cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating Glycemic Efficacy and Patient Satisfaction of Intermittent-Scanned Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients with Diabetes

Introduction: Intermittent-scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) has the ability to allow for greater personalization of diabetes self-management. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an updated analysis of the efficacy and patient satisfaction of isCGM in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A research librarian searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library using keywords and subject headings to identify studies assessing efficacy and use of isCGMs in patients with T1DM and T2DM. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients with T1DM and T2DM using isCGM were included. Based on available RCT evidence investigating isCGM in patients with diabetes, isCGM may lead to a small decrease hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in certain subgroups of patients with uncontrolled T2DM (those using multiple daily insulin injections and aged 65 years or younger). Patients with uncontrolled T1DM using insulin may also benefit from isCGM, when combined with a structured diabetes education program. Evidence is mixed regarding isCGM impact on improving time in glycemic range, glycemic variability, and hypoglycemia. isCGM has demonstrated greater patient satisfaction and lower diabetes distress compared with usual care. Conclusions: isCGM may lead to improvements in HbA1c in certain subgroups of patients. Additional benefit with isCGM on time in glycemic range, glycemic variability, and hypoglycemia is unclear at this time. Future clinical trials are warranted to investigate the role of isCGM in patients with uncontrolled T2DM using insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs.
The New Paradigm Of Post-Disaster Reconnaissance: Using Virtual Methods to Enhance Systematic In-Field Data Collection

Virtual reconnaissance is the act of gathering information after an extreme event through virtual means. This information could be data on damaged regions, cultural data for an impacted region, and previous damage to regions in an extreme event, or information on the governing codes in a region. The goal of virtual reconnaissance is to virtually collect data so that the in-field data collection is systematically organized for cataloging and retrieval. The virtual data can complement in-field data collection by broadening the scope of the reconnaissance team’s mission and providing information to a team to help guide the development of in-field reconnaissance goals and objectives. In other instances, virtual data can replace in-field data collection completely. This replacement may be necessary when regions are not accessible due to damage or due to the location of the extreme event.
Contextual sensory integration training via head mounted display for individuals with vestibular disorders: a feasibility study

Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) interventions can simulate real-world sensory environments. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a novel VR application (app) developed for a Head ...
Outcomes before and after Adopting Guidelines for Expectant Management of Severe Preeclampsia.

Objective This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with severe preeclampsia before and after implementation of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) taskforce hypertensive guidelines. Study design Single-center retrospective cohort study of women with severe preeclampsia delivering live nonanomalous singletons 23 to 342/7 weeks from 2013 to 2017. In 2015, the ACOG guidelines for expectant management of severe preeclampsia were implemented at our institution. Based on this, patients were categorized as preguideline (January 2013-December 2015) or postguideline adoption (January 2016-December 2017). Primary outcomes included composite maternal morbidity and composite neonatal morbidity; secondary outcomes included composite components, length of stay, birth weight, and delivery gestational age. Groups were compared with Student's t-test, Chi-square, and Wilcoxon's rank-sum tests; adjusted odds ratios (aOR; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were calculated. Yearly composite outcomes were compared using the Cochran-Armitage trend test. We estimated a sample size of 250 per group would provide 80% power at α = 0.05 to detect a 50% reduction in neonatal morbidity from a baseline rate of 21.5%. Results From 2013 to 2017, a total of 543 women with severe preeclampsia were identified: 278 (51%) preguideline and 265 (49%) postguideline. Baseline characteristics were overall similar between groups. There were no significant differences in maternal (aOR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.6-1.41) or neonatal (aOR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.61-1.28) composite morbidity between groups. Furthermore, there were no differences in composite maternal or neonatal morbidity over time. Conclusion Perinatal outcomes were similar before and after implementation of severe preeclampsia management guidelines at our institution. Studies to evaluate if benefits are limited to subsets of this population, such as earlier gestational ages, are needed. Key points · Expectant management of severe preeclampsia has yet to be fully evaluated outside of trial conditions.. · We did not see a significant improvement in neonatal composite morbidity/mortality.. · We also did not see a worsened composite maternal morbidity/mortality..
From Rural Germany, Integrated Care Grows Into A Global Model

Fifteen years after a precursor to the ACO formed in the Black Forest region, a value-based approach to health care gains traction.
Traffic Flow Characteristics and Lane Use Strategies for Connected and Automated Vehicles in Mixed Traffic Conditions

Managed lanes, such as a dedicated lane for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), can provide not only technological accommodation but also desired market incentives for road users to adopt CAVs in the near future. In this paper, we investigate traffic flow characteristics with two configurations of the managed lane across different market penetration rates and quantify the benefits from the perspectives of lane-level headway distribution, fuel consumption, communication density, and overall network performance. The results highlight the benefits of implementing managed lane strategies for CAVs: (1) A dedicated CAV lane significantly extends the stable region of the speed-flow diagram and yields a greater road capacity. As the result shows, the highest flow rate is 3400 vehicles per hour per lane at 90% market penetration rate with one CAV lane. (2) The concentration of CAVs in one lane results in a narrower headway distribution (with smaller standard deviation) even with partial market penetration. (3) A dedicated CAV lane is also able to eliminate duel-bell-shape distribution that is caused by the heterogeneous traffic flow. (4) A dedicated CAV lane creates a more consistent CAV density, which facilitates communication activity and decreases the probability of packet dropping.
Radius and Structure models for the First Super-Earth Planet

With improving methods and surveys, the young field of extrasolar planets has recently expanded into a qualitatively new domain - terrestrial (mostly rocky) planets. The first such planets were discovered during the past year, judging by their measured masses of less than 10 Earth-masses ($M_{\oplus}$) or Super-Earths. They are introducing a novel physical regime that has not been explored before as such planets do not exist in our Solar System. Their composition can be either completely terrestrial or harbour an extensive ocean (water and ices) above a rocky core. We model the structure and properties of the first Super-Earth (mass $\sim$ 7.5 $M_{\oplus}$) discovered in 2005, illustrating the possibilities in composition and providing radius evaluations in view of future detection of similar planets by transits. We find that a threshold in radius exists for which larger values indicate that a Super-Earth most certainly has an extensive water content. In the case of GJ876d this threshold is at about 12000 km. Our results show that unique characterization of the bulk composition of Super-Earths will be possible in future transit studies.
Development of a large spontaneous pneumothorax after recovery from mild COVID-19 infection.

A previously healthy 37-year-old man presented with fevers and myalgias for a week with a minimal dry cough. Initial SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal testing was negative, but in light of high community prevalence, he was diagnosed with COVID-19, treated with supportive care and self-quarantined at home. Three days after resolution of all symptoms, he developed sudden onset chest pain. Chest imaging revealed a large right-sided pneumothorax and patchy subpleural ground glass opacities. IgM and IgG antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 were positive. His pneumothorax resolved after placement of a small-bore chest tube, which was removed after 2 days.This case demonstrates that patients with COVID-19 can develop a significant pulmonary complication, a large pneumothorax, despite only minimal lower respiratory tract symptoms and after resolution of the original illness. Medical professionals should consider development of a pneumothorax in patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and present with new respiratory symptoms.
Neuromuscular compensation strategies adopted at the shoulder following bilateral subpectoral implant breast reconstruction.

Immediate two-stage subpectoral implant breast reconstruction after mastectomy requires the surgical disinsertion of the sternocostal fiber region of the pectoralis major (PM). The disinsertion of the PM would need increased contributions from intact shoulder musculature to generate shoulder torques. This study aimed to identify neuromuscular compensation strategies adopted by subpectoral implant breast reconstruction patients using novel muscle synergy analyses. Fourteen patients treated bilaterally with subpectoral implant breast reconstruction (>2.5 years post-reconstruction) were compared to ten healthy controls. Surface electromyography was obtained from sixteen shoulder muscles as participants generated eight three-dimensional (3D) shoulder torques in five two-dimensional arm postures bilaterally. Non-negative matrix factorization revealed the muscle synergies utilized by each experimental group on the dominant and non-dominant limbs, and the normalized similarity index assessed group differences in overall synergy structure. Bilateral subpectoral implant patients exhibited similar shoulder strength to healthy controls on the dominant and non-dominant arms. Our results suggest that 3D shoulder torque is driven by three shoulder muscle synergies in both healthy participants and subpectoral implant patients. Two out of three synergies were more similar than is expected by chance between the groups on the non-dominant arm, whereas only one synergy is more similar than is expected by chance on the dominant arm. While bilateral shoulder strength is maintained following bilateral subpectoral implant breast reconstruction, a closer analysis of the muscle synergy patterns underlying 3D shoulder torque generation reveals that subpectoral implant patients adopt compensatory neuromuscular strategies only with the dominant arm.
Coaching Virtually to Support Professional Learning

Virtual coaching is emerging as a feasible method of providing ongoing, job-embedded, personalized professional learning to educators. This manuscript details how virtual coaching is different from...
Computed tomography in tetralogy of Fallot: pre- and postoperative imaging evaluation

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cause of cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) and the most frequent complex CHD encountered in adulthood. Although children with TOF share four characteristic features (subaortic ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary stenosis), the clinical spectrum and course are in fact greatly heterogeneous. Echocardiography remains the mainstay for diagnosis, presurgical planning and postoperative follow-up. However, with continued technological advances, CT now plays an increasing role in TOF evaluation and management, helping to minimize routine invasive catheter angiography. Preoperatively, CT is uniquely suited to assess associated pulmonary arterial, aortic and coronary anomalies as well as extra-cardiovascular structures and is particularly helpful for delineating complex anatomy in the TOF subtypes of absent pulmonary valve and pulmonary atresia with major aortopulmonary collaterals. Postoperatively, CT is useful for identifying surgical complications and for long-term monitoring including volumetry quantification, especially in children for whom MRI is contraindicated or limited by implanted devices such as pacemakers and stents. In this article, we review key clinical features and considerations in the pre- and postoperative TOF patient and the burgeoning role of CT for facilitating accurate diagnosis and personalized intervention.
A Review of UTDrive Studies: Learning Driver Behavior From Naturalistic Driving Data

Intelligent vehicles and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are being developed rapidly over the past few years. Many applications such as vehicle localization, environment perception, and path planning have shown promising potentialities. While there is great interest in migrating from complete human-controlled vehicles towards fully autonomous vehicles, it is natural that researchers spending more effort trying to understand the interaction between vehicles with various levels of automation in large-scale traffic scenarios. Next-generation vehicles are expected to have the capacity of evaluating driver conditions, vehicle capabilities, surrounding traffic contexts, and take advantage of such knowledge to ensure safe and efficient driving. Three general research questions are raised to achieve this goal, which are (i) how can we acquire sufficient data, (ii) how to evaluate and understand driving behavior, and (iii) how to deliver information effectively to drivers. In this article, we present a review of previous studies from the UTDrive project attempts to answer above questions.
J. Allan Hobson’s Dreamstage in Context

This chapter focuses on dream science and its relationship to scientific and popular discourses of neurobiology, including those related to the marketing of psychotropic drugs and sleep medication. The focal point in this chapter is an analysis of an exhibition held at Harvard’s Carpenter Center for the Arts in 1977 called Dreamstage. The chapter argues that Dreamstage and related discourses helped to transform dreaming from primarily an illusory or imaginative construct into a physical and biochemical process, thus stripping it of “meaning” and rendering it part of the sleep cycle. The chapter places this erasure of the dreamscape in the context of the rise of 24/7 consumer capitalism and the increasing technophile society of the late 1970s and 1980s.
Chemical Interplay of Silicon and Graphite in a Composite Electrode in SEI Formation.

We investigated the effect of the Si/graphite weight ratio in half-cells on the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer’s chemistry. The nominal concentrations of active materials were (wt % Si/wt...
Demonstration of Rickettsia rickettsii in the rhesus monkey by immune fluorescence microscopy.

Indirect immune fluorescence was used to detect rickettsiae in the tissues of a primate inoculated subcutaneously with Rickettsia rickettsii. Rickettsiae were identified by indirect immune fluorescence predominantly in skin, skeletal muscle, scrotum, testicles, nares, heart, kidney, liver, brain, spleen, pancreas, and larynx. Cell culture assay confirmed the presence of infectious organisms in those specimens. Images
Sucrose Synthetase from Phaseolus aureus Seedlings

Abstract Sucrose synthetase from mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) has been purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The molecular weight of sucrose synthetase was determined to be about 106 by gel filtration chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The density of the sucrose synthetase particle was determined by equilibrium sedimentation to be 1.20 g per cc. The ability to catalyze the synthesis of sucrose from each of the nucleoside diphosphate glucoses containing uridine, adenosine, thymidine, cytidine, and guanosine remains associated with the purified particle. Attempts to subdivide the particle into catalytically active units have been unsuccessful. The Michaelis constants of the substrates for the sucrose synthetase particles and the maximum velocities of sucrose synthesis in the presence of each of the nucleoside diphosphate glucoses have been determined. In competition experiments between pairs of nucleoside diphosphate glucoses, uridine diphosphate glucose inhibits the synthesis of sucrose from the other nucleoside diphosphate glucoses far more effectively than would be expected on the basis of competition between the substrates for the same catalytic sites. On the other hand, the adenosine-, thymidine-, cytidine-, and guanosine-containing nucleoside diphosphate glucoses do not inhibit sucrose synthesis from uridine diphosphate glucose as effectively as would be anticipated on the basis of a simple competition mechanism. It is concluded that uridine diphosphate glucose is able to control the synthesis of the other nucleoside diphosphate glucoses from sucrose by causing a modification of sucrose synthetase.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A review of recent advances, molecular targets, and clinical trials

Background Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor of secretory glands. In this study, recent advances in molecular characterization and in therapeutics are reviewed. Methods A search of articles in PubMed and of abstracts from national meetings was performed regarding ACC. Results Recent genetic analyses found that recurrent chromosome 6:9 translocations in ACC generate an MYB:NFIB gene fusion resulting in overexpression of the MYB oncoprotein. Several other frequent mutations are recently published that may be relevant for drug development. Several trials of targeted drugs are reviewed. Some agents delay tumor progression, but tumor responses remain rare. Conclusion ACCs have a characteristic chromosomal translocation, but also frequently pick up additional mutations. Clinical research is limited by the rarity and slow growth of ACC. Several ongoing trials are testing agents that inhibit fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling or other signaling pathways. Novel treatments based on the recently sequenced tumor genome are under development. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015
The Relevance of Public Image of Science in Science Education Policy and Practice

This paper examines case examples from India to call attention to the significanceof cultural representation(s) of science in science education reform efforts. Thepaper concludes that the public belief in what does and does not constitute sciencehas implications for the teaching and learning of science within each society.
Chapter 6 phosphoethanolamine addition to glycosylphosphatidylinositols

I. Abstract A phosphoethanolamine (Etn‐P) moiety can be attached to up to three of the mannoses (Man) of human and yeast GPI precursors during their assembly in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. All the three Etn‐Ps originate from phosphatidylethanolamine. Mammals and yeast have a family of three related proteins, of which orthologous mammalian PIG‐N and yeast Mcd4 are likely to catalyze transfer of Etn‐P to the α1,4‐linked Man, PIG‐G and yeast Gpi7 are responsible for Etn‐P transfer to the α1,6‐linked Man, and PIG‐O/Gpi13—predominantly in mammals and exclusively in yeast—are involved in Etn‐P transfer to the third, α1,2‐linked Man. The PIG‐G/Gpi7 and PIG‐O/Gpi13 proteins are both partnered by the small, hydrophobic PIG‐F/Gpi11 protein. The three GPI‐Etn‐P transferases (Etn‐P‐T) are large proteins with an N‐terminal, lumenally oriented catalytic domain that resembles members of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily, and with multiple transmembrane domains towards their C‐termini. The GPI anchors made by Trypanosoma brucei and Plasmodium falciparum bear a single Etn‐P on the α1,2‐linked Man, and these parasites' genomes encode just one GPI‐Etn‐P‐T. The Etn‐P on the α1,2‐linked Man becomes amide linked to protein, but the molecular function of the Etn‐Ps on the other two Man is unclear, although the severe growth defects of yeast mutants deficient in Mcd4 and Gpi7 indicate that these side branches are of great importance. This chapter focuses on the properties and proposed functions of GPI‐Etn‐P‐T in mammals and yeast, and reviews the phenotypes of yeast GPI‐Etn‐P‐T mutants.
Equatorial Pacific chemical and biological variability, 1997–2003

[1] Using a database of roughly 300 basin-wide conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) stations per year from 1997 to 2003, we examined interannual and seasonal variability of nutrients and chlorophyll across the equatorial Pacific. During this period, chlorophyll concentrations exceeded the range of previous measurements for this region. Nitrate, silicic acid, and phosphate also varied widely but not necessarily coherently with each other or with chlorophyll. Across the La Nina to El Nino continuum there was nonmonotonic variability in chlorophyll, particulate backscatter (a proxy for phytoplankton carbon), and large size fraction (diatom) chlorophyll. In general, while El Nino was associated with decreased phytoplankton biomass, there was no corresponding increase in phytoplankton or diatoms during La Nina. However, there were increases in macronutrients in response to La Nina. We suggest that the lack of a biological response to these nutrient increases is due to their decoupling from iron supply. Multiple linear regression analysis of the physical factors responsible for vertical nutrient fluxes emphasized the importance of winds in the central and western Pacific, and thermocline depth in the east. We suggest that the role of the winds is not limited to enhancement of upwelling, but perhaps more importantly to increased vertical mixing of nutrients. Seasonal patterns were weak but consistent with previous work which has suggested that enhanced productivity in the second half of the calendar year causes reduced surface pCO2. Enhanced coverage of nutrient sensors on the tropical atmosphere ocean (TAO) array would help to quantify seasonal signals associated with processes such as tropical instability waves and lead to a better understanding of the links between productivity, carbon export, and air-sea CO2 exchange.
The design of improved parimutuel-type information aggregation mechanisms: Inaccuracies and the long-shot bias as disequilibrium phenomena

Information aggregation mechanisms (IAMs) based on parimutuel-type betting systems can aggregate information from complex environments. However, the performance of previously studied systems is imperfect due to possible bluffing, strategic timing of decisions, and “long-shot bias”. This paper demonstrates two modifications of parimutuel systems that improve information aggregation performance by removing disinformation due to strategic behavior and by removing misleading disequilibrium behavior. These experiments also demonstrate that “long-shot bias” results from disequilibrium behavior as opposed to being inherent in the psychology of the individuals.
Genetic predispositions for immunological features in chronic liver diseases other than autoimmune hepatitis

Today's knowledge on the natural history of hepatitis C virus infection derives mainly from local outbreaks and still limited clinical trials. There is a general consensus now that chronic infection occurs in at least 80% of cases after acute disease. Chronic hepatitis C usually runs a mild course with little or no morbidity. In a 15-yr follow-up evaluation of a cohort of 152 women having been infected with HCV-contaminated Rho (D)-immunoglobulin none had developed chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis. On the other hand, half of 80 patients who started out with more advanced forms of chronic hepatitis C developed cirrhosis over a mean period of 12 yr. Recent observations indicate that progression to severe chronic hepatitis may even occur in HCV-RNA positive individuals with normal aminotransferase activities in serum for long periods. Overall, chronic HCV infection is a slowly progressive disease which often needs histological evaluation, especially in patients with normal biochemical findings.
MR staging of primary colorectal carcinoma: comparison with surgical and histopathologic findings

Background: We retrospectively evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in staging colorectal cancer and assessing local tumor extent, nodal involvement, and distant abdominal and pelvic metastases.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Pore size and Zr promotional effects on the activity and selectivity of 25%Co/Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract The effects of pore size (10.8 and 25 nm) and zirconium loading (0–5%) on Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) performance of 25%Co/Al2O3 catalysts were systematically studied at a CO conversion level of ∼50% under industrially relevant conditions. The catalysts were characterized by adsorption and X-ray spectroscopic techniques in order to understand the relationships between the catalyst physicochemical properties and the FTS performance parameters. Unpromoted wide pore 25%Co/Al2O3 displayed greater stability (CO% rate loss over 150 h of testing: 5.2 versus 27.6%) and 40% higher activity than the narrow pore catalyst. Addition of 1–5% Zr improved the initial activity of the 25%Co/Al2O3 catalysts by 25–71% regardless of support pore size, but the catalyst deactivation rates increased. The activity improvements by Zr for the wide pore and narrow pore catalysts are due to different reasons. XRD, hydrogen-chemisorption, and XANES results suggested that Zr primarily increased Co dispersion for the wide pore catalyst whereas it mainly increased Co reduction for the narrow pore catalysts. The smaller mean Co cluster size observed with the wide pore Co catalyst resulted from a relatively higher fraction of Co residing inside the pores as compared to the narrow pore catalyst. The unpromoted wide pore catalyst exhibited lower CH4 selectivity (5.9–6.3 versus 8.3–8.9%) and higher C5+ selectivity (88–89.2 versus 80–82%) compared with the narrow pore one. Zr addition decreased CH4 selectivity and increased C5+ selectivity for the narrow pore 25%Co/Al2O3 catalyst, but the opposite trend was observed with the wide pore Co catalyst. Explanations for the selectivity trends (including olefins and CO2) are provided based on the effects of Co size and location, and the resulting changes in H2/CO mass transport within pores of the Co/Al2O3 catalysts with and without Zr promoter.
Novel testing of human gastric motor and sensory functions: rationale, methods, and potential applications in clinical practice

Sensitive and reproducible tests are essential to investigate the mechanisms of gastric motility and sensation in healthy humans and patients with unexplained upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Electrogastrography, manometry, scintigraphic emptying, and barostat studies with an intragastric balloon were initially used to understand physiology and pathophysiology of gastric motility. However, manometry and barostat studies are time-consuming, costly, and invasive, thus reducing their widespread clinical application. To overcome these shortcomings, several novel approaches have been proposed: water/nutrient drink test, paracetamol absorption test, 13C-octanoic acid or spirulina breath tests, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and tensostat. The water/nutrient (satiety) test is a noninvasive test proposed as an alternative to sensory studies performed with an intragastric balloon. The satiety test cannot measure gastric accommodation; interpretation of sensory tests usually has required independent assessment of accommodation or compliance. The tensostat can be used as a gastric sensation test because it measures gastric wall tension, which is related to the perception of gastric distention. To measure gastric emptying, the paracetamol absorption test, 13C breath tests, ultrasound, or MRI can be used. The paracetamol absorption test can measure the gastric emptying of liquids. 13C breath test can measure the gastric emptying of solids or liquids and can achieve accuracy comparable with gastric scintigraphy. Ultrasonography requires special skills, and MRI requires costly equipment. To measure gastric accommodation to a meal, ultrasound, MRI, and SPECT have been proposed. The recently introduced SPECT requires an intravenous injection of 99mTc-pertechnetate, which the gastric mucosa specifically takes up, and specialized imaging and analysis, which have potential to be automated. Thus, novel, noninvasive approaches assess different dimensions of gastric motility and sensation testing. With further development of these techniques, refinement of their conduct and analysis, and validation of clinical usefulness, they are likely to be applicable in clinical practice to enhance cost-effective, evidence-based management of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Such applications may provide an alternative to sequential empirical trials for symptoms.
When business and government clash: Environmental crisis management in the carpet industry

In an era of increasing stakeholder scrutiny, virtually any company or industry is vulnerable to exaggerated claims of environmental harm against its products. When these claims are picked up by the media, the company can suddenly have a full-fledged crisis on its hands. That's exactly the position the carpet industry found itself in a few years ago. But, as this article explains, carpet makers were able to fight back effectively using sound science and diplomacy. The carpet industry's experience offers valuable lessons for the entire business community. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Sputtering polymers with buckminsterfullerene projectiles: A coarse-grain molecular dynamics study

Buckminsterfullerene projectiles have demonstrated their outstanding capabilities for the secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analysis of bulk organic films. In this contribution, we focus on modeling the mechanisms of energy transfer and sputtering induced by kiloelectronvolt C-60 projectiles in molecular solids and polymers, which are important from the viewpoint of applications and have not been theoretically studied yet. The chosen methodology relies on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, with a coarse-grained representation of the samples that allows us to dynamically describe over sufficient time intervals the large ensembles of molecules required to properly confine the action induced by 1-10 keV fullerenes in organic targets. For 5 keV bombardment, the simulations explain the transfer of the projectile energy in the topmost layers of the surface, accompanied by the formation of a similar to 100 angstrom wide, similar to 50 angstrom deep hemispherical crater and the emission of molecules and fragments from the top 30 A of the surface. Using polyethylene samples with molecular weights ranging from 0.3 kDa up to 14 kDa, the secondary effects of chain length and entanglement on the crater size, sputtering yield, fragmentation, and intact molecule emission are investigated in detail. For instance, it is shown that, in order to be emitted intact, a molecule must be initially confined in the annular region of the forming crater that surrounds the similar to 30 angstrom wide energized core where most bond-scissions occur. In contrast, molecules that intersect this track core break upon impact while molecules that extend beyond the size of the crater end up forming the rim or dangling in the vacuum when most of the energy is dissipated. The evolution of the crater size, the sputtered mass and the number of intact molecules with increasing projectile energies (1-10 keV) are reported and connections with experiments are proposed.
Reliability analysis of prestressed concrete beams exposed to fire

Abstract A procedure for conducting reliability analysis of prestressed concrete beams subjected to a fire load is presented. This involves identifying relevant load combinations, specifying critical load and resistance random variables, and establishing a high-temperature performance model for beam capacity. Based on the procedure, an initial reliability analysis is conducted using currently available data. Significant load random variables are taken to be dead load, sustained live load, and fire temperature. Resistance is in terms of moment capacity, with random variables taken as prestressing steel ultimate strength, concrete compressive strength, placement depth of strands, beam width, and thermal diffusivity. A semi-empirical model is used to estimate beam moment capacity as a function of fire exposure time, which is calibrated to experimental data available in the literature. The effect of various beam parameters were considered, including cover, aggregate type, concrete compressive strength, dead to live load ratio, reinforcement ratio, end restraints, fire exposure, and proportion of end strands to total strands. Using the suggested procedure, reliability was estimated from zero to four hours of fire exposure using Monte Carlo simulation. It was found that reliability decreased nonlinearly as a function of time, while the most significant parameters were concrete cover, load ratio, fire type, end restraints, and proportion of end strands to total strands.
Cardiogenic mixing in the pulmonary conducting airways of man

The increase in dispersion of a bolus of helium (He) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) was used as a direct, non-invasive measure of pulmonary gas mixing in the conducting airways of one female and two male subjects. Mixing was compared for matched respiratory maneuvers at rest and during bicycle ergometer exercise at 35-50% VO2 max (tidal volume of 2 L, inspiratory flow rate greater than or equal to 1.5 L/s, mean expiratory flow rate of 2.8 L/s, and bolus penetrations of 30, 90, 150 and 180 ml). No enhancement of mixing occurred when the heart rate was increased 53% by bicycle exercise. The results suggest that cardiogenic mixing in the upper and central airways is unresponsive to normal changes in the hear rate.
Authorizing Voices: Going Public in an Indigenous Language

the origin of legitimate authority in the voice of the people-not in a written representation of the voice, and not in the textual artifact (the Constitution) that might be taken to embody the political will.... It is as if Wilson, to support his claim "that the people of the United States intended to form themselves into a nation, for national purposes," needs to discern in the "texture of the constitution" an aboriginal vocal origin of that textual artifact, a pretextual aural effect as the pure ground of that document's lack of explicit reference to sovereignty. [Looby 1996:20-21]
Hydrogenphosphat‐ und Carbonatapatite

Apatitische Calciumphate mit vom Hydroxylapatit abweichenden Ca/P-Verhaltnissen wurden chemisch und physikalisch untersucht und ihre Zusammensetzung bestimmt. Fehlstellen konnen nicht nur in Calcium-, sondern auch in OH-Positionen vorhanden sein. Die allgemeine Formel fur Apatite dieser Art ist Ca10-x-y(HPO4, CO3)x (PO4)6-x(OH)2-x-2y. in Carbonatapatiten konnen Defekte 1. Ordnung teilweise wieder aufgefullt sein: Ca10-x+y (CO3)x(PO4)6-x(OH)2-x+2y. Apatitic calcium phosphates with Ca/P ratios different from that of hydroxylapatite were investigated by chemical and physical methods and their compositions established. Defects occur not only in calcium, but also in OH-positions. the general formula for apatites of this kind is Ca10-x-y(HPO4)6-x(OH)2-x-2y. In carbonateapatites first order defects can partially be refilled: Ca10-x+y(CO3)x (PO4)6-x(OH)2-x+2y.
A computer simulation of transcription and processing of eucaryotic mRNA.

A currently popular idea is that a portion of the polyadenylated HnRNA present in the nuclei of eucaryotic cells is transported to the cytoplasm for use as mRNA. Although this model is strongly supported in the literature there are some objections based on kinetic studies. We have constructed a computer simulation of the model to test these objections, and we find that the objections are not valid.
Do patients treated at academic hospitals have better longitudinal outcomes after admission for non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction?

Background Prior studies have found that academic hospitals provide more consistent use of guideline-recommended therapies in patients with non–ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) compared with nonacademic centers, yet it is unclear whether these care differences translate into longer-term outcome differences. Methods Using data from the CRUSADE Registry linked to Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services claims, we compared 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality among 12,194 older patients with NSTEMI (age ≥65 years) treated at 103 academic centers and 28,335 patients treated at 302 nonacademic centers from February 2003 to December 2006. Outcomes were first adjusted for clinical characteristics, followed by adjustment for hospital performance, on 13 acute and discharge guideline-recommended therapies using a shared frailty model (an extension of the Cox proportional hazard model). Results Compared with older patients with NSTEMI treated at nonacademic hospitals, those treated at academic hospitals had greater and more consistent use of evidence-based acute and discharge therapies, were more likely to receive in-hospital revascularization (61.1% vs 54.2%; P P = .089). Conclusions Patients with NSTEMI treated at academic centers are more likely to receive guideline-recommended therapies and had modestly better 30-day outcomes. Nevertheless, these differences do not persist out to 1 year.
The Vibrational Spectra of Crystalline Sodium Pyruvate

Abstract The pyruvate ion is a biochemically important molecule, but its vibrational spectra appear not to have been studied previously in any detail. In view of this, and our interest in the vibrational spectra of simple organic acids and their derivatives, it seemed desirable to carry out a detailed analysis of the vibrational spectra of this ion. Sodium pyruvate is only sparingly soluble in water at ambient temperatures and is insoluble in common organic solvents. The spectra were therefore recorded on crystals which were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company, recrystallized from distilled water and washed with CCl4. The crystal structure of sodium pyruvate has been determined previously by x-ray diffraction1. The molecule crystallizes in the P21/a space group with four molecules per unit cell. The CO2 − group is rotated 18° from the plane containing the other heavy atoms.
Homogeneous selective hydrogenation of dienes and styrene derivatives by use of palladium ferrocenyl amine sulfide complexes as catalysts

Abstract Homogeneous hydrogenation of different conjugated dienes and styrene derivatives was performed at room temperature and low pressure by use of palladium ferrocenyl amine sulfide catalysts CpFeC5H3[CH2NMe2][SMe][PdCl2] (1) (Cp=C5H5), CpFeC5H3[CH2NMe2][S(4-tolyl)][PdCl2] (2), CpFeC5H3[CHMeNMe2][SMe][PdCl2] (3), [S(4-tolyl)]C5H4FeC5H3[CH2NMe2][S(4-tolyl)][PdCl2] (4) and [S(4-tolyl)]C5H4FeC5H3[CHMeNMe2] [S(4-tolyl)][PdCl2] (5). Hydrogenation of conjugated dienes was selective and monoenes were obtained as the main products. Trisubstituted double bonds were hydrogenated very slowly compared with mono- and disubstituted bonds, while tetrasubstituted double bonds were not hydrogenated. Hydrogenation of 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene was accompanied by isomerization and resulted in 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene as the major product. Styrene, 4-methylstyrene and α-methylstyrene were hydrogenated rapidly with almost quantitative yields, while β-methoxystyrene and β-methylstyrene were hydrogenated considerably more slowly and lower yields were obtained. Bulky styrene derivatives (i.e. β-bromostyrene or β,β-dimethylstyrene) were not hydrogenated under the reaction conditions.
Information management for wastewater treatment

Abstract The data collected on a wastewater treatment plant should not only describe its current condition, it should also be used to continually improve the operation of the system. This is possible only if the right information is displayed in ways that allow for its absorption and analyzed in terms that are useful for recognizing and anticipating problems. Experimentation is important in elucidating the behavior of a system in response to perturbations in inputs and operating conditions. This dynamic behavior is seldom revealed by analyzing happenstance data. This paper describes several statistical methods that are useful for information management. These range in difficulty from simple plots (one of the most important tools) to time series modeling for detecting trends and changes in level, and for constructing control charts that satisfy the basic statistical requirements. A new method called discriminant upset analysis is proposed as a possible tool for anticipating upsets. How these methods might be incorporated into an expert system is outlined. It is more and more often necessary to monitor and control chemicals that exist in trace amounts, sometimes at concentrations that are too low to be measured by existing analytical methods. As a result, many data sets are censored at the analytical limit of detection of the substance of interest. This presents special data management and analysis problems, and some suggestions are made regarding their solution.
An Air Curtain Along a Wall With High Inlet Turbulence

A downward blowing isothermal wall jet at moderate Reynolds numbers (1,500 to 8,500) with significant inflow turbulence (ca. 6%) was investigated. The flow configuration is an idealization of the air curtains of refrigerated display cases. Flow visualization using particle seeding was employed to identify the flow field eddy dynamics. Particle Image Velocimetry was used to examine the velocity fields in terms of mean and fluctuating values
Understanding the Differences Between Vendor Types in Local Governance

It is commonly posited that for-profit, nonprofit, and other government vendors have fundamental differences, which make one or the other the superior choice depending on the circumstances of servi...
Development and histochemistry of nuclear crystals in the secretory trichome of Pharbitis nil

Trichomes of Pharbitis nil develop nuclear crystals at the onset of secretion. Mature crystals may reach 7 μ m in length and occupy up to 40% of the cross-sectional area of the nucleus. Concomitant with crystal growth, nucleoli undergo a 50% decrease in cross-sectional area. Crystal development is discussed in relation to nucleolar size, and to the secretion of a protein-carbohydrate product by the glandular trichome.
UNSOLVED PROBLEMS IN HAEMOPHILIA

Diagnosis and therapy for the vast majority of haemophiliacs in the world remain beyond their reach. Health care costs for hemophilia replacement products keep rising. Global inequities for financing health care result in most hemophiliacs being undertreated. The transfusion-transmitted disease, factor VIII inhibitors, is common. Its predictability escapes detection. Management has progressed substantially and offers many therapeutic modalities. Programs for prophylaxis or immune tolerance induction are impossible for most patients. Thus, the challenge for haemophiliacs is to attain these goals.
DINITROGEN FIXATION BY CYANOBACTERIA AND ASSOCIATIVE RHIZOSPHERE BACTERIA IN THE ARAPAHO PRAIRIE IN THE SAND HILLS OF NEBRASKA

Free-living and lichenized cyanobacterial (cyanolichen) colonies occupy 12-29% of the surface area in the Sand Hills grasslands on the Arapaho Prairie in southwestern Nebraska. During brief periods of favorable conditions (i.e., moderate temperature and high moisture), these diazotrophs are capable of high rates of dinitrogen fixation. Maximum rates of acetylene reduction measured during 1981 and 1982 were 2,237 ,g N m-2 hr. The duration of dinitrogen fixation activity is dependent upon moisture conditions; rates of acetylene reduction were shown to decline 90% in as little as three hr. Desiccated colonies resumed acetylene reduction activity within one hr and achieved equilibrium rates within four hr following rehydration. Associative, heterotrophic diazotrophs were isolated from the rhizospheres of several grass species. These bacteria exhibited a range of culturing characteristics which may reflect differing plant-bacterial interaction potentials important to the establishment and maintenance of the plant species. None of the field assays for heterotrophic dinitrogen fixation performed over the two-yr period indicated a capacity of this group to provide ecologically significant levels of N
Computer Visualization of Three-Dimensional Image Data Using IMOD

We have developed a computer software package, IMOD, as a tool for analyzing and viewing three-dimensional biological image data. IMOD is useful for studying and modeling data from tomographic, serial section, and optical section reconstructions. The software allows image data to be visualized by several different methods. Models of the image data can be visualized by volume or contour surface rendering and can yield quantitative information.
Transport of neurotransmitter precursors in a syncytial epithelium.

Abstract 1. Tegumental transport of choline at concentrations ranging from 0.005–5.0 mM provided no evidence for saturable, carrier-mediated entry of this amine in the tegument of the rat tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta). 2. In contrast, the large neutral amino acid tryptophan appears to be taken up via a high-affinity transporter. In the 1st quartile of 17-day-old tapeworms (Km = 0.033 mM, Vmax = 0.7 nmol·min−1 · g−1), in the 2nd quartile (Km = 0.015 mM, Vmax = 0.3 nmol·min−1 · g−1), in the 3rd quartile (Km = 0.022 mM, Vmax = 0.5 nmol · min−1 · g−1) and in the 4th quartile (Km = 0.025 mM, Vmax = 0.5 nmol · min−1 · g−1) saturable tryptophan transport was kinetically characterized. 3. The non-saturable diffusion component (Kd) for tryptophan transport ranged from 3.8–10.2 μl · min−1 · g−1. 4. These studies suggest choline does not appear to be transported across the tapeworm tegument. Saturable transport of tryptophan via a high-affinity carrier is reported, and no regional variations in indole amino acid uptake were detected.
Best Spatial Two-Stage Least Squares Estimators for a Spatial Autoregressive Model with Autoregressive Disturbances

Abstract Estimation of a cross‐sectional spatial model containing both a spatial lag of the dependent variable and spatially autoregressive disturbances are considered. [Kelejian and Prucha (1998)]described a generalized two‐stage least squares procedure for estimating such a spatial model. Their estimator is, however, not asymptotically optimal. We propose best spatial 2SLS estimators that are asymptotically optimal instrumental variable (IV) estimators. An associated goodness‐of‐fit (or over identification) test is available. We suggest computationally simple and tractable numerical procedures for constructing the optimal instruments.