cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Sequential Theory of Decentralization: Latin American Cases in Comparative Perspective

Both advocates and critics of decentralization assume that decentralization invariably increases the power of subnational governments. However, a closer examination of the consequences of decentralization across countries reveals that the magnitude of such change can range from substantial to insignificant. In this article, I propose a sequential theory of decentralization that has three main characteristics: (1) it defines decentralization as a process, (2) it takes into account the territorial interests of bargaining actors, and (3) it incorporates policy feedback effects. I argue that the sequencing of different types of decentralization (fiscal, administrative, and political) is a key determinant of the evolution of intergovernmental balance of power. I measure this evolution in the four largest Latin American countries and apply the theory to the two extreme cases (Colombia and Argentina). I show that, contrary to commonly held opinion, decentralization does not necessarily increase the power of governors and mayors.
A Dissociation Between Attention and Selection

It is widely assumed that the allocatian of spatial attention results in the "selection" of attended objects or regions of space. That is, once a stimulus is attended, all its feature dimensions are processed irrespective of their relevance to behavioral goals. This assumption is based in part on experiments showing significant interference for attended stimuli when the response to an irrelevant dimension conflicts with the response to the relevant dimension (e.g., the Stroop effect). Here we show that such interference is not due to attending per se. In two spatial cuing experiments, we found that it was possible to restrict processing of attended stimuli to task-relevant dimensions. This new evidence supports two novel conclusions: (a) Selection involves more than the focusing of attention per se: and (b) task expectations play a key role in detertnining the depth of processing of the elementary feature dimensions of attended stimuli.
Electropolymerized layers as selective membranes in first generation uric acid biosensors

Electropolymerized films that can serve as semi-permeable membranes and provide selectivity within a xerogel-based, 1st generation biosensor assembly are explored in this study. Layered biosensing schemes of this nature rely primarily upon an electropolymerized ad-layer to supplement the xerogel and provide effective selectivity for detection of a targeted analyte. While effective electropolymers have been established for glucose sensing, the adaptation of the strategy to other analytes of clinical importance hinges upon the systematic evaluation of electropolymerized films to identify a selective film. Uric acid is a key species in the diagnosis/monitoring of a number of diseases and conditions. An effective uric acid biosensor, exhibiting high selectivity against common interferent species while maintaining uric acid sensitivity across physiologically relevant concentrations, would represent significant sensor development. Cyclic voltammetry allows for initial electropolymerization as well as verification of polymer-modified electrodes. By forming electropolymerized films at glassy carbon electrodes, the sensitivity and permeability index toward uric acid and other interferents is readily measured via amperometric current responses. Of the significant number of polymer films examined in the study, only those films formed from luminol/aniline and luminol/Nafion mixtures showed positive selectivity coefficients for uric acid when incorporated into the layered xerogel schemes. The use of these specific mixed polymer films within the biosensing scheme resulted in well-defined amperometric responses to uric acid, linear calibration curves across clinically relevant uric acid concentrations, and effective selectivity for uric acid with discrimination against all major interferents except acetaminophen. The demonstrated and systematic evaluation of a specifically selective electropolymerized film is an important advancement for uric acid biosensor development as well as further adaptation of biosensing strategies involving polymer interfaces to other targeted analytes.
Use of the Rb/K ratio to evaluate potassium nutrition of peatlands

We determined the Rb/K ratio in two classes of forested peatlands, raised and perched bogs, in northern Minnesota, USA. These two classes of bogs are deficient in K, but differ somewhat in degree of deficiency and in source of K. We hoped to determine if the ratio differentiated between the two classes of bogs. The ratio was significantly lower in the living vascular vegetation on the raised bogs, but significantly higher in the deep peat in those bogs. There was no difference in the ratio in the living moss and shallow peat between bogs in the two classes. The ratio was apparently affected by biological selectivity in K uptake by plants under low-K conditions. These results raise questions concerning use of this ratio in ecosystem studies.
Gas Membrane Selectivity Enabled by Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Electrostatics

CO2 and CH4 diffusivities are calculated using molecular-dynamics simulations for a set of five RHO topology zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-25, -71, -93, -96, and -97), which differ only in linker functionalization. It is found that CO2 diffuses more readily than CH4, by a factor of 3.25, through the channels of ZIF-93, despite being much more strongly bound to the framework. Using adsorption selectivity values from previous studies, we calculate the membrane selectivities at 1 bar for all five materials and find this quantity to be highest in ZIF-93, with a value of 26.7. First-principles calculations based on van der Waals density functional methods are used to investigate the transport barriers for CO2 in ZIF-93 and ZIF-97. These two materials have similar channel diameters, but have very different CO2/CH4 diffusion selectivities. The excellent molecular-sieving performance of ZIF-93 is determined to be enhanced by electrostatic interactions, that result in smaller energy barriers for CO2 transpo...
Establishment and data analysis of foodborne Salmonella infection active surveillance network in Guangxi

Objective:The foodborne Salmonella infection active surveillance network was established in Guangxi to conduct active surveillance for foodborne Salmonella infections,identify the association between Salmonella contamination and diseases,and improve the early warning capacity through disseminating food safety information.Methods:Food samples were examined for Salmonella in accordance with the national standard GB/T4789.4-2008.Fecal samples from diarrheal patients were tested as specified by the Global Salm-Surv(GSS) guidelines.Results:In 10 surveillance sites,a total of 85 Salmonella isolates were detected,61(including 28 serotypes) from food and 24(9 serotypes) from humans.The pathogen was positive in 8 of 12 kinds of food tested,with the highest positive rate(41.67%) in raw meat and poultry.There were significant differences(χ2=164.65,P0.005)in the detection rate between kinds of food,but no differences(χ2=0.189,P0.05)between regions.Conclusion:Salmonella contamination and infection remain an important health challenge in Guangxi.Enhanced active surveillance is essential for developing prevention and control strategies which can reduce the burden of forborne Salmonella diseases.
Obstructing duodenal ulcer.

The incidence, pathogenesis, symptoms, and roentgenographic and endoscopic findings of patients with gastric outlet obstruction are reviewed. In the experience of many surgeons, vagotomy and an adequate drainage procedure provide excellent decompression of the obstructed stomach, as well as excellent control of the ulcer disease in most patients. Postvagotomy gastric atony has not been a problem.
Psychological Subscales of Liberalism and Conservatism as Related to Political Party, Race, Education, Religion, Geographical Region, and Gender:

The Psychotemporal Survey of Ideologies (PSI) was completed by 1,000 adults in a nationwide U.S. poll. On the PSI subscale measuring “visionary liberalism focused on the future,” atheists scored hi...
Surface flashover measurements in vacuill1 and N 2 gas

An interferometric technique has been used to measure insulator surface charging in vacuum and high pressure nitrogen gas. Insulator surface charging has been observed in both cases. These data support the theory that insulator surface failure is caused by surface charging and intergap field enhancement.
Swimming in polluted waters

Human activities alter ecosystems around the planet, often rendering environmental conditions unfavorable for plant and animal survival. In the salt marshes along North America's Atlantic coast, the influx of industrial waste has caused chemical pollutants to accumulate at lethal levels, causing the disappearance of many species from affected sites. Yet, multiple populations of the Atlantic killifish ( Fundulus heteroclitus ) have adapted to cope with levels of pollution orders of magnitude higher than those that members of the same species from unaffected habitats can tolerate. On page 1305 of this issue, Reid et al. ( 1 ) provide strong evidence that adaptation has occurred rapidly and through similar genetic changes in multiple populations of killifish that have independently colonized polluted habitats.
Reversible solvent-induced transformation of a one-dimensional uranyl coordination polymer using 4,4′-oxybis(benzoate)

Abstract The solvothermal synthesis of uranyl nitrate with 4,4′-oxybis(benzoic acid) produces a coordination polymer [(UO2)(C15H8O5)(DMF)]n with coordinated DMF residing in the void space. This compound consists of one-dimensional chains that extend down [0 1 0] from UO7 pentagonal bipyramidal monomers. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the material loses the coordinated DMF ligand at 200 °C. No sensitized uranyl emission is seen within this system and the only other uranyl compound reported with the same target linker, but weak emission from the organic linker is observed and justified through molecular modeling studies. This system is able to convert between the DMF coordinated and previously reported water coordinated systems upon treatment with water or DMF, respectfully. The title compound showed marked resistance to transformation and/or degradation in a host of other organic solvents.
Eligibility for alirocumab or evolocumab treatment in 1090 hypercholesterolemic patients referred to a regional cholesterol treatment center with LDL cholesterol ≥70 mg/dL despite maximal-tolerated LDL-cholesterol-lowering therapy.

Background Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, Praluent (alirocumab [ALI]) and Repatha (evolocumab [EVO]) have been approved as adjuncts to the standard-of-care maximal-tolerated dose (MTD) of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC)-lowering therapy (LLT), statin therapy, in heterozygous (HeFH) (ALI or EVO) or homozygous (EVO) familial hypercholesterolemia, or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) where LDLC lowering is insufficient (both). Since LDLC lowering has been revolutionized by ALI and EVO, specialty pharmaceutical pricing models will be applied to a mass market. Methods We applied US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and insurance eligibility criteria for ALI and EVO to 1090 hypercholesterolemic patients serially referred over 3 years who then received ≥2 months maximal-tolerated dose of standard-of-care LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy (MTDLLT) with follow-up LDLC ≥70 mg/dL. MTDLLT did not include ALI or EVO, which had not been commercially approved before completion of this study. Results Of the 1090 patients, 140 (13%) had HeFH by clinical diagnostic criteria and/or CVD with LDLC >100 mg/dL despite ≥2 months on MTDLLT, meeting FDA insurance criteria for ALI or EVO therapy. Another 51 (5%) patients were statin intolerant, without HeFH or CVD. Conclusion If 13% of patients with HeFH-CVD and LDLC >100 mg/dL despite MTDLLT are eligible for ALI or EVO, then specialty pharmaceutical pricing models (~$14,300/year) might be used in an estimated 10 million HeFH-CVD patients. Whether the health care savings arising from the anticipated reduction of CVD events by ALI or EVO justify their costs in populations with HeFH-CVD and LDLC >100 mg/dL despite MTDLLT remains to be determined.
The Natural History of Hyperuricemia Among Asymptomatic Relatives of Patients with Gout

Hyperuricemic trait is inborn, but it can be modified by environmental changes. Two hundred twenty asymptomatic relatives from 140 patients with gout were studied, 172 males and 48 females.
Bifurcations, Center Manifolds, and Periodic Solutions

Nonlinear time-delay differential equations are well known to have arisen in models in physiology, biology, and population dynamics. These delay differential equations (DDEs) usually have parameters in their formulation. How the nature of the solutions change as the parameters vary is crucial to understanding the underlying physical processes. When the DDE is reduced, at an equilibrium point, to leading linear terms and the remaining nonlinear terms, the eigenvalues of the leading coef- ficients indicate the nature of the solutions in the neighborhood of the equilibrium point. If there are any eigenvalues with zero real parts, periodic solutions can arise. One way in which this can happen is through a bifurcation process called a Hopf bifurcation in which a parameter passes through a critical value and the solutions change from equilibrium solutions to periodic solutions. This chapter describes a method of decomposing the DDE into a form that isolates the study of the periodic solutions arising from a Hopf bifurcation to the study of a reduced size differential equation on a surface, called a center manifold. The method will be illustrated by Hopf bifurcation that arises in machine tool dynamics, which leads to a machining instability called regenerative chatter.
A Positive Theory of the Firm: Identification, Prosocial Intrinsic Motivation, and Highly Interdependent Tasks

Building on a rich heritage of works in psychology, sociology, and organizational behavior we develop a positive theory of the firm: the firm is the most suitable organizational form for coordinating highly interdependent tasks because prosocial intrinsic motivation fostered by organizational identification is a unique “positive” motivator to firms. We assert that an individuals’ identification with the firm that employs them creates a powerful, collective bond with others that share the same identification. Market and hybrid forms of organization cannot replicate in strength this shared, common identification among workers. We further assert that because of this collective-other bond, identification better fosters prosocial intrinsic motivation, a positive, other-oriented motivation, than other organizational levers, such as high-powered incentives, authority, and social ties. Prosocial intrinsic motivation is uniquely able to cultivate collaborative effort and engagement, and in doing so, overcomes the team coordination challenge that often undermines the level of collaborative effort required for highly interdependent tasks.
Patients' and clinicians' perspectives of co-use of cannabis and opioids for chronic non-cancer pain management in primary care.

Abstract Background The prevalence of opioid-associated morbidity and mortality underscores the need for research on non-opioid treatments for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP). Pain is the most common medical condition for which patients request medical cannabis. Limited research indicates that patients are interested in cannabis as a potential addition to or replacement for opioid medication. This analysis reports on CNCP patient and clinician perceptions about the co-use of cannabis and opioids for CNCP management. Methods We interviewed 23 clinicians and 46 CNCP patients, using semi-structured interview guides, from six safety-net clinics across the San Francisco Bay Area, and 5 key stakeholders involved in CNCP management. We used a modified grounded theory approach to code and analyze transcripts. Results CNCP patients described potential benefits of co-use of cannabis and opioids for pain management and concerns about dosing and addictive potential. Patients reported seeking cannabis when unable to obtain prescription opioids. Clinicians stated that their patients reported cannabis being helpful in managing pain symptoms. Clinicians expressed concerns about the potential exacerbation of mental health issues resulting from cannabis use. Conclusion Clinicians are hampered by a lack of clinically relevant information about cannabis use, efficacy and side-effects. Currently no guidelines exist for clinicians to address opioid and cannabis co-use, or to discuss the risk and benefits of cannabis for CNCP management, including side effects. Cannabis and opioid co-use was commonly reported by patients in our sample, yet rarely addressed during clinical CNCP care. Further research is needed on the risks and benefits of cannabis and opioid co-use.
Effect of cubicles in educating emotionally disturbed children.

The effect of cubicles in educating emotionally disturbed children was evaluated in terms of promoting attending behavior and academic rate of reading and arithmetic. A significant difference was f...
Sulfones as Chemical Chameleons: Versatile Synthetic Equivalents of Small-Molecule Synthons

Sulfones are flexible functional groups that can act as nucleophiles, electrophiles, or even radicals. Changing the reaction conditions can completely alter the reactivity of a sulfonyl group, and as a result, molecules bearing multiple sulfones are versatile building blocks. This Review highlights the unique ability of 1,1- and 1,2-bis(sulfones) to masquerade as a vast array of reactive synthons including methane polyanions, vinyl cations, and all-carbon dipoles that would be difficult or impossible to access directly.
Delayed midazolam dose effects against soman in male and female plasma carboxylesterase knockout mice

Chemical warfare nerve agent exposure leads to status epilepticus that may progress to epileptogenesis and severe brain pathology when benzodiazepine treatment is delayed. We evaluated the dose-response effects of delayed midazolam (MDZ) on toxicity induced by soman (GD) in the plasma carboxylesterase knockout (Es1-/- ) mouse, which, similar to humans, lacks plasma carboxylesterase. Initially, we compared the median lethal dose (LD50 ) of GD exposure in female Es1-/- mice across estrous with male mice and observed a greater LD50 during estrus compared with proestrus or with males. Subsequently, male and female GD-exposed Es1-/- mice treated with a dose range of MDZ 40 min after seizure onset were evaluated for survivability, seizure activity, and epileptogenesis. GD-induced neuronal loss and microglial activation were evaluated 2 weeks after exposure. Similar to our previous observations in rats, delayed treatment with MDZ dose-dependently increased survival and reduced seizure severity in GD-exposed mice, but was unable to prevent epileptogenesis, neuronal loss, or gliosis. These results suggest that MDZ is beneficial against GD exposure, even when treatment is delayed, but that adjunct therapies to enhance protection need to be identified. The Es1-/- mouse GD exposure model may be useful to screen for improved medical countermeasures against nerve agent exposure.
Octave-spanning mid-infrared femtosecond OPA in a ZnGeP2 pumped by a 2.4 μm Cr:ZnSe chirped-pulse amplifier.

We report on the highly efficient, octave-spanning mid-infrared (mid-IR) optical parametric amplification (OPA) in a ZnGeP2 (ZGP) crystal, pumped by a 1 kHz, 2.4 μm, 250 fs Cr:ZnSe chirped-pulse amplifier. The full spectral coverage of 3−10 μm with the amplified signal and idler beams is demonstrated. The signal beam in the range of ∼3 − 5 μm is produced by either white light generation (WLG) in YAG or optical parametric generation (OPG) in ZGP using the common 2.4 μm pump laser. We demonstrate the pump to signal and idler combined conversion efficiency of 23% and the pulse energy of up to 130 μJ with ∼2 μJ OPG seeding, while we obtain the efficiency of 10% and the pulse energy of 55 μJ with ∼0.2 μJ WLG seeding. The OPA output energy is limited by the available pump pulse energy (0.55 mJ at ZGP crystal) and therefore further energy scaling is feasible with multi-stage OPA and higher pump pulse energy. The autocorrelation measurements based on random quasi-phase matching show that the signal pulse durations are ∼318 fs and ∼330 fs with WLG and OPG seeding, respectively. In addition, we show the spectrally filtered 30 μJ OPA output at 4.15 μm suitable for seeding a Fe:ZnSe amplifier. Our ultrabroadband femtosecond mid-IR source is attractive for various applications, such as strong-field interactions, dielectric laser electron acceleration, molecular spectroscopy, and medical surgery.
Wellbeing during COVID-19: A social media takeover

Introduction: Student wellbeing is a key component of pharmacy programmes, with most events occurring in-person through co-curricular or extra-curricular activities. With the shift to online classes due to COVID-19, many wellness events were cancelled due to social distancing limitations. However, promotion of wellbeing was considered to be of utmost importance during this time due to rising levels of stress and social isolation among students. Description: The school’s Instagram and Facebook accounts were managed by a group of the university’s faculty for six weeks. Each week, different daily wellness themes were shared and participation by followers encouraged through quizzes, polls, or reposts. The Instagram stories and posting platforms were used routinely with select posts also shared via Facebook. A new hashtag was created and promoted to encourage additional posting and community building. Video stories were also shared of faculty expressing their mental/physical health challenges and subsequent coping mechanisms during COVID-19. Results: During the last six weeks of virtual learning, 280 stories and 23 posts were shared via Instagram. Shared stories included promotion of: cardiovascular exercise, weight training, yoga, music, media, gratitude, recognition, positive thinking, coping and games. Overall, 20 different faculty and staff were involved in sharing video stories to promote wellbeing. Of the 13 posts also shared to Facebook, a total of 10,429 people were reached. Conclusion: School social media platforms can be used to regularly connect virtually during times of crises. Promoting wellness activities can help engage students and faculty/staff to ensure they are focusing on their own wellbeing. With social distance regulations for the foreseeable future, pharmacy programs should consider using social media as a wellbeing tool for both student and faculty/staff engagement
Search, Learning and Tracking

I study the implications of preference uncertainty in a consumer search environment with and without tracking. Consumers encounter information that is predictive about their type while searching. Depending on what con- sumers learn, they stop searching without a purchase and before sampling all sellers. As search costs decrease, consumers search longer, shifting the demand curve outward and raising profits. Because learning changes consumers’ expectations, tracking the number of search attempts is informative about a consumer’s type. Search history-based pricing reduces profits and welfare in the presence of learning when search costs are low, yet it is the unique equilibrium outcome if tracking is feasible.
Labour and the Environment in India

Although both environmental and labour movements in India address the relationship between the political economies of the state and the impoverishment and disenfranchisement of the poor, there have been few attempts at bringing these literatures in productive conversation. This chapter attempts to do so by examining four themes: natural resource regimes; industrial risk, pollution and disasters; the urban sector; and forced migration and displacement of rural and urban labour.
Unexpected Adenomyosis Among Hysterectomy for Benign Indications: A Review of Preoperative Characteristics and Imaging

Study Objective The true incidence of adenomyosis is unknown, but the prevalence has been reported ranging from 5-70% in hysterectomy samples. We sought to explore the sensitivity of preoperative imaging by determining the rate of unexpected adenomyosis found on histopathologic review of hysterectomy specimens. Design Retrospective cohort analysis Setting Five hospital healthcare system Patients or Participants Women undergoing hysterectomy for benign indications from 2013-2019 (n=1628), with full pathology report available Interventions We obtained demographics, preoperative imaging, surgical indication, operative approach, and histopathology to determine rates of anticipated as well as unexpected adenomyosis at time of hysterectomy. Patients were retrospectively separated into two cohorts based on the diagnosis of adenomyosis on final pathology: 521 patients with adenomyosis and 1,107 without adenomyosis. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were performed using Stata and statistical significance was set at p Measurements and Main Results Of 1628 patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign indications, 521 patients (32%) had adenomyosis diagnosed on pathology. Of these, 402 patients had preoperative ultrasound where 314 (78%) had no imaging characteristics suggestive of adenomyosis and 157 patients had preoperative MRI where 79 (50.3%) had no imaging characteristics suggestive of adenomyosis (unexpected). Pathology-confirmed adenomyosis was significantly less likely in larger uteri (13-18cm, p=0. 013; or >18cm, p=0.046) compared to those measuring 7-10cm. When stratified by surgical indication, unexpected adenomyosis was found on pathology in 93 of 146 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (63.7%), 44 of 83 patients with endometriosis (53.0%), and 221 of 280 with fibroids (78.9%). Conclusion In our sample, the sensitivity of preoperative imaging for adenomyosis is 22% for ultrasound and 49.7% for MRI. Unexpected adenomyosis was most commonly identified in patients undergoing hysterectomy for fibroids whereas patients with endometriosis were more commonly suspected of having adenomyosis preoperatively.
Cellular Automata and Condensed Matter Physics

Cellular automata are mathematical models for systems containing many identical components with local interactions. These notes describe some of their properties, and discuss applications to condensed matter physics.
Sampling with Decomposed Variance

In many problems of statistical sampling in civil engineering a prior distribution reflecting some global population is available and a small sample of observations is made on a particular subset of that global population. From this combined sample one estimates the behavior of the particular subset. Despite the familiarity of the problem, it presents statistical difficulties because the subset specific data are masked by the more numerous global data. These difficulties may be overcome by decomposing the data variance into and among subset parts and within a subset part. Common Bayesian sampling techniques are modified to achieve this goal.
Tuberculosis in Wild and Domestic Mammals

Different animal species vary in their susceptibilities to infection by the different types of virulent tubercle bacilli: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. africanum, M. bovis, and M. avium. Liquefication promotes extracellular multiplication of tubercle bacilli to tremendous numbers, and cavity formation allows these bacilli to spread through the air passages to other parts of the lung and to other people. When pasteurization was adopted, there was usually a concomitant decrease in tuberculosis in children. Tubercle bacilli that are inhaled usually lodge in alveolar spaces, where they are ingested by alveolar macrophages. When the organism multiplies within the phagocyte, the host cell may die, resulting in the development of a microscopic tubercle. Wild mammals found to have tuberculous lesions at necropsy after natural death are usually without prior suspicion of tuberculosis. Tuberculous lesions from camelines, cervines, and wild bovines closely resemble those of domestic bovines. In nonhuman primates, M. bovis, M. africanum, and M. tuberculosis can produce extensive disease involving the parenchyma of the lung as well as extrapulmonary tissues. Recently, there has been increased interest in the isolation of M. avium complex serovars 1, 4, and 8 from patients with AIDS and from nonimmunocompromised patients. Some of the same serovars have been isolated from domestic and wild animals. Although M. avium has been isolated from environmental specimens (i.e., soil and water), no definitive information on a common source(s) of these bacteria for animals and humans is available.
TRACON Aircraft Arrival Planning and Optimization Through Spatial Constraint Satisfaction

A new aircraft arrival planning and optimization algorithm has been incorporated into the Final Approach Spacing Tool (FAST) in the Center-TRACON Automation System (CTAS) developed at NASA-Ames Research Center. FAST simulations have been conducted over three years involving full-proficiency, level five air traffic controllers from around the United States. From these simulations an algorithm, called Spatial Constraint Satisfaction, has been designed, coded, undergone testing, and soon will begin field evaluation at the Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver International airport facilities. The purpose of this new design is an attempt to show that the generation of efficient and conflict free aircraft arrival plans at the runway does not guarantee an operationally acceptable arrival plan upstream from the runway -information encompassing the entire arrival airspace must be used in order to create an acceptable aircraft arrival plan. This new design includes functions available previously but additionally includes necessary representations of controller preferences and workload, operationally required amounts of extra separation, and integrates aircraft conflict resolution. As a result, the Spatial Constraint Satisfaction algorithm produces an optimized aircraft arrival plan that is more acceptable in terms of arrival procedures and air traffic controller workload. This paper discusses the current Air Traffic Control arrival planning procedures, previous work in this field, the design of the Spatial Constraint Satisfaction algorithm, and the results of recent evaluations of the algorithm.
Thermal degradation of shale oils

As vertical modified in-situ retorts (VMIS) have been scaled up and tested, the overall oil yield has declined and is generally lower than that observed in an above-ground process. This reduced oil yield could adversely affect the economics of VMIS retorting. Diminished yields are attributed to a combination of factors associated with scale-up such as in complete rubblization, wide particle size distributions (large blocks of shale), and poor flow distributions. Additionally, oil losses can occur by comparatively long exposure of the oil vapours to high temperatures, by exposure to successive condensation and revaporization of the oil as it travels down the retort, and finally by long time thermal exposure of the condensed oil retained in the bottom portion of large VMIS retorts. To study such vapour phase degradation of shale oil using oil produced from Occidental Petroleum's No. 6 VMIS retort, a tubular continuous flow reactor, with an on-line gas chromatograph for gas composition monitoring was used to study thermal degradation of shale oil under retorting conditions. Oil and a combination of gases including steam were metered into the preheater and then the vapours passed into a quartz tubular reactor where the temperature and residence time of the gaseous mixture were controlled. Complete mass balances were performed giving the weight fraction of oil converted to noncondensable hydrocarbon gases and coke. This experimental design is novel because high temperature thermal degradation of shale oil was studied for the first time under steady state flow conditions with carefully controlled residence time and temperature. A range of temperatures (425–625 °C) and residence times (2–10 s) were used in a series of factorial-designed experiments (32) to accurately determine the effects of these variables. Results of the study showed that the addition of steam to the carrier gas did not reduce oil degradation losses but did react with the coke thereby changing the product gas composition and quantity. A first-order oil degradation rate expression was used to model the rate of oil loss. The calculated activation energy was 17.3 kcal mol−1. Chemical analyses of the product liquids and gases confirmed previously reported findings that the oil loss indices (alkene/alkane, ethylene/ethane, naphthalene/(C11 + C12), and gas/coke) increase with increasing oil degradation.
The Value of the Firm as a Nexus of Heterogeneous Contracts

The standard securities economy assumption is relaxed, and the firm is valued as a bundle of securities and operating contracts. The latter are generally nonsecuritizable,and lack objective valuations. Cash (working capital) optimally solves problems arising from admitting non-security contracts into the theory. Competitive equilibrium in the mixed contracts economy yields results at the level of the individual, the firm, and society. Specifically, i) the firm must hold, depending on production details, adequate cash if its non-financial input-providers are to contract efficiently, ii) managers can boost productivity (NPV per invested dollar) with cash-reducing operating strategies,and optimally return the freed-up cash as dividends, and iii) adequate cash is critical for maximizing the aggregate welfare. The first result explains working capital. The second is a productivity-rationale for risk management and the level of dividends. The third rationalizes the firm and its boundaries (characteristics of transactions conducted outside the markets). The firm with adequate cash exists to overcome the limitations of the markets in protecting the holders of non-security contracts. With cash in the firm, investors' cash flows are the firm's net operating income less its incremental working capital investments, and stock price is the value of expected earnings plus the balance sheet cash. However, contract heterogeneity is unimportant, cash and the firm are difficult to explain, and the Modigliani-Miller and Coasian intuitions reemerge, if the firm has no operating risk or is assumed to exist into perpetuity.
Technology and xx

The revolution of technology in education has heralded a new wave of learning styles and in some cases total dependence on technology. Yet, statistics reveal no significant improvement in student performance in Mathematics and a downward trend in basic algebra skills. The major impediment in the learning process is lack of understanding of the concepts and a virtual total dependence on technology. We expose the dangers of total dependence on technology by using the much-ignored function f(x) = xx as a case study and conclude that technology can be a valuable tool provided the student has complete understanding of related concepts.
Microwave Faraday effect and conductivity in nickel ferrites and ferrite-aluminates

Nickel ferrite was prepared from pure ferric and nickel oxides by firing at temperatures between 1090 and 1350°C. The influence of the firing temperature on the Faraday effect at 3cm wavelength was studied. Results are reported for nickel ferrites with excess and deficiency of iron oxide, and for nickel ferrite-aluminates. It is shown that low loss combined with high rotation may be obtained by using a composition deficient in iron oxide and firing at a high temperature. The loss in zero field of nickel ferrite may be reduced by replacing a small proportion of the iron by aluminium. Some correlation was found between the microwave loss of these ferrites and the conductivity measured at 10Mc/s. The d.c. conductivity was also measured and compared with the a.c. conductivity.
TSD facilities location and environmental justice

After controlling for cost- and demand-related factors affecting the profitability of operating hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities, we find that higher shares of minority population and poverty rates are associated with a statistically higher probability that one or more TSD facilities are present in a county. Evidence regarding the relationship between minorities and the number of TSD facilities per capita is mixed. An inverse Kuznet's U-type effect is found to exist between per capita income and the probability of TSD location.
The impact of abortion on maternal and perinatal mortality rates.

Abstract Divergent moral, medical, and legal aspects of abortion have been rather thoroughly expressed. Stripping these attitudes from abortion, if this is possible, another aspect of the subject demands exploration. The influence of abortion on maternal and perinatal mortality rates has been and will be considerable, though unpredictable at present. Legal abortion can at the same time both contribute to and decrease maternal and perinatal mortality. Migration of women seeking abortions from states with more rigid abortion laws to those with more liberalized ones is influential in changing these rates. Factors operating on maternal and perinatal mortality rates are considered.
[15O]H2O positron emission tomography determination of cerebral blood flow during balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery.

PURPOSE To determine the utility of [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET) for the quantitative determination of cerebral blood flow in patients undergoing balloon test occlusion of the internal carotid artery. METHODS Twenty-two [15O]H2O PET cerebral blood flow studies were completed on 20 patients for whom temporary or permanent occlusion of the internal carotid artery was being considered because of skull base tumor or internal carotid artery aneurysm. In each study, cerebral blood flow was determined during temporary balloon internal carotid artery occlusion, and again after deflation and removal of the balloon from the internal carotid artery. RESULTS Patients were divided into three groups based on clinical and cerebral blood flow response to balloon test occlusion. Studies were classified as group I when associated with no clinical symptomatology and with a cerebral blood flow decrease of less than 10 mL/100 g per minute (16 of 22 patients); as group II when there was no clinical symptomatology and cerebral blood flow fell to 25 to 35 mL/100 g per minute on the occluded side (5 of 22); and as group III when the patient was clinically unable to tolerate test occlusion and had a cerebral blood flow of less than 20 mL/100 g per minute on the occluded side (1 of 22). Neurologic sequelae developed in none of the eight group I patients later undergoing permanent internal carotid artery occlusion. Cerebral infarction developed subsequently in the one group II patient who underwent internal carotid artery occlusion. CONCLUSION During internal carotid artery balloon test occlusion, [15O] H2O PET determination of cerebral blood flow allows rapid quantitative determination of cerebral blood flow throughout the entire brain, predicting the adequacy of collateral flow after permanent occlusion. All patients were able to tolerate the [15O]H2O PET cerebral blood flow determination, and there were no complications of the procedure.
Prognostic relevance of lymph node ratio following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer

Background The presence or absence of lymph node metastases is known to be an important prognostic factor for patients with pancreatic cancer. Few studies have investigated the ratio of the number of lymph nodes harboring metastatic cancer to the total number of lymph nodes examined (lymph node ratio [LNR]) with regard to outcome after pancreaticoduodenectomy for ductal cancer of the pancreas. Methods Between 1995 and 2005, a total of 905 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Demographics, operative data, number of lymph nodes evaluated, number of lymph nodes with metastatic carcinoma, LNR, pathologic margin status, and long-term survival were analyzed. Results There were 187 (20.7%) of the 905 patients who had negative peripancreatic lymph nodes (N0), whereas 718 (79.3%) of the 905 patients had lymph node metastases (N1). The median number of lymph nodes evaluated in the N0 group was 15 versus 18 in the N1 group ( P = .12). At median follow-up of 24 months, the median survival for all patients was 17.4 months, and the 5-year actuarial survival rate was 16.1%. Patients with lymph node metastases had a shorter median overall survival (16.5 months) compared with patients with negative lymph nodes (25.3 months; P = .001). Compared with the total number of lymph nodes examined or total number of lymph node metastases, LNR was the most compelling predictor of survival. As the LNR increased, median overall survival decreased (LNR = 0, 25.3 months; LNR > 0 to 0.2, 21.7 months; LNR > 0.2 to 0.4, 15.3 months; LNR > 0.4, 12.2 months; P = .001). After adjusting for other factors associated with survival, LNR remained an independent predictor of overall survival ( P Conclusions After pancreaticoduodenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, LNR was one of the most powerful predictors of survival. LNR should be considered when stratifying patients in future clinical trials.
Roton-phonon relaxation times in helium II☆

Abstract The conversion of rotons to phonons in helium II is considered as a diffusion process, rather than a phonon-assisted collision process.
Relevant and Irrelevant Internal Rates of Return

ABSTRACT One problem with internal race of return is the possibility that given cash flows may result in more than one internal rate of return. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for determining relevance of an internal rate of return. An Internal rate of return is considered relevant if its derivatives with respect to each of the cash flows are positive. It is determined that the necessary and sufficient conditions for relevance are: (1) the net future value function has a negative derivative at a relevant root; and (2) a relevant Internal rate of return must be greater than -1. Our method of analysis identifies a single relevant rate for the dual race problem and for a special case when there are three rates, However, when more than one Internal rate of return meets the conditions for relevance, our analysis cannot be extended to choose among the relevant rates.
Operation of the Fermilab Accelerator as a Proton Storage Ring

To evaluate its potential for colliding beam experiments a preliminary exploration of the Fermilab main ring operating in the storage ring mode has been made. Beam lifetime and horizontal size measurements have been obtained at 75, 100, 135, and 200 GeV/c. The data, when compared to predictions of a gas scattering model, imply the existence of other additional effects which merit further investigation.
Adsorption and desorption of NO, CO and H2 on Pt(111): Laser-induced thermal desorption studies

Abstract The adsorption, desorption, and equilibrium behavior of NO. CO, and H2 have been investigated using laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD). A pulsed infrared laser beam is focused onto a Pt(111) surface, causing very rapid heating ( ≈ 1010 K/s) and nearly instantaneous desorption of surface species. The desorbed molecules produce a pressure rise in the vacuum system that is proportional to the coverage and is detected with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. For surface temperatures between 160 and 280 K, S0 for D2 increases by ≈ 50% and for H2 by ≈ 70%. Low-coverage sticking coefficients S0 for both NO and CO are found to be independent of surface temperature in the range 160 to 430 K and indicate adsorption through a precursor state. Isosteric heats of adsorption of NO and CO decline as the coverage increases from initial values of 26 ± 2 and 32 ± 2 kcal/mol to 12 ± 2 and 16 ± 2 kcal/mol, respectively. By combining the equilibrium and adsorption data, pre-exponential factors for desorption have been determined as a function of coverage. Laser-induced surface damage does not appear to be significant in these results. However, repeated desorption without high temperature annealing causes a drop in S0 for NO and CO by 30% and a rise in S0 for D2 by a factor of five. Measurements made with LITD agree well with available literature values obtained by other methods. However, LITD has several important advantages, especially the capability for the repeated measurement of surface coverages of a wide variety of adsorbates at high repetition rates in the presence of background pressures up to 10−4 Torr.
Training Generalized Functional Acquisition of “Yes” and “No” in Three Retarded Children

A study was conducted to test a training procedure designed to establish functional expressive usage of “yes” and “no” in the language skills of three institutionalized retardates. The procedure em...
Validation of the eleven-point pain scale in the measurement of migraine headache pain

The four-point pain scale (none, mild, moderate, severe) and the 11-point pain scale (0 = no pain, 10 = pain as bad as it could be) have been used in migraine studies to assess treatment efficacy. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the validity and responsiveness of the 11-point pain scale using the four-point pain scale as a benchmark. Using data from 95 migraine patients recruited from headache clinics, this study found that 11-point pain scale scores were highly correlated with four-point pain scores. The correlations between the pain scales were significantly higher than the correlations with quality of life measures such as functional ability and emotional feelings. The 11-point pain scale was 55% more sensitive than the four-point pain scale in detecting clinically important differences. The strong linear relationship between the two pain scales allowed researchers to transform four-point pain scores to 11-point pain scores using regression weights.
Mutagenesis in eukaryotes dependent on DNA polymerase zeta and Rev1p

DNA polymerase zeta (Pol zeta) and Rev1p carry out translesion replication in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and are jointly responsible for almost all base pair substitution and frameshift mutations induced by DNA damage in this organism. In addition, Pol zeta is responsible for the majority of spontaneous mutations in yeast and has been proposed as the enzyme responsible for somatic hypermutability. Pol zeta, a non-processive enzyme that lacks a 3' to 5' exonuclease proofreading activity, is composed of Rev3p, the catalytic subunit, and a second subunit encoded by REV7. In keeping with its role, extension by Pol zeta is relatively tolerant of abnormal DNA structure at the primer terminus and is much more capable of extension from terminal mismatches than yeast DNA polymerase alpha (Pol alpha). Rev1p is a bifunctional enzyme that possesses a deoxycytidyl transferase activity that incorporates deoxycytidyl opposite abasic sites in the template and a second, at present poorly defined, activity that is required for the bypass of a variety of lesions as well as abasic sites. Human homologues of the yeast REV1 and REV3 have been identified and, based on the phenotype of cells producing antisense RNA to one or other of these genes, their products appear also to be employed in translation replication and spontaneous mutagenesis. We suggest that Pol zeta is best regarded as a replication enzyme, albeit one that is used only intermittently, that promotes extension at forks the progress of which is blocked for any reason, whether the presence of an unedited terminal mismatch or unrepaired DNA lesion.