cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myopericarditis and atrial fibrillation complicating meningococcal meningitis in a human immunodeficiency virus-infected man who has sex with men: a case report

Introduction: Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children and young adults. Multiple complications have been reported previously, either at the time of presentation or later during the recovery phase of the illness. Cardiac arrhythmias and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities have rarely been reported in N. meningitidis infection. Case presentation: We report a 48-year-old African-American man, with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection, admitted with a diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis. An initial 12-lead ECG at admission showed a normal sinus rhythm with widespread concave ST elevation. The patient's troponin level was significantly elevated. A Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed left ventricle moderate anterior pericardial effusion. He was treated with antibiotics for meningitis and ibuprofen for myopericarditis. He subsequently developed atrial fibrillation, which was suppressed with metoprolol, diltiazem and amiodarone during hospitalization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of atrial fibrillation complicating meningococcal meningitis. Conclusion: Myopericarditis complicates the course of meningococcal meningitis. Various forms of cardiac arrhythmias can occur during the course of meningococcal infection. Therefore, telemetry and serial ECG monitoring are recommended throughout the course of meningococcal infection.
Spurious Elevation of Automated Platelet Counts in Secondary Acute Monocytic Leukemia Associated With Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Abstract The intent of this article is to describe the effect of tumor lysis on automated platelet counts in therapy-related, secondary acute monocytic leukemia. The first patient was a 69-year-old man with large cell carcinoma of the lung who developed acute monocytic leukemia 1½ years after initiation of radiation and chemotherapy for his carcinoma. The second patient was a 72-year-old female with peripheral T-cell lymphoma who developed acute monocytic leukemia 1 year after initiation of chemotherapy for her lymphoma. Platelet counts were determined by the automated Coulter (STKS) counter. Both patients had clinical and laboratory evidences of tumor lysis syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The peripheral blood smears revealed numerous fragments of leukemic cells and apoptotic cells with pyknotic nuclei. The Coulter machine enumerated these cellular fragments as platelets, resulting in falsely elevated platelet counts. Awareness of this laboratory artifact in secondary acute monocytic ...
Echocardiographic Features of Infiltrative Cardiomyopathy

Echocardiographic features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (I.H.S.S.) and congestive cardiomyopathy have been described. We report three proven cases of amyloid infiltrative cardiomvopathy, two of which presented with clinical features simulating constrictive pericarditis and one had congestive heart failure of unknown etiology. The end diastolic left ventricular (LV) volume was normal in two, and moderately increased in the third case. The characteristic echo-cardiographic features in all were: a) significant symmetrical LV hypertrophy (septum= 1.6–1.8 cm., posterior LV wall=1.6–1.8 cm) and b) reduced septal and posterior LV wall motion.
P‐59: A Novel Fluorescent Display Using Light Wave Coupling Technology

A novel fluorescent pixelated display and signage technology is reported using light wave coupling (LWC). Full-color LWC devices have been demonstrated with >2 lm/W, >500:1 contrast, and >1000 cd/m2 luminance. With use of existing display components, theoretical performance of ∼1 ms pixel response time, lifetime >30,000 hrs, and >10 lm/W efficiency, are fully expected for flexible and rigid panels.
Quantum to classical phase transition in noisy quantum computers

The fundamental problem of the transition from quantum to classical physics is usually explained by decoherence, and viewed as a gradual process. The study of entanglement, or quantum correlations, in noisy quantum computers implies that in some cases the transition from quantum to classical is actually a phase transition. We define the notion of entanglement length in ddimensional noisy quantum computers, and show that a phase transition in entanglement occurs at a critical noise rate, where the entanglement length transforms from infinite to finite. Above the critical noise rate, macroscopic classical behavior is expected, whereas below the critical noise rate, subsystems which are macroscopically distant one from another can be entangled. The macroscopic classical behavior in the supercritical phase is shown to hold not only for quantum computers, but for any quantum system composed of macroscopically many finite state particles, with local interactions and local decoherence, subjected to some additional conditions. This phenomenon provides a possible explanation to the emergence of classical behavior in such systems. A simple formula for an upper bound on the entanglement length of any such system in the super-critical phase is given, which can be tested experimentally.
Feasibility of Retrofitting a University Library with Active Workstations to Reduce Sedentary Behavior

Background Libraries are an inherently sedentary environment, but are an understudied setting for sedentary behavior interventions. Purpose To investigate the feasibility of incorporating portable pedal machines in a university library to reduce sedentary behaviors. Methods The 11-week intervention targeted students at a university library. Thirteen portable pedal machines were placed in the library. Four forms of prompts (e-mail, library website, advertisement monitors, and poster) encouraging pedal machine use were employed during the first 4 weeks. Pedal machine use was measured via automatic timers on each machine and momentary time sampling. Daily library visits were measured using a gate counter. Individualized data were measured by survey. Data were collected in fall 2012 and analyzed in 2013. Results Mean (SD) cumulative pedal time per day was 95.5 (66.1) minutes. One or more pedal machines were observed being used 15% of the time (N=589). Pedal machines were used at least once by 7% of students ( n =527). Controlled for gate count, no linear change of pedal machine use across days was found ( b =−0.1 minutes, p =0.75) and the presence of the prompts did not change daily pedal time ( p =0.63). Seven of eight items that assessed attitudes toward the intervention supported intervention feasibility ( p Conclusions The unique non-individualized approach of retrofitting a library with pedal machines to reduce sedentary behavior seems feasible, but improvement of its effectiveness is needed. This study could inform future studies aimed at reshaping traditionally sedentary settings to improve public health.
First impressions and professor reputation: influence on student evaluations of instruction

We examined the effects of professor reputation versus first impressions on student evaluations of instruction. Students in 19 Psychology courses completed course evaluation surveys either before meeting the instructor or 2 weeks into the semester. Both groups then completed the course evaluation again at the end of the semester. Unlike evaluations completed prior to meeting the professor, students’ ratings 2 weeks into the semester did not differ from end-of-semester evaluations. Therefore, students considered first impressions more important than professor reputation as determinants of their end-of-the semester evaluations. Results suggest that students form lasting impressions within the first 2 weeks of classes.
Outlier detection in environmental monitoring network data: an application to ambient ozone measurements for Houston, Texas

This paper develops methodology for detecting outliers in environmental network data. Our methods stepwise model the following attributes of the data observed over space and time: (seasonal) mean, heteroscedasticity, non-local space–time interaction, and local space–time interaction. Residuals from a combined model are used to construct multivariate control charts to detect possible outliers.
Contribution to the study of rigid PVC polyblends with different lignins

Evaluation of different types of lignins and lignin derivatives, representing a spectrum of significant differences in regard to delignification processes and the nature of wood, in blending with a rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compound for outdoor application is discussed. The influence of lignins on the processability of the blends, as well as on their strength at yield, break, and impact before weathering, and after 7 days of artificial weathering period (in the presence of ultraviolet light, humidity, and moderate temperature) was investigated, and the data correlated with those of rigid PVC compound. Infrared and thermal analysis were performed to elucidate the morphology of the blends. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1731–1744, 1997
The effect of local scheduling in load balancing designs

Load balancing is a common approach to task assignment in distributed architectures such as web server farms, database systems, grid computing clusters, and others. In such designs there is a dispatcher that seeks to balance the assignment of service requests (jobs) across the servers in the system so that the response time of jobs at each server is (nearly) the same. Such designs are popular due to the increased robustness they provide to bursts of traffic, server failures, etc., as well as the inherent scalability they provide. However, there is also a major drawback to load balancing designs – some performance is sacrificed. Specifically, it would be possible to reduce user response times by moving away from load balancing designs. Our goal in this paper is to study the degree of inefficiency in load balancing designs. Further, we will show that the degree of inefficiency depends on the scheduling discipline used locally at each of the servers, i.e. the local scheduler. Our results (see Section 3) show that the local scheduling policy has a significant impact on the degree of inefficiency in load balancing designs. In particular, the local scheduler in traditional designs is often modeled by Processor Sharing (PS), which shares the server evenly among all jobs in the system. When the local scheduler is PS, the degree of inefficiency grows linearly with the number of servers in the system. In contrast, if the local scheduler is changed to Shortest Remaining Processing Time first (SRPT), as has been suggested in a variety modern designs [7, 3, 10], the degree of inefficiency can be independent of the number of servers in the system and instead depend only on the heterogeneity of the speed of the servers.
Engage in Networking and Realize Your Dream Job

For some, “networking” has a negative connotation, conjuring up images of people ingratiating themselves with everyone with whom they come into contact to climb the corporate ladder. This perception is untrue, and one can make the case that failing to network effectively—especially at the Young Professional stage—can hamper your career. Readers of TWA may already have read articles about “effective networking,” which can come across as procedural (i.e., behave this way, attend these events). In reality, networking is normal to human nature and is an innate ability we all possess.
A Novel Detection Method for Double-ABBA Quasi-Orthogonal Space-Time Code with Low Complexity and High Performance

In this paper, a novel detection method with self-interference reduction for double-ABBA (DABBA) quasi- orthogonal space-time code (QOSTC) is proposed, which utilizes low-dimension MMSE detection and symbols expectation (or symbols from MMSE detector) feedback in open-model. The symbols' expectations, which are derived from bit-wise soft-information (BWSI) from channel decoder, are used in self-interference reduction for low-order modulation, such as QPSK. By utilizing the expectation derived from BWSI (or symbols from MMSE detector) and equivalent space-time channel effectively, its performance, such as PER and throughput, is better than conventional MMSE detection and it's complexity is lower, because the matrix's dimensions in MMSE detection are lower, so the scheme is more realizable in chip architecture. And the proposed detection scheme can also be used in other QOSTC.
Confronting institutional rationality: Recapturing history

In the past few years, several observers have commented on the "crisis in the teaching of history" (Fox-Genovese, 1979; Krug, 1978). Frequently these observers assume that teachers and teacher training institutions bear a large measure of responsibility for the crisis. For example, Krug (1978), while sympathetic to the plight of teachers, observes that "one of the essential problems faced in the teaching of history is that some history teachers do not understand the nature of that discipline" (p. 21). While we perceive the problem as focusing on teachers and their limitations, we focus solutions proposed on teacher retraining. While important, such conclusions divert our attention away from a more fundamental insight: the spirit of our times, its ethos, exhibits hostility toward history. Detailed consideration of this hostility goes beyond my purpose in this paper; however, I must offer some general remarks. A belief underlies these remarks, namely that this century has seen a gradual transformation in human consciousness, now dominated by the form of rationality found in the workplace; instrumental rationality rides roughshod over the human spirit (Habermas, 1970). The complicated process by which human consciousness forms hostility toward history finds, among other things, culture mediating between the individual and ideology. Culture renders ideology palatable by transforming and diverting penetrations, insights that might serve as beginning points for challenges to the ideology itself (Willis, 1977). The school culture, which manifests itself in a general acceptance of the school-life order as natural and proper serves such function. For example, teachers recognize how seldom school-, district-, or state-mandated tests are designed and used for enhancement of student learning. They observe that such tests serve administrative and organizational purposes. Furthermore, teachers lament the emergence of a mysterious and seemingly impenetrable school bureaucracy, where educators increasingly base decisions on system maintenance imperatives: control, predictability, efficiency. And, teachers increasingly recognize that ever more complex forms of control constrict the arena of professional decision making. While many teachers make these observations, they accept the situation that produces them; they assume that the nature of things coexists with their structures (Bullough, Holt, & Goldstein, 1980). Such penetrations stop short of developing into significant critiques of instrumental rationality and the consciousness that carries it forth.
Clarifying criteria for cognitive signs and symptoms for eating disorders in DSM-V.

Objective: This article reviews literature relevant to challenges in clinical ascertainment of cognitively-based diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) to examine whether revision might enhance their clinical utility. Method: We performed a systematic literature search to identify publications relevant to clinical evaluation of cognitive symptoms of AN and BN. Results: The literature supports several reasons that individuals with an eating disorder may not endorse cognitive symptoms, despite their presence. These include limited insight, minimization, or denial, as well as intentional concealment related to perceived stigma, social desirability, or investment in maintaining behavioral symptoms. We also identified reasons that the word “refusal” in AN criterion A may render its application problematic. Discussion: We conclude that specific guidance for ascertainment of cognitive signs for AN and BN in the absence of patient disclosure or endorsement, longitudinal evaluation, and/or collateral data may improve clinical utility of these diagnostic criteria. © 2009 American Psychiatric Association. Int J Eat Disord 2009
Promoting the Development of Moral Identity, Behavior, and Commitment in a Social Action Program.

Involvement in social action and community service can promote the construction of prosocial identities and enduring patterns of civic behavior. This article explores this important process for youth that participate in the PeaceJam Ambassadors program. High school-aged ‘PeaceJammers’ study the lives of Nobel Peace laureates while creating projects to affect change in their local communities. Multiple methods were used to access youth perceptions including surveys and interpretive interviews. Participants reported high levels on indicators on personal and social change. Their narratives articulated salient influences on their identities and actions. They shared how advisors promote social identity, participation, and the development of moral identities. These findings add to a growing empirical literature on moral development and youth engagement in peace education and community transformation.
Interleukin‐17 up‐regulation of nitric oxide production in human osteoarthritis cartilage

Objective. To examine the effect of human interleukin-17 (IL-17) on nitric oxide (NO) production in human osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage under ex vivo conditions. Methods. OA cartilage from patients undergoing knee replacement surgery was used in explant assays to assess the effect of IL-17. NO production was measured by estimating the stable NO metabolite, nitrite, in conditioned medium. Results. IL-17 augmented the spontaneous production of nitric oxide. This augmentation was sensitive to cycloheximide and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, but not to dexamethasone or soluble IL-1 receptor. Conclusion. IL-17 augments nitric oxide production in OA cartilage via nuclear factor KB activation, but independently of IL-1β signaling.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF COMPLEX LARVAL BEHAVIOR IN A CORAL

The leaf coral Agaricia humilis occurs mainly on the undersides of surfaces in shallow water, a distribution different from the vast majority of corals at our study site in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. A series of hypotheses were tested for specific mechanisms that could cause the observed distributions of Agaricia humilis. We found that a suite of larval swimming and settling behaviors, in large part, drives the adult distribution of the species. These behaviors include: (1) swimming behavior that cause larvae to position themselves in shallow water, (2) orientation behavior during settlement that causes larvae to preferentially settle on the undersides of surfaces, and (3) settlement behavior where chemosensory recognition of morphogenic molecules associated with the cell walls of specific crustose red algae is required for induction of settlement and metamorphosis. The consequences of atypical larval behavior are severe and include decreased survivorship, growth, and ability to reproduce sexually.
Biological Dosimetry of Sperm Analyzed by Conventional Methods: Cautions and Opportunities

Increasing concern for heritable consequences of exposure to mutagens, carcinogens, and teratogens has encouraged development of semen bioassays. Today, these bio-assays are based largely on conventional andrological methods. But analytical cytology offers many new approaches with potential to increase the speed, accuracy, sensitivity, and resolution of measuring biologically relevant reproductive effects of exposure to noxious agents. The objective of this article is to review the dynamic processes leading to the formation of mammalian sperm, to illustrate how some reproductive disorders affect semen quality, to summarize some of the more pertinent dosimetric applications of conventional (not automated cytologic) semen assays and to point out significant differences in species characteristics that can influence hazard evaluation based on changes in semen quality.
Low temperature growth of boron nitride nanotubes on substrates.

High growth temperatures (>1100 °C), low production yield, and impurities have prevented research progress and applications of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in the past 10 years. Here, we show that BNNTs can be grown on substrates at 600 °C. These BNNTs are constructed of high-order tubular structures and can be used without purification. Tunneling spectroscopy indicates that their band gap ranges from 4.4 to 4.9 eV.
Incorporation of laurate and hydroxylaurate into phosphatidylcholines and acylglycerols in castor microsomes

Because castor produces oil with a high content of hydroxyl FA (90% ricinoleate), we were interested in determining the flexibility of castor seed microsomes in incorporating other hydroxyl FA into castor oil. To this end, we incubated the [14C]-labeled 12:0 FA laurate (La), 11-hydroxylaurate, and 12-hydroxylaurate with castor microsomes that were capable of synthesizing castor oil. The molecular species of PC and acylglycerols (AG) incorporating these nonendogenous FA of castor were identified by reversed-phase C8 and C18 HPLC, respectively. [14C]Laurate was incorporated into the molecular species of PC and AG at levels of 10 and 4%, respectively, that of [14C]ricinoleate. Similar to those from the incorporation of six [14C]FA reported previously [ricinoleate (R), oleate (O), linoleate (L), linolenate (Ln), stearate (S), and palmitate (P)], the molecular species of PC incorporating [14C]laureate were LLa-PC>PLa-PC>OLa-PC>LnLa-PC>SLa-PC>RLa-PC. The molecular species of AG incorporating [14C]laurate were RRLa>LaLa>RLa>RLLa>ROLa>LOLa>LLLa>LLa>LLnLa>RSLa>OOLa. The retention times for lipids incorporating laurate were similar to those of lipids incorporating linolenate, because the equivalent carbon numbers of laurate and linolenate are the same. Relative retention times of the molecular species of PC and AG containing laurate are also reported here. The incorporation of 11-hydroxylaurate and 12-hydroxylaurate into PC and AG was not detected.
Multiple relative pose graphs for robust cooperative mapping

This paper describes a new algorithm for cooperative and persistent simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) using multiple robots. Recent pose graph representations have proven very successful for single robot mapping and localization. Among these methods, incremental smoothing and mapping (iSAM) gives an exact incremental solution to the SLAM problem by solving a full nonlinear optimization problem in real-time. In this paper, we present a novel extension to iSAM to facilitate online multi-robot mapping based on multiple pose graphs. Our main contribution is a relative formulation of the relationship between multiple pose graphs that avoids the initialization problem and leads to an efficient solution when compared to a completely global formulation. The relative pose graphs are optimized together to provide a globally consistent multi-robot solution. Efficient access to covariances at any time for relative parameters is provided through iSAM, facilitating data association and loop closing. The performance of the technique is illustrated on various data sets including a publicly available multi-robot data set. Further evaluation is performed in a collaborative helicopter and ground robot experiment.
Trends in outpatient breast cancer surgery among Medicare fee-for-service patients in the United States from 1993 to 2002.

The practice of outpatient breast cancer surgery has been controversial in the United States. This study aimed to update time trends and geographic variation in outpatient breast cancer surgery among elderly Medicare fee-for-service women in the United States. Using the 1993–2002 linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)–Medicare claims data and the Area Resource Files, we identified 2 study samples, including the women whose breast cancers were the first-ever-diagnosed cancer at age 65 years or older from 9 regions continuously covered by the SEER registries since 1993. The first sample included the women receiving unilateral mastectomy for stage 0–IV cancer; the second included the women receiving the breast-conserving surgery with lymph node dissection (BCS/LND) for stage 0–II cancer. The proportions of patients receiving outpatient surgery increased from 3.2% to 19.4% for mastectomy and from 48.9% to 77.8% for BCS/LND from 1993 to 2002. We observed substantial geographic variation in the average proportion of the patients receiving outpatient surgery in the studied areas across the 10-year period, ranging from 3.9% in Connecticut to 27.2% in Utah for mastectomy and from 54.7% in Hawaii to 78.1% in Seattle, Washington, for BCS/LND. As the popularity of outpatient breast cancer surgery continues to grow, more evidence-based analyses related to quality and outcomes of outpatient breast cancer surgery among various populations are needed in order to facilitate the public debates about state and federal mandated health benefit legislations.
Influence of ethnicity on recreation and natural environment use patterns: Managing recreation sites for ethnic and racial diversity

Management of natural environment sites is becoming increasingly complex because of the influx of urbanized society into wildland areas. This worldwide phenomenon impacts a wide range of countries. In southern California ethnicity is often a major factor influencing recreation site use and behavior at sites in the wildland-urban interface. This study investigated the role of ethnicity and race on the use patterns, perception of environment, and recreation behaviors at an outdoor recreation site visited by an ethnically diverse population. Two research questions were asked: (1) What ethnic groups engage in outdoor recreation at this site, and (2) what differences can be assigned to these various groups? Data were collected from 250 recreationists during 1991. Three major ethnic groups were identified, and statistically significant differences were found in the importance of site attributes, activity participation, and in preferred and actual communication channels. Management implications and strategies based on group differences are discussed.
The Diagnosis of Mental Disorders in Clinical Social Work: A Review of Standards of Care

Licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders, clinical social workers have begun to develop and practice professional standards commensurate with their status as the nation’s largest provider of mental health care. Against the backdrop of malpractice claims and awards, this paper reviews the extant standards promulgated by our professional organizations, regulatory bodies, health-insurance and managed-care entities, and the courts to synthesize standards of care for the diagnosis of mental disorders. The limited available evidence suggests that clinical social workers merit congratulations and concern as we rise to the challenge of addressing those standards in education and practice.
Uhl's anomaly: Absence of the right ventricular myocardium

We report a case of Uhl's anomaly in a 3-week-old infant that underwent central shunt placement, patent duct us arteriosus and main pulmonary artery ligation. The infant presented with room air saturation of 43%, dilated right ventricle with decreased function and dilated right atrium. Diagnosis was established with a myocardial biopsy.
Managed futures, positive feedback trading, and futures price volatility

A major issue in recent years is the role that large, managed futures funds and pools play in futures markets. Many market participants argue that managed futures trading increases price volatility due to the size of managed futures trading and reliance on positive feedback trading systems. The purpose of this study is to provide new evidence on the impact of managed futures trading on futures price volatility. A unique data set on managed futures trading is analyzed for the period 1 December 1988 through 31 March 1989. The data set includes the daily trading volume of large commodity pools for 36 different futures markets. Regression results are unequivocal with respect to the impact of commodity pool trading on futures price volatility. For the 72 estimated regressions (two for each market), the coefficient on commodity pool trading volume is significantly different from zero in only four cases. These results constitute strong evidence that, at least for this sample period, commodity pool trading is not associated with increases in futures price volatility. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 19: 759–776, 1999
Heat transfer in a channel with dimples and protrusions on opposite walls

Local and spatially averaged Nusselt-number data are presented forthe dimpled surface of a channel, both with and without protrusions (with the same shapes as the dimples ) on the opposite wall. Channel aspect ratio is 16, ratio of channel height to dimple print diameter is 0.5, Reynolds numbers based on channel height ranges from 5 ££ 10 3 to 3:5 ££ 10 4 , and ratio of channel inlet stagnation temperature to wall temperature ranges from 0.73 to 0.94. Because of the added vortical, secondary e ow structures and e ow unsteadiness induced by the protrusions, local and spatially averaged Nusselt numbers are augmented considerably and have greater Reynolds-number dependence, compared to a channel with a smooth top wall and dimples on one opposite wall. Nusselt-number variations arealso observed asthelocation ofthearray of protrusionsis changed with respect to thedimples. Form drag and channel friction factors are augmented, and thermal performance factors are then generally lower when protrusions are employed, compared to a channel with a smooth top surface and a dimpled bottom surface. Nomenclature D = dimple print diameter f = channel friction factor f0 = baseline friction factor in channel measured with smooth top and bottom channel surfaces H = channel height k = thermal conductivity Nu = Nusselt number based on channel hydraulic diameter Nu0 = baseline Nusselt number based on channel hydraulic diameter and measured with smooth top and bottom channel surfaces ReDh = Reynolds number based on bulk mean channel velocity and channel hydraulic diameter ReH = Reynolds number based on bulk mean channel velocity and channel height Toi = spatially averaged stagnation temperature at test section inlet Tw = surface temperature X = streamwise coordinate measured from upstream edge of test surface Z = spanwise coordinate measured from spanwise centerline of test surface
Abnormal Bursting as a Pathophysiological Mechanism in Parkinson's Disease.

Abstract Despite remarkable advances in Parkinson's disease (PD) research, the pathophysiological mechanisms causing motor dysfunction remain unclear, possibly delaying the advent of new and improved therapies. Several such mechanisms have been proposed including changes in neuronal firing rates, the emergence of pathological oscillatory activity, increased neural synchronization, and abnormal bursting. This review focuses specifically on the role of abnormal bursting of basal ganglia neurons in PD, where a burst is a physiologically relevant, transient increase in neuronal firing over some reference period or activity. After reviewing current methods for how bursts are detected and what the functional role of bursts may be under normal conditions, existing studies are reviewed that suggest that bursting is abnormally increased in PD and that this increases with worsening disease. Finally, the influence of therapeutic approaches for PD such as dopamine-replacement therapy with levodopa or dopamine agonists, lesions, or deep brain stimulation on bursting is discussed. Although there is insufficient evidence to conclude that increased bursting causes motor dysfunction in PD, current evidence suggests that targeted investigations into the role of bursting in PD may be warranted.
Spectral sensitivity evaluation considering color constancy

Digital cameras are used under a wide spectrum of illuminants and should adjust the white point according to the illuminant used (white balance correction). The white balance correction makes "white" object be reproduced as "white" but the reproduction of chromatic objects will not necessarily be appropriate (color constancy error). Three types of sensor models were used for the simulation. The error was reduced by a primary conversion that made overlaps and widths of the channels smaller. Thus two new metrics that evaluated the overlaps and the widths were defined and used to optimize the conversion to a color space suitable for white-balancing and it was shown that the color constancy errors were reduced. It was also shown that the color constancy error was small for the sensor model whose overlaps between channels were small and channel widths were narrow. The narrower widths and smaller overlaps of RGB channels gave less accurate colorimetric reproduction but less noisy images. In view of consumer digital cameras, the narrower widths and smaller overlaps of RGB channels is suitable because it can give less noisy images and consistent color reproduction with simple white balance processing.
Ties that bind in business ethics: Social contracts and why they matter

Abstract How should bankers respond to challenges about whether to separate stock analysis from the other financial functions of financial services companies, or whether to maintain relationships with socially discredited customers? We wrote a book recently, Ties That Bind ( Donaldson and Dunfee, 1999 ), out of our conviction that answering many of these questions requires a new approach to business ethics, one that exposes the implicit understandings or “contracts” that bind industries, companies, and economic systems into communities. In this article we unpack the fundamental elements of our approach called Integrative Social Contracts Theory (ISCT) and demonstrate how the theory can be applied to a particular question currently asked in the financial services industry, namely, “How should accounting firms and banking institutions deal with the increasing criticism alleging that new forms of conflict of interest impair the objectivity of auditors and security analysts.”
Partial purification of microsomal signal peptidase from hen oviduct

Signal peptidase has been purified approximately 600-fold from hen oviduct microsomes. Treatment of microsomes with ice-cold sodium carbonate at pH 11.5 removes soluble and extrinsic membrane proteins prior to solubilization of signal peptidase with Nonidet P-40. After dialysis to pH 8.2, the solubilized enzyme is chromatographed on diethylaminoethyl cellulose at pH 8.2. More than 90% of contaminating proteins bind to the column while signal peptidase and endogenous phospholipid are eluted in the column void volume. Enzyme activity subsequently binds to carboxymethyl cellulose at pH 5.8 and is eluted by approximately 100 to 200 mM NaCl during a NaCl gradient. Polypeptides present in partially purified hen oviduct signal peptidase have relative molecular masses ranging from 54 kD to less than 11 kD with major bands at 29, 23, 22, 19, 18 and 13 kD. The purified peptidase requires phospholipid for activity and is maximally active in the presence of 2 mg/ml phosphatidylcholine.
Preparation of an Ester-Containing Grignard Reagent by Halogen-Metal Exchange.

In this experiment, students carry out a halogen–metal exchange reaction of methyl 2-iodobenzoate with isopropylmagnesium chloride in THF at 0 °C to afford 2-carbomethoxyphenylmagnesium chloride, which is treated with p-methoxybenzaldehyde to give a lactone (phthalide) product. This reaction introduces students to the modern method of preparation of Grignard and organolithium reagents by halogen–metal exchange rather than by using metallic magnesium or lithium, which is rarely done in a research laboratory. It also demonstrates that Grignard reagents bearing reactive functionality can be prepared and utilized in synthesis, although students are still often taught otherwise. The IR spectrum of the crude product provides semiquantitative information on the success of the reaction because the lactone product and starting material ester and aldehyde have very different carbonyl absorptions, demonstrating the power of this technique to distinguish between functional groups. The product can be purified by chrom...
Multi‐model fusion and error parameter estimation

A robust and practical methodology for multi-model ocean forecast fusion has been sought. Present regional ocean forecasting systems adapt and evolve in response to modelled processes. This makes it imperative that a forecast combination methodology be adaptive and capable to operate with a small sample of past validating events. To this end, we consider an extension of maximum-likelihood error parameter estimation to multi-model predictive systems, and utilize the resulting methodology for adaptive Bayesian model fusion. The methodology consists of the following three general steps: (a) parametrization of forecast uncertainties through either a suitable parametric family (e.g. covariance models) or through a low-rank approximation (e.g. flow-dependent error subspaces); (b) update of uncertainty parameters via maximum likelihood; and (c) combining model forecasts based on their uncertainty parameters via maximum likelihood. In order to implement step (b), we have extended the maximum-likelihood error parameter estimation methodology to multi-model forecasting systems using the expectation-maximization technique, with the true state-space vector at observation locations treated as missing data. With only one forecasting model, the procedure reduces to the standard maximum-likelihood error parameter estimation. The proposed multi-model fusion methodology neglects cross-model error correlations in order to gain the capability to work with a small sample of past events. We illustrate the methodology with a two-model forecasting example (HOPS, ROMS) within the framework of the real-time forecasting experiment held in Monterey Bay during 2003.
Multiscale monitoring of a multispecies case study: two grass species at Sevilleta

Monitoring multiple species and their interactions at multiple scales is critical for any useful habitat conservation plans and for adaptive ecosystem management programs. Viability of single species can be understood only in the context of ecological interactions with other species at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Here, we present a case study of the spatial and temporal dynamics for two perennial grasses, Bouteloua eriopoda and B. gracilis, by using long-term, high resolution transect data from 1989 to 1998 at two sites in the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge (Deep Well and Five Points) in central New Mexico, USA. Information entropy was used to describe the spatial distribution of each species and the fractal dimension of information entropy was used to characterize the complexity of species dynamics across scales. When considered individually, the spatial distribution of each species was scale-invariant. However, species joint occurrences changed as scale of resolution increased at both sites. Interactions changed at scales less than 3.2 m at Deep Well and less than 1.6 m at Five Points. Across years, the interactions of these species at Deep Well were significantly different in 1989 from all other years. Our results argue that monitoring multiple species at multiple spatial and temporal scales is necessary to better understand multispecies interactions and community dynamics both of which have important conservation implications under changing environmental conditions.
Additional AMS Radiocarbon Age Determinations for the Central Plains Tradition

We report an additional 15 AMS age determinations on annual plants or ceramic residue from eight Central Plains tradition sites in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Age determinations are presented and problems with dating ceramic residue are discussed.
Responses of representative midgut detoxifying enzymes from Heliothis zea and Spodoptera frugiperda to trichothecenes.

Abstract The relative levels of representative midgut detoxifying enzymes were measured in last instar larvae of Heliothis zea and Spodoptera frugiperda after the insects had been fed for 48 h on diets containing representative trichothecenes, which are protein synthesis inhibitors. 4-Nitroanisole O -demethylation was induced (as indicated by increased enzyme activity) by 1.6-fold in H. zea and by 6.1-fold in S. frugiperda when fed 250 ppm of deoxynivalenol, a dose that severely retarded growth of the insects. Induction of this activity was also noted with lower levels of deoxynivalenol in both species, and with diacetoxyscirpenol and T-2 toxin in H. zea. 1-Chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene glutathione transferase conjugation was induced by c . 1.3-fold with deoxynivalenol at 250 ppm and 25 ppm, and with T-2 toxin at 25 ppm in H. zea ; but was slightly inhibited ( c . 10–20%) in S. frugiperda in some cases. 1-Naphthyl acetate hydrolysis was generally unaffected by all trichothecenes tested at all doses in H. zea , but was inhibited by c . 30% in S. frugiperda by lower doses of all three trichothecenes. However, a new 1-naphthyl acetate esterase band was noted after exposure to 250 ppm of deoxynivalenol, and to some extent lower doses of deoxynivalenol and the other trichothecenes in both insect species. The hydrolysis of a radiolabeled model trichothecene, 4-monoacetoxyscripenol, was induced by 3.1-fold in H. zea and 2.7-fold in S. frugiperda with 250 ppm of deoxynivalenol (the only compound and dose tested). This activity could be inhibited by nearly 100% with 10 −4 M paraoxon, suggesting a serine-hydroxyl esterase was involed. Although this activity could not be recovered from gels, indirect competitive inhibition assays with 1-naphthyl acetate suggested the induced band could be responsible for some of the hydrolysis of the 4-monoacetoxyscirpenol.
Developing Character Identity: A New Framework for Counseling Adults in Transition

Counselors working with adults in transition can integrate the principles of character development with talk therapy, creating a framework for dialogue about the relationship between clients' character identity and their personal struggles and successes. Intervention strategies are proposed focusing on developing character identity for more effective decision making and authentic living.
A THEORETICAL STUDY OF THE CYTOSINE EXCIMER STATE: THE ROLE OF GEOMETRY OPTIMIZATION

A study of the lowest excited dimer (excimer) singlet state of the DNA base cytosine was performed with fully optimized geometry (near the cis-syn form) using a slightly modified version of MOPAC6 (AM1 hamiltonian) and 112 excited configurations involving an active space consisting of the four highest occupied and the two lowest empty MO of the dimer. A binding energy of 3 kcal/mol for the excimer state is demonstrated, and the excimer fluorescence is predicted to be shifted 150 nm to longer wavelengths relative to that of the monomer fluorescence. The excimer geometry has the planes nonparallel (40–45° interplanar angle) and distorted, with the C5-C6 bonds showing quite close contact (2.4 A). Excitation is found to be more localized in the region of the C5-C6 bond than expected from the monomer wavefunction. No stable excimer was found if the planes were constrained to be planar, nor if the triplet state was selected. The results suggest that the excimer geometry found in this study may be a precursor to the cis-syn cyclobutane photodimer.
Earthquake Recovery Gaps between Norms of Disaster Agencies and Expectations of Small Businesses

This study examines the gap in perceptions of small business owners and government officials about the availability, usability, and effectiveness of public support and assistance after an earthquake. Specifically, the study explores perceptions about small business recovery held by officials in two federal agencies, the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Administration, following the Northridge earthquake. The article concludes with an assessment of the federal response as well as suggestions for improved governmental operations as viewed by personnel in each of the two agencies. Results will hopefully shed some light on the public organizations' role in recovery and ways in which this effort can be improved. This study is part of a larger National Science Foundation study on the effects of the Northridge earthquake on small business survival.
Multicriteria decision making with parallel clusters in structural topology optimization

Generating Pareto surfaces is a well accepted technique in multiattribute decision making. Alternatively, an interactive approach may be used where designs on the Pareto frontier are compared or rank ordered and newer designs are generated to maximize an implicit utility function. When each function evaluation involves a finite element analysis or other type of simulation, multicriteria approaches can become highly computationally expensive. In this context, techniques for reducing computing time using parallel processors are discussed. A structural topology problem is chosen as a test problem and Pareto surfaces are generated using two different clusters. Near linear speed-ups and high efficiencies are observed on both the clusters. It is possible to integrate this methodology into computer programs that assist design engineers in the industry leading so that less turn around time is required to make critical decisions.
Automated identification of adverse events related to central venous catheters

Methods for surveillance of adverse events (AEs) in clinical settings are limited by cost, technology, and appropriate data availability. In this study, two methods for semi-automated review of text records within the Veterans Administration database are utilized to identify AEs related to the placement of central venous catheters (CVCs): a Natural Language Processing program and a phrase-matching algorithm. A sample of manually reviewed records were then compared to the results of both methods to assess sensitivity and specificity. The phrase-matching algorithm was found to be a sensitive but relatively non-specific method, whereas a natural language processing system was significantly more specific but less sensitive. Positive predictive values for each method estimated the CVC-associated AE rate at this institution to be 6.4 and 6.2%, respectively. Using both methods together results in acceptable sensitivity and specificity (72.0 and 80.1%, respectively). All methods including manual chart review are limited by incomplete or inaccurate clinician documentation. A secondary finding was related to the completeness of administrative data (ICD-9 and CPT codes) used to identify intensive care unit patients in whom a CVC was placed. Administrative data identified less than 11% of patients who had a CVC placed. This suggests that other methods, including automated methods such as phrase matching, may be more sensitive than administrative data in identifying patients with devices. Considerable potential exists for the use of such methods for the identification of patients at risk, AE surveillance, and prevention of AEs through decision support technologies.
Do rental agents discriminate against minority customers? Evidence from the 2000 Housing Discrimination Study

Abstract This study examines the incidence and causes of housing discrimination in qualitative treatment by rental agents, using national audit data from the 2000 Housing Discrimination Study. Using the fixed-effects logit method described by [Review of Economic Studies 47(1) (1980) 225–238], we control for unobservable factors that are shared by audit teammates and conduct hypothesis tests for the incidence and causes of discrimination. We find evidence that rental housing discrimination has declined since 1989 but continues to exist in several important types of housing agent behavior. We also find evidence that this discrimination is caused by agents’ own prejudice and by their response to the prejudice of white clients.