cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physician Perceptions of Stress and Telemedicine

Introduction: Telemedicine is an emerging field in which physicians can interact electronically with patients to improve health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine has grown exponentially. As physicians work to provide equally high-quality care for their patients remotely, their experiences must be considered. Methods: This study utilized an online anonymous survey of physicians to assess their satisfaction, comfort level and student involvement when using telemedicine for patient care. Results: Overall, physicians’ experiences with the integration of telemedicine into their practices varied based on gender, the presence of medical students, age and prior experience with telemedicine. Physicians are more comfortable with telemedicine now than they had been prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and physicians who had prior experience were less likely to find it stressful to incorporate. Physicians in both the youngest (30–39 years old) and oldest (60 and older) categories reported the highest levels of satisfaction with telemedicine. Female physicians indicated they will be more likely to incorporate more telemedicine into practice in the future, beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the specialties surveyed, family physicians report the lowest levels of comfort and satisfaction with telemedicine. Conclusion: Physician respondents of this survey provided valuable data on the perceptions of the widespread incorporation of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research can follow which physicians choose to keep telemedicine integrated into their practices and how the demand for these virtual visits may change in the coming months.
Modeling Home Prices Using Realtor Data

It can be challenging when teaching regression concepts to find interesting real-life datasets that allow analyses that put all the concepts together in one large example. For example, concepts lik...
Post-transfusion hepatitis: the role of hepatitis B antibody.

Aliquots from units of blood previously transfused as part of a prospective post-transfuion hepatitis (PTH) study were rescreened for the presence of hepatitis B antibody (anti-HB8) to determine the effect of transfusion of such material. Anti-HBs was more common in commercial blood. Infusion of anti-HBs was not associated with an increased or decreased risk of PTH, hepatitis B, or hepatitis B (HB) exposure. Receipt of anti-HBs did not modify the hepatitis which occurred. Receipt of large amounts of anti-HBs may be associated with an increased incidence of HB events. Preexisting anti-HBs was not only not protective against PTH, but more PTH (67% versus 40%) and hepatitis B (47% versus 12%) were seen in those patients with it.
Thinking Through Cinema

D. N. Rodowick _Gilles Deleuze\'s Time Machine_ Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1997 ISBN: 0822319705 280 pp.
Are intelligent agents the key to optimizing building HVAC system performance

This article describes the development and implementation of a simulation testbed used to study the concept of employing intelligent agents to optimize the performance of building HVAC systems. One-day simulated cost savings results are presented for intelligent agents employing both a simple optimization method and an advanced optimization method. The potential benefits and problems associated with each method are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research efforts leading to the application of intelligent agents in real building.
Electron Microscopy of Herpes Simplex Virus: I. Entry

Although capsids of herpes simplex virus were encountered within phagocytic vesicles, they were more commonly observed free within the cytoplasm. Stages in the release of virus from vesicles were not seen. There appeared to be five distinct steps in the process whereby the virus initiates infection: attachment, digestion of the viral envelope, digestion of the cell wall, passage of the capsid directly into the cytoplasm, and digestion of the capsid with release of the core. Antibody probably interferes with the first two stages. Images
A New First Amendment Model for Evaluating Content-Based Regulation of Internet Pornography: Revising the Strict Scrutiny Model to Better Reflect the Realities of the Modern Media Age

In the modern media age, the number of media venues, along with the types of information and programming those venues carry, is exploding. Nowhere is that explosion more evident than with the Internet. On the positive side, the Internet offers a wealth of information and communications opportunities. But, on the negative side, it brings a boundless store of harmful material within easy access of children. In recognition of the destructive effects of such material - especially obscenity and pornography - Congress on several occasions has tried to curb the accessibility of this material to children. The Supreme Court, however, has struck down these attempts using a strict scrutiny approach. Part I of this Article outlines the case against the Court's current use of strict scrutiny. This approach hinges on a single factor: whether or not a regulation of speech hinges on a content distinction. Once such a distinction is found, the law is almost always struck down, regardless of the speech burdens actually imposed by the law, whether the subject speech is in plentiful supply in other media venues, or whether the laws would result in a banishment of certain ideas from the public discourse. This myopic focus on content discrimination is outmoded in today's multimedia world and prohibits regulations of speech even when the burdens imposed by the law are slight and the speech remains available and accessible in the broader marketplace of ideas. Part II of the Article proposes a new judicial model for evaluating content-based laws regulating media programming that is not political speech. This new model examines the actual burdens placed on the subject speech. It also considers perhaps the most vulnerable freedom in the current media environment - the freedom of the unwilling recipient to avoid unwanted and offensive media speech. Furthermore, the new model - a variation of the intermediate scrutiny approach now used for so-called content-neutral regulations of speech - takes into account and incorporates the realities of the modern media world. It does so by recognizing that there is a vast array of media channels through which any one type of speech can flow, and that a restriction of speech in one venue may not rise to the level of an unconstitutional censorship.
Gestational and pregestational diabetes: An approach to therapy

The objective of management in the pregnant diabetic patient is to achieve physiologic glucose homeostasis through the use of diet and insulin. As outlined, the numerous ancillary tests developed during the past 15 years to assist the clinician in determining impending fetal death have left much to be desired, especially where metabolic homeostasis has not been achieved prior to the thirty-sixth week of gestation. The statistics from this institution indicate that the maintenance of the plasma glucose concentration below 100 mg. per cent throughout gestation, regardless of the severity of the diabetes, all but removes the risk of maternal-fetal complications due to diabetes. The management is uniform for all patients exhibiting an abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism, and, although it is rather difficult to accept, there have been minimal neonatal complications when the protocol outlined in this presentation has been followed.
Comparison of the dynamics of an engineered insulin monomer and dimer by acid-quenched amide proton exchange: Non-local stabilization of interchain hydrogen bonds by dimerization

Abstract Dynamic differences between an engineered insulin monomer and dimer are investigated under physiological conditions by an adaptation of the method of acid-quenched amide proton exchange. Although exchange lifetimes of amide protons involved in intrachain hydrogen bonds are similar in the two analogs, dimerization specifically stabilizes two interchain hydrogen bonds (LeuB6-NH … O=C-CysA6 and CysA11-NH … O=C-GluB4) that are distant from the dimer interface. Such non-local stabilization demonstrates that fluctuations in the tertiary structure of the monomer are damped by dimerization. As the B6-A6 and A11-B4 hydrogen bonds are specific to the crystallographic T -state, their stabilization also indicates that the R -state (an allosteric feature of hexamer assembly) is not significantly populated in an isolated dimer. Our results are discussed in reference to recent hypotheses that crystal structures of insulin depict inactive conformers and that detachment of interchain contacts accompany receptor binding.
Mononuclear nitrogen/sulfur-ligated cobalt(II) methoxide complexes: structural, EPR, paramagnetic 1H NMR, and electrochemical investigations.

The first examples of mononuclear nitrogen/sulfur-ligated Co(II) alkoxide complexes, species of relevance to a reactive intermediate observed for Co(II)-substituted liver alcohol dehydrogenase, have been isolated and characterized by multiple methods including X-ray crystallography, EPR, paramagnetic 1H NMR, and cyclic voltammetry.
A Determination of the Hansen Solubility Parameters of Hexanitrostilbene (HNS)

The temperature-dependent solubility of hexanitrostilbene (HNS) [CAS# 20062-22-0] was determined in ten solvents and solvent blends using the Tyndall effect. Thermodynamic modeling of the data yielded Flory interaction parameters, the molar enthalpy of mixing, the molar entropy of mixing, and the molar Gibbs energy of mixing. All solutions exhibited endothermic enthalpies and positive entropies of mixing. The presence of water in some of the solvent blends made dissolution increasingly endothermic and disfavored solubility. The solubilities of HNS at 25 °C were used to determine the three-component Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) (δD=18.6, δP=13.5, δH=6.1 MPa1/2) and the radius of the solubility sphere (R0=5.8 MPa1/2). The HSP determined for HNS using group-additivity (δD=21.0, δP=13.3, and δH=8.6 MPa1/2) also correctly predicted the optimum solvents for this explosive.
Discovery of physical principles from design experiences

One method for making analogies is to access and instantiate abstract domain principles, and one method for acquiring knowledge of abstract principles is to discover them from experience. We view generalization over experiences in the absence of any prior knowledge of the target principle as the task of hypothesis formation, a subtask of discovery. Also, we view the use of the hypothesized principles for analogical design as the task of hypothesis testing, another subtask of discovery. In this paper, we focus on discovery of physical principles by generalization over design experiences in the domain of physical devices. Some important issues in generalization from experiences are what to generalize from an experience, how far to generalize, and what methods to use. We represent a reasoner's comprehension of specific designs in the form of structure-behavior-function (SBF) models. An SBF model provides a functional and causal explanation of the working of a device. We represent domain principles as device-independent behavior-function (BF) models. We show that (1) the function of a device determines what to generalize from its SBF model, (2) the SBF model itself suggests how far to generalize, and (3) the typology of functions indicates what method to use.
Experimental and numerical study of the effective thermal conductivity of nano composites with thermal boundary resistance

Abstract The thermal interface resistance at the macro scale is mainly described by the physical gap between two (inter) faces and constriction resistance due to this gap. The small gaps and surface geometry mismatch between the two material faces makes up the majority of thermal interface resistance ( R c ) at the macro scale. There are various models to predict R c at macro scale. Although R c represents thermal resistance accurately for macro size contacts between two metals, it is neither suitable nor accurate to describe interface resistance of a modern composite Thermal Interface Material (TIM) containing micron to nano-sized particles. The thermal discontinuity at a perfectly bonded interface of two dissimilar materials is termed as thermal boundary resistance ( R b ) or Kapitza resistance. It is necessary to understand feasibility of using nanoparticles in composite TIM by having better understanding of thermal boundary resistance at that scale. The phenomenon of thermal boundary resistance is an inherent material property and arises due to fundamental mechanisms of thermal transport. For metal–matrix particulate composites, R b plays a more important role than R c . The free flowing nature of the polymer would eliminate most of the gaps between the two materials at their interface. This means almost all of the thermal resistance at particle/matrix interface would occur due to R b . Here, the thermal boundary resistance for silica nanoparticles embedded inside epoxy resin is studied. The bulk conductivity of the sample is measured, and R b is back calculated using the Hasselman–Johnson’s (H–J) equation. The numerical validation of the equation is also presented, including extrapolation study to predict effective conductivity of the nanocomposite TIM.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone inreases prolactin mRNA activity in the cytoplasm of GH-cells as measured by translation in a wheat germ cell-free system

Abstract A wheat germ embryo extract was used to translate cytoplasmic RNA isolated from rat pituitary tumor cells (GH-cells). This RNA directed the synthesis of a radioactive product which was precipitated with antiserum specific for rat prolactin. The molecular weight of this immunoprecipitated product was 24,500 as determined by electrophoresis in denaturing gels. Prolactin secreted by intact GH-cells had a molecular weight identical to standard pituitary prolactin, reported to be about 22,500. Our finding that a larger form of prolactin is made by the wheat germ system is similar to results recently described by Maurer, Stone and Gorski (J. Biol. Chem., in press). Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates prolactin synthesis in GH-cells, and cytoplasmic RNA isolated from cells treated with TRH directed the synthesis in wheat germ extracts of larger amounts of prolactin than RNA isolated from control cells. The increase in translatable cytoplasmic mRNA for prolactin corresponded to the increase in prolactin synthesis which suggests that the increase in prolactin synthesis in TRH-treated cells is a result of the accumulation of cytoplasmic mRNA for prolactin.
Team Performance and Training for Team Competition

Team functions were used to define the concept of “teamwork” within small military units and to describe process changes in mission execution as teams trained for competition. As teams became more proficient, their functional profiles changed to reflect better distribution of member and equipment resources, and the behaviors used to cue the functions shifted to more implicit team member interactions as opposed to interactions guided by verbal and nonverbal directives.
Base- and ligand-free heterogeneously catalyzed homocoupling of arylboronic acids

Abstract Homocoupling of arylboronic acids was successfully carried out by Pd/C in water/2-propanol (9:1 volume ratio) under air to obtain symmetric biaryls in good yield. The base-free, ligand-free system and the heterogeneous nature of the catalysts allow for a practical and environmentally friendly operation. The influence of the co-solvent ratio and the reaction temperature was studied. The catalyst showed increasing activity when the fraction of water in the H 2 O/2-propanol mixture was increased from 10% to 90%; also, a lower reaction temperature led to a slightly faster protodeboronation of phenylboronic acid. Furthermore, the effect of introducing functional groups on the phenyl ring was explored. DFT calculations indicate that the presence of sulfur in the functional group hinders Pd catalysis and results in a slow reaction. The calculations also suggest that the overall reactivity of the different arylboronic acids is independent of the first reaction step, the oxidative addition of Pd to the arylboronic acid.
The myth of nitric oxide in central cardiovascular control by the nucleus tractus solitarii

Considerable evidence suggests that nitroxidergic mechanisms in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) participate in cardiovascular reflex control. Much of that evidence, being based on responses to nitric oxide precursors or inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis, has been indirect and circumstantial. We sought to directly determine cardiovascular responses to nitric oxide donors microinjected into the NTS and to determine if traditional receptor mechanisms might account for responses to certain of these donors in the central nervous system. Anesthetized adult Sprague Dawley rats that were instrumented for recording arterial pressure and heart rate were used in the physiological studies. Microinjection of nitric oxide itself into the NTS did not produce any cardiovascular responses and injection of sodium nitroprusside elicited minimal depressor responses. The S-nitrosothiols, S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-nitrosoacetylpenicillamine (SNAP), and S-nitroso-D-cysteine (D-SNC) produced no significant cardiovascular responses while injection of S-nitroso-L-cysteine (L-SNC) elicited brisk, dose-dependent depressor and bradycardic responses. In contrast, injection of glyceryl trinitrate elicited minimal pressor responses without associated changes in heart rate. It is unlikely that the responses to L-SNC were dependent on release of nitric oxide in that 1) the responses were not affected by injection of oxyhemoglobin or an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis prior to injection of L-SNC and 2) L- and D-SNC released identical amounts of nitric oxide when exposed to brain tissue homogenates. Although GSNO did not independently affect blood pressure, its injection attenuated responses to subsequent injection of L-SNC. Furthermore, radioligand binding studies suggested that in rat brain synaptosomes there is a saturable binding site for GSNO that is displaced from that site by L-SNC. The studies suggest that S-nitrosocysteine, not nitric oxide, may be an interneuronal messenger for cardiovascular neurons in the NTS.
Extracting cues from speech for predicting severity of Parkinson'S disease

Speech pathologists often describe voice quality in hypokinetic dysarthria or Parkinsonism as harsh or breathy, which has been largely attributed to incomplete closure of vocal folds. Exploiting its harmonic nature, we separate voiced portion of the speech to obtain an objective estimate of this quality. The utility of the proposed approach was evaluated on predicting 116 clinical ratings of Parkinson's disease on 82 subjects. Our results show that the information extracted from speech, elicited through 3 tasks, can predict the motor subscore (range 0 to 108) of the clinical measure, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, within a mean absolute error of 5.7 and a standard deviation of about 2.0. While still preliminary, our results are significant and demonstrate that the proposed computational approach has promising real-world applications such as in home-based assessment or in telemonitoring of Parkinson's disease.
Effect of the Amine Functional Group on Corrosion Rate of Iron Coated with Films of Organofunctional Silanes

Abstract Silane pretreatments were investigated as environmentally friendly replacements for the existing chromating processes. The objective was to compare the corrosion protection properties of v...
Uncertain Conditions in the Russian Transition: the Popular Drive toward Stability in a ‘Stateless’ Environment

Of all the changes in contemporary Russia, the most vexing for the people has been the disappearance of the all-encompassing stability; the trauma experienced by Russians today can be attributed to the overarching loss of the Soviet state. It had provided a structured political system, a broadly functioning economic infrastructure and a developed social-welfare system. Even though the political system was exclusionary and repressive, economic production had stagnated in the mid-1970s, and the social-welfare system was substandard, as judged by the West, Soviet state structures gave people a perspective on their future and a consistent and popularly understood environment.
PRODUCTION OF 7S AND 19S ANTIBODIES TO THE SOMATIC ANTIGENS OF SALMONELLA TYPHOSA IN RABBITS.

SummarySeven rabbits immunized with acetone dried Salmonella typhosa produced both 19S and 7S agglutinins for the typhoid somatic antigens although the 19S antibodies predominated in most serum samples even after repeated injections of vaccine. The results suggest that the route of injection and amount of antigen injected may influence the relative amounts of 19S and 7S antibodies appearing in the serum.
Fine structure of the cirri and a possible mechanism for their motility in stalkless crinoids (Echinodermata)

Crinoid cirri are jointed appendages that can slowly bend and straighten. The structures causing each cirrus to move have not been identified unequivocally by light microscopy; therefore, we examined them by electron microscopy. No muscle cells were found, but a probable contractile apparatus was demonstrated in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells lining the oral and aboral coeloms running the length of the cirrus. The presumed contractile apparatus is a bundle of 5 nm filaments oriented parallel to each other and to the long axis of the appendage. We have proposed that contractile shortening of the coelomic epithelia bends the cirrus in an aboral direction, since the fulcral articulations of the skeletal ossicles are oral to the contractile tissue; this active bending is presumably opposed by an elasticity of the oral ligaments, which seem to straighten the cirrus. It is possible that ligaments of the cirrus may undergo neurosecretion-mediated changes in consistency that could lock the appendage into a rigid state; however, active contraction by the ligaments appears unlikely.
A quantitative approach to the study of inflammatory cells.

SummaryThis paper compares procedures for qualitatively and quantitatively studying cellular responses to inflammatory substances. It was noted that estimates of total cells in the aspirated exudate suggested conclusions not obvious from data obtained from differential counts. These data suggest that the observed sequence of inflammatory cells is due not only to the initial migration of cells into the inflamed area, but to the rate of phagocytosis of the granulocytes by the macrophages. The inflammatory exudate of sensitized animals contained fewer neutrophils and greater numbers of eosinophils. Plasma cells and mononuclear cells with intense basophilic cytoplasm were frequently observed following the disappearance of eosinophils.
An evaluation of perchloroethylene detector tubes.

Detector tubes from all manufacturers which market tubes in the United States for the detection of perchloroethylene were evaluated for acceptable performance, provided that the tubes were intended for use in the concentration range of one-half to four times the threshold limit value (TLV). Only those tube types meeting the accuracy and precision criteria set for the evaluation are shown in the evaluation list. Those tube types not listed did not meet the evaluation criteria for acceptable performance.
Guide to Medieval History

In the past 50 years, numerous reference books have been written on the subjects of medieval history, art, literature, and philosophy. Steven F. Vincent provides a guide to selecting modern, as well as standard, sources of information on the Middle Ages.
Enhancing spectral efficiency of binary NRZ optical networks with electronic signal processing

We have analyzed a scheme using electrical prefiltering at the transmitter and electronic signal processing at the receiver to enhance the spectral efficiency of binary non-return-to-zero (NRZ) wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) networks consisting of typical terrestrial dispersion maps employing standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) and erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). Our analysis shows that up to 1.6 bits/s/Hz of spectral efficiency is achievable using this technique with orthogonal polarization launch of alternate channels in 10.7 Gb/s binary NRZ systems for transmission distances up to 800 km typically used in metropolitan optical networks.
Positive Steady‐state Solutions of a Non‐linear Reaction–Diffusion System

The steady-state problem of the non-linear reaction-diffusion system u t - u xx = u(av - b), v t - v xx = cu is considered. The existence of positive steady-solutions is established by using a fixed point theorem in ordered Banach space. The uniqueness of ordered positive steady-state solutions and an application to the associated reaction-diffusion system are presented.
Paper 7: Selection and Testing of Automobile Heating and Ventilating Systems

The aims of automobile heating and ventilating are summarized qualitatively. Objective acceptance tests for these aspects are outlined and quantitative targets stated as far as possible.Possible means of achieving the aims are discussed under the headings of heat supply, heat transfer, control, air movement and air distribution.Certain research and development tests used to supplement the objective acceptance tests are discussed including rig tests, velocity surveys and cold-room and hot-room tests.Mention is made of tests in territory and of quality control tests.It is concluded that the conventional system, using the engine waste heat rejected to a liquid coolant as the heat source, forced convection as the mode of heat transfer and ram plus an electrically driven fan to propel the fully fresh air for both heating and ventilating, has proved best able to meet most of the conditions encountered.
Optimization of Activity-Based Probes for Proteomic Profiling of Histone Deacetylase Complexes

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are key enzymatic regulators of the epigenome and serve as promising targets for anticancer therapeutics. Recently, we developed a photoreactive "clickable" probe, SAHA-BPyne, to report on HDAC activity and complex formation in native biological systems. Here, we investigate the selectivity, sensitivity, and inhibitory properties of SAHA-BPyne and related potential activity-based probes for HDACs. While we identified several probes that are potent HDAC inhibitors and label HDAC complex components in native proteomic preparations, SAHA-BPyne was markedly superior for profiling HDAC activities in live cells. Interestingly, the enhanced performance of SAHA-BPyne as an in situ activity-based probe could not be solely ascribed to potency in HDAC binding, implying that other features of the molecule were key to efficient active site-directed labeling in living systems. Finally, we demonstrate the value of in situ profiling of HDACs by comparing the activity and expression of HDAC1 in cancer cells treated with the cytotoxic agent parthenolide. These results underscore the utility of activity-based protein profiling for studying HDAC function and may provide insight for the future development of click chemistry-based photoreactive probes for the in situ analysis of additional enzyme activities.
The Toll From Coal: Power Plants, Emissions, Wildlife, and Human Health:

The article describes how emissions from the nation’s coal-fired power plants create far-reaching problems for people and wildlife, including acid rain; ozone pollution; the deposition of mercury and nitrogen in lakes, streams, and coastal waters; and global climate change. These environmental problems cut across all regions and endanger the entire range of wildlife, from the tiniest invertebrates to top predator mammals, in addition to threatening our health and economy. Moreover, current efforts to address these problems are not sufficient. In this article, the National Wildlife Federation makes a series of recommendations for reducing the toll from coal, including: closing the loophole in the Clean Air Act that allows older power plants to emit significantly more pollution than newer, more efficient ones; toughening restrictions on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides and creating meaningful mercury and carbon dioxide emissions caps; and promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
Simulation modelling and analysis of a JIT production system

With a view to examine the effects of stochastic demand and processing times, and the number of Kanbans on system performance, we simulate a 9-workstation, sequential production line. To determine ...
Advancing Retail Security Design: Uncovering Shoplifter Perceptions of the Physical Environment

Security is imperative knowledge for the designer, yet little integration currently exists between security and interior design. Further, the retail environment has been recognized as holding great potential for crime reduction through enhanced design solutions. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of 24 expert and novice shoplifters using verbal protocol analysis, a methodology for eliciting verbal reports of thought sequences. The study objectives were to examine shoplifters' perceptions of the retail environment, investigate potential deterrents to crime, and explore the relationship between physical design features and security techniques. The results revealed significant differences between expert and novice shoplifters. Findings indicated that shoplifters focused attention on the evidence of design and security devices, including formal surveillance, product positioning, security tagging, employee positioning, access control, and store layout. Finally, the study also supported three profiles of shoplifters: low, medium, and high environmental deterrence. Overall, the study illustrates the potential of the physical environment to deter shoplifting, and proposes appropriate design solutions.
A family with idiopathic myocardial hypertrophy

Abstract A large family was described in which 12 members had been found to have idiopathic myocardial hypertrophy. An autosomal dominant nonsex-linked mode of transmission was indicated. Dyspnea on effort and angina were thep most common presenting complaints. The seriousness of this disease was evidenced by the sudden death of 3 patients. Electrocardiography proved to be a very sensitive means of detecting the disease in asymptomatic patients. Possible mechanisms for the increased incidence of the pre-excitation syndrome and the abnormal degree of hypertrophy were presented. Long term administration of Propranolol, a beta sympathetic blocking agent, may be advantageous in this disorder.
Testing Programs Draw Better Applicants1

Summary: A number of personnel managers who have adopted selective test procedures have been surprised and even alarmed to discover that within a short time almost all applicants qualify on the test batteries, even though the installations were carefully made and flexible selection standards established. No great problem arises, for the employment manager can effectively adjust his critical scores to meet the fluctuation of the labor market; however, the reasons for the superiority in the test level of new applicants as compared to the original criterion groups present an interesting problem to be considered. Although the answers are not clear-cut, the implications for such changes in qualifications are the subject of this report. These indicate that the existence of a testing program attracts the better applicants and discourages the poorer A selective testing program was installed for all productive workers in three plants of the same industry. One plant was in Illinois, one in Maryland, and the third in Washington, D. C. All three plants are members of the same national association. This is a borderline industry, employing women Selection tests were validated by testing present employees in all three plants. Subsequent applicants were superior to the criterion groups to such a degree that initial standards failed to screen out the expected number of applicants. The differences between the experimental groups and subsequent applicant groups are statistically significant. These differences cannot be explained in terms of shifts in the labor market or motivation. It is suggested that self-imposed selection may take place within the labor source, and that only the more capable applicants apply at plants where it has become known that test qualifications have been made a requisite for employment.
Age and Gender Stereotypes: New Challenges in a Changing Workplace and Workforce

The current research investigated age and gender stereotypes in relation to adaptive performance. Using methods similar to those used in Schein's studies (1973, 1975), 496 undergraduate students rated 1 of 7 targets on 6 dimensions of adaptive performance. All of the targets varied in age (25, 40, or 55 years) and gender, except one that was age and gender neutral. The 7th served as a reference group and was an age- and gender-neutral target. Results showed that older targets were perceived as less adaptable across most of the dimensions of adaptability. Further, men and women were perceived differently, but differences were consistent with many prevalent gender stereotypes. Finally, female participants tended to rate all targets more favorably than male participants. Implications for human resources management and future research on stereotypes at work are discussed.
Comparison of Students' and Non-Student Residents' Attitudes toward Local Energy Developments: Environmentalism versus Economic Interests

Abstract This study examines differences between university students and permanent residents of an Appalachian community in their attitudes toward the environment and toward proposed local energy related developments. Survey data showed that townspeople (non-student residents) were somewhat more supportive of the proposed energy developments than were students, however students were typified more by detachment from the issues than by opposition to them. It is suggested that differences between students and townspeople in support for local energy developments is not due to environmental attitudes but may be due to economic ties to the local area.
Incremental prognostic value of exercise thallium-201 myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography late after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Abstract Objectives. This study assessed the incremental prognostic value of exercise thallium-201 myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) performed ≥5 years after coronary artery bypass surgery. Background. Thallium-201 scintigraphy has shown significant prognostic value in a variety of populations with suspected and known coronary artery disease. However, its value in patients with previous bypass surgery remains unknown. Methods. We studied 294 patients who were prospectively followed up. Cox proportional hazards models for prediction of “hard” events (cardiac death and nonfatal infarctions) were constructed, with variables considered for inclusion in hierarchic order: clinical and exercise data first, followed by scintigraphic information. Results. Mean (± SD) follow-up duration after scintigraphy was 31 ± 11 months. There were 20 cardiac deaths and 21 monfatal acute myocardial infarctions. Twenty-nine patients had late (>60) days after thallium-201 SPECT) revascularization procedures or underwent repeat bypass surgery or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Shortness of breath and peak exercise heart rate were the most important clinical predictors of hard events. Two scintigraphic variables added significant prognostic information to the clinical model: the thallium-201 summed reversibility score (summation of segmental differences between stress and redistribution scores) and the presence of increased lung uptake of the radiotracer. The global chi-square statistic for this model was twice as high as that for the clinical/exercise model alone (49.7 vs. 24.2). When a second multivariate Cox model was build adding “soft” events (i.e., late revascularization procedures) as outcomes of interest, the summed reversibility score was selected as an independent scintigraphic predictor of events. The global chi-square statistic for this model was 50.7, three times as high as that for the clinical/exercise model alone. Conclusions. After evaluation of treadmill and exercise data, thallium-201 myocardial perfusion SPECT provided incremental prognostic information in patients late after bypass.
Potential role of collagen in optical behavior of arterial tissue during laser irradiation

The optical properties diffuse reflection and transmission of normal porcine aorta and thermally coagulated aorta were measured using low power laser irradiation at 1060 nm, 633 nm, 514 nm, and 325 nrn (reflection measurements only). The results from three of the wavelengths (1060 nm, 633 nm, and 514 nm) were used with a Delta-Eddington diffusion approximation model12 to calculate absorption coefficients, j.ta, and effective scattering coefficients, j.ts, of the normal and thermally coagulated aorta at these wavelengths. The results show a strong wavelength dependency of irreversible changes in optical properties of thennally damaged aorta, with a trend of increasing changes in reflection approaching smaller wavelengths.
Optimization of communication nets with switching

Abstract Analytic methods based on graph theory are developed to deal with communication nets with switching. In particular, given a communication system of stations, fixed finite capacity channels, and specified types of message and channel switching, physically significant criteria of optimality for switching patterns are first defined. Next, algorithms are given for optimal channel switching patterns for several special cases—the most important being when all channel capacities are equal. Based on the results for these special cases, two rapid methods are given for achieving approximations of optimal channel switching patterns. Finally, with these approximations as a first step, a general algorithm is developed.
Realization of Metric Spaces as Inverse Limits, and Bilipschitz Embedding in L1

We give sufficient conditions for a metric space to bilipschitz embed in L1. In particular, if X is a length space and there is a Lipschitz map \({u: X \rightarrow \mathbb R}\) such that for every interval \({I \subset \mathbb R}\), the connected components of u−1(I) have diameter \({\leq {\rm const} \cdot {\rm diam}(I)}\), then X admits a bilipschitz embedding in L1. As a corollary, the Laakso examples, (Geom Funct Anal 10(1):111–123, 2000), bilipschitz embed in L1, though they do not embed in any any Banach space with the Radon–Nikodym property (e.g. the space l1 of summable sequences). The spaces appearing the statement of the bilipschitz embedding theorem have an alternate characterization as inverse limits of systems of metric graphs satisfying certain additional conditions. This representation, which may be of independent interest, is the initial part of the proof of the bilipschitz embedding theorem. The rest of the proof uses the combinatorial structure of the inverse system of graphs and a diffusion construction, to produce the embedding in L1.
Post-acute referral patterns for hospitals and implications for bundled payment initiatives.

Abstract Background Under new bundled payment models, hospitals are financially responsible for post-acute care delivered by providers such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health agencies (HHAs). The hope is that hospitals will use post-acute care more prudently and better coordinate care with post-acute providers. However, little is known about existing patterns in hospitals׳ referrals to post-acute providers. Methods Post-acute provider referrals were identified using SNF and HHA claims within 14 days following hospital discharge. Hospital post-acute care network size and concentration were estimated across hospital types and regions. The 2008 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review claims for acute hospitals and SNFs, and the 100% HHA Standard Analytic Files were used. Results The mean post-acute care network size for U.S. hospitals included 57.9 providers with 37.5 SNFs and 23.4 HHAs. The majority of these providers (65.7% of SNFs, 60.9% of HHAs) accounted for 1 percent or less of a hospital׳s referrals and classified as “low-volume”. Other post-acute providers we classified as routine. The mean network size for routine providers was greater for larger hospitals, teaching hospitals and in regions with higher per capita post-acute care spending. Conclusions The average hospital works with over 50 different post-acute providers. Moreover, the size of post-acute care networks varies considerably geographically and by hospital characteristics. These results provide context on the complex task hospitals will face in coordinating care with post-acute providers and cutting costs under new bundled payment models.
Determination of a novel selective inhibitor of type 1 5α-reductase in human plasma by liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract A sensitive and specific assay of human plasma for the determination of (5α,7β,16β)-16[(4-chlorophenyl)oxy]-4,7-dimethyl-4-aza-andronstan-3-one ( I ), a selective inhibitor of human type 1 5α-reductase, has been developed. The method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometric (MS–MS) detection. The analyte ( I ) and internal standard, Proscar ( II ), were isolated from the basified biological matrix using a liquid–liquid extraction with methyl- tert .-butyl ether (MTBE). The organic extract was evaporated to dryness, the residue was reconstituted in mobile phase and injected into the HPLC system. The MS–MS detection was performed on a PE Sciex API III Plus tandem mass spectrometer using a heated nebulizer interface. Multiple reaction monitoring using the precursor→product ion combinations of m / z 430→114 and 373→305 was used to quantify I and internal standard ( II ), respectively. The assay was validated in the concentration range of 0.5 to 500 ng/ml in human plasma. The precision of the assay, expressed as coefficient of variation (C.V.), was less than 7% over the entire concentration range, with adequate assay specificity and accuracy. The HPLC–MS–MS method provided sufficient sensitivity to completely map the 24 h pharmacokinetic time-course following a single 0.5 mg dose of I .
Molecular biomarkers for autoimmune retinopathies: significance of anti-transducin-alpha autoantibodies.

Autoimmune retinopathies (AR) are uncommon retinal degenerations with vision loss associated with unique clinical symptoms and findings and with serum anti-retinal autoantibodies. The experimental and clinical studies corroborate that autoantibodies in high titers can penetrate into the retina affecting function of the target antigens, which leads to retinal dysfunction and degeneration. Anti-recoverin and anti-enolase α-enolase autoantibodies were more frequently recognized in AR but autoantibodies with other specificities have also been documented, indicating immunological heterogeneity. Our goal was to examine the associations of anti-retinal autoantibodies with retinopathy in order to identify molecular biomarkers for better diagnosis and prognosis of retinopathies. In these studies we examined 39 patients (10 with cancers) of average age of ∼57 years old with sudden onset of unexplained progressive vision loss and the presence of circulating serum autoantibodies against 40-kDa retinal protein. The patients presented the retinal phenotype characterized by defects in visual fields and reduced scotopic ERG responses. Anti-40-kDa autoantibodies had specificity to the amino terminus of transducin-α. None of the normal subjects' sera had anti-40-kDa autoantibodies. In conclusion, the clinical phenotype of patients with anti-transducin-α autoantibodies differed from other phenotypes of AR. These patients, often women at a ratio ∼2:1, had defects in rod (scotopic) photoreceptor function and typically did not have cancers, whereas the anti-recoverin phenotype is associated with cancer and severe loss of rod and cones function, and anti-enolase retinopathy typically presents with cone dysfunction and is equal in cancer and non-cancer patients. Our studies suggest that anti-transducin autoantibodies can serve as molecular biomarkers for retinal phenotypes and could be used for progression of retinal dysfunction and degeneration.
Effect of the rate of rise of carotid body Pco2, on the time course of ventilation

Abstract The ventilatory responses of dogs during bilateral carotid artery perfusions with hypercapnic blood were determined to evaluate the effect upon ventilation of reaching an increment above control of 30.4 mm Hg Pco2 at different rates. A ramp change resulted in a prompt increase in ventilation to the level sustained during the subsequent apparently steady state. A step change resulted in an overshoot of ventilation beyond that anticipated for the ventilatory response if it followed the elevation of mean Pco2. Complete accommodation of ventilation to the ramp stimulus occurred by 5 seconds, when the mean carotid body PCO2 was 49 mm Hg. Following an abrupt decrease of 30.4 mm Hg PCO2, at the end of the perfusions, mean ventilation gradually decreased toward control without an undershoot. The combination of an “excess” ventilation during the ramp function and an “excess” ventilation during recovery suggests that a ramp stimulus at the carotid bodies acts as an effective additional component of the chemical stimulus to ventilation when initiated near eucapnic conditions. Arterial chemoreceptors Ventilatory responses to CO2 Control of breathing Ventilatory transients
Effective fractal dimensionality and aerosol behavior

Abstract The effect of the fractal dimensionality on sedimentation with either open or closed boundary conditions is determined for polydisperse systems. The differing roles of the particle size on diffusion and migration in a field can be seen. Coagulation of an aerosol is modeled by integration of the master equations for two different values of the fractal dimensionality. Little effect is seen here although there is a more pronounced effect on the rates of scavenging of a smaller particle by growing aerosols of different fractal dimensionalities. Finally, the role of the fractal dimensionality in the interaction of charged particles is found to be negligible for oppositely charged particles but is significant for particles of the same charge.
Fragmentation of selected C6H10O isomers: Evidence for a common [C5H7O]+ ion generated by methyl loss from cyclohexene oxide and 5,6‐dihydro‐4‐methyl‐2H‐pyran

The loss of CH3˙ from the molecular ions of cyclohexene oxide and 5,6-dihydro-4-methyl-2H-pyran has been investigated. On the basis of metastable peak shape analysis, collision-induced dissociation/mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and thermochemical data it is concluded that the same [C5H7O]+ ion is formed in both cases.