cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Coherence Tomography of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

Purpose To assess the potential of a new imaging technique, optical coherence tomography, for the diagnosis and monitoring of central serous chorioretinopathy. Optical coherence tomography is a novel noninvasive, noncontact imaging modality that produces high longitudinal resolution, cross-sectional tomographs of ocular tissue. Methods Optical coherence tomography is analogous to ultrasound, except that it uses light rather than sound to obtain higher image resolution in the retina. Cross-sectional tomographs of optical reflectivity within the retina are produced with longitudinal resolution of 10 μm. Optical coherence tomography was used to examine 16 patients at a referral eye center whose initial examination disclosed the clinical diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy. The optical coherence tomography results were correlated with slit-lamp biomicroscopy, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography. Results The cross-sectional view produced by optical coherence tomography was effective in objectively quantifying the amount of serous retinal detachment in the disease. Optical coherence tomography disclosed detachments that were undetected by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. Longitudinal measurements with optical coherence tomography were successfully able to track the resolution of subretinal fluid accumulation. Conclusion Optical coherence tomography is potentially useful as a new, noninvasive diagnostic technique for quantitative examination of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy and objectively monitoring the clinical course of the serous retinal detachment in this disease.
Long-Range Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer Reactions of Bis(imidazole) Iron Tetraphenylporphyrins Linked to Benzoates

Concerted proton–electron transfer (CPET) reactions in iron carboxytetraphenylporphyrin complexes have been investigated using both experimental and theoretical methods. Synthetic heme models abstract H+ and e– from the hydroxylamine TEMPOH or an ascorbate derivative, and the kinetics of the TEMPOH reaction indicate concerted transfer of H+ and e–. Phenylene linker domains vary the electron donor/acceptor separation by approximately 4 A. The rate data and extensive molecular simulations show that the electronic coupling decay constant (β) depends on conformational flexibility and solvation associated with the linker domain. Our best estimate of β is 0.23 ± 0.07 A^(–1), a value that is near the low end of the range (0.2–0.5 A^(–1)) established for electron-transfer reactions involving related linkers. This is the first analysis of β for a CPET reaction.
Energy – A Geopolitical Game Changer?

Energy trade cannot overcome longstanding political conflicts. There are no ‘peace pipelines’ anywhere in the world. Rather peace is a condition for investment in pipelines and other forms of energy infrastructure. Where political breakthroughs have been achieved, however, energy trade can reinforce cooperation between states and contribute to regional stability. These considerations are particularly pertinent to the Cyprus settlement talks and Middle East Peace Process, against the background of energy discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Alpha stripping and pickup to even Ge nuclei.

Coexistence wave functions for even Ge nuclei, previously derived from fits to two-neutron transfer data, are used to calculate cross section ratios for $^{\mathrm{A}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}\mathrm{Zn}$${(}^{6}$Li,d${)}^{\mathrm{A}}$Ge and $^{\mathrm{A}+4}\mathrm{Se}$(d${,}^{6}$Li${)}^{\mathrm{A}}$Ge.
Determination of residual levels of unsaturation in partially hydrogenated poly(2,3-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene) using thermogravimetry

Abstract The thermal degradation characteristics of head-to-head poly(styrene) (HHPS) should provide insight with respect to the impact of head-to-head placement on the thermal stability of the traditional atactic head-to-tail polymer (HTPS). The synthesis of head-to-head poly(styrene) must be accomplished indirectly. The HHPS is most satisfactorily obtained by dissolving metal reduction of poly(2,3-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene) (PDBD) generated by radical polymerization of the corresponding diene monomer. Full saturation of the polymer mainchain requires several iterations of the reduction procedure. Since the decomposition of PDBD is prominent at 374 °C and that for HHPS is similarly facile at 406 °C, it seemed feasible that TGA of partially hydrogenated PDBD might be utilized as a convenient means of monitoring the extent of hydrogenation. This has been demonstrated for various levels of unsaturation remaining—from approximately 90 to less than 10%. Within this range the peak areas from the DTG plots of the partially hydrogenated polymer provide a good reflection of the ratio of unsaturated to saturated units in the polymer. Even low levels of unsaturation in the polymer may be detected by the asymmetry of the decomposition peak for the polymer.
IF OUR GENES ARE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? THOUGHTS OF A PRAGMATIST ON SCIENCE AND MORALITY

. The philosopher Michael Ruse accounts for the difference between hypothetical and categorical imperatives, and thus the origin of distinctively moral obligations like that of altruism, in genetic terms. This is part of an attempt to develop a philosophy that takes Darwin seriously by substituting respectable scientific entities, specifically those of evolutionary biology, for suspect theological or philosophical ones, like God or the transcendental ego, as a basis for addressing philosophical questions. Pragmatists take Darwin seriously, but in a very different way from that proposed by Ruse. Darwin introduced a “logic” into the study of living things—including human beings, the human mind, and culture— that leads philosophers to ask new and different questions about morality rather than trying to supply new answers to the same old questions. This essay contrasts these two different ways of taking Darwin seriously for purposes of philosophy and claims certain advantages for the pragmatist way over Ruse's.
Pricing Milk Components at Retail via Hedonic Analysis

Abstract Household food consumption survey data was used in an analysis of the significance and level of milk component values perceived by consumers at the retail level. The research was based on the new approach based on hedonic assessment of product characteristics for demand analysis. Dairy products analyzed included beverage milk products and three types of cheeses. The estimated nonlinear regression function explaining dairy product retail prices indicated that the protein, fat, and calcium components of raw milk were perceived by consumers as having significant value in the marketplace. Regarding relative value, on average, the protein component was perceived to be 28% more valuable than the fat component per point. Decomposing the $9.45 per hundredweight price of raw milk given average milk component levels existing during the time the survey data was collected, $3.76 was attributable to the protein component, $3.29 represented fat value, and $2.40 was assigned as calcium value.
Treatment of the pairing force by cranked HFB: A model of back-bending

Abstract The degenerate pairing force model, with a one-body angular momentum operator defined, is treated with the cranked HFB formalism. It is shown in detail that this treatment is accurate for all properties of states near the yrast line to order of the reciprocal of the degeneracy factor. The relevance to back-bending nuclear high-spin states is discussed.
Creating Filters With Arbitrary Response Characteristics for Use in Hearing and Speech Research

Digital filters with conventional lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and band reject frequency response curves are perfectly adequate for many research applications in speech and hearing. However, there ...
Substructure of the strongly interacting Higgs sector.

If the electroweak symmetry-breaking sector becomes strong at energies above 1 TeV as a result of the absence of a low-mass Higgs boson, and if only the minimal complement of Higgs particles is present, one expects an isovector spin-1 meson of mass 2 TeV/${c}^{2}$, and width 400 GeV, decaying mostly to ${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$Z or ${W}^{+}$${W}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, on very general grounds. Thus, if longitudinal W's and Z's and Higgs bosons are actually fermion-antifermion composites, one must study systems other than this heavy vector meson to learn the nature of the constituents. The role in such studies played by the corresponding spin-1 isoscalar meson, also expected to have a mass of \ensuremath{\approxeq}2 TeV/${c}^{2}$, is examined, and compared with the corresponding role played by the \ensuremath{\omega} in hadron physics.
Time-Dependent Adjustment in a Simple Model of the Mid-Depth Meridional Overturning Cell

AbstractA recently proposed reduced-gravity model of the warm-water branch of the middepth meridional overturning circulation in a rectangular basin with a circumpolar connection is extended to include time dependence. The model describes the balance between gain of warm water through northward Ekman advection across the circumpolar current, loss of warm water through eddy fluxes southward across the current, net gain or loss of warm water through diabatic processes north of the current, and changes in the thickness of the warm-water layer. The steady solutions are the same as those found previously, when the previous parameterization of diabatic fluxes is used. Time-dependent solutions are considered for the approach of the solution to a new equilibrium when the forcing or parameters are abruptly changed and then held fixed. An initial adjustment occurs through a combination of boundary and equatorial adjustment, followed by planetary wave propagation. The longer-term adjustment to equilibrium consists p...
Pricing to Market with Transactions Denominated in a Common Currency

We present a model with two exporters who ship a differentiated commodity to the same import destination. All pricing occurs in a common currency, that of the home exporter. We show that the foreign-exporter to home-exporter exchange rate can influence the home exporter's pricing decision. It has been previously argued that only the importer to home-exporter exchange rate matters to the home exporter.
Interspecific variation in large mammal responses to human observers along a conservation gradient with variable hunting pressure

When subject to anthropogenic hunting risks, wildlife populations may adjust their anti-predator behaviour; however, such plastic response has rarely been assessed. We assessed the response of eight species (African elephant, Maasai giraffe, plains zebra, common wildebeest, Grant's gazelle, impala, Thomson's gazelle and Kirk's dik dik) towards human observers in a landscape with variable anthropogenic hunting pressure. Using logistic regressions, we tested the effect of habitat type, group size, distance to observer and conservation status of the area on the likelihood of animal behavioural adjustments (walking away, fleeing or giving alarm calls). Habitat type did not affect the likelihood of a response towards humans. Dik diks were less likely to respond towards human when they were in larger groups. In contrast, zebras and Thomson's gazelles were marginally significantly more likely to show a response when in larger groups. Responses of all species were significantly or marginally significantly (elephant) lower with increasing distance from observers (an increase by one meter distance changed the response likelihood by 0.01–0.30). Four species (zebra, wildebeest, impala, dik dik) showed a gradual adjustment of responsiveness according to conservation status and were most responsive in non-protected and least responsive in fully protected areas (0.02–0.29 times less responsive in fully vs. multiple-use areas). However, elephants, giraffes and both gazelle species did not significantly adjust their behaviour according to conservation status. This suggests that the behaviour of some species can be used as useful indicator of conservation status of an area whereas the behaviour of other species does not allow discriminating between management types. More generally, our study highlights the importance of assessing and controlling illegal hunting in multiple-use areas and suggests a stronger consideration of human-induced risk effects in the conservation of ungulates.
Locality-aware adaptive grain signatures for Transactional Memories

Transactional Memory (TM) has attracted considerable attention because it promises to increase programmer productivity by making it easier to write correct parallel programs. To maintain correctness in the face of concurrency, detecting conflicts among simultaneously running transactions is an essential element. Hardware signatures have been proposed as an area-efficient mechanism for conflict detection. A signature can summarize an unbounded amount of addresses and misses no conflicts, but could falsely declare conflicts even when no true conflict exists (false positives) due to aliasing and occupancy. Previous signature designs assume that false positives are destructive to performance and attempt to reduce the total number of false positives. In this paper, we show that some false positives can be helpful to performance by triggering the early abortion of a transaction which would encounter a true conflict later anyway. Based on this observation, we propose an adaptive grain signature to improve performance by dynamically changing the range of address keys based on the history. With the use of adaptive grain signatures, we can increase the number of performance-friendly false positives as well as decrease the number of performance-destructive false positives.
An elective course in leader development.

Objective. To describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of a leader-development elective course. Design. Students discovered, reflected on, and enhanced their leadership skills by participating in leadership quality presentations, selecting and facilitating team-building activities for pharmacy-based scenarios, creating a personal mission statement, maintaining a journal, creating pharmacy performance matrices, facilitating leadership discussions and activities, and completing a variety of leader-development inventories to identify their strengths and opportunities for growth. Assessment. Students successfully completed 98% of the assignments. The most valued topics and assignments involved validated instruments, which promoted self-discovery and development. End-of-course survey results revealed all students agreed the course achieved all learning outcomes except preventing conflict from escalating (9% disagreed) and applying knowledge of core values to achieve greater effectiveness in interpersonal communication (4% disagreed). Conclusions. Students perceived this leader-development elective course was effective in achieving learning outcomes. Assignments guided the creation of personalized leader-development tracks, ultimately promoting lifelong learning.
Geographical diversification in wheat farming: a copula-based CVaR framework

Purpose – Portfolio theory suggests that geographical diversification of production units could potentially help manage the risks associated with farming, yet little research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of a geographical diversification strategy in agriculture. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes several tools from modern finance theory, including Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) and copulas, to construct a model for the evaluation of a diversification strategy. The proposed model – the copula-based mean-CVaR model – is then applied to the producer’s acreage allocation problem to examine the potential benefits of risk reduction from a geographical diversification strategy in US wheat farming. Along with the copula-based model, the multivariate-normal mean-CVaR model is also estimated as a benchmark. Findings – The mean-CVaR optimization results suggest that geographical diversification is a viable risk management strategy from a farm’s pro...
Susceptibility to Thrombin-Induced Platelet Microbicidal Protein Is Associated with Increased Fluconazole Efficacy against Experimental Endocarditis Due to Candida albicans

Platelet microbicidal proteins (PMPs) are believed to be integral to host defense against endovascular infection. We previously demonstrated that susceptibility to thrombin-induced PMP 1 (tPMP-1) in vitro negatively influences Candida albicans virulence in the rabbit model of infective endocarditis (IE). This study evaluated the relationship between in vitro tPMP-1 susceptibility (tPMP-1s) or resistance (tPMP-1r) and efficacy of fluconazole (FLU) therapy of IE due to C. albicans. Candida IE was established in rabbits with either tPMP-1s or tPMP-1r strains. Treatment groups received FLU (100 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 7 or 14 days; control animals received no therapy. At these time points, cardiac vegetations, kidneys, and spleens were quantitatively cultured to assess fungal burden. At both 7 and 14 days and in all target tissues, the extent of candidal clearance by FLU was greater in animals infected with the tPMP-1s strain than in those infected with the tPMP-1r strain. These differences were statistically significant in the spleen and kidney. Corroborating these in vivo data, FLU (a candidastatic agent), in combination with tPMP-1, exerted an enhanced fungicidal effect in vitro against tPMP-1s and tPMP-1r C. albicans, with the extent of this effect greatest against the tPMP-1s strain. Collectively, these results support the concept that tPMP-1 susceptibility contributes to the net efficacy of FLU against C. albicans IE in vivo, particularly in tissues in which platelets and tPMP-1 likely play significant roles in host defense.
Positive intergroup attitudes: The role of ethnic identity

Developmental theory suggests that a well-developed ethnic identity serves as a secure position which allows people to be more open and accepting to people from other ethnic groups. To examine this...
Estimation of Precipitation Using Ground‐Based, Active Microwave Sensors

Ground-based radar measurements have provided a wealth of information about precipitation systems, how they evolve and organize themselves. Advances in Doppler and polarimetric radar technology, in particular, have yielded unprecedented insight into the dynamics and microphysics of precipitation formation. This paper summarizes the basic components and principals of radar measurements, and discusses how radar can be used to identify different types of precipitation particles as well as recognize nonmeteorological radar echoes, and obtain quantitative precipitation estimates. Keywords: radar; Doppler; polarization; storm structure; wind analysis; precipitation measurement
Molecular Genetic Basis of Ribotyping

Summary: Nearly 2,000 ribotyping-based studies exist, ranging from epidemiology to phylogeny and taxonomy. None precisely reveals the molecular genetic basis, with many incorrectly attributing detected polymorphisms to rRNA gene sequences. Based on in silico genomics, we demonstrate that ribotype polymorphisms result from sequence variability in neutral housekeeping genes flanking rRNA operons, with rRNA gene sequences serving solely as conserved, flank-linked tags. We also reveal that from such an informatics perspective, it is readily feasible a priori to design an interpretable ribotyping scheme for a genomically sequenced microbial species, and we discuss limitations to the basic restriction fragment length polymorphism-based method as well as alternate PCR ribotyping-based schemes.
Effects of Aeration on Root Physiology and Nitrogen Metabolism in Rice

In order to clarify the effects of aeration on root nitrogen metabolism in rice seedlings, rice cultivars Guodao 6 (indica) and Xiushui 09 (japonica) were investigated for root growth, the activities of glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamic acid-pyruvic acid transaminase (GPT) and glutamic acid oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), the nitrate (NO3-N) concertration, the contents of free amino acids and soluble sugar in root under hydroponics with continuous aeration treatment. The results showed that rice seedlings grown in oxygenation solutions had higher root dry matter, longer root length, stronger root activity and larger root absorption area compared with the control. In addition, the contents of soluble sugar, root vigor and the activities of GS, GOT and GPT in the aeration solutions were higher than those in the control. The results also indicated that the activities of enzymes involved in root nitrogen metabolism of Xiushui 09 were enhanced by aeration, however, there was no significant influence on root nitrogen metabolism of Guodao 6, which suggested that effect of oxygenation on rice root nitrogen metabolism might be genotype-specific.
Gravitational flow of superfluid helium through small orifices

We present data on the flow of superfluid helium through channels of diameters 2.5 and 5.0 µm. Three modes of flow are observed: (1) flow that can be identified with the thermal nucleation of vorticity, (2) flow described by Δz ∝ (t − t0), where Δz is the gravitational head andt the time, and (3) flow described by (Δz)1/2 ∝ (t − t0). Associated with the third mode, flows appear with a critical velocity close to that of the Feynman prediction for small channels.
Immunochemical Evaluation of Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor in Breast Cancer

Recent advances in the preparation of monoclonal antibodies to human estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) have led to the development of new quantitative and histochemical immunoassays for these proteins in reproductive tissues and related cancers [1–6] . Stich assays make use of very specific and sensitive probes that do not depend upon the ability of receptor protein to bind its cognate radiolabeled hormone in tissue extracts. In addition, these antibodies can be used to detect and quantify ER and PR directly in fixed tissue sections and cell dispersions, thereby permitting an evaluation of the type, proportion and distribution of cells that contain immunoreactive ER and/or PR. For metastatic breast cancer, a major potential clinical application of receptor immnnoassays is the prediction of response to endocrine therapy and assessment of prognosis (disease-free interval and survival). The clinical utility of ER and PR steroid-binding assays for evaluating these parameters in patients with advanced breast cancer has been well documented [7–9]. However, major limitations of current receptor assays are 1) their inability to predict response to endocrine therapy in 30–40% of the breast cancers defined as ER-or PR-rich and in 5–10% of those that are receptor-poor, and 2) the difficulty of performing such assays on small tumors, metastasies and needle biopsies. In addition, assays performed on extracts of breast tumors cannot provide information about the identity, proportion and distribution of receptor-containing cells.
Internal and External Quality Mapping as a New Approach to the Evaluation of Sensory Quality – a Case Study with Olive Oil

The preference mapping approach was extended to the investigation of sensory quality in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and this article describes a new methodology – internal and external quality mapping – which can be used to uncover and measure the positive and negative drivers of sensory quality as perceived by experts. A panel of 23 olive oil experts evaluated 22 EVOOs for the intensity of the sensory attributes in the International Olive Council scorecard on a 10-cm scale, and then rated their overall sensory quality on a 100-point scale. In parallel, a descriptive analysis panel rated the intensity of 22 sensory attributes. The quality ratings by the experts were analyzed by principal component analysis (e.g., internal quality mapping), and were then related to the descriptive analysis ratings using regression methods (e.g., external quality mapping). No significant segmentation was found in the quality ratings of the experts, indicating that the experts' concept of quality was homogeneous. Through a regression of the quality ratings into a factor analysis, biplots of the sensory attributes showed that ripe and green fruit, nutty, grassy, bitter and pungent flavors were positive drivers of quality for the experts, whereas rancidity and fustiness were negative drivers. Practical Applications Internal and external quality mapping is proposed as a validation tool for the assessment of sensory quality by experts. It uncovers potential segmentation among the experts and it identifies the sensory drivers of their concept of sensory quality. Understanding how experts interpret quality in extra virgin olive oil will also be beneficial for producers and marketers because they often bridge between them and the consumers, similar to the wine industry, where experts play a fundamental role in guiding consumers' purchase decisions.
Product Line Selection and Pricing with Modularity in Design

This paper addresses the strategic impact of modular design on the optimal length and price of a differentiated product line. We represent consumer demand with a Bayesian logit model. We also break operations costs into product design and production components. Our analysis shows that reducing product development costs via modular design always makes it attractive to offer greater product variety. However, reducing production costs can sometimes motivate a reduction in variety for a risk-averse producer in a multiple-segment market. We also characterize the impacts of degree of modularity and production cost on price markup and market share. Finally, we show that the optimal product line length is monotonic in risk attitude and the monotonic weak majorization, partial order on product assortment.
Argatroban for Prevention and Treatment of Thromboembolism in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVE:To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, adverse events, and cost of argatroban in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolism in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (1980 to August 2000) of English-language literature was conducted using the search term argatroban to identify pertinent case reports, clinical trials, abstracts, and review articles. Additional reports were identified from the reference lists compiled in the literature reviewed, as well as from the manufacturer.DATA SYNTHESIS:Argatroban is a synthetic direct thrombin inhibitor indicated for parenteral use in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolism in patients with HIT. Its elimination half-life is approximately 40–50 minutes, and it is primarily eliminated by hepatic metabolism and biliary secretion. Compared with historical controls, argatroban-treated patients with HIT or HIT with thrombosis (HITTS) experienced lower rates of the composite end point of dea...
Modelling the effects of UV radiation on the survival of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana) in the face of limited data

Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, is a keystone species of the Antarctic ecosystem. A fishery for krill may compete with land-based predators (penguins and seals), particularly during the breeding season. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is moving towards management in small scale units. The management models specify predation and fishing mortality as space and time dependent but do not yet include non-predation natural mortality. Krill are known to be highly susceptible to ultraviolet radiation (UV) but there are limited empirical data. We develop a model for krill mortality caused by UV and parameterize and assess it by comparison with experimental data. The analysis allows us to identify key parameters that should be measured in future experiments and also leads to suggestions about modification of experimental procedure. We illustrate the method for krill found in the Livingston Island area and show that (a) it is possible to estimate the component of natural mortality due to UV-induced damage and (b) that cohorts born in 1979, 1984, or 1997 have different survival in the first 5 years of life, associated with differential UV exposure. In particular, those born in 1997 may have experienced as much as 10% lower survival than those born in 1979. The method developed here allows a potentially important source of krill mortality to be incorporated into the management models and suggests key experiments and field work in the future.
Answering academic questions for education by recommending cyberlearning resources

In this study, we design an innovative method for answering students' or scholars' academic questions (for a specific scientific publication) by automatically recommending e-learning resources in a cyber-infrastructure-enabled learning environment to enhance the learning experiences of students and scholars. By using information retrieval and metasearch methodologies, different types of referential metadata (related Wikipedia pages, data sets, source code, video lectures, presentation slides, and online tutorials) for an assortment of publications and scientific topics will be automatically retrieved, associated, and ranked (via the language model and the inference network model) to provide easily understandable cyberlearning resources to answer students' questions. We also designed an experimental system to automatically answer students' questions for a specific academic publication and then evaluated the quality of the answers (the recommended resources) using mean reciprocal rank and normalized discounted cumulative gain. After examining preliminary evaluation results and student feedback, we found that cyberlearning resources can provide high-quality and straightforward answers for students' and scholars' questions concerning the content of academic publications.
Renal sensitivity to angiotensin II in the conscious dog.

Local formation of angiotensin II (All) within the kidney has been demonstrated. Changes in renal function induced by inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system have been the basis for the postulate that All may act as a paracrine substance in the kidney. We studied the renal action of chronic intrarenal infusions of All at doses between 2 and 2000 fmol/ kg-min in uninephrectqmized conscious dogs monitored on 80 meq daily sodium intake. Exogenous AH was confined to the kidney, as demonstrated by the absence of systemic pressor and adrenal cortical responses during the intrarenal infusion. After 2 control days, each dose of All was infused intrarenally for a period of 3 days. The smallest intrarenal dose of All that caused significant antinatriuresis and antidiuresis was 20 fmol/kg-min. A significant reduction in urinary volume and sodium excretion occurred during the first 24 h of the infusion period and was proportionate to the amount of peptide infused. Renal escape from the antinatriuretic and antidiur...
On the Rule of Law: History, Politics, Theory

On the Rule of Law: History, Politics, Theory. By Brian Z. Tamanaha. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 188p. $75.00 cloth, $29.99 paper.Brian Z. Tamanaha reminds us that the rule of law is a near-universal yet little-understood ideal. His book presents a brief and clear introductory history and analysis that defends the coherence and value of the rule of law and that gives a sense of its global reach, limitations, and prospects. Tamanaha wisely argues that what is called the rule of law is actually a family of doctrines. Crucial to it, on his view, are three “themes” (p. 114): government limited by law, formal legality (which “entails public, prospective rules with the qualities of generality, equality of application, and certainty” [p. 119]), and a distinction between the rule of law and the “rule of man” (p. 122). The theoretical core of the book deftly explicates Friedrich Hayek's defenses and Roberto Unger's criticisms of legal liberalism as a prelude to discussing the challenges of indeterminacy and surveying a range of thinner to thicker formal and substantive conceptions of the rule of law. Tamanaha analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each of these conceptions. These analyses are intelligent and fair-minded; his own position is veiled, but suggests support for a relatively thin substantive and relatively thick formal conception (involving basic individual rights within a formally democratic legal order), friendly to Hayek and not too bothered by the acknowledged indeterminacy of legal rules.
Judgmental Versus Statistical Prediction: Information Asymmetry and Combination Rules

The relative predictive accuracy of humans and statistical models has long been the subject of controversy even though models have demonstrated superior performance in many studies. We propose that relative performance depends on the amount of contextual information available and whether it is distributed symmetrically to humans and models. Given their different strengths, human and statistical predictions can be profitably combined to improve prediction.
The electrical conductivity of the Moon: an application of inverse theory

Inverse theory of Backus & Gilbert is used to analyse the day-side electromagnetic response of the moon to magnetic fluctuations in the solar wind. The data consist of two transfer functions, both tangential to the lunar surface, and in the theoretical development, the required Frechet kernels corresponding to these transfer functions are determined. The ensuing calculations show that the data are sufficiently good to determine the conductivity down to a depth of about 600 km. The results are very encouraging and it is suggested that as newer theories of lunar induction are developed to consistently interpret the day-and night-side measurements, they should be used in the above enlightened manner.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the atomistic structure of the intergranular film between silicon nitride grains: Effect of composition, thickness, and surface vacancies

Molecular dynamics computer simulations were used to study the atomistic structure of intergranular films (IGFs) between two basal oriented Si3N4 crystals or between combined basal and prism oriented crystals. Ordering of the ions into the IGF induced by the crystal surfaces was observed using density profiles of the ions, although that ordering is effected by the roughness of the crystal surface. Density profiles of the sum of all ions misleadingly shows a rapid decay in the density oscillations and apparent ordering into the IGF. However, this is an artifact of the coincidence of the maximum in the peaks of one species with the minimum of another species and the actual oscillations of individual species extend into the IGF farther than the sum profile indicates. This result would have important implications regarding the density oscillations observed in physical experiments with regard to the actual extent of ordering into the IGF induced by the crystal surface.
Production of recombinant protein Pap31 and its application for the diagnosis of Bartonella bacilliformis infection.

Tropical bartonellosis is a highly fatal epidemic and endemic infec- tious disease that occurs throughout the communities of the Andes Mountains in South America. The disease is caused by the facultative intracellular bacteria, Bartonella bacilliformis. The emergence of bartonellosis in new geographic areas and an increase in the number of reported cases suggest the need for a rapid test for epidemiologic study and investigation of the disease burden. The objective of this research is to develop a rapid serologic diagnostic test using recombinant an- tigens to overcome the limitations of the current standard IFA technique for lab- oratory diagnosis. Western blot analysis with patient sera of whole cell lysate separated on a 2D gel identified Pap31 as a dominant antigen. PCR primers were designed according to the sequence of ATCC strain 35685 to amplify the gene coding for Pap31 from a local isolate (HOSP 800-09, Peru). The amplicon was subsequently cloned into pET24a, adding the T7 tag, and expressed in E. coli. Patient sera with different IFA titers confirmed the diagnostic band of 31 kDa on a Western blot of SDS-PAGE. The performance of affinity-purified recombinant Pap31 (rPap31) was also evaluated in an ELISA format with 137 patient sera of known IFA titers. The range of ELISA reading from positive sera did not overlap with the range of those from negative sera, suggesting the potential application of rPap31 in both ELISA for high throughput regional hospital settings and in the construction of handheld rapid tests for rural clinical sites. Bartonella bacilliformis, a small (0.2-0.5 × 1.0 µm), motile, pleomorphic cocco- bacillus, is the etiological agent of Oroya fever for the acute phase and verruga peruana for the chronic phase of Carrion's disease. The disease is endemic in high-altitude regions of the Colombian, Ecuadorian, and Peruvian Andes. The acute phase is char-
College Students' Attitudes Toward Abortion: The Role of Knowledge and Demographic Variables1

The present study sought to determine the role that knowledge of abortion information and various demographic variables play in discriminating between those who approve and those who disapprove of abortion. Four hundred and fifty-four college students completed the Abortion Knowledge Test, constructed by the researchers, as well as an abortion attitudes questionnaire which asked subjects to indicate their degree of approval or disapproval of abortion in the case of 7 different scenarios. Attitudes toward abortion were significantly predicted by knowledge of abortion-related information above and beyond the significant influence of degree of religiosity, religion, and age. No significant gender differences were found. Respondents who indicated approval of abortion scored significantly higher on the Abortion Knowledge Test and tended to be older, less religious, and non-Catholic compared to those who disapproved of abortion.
Echinocandins: The Expanding Antifungal Armamentarium

The echinocandins are large lipopeptide molecules that, since their discovery approximately 41 years ago, have emerged as important additions to the expanding armamentarium against invasive fungal diseases. Echinocandins exert in vitro and in vivo fungicidal action against most Candida species and fungistatic action against Aspergillus species. However, the population of patients at risk for developing invasive fungal infections continues to increase. New therapeutic strategies using echinocandins are needed to improve clinical outcomes in patients with invasive fungal disease.
Structures of Feeling: Yvonne Rainer circa 1974*

Yvonne Rainer's transition from choreography to filmmaking in the 1970s coincided with the widespread social and political impact of the women's movement. Through a close analysis of her second feature-length film, this essay argues that Film About a Woman Who … (1974) can be understood as a complex reflection on the widely influential feminist idea “the personal is the political.” Rather than seeing Rainer's turn to the personal and emotional as the antithesis of a materialist political analysis—as Marxist influenced critics have tended to—I draw upon Raymond Williams's concept of “structures of feeling” as a way of discerning emergent social change through figurations of lived experience. This analysis identifies moments of rupture in the film's narrative structure where questions of queerness and racial difference emerge to complicate the film's focus on (white, heterosexual) female identity. Moreover, Rainer's engagement with the emotional or personal has typically been seen as related only to her wor...
A unit-based intervention aimed at improving patient adherence to pharmacological thromboprophylaxis

Background Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is necessary among many hospitalised patients to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, a significant number of clinician-ordered doses are not administered with many doses refused by patients. We aimed to assess the impact and sustainability of a multifaceted intervention to improve medication adherence to pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. The intervention included a standardised nursing response to patient refusal, daily assessment of VTE prophylaxis usage and regular feedback on refusal rates. Methods We conducted a quasi-experimental study of patients admitted between January 2010 and November 2012 to one of six hospital intervention units (three medical and three oncology units) or five control units. The primary outcome was the proportion of VTE prophylaxis doses missed for any reason. Results A total of 20 208 admissions occurred at the six hospital units during the study period. In the pre-post analysis, the rate of missed and refused doses decreased significantly after the intervention (24.7% to 14.7% and 18.3% to 9.4%, respectively; p value <0.01 for both comparisons). In multiple regression models with interrupted time series analysis, the intervention was associated with an immediate and sustained decrease in missed (adjusted OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.55 to 0.74 and 0.98; 95%CI 0.97 to 0.99) and refused doses (adjusted OR per month 0.58; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.71 and 0.97; 95%CI 0.96 to 0.98). No immediate or sustained reduction in missed or refused doses was observed in the control units. Conclusions Implementation of a multifaceted intervention resulted in an immediate and sustained decrease in the proportion of missed and refused doses of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. Efforts aimed at increasing patient adherence are a promising approach to improve rates of VTE thromboprophylaxis administration.
A 45-Year History of Ethics Research in Marketing

This research serves two purposes by providing marketing faculty: (1) with a resource when searching for ethics research to include in their courses, and (2) by identifying the numerous outlets available outside of marketing for those interested in business ethics research. During the data gathering process, we examined the content of 25 business ethics journals over a 46-year period (1960-2005). Our search identified 398 marketing authors in the business ethics journals. The data suggest that marketing faculty's preferred outlets for business ethics research are Journal of Business Ethics (59.8 percent) followed by Ethics and Critical Thinking Quarterly Journal and Business and Society (each at 7.4 percent), and Business and Society Review (6.6 percent). We also note that five doctoral year groups have an unusually high level of ethics research. We provide a list of the top marketing faculty members who have published in business ethics journals.
In the Long Run, We Are All Crowded Out

Since the Great Recession began in December 2007, the United States federal government has spent over $1.2 trillion on direct stimulus measures. The positive effects of this spending have been obvious: cars have been purchased, teachers have remained employed, and infrastructure has been built. However, job creation and economic growth are affected not only by the easily observed results of policy, but also by the less-obvious results, many of which negatively impact the economy. What is more, these negative effects can last long after current policy makers have left office. To the extent that these less-conspicuous results are ignored or underestimated, policy is biased in favor of government spending. This paper examines one of the most important unseen effects of fiscal policy: crowding out.
Stratification of Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients Using Combinatorial Biomarkers

Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly diverse group of cancers, and generally considered an aggressive disease associated with poor survival. Stratification of TNBC is highly desired for both prognosis and treatment decisions to identify patients who may benefit from less aggressive therapy. Methods This study retrieved 192 consecutive non-metastasis TNBC patients who had undergone a resection of a primary tumor from 2008 to 2012. All samples were negative for ER, PR, and HER2/neu. Disease-free-survival (DFS) and overall-survival (OS) were evaluated for expression of immunohistochemical biomarkers (P53, Ki-67, CK5/6 and EGFR), as well as clinicopathological variables including age, tumor size, grade, lymph node status, pathologic tumor and nodal stages. The cutoff values of the basal biomarkers, EGFR and CK5/6, were estimated by time-dependent ROC curves. The prognostic values of combinatorial variables were identified by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Patients were stratified into different risk groups based on expression status of identified prognostic variables. Results Median age was 57 years (range, 28–92 years). Patients’ tumor stage and nodal stage were significantly associated with OS and DFS. EGFR and CK5/6 were significant prognostic variables at cutoff points of 15% (p = 0.001, AUC = 0.723), and 50% (p = 0.006, AUC = 0.675), respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis identified five significant variables: EGFR (p = 0.016), CK5/6 (p = 0.018), Ki-67 (p = 0.048), tumor stage (p = 0.010), and nodal stage (p = 0.003). Patients were stratified into low basal (EGFR≤15% and CK5/6≤50%) and high basal (EGFR>15% and/or CK5/6>50%) expression groups. In the low basal expression group, patients with low expressions of Ki-67, low tumor and nodal stage had significantly better survival than those with high expressions/stages of three variables, log-rank p = 0.015 (100% vs 68% at 50 months). In the high basal expression group, patient with high basal expression of both biomarkers (EGFR >15% and CK5/6 >50%) had worse survival (mean DFS = 25 months, 41.7% event rate) than those patient with high expression of either one marker (mean DFS = 34 months, 25.5% event rate). Conclusions Immunoexpression of basal biomarkers, EGFR and CK5/6, is useful in predicting survival of TNBC patients. Integrated with Ki-67, tumor and nodal stages, combinatorial biomarker analysis provides a feasible clinical solution to stratify patient risks and help clinical decision-making with respect to selecting the appropriate therapies for individual patients.
Optical Current Sensors for Electric Power Grid Modernization

Optical current transducers will advance the modernization of the power grid, because of the economic cost, environmental cost, safety, reliability, and metrology performance improvements they make to the measurement of current at high voltages.
The Significance of Composite Right/Left-Handed (CRLH) Transmission-Line Theory and Reactive Loading in the Design of Small Antennas

In discussions of small antenna designs based on the composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission-line model, the concept of left-handedness and resonant-mode order number are common. These properties are attributed to establishing the antenna's performance properties. The resonances of these small antennas are assigned order numbers that may be negative, zero, or positive. In many of these discussions, it is not made clear as to why CRLH transmissionline theory and the associated resonance-mode order number are significant in the design of the small antenna. Several questions not fully addressed in the discussions of these antennas include: 1) How does the CRLH design approach differ from conventional small antenna design approaches? 2) What significance is there in assigning a resonance-mode order number? 3) How does the resonance-mode order number being negative, zero, or positive affect the performance properties of the antenna? In this paper, we discuss the general design of small antennas, specifically with the focus of understanding how and whether or not the CRLH design approach differs from conventional design approaches. We illustrate that the resonance-mode order number is not significant in the design of the small antenna, nor is it significant in establishing the small antenna's performance properties. Furthermore, we show that the CRLH design approach is just one of several possible reactive-loading topologies for impedance matching, and that the fundamental radiating structure itself is most significant in establishing the matching frequency with a CRLH or left-handed design.