cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decision-Making Around Positive Tracheal Aspirate Cultures: The Role of Neutrophil Semiquantification in Antibiotic Prescribing.

Objectives Ventilator-associated infections are a major contributor to antibiotic use in the PICU. Quantitative or semiquantitative assessment of neutrophils (microscopic purulence) is routinely reported in positive cultures from tracheal aspirates. The role of microscopic purulence in guiding antibiotic therapy or its association with symptoms of ventilator-associated infections is less described in children. We examine microscopic purulence as an independent predictor of antibiotic use for positive tracheal aspirate cultures in the PICU. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Patients Children admitted to the PICU, neuro-PICU, or cardiac PICU with a positive tracheal aspirate culture from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Positive tracheal aspirate cultures were reviewed. The outcome variable was antibiotic treatment that targeted the positive tracheal aspirate culture. The predictor variable was microscopic purulence, defined as moderate or many neutrophils on Gram stain report. Competing predictors included demographics, comorbidities, vital signs changes, respiratory support, and laboratory values. Of 361 positive cultures in the cohort, 81 (22%) were treated with antibiotics. Positive cultures with microscopic purulence were targeted for therapy more frequently (30% vs 11%). Microscopic purulence was the strongest predictor for antibiotic therapy (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-6.8) compared with fever (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.0-4.1) or increased respiratory support (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.3). There was no significant variation in symptomatology between microscopic purulence reported as moderate or many versus other (e.g., fever -24% vs 22%, increased respiratory support -36% vs 28%). Microscopic purulence was less prevalent with longer ventilator durations at the time of sampling. Conclusions Microscopic purulence was an independent predictor of antibiotic therapy for positive tracheal aspirate cultures in our PICUs. However, microscopic purulence was not associated with clinical symptomatology.
Inducting Childhood: The Scripted Spontaneity of Self-Referential Child Players

Bethany Packard argues that the inductions of children’s company plays, and other metatheatrical moments, construct the cultural role of child player and make visible the role’s status as a fictional construct. Inductions interweave fictional part and performer through their combination of scripted improvisation and self-referential metatheatricality. Child players in the inductions of plays including Ben Jonson’s Cynthia’s Revels, John Marston’s Antonio and Mellida, John Day’s Isle of Gulls, and Francis Beaumont’s Knight of the Burning Pestle often deliver self-referential lines gesturing toward their physical characteristics and status as performers. For scholars, such dialogue has offered opportunities to debate performance styles and compare boy actors to their adult counterparts, but inductions offer far more to childhood studies: they spotlight individual boys manifesting multiple childhoods. Their self-referential language and dramatized improvisation highlight child players regularly playing disparate versions of themselves. The resulting tension and overlap between performer and performance of childhood also obscures the boundary between childhood and adulthood. Instead of fixing player status as child, in contrast to the adult roles they play, and setting them on track to eventually become the men they often enact, inductions highlight the constructed nature and plurality of adulthoods and childhoods. Child players perform versions of their elders and themselves, and this performability unsettles the starting and concluding points of seemingly inevitable maturation, detaching it from age and appearance. Packard suggests that the unstable identity of child players forecloses any sense of childhood as a discrete developmental stage and undercuts the inevitability of growing up into adulthood.
Beyond episodic remembering: elaborative retrieval of lifetime periods in young and older adults

ABSTRACTRelative to young adults, cognitively normal older adults commonly generate more semantic details and fewer episodic details in their descriptions of unique life events. It remains unclear ...
SETS AND SPACES

This chapter provides an overview of sets and spaces. It reviews equivalent sets and presents various theorems and definitions. A theorem presented in the chapter states that every superset of an infinite set is infinite and that every subset of a countable set is countable. The union of a countable collection of countable sets is countable, and the set of rational numbers is countably infinite. The chapter describes sequences of sets and metric spaces. It also discusses open sets. The intersection of two open sets is open, and the intersection of a finite number of open sets is open. Every compact set in a metric space is bounded and closed, and every compact subset of a metric space is separable. The chapter also reviews cardinals and connected sets.
Impact of a Brief, Bystander Bullying Prevention Program on Depressive Symptoms and Passive Suicidal Ideation: A Program Evaluation Model for School Personnel.

The purpose of this article is to present a study that can serve as a model of program evaluation for school personnel that can be used to improve services and demonstrate program efficacy to key s...
Innovators, Learners, and Surveyors: Clustering Students in an Innovation-Based Learning Course

This full research paper aims to better understand how students create and innovate. As technology and the world around us rapidly evolve, engineers must rise to meet the needs of a future that we might not be able to even imagine yet. In order to prepare engineering students to meet future needs, it is imperative that they are given opportunities to grow in their technical abilities, but also their creativity and critical thinking. However, these skills can be difficult to teach and assess because they can manifest differently in all students. Therefore, this work aims to better understand how students approach open-ended problems, specifically in an upper level engineering course. In order to keep track of their progress and demonstrate their learning, all students uploaded self-created learning objectives and corresponding deliverables to an online platform. Clustering algorithms were then applied to the data and four clusters emerged: Innovators, Learners, Surveyors, and Surface Level. These clusters were then defined in the context of the Cynefin Framework, Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning, and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge. By observing which students fell into each of the clusters, how they moved amongst the clusters, and key words associated with each cluster, we were able to better understand how students approach the process of innovation.
Bound states in the continuum in silicon integrated photonic devices

We present numerical modeling and experimental characterization of the photonic bound states in high-contrast Si-based subwavelength grating waveguide structures. The resonant modes in the grating waveguides show some of the unique features of the photonic bound states in the continuum: continuous narrowing of the resonance linewidth and cancellation of radiative waves. The calculated field distributions show strong internal field buildup around resonances. To verify our simulation results, a Si-based subwavelength grating waveguide was fabricated and experimentally characterized. The measured reflection spectra show two resonance peaks around λ0 = 1490 nm and λ0 = 1505 nm. According to the simulated results, these two peaks are located near a BIC condition. The captured infrared microscope images in the reflection measurement reveal the dynamical interaction between the incident light and the subwavelength grating waveguide. The demonstrated Si grating waveguides has potential to be used as highly efficient frequency-selective couplers between free-space optical waves to in-plane guided optical waves in existing Si integrated photonic circuits.
Visualization of materials released from adhered, ungerminated conidia of Colletotrichum graminicola

Conidia of Colletotrichum graminicola that had adhered to substrata released materials that were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or by light microscopy after staining for protein or carbohydrate. SEM of conidia that had adhered to dimethyldichlorosilane-coated or polystyrene-coated glass revealed that material had been released onto the substratum surface where the conidia had been in contact with the surface. Gold/silver staining of adhered conidia revealed patterns of staining that indicated that proteinaceous materials had been released from the tip of the conidium and at the site of contact of the conidium with the substratum (contact interface). When adhered conidia were stained with fluorescein (FITC)-conjugated lectins, only FITC-concanavalin A (FITC-ConA) labelled carbohydrates at the contact interface. FITC-ConA also bound to materials that surrounded conidia that had adhered. Different patterns of labelling by other FITC-conjugated lectins were also observed, indicating that the material released from a conidium has a specific spatial arrangement around the conidium. Both the ConA lectin and the Lens culinaris agglutinin lectin blocked adhesion, indicating that the material released from conidia contained glucose and/or mannose. Together, these results suggest that the material associated with adhered conidia is composed of glycoprotein.
A 43-45Gb/s 2.5V integrated clock and data recovery circuit in SiGe using low-voltage topologies

A 43-45Gb/s clock and data recovery circuit is presented. It uses half-rate architecture with a binary phase detector based on low-voltage latch and multiplexer topologies. The circuit was implemented in a SiGe technology with f/sub T/ = 120GHz. It demonstrates a 600 MHz locking range and consumes 650mW from a 2.5V power supply. The chip measures 1.25mm/sup 2/ and requires no external components.
Aristotelian Axiomatics and Geometrical Axiomatics

Professor Szabo deserves credit for calling our attention to the interplay of philosophical and mathematical influences in the development of Greek axiomatics. It is this interplay that lends a special flavor to much of the early as well as some of the later history of the axiomatic method. I believe, however, that in the last analysis the total picture of the early development of axiomatics will turn out to be quite different from the one Szabo paints. My reasons for this belief are nevertheless subtler than one might first expect. Professor Szabo finds the true ancestors of the central mathematical methodology of the Greeks, including the axiomatic method, in the Eleatic dialectic. In so doing, Szabo prima facie misses a large part of the interdisciplinary interplay with which he is dealing. Most other historians of the axiomatic method would give the pride of place on the philosophical side of the fence to Aristotle, who is sometimes called the first great theoretician of the axiomatic method and whose ideal of a science was by any account explicitly and self-consciously axiomatic. Szabo admittedly discusses Aristotle, but gives the Stagirite short shrift, dismissing him as having played no real part in the development of the axiomatic methods actually used in mathematics.
Towards More Effective Judicial Implementation of Treaty-Based Rights

Early in the history of the United States, courts faithfully applied the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause to implement rights that the United States had accorded by treaty. The first instance saw the U.S. Supreme Court recognizing the rights of British creditors on debts that had been confiscated by colonies during the colonies' war for independence against Great Britain. The rights of these creditors had been guaranteed in the Treaty of Paris, whereby the United States gained recognition of its independence from Britain. The Court applied the Supremacy Clause, which states that treaties are part of the law of the land, to reinstate the debts owed to the British creditors. Through the nineteenth century, both federal and state courts applied the Supremacy Clause to enforce rights accorded by treaty. In recent decades, however, implementation of treaty-based rights under the Supremacy Clause has been far from uniform. The Senate, in consenting to the ratification of treaties that protect rights, has included declarations that may keep the rights from being judicially enforceable. The courts have found ways to exclude various treaty-based rights from Supremacy Clause implementation. This tendency is particularly apparent in cases in which rights are claimed under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and the Geneva Prisoners of War Convention. The Article argues that the courts should revert to the earlier approach and provide proper implementation of treaty-based rights, as contemplated by the Constitution's drafters.
Antiphospholipid syndrome: Laboratory concerns, fetal loss, and pregnancy management

Antiphospholipid antibodies are of interest to obstetrician-gynecologists because they are associated with fetal loss. We diagnosed our first patient with fetal loss associated with aPL in 1983. The same year, Lubbe et al reported that successful pregnancy could be achieved in women with aPL by treating the mother with corticosteroids and low-dose aspirin.’ By 1985 we had treated eight consecutive pregnancies complicated by aPL with the regimen proposed by Lubbe and others.2 In the meantime, a small international group of interested physicians and researchers was formed. Their third semi-annual meeting was held in Kingston, Jamaica in 1988; since then, the group has been known as the Kingston Antiphospholipid Study (KAPS) group. The seminal works of individuals in this group established the major clinical features (including pregnancy loss) associated with aPL. Graham Hughes3 and Nigel Harris4 suggested that these features should form the basis of a new autoimmune condition, now known as the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Numerous studies, reviews, and case reports have served to emphasize the important association between aPL and certain complications of pregnancy. This review focuses on the laboratory and clinical features of APS pertinent to the practicing obstetrician/ gynecologist. Areas of controversy will be emphasized.
Cerebral MR Venography: Normal Anatomy and Potential Diagnostic Pitfalls

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR venography is often used to examine the intracranial venous system, particularly in the evaluation of dural sinus thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MR venography in the depiction of the normal intracranial venous anatomy and its variants, to assess its potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of dural venous sinus thrombosis, and to compare the findings with those of conventional catheter angiography. METHODS: Cerebral MR venograms obtained in 100 persons with normal MR imaging studies were reviewed to determine the presence or absence of the dural sinuses and major intracranial veins. RESULTS: Systematic review of the 100 cases revealed transverse sinus flow gaps in 31% of the cases, with 90% of these occurring in the nondominant transverse sinus and 10% in the codominant transverse sinuses. No flow gaps occurred in the dominant transverse sinuses. The superior sagittal and straight sinuses were seen in every venogram; the occipital sinus was seen in only 10%. The vein of Galen and internal cerebral veins were also seen in every case; the basal veins of Rosenthal were present in 91%. CONCLUSIONS: Transverse sinus flow gaps can be observed in as many as 31% of patients with normal MR imaging findings; these gaps should not be mistaken for dural sinus thrombosis.
The effects of continuous and partial reward on the vigilance task performance of adults with attentional deficits: a pilot investigation.

The effects of reward schedule (100% and 30%) and extinction on attention (reaction time to auditory stimuli) and frustration levels (pressure exerted on a response key) of 15 adults with attentional disorders and 21 normal adults were examined using a continuous performance task. We predicted, based on Douglas and Parry ((1994). Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 22, 281), that adults with attentional deficits would (a) perform similar to comparisons when rewarded on a continuous schedule, (b) exhibit higher levels of frustration when that continuous schedule was moved to an extinction schedule, and (c) experience more frustration than comparisons when rewarded on a partial schedule. Overall, adults with attentional deficits were slower to respond and their responses were more variable than typical comparisons across trials, similar to what is observed for children. Continuous reward resulted in poorer performance earlier in the reward phase and continued throughout an extinction phase. The frustration levels of adults with attentional deficits did not differ from comparisons across schedule conditions. Results are discussed in terms of the role of arousal in mediating responding to various schedules of reward.
Making the graduate-industry connection

Many utilities are beginning to ramp up their recruiting and hiring efforts to attract bright young engineering graduates into the industry to replace the large numbers of engineers that have recently retired or will retire in the next few years. Unfortunately, the long drought in hiring brought on by the uncertainty of deregulation and the perspective that the industry is "old and conservative" has caused a mismatch in the interests of young engineers and the companies that want to hire them. In addition, the number of young people pursuing engineering degrees is decreasing as they become attracted to other lucrative occupations that aren't burdened by the introverted, nerdy stereotypes typical of engineering careers. One way to address this problem is for companies to establish a supportive relationship with a university through formal and informal recruiting activities. While there are a number of strategies that companies can adopt to identify and recruit good students, three primary recruiting strategies have proven effective: on-campus recruiting, co-op and internship programs, and career fairs. Campus partnerships yield considerable benefits for both the industry and the university, and the benefits far outweight the time and financial commitments required.
Encoders for block-circulant LDPC codes

In this paper, we present two encoding methods for block-circulant LDPC codes. The first is an iterative encoding method based on the erasure decoding algorithm, and the computations required are well organized due to the block-circulant structure of the parity check matrix. The second method uses block-circulant generator matrices, and the encoders are very similar to those for recursive convolutional codes. Some encoders of the second type have been implemented in a small field programmable gate array (FPGA) and operate at 100 Msymbols/second
Who owns your E-mail?

Abstract Issues of privacy and security are central to the effective use of E-mail, particularly in institutional settings. When this service is used as a component of education within a larger institutional framework, additional issues arise involving ethics of information monitoring, and the storage of personal materials on university-owned mainframes, minicomputers, or network servers. In this article the author examines recent findings that could influence the use of E-mail on campuses. National privacy legislation is discussed, as is the inviolability of student records. The position is taken that more effective safeguards are necessary, and that the current steps are inadequate for the protection of students' rights.
On the total time on test transform of an IFRA distribution

Abstract A new proof is provided for a monotonicity property of total time on test transform of an IFRA distribution.
On Expression Identity: A critical notice of Robert Fiengo and Robert May, De Lingua Belief

MIT Press, 2006. Pp. 224. ISBN 10: 0262062572. $32.00. Robert Fiengo and Robert May’s intriguing and interesting 2006 book, De Lingua Belief, is a sequel to their 1994 book, Indices and Identity. B...
Electrophoretic heterogeneity exhibited by the S-allele specific glycoproteins of Brassica

A number of self-incompatibility genotypes ofB. oleracea were analyzed by sensitive electrophoretic procedures. Members of the class of S-allele specific glycoproteins that increase in correlation with the onset of the incompatibility response were resolved into several components on SDS gels. The implications of this molecular heterogeneity are discussed in relation to S locus function.
Confocal two photon emission microscopy: A new approach to waveguide imaging

Abstract Based on earlier studies of the interaction effects between Er3+ and Ti4+ ions in Ti:LiNbO3 waveguides we investigated the feasibility of using the Er3+ as a sensitive probe to determine Ti4+-diffusion profiles with high spatial resolution. Using a home-built confocal microscope combined with site-selective optical spectroscopy we tested two different operation modes: (i) Evaluating the emission spectra obtained by one-step excitation with a single laser we obtain high resolution (≈700 nm ) Ti 4+ -concentration images. In particular using the second moments of the spectra, which turn out to be approximately linearly related to the Ti4+-concentration, we obtain very good contrast with essentially no artifacts caused by topology, intensity fluctuations, and Er3+ ion concentration profile. (ii) Measuring the total emission intensity under a specially chosen two step excitation scheme allows to selectively excite regions with a certain Ti4+ concentration. While for (i) a calibration can be done, for (ii) this will be hard due to the multi-site character of the Er3+ in LiNbO3.
Tears Worth Telling: Urban Teaching and the Possibilities of Racial Justice

Silencing race dialogue in urban classrooms is painful for students of color. The author of this article, an urban teacher, documents her resistance to colorblind racism by strategically including race in daily classroom practices. She argues that acknowledging emotionality and Whiteness are essential steps that teachers must take to reinvest in prolonged racially-just projects.
Gene therapy and the future of cartilage repair

Articular cartilage has a very limited intrinsic healing capacity because of its avascular status. Although numerous attempts to repair full-thickness articular cartilage defects have been conducted, no methods have successfully regenerated long-lasting hyaline cartilage. One of the most promising procedures for cartilage repair is tissue engineering accompanied by gene therapy. With gene therapy, genes encoding therapeutic growth factors can be expressed at a high level in the injured site for an extended period of time. Chondrocytes have been intensively studied for cell transplantation for articular cartilage defects. However, recent studies have shown that chondrocytes are not the only candidate for cartilage repair. Muscle-derived cells have been found capable of delivering genes and represent a good vehicle to deliver therapeutic genes to improve cartilage repair. More importantly, recent studies have suggested the presence of pluripotent stem cells in muscle-derived cells. This article summarizes the current status of gene therapy for cartilage repair and its future application.
Density, size and mortality of egg masses in New Jersey populations of the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae).

Observations on egg mass density, number of eggs per mass, parasitism, and viability of eggs of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), were carried out over 19 yr at 17 permanent study plots in New Jersey. Egg mass size (eggs per mass) in the current generation was inversely related to density in the previous generation. Eggs were parasitized entirely by Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard); parasitism averaged 25.9% overall. Percentage parasitism of eggs in a mass was negatively correlated with size. Percentage parasitism in the current generation was directly proportional to egg mass density in both the previous and current generations, falling below 10% in the most sparse populations and climbing above 35% in the most dense. The viability of unparasitized eggs in 1981–1989, when populations underwent outbreaks in most plots, was strongly negatively correlated with the percentage defoliation of oaks and less so (albeit significantly) with average monthly temperatures in October and February.
Optimal Solution to the Hydro-Steam Dispatch Problem for Certain Practical Systems

The maximum principle by Pontryagin is applied to the problem of determining the operation of a hydro-steam generating system for the minimum generating costs. The general dispatch formulas are derived for power systems with hydroelectric plants having fixed head, varying head, and hydraulic coupling, both with and without river transport delay and wave phenomena. Techniques are demonstrated which greatly simplify the computer solutions for fixed and varying head operation.
Can Bibliotherapy Go Public

In times past, the public library has aptly been called “the university of the people,” an educational institution dedicated to furthering the democratic way of life. An educational institution is charged with the tasks of transmitting societal values and acquiring knowledge necessary for daily living. Certainly, the public library affirms that all people of the United States have a right to the pursuit of knowledge along with or as part of the pursuit of happiness. Whether or not the library also has some responsibility in assisting patrons in the clarification of societal values and in assisting patrons with life enrichment is not as clear from a historical perspective. That libraries can and should bring literature and books together in reader's discussion groups for enrichment and clarification is the subject of this paper.
Development of Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Among Women From Adolescence to Older Ages

The development of risk factors for young adults to older ages for women has been evaluated in several studies. The increase in risk factor levels is related to age, weight gain, and diet. The levels of risk factors are related to extent of atherosclerosis, even at relatively young ages. The prevention of increase in risk factors is of primary importance for the future reduction of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease.
First insights into the mode of action of a “lachrymatory factor synthase” – Implications for the mechanism of lachrymator formation in Petiveria alliacea, Allium cepa and Nectaroscordum species

A study of an enzyme that reacts with the sulfenic acid produced by the alliinase in Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) to yield the P. alliacea lachrymator (phenylmethanethial S-oxide) showed the protein to be a dehydrogenase. It functions by abstracting hydride from sulfenic acids of appropriate structure to form their corresponding sulfines. Successful hydride abstraction is dependent upon the presence of a benzyl group on the sulfur to stabilize the intermediate formed on abstraction of hydride. This dehydrogenase activity contrasts with that of the lachrymatory factor synthase (LFS) found in onion, which catalyzes the rearrangement of 1-propenesulfenic acid to (Z)-propanethial S-oxide, the onion lachrymator. Based on the type of reaction it catalyzes, the onion LFS should be classified as an isomerase and would be called a “sulfenic acid isomerase”, whereas the P. alliacea LFS would be termed a “sulfenic acid dehydrogenase”.
Behavioral effects of sucrose on preschool children

Despite speculation that sucrose consumption affects behavior, little empirical information is available. Accordingly, this study investigated the effect of sucrose consumption on the behavior of eight preschool children. Children were tested individually using a double-blind, crossover design. On separate mornings each child received 6 ounces of juice, sweetened on one morning with sucrose and on the other with an artificial sweetener. Children were observed for 90 minutes following the drinks, alternating between 15-minute sessions of work on structured tasks and 15-minute sessions of free play. Following the sucrose drink the children showed a decrement in performance in the structured testing situation, and they demonstrated more "inappropriate" behavior during free play. These differences in behavior were most pronounced approximately 45 to 60 minutes after the drinks. Thus, the study provides objective evidence in young children of a rather subtle, yet significant, time-dependent behavior effect of sucrose ingestion.
Characterization of Nanoparticles by Microbeam Analysis and Microscopy

Abstract The analysis of selected, individual nanoscale particles represents the limit of performance for the most advanced microanalytical techniques. Ion beam methods are inadequate for objects with dimensions below 100 nm because of limitations on the number of atoms that can be ionized and collected. By using near-field optical techniques, photon beam methods are just beginning to gain the spatial resolution necessary to penetrate the 100 nm barrier. Electron beam techniques such as low voltage (
Solid, shape recovered “bulk” Nitinol: Part I—Tension–compression asymmetry

Abstract As the shape memory material Nitinol (55% nickel–45% titanium alloy) emerges to find more and more applications in engineered products, understanding the effects of material processing becomes increasingly important. Its mechanical behavior is highly non-linear and is strongly dependent on alloy composition, heat treatment history and mechanical work. Published Nitinol literature is almost exclusively related to processing and testing of thin wall, very small diameter tubing and wire devices, usually exhibiting superelastic characteristics. In strain-controlled tension–compression testing of pseudoelastic Nitinol shape memory wires, compression recovery forces were found to be markedly higher than tension forces. However, most experimental studies of the thermomechanical behavior of Nitinol (NiTi) to date have been conducted in uniaxial tension. There is a dearth of information in the literature regarding the compression recovery of solid blocks of Nitinol. Questions exist on whether or not solid, “bulk” Nitinol products when deformed in compression will exhibit shape recovery characteristics and if so, will tension–compression asymmetry occur, which is seen in tensile loaded, bent wire material? The potential for shape recovery of compressed solid blocks of Nitinol products, which could have large stress–strain outputs, can enable the design of novel devices in many industries. The motivation for this research is to provide the first characterization of the shape recovery effects of “bulk” Nitinol material under compressive deformation modes versus the often practiced and well understood tensile loading of wire and thin wall tubing.
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models for everolimus and sorafenib in mice

Purpose Everolimus is a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor approved as an immunosuppressant and for second-line therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor used as first-line therapy in HCC and RCC. This study assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK) of everolimus and sorafenib alone and in combination in plasma and tissues, developed physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models in mice, and assessed the possibility of PK drug interactions.
Porous crystal derived from a tricarboxylate linker with two distinct binding motifs.

The use of a reduced symmetry organic linker for the preparation of porous coordination polymers is demonstrated. The solvothermal reaction of the unsymmetrically substituted biaryl compound biphenyl-3,4‘,5-tricarboxylic acid with Cu(II) ions produces a [3,4,6]-connected coordination polymer exhibiting very high porosity and surface area (SLangmuir = 3100 m2/g). A striking feature of the structure is its incorporation, in a single material, of both the ubiquitous dinuclear Cu(II) paddlewheel motif and the rarely observed trinuclear Cu(II) cluster. Saturation H2 uptake, measured at 77 K, shows an excess gravimetric uptake of 5.7 wt % at 45 bar with a steep rise at low pressures.
Craniofacial defects of blastogenesis: Duplication of pituitary with cleft palate and orophgaryngeal tumors

Duplications of organs and/or tissues are rare in morphogenesis and have frequently been attributed to incomplete twinning. To further elucidate the phenotypes associated with organ duplications, we present three infants with duplication of the pituitary gland (DPG). A review of previously reported cases with DPG showed that the commonest additional findings were hypothalamic enlargement, a broad or duplicated sella, cleft palate, hypertelorism, oropharyngeal tumors, agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, and abnormalities of vertebrae. DPG and additional malformations constitute a distinct and recognizable pattern of anomalies, which may constitute a polytopic field defect due to splitting of the notochord. However, the precise inductive mechanism resulting in DPG remains unknown. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An analysis of customer service quality to college students as influenced by customer appearance through dress during the in-store shopping process

Abstract The premise that customer appearance through dress influences customer service quality in retail stores is explored. Research subjects completed instruments designed to measure customer service expectations at a specific retail store of their choice. Then they visited that store three separate times posing as shoppers for the purpose of evaluating customer service quality. Appearances through dress of the research subject (customer) and store type were the independent variables. The dependent variable, quality of customer service, was compared to the previously rated expected customer service level and among customer dress styles. Significant differences were observed between customer expectations of service and service received overall. Furthermore, the level of customer service received by customers differed significantly based on their appearance through dress. Store type also affected the level of customer service offered to customers. Recommendations are provided for retailers who want to offer consistent and positive customer service.
Oncology certification: what is in it for you?

Most nurses are confident in their belief that they provide excellent care; however, many find the idea of taking an examination to demonstrate their knowledge frightening. Earning a specialty certification is one of the most important accomplishments a nurse can achieve for oneself, one’s patients, and one’s employer, as it signifies knowledge and practice competency in the specialty (Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation [ONCC], 2008c). This column explains the benefits of certification and solutions to potential barriers to obtaining certification for oncology nurses who are contemplating certification. Certification is a voluntary personal and professional accomplishment that is recognized by patients, their families, peers, other health professionals, and employers. Specialty certification is not limited to health professions; it exists in other occupations such as business, accounting, and information technology. Obtaining a formal credential—Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®), Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN), Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON®), Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS®), or Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP®)—is not only an achievement, but a validation of the nurse’s clinical experience and knowledge. “Certification has been a personal challenge for me. It has helped validate my skills and knowledge in care of oncology patients. It was worth my time and energy to take the test”(Leak and Spruill, 2008). More than 2.9 million people in the United States are RNs (American Nurses Association, 2008). More than 500,000 nurses worldwide are certified in their specialty areas, including advanced practice nurses who have more than one specialty credential (American Board of Nursing Specialties, 2005). ONCC was established in 1984 to develop and administer a certification program in oncology nursing. It currently offers five certification examinations (ONCC, 2008c) (see Table 1). Currently, more than 27,000 nurses are certified, including 23,378 nurses with the OCN® credential, 1,731 CPON®, 1,225 AOCN®, 541 AOCNP®, and 220 AOCNS® (ONCC, 2008c). Table 1 Five Oncology Nursing Certification Examinations Offered by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation Since the 1990s, healthcare organizations have placed a higher value on specialty certification for nurses. Many employers now provide and pay for review courses for their employees. Some employers even reimburse their staff for the cost of successful completion of the credentialing examination. The increase in the number of healthcare organizations supporting nurses’ professional development via specialty certification may be partly because of the criteria for Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (2008), which strongly encourages specialty certification to validate specialty nursing knowledge.
INCREASING AND SIGNALING BACKGROUND REINFORCEMENT: EFFECT ON THE FOREGROUND RESPONSE—REINFORCER RELATION

Herrnstein's (1970) hyperbolic matching equation describes the relationship between response rate and reinforcement rate. It has two estimated parameters, k and Re. According to one interpretation, k measures motor performance and Re measures the efficacy of the reinforcer maintaining responding relative to background sources of reinforcement. Experiment 1 tested this interpretation of the Re parameter by observing the effect of adding and removing an additional source of reinforcement to the context. Using a within-session procedure, estimates of Re were obtained from the response-reinforcer relation over a series of seven variable-interval schedules. A second, concurrently available variable-interval schedule of reinforcement was added and then removed from the context. Results showed that when the alternative was added to the context, the value of Re increased by 107 reinforcers per hour; this approximated the 91 reinforcers per hour obtained from this schedule. Experiment 2 investigated the effects of signaling background reinforcement on k and Re. The signal decreased Re, but did not have a systematic effect on k. In general, the results supported Herrnstein's interpretation that in settings with one experimenter-controlled reinforcement source, Re indexes the strength of the reinforcer maintaining responding relative to uncontrolled background sources of reinforcement.
Effect of methylphenidate on fatigue in women with recurrent gynecologic cancer.

Objective: Fatigue is the most common and often the most bothersome complaint of individuals who are treated for cancer. One intervention now commonly suggested to treat fatigue is the use of psychostimulant medication. Early studies indicate some success in individuals with a mixed cancer diagnoses. This study evaluates the effect of methylphenidate on fatigue in women with recurrent gynecologic cancer. Method: Thirty-two women treated for recurrent gynecologic cancer were prescribed methylphenidate at morning and noon over a 8-week period. Participants completed the Fatigue Symptom Inventory (FSI) along with assessments of quality of life and mood at baseline, week 2, 4 and 8 to determine changes in levels of fatigue experienced. Results: Patients reported significant declines in fatigue (p=0.0001), and improvement in both mood (p=0.0020) and quality of life (p=0.0351) when comparing baseline scores to study end. Conclusions: This study provides support for the use of a psychostimulant to treat fatigue in women who have recurrent gynecologic cancer. It is particularly relevant for these patients with incurable disease who are facing the end of life. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of calcium lignosulfonate-treated soybean meal as a source of rumen protected protein for dairy cattle.

Abstract Four Holstein cows fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulae were used in a 4×4 Latin square design to measure ruminal protein degradation and small intestinal digestion of diets containing untreated soybean meal or soybean meal treated with heat and either water, xylose, or calcium lignosulfonate. Diets consisting of 40% corn silage, 10% alfalfa cubes, and 50% grain mix, and averaging 16.8% crude protein (DM basis) were fed four times daily. Approximately 50% of the total dietary protein was supplied by the respective soybean meal source. Ruminal protein degradation was 70.6, 69.6, 55.8, and 53.7% for diets containing untreated soybean meal, water-soybean meal, xylose-soybean meal, and calcium lignosulfonate-soybean meal, respectively. Duodenal non-NH 3 N flow (g/d) and absorption of non-NH 3 N (g/d) in the small intestine were generally not affected by treatment. Duodenal bacterial N flow (g/d) was lower with xylose-soybean meal and lignosulfonate-soybean meal than with untreated soybean meal. Treatment of soybean meal with xylose or calcium lignosulfonate was successful in decreasing ruminal protein degradation. However, it 5be necessary to include a source of readily fermentable N in diets that contain protected proteins in order to supply adequate NH 3 N for microbial protein synthesis.
A call to action: the national and global implications of the year 2000 embedded systems crisis

Acknowledges the potential problems the year 2000 may cause to computer software and hardware, but emphasises the need to understand fully and acknowledge the challenges and threats posed by date sensitive embedded systems. Describes embedded systems and the reasons why they have been generally ignored in the discussions about the year 2000. Discusses the potential disasters and the efforts that need to be made to overcome these problems. Provides examples of problems that have already been considered or encountered.
Functional evaluation of total knee replacement

The assessment of patients following prosthetic knee replacement suffers from a lack of objective criteria. An automated method of laboratory assessment that permits the objective evaluation of knee joint function is described. Nine biomechanical parameters were statistically selected, weighted, and combined to develop a Performance Index (Ip). One hundred ninety-two patients (274 diseased knees) were studied prior to total knee replacement surgery, with 107 patients (138 knees) returning for a 1-year postoperative study. Preoperative rheumatoid knees were found to have significantly poorer function than those involved with degenerative disease. Overall, the patients experienced a marked improvement 1 year post-total knee replacement (TKR), with their functional scores approaching the lower limits of normal. Prostheses were assessed according to generic classes as well as specific design types. The newer generation devices were found to produce better functional results. In the patients receiving Anametric and Total Condylar total knee devices, a patellar resurfacing component was found to produce improved knee function in comparison with patients receiving the same prosthesis but without patellar resurfacing.
Cores and large cores when population varies

In a TU cooperative game with populationN, a monotonic core allocation allocates each surplusv (S) among the agents of coalitionS in such a way that agenti's share never decreases when the coalition to which he belongs expands. We investigate the property of largeness (Sharkey [1982]) for monotonic cores. We show the following result. Given a convex TU game and an upper bound on each agent' share in each coalition containing him, if the upper bound depends only upon the size of the coalition and varies monotonically as the size increases, then there exists a monotonic core allocation meeting this system of upper bounds. We apply this result to the provision of a public good problem.
The molecular structure and conformational composition of 3-bromopropene as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction

Abstract The structure of 3-bromopropene has been studied by gas-phase electron diffraction at nozzle temperatures of 50 and 150°C. The molecules exist as mixtures of syn and gauchc conformers with the latter form being more stable. The results for the distance ( r g ) and angle ( r α) parameters from the 50°C data are as follows: r (C-H) = 1.078(15) A, r (CC) = 1.335(7) A, r (C-C) = 1.485(8) A, r (C-Br) = 1.961(6) A, ∠ CC-C = 126.0° (2.6), ∠ C-C-Br = 111.5° (0.8), τ g (torsional angle for the gauche from) = 117°(5).
A Bipartite Analogue of Dilworth’s Theorem

Let m(n) be the maximum integer such that every partially ordered set P with n elements contains two disjoint subsets A and B, each with cardinality m(n), such that either every element of A is greater than every element of B or every element of A is incomparable with every element of B. We prove that \(m(n)=\Theta\left(\frac{n}{\log n}\right)\). Moreover, for fixed e ∈ (0,1) and n sufficiently large, we construct a partially ordered set P with n elements such that no element of P is comparable with \(n^{\varepsilon } \) other elements of P and for every two disjoint subsets A and B of P each with cardinality at least \(\frac{14n}{\epsilon\log_2 n}\), there is an element of A that is comparable with an element of B.
What does flight school security mean? A case study of university affiliated flight schools in the United States

Eleven years after the September 11th terrorist event, flight school security has become a relevant topic with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). There has been discussion related to the weaknesses in the vetting process of international flight training students (GAO 2012). Concurrently, the transportation security community has initiated a call for transportation professionals to describe what transportation security means in their particular discipline. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of flight school security regulations and perceptions of flight school participants. The researchers used a mixed methods survey to collect data to identify perceived strengths and weaknesses of flight school security. Results have indicated participants are confident with reporting issues. However, perceived weaknesses such as: communication, awareness, physical security control measures and efficiency are discussed.
Erratum to “A unified approach to multiple stopping and duality” [Oper. Res. Lett. (2012)]

Abstract We correct an error in the statement of Theorem 7 in Chandramouli and Haugh (2012) [4] . This Theorem establishes the structural form of optimal martingales in the dual formulation of the multiple optimal stopping problem with refractive index constraints.