cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Proprietary management and higher readmission rates: A correlation

Introduction Reducing preventable readmissions among Medicare beneficiaries is an effective way to not only reduce the exorbitantly rising cost in healthcare but also as a measure to improve the quality of patient care. Many of the previous efforts in reducing readmission rate of patients have not been very successful because of ill-defined quality measures, improper data collection methods and lack of effective strategies based on data driven solutions. Methods In this study, we analyzed the readmission data of patients for six major diseases including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), heart failure (HF), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), pneumonia (PN), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and total hip arthroplasty and/or total knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) program for the period 2012–2015 in context with the ownership structure of the hospitals. Results Our analysis demonstrates that the readmission rates of patients were statistically higher in proprietary (for profit) hospitals compared to the government and non-profit hospitals which was independent of their geographical distribution across all six major diseases. Conclusion This finding we believe has strong implications for policy makers to mitigate any potential risks in the quality of patient care arising from unintended revenue pressure in healthcare institutions.
Credit market frictions and trade liberalizations

Abstract Are credit frictions a barrier to gains from trade liberalization? We find that the answer to this depends on whether or not the debt limits are endogenous and respond to profit opportunities. If so, exporters expand and non-exporters shrink efficiently allowing for the same percentage gains from reform as with perfect credit markets. If debt limits do not respond, reallocation is reduced and gains are lower. We then use data from a trade liberalization to distinguish between the two models. We find that firm-level changes in export behavior, the growth of new exporters, and the capital distortions of firms that eventually exports are all consistent with a model of endogenous debt limits.
The best of the best: a review of select glaucoma case reports published in 2015

This review article summarizes four key case reports published in the field of glaucoma in the year 2015. The first article describes a novel technique for draining choroidal fluid in patients with uveal effusion syndrome. The second article describes 2 cases of recurrent vitreous block despite adequate surgical intervention. The third article describes 2 cases of endogenous steroid response glaucoma. The last article describes the treatment of visual phenomena following iridectomy using femtosecond laser assisted keratopigmentation.
Contralateral Occlusion and Concomitant Procedures Drive Risk of Non-ipsilateral Stroke After Carotid Endarterectomy.

Objectives Stroke after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been assessed widely. However, factors enhancing non-ipsilateral stroke risk are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to identify drivers of 30 day non-ipsilateral stroke after CEA in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) and assess long-term survival based on laterality of post-operative stroke. Methods The VQI was queried between April 1, 2003, and March 31, 2017, for all CEA. Bilateral carotid procedures within 30 days were excluded. Thirty day non-ipsilateral strokes were identified. Factors were examined to discriminate between patients with and without non-ipsilateral stroke. Univariable analysis followed by multivariable logistic regression was performed. Kaplan–Meier and log rank methods were used to estimate and compare survival. Results During this 14 year period, 80,230 CEA in 74,928 patients met the criteria. The average age was 70.3 ± 9.3 years. Most were male (48,506; 60%), Caucasian (73,967; 92%), smokers (60,543; 76%), and asymptomatic (43,074; 54%). Contralateral stenosis ≥70% was present in 8033 (10%) with 2239 (3%) having contralateral occlusion. In 491 (0.6%) patients, peri-operative non-ipsilateral stroke occurred. After characterising univariable associations, logistic regression identified independent drivers of non-ipsilateral stroke after CEA. Operative urgency (p = .001), symptomatic disease (p Conclusion Non-ipsilateral stroke after CEA is rare. Features driving risk surround global disease burden, combined procedures, and haemodynamic fluctuations. Contralateral occlusion independently increases non-ipsilateral stroke risk. Regardless of laterality or location, effects of stroke after CEA on long-term survival are similar.
Electron-beam introduction of heteroatomic Pt–Si structures in graphene

Abstract Electron-beam (e-beam) manipulation of single dopant atoms in an aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope is emerging as a method for directed atomic motion and atom-by-atom assembly. Until now, the dopant species have been limited to atoms closely matched to carbon in terms of ionic radius and capable of strong covalent bonding with carbon atoms in the graphene lattice. In situ dopant insertion into a graphene lattice has thus far been demonstrated only for Si, which is ubiquitously present as a contaminant in this material. Here, we achieve in situ manipulation of Pt atoms and their insertion into the graphene host matrix using the e-beam deposited Pt on graphene as a host system. We further demonstrate a mechanism for stabilization of the Pt atom, enabled through the formation of Si-stabilized Pt heteroatomic clusters attached to the graphene surface. This study provides evidence toward the universality of the e-beam assembly approach, opening a pathway for exploring cluster chemistry through direct assembly.
Decay of Sb 115

${\mathrm{Sb}}^{115}$ (32 min) decays by electron capture and positron emission to ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{115}$, the positron branch accounting for (12\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3)% of the disintegrations. Of the total disintegrations 94% lead directly to a previously known 499-kev level in ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{115}$. The remaining 6% of the disintegrations are to an excited state in ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{115}$ and are followed by two gamma rays in cascade whose energies are 980 kev and 1240 kev, respectively. The crossover gamma ray of 2220 kev has also been seen, with an intensity equivalent to 1% of the disintegrations. The cascade and crossover gamma rays lead to the 499-kev level and coincidences have been observed between these gamma rays. An upper limit of 0.4% was obtained for a beta branch from ${\mathrm{In}}^{115m}$ to the 499-kev level in ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{115}$. These levels in ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{115}$ seem to be too high in energy to correspond to the predicted low-lying levels in ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{115}$ of Kisslinger and Sorensen.
Parental educational attainment and relatives' substance use of American youth: Hispanics Diminished Returns.

Background: Research on Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) has shown higher than expected substance use (tobacco and alcohol use) in middle-class Hispanic and Black youth and adults. In theory, some of this more than expected risk might be due to the high substance use problem of their social networks. Objectives: To better understand the role of social networks as an explanatory mechanism behind higher than expected substance use among middle-class Hispanic and Black youth, this study tested MDRs of parental educational attainment on substance use involvement of biological relatives in Hispanic and Black middle-class youth. We compared ethnic groups for effects of parental educational attainment on substance use involvement of biological relatives among American youth. Methods: The current longitudinal study used waves 1 and wave 4 data of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health-Adolescents (PATH; 2013-2018) study. The sample included 4264 nationally representative American youth who were followed for 4 years. The independent variable was parental educational attainment. The dependent variable was substance use involvement of biological relatives. Age, gender, and marital status of the family were the covariates. Ethnicity was the moderator. Linear regression was used to analyze the data. Results: Parental educational attainment was inversely associated with substance use involvement of biological relatives in the pooled sample (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.13 - 1.63 for high school graduation and OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.53 - 0.80 for college graduation). Hispanic ethnicity showed statistically significant interactions with parental educational attainment (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.49 - 3.44 for high school graduation and OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.80 - 4.93 for college graduation), suggesting that the protective effect of parental educational attainment against substance use involvement of biological relatives is smaller for Hispanic youth than for non-Hispanic youth. Conclusions: While high parental educational attainment reduces substance use involvement of biological relatives, this protective effect is weaker for Hispanic than non-Hispanic youth. That means, substance use involvement of biological relatives is still high in middle-class Hispanic youth, which increases their risk of substance use. Future research should explore societal and contextual factors that cause MDRs of parental educational attainment on substance use of middle-class Hispanic families.
Chapter 25 – The Role of Oxidative Stress in Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a crippling disease in women of reproductive age. Commonly, presenting with dysmenorrhea, the diagnosis of endometriosis is established via direct laparoscopic visualization. Treatment today is primarily symptomatic, targeting the pelvic pain symptoms and hormonal imbalances. However, advances in research have allowed for the development of new therapies toward the potential contributing factors of endometriosis. These include oxidative stress and its various markers, such as heat shock proteins, transcription factors, metalloproteinases, angiogenic growth factors, iron, and cytokines, which have all been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Moreover, oxidative stress is due to the imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants – the body’s natural defense against oxidative damage. These free-radical species in women with endometriosis have damaging effects on ovulation, fertilization, embryo development, and implantation, as well as further contribute to the virulence of this reproductive disease. Thus, further investigation and research are warranted on oxidative stress and its respective markers, since they can serve as potential therapeutic targets in women with endometriosis.
Monetary Policy and Unemployment

Part One: Overview: Unemployment and Monetary Policy in the Three Currency Areas 1. Monetary Policy and Unemployment - Olivier Blanchard (MIT) 2. Some Notes on Monetary Policy and Unemployment - Edmund Phelps (Columbia University) 3. Monetary Policy and Unemployment in Japan - Hiroshi Yoshikawa, (University of Tokyo) PART Two: Labor Market Institutions and Unemployment 4. The Role of Shocks and Institutions in the Rise of European Unemployment: The Aggregate Evidence - Olivier Blanchard (MIT) and Justin Wolfers (Stanford University) 5. Labor Market Institutions and European Unemployment: A Comment on Blanchard and Wolfers - Dawid Howel (New School University) 6. The Labour Market Dynamics in the Euro Area: A Model-Based Sensitivity Analysis - Alistair Dieppe (European Central Bank), Jerome Henry (European Central Bank, Frankfurt) and Peter McAdam (European Central Bank) PART Three: Structuralist Causes of Unemploment and Monetary Policy 7. The Structuralist Perspective on Real Exchange Rates, Share Price Level and Employment Paths: What Room is Left for Money? - Edmund Phelps (Columbia University), Hian Teck Hoon (Singapore Management University) and Gylfi Zoega (Birkbeck College) 8. The Long Stagnation and Monetary Policy in Japan: A Theoretical Explanation - H. Yoshikawa (University of Tokyo), Masanao Aoki (UCLA), and Toshihiro Shimizu (Kanagawa University) 9. Monetary Policy, the Labor Market and Pegged Exchange Rates: A Study of the German Economy - Peter Flaschel (Bielefeld University), Gang Gong (Tsinghua University and CEM, Bielefeld University) and Willi Semmler (New School University and CEM, Bielefeld) PART Four: Monetary Policy Rules, Fiscal Policy and Unemployment 10. The Constitutional Position of the Central Bank -Charles Goodhart (Financial Market Group, London School of Economics) 11. Activist Stabilization Policy and Inflation: The Taylor Rule in Action Athanasios Orphanides (Federal Reserve Board, Washington, DC) 12. The Fed's Monetary Policy Rule: Past, Present, and Future - Antonio Moreno (Columbia University) 13. Tax Reform: Stabilization and Incentive Effects - Marco Buti (European Commission, Brussels), and Paul Van den Noord (OECD)
Investigation of the Contract Time Determination Systems Used for Highway Projects in the U.S.A.

In highway projects, major losses can occur when the estimated contract time is unrealistically longer or shorter than the actual time needed. This study presents a comprehensive review of the diff...
Abstract 5803: Cardiovascular disease risks in younger and older B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors

Introduction. Non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma (NHL) is the fifth most common cancer in the United States. B-cell lymphoma accounts for 80-90% of NHL cases. Younger age at cancer diagnosis is associated with higher survival rates. However, younger cancer survivors may experience accelerated aging due to the cancer treatment that they undergo. The aim of this population-based study is to estimate long-term cardiovascular risk among younger and older adult NHL survivors compared to their respective general population cohorts. Methods. B-cell non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma (B-NHL) survivors diagnosed from 1997 to 2015 in the Utah Cancer Registry were matched with up to five cancer-free individuals on birth year, sex, birth state, using the statewide Utah Population Database. Electronic medical records and statewide healthcare facility data were used to identify disease outcomes 5 years or more after cancer diagnosis. Cox Proportional Hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR). Test for heterogeneity was used to compare the HR for the older and younger cohorts. Results. There were 2,146 B-NHL survivors (1,284 diagnosed Conclusion. Elevated long-term risk for congestive heart failure was observed in B-NHL survivors compared to the general population. Younger B-NHL survivors had higher relative risks than older B-NHL survivors for chronic rheumatic heart disease, peri-; endo-; and myocarditis, and cardiomyopathy compared to their respective general population cohort groups. Although these increased disease risks suggest some early aging for young B-NHL survivors, most cardiovascular disease risks were not different between the two age groups. Citation Format: Krista Ocier, Sarah Abdelaziz, Seungmin Kim, Kerry Rowe, John Snyder, Vikrant Deshmukh, Michael Newman, Alison Fraser, Ken Smith, Kimberly Herget, Christy Porucznik, Kimberley Shoaf, Joseph Stanford, Catherine Lee, Mia Hashibe. Cardiovascular disease risks in younger and older B-cell non-Hodgkin9s lymphoma survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5803.
Age, sex, and the vascular contributors to cerebral pulsatility and pulsatile damping

Cerebral pulsatility contributes to brain health and depends on a balance between transmission and damping of pulsatile hemodynamics into the cerebrovasculature. Our data indicate that cerebral pul...
The Consolidation of Dollar Hegemony After the Collapse of Bretton Woods: Bringing Power Back in

Conventional views on the collapse of Bretton Woods suggest that it resulted from its own limitations. The inability of the United States to manage the system given the growing imbalances associate...
Analyzing the Security of OTP 2FA in the Face of Malicious Terminals

One Time Password (OTP) is the most prevalent 2FA method among users and service providers worldwide. It is imperative to assess this 2FA scheme’s security from multiple perspectives, considering its ubiquitous presence in the user’s day-to-day activities. In this work, we assess the security of seven commercially deployed OTP-2FA schemes against malware in the terminal attack model without compromising any 2FA device or authentication services. To implement this attack scenario, we develop a combination of attack modules that will capture password and OTP in different ways during the user’s login attempt. At the same time, it would originate a fresh concurrent hidden session from within the terminal or remotely to get possession to the user account without compromising the service or network or any external device. We examine implemented attack against seven different popular public services, which mostly use two variants of OTP-2FA and observed that almost all of them are vulnerable to this attack. Here, the threat model is practical as the attack components can be installed in the user’s terminal without any root/administrator privilege. Moreover, the attack modules require a small number of resources to run. The whole procedure would run from the background that makes the attack very hidden in nature and attain low detectability after examining against prominent anti-malware programs that indicate a real-world threat. Our findings after the analysis of the OTP-2FA schemes indicate that an adversary who can install malware on the user’s terminal can defeat almost all popular and widely used OTP-2FA schemes, which are vital security components of online accounts and secure financial transactions. The result also points out that the OTP-2FA scheme does not add extra security on top of the password in the presence of the malicious program in the terminal.
A brief history of OspA vaccines including their impact on diagnostic testing for Lyme disease.

ABSTRACT The only United States Food and Drug Administration approved vaccine preparation to prevent Lyme disease consisted of a single recombinant outer surface protein A (OspA), which was marketed for use from late 1998 until early 2002, with no vaccine currently available for humans for nearly 20 years. OspA vaccines generate an antibody-mediated, transmission blocking immunity, that prevents Borrelia burgdorferi from being transmitted during a tick bite. Although this OspA vaccine was safe and effective, it likely would have required booster doses to maintain immunity, and vaccination regularly caused false positive results on first-tier serologic testing for Lyme disease, when a whole cell-based enzyme immunoassay was used. Clinical trials are in progress to test a new multivalent OspA vaccine designed to prevent Lyme disease in both the United States and Europe.
Accuracy of the Language Environment Analysis (LENA) speech processing system in identifying communicative vocalizations of young children and adults

The Language Environment Analysis (LENA) system is an automated audio processing system widely used for characterizing language behaviors of children and adults for clinical and basic research. While a number of studies have assessed LENA’s reliability, its accuracy at identifying and counting speech communicative events is still not well-characterized under a range of naturalistic conditions. In two studies, we examined accuracy of LENA's speech vocalization classifications, relative to human gold standard coding for audio events, as well as word and speech vocalization counts for adults and child utterances, respectively. We found that the weighted average of accurate classification of 100-msec frames by LENA for child speech, adult female speech, and adult male speech was 57%, 61%, and 57%, respectively. Further, an analysis of LENA’s ability to accurately discriminate frames of speech vocalizations from a “key child”—a child wearing the LENA device—from speech vocalizations of other child and adult talkers and sound sources showed that LENA correctly detected key child speech vocalization frames only 41% of the time. We are currently extending this research to examine the accuracy of LENA’s child vocalization count (CVC) and conversational turn count (CTC) measures.
A fine romance: IL-7 and HGFβ

Comment on Lai et al, page [1776][1] In this issue of Blood, Lai and colleagues demonstrate that the recombinant version of the naturally occurring hybrid cytokine IL-7/HGFβ exerts potent expansion of CFU-S, CLPs, and very early B cells, while native IL-7 selectively expands later B-cell
Accuracy assessment of the singular-field-based mode-mix decomposition procedure for the prediction of delamination

The singular-field-based mode-mix decomposition procedure is assessed for its ability to accurately predict delamination growth in various test geometries. Initially, toughness versus mode mix is obtained from laminates with delaminations at their midplanes. These results are then used to predict delamination growth in other geometries, and the associated tests of these geometries are performed. A typical graphite/epoxy material system is considered. For this material, it is shown that predictions of delamination growth using a singular-field-based mode-mix decomposition will result in significant errors. That is, when a classical, singular-field-based definition of mode mix is used, tests of different specimen geometries predicted to be at the same mode mix do not display the same toughness. All the test data is then reinterpreted with the aid of a previously developed crack-tip-element analysis. This approach allows for various definitions of mode mix to be evaluated, of which the singular-field-based result is one special case. It is shown that defining mode mix in terms of non-classical parameters results in accurate predictions of delamination growth, and test geometries predicted to be at the same mode mix now display the same toughness. This new definition of mode mix is based on parameters that uniquely characterize the conditionsmore » at the crack tip, but which are insensitive to the scale of the near-tip damage. A systematic method for determining the appropriate definition of mode mix for arbitrary material systems is described.« less
A Study of Measurement of Ability in Handball

(1949). A Study of Measurement of Ability in Handball. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 215-222.
Frequent pattern mining with preferences–utility functions approach

The notion of preference naturally occurs in every context where one talks about human decisions or choice. Users, faced with a huge amount of data but often not equipped with a complete knowledge of the nature of the data, seek ways to obtain not necessarily all but the best or most preferred solutions. In this paper, we study preferences in the context of frequent pattern mining using the utility function approach. We also seek to provide a framework for investigating data mining problems involving preferences. We consider the problem of preference frequent pattern mining and N-best frequent pattern mining. We define preferences analytically, investigate their properties and classify them. We also provide some preference frequent pattern mining algorithms and show how they can be used for efficient N-best data mining.
Mechanism‐Specific Effects of Adenosine on Ventricular Tachycardia

Mechanism Specific Effects of Adenosine on VT Introduction There is no universally accepted method by which to diagnose clinical ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to cAMP-mediated triggered activity. Based on cellular and clinical data, adenosine termination of VT is thought to be consistent with a diagnosis of triggered activity. However, a major gap in evidence mitigates the validity of this proposal, namely, defining the specificity of adenosine response in well-delineated reentrant VT circuits. To this end, we systematically studied the effects of adenosine in a model of canine reentrant VT and in human reentrant VT, confirmed by 3-dimensional, pace- and substrate mapping. Methods and Results Adenosine (12 mg [IQR 12–24]) failed to terminate VT in 31 of 31 patients with reentrant VT due to structural heart disease, and had no effect on VT cycle length (age, 67 years [IQR 53–74]); ejection fraction, 35% [IQR 20–55]). In contrast, adenosine terminated VT in 45 of 50 (90%) patients with sustained focal right or left outflow tract tachycardia. The sensitivity of adenosine for identifying VT due to triggered activity was 90% (95% CI, 0.78–0.97) and its specificity was 100% (95% CI, 0.89–1.0). Additionally, reentrant circuits were mapped in the epicardial border zone of 4-day-old infarcts in mongrel dogs. Adenosine (300–400 μg/kg) did not terminate sustained VT or have any effect on VT cycle length. Conclusion These data support the concept that adenosine's effects on ventricular myocardium are mechanism specific, such that termination of VT in response to adenosine is diagnostic of cAMP-mediated triggered activity.
KTKEGV repeat motifs are key mediators of normal α-synuclein tetramerization: Their mutation causes excess monomers and neurotoxicity

α-Synuclein (αS) is a highly abundant neuronal protein that aggregates into β-sheet–rich inclusions in Parkinson’s disease (PD). αS was long thought to occur as a natively unfolded monomer, but recent work suggests it also occurs normally in α-helix–rich tetramers and related multimers. To elucidate the fundamental relationship between αS multimers and monomers in living neurons, we performed systematic mutagenesis to abolish self-interactions and learn which structural determinants underlie native multimerization. Unexpectedly, tetramers/multimers still formed in cells expressing each of 14 sequential 10-residue deletions across the 140-residue polypeptide. We postulated compensatory effects among the six highly conserved and one to three additional αS repeat motifs (consensus: KTKEGV), consistent with αS and its homologs β- and γ-synuclein all forming tetramers while sharing only the repeats. Upon inserting in-register missense mutations into six or more αS repeats, certain mutations abolished tetramer formation, shown by intact-cell cross-linking and independently by fluorescent-protein complementation. For example, altered repeat motifs KLKEGV, KTKKGV, KTKEIV, or KTKEGW did not support tetramerization, indicating the importance of charged or small residues. When we expressed numerous different in-register repeat mutants in human neural cells, all multimer-abolishing but no multimer-neutral mutants caused frank neurotoxicity akin to the proapoptotic protein Bax. The multimer-abolishing variants became enriched in buffer-insoluble cell fractions and formed round cytoplasmic inclusions in primary cortical neurons. We conclude that the αS repeat motifs mediate physiological tetramerization, and perturbing them causes PD-like neurotoxicity. Moreover, the mutants we describe are valuable tools for studying normal and pathological properties of αS and screening for tetramer-stabilizing therapeutics.
Measurement of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in exhaled breath condensates

Abstract Rationale Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory respiratory disease. Exhaled markers of inflammation measured noninvasively may reveal information on the changes seen with different stages of asthma as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory components are hypothesized to contribute to the pathological changes manifested in all stages of asthma. Methods Recruited individuals included 17 subjects with asthma and 11 control subjects. Each person was given standardized pulmonary function tests and exhaled breath condensates (EBC) were collected. Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers including TNF, IL-1, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN were collected and measured with a highly sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) using a Bio-Tek Precision 2000 Automated Pipetting System. Luminometer was used to read the plates. The cytokines were measured at picograms/ml. Regression analysis was performed on the background corrected RLUs (relative light units) from the standard curve and unknown sample concentrations are interpolated. Reproducible results were seen. Results The analysis of markers of EBC reveals no definite trends in the pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF, IL-1, IL-4 and the anti-inflmmatory cytokine IL-10 and IFN in asthmatic subjects. Many problems were identified which may influence the results including medications. The detection of picograms/ml of cytokines and studying their ratios will enhance our understanding of their additive, synergistic and antagonistic effects. Conclusions We have demonstrated the ability to reproducibly measure inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in EBC. This should allow us to further clarify their role in the development of asthma.
Scale for assessing mental patients' work performance.

The M-R Fergus Falls Patient-Employee Rating Scale was constructed to help objectivize ratings of mental patients' work performance. Concurrent validity was established between score-classes and job supervisors' man-to-man rankings of patients. Factor analysis revealed the scale to possess one underlying dimension, called “good worker traits.” Advantages of standardized ratings are discussed.
Investigating soil controls on soil moisture spatial variability: Numerical simulations and field observations

Summary Due to its complex interactions with various processes and factors, soil moisture exhibits significant spatial variability across different spatial scales. In this study, a modeling approach and field observations were used to examine the soil control on the relationship between mean ( θ ¯ ) and standard deviation (σθ) of soil moisture content. For the numerical experiments, a 1-D vadose zone model along with van Genuchten parameters generated by pedotransfer functions was used for simulating soil moisture dynamics under different climate and surface conditions. To force the model, hydrometeorological and physiological data that spanned over three years from five research sites within the continental US were used. The modeling results showed that under bare surface conditions, different forms of the θ ¯ – σ θ relationship as observed in experimental studies were produced. For finer soils, a positive θ ¯ – σ θ relationship gradually changed to an upward convex and a negative one from arid to humid conditions; whereas, a positive relationship existed for coarser soils, regardless of climatic conditions. The maximum σθ for finer soils was larger under semiarid conditions than under arid and humid conditions, while the maximum σθ for coarser soils increased with increasing precipitation. Moreover, vegetation tended to reduce θ ¯ and σθ, and thus affected the θ ¯ – σ θ relationship. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to examine the controls of different van Genuchten parameters on the θ ¯ – σ θ relationship under bare surface conditions. It was found that the residual soil moisture content mainly affected σθ under dry conditions, while the saturated soil moisture content and the saturated hydraulic conductivity largely controlled σθ under wet conditions. Importantly, the upward convex θ ¯ – σ θ relationship was mostly caused by the shape factor n that accounts for pore size distribution. Finally, measured soil moisture data from a semiarid region were retrieved from the Automated Weather Data Network. The observed moisture data showed that based on soil texture, a positive θ ¯ – σ θ relationship existed for sandy soils, while an upward convex one was observed for silty soils. The difference in the observed θ ¯ – sigma θ relationship can be attributed to the differences in water holding capacities between sand and silt, which is consistent with the modeling results. The field data also revealed that increasing spatial variability in soil texture led to increased variability in soil moisture (e.g., the maximum σθ). Therefore, the effect of soil texture for verifying remotely sensed soil moisture products should be considered.
A new Os,Rh bimetallic with O2 independent DNA cleavage and DNA photobinding with red therapeutic light excitation

Many Ru and Os systems display photoactive 3MLCT states. Systems activated by therapeutic window light in the absence of O2 remain elusive. [(bpy)2Os(dpp)RhCl2(phen)]3+ photobinds and photocleaves DNA under red light in an oxygen independent manner, due to molecular design involving one Os chromophore coupled to a photoactive cis-RhIIICl2 moiety.
Effect of dermatan sulfate on the indentation and tensile properties of articular cartilage

Summary Objective This paper examines the hypothesis that the dermatan sulfate (DS) chain on decorin is a load carrying element in cartilage and that its damage or removal will alter the material properties. Methods To test this hypothesis, indentation and tensile testing of cartilage from bovine patella were performed before and after digestion with chondroitinase B (cB). Removal of significant amounts of DS by cB digestion was verified by Western blot analysis of proteoglycans extracted from whole and sectioned specimens. Specimens (control and treated) were subjected to a series of step-hold displacements. Elastic modulus during the step rise (rapid modulus) and at equilibrium (equilibrium modulus), and the relaxation function during each step was measured for test (cB and buffer) and control (buffer alone) conditions. Results cB had no effect on any of the viscoelastic mechanical properties measured, either in indentation or tension. Conclusion Removing or damaging approximately 50% of the DS had no effect on the mechanical properties, strongly suggesting that DS either carries very low load or no load.
The use of simulation for Global Supply Network rationalization

In today's volatile business environment, many companies are expanding, merging, contracting, or otherwise redesigning their supply chain networks. Supply chain network rationalization could significantly help to improve supply chain operational efficiency and reduce costs. As a generic technique for the analysis of complex and dynamic systems, simulation could play an important role in this field. This paper presents a real case showing how simulation could be the key enablement for a supply chain network rationalization project in the pharmaceutical industry. An IBM tool — Supply Chain Process Modeler (SCPM) has been applied in this project. Five major simulation scenarios are designed based on the pain points the client has, and numerical results show that simulation has addressed the key issues and provided the client accountable evaluation results for decision-making.
Coagulopathy in traumatic brain injury.

Abnormalities in blood coagulation, although quite common after traumatic brain injury (TBI), are of unknown significance. The authors review the clinical and pathophysiological features of this phenomenon and emphasize its origin in disseminated intravascular coagulation. This connection provides a possible explanation for much of the cerebral ischema that accompanies TBI, namely intravascular microthrombosis. The authors’ own research findings support this contention and suggest possible therapeutic avenues.
Multilayer Resist Systems Using Polysiloxanes As Etch Masks

Radiation imageable polysiloxanes have many outstanding properties, among which are their resistance to etching in oxygen plasmas, the ability to apply them from solution by spinning or spraying and their high thermal stability. This paper describes the use of these materials in generating high aspect ratio patterns using the polysiloxanes in two and three layer systems.
BETHANECHOL ACTIVATES A POST-RECEPTOR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISM IN RABBIT URINARY BLADDER SMOOTH MUSCLE

AbstractPurpose: Recent studies using vascular and gut smooth muscles indicate that contractile receptor agonists may activate post-receptor down-regulatory mechanisms causing a temporary reduction in the strength of subsequent contractions. Our data indicate a similar mechanism exists in detrusor smooth muscle of the urinary bladder.Materials and Methods: Each isolated strip of female rabbit detrusor was placed in a tissue bath, secured to an isometric force transducer, and length-adjusted until depolarization with 110 mM KCl produced a maximum contraction (S0). Subsequent contractions were normalized to S0 (S/S0) or to a first stimulus with 30 mM KCl or caffeine (S/S1). Tissues were pretreated with the muscarinic receptor agonist, bethanechol (BE), then stimulated with KCl, caffeine, or Bay k 8644 to identify potential post-receptor down-regulation.Results: Contractions induced by 30 mM KCl had three phases labeled fast peak (FP), slow peak (SP) and steady-state (SS). In tissues exposed for 30 min. to a...
Variation in Arabidopsis flowering time associated with cis -regulatory variation in CONSTANS

The onset of flowering, the change from vegetative to reproductive development, is a major life history transition in flowering plants. Recent work suggests that mutations in cis-regulatory mutations should play critical roles in the evolution of this (as well as other) important adaptive traits, but thus far there has been little evidence that directly links regulatory mutations to evolutionary change at the species level. While several genes have previously been shown to affect natural variation in flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana, most either show protein-coding changes and/or are found at low frequency (<5%). Here we identify and characterize natural variation in the cis-regulatory sequence in the transcription factor CONSTANS that underlies flowering time diversity in Arabidopsis. Mutation in this regulatory motif evolved recently and has spread to high frequency in Arabidopsis natural accessions, suggesting a role for these cis-regulatory changes in adaptive variation of flowering time.
Preliminary results for a vortex induced, liquid handling and accountability procedure at zero gravity☆

Abstract Preliminary results are briefly summarized for a vortex induced, liquid handling and accountability process adapted to two phase fluids in zero gravity. The process, proposed by NASA Kennedy Space Center personnel and modelled at the National Bureau of Standards, for liquid transfer between two large rigid tanks in zero gravity, has been analysed for a selected range of fluid and flow parameters. This transfer process has been analysed in two stages. The initial ‘spin-up’ stage is modelled in the circular tank via tangential injection techniques. Vapour—liquid separation is predicted using an averaging process based on bubble and/or droplet drag characteristics, together with pertinent virtual mass considerations. The model produced permits the addition of other gas-liquid interactions. The subsequent liquid ‘pump-out’ stage is modelled using numerical computations of the conservative equations, applied to the annularized liquid layer that has been spun-up on the tank wall. Liquid pump-out is modelled for a range of parameters, such as Reynolds number and volume withdrawal rate. Examples are given to demonstrate both stages of the model. It is concluded that results are plausible and experimental vertification is now needed to validate the assumptions made, as well as the results predicted.
WTO accession, the “Greater China” free-trade area, and economic integration across the Taiwan Strait

Abstract This paper evaluates the impact of China's World Trade Organization (WTO) accession on trade and economic relation across the Taiwan Strait and its implications for rest of the world by a recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with import-embodied technology transfer and specification of tariff rate quotas (TRQ) for agricultural products. The simulation results predict that China will likely emerge as one of the world's largest manufacturing centers as it integrates into the world economy. Taiwan will likely become an upstream supplier for China's massive manufacturing production and gain more economically by further integrating its economy with China via a “Greater China” free-trade area (FTA) after its WTO entry. It will further reduce the cost of vertical integration among manufacturing industries across the Taiwan Strait and enable both China and Taiwan to become stronger competitors in the global manufactured goods market.
QUALITY OF LIFE FOLLOWING SIMULTANEOUS PLACEMENT OF PENILE PROSTHESIS WITH RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

ABSTRACTPurpose: The present study examined erectile functioning, frequency of sexual contact, psychological functioning, partner/marital satisfaction and overall quality of life (QOL) after immediate sexual rehabilitation for prostate cancer via simultaneous placement of a penile prosthesis at radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP).Materials and Methods: Questionnaire packets were sent to and received from 51 men who had undergone simultaneous implantation of a penile prosthesis at the time of RP (PP+) and from a comparison group of 47 men who undergone RP alone (PP-) matched by age and year of surgery. Questionnaires included the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and a prostate specific European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QOL questionnaire. Further comparisons were performed for a PP- subgroup consisting of 15 patients who had undergone nerve sparing RP.Results: Higher Erectile Dys...
Methods for building an inexpensive computer-controlled olfactometer for temporally-precise experiments

Many human olfactory experiments call for fast and stable stimulus-rise times as well as exact and stable stimulus-onset times. Due to these temporal demands, an olfactometer is often needed. However, an olfactometer is a piece of equipment that either comes with a high price tag or requires a high degree of technical expertise to build and/or to run. Here, we detail the construction of an olfactometer that is constructed almost exclusively with "off-the-shelf" parts, requires little technical knowledge to build, has relatively low price tags, and is controlled by E-Prime, a turnkey-ready and easily-programmable software commonly used in psychological experiments. The olfactometer can present either solid or liquid odor sources, and it exhibits a fast stimulus-rise time and a fast and stable stimulus-onset time. We provide a detailed description of the olfactometer construction, a list of its individual parts and prices, as well as potential modifications to the design. In addition, we present odor onset and concentration curves as measured with a photo-ionization detector, together with corresponding GC/MS analyses of signal-intensity drop (5.9%) over a longer period of use. Finally, we present data from behavioral and psychophysiological recordings demonstrating that the olfactometer is suitable for use during event-related EEG experiments.
Intrinsic Absorption in Radio-Selected Quasars*

Moderate resolution spectra have been recorded for a sample of radio-selected QSOs (z ~ 2.5) discovered in the "Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty centimeters" (FIRST) VLA survey. This work is motivated by the study of a heterogeneous set of QSO absorption line spectra that showed that as many as 36% of the absorbers normally thought to be intergalactic are correlated with physical properties of the background QSO, including the radio source spectral index. Spectra were taken for 24 newly discovered quasars in order to test this finding on a more homogeneous data set. The spectra have been searched for the most frequently observed absorption lines. The absorption line properties are compared to the radio properties of the quasars. The primary results are summarized as follows: (1) an excess of C IV absorbers in flat-spectrum quasars as compared to steep-spectrum quasars is confirmed (based on a total sample of 165 systems), (2) a small excess of high-velocity C IV absorbers is seen in radio-quiet QSOs as compared to radio-loud quasars, and (3) the Sloan Digital Sky Survey QSO spectra will allow for the detection of a high-velocity, narrow, intrinsic population of absorbers that is as small as 7% of the C IV absorber population in QSOs at z ~ 2.5.
Running-in behavior of internally plasma-treated silicone tubing

Abstract When employed in biomedical applications, the bore of silicone tubing must be modified to become highly lubricious, for example, by means of plasma treatment. In this context, the determination of the degree of lubricity is normally accomplished with the aid of a frictional tribopartner. In practice, this determination is made uncertain and overly lengthy due to running-in behavior. The focus of this investigation is to characterize the running-in behavior, diagnose the factors that contribute to its existence, and develop means by which to eliminate the running-in process. The tribological system that was studied may be categorized as polymer/metal frictional interaction. It was discovered by systematic experimentation that transfer of material, rather than traditional wear, is at the root of the encountered running-in phenomena. These investigations included frictional-based and chemical-detection methodologies. Once the fundamental cause of the running-in behavior had been discovered and confirmed, a method for eliminating running-in was proposed and experimentally validated.
A taxonomy of crowdsourcing based on task complexity

Although a great many different crowdsourcing approaches are available to those seeking to accomplish individual or organizational tasks, little research attention has yet been given to characterizing how those approaches might be based on task characteristics. To that end, we conducted an extensive review of the crowdsourcing landscape, including a look at what types of taxonomies are currently available. Our review found that no taxonomy explored the multidimensional nature of task complexity. This paper develops a taxonomy whose specific intent is the classification of approaches in terms of the types of tasks for which they are best suited. To develop this task-based taxonomy, we followed an iterative approach that considered over 100 well-known examples of crowdsourcing. The taxonomy considers three dimensions of task complexity: (a) task structure - is the task well-defined, or does it require a more open-ended solution; (2) task interdependence - can the task be solved by an individual, or does it require a community of problem solvers; and (3) task commitment - what level of commitment is expected from crowd members? Based on this taxonomy, we identify seven categories of crowdsourcing and discuss prototypical examples of each approach. Furnished with such an understanding, one should be able to determine which crowdsourcing approach is most suitable for a particular task situation.