cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical review: focus on fall screening assessments.

Background Falls and their associated injuries profoundly impact health outcomes, functional independence, and health care expenses, particularly for the ever-increasing elderly population. This systematic search and review assessed the current evidence for the role of fall screening assessments. Objective To review the current evidence for fall risk screening assessments in community-dwelling (outpatient), inpatient medical and surgical wards, inpatient rehabilitation centers, and postrehabilitation outpatient settings. Data Sources MEDLINE and Embase (January 1980 to December 2012). Study Selection Prospective validation studies of acute medical or surgical inpatients, acute rehabilitation inpatients, outpatients who completed acute inpatient rehabilitation, or community-dwelling elderly. Data Extraction Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, receiver operating characteristics with area under the curve. Results We summarized key findings from 6 literature reviews. We then identified 31 articles: 12 studies in community setting, 13 in the acute medical inpatient or surgical inpatient setting, and 6 studies in the rehabilitation setting. Twenty-two studies not previously reviewed were included, and 9 studies previously reviewed were considered relevant and were included to allow comparison with data from the studies not previously reviewed. Conclusion We recommend consideration of 7 assessment tools to be used in conjunction with overall clinical evaluation to assess falls risk: the Timed Up and Go Test with a cutoff of >12.34 seconds and Functional Gait Assessment among community-dwelling elderly; St Thomas Risk Assessment Tool in medical inpatients
The Jew in the Text: What Christian Charters Tell UsAbout Medieval Jewish Society

This paper will explore the viability and limits of using non-Jewish charters for the reconstruction of medieval Jewish history. While the settlement charters have long been recognized as important sources for institutional history, their value to the understanding of the Jewish community has yet to be fully explored. Analysis of these documents has tradition-ally been limited to determining the level of royal protection of Jewish rights or the nature of Jewish-Christian relations. These charters were, in large part, products of Jewish requests. In locating the voice of the Jewish petitioner within these charters it becomes possible discern the priorities, needs and fears of the medieval Jewish community. Furthermore, these documents also suggest ways in which Jews used Christian secular authority as an instrument for the establishment of political structures internal to their communities.
Performance Standards and Incentive Pay in Agency Contracts

When the presence of limited liability restricts a principal from imposing monetary fines on an agent in case of poor performance, the principal might use other kinds of punishment threats to deter the agent from shirking. We show that under the optimal contract in this case, the principal sets a performance standard and punishes the agent if the standard is not met, but rewards the agent on a profit-sharing basis if the standard is significantly exceeded. The optimal choice of performance standards for such contracts is discussed. It is shown that punishment threats, although inefficient, often help the principal to discipline the agent. JEL classification: D82
The small‐island effect: empty islands, temporal variability and the importance of species composition

Aim To evaluate the evidence for a small-island effect (SIE) on insular floras, considering the effects of including islands without the species of interest, temporal variability and species composition. Location Small islands in the Andros, Exuma Cays and Abaco archipelagos of the Bahamas. Methods An information-theoretic multimodel inference approach was used, comparing the fit of a linear model versus two breakpoint models to species–area data. Corrected Akaike's information criterion (AICc) scores were compared to determine the model(s) with the most support. Results Strong evidence for an SIE was found in the Andros and Exuma Cays archipelagos. At Andros, an SIE was always apparent, regardless of whether islands with no species were included or which time period was considered. In the Exuma Cays, the inclusion of islands with no species changed the inference of the existence of an SIE in one comparison, and the shape of the SIE (i.e. the best-fitting model) in two comparisons. Data from the Exuma Cays indicated that the existence of an SIE, as well as the shape of the SIE, may vary over time. Evidence for an SIE for the Abaco archipelago was equivocal, although fewer data were available. Main conclusions Even though it has been suggested that the exclusion of islands with no species may result in the erroneous detection of an SIE, the inclusion of islands with no species had little effect on the evidence for an SIE in this system. The finding that evidence for, and the shape of, the SIE can change over time suggests caution in interpreting SIE studies for systems that are not in equilibrium. Patterns of species composition as a function of island size support the hypothesis that disturbance events shape the habitat found on these islands, which limits the species pool that can survive on the smaller islands, resulting in an SIE.
SEM fractorgraphy studies of porous vitreous carbon: A candidate biomaterial

A new porous vitreous carbon material under development for use in orthopedic applications was investigated. Specimens were machined to appropriate sizes and fractured in one of the following modes: compression, cantilevered bending, or axial torsion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine surface and internal features. Characteristics of a brittle, glassy material were noted. Findings included internal voids which appeared as craters, patches of whiskerlike fibrils, and edge impurities. Numerous microcracks caused by mechanical shaping and handling were the most remarkable structural defects. Pore channels which would allow bony ingrowth ranged in size from 50--500 micrometers with the majority between 200 and 300 micrometers. This study of porous vitreous carbon points to the need for stricter quality control in manufacturing, alternative methods for shaping and handling, and careful consideration in design and usage of a brittle material with marginal limits of safety for biomedical applications.
Ion-Specific Induced Charges at Aqueous Soft Interfaces

Ionic specificity effects, i.e., ions of the same valence leading to different macroscopic effects, are studied by considering a Langmuir monolayer of arachidic acid over a solution containing either Fe(3+) or La(3+). We systematically vary pH levels as a way to control the interfacial surface charge and characterize the system by surface-sensitive x-ray scattering and spectroscopic techniques. We show that the critical surface pressure at the tilted (L2) to untilted (LS) transition is ionic specific and varies with pH. While the maximum density of surface bound La(3+) per head group of arachidic acid is ∼0.3, the amount necessary to neutralize the surface charge, for Fe(3+) it is nearly 0.6 and it is accompanied with a significant accumulation of the coions Cl(-) as revealed by surface x-ray spectroscopy. We account for the experimental observations by a statistical mechanical model including ion specificity.
Effect of fracture relative permeabilities on performance of naturally fractured reservoirs

Research into the nature of fracture relative permeabilities and their effect on the performance of naturally fractured reservoirs is described. Flow of wetting phase along the fracture walls provides a means of simultaneous two-phase flow in a single fracture, under conditions where such flow is otherwise prohibited. However, fracture conductivity remains low for simultaneous flow of two phases. Asperities, locations where the fracture walls close, reduce relative permeabilities; the manner of this reduction depends on how aperture is distributed spatially along the fracture. The effect of fracture relative permeabilities on reservoir performance is illustrated using the waterflood case of the Sixth SPE Comparative Simulation Project (SPE 6) as a basis of comparison. Reduced fracture relative permeabilities impair reservoir performance if they control the attainable flow rate at production wells; such is the case upon a roughly fivefold reduction in relative permeabilities in the SPE 6 project. Reduced fracture relative permeabilities can actually improve reservoir performance in some cases, however, by improving reservoir sweep. The sweep improvement results from an increase in lateral pressure gradient relative to gravity forces driving gravity segregation on a reservoir scale. In both cases, the effect of reduced fracture relative permeabilities is similar to a comparablemore » reduction in absolute permeability of the fracture porespace.« less
Lipid provisioning of turtle eggs and hatchlings: total lipid, phospholipid, triacylglycerol and triacylglycerol fatty acids

Abstract Lipid composition of eggs and hatchlings was studied in painted, snapping and Blanding's turtles from western Nebraska. The average total lipid proportions of the egg yolk, post-embryonic yolk and hatchling soma dry masses were high in painted turtles (29.80%, 42.16% and 14.18%, respectively) relative to snapping and Blanding's turtles (egg yolk 63%), an energy storage form. Predominant triacylglycerol fatty acids in eggs and hatchlings were 16:0, 16:1 and 18:1, and concentration changes of some yolk fatty acids occurred during development. The average phospholipid (a membrane form) quantity of the egg and hatchling components was relatively low in painted turtles (
Glutamate and aspartate immunoreactivity in cortico-cortical neurons of the sensorimotor cortex of rats.

Retrograde transport of tracers and immunocytochemistry have been used to determine if association and callosal neurons in the primary motor and somatosensory cortex of rats contain high levels of glutamate or aspartate and may, thus, use these amino acids as neurotransmitter. After tracer injections in these areas, about 65% of the retrogradely labeled neurons in layer V in the ipsilateral or contralateral hemisphere are immunopositive for glutamate. Lower percentages of double-labeled neurons are found in layers III, VI, and II. Similar results are obtained when sections are processed for aspartate immunoreactivity. About 90% of retrogradely labeled neurons are immunopositive in sections incubated with a mixture of both glutamateand aspartate antisera. These results suggest that a large fraction of cortico-cortical neurons are immunoreactive for either one amino acid but not for both. It is proposed that neurons with high levels of one amino acid use this as neurotransmitter; high levels of glutamate and aspartate are likely to be present in a fraction of neurons which may release both amino acids or a substance closely related to these.
Interannual variations of the Indonesian throughflow

[1] The relationship of Indonesian throughflow (ITF) transport to the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is investigated. Seasonal anomalies of ITF transport are found to be forced by anomalous local, alongshore (South Java) wind as well as by anomalous winds in the equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans. Ocean stratification, set up by surface freshwater fluxes and the ITF, partitions the anomalous forcing onto two separate layers in the ITF region, a near surface layer (approximately the upper 100 m) and a thermocline layer (approximately 100–500 m). Interannual anomalies in alongshore South Java winds and equatorial Indian Ocean winds cause changes in upper ocean ITF transport, while divergent winds over the equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans control thermocline layer transport anomalies. Interannual periods when the total depth-integrated transport is most weak occur when there are anomalous westerlies in the equatorial Pacific, anomalous easterlies in the equatorial Indian Ocean (resulting in reduced thermocline level transport), and anomalous westerlies along the coast of southern Java (causing reduced upper ocean transport). Such conditions are found when there are cold sea surface temperature anomalies in the Indonesian Seas as well as the equatorial Indian Ocean, and thus are not strictly related to ENSO variability. Interannual variations in the ITF therefore are controlled by interannual variability associated with ENSO as well as by interannual variability in the Indian Ocean.
A global existence theorem for the nonlinear BGK equation

A global existence theorem with large initial data in L ~ is given for the nonlinear BGK equation. The method, which is based on the recent averaging lemma of Golse et al., utilizes a weak compactness argument in L ~.
Disclosure of Their HIV Status to Infected Children: A Review of the Literature

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 1996, HIV-infected children often survive beyond adolescence. To assess worldwide trends in disclosure since ART was introduced, we reviewed articles that refer to disclosure of their status to HIV-infected children, and which described patient, health care provider and/or caregiver opinions about disclosure and/or reported the proportion of children who knew their diagnosis. Most studies (17 [55%]) were performed in low- or middle-income (LMI) countries. In the 21 articles that included information on whether the children knew their status, the proportion who knew ranged from 1.2 to 75.0% and was lower in LMI (median = 20.4%) than industrialized countries (43%; p = 0.04). LMI country study participants who knew their status tended to have learned it at older ages (median = 9.6 years) than industrialized country participants (median = 8.3 years; p = 0.09). The most commonly reported anticipated risks (i.e. emotional trauma to child and child divulging status to others) and benefits (i.e. improved ART adherence) of disclosure did not vary by the country’s economic development. Only one article described and evaluated a disclosure process. Despite recommendations, most HIV-infected children worldwide do not know their status. Disclosure strategies addressing caregiver concerns are urgently needed.
Multiquantum EPR of the mixed valence copper site in nitrous oxide reductase.

This work demonstrates the use of multiquantum EPR to study the magnetic properties of copper complexes and copper proteins. Pure absorption spectra are obtained because of the absence of field modulation. The signal intensity of 3-quantum spectra is proportional to the spin lattice relaxation time T1, while its linewidth in a frequency difference sweep is T1(-1). A change in lineshape for the EPR detectable mixed value [Cu(1.5) . . . Cu(1.5)] site in nitrous oxide reductase is attributed to suppression of the forbidden transitions. The data confirm the unusually fast relaxation time for this site, which requires temperatures of less than 100 K to resolve hyperfine structure. The T1's for the mixed valence [Cu(1.5) . . . Cu(1.5)] site in nitrous oxide reductase are very similar to T1's for the Cua site in cytochrome c oxidase. The similar relaxation properties, together with previous multifrequency EPR results, support the hypothesis that the EPR detectable sites in cytochrome c oxidase and nitrous oxide reductase are mixed valence [Cu(1.5) . . . Cu(1.5)] configurations.
Explaining Administrative Process: Normative, Positive, and Critical Stories of Legal Development

Answers to these questions abound in the legal literature. In an influential article, Stewart argues, for example, that much of modern American administrative law is constructed to facilitate pluralist participation in administrative decision-making. More recently, Sunstein (1986) has argued that administrative law is designed to promote the republican value of deliberative rationality and to limit the influence of special-interest pleading. Indeed, the legal literature bristles with claims concerning the purposes of administrative process and processes, ranging from "fairness" to "efficiency" and utilizing a host of other ideas as well-"openness," "accountability," "legitimacy," and "rationality," to name but a few. There has been little attention to the structure of these claims. This
Theoretical and experimental investigation of the compressible free mixing of two dissimilar gases.

An extension and improvement of Warren's momentum integral method for predicting the turbulent mixing and decay of axially symmetric, compressible, free jets to the case of the mixing of dissimilar gases is discussed. Two ideal gases having different molecular weights and specific heats are treated with the assumption that the local turbulent mixing rate at each axial location depends upon a suitably chosen local reference Mach number. This method of analysis is then compared with the results of a series of jet-mixing experiments carried out on helium, methane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and freon jets mixing in air. Mach numbers ranging from 0.75 to 3.30 were investigated. The character and mixing rates of both properly and improperly expanded supersonic jets were studied. It is concluded from a comparison of these data with the theoretical method presented that a general relationship exists, at each axial position in the jet, between a local mixing rate parameter and the local Mach number. This general relationship is independent, within the accuracy of these experiments, of the physical properties or the thermodynamic state of the mixing gases.
Chimpanzees In Western Uganda

The following observations on the Long-haired or Schweinfurth's Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii , represent several brief but concerted efforts to locate wild chimpanzees in western Uganda in the months of October and November, 1957 and 1958. The authors’ appreciation is extended to Mrs. Belle J. Benchley and to Dr. Ernst Schwarz for reading the manuscript and providing helpful suggestions.
Specific down-modulation of Notch1 signaling in cervical cancer cells is required for sustained HPV-E6/E7 expression and late steps of malignant transformation

The Notch family of cell surface receptors plays a key role in cell-fate determination and differentiation, functioning in a cell- and context-specific manner. In mammalian cells, Notch activation is generally thought to maintain stem cell potential and inhibit differentiation, thereby promoting carcinogenesis. However, in other contexts such as primary epithelial cells (keratinocytes), increased Notch activity causes exit from the cell cycle and/or commitment to differentiation. We now report that expression of the endogenous Notch1 gene is markedly reduced in a panel of cervical carcinoma cells whereas expression of Notch2 remains elevated, and Notch1 expression is similarly reduced or absent in invasive cervical cancers. Conversely, expression of activated Notch1 causes strong growth inhibition of HPV-positive, but not HPV-negative, cervical carcinoma cells, but exerts no such effects on other epithelial tumor cells. Increased Notch1 signaling, but not Notch2, causes a dramatic down-modulation of HPV-driven transcription of the E6/E7 viral genes, through suppression of AP-1 activity by up-regulation of the Fra-1 family member and decreased c-Fos expression. Thus, Notch1 exerts specific protective effects against HPV-induced transformation through suppression of E6/E7 expression, and down-modulation of Notch1 expression is likely to play an important role in late stages of HPV-induced carcinogenesis.
Survival Advantage with Imatinib Mesylate Therapy in Chronic-Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML-CP) after IFN-α Failure and in Late CML-CP, Comparison with Historical Controls

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to compare the survival of patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) -positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) post-IFN-α failure treated with imatinib to historical experiences with standards of care or other therapies. Experimental Design: The outcome of 261 patients with Ph-positive chronic phase CML post-IFN failure treated with imatinib was compared with 204 historical control patients treated for a similar disease status with existing therapies. A subset of 147 patients in late chronic phase CML and 100% Ph-positive status treated with imatinib was compared with 95 patients in a similar disease status treated with IFN. Multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the independent prognostic effect of therapy (imatinib versus other) on survival. Results: In the first analysis involving 261 patients on imatinib plus 204 historical patients, the complete cytogenetic response rates were 62% and 19%, respectively ( P versus others) was a significant independent favorable prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio, 0.17; P P versus IFN) was an independent favorable prognostic factor for survival (hazard ratio, 0.20; P Conclusions: This analysis provides evidence for a survival advantage with imatinib versus other therapies in chronic-phase CML post-IFN failure, and for a survival advantage with imatinib versus IFN in late chronic-phase CML.
A BEM analysis of fracture mechanics in 2D anisotropic piezoelectric solids

Abstract This paper presents a single-domain boundary element method (BEM) analysis of fracture mechanics in 2D anisotropic piezoelectric solids. In this analysis, the extended displacement (elastic displacement and electrical potential) and extended traction (elastic traction and electrical displacement) integral equations are collocated on the outside boundary (no-crack boundary) of the problem and on one side of the crack surface, respectively. The Green's functions for the anisotropic piezoelectric solids in an infinite plane, a half plane, and two joined dissimilar half-planes are also derived using the complex variable function method. The extrapolation of the extended relative crack displacement is employed to calculate the extended `stress intensity factors' (SIFs), i.e., K I , K II , K III and K IV . For a finite crack in an infinite anisotropic piezoelectric solid, the extended SIFs obtained with the current numerical formulation were found to be very close to the exact solutions. For a central and inclined crack in a finite and anisotropic piezoelectric solid, we found that both the coupled and uncoupled (i.e., the piezoelectric coefficient e ijk =0) cases predict very similar stress intensity factors K I and K II when a uniform tension σ yy is applied, and very similar electric displacement intensity factor K IV when a uniform electrical displacement D y is applied. However, the relative crack displacement and electrical potential along the crack surface are quite different for the coupled and uncoupled cases. Furthermore, for a inclined crack within a finite domain, we found that while a uniform σ yy (=1 N m −2 ) induces only a very small electrical displacement intensity factor (in the unit of Cm −3/2 ), a uniform D y (=1 C m −2 ) can produce very large stress intensity factors (in the unit of Nm −3/2 ).
Affine motion estimation using a neural network

A neural network based motion-estimation technique (for successive video frames) is developed that is applicable to purely translational as well as affine movements. In addition to yielding highly accurate results, a benefit of this technique is the elimination of fractional-pixel interpolation and corresponding search. The technique is formulated in terms of a modified Hopfield neural network. The procedure consists of two stages: estimation of the neural network parameters from the present and previous frames, followed by the estimation of the affinity weights for the candidate macroblocks. The reconstructed macroblock then consists of the sum of the candidate macroblocks weighted by their affinity values as defined. Experiments on translational motion indicate that this technique produces a 5 dB higher peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) than the full search algorithm, 6 dB higher than the logarithmic block matching algorithms, and 2 dB higher than some of the very recent motion estimation algorithms. Preliminary experiments using the neural network affine algorithm on synthetically sheared images produce an 11 dB higher PSNR than the full search and LBM. Further, due to the neural network's fault tolerant nature and inherent parallelism, potential exists for VLSI implementation as an interconnection of small cells on a single chip.
Recent developments in high-temperature photonic crystals for energy conversion

After decades of intense studies focused on cryogenic and room temperature nanophotonics, scientific interest is also growing in high-temperature nanophotonics aimed at solid-state energy conversion. These latest extensive research efforts are spurred by a renewed interest in high temperature thermal-toelectrical energy conversion schemes including thermophotovoltaics (TPV), solar‐ thermophotovoltaics, solar‐thermal, and solar‐thermochemical energy conversion systems. This field is profiting tremendously from the outstanding degree of control over the thermal emission properties that can be achieved with nanoscale photonic materials. The key to obtaining high efficiency in this class of high temperature energy conversion is the spectral and angular matching of the radiation properties of an emitter to those of an absorber. Together with the achievements in the field of highperformance narrow bandgap photovoltaic cells, the ability to tailor the radiation properties of thermal emitters and absorbers using nanophotonics facilitates a route to achieving the impressive efficiencies predicted by theoretical studies. In this review, we will discuss the possibilities of emission tailoring by nanophotonics in the light of high temperature thermal-to-electrical energy conversion applications, and give a brief introduction to the field of TPV. We will show how a class of large area 2D metallic photonic crystals can be designed and employed to efficiently control and tailor the spectral and angular emission properties, paving the way towards new and highly efficient thermophotovoltaic systems and enabling other energy conversion schemes based on high-performance high-temperature nanoscale photonic materials.
Examination of a Virulence Mutant Uncovers the Ribosome Biogenesis Regulatory Protein of Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract Several insertional mutants identified in a screen for Toxoplasma gondii that were defective in establishing a chronic infection had a common site of plasmid insertion. This insertion site was determined to be 43 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site of a gene whose predicted product has homology to ribosome biogenesis regulatory protein Rrs1p, an essential protein required for ribosome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Northern blot analysis of this locus, termed TgRRS1, showed that in the C3 mutant, the full-length transcript is down-regulated and at least 1 new smaller transcript is present. Restoration of the intact predicted promoter and locus to TgRRS1 insertional mutant strain C3 did not restore brain cyst formation to the levels of the parent strain. Epitope-tagged TgRRS1 was found to localize to the parasite nucleolus, in an area corresponding to the granular component region. TgRRS1 can serve as a marker for the sub-nucleolar granular component region of T. gondii.
Metal complexes of cyanocarbons XI. Reactions of tetracyanoethylene with hydridoiridium complexes

Abstract Reactions of tetracyanoethylene(TCNE) with a number of hydrido-complexes of iridium have been studied. Displacement reactions are observed for most of the tervalent, octahedral iridium substrates such as IrHCl2(CO)(PPh3)2, IrH2Cl(CO)(PPh3)2, IrHCl(SnCl3)CO(PPh3)2, and IrH2(SnCl3)CO(PPh3)2 where HCl, H2 SnHCl3, and SnH2Cl2 respectively are eliminated and the iridium-containing product in all cases is IrCl(CO)(TCNE)(PPh3)2. In the case of the univalent, trigonal bipyramidal substrates IrH(CO)(PPh3)3 and IrH(CO)2(PPh3)2 as well as tervalent IrH3(CO)(PPh3)2, a 1,4-addition to TCNE is formally observed, and the novel cyano(dicyanomethyl) keteniminato complex Ir(C6N4H)(CO)(TCNE)(PPh3)2 is isolated when the solvent is benzene. The presence of alcohol in the reaction mixture results in the formation of the cyano-complex Ir(CN)(CO)(TCNE)(PPh3)2 as well as the keteniminato-complex. The nature of the keteniminatoiridium bond is discussed and a rationale for the 1,4-addition is proposed.
On-shelf lower Miocene Oakville sediment-dispersal patterns within a three-dimensional sequence-stratigraphic architectural framework and implications for deep-water reservoirs in the central coastal area of Texas

Through integrating three-dimensional seismic and wireline-log pattern data, we found that the sequence-stratigraphic architecture of the lower Miocene Oakville Formation along the central part of the Texas Gulf Coast reveals four third-order sequences: the lower two containing lowstand (LST), transgressive (TST), and highstand systems tracts (HST); and the upper two appearing to contain only TST and HST. These sequences average 1.2 m.y. in duration. The lowstand incised valley fill sandstones are massive, as thick as 420 ft (73 m) on wireline logs. Seismic stratal slices demonstrate that the incised valleys are dip oriented and more than 20 mi (32 km) wide. Strata (reflections) within the incised valleys onlap the sides of the valley. The third-order TST comprise backstepping high-frequency sequences. Seismic stratal slices and wireline-log patterns within the TST suggest deltaic sediment dispersal patterns that appear reworked. Third-order HST comprise aggradational to progradational high-frequency sequences, and seismic stratal slices and wireline-log patterns indicate a variety of depositional environments that we interpreted as deltaic, shoreface, coastal plain, and interdistributary. The HST is significantly truncated by the overlying sequence boundary. Sandstone-rich incised-valley fills suggest that large amounts of sediment may have been transported through these channels and may have supplied lowstand deposits and associated reservoirs seaward of the previous shelf edge.
Topology bandpass filters in coplanar strip lines

We report a new bandpass filter on coplanar strip (CPS) lines for RF and microwave applications. The filter is implemented as electrode topology on the CPS electrodes. The topology consists of basic electrode patterns that emulate inductors and capacitors in a two-port filter section. In the design process, equivalent circuit model is used to identify the initial topology, which is then fine tuned using full wave analysis. The bandpass filter is very compact in size and planar in structure. It does not use quarter-wavelength sections, vias, or bonding wires. It can be fabricated without incurring additional cost. Bandpass filters for the 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) band were designed, fabricated, and measured. The measurement responses agree well with the full-wave simulation results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2008.
Assessing China's Public Price Hearings: Symbolic Aspects

Abstract The effectiveness of the public hearing as a participatory instrument has been debated. This paper argues that evaluation of the public hearing could be improved by an interpretive and institutional analysis. Introducing four major recent public hearings, this comparative study assesses the development and use of public hearing in China's governmental price making. It concludes that the public hearing should be viewed as a type of participatory institution. Its effectiveness relies on other institutional factors and on whether it can evoke values of citizenship, due process and deliberation. Constrained by China's political and social institutions, current Chinese price hearings are framed on the basis of consumer rights rather than citizen rights. The public hearing is perhaps the oldest and most widely used technique for citizens to participate in governmental decision making in western countries (Checkoway, B. The politics of public hearing. J. Appl. Behav. Sci. 1981, 17(4), 566–583), but it i...
Fourier Methods for Evolving Seasonal Patterns

Abstract The use of Fourier or spectral methods for the seasonal adjustment of economic and other time series has recently been suggested; see for example Hannan [3], [4]. The case in which the seasonal pattern does not change appreciably from year to year has been covered in some detail but methods appropriate to an evolving seasonal pattern have been given only a little attention. The present paper discusses the nature of evolving seasonal patterns which may arise in economic series and examines a method due to Hannan which may be used when the pattern is changing slowly over time. Although the suggested method is not readily mechanized for routine application on a large scale since some personal judgments are called for, it is found useful in detailed studies and might well be applied to any series for which traditional methods are not adequate; it is also applicable to the problem of prediction.
Response spectrum of pentachlorobenzene and fluoranthene for Chironomus tentans and Hyalella azteca.

The whole-body residues of pentachlorobenzene (PCBz) and fluoranthene (FLU) in Hyalella azteca and Chironomus tentans were determined for a variety of chronic sublethal effects. The endpoints evaluated for H. azteca included 28-d growth and survival and 42-d growth, survival, and reproduction. Adverse effects to C. tentans also were determined at multiple endpoints including 10-d growth, cumulative pupation and emergence, and reproduction. The lowest-observed-effect residue (LOER) based on whole-body residues associated with growth was consistent between compounds and species tested with concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 0.33 μmol/g. For H. azteca, the most sensitive endpoints were growth at 0.23 μmol/g and reproduction at 0.11 μmol/g for PCBz and FLU, respectively. For C. tentans, the most sensitive endpoints were emergence, development and reproduction at 0.02 μmol/g, and development and reproduction at 0.15 μmol/g for PCBz and FLU, respectively. Compared to residues associated with acute lethality, the most sensitive sublethal endpoints were approximately 4 and 60 times lower for PCBz and FLU, respectively. The relative consistency of the sublethal endpoints suggests that body residues can be a valuable tool to evaluate bioaccumulation data as part of a risk assessment to predict adverse effects to biota.
Chemistry of Isolated Transition Metal Clusters

Clusters containing two to several hundred atoms are generated by pulsed laser vaporization of a metal target located in a flow tube reactor. A continuous flow of inert carrier gas entrains and cools the vaporized plume of metal, resulting in rapid cluster growth. Reactant gases are injected into the flow downstream of the target, at a point where cluster growth has finished. After reagent mixing and chemical reactions occur, the products exit the tube into a vacuum, and are formed into a molecular beam by collimators located in successive stages of differential pumping. In the highest vacuum stage the reaction products are identified by pulsed laser ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Studies to be discussed include measurements of absolute reaction rate constants, hydrogen uptake experiments, laser-induced desorption of adsorbates from clusters, and cluster-catalyzed chemical reactions. Such work provides us with information about the dependence of reactivity on cluster size, the geometrical configuration of cluster binding sites, the thermodynamics of adsorbate bonding, and the mechanisms of chemical reactions of cluster surfaces. These studies are bringing us closer to a detailed understanding of the interactions of metal surfaces with atoms and simple molecules.
Personal health records: addressing consumer needs for access

In this paper, we present a discussion of personal health records (PHRs). The development of PHRs in the USA has occurred as a result of the Institute of Medicine's direction to improve healthcare quality and make it more patient-centred, as well as demands from patients for more control of their health data. The PHR addresses timeliness, patient safety and equity. The PHR is also integral to the US National Health Information Network (NHIN) being designed to give all Americans access to electronic health records by 2014. Despite increasing access to PHRs via employers, insurance companies, healthcare providers and independent entities, adoption and successful implementation of the PHR as well as other types of electronic records (Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR)) is unclear. The specific interaction and distinction between these records is also unclear. This article differentiates the PHR from the other records, introduces the notion of ownership of medical information and presents a basic research model regarding PHR adoption and diffusion.
Predictive accuracy of criteria for chronic myocardial infarction in pacing-induced left bundle branch block

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive accuracy of 5 electrocardiographic criteria for chronic myocardial infarction (MI) in the presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB) were evaluated in 47 patients with known (clinical and electrocardiographic Q wave) MI and 28 patients without MI. Two right ventricular sites were paced (producing LBBB with normal or left axis). The effect of infarct location on these criteria was also evaluated. In patients with LBBB: Cabrera's sign (notching of the upstroke of S wave in V3,4,5) is seen more often with MI than without (anterior more often than inferior), and the left axis increased its sensitivity. Chapman's sign (notching of upstroke of the R wave in I, L or V6) is more common in patients without MI, and its specificity and sensitivity are not altered by axis. Sensitivity of notching in 2, 3, F is too low to be clinically useful. Q 2, 3, F indicates only left axis; predictive accuracy for MI is high (100%) only for normal axis where sensitivity is low (3%). (5) Q 1, L, V6 is no more frequent with MI than without, but if MI is present it is more common in anterior than inferior infarction. Specificity and predictive accuracy are too low to be clinically useful as indicators of MI.
Theorems on products of EPr matrices, II

Abstract This paper gives necessary and sufficient conditions that the product of EPr matrices with entries from an arbitrary field be EPr. Results about the Reverse Order Law for generalized inverses of products of these matrices are included.
When Does the Watchdog Bark? Conditions of Aggressive Questioning in Presidential News Conferences

In theories of the journalism-state relationship, the watchdog model of journalism competes with other models emphasizing either subservient or oppositional relations. Since actual journalistic practice is circumstantially variable, this study isolates the social conditions associated with aggressive journalism. Data are drawn from presidential news conferences from 1953 to 2000, and the focus is on the aggressiveness of the questions asked therein. Through multivariate models, four sets of explanatory conditions are explored: (1) the administration life cycle, (2) presidential popularity, (3) the state of the economy, and (4) foreign affairs. Results show (1) no evidence of a firstterm honeymoon period, but significantly more aggressive questions during second terms, (2) the president's Gallup job approval rating is not a significant independent predictor of aggressiveness, (3) both the unemployment rate and the prime interest rate are positively associated with aggressiveness, and (4) questions about fo...
Meaning in Life: Meeting the Challenges

Responding to comments by Cheshire Calhoun and Arnold Burms, this piece clarifies some of Wolf’s ideas about the relation between meaningfulness in life, on the one hand, and reasons of love, fulfillment, and objective value, on the other. Meaning tends to come from activities whose reasons are grounded in love of a worthy (objectively valuable) object, and not necessarily from reasons having anything to do with an interest in meaningfulness itself. But what counts as a worthy object cannot be determined either from a totally neutral and impersonal point of view or from the points of view of specific other people who matter to the subject.
Calmodulin binding to cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein modulates Fas-induced signalling.

We and others have demonstrated that Fas-mediated apoptosis is a potential therapeutic target for cholangiocarcinoma. Previously, we reported that CaM (calmodulin) antagonists induced apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells through Fas-related mechanisms. Further, we identified a direct interaction between CaM and Fas with recruitment of CaM into the Fas-mediated DISC (death-inducing signalling complex), suggesting a novel role for CaM in Fas signalling. Therefore we characterized the interaction of CaM with proteins recruited into the Fas-mediated DISC, including FADD (Fas-associated death domain)-containing protein, caspase 8 and c-FLIP {cellular FLICE [FADD (Fas-associated death domain)-like interleukin 1β-converting enzyme]-like inhibitory protein}. A Ca2+-dependent direct interaction between CaM and FLIPL, but not FADD or caspase 8, was demonstrated. Furthermore, a 37.3±5.7% increase ( n =6, P =0.001) in CaM–FLIP binding was observed at 30 min after Fas stimulation, which returned to the baseline after 60 min and correlated with a Fas-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ that reached a peak at 30 min and decreased gradually over 60 min in cholangiocarcinoma cells. A CaM antagonist, TFP (trifluoperazine), inhibited the Fas-induced increase in CaM–FLIP binding concurrent with inhibition of ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) phosphorylation, a downstream signal of FLIP. Direct binding between CaM and FLIPL was demonstrated using recombinant proteins, and a CaM-binding region was identified in amino acids 197–213 of FLIPL. Compared with overexpression of wild-type FLIPL that resulted in decreased spontaneous as well as Fas-induced apoptosis, mutant FLIPL with deletion of the CaM-binding region resulted in increased spontaneous and Fas-induced apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells. Understanding the biology of CaM–FLIP binding may provide new therapeutic targets for cholangiocarcinoma and possibly other cancers. Abbreviations: AM, acetoxymethyl ester; CaM, calmodulin; CaMS, CaM–Sepharose; c-FLIP, cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein; Co-IP, co-immunoprecipitation; CS, control Sepharose; DD, death domain; DED, death effector domain; DISC, death-inducing signalling complex; ERK, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase; FADD, Fas-associated DD; FLICE, FADD-like interleukin 1β-converting enzyme; GST, glutathione transferase; HBSS, Hanks balanced salt solution; HRP, horseradish peroxidase; IPTG, isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside; TFP, trifluoperazine; TNF, tumour necrosis factor; TNF-R1, TNF receptor 1; TRAIL, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand; TRAIL-R1, TRAIL receptor 1; WT, wild-type
IT Artifact and IS Development

In spite of concerns, on the part of some IS academics, about the “missing IT artifact”, we find that a major segment of IS research is devoted to the design and development of the various information systems and IT artifacts. Several IS development topics are concerned with IS development methodologies and practices, including system development methodologies, object-oriented approaches, and error detection and management.
2013-14 Survey of Applied Legal Education

This report presents the results of the 2013-14 Center for the Study of Applied Legal Education (CSALE) “Survey of Applied Legal Education.” The survey was composed of four parts – a Master Survey that was directed to each ABA fully-accredited U.S. law school; Law Clinic and Field Placement Course Sub-Surveys that were distributed by the schools to the persons responsible for each distinct law clinic or field placement course at the school; and a Faculty Sub-Survey that was distributed by the schools to each person teaching in a law clinic or field placement course. Eighty-eight percent of accredited law schools participated in the survey.The results provide valuable insight into clinical programs and law clinic and field placement courses in areas such as design, capacity, administration, funding, and pedagogy and into the role and status of clinical legal education and educators in the legal academy. This is the third triennial survey, following up on surveys in 2007-08 and 2010-11.
The leadership role of college deans and department chairs in academic culture change

Although it has been decades since gender inequality in academe was first highlighted, institutions around the world continue to struggle with how best to address the problem. Policies and procedures intended to increase women's representation appear to have had limited impact in many departments, especially those in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Hence, current gender mainstreaming efforts must focus not only on explicit procedures but also on fostering a broad gender equality culture. This article introduces the approach utilized by one US research-intensive university to provide administrators with the tools and motivation to pursue such goals. Pre- and post-training questionnaires demonstrated that training can shift administrator attitudes. In addition, interviews with participants and surveys of faculty indicated the extent to which this approach altered departmental culture beyond policy and procedure. The results demonstrate the importance of empowered unit administrator...
Comparison of Developmental Rates of Two Separate Populations of Periplaneta fuliginosa (Dictyoptera: Blattidae) and Equations Describing Development, Preoviposition, and Oviposition

Periplaneta fuliginosa (Serville) were collected from Clemson, SC, in the Piedmont region, and Charleston, SC, in the coastal region. Maximal developmental rates of eggs and number of nymphs emerging from oothecae hatching at five temperature increments (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C) were recorded in the laboratory for each population. Developmental rates were also recorded for the first male and female to mature from 1-d-old nymphs hatched from the same ootheca. For first females, preoviposition (time to first ootheca) and oviposition rates, egg developmental rate, and number of nymphs emerged were recorded. Between 20 and 30°C, coastal nymphs developed 5% faster than Piedmont nymphs. At 15°C, only eight cockroaches reached adulthood after 56 mo. Oviposition and preoviposition rates of the coastal population were about 25% faster. Biologically these differences appear insignificant because they are less than variation in literature values. From data pooled from this experiment and the literature, coefficients of the Sharpe-DeMichele developmental rate model were calculated for egg and nymphal development, preoviposition, and oviposition. The regressions had high r 2 values and provide a quantitative basis for understanding population processes in this insect.
Price and affordability of direct-acting antiviral regimens for hepatitis C virus in the United States

Hepatitis C virus is a serious infection causing cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. The recent development of direct-acting antivirals has dramatically improved tolerability of treatment and rates of cure. However, the high price of these medications has often limited access to care and resulted in rationing of medications in the United States to those with advanced liver disease, access to specialist care, and without active substance use. This review assesses the way pharmaceutical prices are established and how pricing of directly acting antiviral regimens in the United States has impacted access to treatment for hepatitis C virus.