cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case report: percutaneous closure of residual leak following left atrial appendage occlusion.

Background Transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) using Watchman device has been demonstrated to be efficacious in decreasing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation who are not suitable for long-term anticoagulation. Residual leaks are frequently encountered following LAAO procedures and their clinical implications and optimal management remain controversial. Case summary In this report, we describe a case of peri-Watchman device leak treated successfully with percutaneous device closure using an Amplatzer Vascular Plug II device. Discussion The clinical implications of peri-device leaks remain controversial with general consensus to continue anticoagulation along with serial imaging for larger leaks (>5 mm). As an alternative strategy, percutaneous closure of these leaks has been attempted in hope of avoiding anticoagulation and minimizing the risk of stroke and should be studied further.
Early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Purpose of review Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death and with a dismal 5-year survival of 10%. Poor survival of pancreatic cancer is mostly due to its presentation and diagnosis at a late stage. The present article aims to update clinicians with recent progress in the field of early detection of pancreatic cancer. Recent findings Pancreatic cancer screening is not recommended in the general population due to its low prevalence. In this review, we discuss high-risk groups for pancreatic cancer, including inherited predisposition to pancreatic cancer, new-onset diabetes, mucinous pancreatic cyst, and chronic pancreatitis. We discuss methods of enrichment of high-risk groups with clinical models using electronic health records and biomarkers. We also discuss improvements in imaging modalities and emerging role of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the field of imaging and biomarker to aid in early identification of pancreatic cancer. Summary There are still vast challenges in the field of early detection of pancreatic cancer. We need to develop noninvasive prediagnostic validated biomarkers for longitudinal surveillance of high-risk individuals and imaging modalities that can identify pancreatic cancer early.
My Cup Runneth Over: A Daily Study of the Energy Benefits for Supervisors Who Feel Appreciated by Their Subordinates:

In this study we make a shift from research examining factors that influence supervisors’ resource depletion to exploring how supervisors’ energy may be increased. Building from work on appreciatio...
Comments on the “Generalized” KJLN Key Exchanger with Arbitrary Resistors: Power, Impedance, Security

In (Nature) Science Report 5 (2015) 13653, Vadai, Mingesz and Gingl (VMG) introduce a new Kirchhoff-law-Johnson-noise (KLJN) secure key exchanger that operates with 4 arbitrary resistors (instead of 2 arbitrary resistance values forming 2 identical resistor pairs in the original system). They state that in this new, VMG-KLJN, non-equilibrium system with nonzero power flow, the security during the exchange of the two (HL and LH) bit values is as strong as in the original KLJN scheme. Moreover, they claim that, at practical conditions, their VMG-KLJN protocol "supports more robust protection against attacks". First, we investigate the power flow and thermal equilibrium issues of the VMG-KLJN system with 4 arbitrary resistors. Then we introduce a new KLJN protocol that allows the arbitrary choice of 3 resistors from the 4, while it still operates with zero power flow during the exchange of single bits by utilizing a specific value of the 4th resistor and a binary temperature set for the exchanged (HL and LH) bit values. Then we show that, in general, the KLJN schemes with more than 2 arbitrary resistors (including our new protocol mentioned above) are prone to 4 new passive attacks utilizing the parasitic capacitance and inductance in the cable, while the original KLJN scheme is naturally immune against these new attacks. The core of the security vulnerability exploited by these attacks is the different line resistances in the HL and LH cases. Therefore, on the contrary of the statement and claim cited above, the practical VMG-KLJN system is less secure than the original KLJN scheme. We introduce another 2, modified, non-equilibrium KLJN systems to eliminate the vulnerability against some - but not all - of these attacks. However the price for that is the loss of arbitrariness of the selection of the 4th resistor and the information leak still remains greater than zero.
Safety and Efficacy of the Draf IIb Procedure: A Systematic Review:

ObjectivesTo systematically review the literature to evaluate the indications, safety, and efficacy of the Draf IIb procedure and to evaluate the added advantages of technical factors such as stent...
ZNF410 represses fetal globin by singular control of CHD4

Known fetal hemoglobin (HbF) silencers have potential on-target liabilities for rational β-hemoglobinopathy therapeutic inhibition. Here, through transcription factor (TF) CRISPR screening, we identify zinc-finger protein (ZNF) 410 as an HbF repressor. ZNF410 does not bind directly to the genes encoding γ-globins, but rather its chromatin occupancy is concentrated solely at CHD4, encoding the NuRD nucleosome remodeler, which is itself required for HbF repression. CHD4 has two ZNF410-bound regulatory elements with 27 combined ZNF410 binding motifs constituting unparalleled genomic clusters. These elements completely account for the effects of ZNF410 on fetal globin repression. Knockout of ZNF410 or its mouse homolog Zfp410 reduces CHD4 levels by 60%, enough to substantially de-repress HbF while eluding cellular or organismal toxicity. These studies suggest a potential target for HbF induction for β-hemoglobin disorders with a wide therapeutic index. More broadly, ZNF410 represents a special class of gene regulator, a conserved TF with singular devotion to regulation of a chromatin subcomplex.
Community and the Critique of Technology: A Revisionist Account of an Essential Concept

Though the concept of community has been of central concern to the social sciences and social theory since the 19th century, it has also been a frequent target of criticism. Community is often accu...
Day-to-day variation in sleep duration is associated with increased all-cause mortality.

Study Objectives: There is paucity of data on association between day-to-day variation in sleep pattern and all-cause mortality. We aim to investigate if day-to-day variation in sleep duration and ...
Declarative scripting in haskell

We present a domain-specific language embedded within the Haskell programming language to build scripts in a declarative and type-safe manner. We can categorize script components into various orthogonal dimensions, or concerns, such as IO interaction, configuration, or error handling. In particular, we provide special support for two dimensions that are often neglected in scripting languages, namely creating deadlines for computations and tagging and tracing of computations. Arbitrary computations may be annotated with a textual tag explaining its purpose. Upon failure a detailed context for that error is automatically produced. The deadline combinator allows one to set a timeout on an operation. If it fails to complete within that amount of time, the computation is aborted. Moreover, this combinator works with the tag combinator so as to produce a contextual trace.
Future of Institutional Share Voting: Three Paradigms

Our previous paper “The Parallel Universes of Institutional Investing and Institutional Voting” noted the current reality of an almost complete separation between the investment professionals at institutional investors who decide whether and when to buy or sell a company’s stock, on the one hand, and the people who make voting decisions for the portfolio stocks owned by the institutional investors, on the other hand. Our new paper beings where our Parallel Universes paper left off. It notes that, notwithstanding its economic utility, the parallel universes paradigm raises significant practical and legal issues, not the least of which is whether the paradigm successfully meets the fiduciary duties of institutional investment advisors. Our new paper then posits two other paradigms for institutional share voting, each of which would avoid the conceptual and practical weaknesses of the current parallel universes paradigm. The first alternative paradigm would recognize that most shareholders do not want to be involved in voting on all matters and rather than attempting to coerce them into voting, a preferable alternative might be to recast shareholder democracy with less frequent elections, longer staggered terms for directors and elimination of much, if not all, of the economically unimportant voting that characterizes the annual proxy season. The second alternative and more realistic paradigm would obviate the distinction between the investing and voting functions and insist that the investment decision makers participate in, and have the last word on, all portfolio share voting. The paper concludes by arguing that each of these two alternative paradigms would lead to corporate governance structures that are far more responsive to the needs of portfolio company boards and management and that restore a far more practical and realistic view of corporate governance to the public company community.
Integrating affective and cognitive correlates of heart rate variability: A structural equation modeling approach.

Abstract High frequency heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of neurocardiac communication thought to reflect predominantly parasympathetic cardiac regulation. Low HRV has been associated empirically with clinical and subclinical levels of anxiety and depression and, more recently, high levels of HRV have been associated with better performance on some measures of executive functioning (EF). These findings have offered support for theories proposing HRV as an index measure of a broad, self-regulatory capacity underlying aspects of emotion regulation and executive control. This study sought to test that proposition by using a structural equation modeling approach to examine the relationships of HRV to negative affect (NA) and EF in a large sample of U.S. adults ages 30s–80s. HRV was modeled as a predictor of an NA factor (self-reported trait anxiety and depression symptoms) and an EF factor (performance on three neuropsychological tests tapping facets of executive abilities). Alternative models also were tested to determine the utility of HRV for predicting NA and EF, with and without statistical control of demographic and health-related covariates. In the initial structural model, HRV showed a significant positive relationship to EF and a nonsignificant relationship to NA. In a covariate-adjusted model, HRV's associations with both constructs were nonsignificant. Age emerged as the only significant predictor of NA and EF in the final model, showing inverse relationships to both. Findings may reflect population and methodological differences from prior research; they also suggest refinements to the interpretations of earlier findings and theoretical claims regarding HRV.
The Finite Element Method

This chapter discusses the applications of finite element method. The finite element method is generally considered to be a competitor of the finite difference methods and is used to solve as wide a range of ordinary and partial differential equations as the latter. The finite element methods are usually substantially more difficult to program, and this extra effort yields approximations that are of high order accuracy even when a partial differential equation is solved in a general multidimensional region and even when the solution varies more rapidly in certain portions of the region so that a uniform grid is not appropriate. These and other considerations have earned the finite element method great popularity both for initial value and boundary value differential equations. The most widely used form of the finite element method is the Galerkin method. It is suggested that when a second-order problem is approximated, all that is required of the Galerkin trial functions is continuity. The Galerkin method solves the approximation to the weak formulation a second-order partial differential equation, and the Galerkin equations involve only first derivatives of the trial functions.
Constituents of Isertia hypoleuca benth. (Rubiaceae)—I

Abstract A crystalline alkaloid has been isolated from the leaves of Isertia hypoleuca Benth. and characterized as dihydroquinamine (I) by chemical and spectroscopic means.
Probabilistic baseline estimation via Gaussian process

Demand response aims at utilizing flexible loads to operate power systems in an economically efficient way. A fundamental question in demand response is how to conduct a baseline estimation to deal with increasing uncertainties in power systems. Unfortunately, traditional baseline estimation lacks the ability to characterize uncertainties due to their deterministic modeling. This deficiency often results in erroneous system operations and miscalculated payments that discourage participating customers. In this paper, we propose a Gaussian process-based approach to mitigate the problem. It features the ability to use all historical data as a prior knowledge, and adjust the estimation according to similar daily patterns in the past. To characterize the uncertainties, this method provides a probabilistic estimate that can be used to not only increase estimation confidence for system operators but also to fairer treatment to customers. Finally, simulation results from Pacific Gas and Electric Company data show that this new method can produce a highly accurate estimate, which dramatically reduces the uncertainties inherent in the distribution power grid. Such a work opens the door for power system operation based on probabilistic estimate.
A Supported Work Approach to Competitive Employment of Individuals with Moderate and Severe Handicaps

This article describes the key features of a supported work approach to providing vocational placement and support to persons with moderate and severe handicaps in competitive employment settings. This approach is based on an ongoing longitudinal study of persons with mental retardation who are competitively employed through the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. The importance of competitive employment is emphasized and the four major components of the supported work approach (job placement, job-site training, ongoing monitoring, and follow-up) are outlined in detail. Specific proposals are made for integrating a supported work approach into community-based adult services and secondary special education programs.
Integrating nutrition as a theme throughout the medical school curriculum

More than one-third of adult Americans are obese. A major portion of the diseases that cause the highest morbidity and mortality, eg, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and hypertension, can be attributed to diet. Yet, despite the demand for more nutrition education, few medical schools have an adequate nutrition curriculum. Many medical schools are reducing the number of lecture hours in favor of problem-based tutorial discussions, so an addition of another mandatory lecture course is not likely. The organization of nutrition as a theme throughout the 4-y medical school curriculum can pull together many hours of nutrition information taught during various courses, eg, biochemistry, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical clerkships, and electives. Emphasis should be placed on the identification of available resources (eg, faculty throughout the medical school and affiliated hospitals, textbooks, research, and clinical experiences) and applied to practical clinical situations so that students are able to identify, assess, and appropriately manage the frequent nutritional problems seen in outpatients and inpatients. Strategies and techniques such as curriculum analysis, computer-aided instruction modules, Internet Web sites, case-based tutorial discussions, use of physician nutrition specialists and dietitians, administratively separate nutrition units, observed structured clinical examinations, and faculty development are listed and discussed in this article.
GAuLF: gas automated load forecaster

An expert system for short-term forecasting of natural gas sendout is presented. GAuLF, or gas automated load forecaster, has been developed to assist Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC) gas operators in estimating short-term demand for gas. GAuLF uses a hybrid rule-based and pattern recognition approach to forecast hourly gas sendouts up to 96 hours in advance. GAuLF presently uses a five-year historical database of weather and gas sendout, and a rule base that takes into consideration periodic variations of the sendout as well as demand growth. GAuLF's structure and operational results are discussed. >
Isolation and functional analysis of neutrophils.

This unit describes the isolation of high-purity neutrophils (or polymorphonuclear leukocytes; PMN) and the assays that can be performed to assess their function. An assay for the in vitro study of phagocytic capacity is presented, and microbicidal assays using lysostaphin and differential centrifugation are also described. During phagocytosis or on exposure to soluble agonists, neutrophils exhibit a marked increase in oxidative metabolism which is mediated by activation of NADPH oxidase and results in the formation of superoxide anion as well as hydrogen peroxide and other reactive species. The nitroblue tetrazolium reduction slide test is presented, and is a nonquantitative screening test for the presence of reactive oxygen products. The quantitation of superoxide by the kinetic and static assays are detailed, and a "broken cell" assay is also outlined.Finally, measurement of hydrogen peroxide formation is described.
Biotin deficiency: an unusual complication of parenteral alimentation.

BIOTIN deficiency has been documented in human beings only in association with prolonged ingestion of raw egg white. In this paper, we report that clinically important biotin deficiency occurred in...
Mode I Crack Problem in an Inhomogeneous Orthotropic Medium

In the symmetric crack problem considered the material is both oriented and graded. The properties of the medium is assumed to vary monotonously in the x1-direction, x1 and x2 are the principal axes of orthotropy, and the crack is located along the x1-axis. The loading is such that x2=0 is a plane of symmetry. The mode I crack problem for the inhomogeneous orthotropic plane is formulated and the solution is obtained for various loading conditions and material parameters. In the formulation four independent engineering constants, E11, E22, G12 and ν12, are replaced by a stiffness parameter E = √E11E22, a stiffness ratio c = (E11/E22)1/4, a Poisson's ratio ν = √ν12ν21 and a shear parameter κ = E/2G12 − ν. The results show that the stress intensity factors are independent of E and c and generally the effect of κ and ν on the stress intensity factors is not very significant. The exception is the values of κ approaching − 1, where the physical range of κ is − 1κ < ∞. In the isotropic case the kernel of the related integral equation is evaluated in closed form, which simplifies the numerical solution and improves the accuracy of the results.
A putative stimulatory role for activator turnover in gene expression

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) promotes the destruction of target proteins by attaching to them a ubiquitin chain that is recognized by the 26S proteasome. The UPS influences most cellular processes, and its targets include transcriptional activators that are primary determinants of gene expression. Emerging evidence indicates that non-proteolytic functions of the UPS might stimulate transcriptional activity. Here we show that the proteolysis of some transcriptional activators by the UPS can stimulate their function. We focused on the role of UPS-dependent proteolysis in the function of inducible transcriptional activators in yeast, and found that inhibition of the proteasome reduced transcription of the targets of the activators Gcn4, Gal4 and Ino2/4. In addition, mutations in SCF(Cdc4), the ubiquitin ligase for Gcn4 (ref. 5), or mutations in ubiquitin that prevent degradation, also impaired the transcription of Gcn4 targets. These transcriptional defects were manifested despite the enhanced abundance of Gcn4 on cognate promoters. Proteasome inhibition also decreased the association of RNA polymerase II with Gcn4, Gal4 and Ino2/4 targets, as did mutations in SCF(Cdc4) for Gcn4 targets. Expression of a stable phospho-site mutant of Gcn4 (ref. 7) or disruption of the kinases that target Gcn4 for turnover alleviated the sensitivity of Gcn4 activity to defects in the UPS.
WE‐B‐110‐01: Application of Medical Informatics to Patient Dose Management in Interventional Radiology

Tools for measurement and validation of radiationdose, including ALARA Policies for Fluoroscopically Guided Interventions (FGI) have been being developed using medical informatics.Informatics, primarily DICOM and Hl7 are rich content data sources that provide the potential for determination of peak skindose, as well as a direct and immediate source of conventional metrics such as KAP, cumulative AK at the RP, and fluoroscopy duration. Newly purchased equipment may provide RadiationDose Structured Reports which includes each radiation episode (fluoroscopy,DSA, Digitial Spots, or Cine) as separate records. For each of these data files, table position, exposure at the RP, collimation, etc. are available for use. A database has been created that uses DICOM exchange to capture dose related information for FGI. These data are used in conjunction with simulated C‐arm devices that more and mimic that which is encountered in a lab. When the desired physics parameters are included (backscatter factor, table attenuation, calibration of the vendors AK, etc) it is possible to re‐ create the exposure irradiations actually used, to compute and locate on a virtual patient the skindose distribution and determine the Peak SkinDose. This dose is saved to the data base for future QA uses.
Unintentional Gerrymandering: Political Geography and Electoral Bias in Legislatures

While conventional wisdom holds that partisan bias in U.S. legislative elections results from intentional partisan and racial gerrymandering, we demonstrate that substantial bias can also emerge from patterns of human geography. We show that in many states, Democrats are inefficiently concentrated in large cities and smaller industrial agglomerations such that they can expect to win fewer than 50% of the seats when they win 50% of the votes. To measure this "unintentional gerrymandering," we use automated districting simulations based on precinct-level 2000 presidential election results in several states. Our results illustrate a strong relationship between the geographic concentration of Democratic voters and electoral bias favoring Republicans.
Make room for computing.

Although P. Pevzner and R. Shamir, as well as the Bio2010 project, are right about the importance of computational, mathematical, and modeling skills for the next generation of biologists (“Computing has changed biology—biology education must catch up,” Education Forum, 31 July, p. [541][1]), they ignore the realities of the modern biology curriculum and student learning. Specifically, it is unlikely that a single course can achieve the goal they desire. Computational and modeling mastery is not a trivial topic to append to a curriculum. Moreover, there is no surplus of student credit hours to absorb the courses needed. To introduce new topics in a pedagogically realistic manner, departments will have to restructure currently required courses. This will involve redesigning base biology courses to emphasize the relevance and application of modeling and computational skills, particularly given the observation that many biology students are actively mathphobic. Developing true expertise will require student credit hours. Where will they come from? One possibility is to redirect credit hours associated with medical school admission (but largely irrelevant to most biologists). Whatever the source, it is clear that programs need to reconsider where our limited resources are currently being spent. We cannot afford to waste the students' time on irrelevant or ineffectual courses. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1173876
Identifying Sex-Specific Risk Factors for Low Bone Mineral Density in Adolescent Runners

Background:Adolescent runners may be at risk for low bone mineral density (BMD) associated with sports participation. Few prior investigations have evaluated bone health in young runners, particularly males.Purpose:To characterize sex-specific risk factors for low BMD in adolescent runners.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Training characteristics, fracture history, eating behaviors and attitudes, and menstrual history were measured using online questionnaires. A food frequency questionnaire was used to identify dietary patterns and measure calcium intake. Runners (female: n = 94, male: n = 42) completed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure lumbar spine (LS) and total body less head (TBLH) BMD and body composition values, including android-to-gynoid (A:G) fat mass ratio. The BMD was standardized to Z-scores using age, sex, and race/ethnicity reference values. Questionnaire values were combined with DXA values to determine risk factors associated with differences...
Reversal of aberrant splicing of β‐thalassaemia allele (IVS‐2‐654 C→T) by antisense RNA expression vector in cultured human erythroid cells

The antisense fragment targeting the aberrant splice sites of the beta-thalassaemia allele, IVS-2-654 C-->T (beta654), pretranscript was cloned into the mammalian expression vector, pcDNA3. The recombinant construct, pCMVA, was then used to repair the defective splicing of the beta654 mutant pretranscript in cultured beta654 erythroid cells by the lipofectin-mediated DNA transfection method. The total RNA was extracted at given time points after transfection and the effect of antisense RNA was studied by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-mediated mRNA quantitative assay, as well as globin chain microbiosynthesis. The antisense fragment transcribed from pCMVA effectively improved the beta654 splicing pattern in cultured erythroid cells. The level of correctly spliced transcript increased from 0.19 (day 0 after transfection) to 0.58 (day 8) in beta654/beta654 homozygous erythroid cells, and from 0.45 (day 0) to 0.83 (day 8) in beta654/betaA heterozygous erythroid cells, as determined by the ratio of normally spliced beta-globin transcript over total beta-globin transcript. Correspondingly, the ratios of globin chain biosynthesis (beta/alpha) increased from 0.16 (day 0) to 0.52 (day 8) in beta654/beta654 erythroid cells, and from 0.39 (day 0) to 0.84 (day 8) in beta654/betaA erythroid cells. Antisense RNA had no significant effect on the splicing pattern in betaA/betaA erythroid cells. The splicing pattern in transfected cells with pCMVA showed significant changes compared with that in untransfected cells and that in transfected cells with the control antisense fragment (human SRY gene sequence). In addition, we did not observe side-effects on cytological features after the introduction of pCMVA. All these results indicated that the antisense RNA transcribed from the mammalian expression vector pCMVA could efficiently and specifically suppress the aberrant splicing pattern of beta654 mutant pretranscript and restore the correct splicing pathway in vivo, leading to the improvement of globin chain biosynthesis in thalassaemic cells.
Monotreme affinities and low-frequency hearing suggested by multituberculate ear

MULTITUBERCULATES are an extinct, dentally distinctive group of Mesozoic/early Cenozoic mammals of uncertain affinities1. We report here the discovery of a multituberculate ectotympanic bone, associated with the malleus in original life position, from two exquisitely preserved auditory regions. This documents, to our knowledge for the first time, incorporation of the angular and prearticular bones (jaw components in non-mammalian tetrapods) into the middle ear of multituberculates, favouring the hypothesized single origin of the ossicular chain in mammals2,3. Morphology and orientation of these elements are strikingly similar to those of the extant egg-laying platypus and echidnas, suggesting a unique common ancestry of these forms4, an affiliation once generally discredited5–8 but regaining some recent support9,10. The structure of these new multituberculate auditory ossicles, in conjuction with a greatly inflated vestibule and an uncoiled cochlea, implies an ear inefficient for reception of high-frequency airborne vibrations but well suited for bone-conducted hearing.
A discontinuous nonlinear problem: stability and convergence of iterates in a finite number of steps

We find all solutions (a countable infinity) to the nonlinear boundary value problem (BVP) and exhibit them explicitly. The extremal (maximal and minimal) solutions are seen to be the limits of iterative sequences which may start close to non-extremal solutions; convergence takes place in a finite number of steps. As suggested by these iteration results, the extremal solutions are shown to be stable steady states of an associated time-dependent (parabolic) problem. It is conjectured (and confirmed in two important cases) that the non-extremal solutions of the above problem are unstable. Finally, we exhibit the eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of a related eigenvalue problem.
Evaluation of Illinois Pulverized Coal Combustion Dry Bottom Ash for Use in Geotechnical Engineering Applications

Pulverized coal combustion (PCC) dry bottom ash is a by-product of coal combustion that originates from the burning of pulverized coal to produce electricity. Because of the increasing costs associated with the disposal of bottom ash and the environmental regulations in place, a significant need exists to develop alternate methods for profitable and environmentally safe uses of this waste material. The physical properties of bottom ash are similar to those of natural sand, with particle sizes ranging from fine gravel to fine sand with low percentages of silt and clay-sized particles. Bottom ash has been used in the past as a substitute for aggregates in concrete. However, not much effort has been made in examining the geotechnical engineering properties of bottom ash, and as a consequence its use in geotechnical engineering applications is still very limited. Characteristics of bottom ash depend on the type of coal burned and the type of furnace used to burn the coal. This paper presents the results of an experimental study conducted to obtain technical data on the geotechnical engineering properties of Illinois PCC dry bottom ash amended with bentonite, which data are needed to assess its use for geotechnical engineering applications. Bottom ash modified with up to 20% bentonite by weight of bottom ash was tested to determine the effects of bentonite on consistency, moisture-density relationships, shear strength, and hydraulic conductivity of the bottom ash-bentonite mixtures.
Causal Chains and Cost Shifting: How Medicare's Rescue Inadvertently Triggered the Managed-Care Revolution

The conventional wisdom on how managed care came to replace traditional fee-for-service reimbursement as the nation's dominant mode of health insurance is that enlightened businesses and their employers led the way in responding to the emergence of market forces in health care in the 1990s. A common textbook treatment of managed care's ascendancy puts it this way: “Transformation of the health care delivery system through managed care has been driven principally by market forces, and reinforced by government.” The irony is that the opposite sequence of events is a more accurate portrayal of what actually happened. As this article shows, the transformation of America's health-care system through managed care was initially triggered—albeit indirectly—by government actions and then driven by market forces. In other words, before business behavior was a cause of managed care's extraordinary growth, it was largely a response to and an unintended consequence of government policymaking: in this instance, Congress's reform of Medicare in 1983.
Improving Information Access for Public Health Professionals

Fundamental to our protection against biological weapons and the detection of disease outbreaks is the need to strengthen our surveillance systems. Improved electronic communications between local, state, and federal public health agencies provide a way for health officials to share information on unusual disease outbreaks and provide important health alert information. This article describes a model of a partnership between a regional medical library of the National Library of Medicine, a school of public health, and federally qualified community health centers. This project upgraded technology and provided public health professional training on Internet information and resources for local public health agencies.
Characterization of low pressure chemical vapor deposited polymeric fluorinated carbon m(C:FX)n thin films with low dielectric constant

Thermal chemical vapor deposition of fluorinated carbon thin films in the polymeric form is described by hot filament decomposition of the gaseous C3F6O precursor. Decomposition at filament temperatures, ≤450 °C produces films in the ordered (CF2)2n polymeric chain structure as in a tetrafluoroethylene polymer. A composite of (CF2)2n chains structure and crosslinked m(C:Fx)n phases are formed in films deposited at filament temperature ≥600 °C. Polymerization of :CF2 radicals results in (CF2)2n chain structure and the crosslinked phase emerges from a separate process involving reaction among the CF3, CFO and CF3CO radicals and including CF2. Substrate temperature affects both the C-to-F bonding configuration and the relative ratio of the composite phases. Dominant C–CF bonding structure in the low (<-5 °C) substrate temperature films is thermally less stable compared to the C–F structure, which dominates the crosslinked structure in films deposited at high (∼70 °C) substrate temperatures. Dielectric properties of the composite films are studied using the electrical equivalent model and a correlation with the C-to-F bond structure is established. High polymeric (CF2)2n phase determines the electrical impedance and the dielectric constant of the film, and the crosslinked phase imparts structural stability.
Effects of bacteriophage traits on plaque formation

The appearance of plaques on a bacterial lawn is one of the enduring imageries in modern day biology. The seeming simplicity of a plaque has invited many hypotheses and models in trying to describe and explain the details of its formation. However, until now, there has been no systematic experimental exploration on how different bacteriophage (phage) traits may influence the formation of a plaque. In this study, we constructed a series of isogenic λ phages that differ in their adsorption rate, lysis timing, or morphology so that we can determine the effects if these changes on three plaque properties: size, progeny productivity, and phage concentration within plaques. We found that the adsorption rate has a diminishing, but negative impact on all three plaque measurements. Interestingly, there exists a concave relationship between the lysis time and plaque size, resulting in an apparent optimal lysis time that maximizes the plaque size. Although suggestive in appearance, we did not detect a significant effect of lysis time on plaque productivity. Nonetheless, the combined effects of plaque size and productivity resulted in an apparent convex relationship between the lysis time and phage concentration within plaques. Lastly, we found that virion morphology also affected plaque size. We compared our results to the available models on plaque size and productivity. For the models in their current forms, a few of them can capture the qualitative aspects of our results, but not consistently in both plaque properties. By using a collection of isogenic phage strains, we were able to investigate the effects of individual phage traits on plaque size, plaque productivity, and average phage concentration in a plaque while holding all other traits constant. The controlled nature of our study allowed us to test several model predictions on plaque size and plaque productivity. It seems that a more realistic theoretical approach to plaque formation is needed in order to capture the complex interaction between phage and its bacterium host in a spatially restricted environment.
Early odor preferences of rats are preserved by neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine

Infant rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) showed normal experience-dependent odor preferences. Adult rats that had been neonatally drug treated retained infantile odor preferences while controls did not. Exposing juveniles to a new odor for 10 days changed the preferences of controls but not of neonatally drug-injected animals. Juveniles in the two treatment groups habituated similarly to a novel object, indicating that drug treatment did not produce a general inability to ignore irrelevant stimuli. Neonatal 6-OHDA treatment reduced concentrations of norepinephrine but not dopamine in the adult olfactory cortex. Norepinephrine may be a substrate for infantile amnesia.
Effectiveness estimates for center high mounted stop lamps: a six-year study.

The center high mounted stop lamp is a supplemental brake light mounted at the height of the rear window that has been required on all new cars sold in the U.S. starting with the 1986 model year. It was intended to reduce the number of rear-end collisions by improving the braking signal recognition of following drivers. Insurance claims for vehicle damage were used to compare the rear-end collision rates of model year 1985 and model year 1986 cars over calendar years 1986-91. After adjusting for the difference in vehicle ages, model year 1986 cars were found to have experienced 5% fewer rear-end collisions than would have been expected without the center high mounted stop lamps.
Research of substation area protection test based on relay protection collaborative testing system

Substation area protection application is one of the significant characteristics of the new generation smart substation. Substation area protection, contains BZT devices, line protections and bus differential protections in a set, provides redundancy for in situ protections. Higher requirements is put forward for collaborative work performance between different types and manufactures of protections as the highly integrated nature of substation area protection. This paper presents a new substation area protection method based on intelligent relay-protection collaborative testing system(IRPCTS). SCD file matches, GOOSE virtual terminal associated characteristics and coordination work performance between IED devices have been verified by the simple bus protection testing based on IRPCTS platform.
Interaction of 14C-labeled human and bovine growth hormone with serum proteins.

Abstract Human growth hormone, which has been reported to migrate in the α 2 - and β-globulin fractions of human serum during electrophoresis, was found to form a complex with purified human albumin. This growth hormone-albumin complex was also found to migrate primarily in the α 2 - and β-globulin fractions during appear electrophoresis. Experiments utilizing gel filtration and ultracentrifugation confirmed the tendency for growth hormone and albumin to associate together. The electrophoretic mobility of bovine growth hormone was not influenced by human albumin, and it remained at the origin (γ-globulin). Antibodies to growth hormone, and also reduced glutathione, were found to prevent the association between growth hormone and albumin.
Late pulmonary valve implantation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot

Ten cases of elective late pulmonary valve implantation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot were reviewed. The interval after initial repair ranged from 1.5 to 43 years (mean, 20.0 +/- 12.3 years). There was no hospital mortality or late death during a mean follow-up of 12.5 months. Preoperatively, 9 patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III-IV; after pulmonary valve implantation, all 10 patients were in class I-II (average improvement, 1.7 classes). Left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly (from 62.1% +/- 4.7% to 70.2% +/- 4.9%), as did fractional shortening (from 34.0% +/- 5.0% to 40.0% +/- 4.2%). Right ventricular diameter decreased significantly (from 32.3 +/- 7.5 to 24.4 +/- 5.4 mm). QRS duration decreased significantly (155.2 +/- 27.1 vs. 140.0 +/- 21.2 msec), but there was no significant difference in QT interval (460.9 +/- 29.6 vs. 451.9 +/- 50.6 msec). Hospital stay was 4-7 days. One patient had preoperative ventricular fibrillation requiring resuscitation and an implantable cardiac defibrillator; another needed a defibrillator at the time of pulmonary valve implantation, because of ventricular arrhythmias. It was concluded that late pulmonary valve implantation after tetralogy of Fallot repair had significant benefits and carried low operative risk.
A sub-grid air entrainment model for breaking bow waves and naval surface ships

Abstract Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of air entrainment by the breaking bow waves of naval surface ships are outside of the computational reach of the most powerful computers in the foreseeable future. This creates a need for physically-based models of air entrainment for applications in numerical simulations for ship design. Due to the non-linear dependence of the terminal bubble velocity with diameter most air entrainment flows have a high void fraction region immediately below the free surface. We present a model that locates this region employing the local liquid velocity and the distance to the interface. Using this model and the bubble size distributions measured by Deane and Stokes [Deane BD, Stokes MD. Scale dependence of bubble creation mechanisms in breaking waves. Nature 2002;418:839–44] we have simulated the air entrainment in the breaking wave experiments of Wanieski et al. [Waniewski TA, Brennen CE, Raichlen F. Measurement of air entrainment by bow waves. J Fluids Eng 2001;123:57–63]. Comparison against these experimental data is good. We then apply this model to simulate the flow around naval combatant DTMB 5415 and the research vessel Athena. The model predicts air entrainment in regions where it was actually observed at sea, namely the breaking bow wave, along the water/air/hull contact line and in the near-wake. To the best of our knowledge this is the first model of air entrainment that compares favorably with data at laboratory scale and also presents the right trends at full-scale.
A study of the breakdown of carbohydrates by redox-generated free radicals

Abstract Extensive autoxidative degradation of low and high molecular weight carbohydrates was achieved using an electrolysis cell and iron-EDTA as reductant at neutral pH. As ascertained by chemical methods this free-radical induced degradation of sugars was in each case of the order of 20% after a period of 10 h. The method should be useful for studying the nature of breakdown products derived from the hydroxyl free-radical initiated decomposition of sugars.
Data mining in finance:: using counterfactuals to generate knowledge from organizational information systems

Abstract A common view about data mining is that it is an exercise of “clustering” customers, markets, products, and other objects of interest in useful ways from large amounts of data. In this paper, I demonstrate that the real value of data mining, particularly in the financial arena, lies more in revealing actions that lead to interesting distributions of outcomes, distributions that are not directly observable in the data. Simulating actions or events that did not occur is often more useful than trying to cluster the data, which represents only those states of nature that occurred and were recorded. I show how the use of counterfactuals, which are hypothetical events, coupled with certain types of machine learning methods produce models that promote human dialog and exploration that does not otherwise occur in routine organizational activity. I demonstrate with real-world examples, how the combination of database systems, counterfactuals and machine learning methods combine to provide a powerful bottom-up theory building mechanism that is useful in enabling organizations to use databases for learning about things that are useful to them.
Gauge fixing ambiguities, flux strings, and the unconstrained Yang-Mills theory

Abstract We find the inconstrained Yang-Mills Lagrangian in the variables of Goldstone and Jackiw. It takes canonical form allowing immediate path integral quantization. There are no gauge fixing ambiguities except in the presence of instantons. We generalize the Lagrangian to include point sources, and show that it is only necessary to fix the gauge along a string connecting two sources. We discuss the significance of the singularities of the Hamiltonian and suggest an interpretation.
The meaning in empathy: distinguishing conceptual encoding from facial mimicry, trait empathy, and attention to emotion

In order to truly empathise with another, we need to recognise and understand how they feel. Perception-action models of empathy predict that attending to another's emotion will spontaneously activate the observer's own conceptual knowledge for the state, but it is unclear how this activation is related to facial mimicry, trait empathy, or attention to emotion more generally. In the current study, participants did spontaneously encode background facial expressions at a conceptual level even though they were irrelevant to the task (the Emostroop effect; Preston & Stansfield, 2008), but this encoding was not associated with mimicry of the faces, trait empathy, the ability to resolve competing semantic representations (Colour-naming Stroop task), or the tendency to be distracted by emotional information more generally (Intrusive Cognitions task). Our results suggest that trait empathy increases attention to emotional information, but conceptual encoding occurs across individuals as a natural consequence of attended perception.
Repression of the beta-amyloid gene in a Hox-3.1-producing cell line.

Abstract Mammalian homeobox genes are widely expressed in the developing central nervous system and are postulated to control developmental processes by regulating gene expression at the transcriptional level. In vitro studies have identified consensus DNA sequences that contain an ATTA core as sites for interaction with homeodomain proteins. Such elements have been found in the upstream regulatory region of the gene encoding beta-amyloid precursor protein, which is associated with the neurological disorder Alzheimer disease. As the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene is also expressed in the developing central nervous system and appears to play a role in cellular regulatory processes, we have examined the possibility that a homeobox gene product can regulate its transcription. We demonstrate by Northern blot analyses and transfection experiments that the expression of the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene is decreased in cultured cells expressing the mouse homeobox gene Hox-3.1.