hookworm infestations in Puerto Rico during the turn of the century. The program was conducted in three phases. The first phase consisted of evaluating the prevalence of infestations among the population. The second phase was concerned with treating patients and reducing further infestations. The last phase of the program was the implementation of prevention programs whose goals were to educate the population on the mechanisms of contaminations and to help implement improvements in the waste disposal systems so as to reduce the exposure to contaminated soil. The programs greatly improved the level of health of many Puerto Ricans. The incidence of hookworm infestations was reduced from 90% to 15% among members of the population. The program obtained world-wide recognition and serves as a model for similar programs.
Systematic procedure for the development of accurate QM/MM model Hamiltonians

Enzymes play a crucial role in the biochemical machinery, serving as extraordinarily specific, highly efficient and regulatable catalysts of the fundamental chemical reactions that occur in living organisms. Understanding the mechanisms by which enzymes achieve their remarkable catalytic abilities has been a long-standing goal of biochemists, and significant progress has been made since 1878 when Fredrich Wilhelm Kuhne first coined the word ‘enzyme’ (from the Greek en in + zyme leaven) to emphasize that there was some agent in yeast cells and not the yeast itself that was responsible for fermentation. Biochemists have since deduced that enzymes are proteins, composed of sequences of amino acids, and have developed powerful experimental techniques for determining the precise amino acid sequences that define proteins. Moreover, it is possible to modify individual residues through site-directed mutagenesis techniques to help identify the key functional groups of the enzyme. Additionally, X-ray crystallography has advanced to the point where it is now feasible to determine the three-dimensional structure of enzymes, providing us with the ability to visualize the active site and confirm Emil Fischer’s 1894 hypothesis that the specificity of an enzyme for a particular substrate is due to their geometrically complementary structures.
Enterprising Empires: Russia and Britain in Eighteenth-Century Eurasia

Commercial competition between Britain and Russia became entangled during the eighteenth century in Iran, the Middle East, and China, and disputes emerged over control of the North Pacific. Focusing on the British Russia Company, Matthew P. Romaniello charts the ways in which the company navigated these commercial and diplomatic frontiers. He reveals how geopolitical developments affected trade far more than commercial regulations, while also challenging depictions of this period as a straightforward era of Russian economic decline. By looking at merchants' and diplomats' correspondence and the actions and experiences of men working in Eurasia for Russia and Britain, he demonstrates the importance of restoring human experiences in global processes and provides individual perspective on this game of empire. This approach reveals that economic fears, more than commodities exchanged, motivated actions across the geopolitical landscape of Europe during the Seven Years' War and the American and French Revolutions.
Dark matter decaying in the late Universe can relieve the H 0 tension

One of the most intriguing current puzzles in cosmology is the discrepancy in the present values of the Hubble constant ${H}_{0}$, obtained either from direct model-independent distance measurements or from the CMB, i.e. its value about 13 billion years ago and interpreted through the standard model of cosmology ($\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}C\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}D\phantom{\rule{0}{0ex}}M$). The authors outline a scenario based on dark matter decays in the late time Universe, which is potentially testable with near future surveys, that can eliminate this discrepancy.
Population pharmacokinetics of inotuzumab ozogamicin in relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

This population pharmacokinetics analysis evaluated the target-mediated drug disposition of inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO) through an empirical time-dependent clearance (CLt) term and identified potential covariates that may be important predictors of variability in InO distribution and elimination. This analysis was conducted by pooling data from 2 studies of single-agent InO in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 3 studies of single-agent InO, 5 studies of InO plus rituximab (R-InO), and 1 study of R-InO plus chemotherapy in patients with R/R B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Pharmacokinetic data included 8361 InO concentration-time observations that were modeled using nonlinear mixed-effects analysis. Covariate relations were identified using generalized additive modeling on base model parameters and then tested in a stepwise manner via covariate modeling. InO concentration was described with a 2-compartment model with linear and time-dependent clearance components. Based on the final model, baseline body surface area was a covariate of the linear and time-dependent clearance components and volume of distribution in the central compartment; baseline percentage of blasts in the peripheral blood was a covariate of the decay coefficient of the time-dependent clearance term (CLt); and concomitant rituximab treatment was a covariate of the linear clearance component (CL1). The magnitude of change of each pharmacokinetic parameter due to these covariates was not considered clinically relevant. Therefore, no dose adjustment of InO for the treatment of patients with R/R B-cell ALL or NHL is needed on the basis of selected covariates.
The use of super 184 W as a thermal flux monitor at high temperatures.

Thermal neutron capture cross section at high temperature irradiations determined for W 184, describing radiochemical separation and flux counting techniques
Factors Associated With Poor Outcome in Pediatric Near-Hanging Injuries.

Abstract Background Hanging injury is the most common method of suicide among children 5 to 11 years of age and near-hangings commonly occur. Adult studies in near-hanging injury have shown that need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, initial blood gas, and poor mental status are associated with poor prognosis. The literature for similar factors in children is lacking. Objectives This retrospective, single-center study was performed to identify the clinical factors associated with neurologic outcome in children after near-hanging. Methods Inclusion criteria included Results The median age was 11.5 years with a median initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 10. Of all patients, 25% had a prehospital cardiac arrest, and 51% were admitted to the intensive care unit. Patients with unfavorable outcomes had a lower initial pH (6.9 vs. 7.3) and initial GCS score (3T vs. 14). Patients with an unfavorable outcome had significantly higher rates of intensive care unit admission, respiratory complications, anoxic brain injury, and multiorgan failure. No patient who presented with an initial GCS score of 3T and prehospital cardiac arrest had a favorable neurologic outcome. Conclusions This is the largest single-center study of children with near-hanging injury. An initial GCS score of 3T and prehospital cardiac arrest was uniformly associated with poor neurologic outcome.
High-resolution seafloor mapping using the DSL-120 sonar system: Quantitative assessment of sidescan and phase-bathymetry data from the Lucky Strike segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

High-resolution, side-looking sonar data collected near the seafloor (∼100 m altitude) provide important structural and topographic information for defining the geological history and current tectonic framework of seafloor terrains. DSL-120 kHz sonar data collected in the rift valley of the Lucky Strike segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 37° N provide the ability to quantitatively assess the effective resolution limits of both the sidescan imagery and the computed phase-bathymetry of this sonar system. While the theoretical, vertical and horizontal pixel resolutions of the DSL-120 system are <1 m, statistical analysis of DSL-120 sonar data collected from the Lucky Strike segment indicates that the effective spatial resolution of features is 1–2 m for sidescan imagery and 4 m for phase-bathymetry in the seafloor terrain of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift valley. Comparison of multibeam bathymetry data collected at the sea-surface with deep-tow DSL-120 bathymetry indicates that depth differences are on the order of the resolution of the multibeam system (10–30 m). Much of this residual can be accounted for by navigational mismatches and the higher resolving ability of the DSL-120 data, which has a bathymetric footprint on the seafloor that is ∼20 times smaller than that of hull-mounted multibeam at these seafloor depths (∼2000 m). Comparison of DSL-120 bathymetry with itself on crossing lines indicates that residual depth values are ±20 m, with much of that variation being accounted for by navigational errors. A DSL-120 survey conducted in 1998 on the Juan de Fuca Ridge with better navigation and less complex seafloor terrain had residual depth values half those of the Lucky Strike survey. The quality of the bathymetry data varies as a function of position within the swath, with poorer data directly beneath the tow vehicle and also towards the swath edges. Variations in sidescan amplitude observed across the rift valley and on Lucky Strike Seamount correlate well with changes in seafloor roughness caused by transitions from sedimented seafloor to bare rock outcrops. Distinct changes in sonar backscatter amplitude were also observed between areas covered with hydrothermal pavement that grade into lava flows and the collapsed surface of the lava lake in the summit depression of Lucky Strike Seamount. Small features on the seafloor, including volcanic constructional features (e.g., small cones, haystacks, fissures and collapse features) and hydrothermal vent chimneys or mounds taller than ∼2 m and greater than ∼9 m2 in surface area, can easily be resolved and mapped using this system. These features at Lucky Strike have been confirmed visually using the submersible Alvin, the remotely operated vehicle Jason, and the towed optical/acoustic mapping system Argo II.
A fiber-segmentation algorithm for composites imaged using X-ray microtomography: Development and validation

Abstract This study proposes a new algorithm for three-dimensional segmentation of fibers in multi-directional fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) imaged using X-ray microtomography (µCT). The proposed algorithm uses synthetic fiber-templates and template matching to detect fibers in 2D. Detections are used to track individual fibers in 3D using a Kalman-filter estimator. Validation of the algorithm was performed using synthetic image stacks, which mimicked the quality and resolution of existing state-of-the-art X-ray systems. Segmentation of synthetic images revealed that the proposed algorithm estimates the total number of fibers, the 3D positions of fiber cross-sectional centroids, and fiber lengths with an error less than 7% when the image resolution is greater than 9 pixels per average fiber diameter. However, the segmentation algorithm was found to underestimate fiber cross-sectional areas due to beam-hardening artifacts. This study concludes by demonstrating the versatility of the algorithm on a multi-directional FRC imaged using X-ray µCT.
Commingled crypts: Comparative health among Byzantine monastics in the Levant.

OBJECTIVES Early Byzantine (A.D. 330-842) monastic rules stipulated that entrants relinquished familial connections, personal belongings and secular relationships to become part of the ascetic collective that continued in death, resulting in bioarchaeological marginalization, as was the case of the monastics excavated from the Chapel of Robebus at Mount Nebo, Jordan (ca. A.D. 491-640). It was hypothesized that compared to contemporary monastic groups, the Mount Nebo monastics experienced poorer health and gravitated to Mount Nebo, owing to its association with the Prophet Moses and proximity to the Dead Sea, Livias baths and Jordan River, all associated with curative benefits, especially for those suffering from leprosy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The commingled remains of 73 adult males from Mount Nebo and the articulated skeletons (n = 27) from the Sanctuary of Agios Lot at Deir 'Ain 'Abata (Jordan) were assessed for paleopathology, then compared with a contemporary commingled group from the Monastery of Saint Euthymius at Khan-el-Ahmar (Judean Desert) (n = 117). RESULTS No skeletal evidence of leprosy was observed among the groups. Most Mount Nebo individuals did not reach an older age, yet injuries, severe osteoarthritis, lower leg osteoperiostitis and antemortem tooth loss were common. The paleopathological profile was similar at Deir 'Ain 'Abata, but paleopathology was negligible at Khan-el-Ahmar. CONCLUSIONS The similar paleopathological profiles of the Jordanian monastic groups suggest that the proximity to the Dead Sea may have attracted monastics to both sites, in addition to spirituality, but leprosy was not a factor based on the skeletal evidence.
Set-Based State Estimation of Mobile Robots from Coarse Range Measurements

This paper proposes a localization algorithm for an autonomous mobile robot equipped with binary proximity sensors that only indicate when the robot is within a fixed distance from beacons installed at known positions. Our algorithm leverages an ellipsoidal Set Membership State Estimator (SMSE) that maintains an ellipsoidal bound of the position and velocity states of the robot. The estimate incorporates knowledge of the robot's dynamics, bounds on environmental disturbances, and the binary sensor readings. The localization algorithm is motivated by an underwater scenario where accurate range or bearing measurements are often missing. We demonstrate our approach on an experimental platform using an autonomous blimp.