cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The patient who cannot receive beta-blockers

During the past 15–20 years management of patients with varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy has been made much easier by the finding that non-selective beta-blockers reduce portal pressure1. Subsequent controlled trials have shown that non-selective beta-blockers are effective in the primary and secondary prevention of variceal bleeding, and they are the standard form of treatment for these complications of portal hypertension2, 3, 4, 5. In addition, bleeding from portal hypertensive gastropathy is reduced following treatment with beta-blockers6. Unfortunately, many patients are intolerant of beta-blockers and thus must be treated with alternative therapies. In this chapter the alternatives to beta-blocker therapy for the treatment of the above conditions are discussed. Controlled trials examining different therapies in this subgroup of patients would allow for determination of the best approach. However, we lack these controlled trials and the conclusions in this chapter are based on data extracted from trials in which beta-blockers were compared to other therapies. I have assumed that the patient intolerant of beta-blockers will respond to alternative therapies in the same manner as patients who can tolerate beta-blockers.
Effects of individual task-specific experience in audit committee oversight of financial reporting outcomes

Abstract Financial statement amounts are established by managers and verified by auditors, and reporting and audit processes are overseen by audit committees of individuals having varying levels of knowledge about and experience with specific financial reporting tasks. As such, understanding how monitoring decision inputs, such as individual task-specific experience, affect reporting outcomes is essential for understanding the monitoring ability of audit committees, particularly when tasks are complex. Grounded in behavioral theory and using archival data, I examine whether and how individual audit committee member task-specific experience affects group financial reporting outcomes and whether effects are consistent with contagion or conservatism. Using a sample matched on audit committee selection characteristics, I find audit committee task-specific experience is associated with goodwill write-off decisions and I find no incremental effect of task-specific experience of individuals with appointed or other high-status characteristics, consistent with task-specific experience itself elevating status in group decision making. Further, results support the conclusion that audit committee task-specific experience induces conservative outcomes, rather than contagion of decisions between firms. Results should be important for assessing the monitoring ability of audit committees, particularly when managerial incentives to bias earnings are present.
3D T cell motility in jammed microgels

Exploration of in vitro cell behavior in 3D space has revealed that cell morphology, cell generated forces, and the architecture of the intracellular mechanical machinery differ from their 2D counterparts, demonstrating the importance of investigation in 3D. However, current 3D methods employ continuous polymer networks to study cells in 3D which present numerous challenges associated with the need for transient pore-space to enable cell motion and the complexities of controlling the 3D cell distribution. To overcome these challenges, we have developed a 3D culture medium made from jammed microgels; the rheological properties of jammed microgels swelled in liquid cell growth media allow the dispersal of cells in into a 3D environment with well-defined structural and material properties. In this work, we explore the motility of T cells in systems of jammed microgel growth media prepared with different yield stresses, finding time-scale and length-scale dependent dynamics that are correlated with the pore-space between the microgels. Jammed microgels represent a class of soft matter with unique properties that has not been leveraged for the study of cell motion or mechanics in 3D space; our observations of cell motion through jammed microgels demonstrate how T cells navigate porous environments and provide guidance for a multitude of future investigations in unexplored territory.
Growth during the first year in infants affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome

Infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) initially experience neurologic excitability, poor feeding, and/or hyperphagia in the setting of increased metabolic demand. Because the longitudinal effects of these early symptoms and behaviors on weight trends are unknown, we sought to contrast weight gain patterns through age 1 year for infants diagnosed with NAS with matched controls. Retrospective cohort of 70 singletons with a gestational age of ≥37 weeks and an ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis of NAS made ≤7 days after birth with institutional follow-up matched to patients without NAS. Infants were matched on gestational age (±2 weeks), birth weight (±20 g), sex (exact), and insurance type (exact). Quantile regression methods were used to estimate 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles of weight over time. The mean gestational age for an infant with NAS was 38.8 weeks (standard deviation [SD], 1.3). The mean birth weight was 3.141 kg (SD, 0.510). NAS patients had a median of 24 weights recorded between birth and 400 days (inter-quartile range [IQR], 16–32 weights). Patients without NAS had a median of 12 weights recorded (IQR, 10–16). Growth curves were similar over the first 400 days of life. Patients with NAS had non-significantly higher and lower estimated weights for the 90th and 10th percentiles, respectively. Infants with a diagnosis of NAS grew similarly to controls during their first year. Given the frequently-encountered NAS symptoms of hyperphagia and irritability, future studies may evaluate whether early differences in caregiver feeding exist and whether they have longer-term impacts on growth.
A synthetic glycosaminoglycan mimetic blocks HSV-1 infection in human iris stromal cells.

Abstract Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a significant pathogen that affects vision by targeting multiple regions in the human eye including iris. Using a focused library of synthetic non-saccharide glycosaminoglycan mimetics (NSGMs), we identified sulfated pentagalloylglucoside (SPGG) as a potent inhibitor of HSV-1 entry and cell-to-cell spread in the primary cultures of human iris stromal (HIS) cells isolated from eye donors. Using in vitro β-galactosidase reporter assay and plaque reduction assay, SPGG was found to inhibit HSV-1 entry in a dosage-dependent manner (IC50 ∼6.0 μM). Interestingly, a pronounced inhibition in HSV-1 entry and spread was observed in HIS cells, or a cell line expressing specific gD-receptor, when virions were pre-treated with mimetics suggesting a possible interaction between SPGG and the HSV-1 glycoprotein. To examine the significance of gD-SPGG interaction, HIS cells were pretreated with SPGG, which showed a significant reduction in gD binding. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence of SPGG being a novel viral entry inhibitor against ocular HSV infection.
The Utah urban carbon dioxide (UUCON) and Uintah Basin greenhouse gas networks: instrumentation, data, and measurement uncertainty

Abstract. The Utah Urban CO2 Network (UUCON) is a network of near-surface atmospheric carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) measurement sites aimed at quantifying long-term changes in urban and rural locations throughout northern Utah since 2001. We document improvements to UUCON made in 2015 that increase measurement precision, standardize sampling protocols, and expand the number of measurement locations to represent a larger region in northern Utah. In a parallel effort, near-surface CO2 and methane ( CH4 ) measurement sites were assembled as part of the Uintah Basin greenhouse gas (GHG) network in a region of oil and natural gas extraction located in northeastern Utah. Additional efforts have resulted in automated quality control, calibration, and visualization of data through utilities hosted online ( https://air.utah.edu , last access: 22 August 2019). These improvements facilitate atmospheric modeling efforts and quantify atmospheric composition in urban and rural locations throughout northern Utah. Here we present an overview of the instrumentation design and methods within UUCON and the Uintah Basin GHG networks as well as describe and report measurement uncertainties using a broadly applicable and novel method. Historic and modern data described in this paper are archived with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and can be found at https://doi.org/10.7289/V50R9MN2 (Mitchell et al., 2018c) and https://doi.org/10.25921/8vaj-bk51 (Bares et al., 2018a) respectively.
The influence of premature birth on laryngeal development for phonation.

Abstract Introduction Dysphonia is a known consequence of premature birth, and is usually associated with endotracheal intubation in the neonatal period or surgical ligation of persistent patent ductus arteriosus. Recently, cases of dysphonia, in the absence of these causative factors, have been reported. Objectives This review seeks to identify literature pertaining to those aspects of laryngeal development that may potentially be disrupted by premature birth. The purpose of the review is to determine whether there is any possible anatomical or physiological explanation for dysphonia to arose solely from premature birth. Methods This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by Arskey and O'Malley (2005). Fifteen relevant papers were identified. Results were categorized into age-related categories, to identify changes in the developmental trajectory. Based on the results of the literature search, a further category of unphonated larynges was added. Results Potential differences in the laryngeal framework (e.g., the development of the cricoid cartilage and the shape of the glottis) and vocal fold histology, depending on gestational age and post-natal phonation were identified. Much literature focused on the macula flavae, however, the layers of the lamina propria were also discussed. Discussion It is unclear whether the process of differentiation of the layers of the lamina propria, which commences in the second to third months of life in term-born infants, is disrupted by prematurity. Further, development of the macula flavae continues until at least 28 weeks’ gestation. Preterm children may not phonate immediately after birth, which may also affect laryngeal development.
NeighBoard: Facilitating Community Policing with Embodied Tech Design

Augmenting grassroots community policing (CP) efforts with technologies that assist citizens is a promising strategy for reducing real and perceived fear of crime. We used a human-centered design approach, working with residents of the St. Paul Summit-University neighborhood, to discern abstract functionalities for developing new CP technology. We then created and evaluated NeighBoard (Figure 1), which aims to enhance the social fabric of communities by letting citizens implement their own strategies for preventing crime and maintaining safety in their neighborhood.
Selective acoustic control of photon-mediated qubit-qubit interactions

Quantum technologies such as quantum sensing, quantum imaging, quantum communications, and quantum computing rely on the ability to actively manipulate the quantum state of light and matter. Quantum emitters, such as color centers trapped in solids, are a useful platform for the realization of elementary building blocks (qubits) of quantum information systems. In particular, the modular nature of such solid-state devices opens up the possibility to connect them into quantum networks and create nonclassical states of light shared among many qubits. The function of a quantum network relies on efficient and controllable interactions among individual qubits. In this context, we present a scheme where optically active qubits of differing excitation energies are mutually coupled via a dispersive interaction with a shared mode of an optical cavity. This generally off-resonant interaction is prohibitive of direct exchange of information among the qubits. However, we propose a scheme in which by acoustically modulating the qubit excitation energies it is, in fact, possible to tune to resonance a preselected pair of qubits and thus open a communication channel between them. This method potentially enables fast (approximately nanoseconds) and parallelizable on-demand control of a large number of physical qubits. We develop an analytical and a numerical theoretical model demonstrating this principle and suggest feasible experimental scenarios to test the theoretical predictions.
Ready the Canons: The Role of Canonical Stories in Organizational Sensemaking:

This article examines the role of canonical stories in sensemaking. Canonical stories are known by members of a group; storytellers can refer to the shared narratives as repositories of meaning. Wh...
The Diabetic's Guide to the Health Care System.

The author believes that in order to obtain the care he needs, the diabetic must assume responsibility for the treatment of his condition, in that he must understand the physical and psychological ...
Prediction and Stochastic Choice

In this paper, we study a non-parametric approach to prediction in stochastic choice models in economics. We show that VC complexity characterises the predictability of stochastic choice models. We establish prediction methods and provide corresponding rates of convergence.
Surgical site infections in early onset scoliosis: what are long-term outcomes in patients with traditional growing rods?

Deep surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common and potentially severe complication in early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients. We sought to identify the long-term outcomes following SSI, specific risk factors associated with recurrent infections, and if instrument retention is a prudent SSI management strategy in EOS. We performed a retrospective review of all EOS patients who underwent traditional growing rod spine procedures from 2003 to 2017. Infections were categorized as single or multiple SSIs. All infections were treated with operative irrigation and debridement (I&D) as well as antibiotics. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square and ANOVA tests to assess differing factors between patients with single versus multiple infections. Eighty-one patients underwent 638 growth-friendly traditional growing rod procedures. There were 21 patients (26%) who developed a total of 27 SSIs (4.2% SSI per procedure). Fifteen patients had a single infection and six patients had multiple infections. Demographics were not significantly different between these two groups. Patients with multiple infections had a significant difference in the number of procedures after initial infection (p value = 0.025) and positive preoperative nasal Staphylococcus aureus screen (p value = 0.0021) when compared to those with a single SSI. Of note, these results were not available at the time of pre-operative antibiotic selection. All 21 patients had resolution of their SSIs. Twenty patients reached final instrumented fusion. Two patients, both of whom had multiple infections, underwent complete removal of instrumentation. Reasons included one each, parental request resulting in termination of treatment and infection > 7 years after final fusion. Most patients who develop SSIs during growing spine treatment are able to remain instrumented. Risk factors associated with developing multiple SSIs include infection earlier in the course of growing spine surgery, a resultant higher number of procedures following the initial infection and having a positive preoperative nasal Staphylococcus aureus screen. IV.
An econometric study of the impact of some indicators of agricultural development on the agricultural sector in Libya

The main objective of the research is studying impact of agriculturaldevelopment indicators on Libyan agriculture sector. The most importantindicators were: (1) Coefficient of Agricultural Investment Productivity, (3)Coefficient of Agricultural Capitalist Condensation, (4) Coefficient ofAgricultural Employment, (5) Coefficient of Agricultural Nationality.Descriptive and quantitative analysis were used. The study depends onsecondary data, which collected from local and foreign sources during the period (1990-2010). Some economic studies related to this subject areconsidered.To know the positive and some negative impacts for applyingeconomic transformation policy on agricultural development indicators, thestudy period are divided to two periods, the first period before applyingeconomic transformation policy (1990-2000), the second period after applyingthat policy (2001-2010).The conduct study showed that the relative decreasing of short loanswith about 15% of total agricultural loans, while this relative was about 55.8%for long loans during the study period (1990-2010).For applying economic transformation policy on agriculturaldevelopment indicators, the results showed that applying this policy havepositive impacts on the all studied indicators except variable of agriculturalshort loans.Some recommendations from this research had been discussed toimprove the Libyan agricultural development.
Introduction to Abstract Algebra

Numbers Ordering numbers The Well-Ordering Principle Divisibility The Division Algorithm Greatest common divisors The Euclidean Algorithm Primes and irreducibles The Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic Exercises Study projects Notes Functions Specifying functions Composite functions Linear functions Semigroups of functions Injectivity and surjectivity Isomorphisms Groups of permutations Exercises Study projects Notes Summary Equivalence Kernel and equivalence relations Equivalence classes Rational numbers The First Isomorphism Theorem for Sets Modular arithmetic Exercises Study projects Notes Groups and Monoids Semigroups Monoids Groups Componentwise structure Powers Submonoids and subgroups Cosets Multiplication tables Exercises Study projects Notes Homomorphisms Homomorphisms Normal subgroups Quotients The First Isomorphism Theorem for Groups The Law of Exponents Cayley's Theorem Exercises Study projects Notes Rings Rings Distributivity Subrings Ring homomorphisms Ideals Quotient rings Polynomial rings Substitution Exercises Study projects Notes Fields Integral domains Degrees Fields Polynomials over fields Principal ideal domains Irreducible polynomials Lagrange interpolation Fields of fractions Exercises Study projects Notes Factorization Factorization in integral domains Noetherian domains Unique factorization domains Roots of polynomials Splitting fields Uniqueness of splitting fields Structure of finite fields Galois fields Exercises Study projects Notes Modules Endomorphisms Representing a ring Modules Submodules Direct sums Free modules Vector spaces Abelian groups Exercises Study projects Notes Group Actions Actions Orbits Transitive actions Fixed points Faithful actions Cores Alternating groups Sylow Theorems Exercises Study projects Notes Quasigroups Quasigroups Latin squares Division Quasigroup homomorphisms Quasigroup homotopies Principal isotopy Loops Exercises Study projects Note Index
Hilbert’s Tenth Problem for Subrings of {\mathbb {Q}} and Number Fields (Extended Abstract)

In 1900 David Hilbert presented a list of questions at an international meeting of Mathematicians in Paris.
Design Spectra for Nuclear Power Plants

A realistic determination of the design level of vibratory ground motion for nuclear power plants can be obtained by direct analysis of response spectra of existing accelerograms recorded under conditions representative of the Safe Shutdown Earthquake (SSE). The accelerograms recorded under conditions representative of the SSE are identified on the basis of the geologic and seismologic characteristics of the SSE (magnitude, distance, dimensions of fault break, source mechanism, travel path, and regional and local geology). In order to obtain response spectra at the level representative of the SSE, the representative accelerograms and their response spectra are linearly scaled for magnitude and distance using existing attenuation relations. When the response spectra scaled to a level representative of the SSE have been calculated and plotted, design spectra with the characteristics recommended in U.S. NRC Regulatory Guide 1.60 are conservatively fitted to them.
U. S. Mirror Program

The mirror approach is now the principal alternate to the tokamak in the U.S. magnetic fusion energy program. The program is now focused on two new concepts that can obtain high values of Q, defined as the ratio of fusion power output to the neutral beam power injected to sustain the reaction. These are the tandem mirror and field reversed mirror concepts. Theoretically both concepts should be able to attain Q = 5 or more, as compared with Q approximately 1 in previous mirror designs. Success with either or both of these approaches would point the way toward fusion power plants with many attractive features. The linear geometry of mirror systems offers a distinct alternative to the toroidal tokamak. As a direct consequence of this difference in geometry, it is generally possible to build mirror systems in smaller units of modular construction that can probably be made to operate in steady-state. During the next 5 years the main mirror facilities in the U.S. will be the 2XIIB (renamed Beta II); a tandem mirror experiment caled TMX; and the Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) scheduled to be completed in 1981 at a cost of $94 million. As a background for discussingmore » this program and mirror reactor concepts in later lectures, the current status of mirror physics will be reviewed by comparing theory and experimental data in four critical areas. These are adiabatic confinement of individual ions, electron heat losses out of the ends of the machine, the achievement of beta values of order unity; and stabilization of ''loss cone'' modes.« less
Shield design for next-generation, low-neutron-fluence, superconducting tokamaks

A shield design using stainless steel (SST), water, boron carbide, lead, and concrete materials was developed for the next-generation tokamak device with superconducting toroidal field (TF) coils and low neutron fluence. A device such as the Tokamak Fusion Core Experiment (TFCX) is representative of the tokamak design which could use this shield design. The unique feature of this reference design is that a majority of the bulk steel in the shield is in the form of spherical balls with two small, flat spots. The balls are purchased from ball-bearing manufacturers and are added as bulk shielding to the void areas of built-up, structural steel shells which form the torus cavity of the plasma chamber. This paper describes the design configuration of the shielding components.
US law of the sea policy

Abstract Following a discussion of the theory of bureaucratic politics, as outlined by Halperin, Allison, and Neustadt, the author examines, as case studies of the US policy process, the Deep Seabed Mining Legislation Presidential Review Memorandum and the Committee process of the US Delegation to UNCLOS. He then, through application of the theory, formulates recommendations for a more effective policy making process.
A Behavioral Approach to International Legal Cooperation

International relations theories have largely ignored the role of individual people who play key roles in treaty design and participation; instead, that scholarship assumes that other factors, such as treaty enforcement, matter most. We use experiments drawn from behavioral economics and cognitive psychology — along with a substantive survey focused on international trade treaties — to illustrate how two traits (patience and strategic skills) could influence treaty outcomes. More patient and strategic players favor treaties with larger numbers of countries (and thus larger long-term benefits). These behavioral traits had much larger impacts on simulated treaty outcomes than treaty enforcement mechanisms. This study is based on a sample of 509 university students yet provides a baseline for future experimental and survey research on actual policy elites who design and implement treaties; a preliminary sample of 73 policy elites displays the same main patterns described in this paper.
CEO Turnover and Firm Diversification

We test theories of managerial entrenchment and ability matching by examining the relation between CEO turnover and the level of firm diversification. Our results indicate that CEO turnover in diversified firms is completely insensitive to firm performance. Additional analysis indicates that for diversified firms voluntary turnover is not sensitive to firm performance, but that forced turnover is sensitive to performance. Even when turnover is forced, however, we find little evidence of restructuring of a diversified firm following CEO succession. We also find that new CEOs in diversified firms are paid more than CEOs in focused firms, and that the compensation premium is invariant to whether the turnover was voluntary or forced. Finally, we find evidence that diversified firms are more likely to have a formal succession plan, to replace the existing CEO with an insider, and hire older more educated executives. Taken together, the findings suggest that diversified firms tend to manage the succession process more carefully because they require CEOs with greater ability. The findings are not consistent with managerial entrenchment. Our study provides new evidence on how the nature and scope of the organization affects the succession process.
‘Panoramic whew’: The Aeroscope at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, 1915

Amid the many forms of aerial display presented during San Francisco’s Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 – barnstorming demonstrations, giant relief maps, printed bird’s eye guides, and many others – one stood above the others in prestige and demand. Designed by the future engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge, Joseph Strauss, the ‘Aeroscope’ was a curious machine, occupying a position somewhere between a tethered balloon, a movie theater, and an industrial crane. The Aeroscope offered fairgoers an aerial panorama of the exposition grounds, and functions as an axial point with which to survey the debate over the place of aerial vision. Although the objectives and effects of this device were, to its ultimate detriment, diverse, what was most widely commented upon was its unique helical arc, which perpetually shifted the rider’s perspective and distance from the subjects of the view, and further toyed with any appreciable scale markers. The Aeroscope, arguably a centering monument of the exhibiti...
WE‐SAM‐ BRB‐01: Issues in Data Flow and Data Management in Radiation Oncology

Radiation therapytreatments grow ever more complex along with a growing reliance on networked computer systems to carry out our daily routines. Medical physicists have both an ethical as well as a legal responsibility to provide quality assurance to the entire treatment process. In order to do that effectively one needs to understand the systems in question, particularly weak points that can result in failures. This talk will provide an overview of the systems on which we rely and some of the important aspects of maintaining their functionality. Learning Objectives: 1. Review the variety of types of patient data common in Radiation Oncology. 2. Understand the basics of HIPAA as it pertains to pertaining that data and business continuity. 3. Understand the various causes of electronic data loss, including viruses, worms, computer system failures and theft. 4. Review how network topology can be used to enhance efficiency as well as provide additional layers of protection for patient data.
Projective Invariance in Cosmological Models and Dark Energy

We study theories of gravitation that are based on the Einstein – Hilbert action that are not projectively invariant and can therefore completely determine their connections. We are thus lead to the conclusion that the geometry is necessarily Riemann – Cartan and at least the trace part of a torsion field must be present. We examine the consequence of including these torsion fields in cosmological models. Our results differ from those obtained earlier in the Einstein – Cartan – Sciama – Kibble theory. We also consider a model that includes a series of quadratic torsion terms. This series leads to a potential function that has the effect of “turning on” the cosmological constant. This potential function then acts like dark energy. This model also shows that the torsion field can produce an inflationary period.
Cross-Strip Multiplexed Electro-Optical Coupled Scintillation Detector for Integrated PET/MRI

A prototype electro-optically coupled PET brain insert is being developed for 1.5 T or 3 T MRI systems. To reduce the number of electronic channels, we developed and tested a novel silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) multiplexing circuit based on a novel cross strip readout circuit using capacitors that reduces the number of channels by a factor of 4. Next, we developed and tested this multiplexing circuit with a new electro-optical coupling method that uses a small vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to transmit the scintillation signal out over fiber. This multiplexing circuit is specially suited for directly driving VCSEL lasers without using preamps or any other active components. Two detectors were placed inside the MR bored, and operated with and without a continuos RF field. We were able to resolve a 6 × 6 array of 2.63 mm × 2.63 mm × 20 mm LYSO crystals that were directly coupled to a 4 × 4 array of 3.2 mm × 3.2 mm SiPM pixels with a global delay corrected paired coincidence time resolution 2.50 +/- 0.015 ns FWHM and a per crystal gain corrected energy resolution of 12.6 +/- 0.6% FWHM @511 keV while operating inside an 1.5 T MRI, with or without the RF field on. The two technologies, capacitive multiplexing and electro-optical coupling, have enabled a high-performance clinical PET detector based on silicon photomultipliers, a factor 4 reduction in the number of readout channels, and, when inserted into a 1.5 T MRI system, has low levels of mutual interference between the PET detector and the MRI.
"Would I Could Give You Help and Succour": Elizabeth I and the Politics of Touch

In 1462, in defense of the House of Lancaster, Sir John Fortescue wrote that Edward IV could not cure the king's evil, the disease scrofula, by touching the afflicted since to do so one must not only be a king but also a legitimate one. To touch one needed not only to be annointed with holy oil but the person must also be the legitimate heir. Lancastrians claimed that Edward IV could not touch since he was not the rightful king. Wrote Fortescue, he “wrongly claims to enjoy this wonderful privilege. Wrongly … [because] this unction is powerless because Edward had no right to receive it.” Sir John goes on to argue by analogy, and scornfully asks: “Would a woman who received ordination thereby become a priest?” Of course not. Continuing this line of argument, Fortescue adds that a usurper would not be the only one unable to cure by touch.Many duties likewise are incumbent on the kings of England in virtue of the kingly office, which are inconsistent with a woman's nature, and kings of England are endowed with certain powers by special grace from heaven, wherewith queens in the same country are not endowed. The kings of England by touch of their annointed hands they cleanse and cure those inflected with a certain disease, that is commonly called the King's Evil, though they be pronounced otherwise incurable. This gift is not bestowed on Queens.
Satellite confirmation of the dominance of chlorofluorocarbons in the global stratospheric chlorine budget

OBSERVED increases in concentrations of chlorine in the stratosphere1–7 have been widely implicated in the depletion of lower-stratospheric ozone over the past two decades8–14. The present concentration of stratospheric chlorine is more than five times that expected from known natural 'background' emissions from the oceans and biomass burning15–18, and the balance has been estimated to be dominantly anthropogenic in origin, primarily due to the breakdown products of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)19,20. But despite the wealth of scientific data linking chlorofluorocarbon emissions to the observed chlorine increases, the political sensitivity of the ozone-depletion issue has generated a re-examination of the evidence21,22. Here we report a four-year global time series of satellite observations of hydrogen chloride (HC1) and hydrogen fluoride (HF) in the stratosphere, which shows conclusively that chlorofluorocarbon releases—rather than other anthropogenic or natural emissions—are responsible for the recent global increases in stratospheric chlorine concentrations. Moreover, all but a few per cent of observed stratospheric chlorine amounts can be accounted for by known natural and anthropogenic tropospheric emissions. Altogether, these results implicate the chlorofluorocarbons beyond reasonable doubt as dominating ozone depletion in the lower stratosphere.
GaN nanowire lasers with low lasing thresholds

We report optically pumped room-temperature lasing in GaN nanowires grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Electron microscopy images reveal that the nanowires grow along a nonpolar ⟨11-20⟩ direction, have single-crystal structures and triangular cross sections. The nanowires function as free-standing Fabry–Perot cavities with cavity mode spacings that depend inversely on length. Optical excitation studies demonstrate thresholds for stimulated emission of 22kW∕cm2 that are substantially lower than other previously reported GaN nanowires. Key contributions to low threshold lasing in these MOCVD GaN nanowire cavities and the development of electrically pumped GaN nanowire lasers are discussed.
Rising cesarean rates: Are patients sicker?

Abstract Objective Our study explored if patient risk factors for cesarean delivery (CD) are changing over time. Study design North Carolina birth certificates from 1995 were used to build a logistic regression model to predict the probability of primary CD. The model estimated each patient's probability of primary CD for 4 years of deliveries (397,793). The percentage of the population in each of the 10 CD risk deciles were compared across years. Results The incidence of primary CD rose from 16.6 to 18.4 ( P P P Conclusion The rate of primary CD is increasing, despite improvements in patient risk profile. The increasing CD rate may result from changes in physician behavior, institutional factors, and increasing patient demand for elective cesarean delivery.
A knowledge representation for modeling organizational productivity

The primary objective of effective productivity improvement is to reduce unnecessary and wasteful effort, not simply to speed things up. Constructing an organizational model along these lines might...
Formal system specification and testing of image processing/computer vision algorithms

An important issue in the advancement of Image Processing and Computer Vision (IP/CV) algorithm development is the ability to test, verify and compare the newly developed algorithm performance to other functionally equivalent algorithms and to ground truth in a complete and meaningful way. In this paper, we explore several criteria to estimate the performance of IP/CV algorithms against databases of synthetic and real data and use statistical analysis to determine performance. Formal system analysis along with Monte Carlo testing is used to rigorously compare these algorithms. A case study is performed on the familiar edge detection algorithms to illustrate the techniques and also the vulnerability of these algorithms to good average performance but in certain cases to very poor performance.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Exterior Structures of the Egg as Nutrients for Bacteria

SUMMARY A study was made to see if the exterior structures of the egg (cuticle, shell, and shell membranes) can support the growth of bacteria. Two species of common egg-spoiling bacteria and a pathogenic bacterium were examined. The exterior structures supported extensive growth of all three organisms comparable to that found when the same bacteria were cultured in albumen. When these bacteria were seeded into sterile saline containing intact egg shells, they could he isolated, after some time, from the inside of the shell.
Neuroticism moderates the daily relation between stressors and memory failures.

The present investigation extends previous work on the relationship between daily stressors and memory failures in a naturalistic setting by examining whether this relationship varies across levels of neuroticism. A daily diary study of 333 older adults (mean age = 73.27 years, SD = 7.17) in the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (see A. Spiro & R. Bosse, 2001, for additional information) was used to examine whether there were neuroticism differences in cognitive reactivity to daily stressors. Multilevel models indicated that on days when people high in neuroticism experienced stressors, particularly interpersonal stressors, they were more likely to report memory failures compared to those who were lower in neuroticism. The findings may have important implications for age-related cognitive decline.
The Function of the Hereditary Materials: Biological Catalyses Reflect the Cell's Evolutionary History

SYNOPSIS. The recent discovery of specialized RNA molecules that function like enzymes suggests that cells evolved before there were proteins. Such RNA-based cells would have contained large numbers of mutually supportive RNA molecules, each with a different catalytic function. Protein synthesis probably evolved later and was catalyzed by some of these RNA molecules. BecauseDNA must have been a relatively late addition to the cell, it is reasonable to assume that all DNA functions evolved in the presence of powerful protein catalysts. The above evolutionary perspective helps to explain why two different classes of catalytic mechanisms are used in present-day cells. The ancient processes of protein synthesis and pre-mRNA splicing are catalyzed by ribonucleoprotein particles, in which RNA catalysis still seems to play an important role. In contrast, late-evolving functions like. DNA replication are catalyzed by efficient protein machines. By analogy, protein machines are also likely to mediate the processes that control the transcription of eucaryotic genes.
Towards operationalizing complexity leadership: How generative, administrative and community-building leadership practices enact organizational outcomes

Over five years ago, The Leadership Quarterly published a special issue on complexity to advance a new way of thinking about leadership. In shifting attention away from the individual to the organizing process itself, complexity added an important focus on process and context to leadership and management research. Yet, the complexity approach creates challenges for researchers who must combine or replace individual level constructs—like those built through surveys or factor analysis—with richer theories that investigate networked meso dynamics, multilevel phenomena, emergent processes, and organizational outcomes. To address this challenge, the present analysis draws on theoretical and empirical work over the last several years to identify five specific areas where complexity inspired research has led to new insights about the mechanisms that enable the organization to perform and adapt. It suggests propositions that describe how leadership and management, defined holistically, might activate complexity mechanisms to perform five essential organizing functions.
The evaluation and physiologic assessment of hemorrhoidal disease: a review

The term hemorrhoids in generally used to describe “symptomatic hemorrhoids”. A Medline review of the literature on anatomy, physiology and post-hemorrhoidectomy changes was performed and summarized in this review.
The potential supply of synthetic fuels from Alaskan hydroelectric power and coal

Abstract It is proposed to develop and utilize the large potential hydroelectric power resources in Alaska to produce hydrogen by the electrolytic decomposition of water and to combine the hydrogen with the large Alaskan coal reserves to produce synthetic liquid and gaseous fuels. It is estimated that in this manner, as much as 1.8 million bbls/day of gasoline or 6.2 billion SCF/day of substitute natural gas can be produced. The existing and projected Alaskan pipelines would provide the means of transporting the fuels to energy consuming load centers in the U.S. This development would move the U.S. a considerable way towards energy independence as well as employing the natural resources in Alaska in an efficient manner.
Pediatric cervical spine injuries: report of 102 cases and review of the literature.

Object. To evaluate and review their experience with pediatric cervical injuries and factors affecting outcome, the authors conducted a retrospective clinical study of 102 cases (65% boys, 35% girls) of pediatric cervical spine injuries treated in the last decade. This study is an extension of and comparison with their earlier experience. Methods. Patients were divided into two age groups—birth to 9 years (Group 1) and 10 to 16 years of age (Group 2)—and managed according to status at presentation and type of injury. Thirty patients were managed surgically and 72 nonsurgically (42 wore a halo brace and 30 wore hard collars or custom-molded braces). Motor vehicle accidents were the most common cause of injury, and 40% were associated with head injury. Patients in the younger-age group (Group 1) sustained more neurological injuries than the older patients in Group 2, and most injuries were in the upper cervical spine. Of the 38 children in Group 1, in 39% a subluxation was present and in 29% a fracture or f...
Empirical Estimation and Use of Risk Preferences: Discussion

In 1976 a number of people present today attended a conference in Mexico which has since then (1978) resulted in a state-of-the-arts volume edited by Roumasset, Boussard, and Singh on risk, uncertainty and agricultural development. The papers presented today convey the feeling that since that time there has been little progress in measuring risk aversion or in discriminating between alternative theories of behavior under risk. I will argue that this is because the papers concentrate on approaches to measurement of risk aversion and testing of theories which hold little promise of fast progress. Please excuse that I will be somewhat partisan in the remarks and rely heavily on studies with which I have been involved. I know them best.
Ultrasound of inherited vs. acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies

We compared features of nerve enlargement in inherited and acquired demyelinating neuropathies using ultrasound. We measured median and ulnar nerve cross-sectional areas in proximal and distal regions in 128 children and adults with inherited [Charcot-Marie-Tooth-1 (CMT-1) (n = 35)] and acquired [chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (n = 55), Guillaine-Barre syndrome (GBS) (n = 21) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) (n = 17)] demyelinating neuropathies. We classified nerve enlargement by degree and number of regions affected. We defined patterns of nerve enlargement as: none, no enlargement; mild, nerves enlarged but never more than twice normal; regional, nerves normal in at least one region and enlarged more than twice normal in at least one region; diffuse, nerves enlarged at all four regions with at least one region more than twice normal size. Nerve enlargement was commonly diffuse (89 %) and generally more than twice normal size in CMT-1, but not (p < 0.001) in acquired disorders which mostly had either no, mild or regional nerve enlargement [CIDP (64 %), GBS (95 %), and MMN (100 %)]. In CIDP, subjects treated within 3 months of disease onset had less nerve enlargement than those treated later. Ultrasound identified patterns of diffuse nerve enlargement can be used to screen patients suspected of having CMT-1. Normal, mildly, or regionally enlarged nerves in demyelinating polyneuropathy suggests an acquired etiology. Early treatment in CIDP may impede nerve enlargement.
Mechanisms of mTOR inhibitor resistance in cancer therapy

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a conserved serine/threonine kinase that regulates cell cycle progression, protein translation, metabolism, and cellular proliferation. The mTOR pathway promotes cell proliferation under energy or nutrient-rich conditions by increasing ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis. Since enhanced activity of the mTOR pathway is frequently observed in malignant cells, inhibition of this kinase has become an attractive strategy to treat cancer. Rapamycin and its analogs temsirolimus, everolimus, and ridaforolimus referred to as "rapalogs" have demonstrated promising efficacy against renal cell carcinoma and are under investigation for the treatment of other malignancies. However, the emergence of drug resistance may ultimately limit the utility of rapalog therapy. Here we summarize the known mechanisms of resistance to mTOR-inhibitor therapy and describe potential strategies to overcome these for the current agents that target this pathway.
Risk of Vancomycin-induced Nephrotoxicity in the Population With Chronic Kidney Disease

The antibiotic vancomycin has been available since the 1950s but has been used more commonly since the early 1980s because of the widespread appearance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines recommend achieving vancomycin trough levels of 10 to 20 μg/mL. Usage of vancomycin in high dosages especially ≥ 4 g/d has led to an increase in the incidence of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review focuses on the impact of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with CKD. Patients with CKD are at increased risk of developing acute kidney injury and subsequently requiring renal replacement therapy. There is substantial need for vancomycin pharmacokinetic studies to be performed in the population with CKD to develop an optimum vancomycin nomogram in these patients. At present, tight monitoring of vancomycin trough levels in the population with CKD is recommended to help prevent acute kidney injury and its associated high morbidity, mortality and health care costs.
Recurrent nodular scleritis preceding an adult TINU syndrome.

Purpose: To describe the occurrence of nodular scleritis in a patient developing tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) syndrome. Design: Observational case report. Method: The case notes of a 57-year-old female presenting with recurrent nodular scleritis, who later developed interstitial nephritis with bilateral uveitis, were reviewed. Results: Common and established causes of scleritis were not present in an adult who developed the TINU syndrome a decade later. Conclusions: Although scleritis has not been reported as a tubulointerstitial nephritis-associated ocular inflammation, it may be part of the possible spectrum of ocular inflammation occurring as part of the TINU syndrome.