cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insecure at Best: The On-Demand Economy, Small Business, and Retirement Security

Small businesses – especially sole proprietors – are a large portion of the American workforce. With the explosive growth of the on-demand economy – which creates a number of new self-employed, sole proprietors each day – an estimated 2.5 million new small businesses are expected to be created each year. Yet, saving for retirement as a small business owner and especially as a sole proprietor is a challenge, as only 38.7% of small business owners participated in a retirement plan in 2014. In order to improve the retirement savings of small businesses and the self-employed, this paper identifies the specific challenges faced by small businesses and the self-employed in saving for retirement. This paper finds that: (1) the on-demand economy has greatly expanded the size of the small business workforce and will continue to do so; (2) saving for retirement is a challenge for small business owners, including sole proprietors; (3) despite the numerous types of retirement plans offered to small businesses and sole proprietors, without easier to use products from the IRS and financial service providers, small business owners will continue to lag behind other workers in saving for retirement; (4) small business owners and sole proprietors are not saving for retirement for a variety of reasons; (5) the inadequacy of small business retirement savings can be remedied by policymakers.
Sikh millennials of the ‘kirtan generation’ in the making of an ‘American Sikhism’

This essay focuses on the millennial generation of Sikhs in the United States. Based on extended ethnographic research in Sikh communities, the author explores the role of Sikh millennials in the m...
The Whole of Reason in Kant’s Critical Philosophy

Kant often compares reason to an organized body, which suggests that reason should be understood as a whole from which all possible uses of the faculties of reason are derived. However, Kant does not elaborate his conception of the whole of reason. Nor does the secondary literature. This paper suggests that the wholeness of reason is the apodictic modality of reason, i.e., the necessary standard that determines what can systematically belong to reason, and thus works as the systematic condition for all possible uses of the faculties of reason. This necessary standard is the discipline of pure reason.
Functionals associated with self-intersections of the planar Brownian motion

For every k=1,2,3,...and for a wide class of measures λ, we construct a one-parameter family ℐk(λ, u), u≥0 of functionals of the planar Brownian motion (Xt,Pu) related to its self-intersections of multiplicity k during the time interval [0,u]. We investigate various families of functionals which converge to ℐk(λ,u) and we evaluate the moment functions Pμ[ℐk1 (λ1,u) ...ℐkn (λn,u)].
Advancing Measurement of Diabetes at the Population Level

The measurement and estimation of diabetes in populations guides resource allocation, health priorities, and can influence practice and future research. To provide a critical reflection on current diabetes surveillance, we provide in-depth discussion about how upstream determinants, prevalence, incidence, and downstream impacts of diabetes are measured in the USA, and the challenges in obtaining valid, accurate, and precise estimates. Current estimates of the burden of diabetes risk are obtained through national surveys, health systems data, registries, and administrative data. Several methodological nuances influence accurate estimates of the population-level burden of diabetes, including biases in selection and response rates, representation of population subgroups, accuracy of reporting of diabetes status, variation in biochemical testing, and definitions of diabetes used by investigators. Technological innovations and analytical approaches (e.g., data linkage to outcomes data like the National Death Index) may help address some, but not all, of these concerns, and additional methodological advances and validation are still needed. Current surveillance efforts are imperfect, but measures consistently collected and analyzed over several decades enable useful comparisons over time. In addition, we proposed that focused subsampling, use of technology, data linkages, and innovative sensitivity analyses can substantially advance population-level estimation.
The role of polysomnography in decannulation of children with brain and spinal cord injuries

Objective The objective of this retrospective review was to determine the utility of polysomnography (PSG) in influencing the decision to decannulate pediatric patients with brain and spinal cord injuries in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital setting. Methods Between 2010 and 2016, data were collected on pediatric patients with brain and/or spinal cord injuries who had PSG performed with the goal of decannulation. Patients underwent a decannulation protocol involving toleration of continuous tracheostomy capping and bedside tracheoscopy by otolaryngology. Decision to decannulate was determined with input from multiple disciplines. Associations were examined between decannulation success and findings on PSG as well as demographic factors, injury characteristics, otolaryngology findings, and timeline from initial injury to selected events. Results A total of 46 patients underwent PSG, after which 38 (83%) were deemed appropriate and eight (17%) were deemed inappropriate for decannulation. Individuals who were deemed ready for decannulation had significantly lower obstructive apnea hypopnea indexes (AHI) (1.7 vs 5.4 events/h, P = 0.03), respiratory disturbance indexes (RDI) (2.4 vs 7.6 events/h, P = 0.006), and peak end tidal carbon dioxide (CO2 ) levels (50.0 vs 58.7 torr, P = 0.009) on PSG compared to those who were not decannulated. There were no complications following decannulation prior to discharge. Conclusion PSG provided important additional information as part of a multidisciplinary team assessment of clinical readiness for decannulation in pediatric patients with brain and spinal cord injuries who underwent a decannulation protocol. Obstructive AHI, RDI, and peak end tidal CO2 level were associated with successful decannulation prior to discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
EFFICACY OF PERCUTANEOUS RENAL DENERVATION VERSUS SHAM PROCEDURES IN RESISTANT HYPERTENSION: A META-ANALYSIS OF FIVE SHAM CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIALS

Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) studies have reported variable efficacy results. In this meta-analysis, we compared the blood pressure (BP) lowering effects of RDN versus sham procedures in medically treated resistant hypertensive patients MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Scopus databases were
Chartered science teacher

In any profession, the award of Chartered status indicates someone who has achieved a significant level of competence in a particular field and has therefore been recognised by a certain profession...
A review of psychological treatments for vomiting associated with paediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Purpose of review Vomiting can be a primary symptom or associated with various other functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The purpose of this review was to discuss the evidence for psychological treatments for vomiting in pediatric FGID. Recent findings Vomiting of functional origin is an increasingly recognized symptom among children and adolescents. It is highly aversive and associated with disability and poor quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle modification (especially sleep), diaphragmatic breathing, and hypnosis can be helpful in preventing vomiting episodes and reducing disability. However, no randomized clinical trials have been performed. An evidence base for psychological treatments in children with vomiting of functional origin is highly needed. Summary Increased evidence is demonstrating value and efficacy of incorporating psychogastroenterology practices into ongoing treatment plans for digestive conditions. Current psychological treatments are focused on prevention of vomiting through stress reduction and lifestyle modification, reduction of disability by limiting avoidance behaviours, as well as counteracting biological factors. However, psychological treatments have not been shown to be helpful during an acute vomiting episode. More research is needed to build an evidence base for psychological treatments in vomiting disorders.
Perceived interpersonal and institutional discrimination among persons with disability in the U.S.: Do patterns differ by age?

Abstract Rationale One-third of U.S. adults have an activity-limiting health condition and this proportion increases with age. However, it is unclear whether functional limitation renders one vulnerable to institutional and interpersonal discrimination, and whether this vulnerability differs over the life course. Stigma theories suggest disability would be more discrediting to younger persons relative to older adults, as it violates cultural norms and expectations regarding able-bodied working-age adults. Objective We evaluate whether U.S. adults with functional impairment report higher levels of perceived interpersonal mistreatment and institutional discrimination relative to persons without impairment, and whether these patterns differ across age groups. Method We use data from the second wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II), collected between 2004 and 2006 (n = 3931). We estimate OLS and logistic regression models to predict interpersonal and institutional discrimination, respectively. Results Persons with impairment report more frequent encounters of disrespectful treatment, insults, and being treated as if they have a character flaw, and elevated odds of workplace- and service-related discrimination, net of sociodemographic, and physical and mental health characteristics. Effects are significantly larger among early (age 40–49) and late (age 50–64) midlife versus older (age 65+) adults. Conclusions We discuss implications for policy and practice, and underscore that stigmatization processes may further amplify health and socioeconomic disparities between those with versus without functional limitations.
Investigation of Bias Voltage and Relative Humidity on Wear and Pit Formation at the Head–Disk Interface

Wear and pit formation of a thermal-flying height-control (TFC) slider was studied as a function of bias voltage and environmental relative humidity (RH; 5%–85%). Burnishing tests were performed by applying an “over-push” heater power to the heater element, causing slider–disk contacts. The experimental results showed that both bias voltage and RH have a large effect on the power-to-contact change and the wear of the slider. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the wear and pit formation as a function of bias voltage and RH. The wear of the slider surface was found to be less at the positive disk bias voltage compared with the negative disk bias voltage at all RH conditions. Pit formation was observed on the slider in the vicinity of the read–write transducer area when a positive bias voltage was applied to the disk at high RH conditions (85%). Pit formation was not observed at low RH.
Capillary zone electrophoresis separation and collection of spermatozoa for the forensic analysis of sexual assault evidence.

The processing of sexual assault kits (SAKs) relies on the genetic analysis of material extracted from swabs collected from the assault victim. A vital step in producing an identifiable DNA profile of the perpetrator is the effective separation of perpetrator (sperm) and victim (epithelial) DNA that have been isolated from the collected evidence. We report the use of capillary zone electrophoresis for the separation of intact sperm from whole and lysed epithelial cells in SAKs. The separated components are deposited into wells of a microtiter plate using a computer-controlled fraction collector, and quantitative PCR is used to verify the collection of sperm cells by targeted amplification of male DNA. We present results from simulated sexual assault samples that have been aged for up to 18 months, as well as vaginal swabs from authentic forensic kits. Components extracted from the vaginal swabs from the SAK comigrated with an aged semen sample at 6.25 ± 0.25 min. Epithelial cells migrated from 10-12 min, producing baseline resolution of the components. Sperm cells were collected in a microtiter plate for downstream analysis.
The MD/PhD Application Basics and Timeline

The MD/PhD application process is undeniably long and arduous, but proper planning will facilitate a successful application. The written portion of the application is perhaps the most confusing. First, a primary application is submitted to a unified application service and undergoes a verification process. Then, each school invites applicants to complete their secondary application. Following the secondary applications, interview invitations are offered on a rolling basis. Finally, after completing the interviews, final admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis for some schools and non-rolling basis for others. This chapter describes, in detail, every step of this process, starting from when to take the MCAT exam, when and how to submit the primary and secondary applications, and how to get past the verification process while emphasizing important differences and similarities between MD-only and MD/PhD applications. An ideal application timeline provided at the end of this chapter neatly summarizes the entire process. Applying to MD/PhD programs is expensive, so this chapter also provides recommendations on how to seek financial assistance.
Robotic Ureteral Bypass Surgery with Appendiceal Graft for Management of Long-Segment Radiation-Induced Distal Ureteral Strictures: A Case Series.

Introduction: Surgical management of long-segment radiation-induced distal ureteral strictures (RIDUS) is challenging. Pelvic radiation can damage the bladder, inhibiting the utilization of typical...
A Confirmatory Item Factor Analysis of A School Climate Measure for Adolescents with and without Disabilities

In this study (n = 5037) we further investigated the construct validity of the Georgia Brief School Climate Inventory (GBS). Despite containing ordinal items (e.g., ordered-responses), the GBS has ...
Teaching Analytics and Digital Media to Advertising Students

As the advertising industry continues to list analytical reasoning as a necessary skill for employment, more universities are including analytics into their advertising curriculum. This article out...
Toward a Critical Race Theory of Prison Order in the Wake of COVID-19 and Its Afterlives: When Disaster Collides with Institutional Death by Design

In this article, I bridge critical sociological perspectives on penal institutions with insights from the sociology of disaster to advance a critical race theory of prison order in the wake of COVI...
Dysphagia Evaluation: The Added Value of Concurrent MBS and Esophagram

Objectives/hypothesis Dysphagia is associated with increased mortality and healthcare costs. The modified barium swallow study (MBS) is the gold standard in assessing oropharyngeal dysphagia, but does not evaluate the esophagus. A barium esophagram can visualize the esophagus but does not evaluate the oropharyngeal swallow, nor does it utilize the expertise of speech and language pathologists. Providers may order one or both studies yet still risk missing critical pathology. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted at an academic medical center between January 2016 and June 2019 focused on patients who had both MBS and esophagram as imaging for dysphagia evaluation. Analysis determined whether MBS and esophagram performed concomitantly improved diagnostic clarity. Results A total of 5,183 patients underwent 6,066 swallow studies for dysphagia in the study period. Of which, 124 of these patients had concurrent MBS and esophagram. 10.5% of concurrent studies demonstrated a congruent negative evaluation. 59.7% of patients had an unremarkable MBS or esophagram paired with abnormal findings within the corresponding esophagram or MBS, respectively. 29.8% had both MBS and esophagrams that demonstrated an abnormality, but with unique pathologies identified by each study. In total, 85.1% of unremarkable MBS or esophagrams were paired with abnormal findings in the corresponding esophagram or MBS, respectively. Conclusion Selection of diagnostic testing is variable among providers and may be influenced by healthcare systems. This analysis revealed that MBS and esophagrams provide unique diagnoses. Concurrent MBS and esophagrams may improve diagnostic accuracy, yet minimize additional studies. National practices around dysphagia diagnostics are inconsistent and would benefit from standardization. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:2666-2670, 2021.
The Clinical Utility of Preoperative Thyroglobulin for Surgical Decision Making in Thyroid Disease.

ABSTRACT Background Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels are used to monitor for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) recurrence and have been correlated with posttreatment disease burden. The clinical significance of Tg in the preoperative setting to predict the risk of DTC is unclear. Our aim is to examine the clinical utility of preoperative Tg levels in those undergoing thyroidectomies for DTC or benign disease. Materials and methods From a prospectively collected database, we identified 385 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from 01/14 to 12/19 and had preoperative Tg levels available. Preoperative Tg levels were compared by preoperative indication for surgery, Bethesda category of biopsied nodules, presence of DTC on surgical pathology, and number of metastatic lymph nodes. Results There was no difference in mean preoperative Tg level when comparing indication for surgery (P = 0.2) or Bethesda classification (P = 0.4). Mean preoperative Tg levels were lower in patients with DTC (238 ± 77) compared to without DTC (532 ± 97) on final pathology (P = 0.02). Among 188 DTC patients who had lymph nodes removed, there was no significant correlation between the preoperative Tg level and number of positive lymph nodes on final pathology (P = 0.4). Conclusions Preoperative serum Tg levels were lower in patients with DTC compared to those with benign disease on final pathology and did not correlate with extent of lymph node metastasis in patients with DTC. We found that serum Tg levels obtained in the preoperative setting do not predict DTC or lymph node metastasis and, therefore, do not inform the extent of surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer.
The Temple of Divus Iulus and the Restoration of Legislative Assemblies under Augustus

L’auteur s’interesse a la transition Republique-Principat a travers une etude de la topographie, de l’architecture, de la fonction et du contexte historique du Temple du Divin Jules. Il veut voir les mutations des institutions civiques (lieu de vote pour les assemblees) et des ceremonies religieuses a l’epoque d’Auguste
The Feasibility of an EMU

An economic and monetary union (EMU) again ?! Yes! The participating EU Member States are already in the second stage of an EMU and a European Monetary Institute (EMI) has been set up in Frankfurt-Am-Main — which is currently writing the constitution for a future European Central Bank (ECB). So far, so good… or is everthing so good? Later in this chapter we will tackle this controversial question. But first, what exactly is an EMU, and, why did the original six Founder Member States of the EEC already agree at the end of 1969, in Den Haag, to move along the road to the implementation of a full EMU — “providing that the political will to do so exists”?
Intersectionality and Politics: Recent Research on Gender, Race, and Political Representation in the United States

* Introduction (Carol Hardy-Fanta) * THE CONTOURS AND CONTEXT OF DESCRIPTIVE REPRESENTATION * Gender, Race, and Descriptive Representation in the United States: Findings from the Gender and Multicultural Leadership Project (Carol Hardy-Fanta, Pei-te Lien, Dianne M. Pinderhughes, and Christine Marie Sierra) * Women of Color in State Legislatures: Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Legislative Office Holding (Becki Scola) * SUBSTANTIVE IMPACT OF THE CHANGING FACE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS * Agenda Setting and African-American Women in State Legislatures (Kathleen A. Bratton, Kerry L. Haynie, and Beth Reingold) * Race and Gender Matter: Refining Models of Legislative Policy Making in State Legislatures (Byron D'Andra Orey, Wendy Smooth, with Kimberly S. Adams and Kisha Harris-Clark) * Gender and Ethnicity: Patterns of Electoral Success and Legislative Advocacy Among Latina and Latino State Officials in Four States (Luis Ricardo Fraga, Linda Lopez, Valerie Martinez-Ebers, and Ricardo Ramirez) * A Second Look: Is There a Latina/o Gender Gap? (Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Jessica L. Lavariega Monforti, and Adrian D. Pantoja) * INTERSECTIONALITY: POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS * Envisioning the Possibilities for a Good Life: Exploring the Public Policy Implications of Intersectionality Theory (Tiffany Manuel) * Commentary: The Practice and Functioning of Intersectionality and Politics (Julia S. Jordan-Zachery) * About the Contributors * Index * Reference Notes Included
Robust Stabilization of SISO Systems with Linear-Fractional Parametric Uncertainties

We consider robust stabilization for SISO systems with linear-fractional parameter uncertainties. We show NASC for existence of robust controllers. Their structure and parameterization can be obtained from the corresponding Nevalinna-Pick interpolation problems. This extends the previously known case of uncertain gain parameter.
Benign Race-Conscious Actions are Necessary to End Race Discrimination and Achieve Actual Equality

The decision in Parents Involved brings the Court very close to making strict scrutiny fatal in fact when considering benign, race-conscious actions implemented to address racial inequality. Justice Kennedy supplied the crucial fifth vote in favor of striking down the two school plans at issue in Parents Involved, and his opinion provides a reason to believe that carefully adopted, benign, race-conscious programs can survive Supreme Court review. However, such optimism must take account of the fact that Justice Kennedy has never voted to uphold a benign, race-conscious program and, therefore, race-conscious action by any institution is quite risky. Against this background, this Article makes two points. First, it is of critical importance that institutions, governmental and private, continue to pursue race-conscious actions aimed at promoting actual equality because the Constitution and laws prohibiting invidious race discrimination have, at best, resulted in formal or legal equality, not actual racial equality. Second, institutions willing to implement voluntary programs must do so in a manner that gives them the best chance of defending the programs in court. This requires the involvement of attorneys and experts at every step in the process, taking into account each aspect of the Court's strict scrutiny analysis.
$N-protractor: a fast and accurate multistroke recognizer

Prior work introduced $N, a simple multistroke gesture recognizer based on template matching, intended to be easy to port to new platforms for rapid prototyping, and derived from the unistroke $1 recognizer. $N uses an iterative search method to find the optimal angular alignment between two gesture templates, like $1 before it. Since then, Protractor has been introduced, a unistroke pen and finger gesture recognition algorithm also based on template-matching and $1, but using a closed-form template-matching method instead of an iterative search method, considerably improving recognition speed over $1. This paper presents work to streamline $N with Protractor by using Protractor's closed-form matching approach, and demonstrates that similar speed benefits occur for multistroke gestures from datasets from multiple domains. We find that the Protractor enhancements are over 91% faster than the original $N, and negligibly less accurate (<0.2%). We also discuss the impact that the number of templates, the input speed, and input method (e.g., pen vs. finger) have on recognition accuracy, and examine the most confusable gestures.
THE LONG-RUN IMPACT ON POPULATION AND INCOME OF OPEN ACCESS TO LAND IN A MODEL WITH PARENTAL ALTRUISM

Steady state levels of population and per capita income are examined using a Becker-Barro (1988) style of model of an economy with identical altruistic parents bearing costly children who receive bequests of capital and land. Inspired by the work of North (1981) and others, the problem of open access land with ancillary negative effects on private (but not public) productivity of capital is examined. It is seen that open access to land can lead to overpopulation in a ceteris paribus sense, and yet yield a steady-state population below that which would exist in a regime of complete private property rights, a situation with higher stead-state utility. A specific example is explored to illustrate the relationships between the steady-state levels of endogenous variables and parameter values.
Interference mitigation using a focal plane array

[1] We consider the use of spatial filtering algorithms for radio frequency interference (RFI) mitigation in conjunction with a focal plane feed array of electrically small elements. Numerical simulations are used to study the performance of 7 and 19 element hexagonal dipole arrays with a 25 m reflector at an operating frequency of 1612 MHz. Using the maximum SNR algorithm to generate array weights, an interfering signal was attenuated by 40 dB or more. The effective sensitivity of the system, including interferer power in the system noise temperature, was comparable to the sensitivity attained in the absence of RFI. Moving the interferer through the reflector pattern sidelobes caused fluctuations in the gain and system sensitivity. This effect was exacerbated by a reflector model with random surface distortions. These results indicate that array feeds are a promising approach for RFI mitigation, but achieving stable radiation patterns in the presence of an interferer may require a trade-off between pattern control and maximum attainable sensitivity.
The hows, whys, and whens of constraints in itemset and rule discovery

Many researchers in our community (this author included) regularly emphasize the role constraints play in improving performance of data-mining algorithms. This emphasis has led to remarkable progress – current algorithms allow an incredibly rich and varied set of hidden patterns to be efficiently elicited from massive datasets, even under the burden of NP-hard problem definitions and disk-resident or distributed data. But this progress has come at a cost. In our single-minded drive towards maximum performance, we have often neglected and in fact hindered the important role of discovery in the knowledge discovery and data-mining (KDD) process. In this paper, I propose various strategies for applying constraints within algorithms for itemset and rule mining in order to escape this pitfall.
ab-initio study on Schottky-Barrier modulation in NiSi 2 /Si interface

Interface morphology dependent Schottky Barrier Height (SBH) and its modulation by substitutional dopants in NiSi 2 /Si interface have been investigated using density functional theory. An accurate band gap of Si was estimated by employing meta-GGA exchange correlation functional. We show that the SBH for electrons (in n-type semiconductor) is significantly lower for (001) than (111) orientation of Si. These results are in qualitative agreement with experimental results on interface morphology dependent SBH. Also, we show that the SBH can be significantly reduced by substitutional dopants near the NiSi 2 /Si interfaces. An optimization of the SBH through dopant location, dopant type and orientation of Si is discussed.
Salvage of a prosthetic knee joint infected with resistant pneumococcus. A case report.

Septic arthritis in a native joint is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, whereas coagulase-negative staphylococcal, streptococcal, and gram-negative organisms are common infections involving joints with prostheses1-3. Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of infection in a total knee joint, and pneumococcal infections resistant to multiple antibiotics are encountered even more rarely. In one study of 3210 total hip replacements, none of the forty-two documented infections were secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae 4 . Poss et al. reviewed the records on 4240 hip, knee, and elbow replacements performed over a ten-year period and found that only one of fifty-three infections was due to Streptococcus pneumoniae 5 . In reviewing the literature, we were able to find only four case reports involving penicillin-resistant pneumococcal septic arthritis in adults and only one case involving both penicillin and ceftriaxone-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in septic arthritis. We describe our management of a patient who was found to have a multidrug-resistant pneumococcal infection in the prosthetic knee joint, and we discuss the treatment strategies for this emerging pathogen. Our patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication. Aseventy-three-year-old man with a history of chronic sinusitis and degenerative joint disease in both knees had progressive difficulty in walking secondary to pain in the right knee. In December 2000, he underwent a right total knee arthroplasty. There were no postoperative complications, and he was able to walk comfortably after rehabilitation. In March 2001, he returned to the hospital with a sudden onset of pain, swelling, and an inability …
Software development under conditions of high task complexity and ambiguity

In a longitudinal study of 49 software development teams the authors investigate interactions between team and technology factors and the degree of complexity and ambiguity of the projects themselves. From the literature, they propose a theoretical model that identifies a characteristic of the technology (reuse) and a characteristic of the team process (conflict resolution) used during development as effective for minimizing the adverse effects of high task-based complexity and ambiguity. They hypothesize that reuse and conflict resolution techniques will account for a significant amount of the variance in user satisfaction for highly complex and ambiguous projects, but that this will not be true for simple and unambiguous projects. The findings confirm this hypothesis; effective conflict resolution and reuse are associated with significantly higher client satisfaction six months after implementation for all projects. These two factors explained 56% and 44% of the variance for highly complex and ambiguous projects respectively but none of the variance for simple and unambiguous projects.
The Politics and Practices of Constructing Development Identities in Rural Bolivia

RESUMEN Con la aprobacion de la Ley boliviana de Participacion Popular, el desarrollo participativo se ha convertido en emblematica de la ciudadania. Este articulo examina la participacion en dos contextos de desarrollo rural de Bolivia y lo define como un proceso de traduccion estrategica orientada a las poblaciones destinatarias de la ayuda al desarrollo basada en construcciones especificas de la identidad indigena. Los residentes rurales son necesarios para acomodar y se resisten a las “identidades de desarrollo” para adecuarse a los objetivos municipales de que se considere mas necesitados. La practica de la orientacion para el desarrollo de poblaciones particulares obliga a la asistencia comunidades y organizaciones de base para crear, negociar, y la reformulacion de las identidades en una competencia por la financiacion y unos recursos escasos, y al hacerlo, la participacion comunitaria en los limites de una politica particular de la exclusion. Uso de identidades, como tal, suele exacerbar las diferencias y desigualdades entre los pobres. Con el fin de hablar sobre el proceso de utilizar la identidad como un medio para un fin de desarrollo, me parece que necesitamos un nuevo vocabulario para ilustrar el proceso mediante el cual la gente trata de alcanzar las metas de asistencia para el desarrollo y la atencion. Este articulo examina la capacidad productiva de indigenismo, colocado dentro de los discursos contemporaneos de la participacion popular de Bolivia y el multiculturalismo, como un proceso politico de negociacion de identidades como un medio para un fin de desarrollo.
Transcriptional control of human p53-regulated genes

The p53 protein regulates the transcription of many different genes in response to a wide variety of stress signals. Following DNA damage, p53 regulates key processes, including DNA repair, cell-cycle arrest, senescence and apoptosis, in order to suppress cancer. This Analysis article provides an overview of the current knowledge of p53-regulated genes in these pathways and others, and the mechanisms of their regulation. In addition, we present the most comprehensive list so far of human p53-regulated genes and their experimentally validated, functional binding sites that confer p53 regulation.
Variations of midlatitude ionospheric plasma density in response to an interplanetary shock

We report on a direct, prompt effect of the solar wind on the midlatitude ionosphere. On November 7, 1997, an interplanetary shock impinged on the magnetopause around 1614 UT. The solar wind dynamic pressure dropped by 70% across the shock, and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changed from southward to northward. The Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar measured a significant decrease of 25-30% in the dayside ionospheric F region plasma density over 37° and 44° geographic latitudes within 1.5 hours and a drop of 23% in the total electron content (TEC). We propose that the decrease of the ionospheric density is associated with the decompression of the magnetosphere and/or the direct penetration of interplanetary electric field into the inner magnetosphere.
Cepheid Color-Temperature Relations

Using our 1997 work in spectroscopic temperatures, as well as published Cepheid photometry, we derive color-temperature relations for a set of 13 Cepheids in Galactic clusters. The colors and temperatures used are individual values taken at different phases, rather than mean values averaged over the pulsational cycle. The observed colors are corrected for both reddening and metallicity. The effect of gravity on the colors is small. We find that B-V and V-R are the best colors to use to determine a Cepheid photometric temperature scale. These color-temperature relations will be useful for future Cepheid Baade-Wesselink studies and for abundance analyses of more Galactic and extragalactic Cepheids.
Mobility in thin polymer films ranging from local segmental motion, Rouse modes to whole chain motion: a coupling model consideration.

Large increases of mobility of local segmental relaxation observed in polymer films as the film thickness is decreased, as evidenced by decreases of the glass temperature, are not found for relaxation mechanisms that have longer length scales including the Rouse relaxation modes and the diffusion of entire polymer chains. We show that the coupling model predictions, when extended to consider polymer thin films, are consistent with a large increase of the mobility of the local segmental motions and the lack of such a change for the Rouse modes and the diffusion of entire polymer chains. There are two effects that can reduce the coupling parameter of the local segmental relaxation in thin films. One is the chain orientation that is induced parallel to the surface when the film thickness h becomes smaller than the end-to-end distance of the chains and the other is a finite-size effect when h is no longer large compared to the cooperative length scale. Extremely thin ( ≈ 1.5 nm) films obtained by intercalating a polymer into layered silicates have thickness significantly less than the cooperative length scale near the bulk polymer glass transition temperature. As a result, the coupling parameter of the local segmental relaxation in such thin films is reduced almost to zero. With this plausible assumption, we show the coupling model can explain quantitatively the large decrease of the local segmental relaxation time found experimentally.
The Scintigraphic Imaging of Endocrine Organs

The nuclear medicine approach to the portrayal of endocrine organs is unique; the scintigraphic images provide not only anatomic and localization information, but in many instances allow a quantitative assessment of organ function. The ability to image endocrine glands is based upon the design of radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals with characteristics to take advantage of many unique and specific biochemical and advantage of many unique and specific biochemical and metabolic functions of these tissues. The recent introduction of new radiopharmaceutical and tracers has provided the consulting endocrinologist with imaging procedures that allow localization and functional characterization not available by other single, noninvasive diagnostic modalities. This review will serve as an update of the available techniques to image and quantitate the function of the endocrine glands using the nuclear medicine approach.
Explosion-evaporation model for fragment production in medium-energy nuclear collisions

Abstract Statistical considerations are applied to the multifragment disassembly of a piece of hot nuclear matter created in medium-energy nuclear collisions. A two-stage model, consisting of a quick explosion and a slower evaporation, is presented. Results are compared to those of previous simpler calculations and to recent experimental data. The agreement is encouraging for a realistic range of the main parameters of the model: the available energy per nucleon, the isospin asymmetry, and the extension of the primary explosion in space and time.
Some antiarrhythmic actions of primaquine, amodiaquin, and quinidine.

This study concerns (a) the antiarrhythmic properties of amodiaquin and primaquine in comparison with those of quinidine and (b) the ionic fluxes caused by acetylcholine and the depression of these fluxes by the antiarrhythmic drugs used. Under (a) it was found that both amodiaquin and primaquine are as effective as quinidine in halting atrial fibrillation induced by the injection of acetylcholine after pretreatment with neostigmine. Under (b) no ion fluxes were demonstrated after the injection of acetylcholine under the conditions of the experiment.
Visual diagnosis: an 8-month-old infant who has an erupting rash.

1. Tamar Stricker, MD* 2. Ulrich Lips, MD* 3. Felix H. Sennhauser, MD, Prof.* 1. *University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland An 8-month-old girl who has a history of atopic dermatitis diagnosed at 2½ months of age presents to the clinic with the complaint of worsening skin lesions. She had been seen by her pediatrician 10 days ago and was prescribed oral amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and oral betamethasone for a suspected bacterial superinfection of atopic dermatitis. However, soon after starting the medications, her skin lesions increased rapidly. Physical examination reveals an ill-appearing but afebrile infant. Height and weight are normal for age. There is a marked cutaneous eruption on the face and neck (Fig. 1), characterized by large areas of red, denuded skin with occasional crusting, oozing, and bleeding on her cheeks interspersed with elevated, fluid-containing lesions. There are crops of small, round, punched-out lesions that have raised edges on her forehead and upper chest. Examination of the dorsal and palmar aspects of both hands reveals crops of punched-out and fluid-containing elevated lesions, with some appearing hemorrhagic (Fig. 2). The remainder of the physical examination findings are normal. Figure 1. Facial areas of denuded skin with crusting, oozing, and bleeding and fluid-containing and punched-out lesions on the forehead. Figure 2. Crops of punched-out lesions with raised edges on the hand. A complete blood count demonstrates a hematocrit of 36% (0.36) and a white blood cell count of 11.6×103/mcL (11.6×109/L) with 58% neutrophils, 27% lymphocytes, and 14% monocytes. Platelet count is 471×103/mcL (471×109/L). A serum C-reactive protein measurement is 33 mg/L. A culture of a skin lesion confirms the diagnosis. ### Eczema Herpeticum A viral culture of fluid obtained from a skin vesicle grows herpes simplex virus (HSV) that is confirmed by fluorescent antibody staining, which detected HSV …
Equalisation of prey numbers by migratory shorebirds

STUDIES of the effects of predators on prey diversity have usually focused on patterns of predation that do not by themselves increase diversity. For example, size-selective fish decrease diversity by driving large bodied zooplankton to local extinction1. Size-selective predators can maintain a diversity of species only if large bodied prey hold some advantage over smaller prey, such as the difference in feeding efficiency hypothesised by Brooks and Dodson (ref. 1 and see ref. 2 for review). The diversifying effect of nonselective predation on competitors for space in the rocky intertidal zone3 depends on the presence of differences among competitors in time of settlement during the year. In contrast, selective removal of common prey tends to reverse any numerical advantage gained by one species over another. Thus it is of interest to see whether numerically selective predators increase diversity by equalising prey numbers. The results presented here show that general predators in fact repeatedly equalise the relative abundance of prey species and hence tend to stabilise prey communities.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling mediates expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to immune suppression associated with the induction of regulatory T cells (T(reg)) expressing the transcription factor Foxp3. The immunological mechanisms of suppression are not well understood however dendritic cells (DC) are considered a key target for AhR-mediated immune suppression. Here we show that activation of AhR by TCDD induces DC indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-like protein (IDO2). Induction of IDO1 and IDO2 was also found in lung and spleen associated with an increase of the T(reg) marker Foxp3 in spleen of TCDD-treated C57BL/6 mice, which is suppressed by inhibition of IDO. These data indicate that AhR-activation is an important signaling pathway for IDO expression and suggest a critical role of IDO in the mechanism leading to the generation of T(reg) that mediates the immune suppression through activation of AhR.
Controlling outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium among infants caused by an endemic strain in adult inpatients

Background Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) is commonly associated with hospital outbreaks and has been found to be associated with increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and health care costs. Methods We sought to investigate and control an outbreak of VREfm in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a public academic hospital with a level III NICU. The index case was an infant in the NICU incidentally identified with urinary colonization with VREfm. Aggressive control measures were initiated promptly. Investigation included active surveillance cultures in infants, parents of colonized infants, and birth mothers of newborn admitted to NICU; molecular strain typing of available isolates of VREfm including adult inpatients; and medical record review. Results After identification of index case, 13 additional infants were identified with VREfm colonization. Age at culture was 6 to 87 days; birth weight was 1,070 to 2,834 g. VREfm isolated from majority of infants (12/14 [85.7%]), the birth mother of a pair of colonized twins, and a pulse oximeter device used in adult inpatients belonged to a single strain. Outbreak control measures were successful in the NICU. The outbreak-causing strain was found to be endemic among adult inpatients. Adult patients with the outbreak-causing strain of VREfm were more likely to have received previous therapy with meropenem (Mann-Whitney 2-tailed P value = .038). VRE colonization was identified in 0.3% (1/310) of birth mothers with newborn admitted to NICU. Conclusion An endemic strain of VREfm among adult inpatients was responsible for a subsequently controlled outbreak in the NICU.
Transient currents in the global electric circuit due to cloud-to-ground and intracloud lightning

Intracloud (IC) and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes produce transient changes in the electric field (E) above a thundercloud which drive transient currents in the global electric circuit (GEC). Using in-cloud and above-cloud E data from balloons, ground-based E data, and Lightning Mapping Array data, the above-cloud charge transfers due to lightning transients are estimated for five IC and five CG flashes from four thunderstorms that occurred above the mountains in New Mexico, USA, in 1999. For the five CG flashes (which transferred -4 to -13 C to the ground), the transient currents moved +1 to + 5 C of charge upward from cloudtop toward the ionosphere, with an average transient charge transfer ofabout 35% of the charge transferred to ground. For the five IC flashes (which neutralized 6 to 21 C inside the cloud), the transient currents moved -0.7 to -3 C upward, with an average transient charge transfer of about 12% of the lightning charge. Estimates for three thunderstorms indicate that the transient currents made only a small GEC contribution compared to the quasi-stationary Wilson currents because of the offsetting effects of IC and CG flashes in these storms. However, storms with extreme characteristics, such as high flash rates or predominance of one flash type, may make a significant GEC contribution via lightning transients.
Chronic Stress Impairs α1-Adrenoceptor-Induced Endocannabinoid-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus

Alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (α1-ARs) control the activity of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRn) serotonin (5-HT) neurons and play crucial role in the regulation of arousal and stress homoeostasis. However, the precise role of these receptors in regulating glutamate synapses of rat DRn 5-HT neurons and whether chronic stress exposure alters such regulation remain unknown. In the present study, we examined the impact of chronic restraint stress on α1-AR-mediated regulation of glutamate synapses onto DRn 5-HT neurons. We found that, in the control condition, activation of α1-ARs induced an inward current and long-term depression (LTD) of glutamate synapses of DRn 5-HT neurons. The α1-AR LTD was initiated by postsynaptic α1-ARs but mediated by a decrease in glutamate release. The presynaptic expression of the α1-AR LTD was signaled by retrograde endocannabinoids (eCBs). Importantly, we found that chronic exposure to restraint stress profoundly reduced the magnitude of α1-AR LTD but had no effect on the amplitude of α1-AR-induced inward current. Chronic restraint stress also reduced the CB1 receptor-mediated inhibition of EPSC and the eCB-mediated depolarization-induced suppression of excitation. Collectively, these results indicate that chronic restraint stress impairs the α1-AR LTD by reducing the function of presynaptic CB1 receptors and reveal a novel mechanism by which noradrenaline controls synaptic strength and plasticity in the DRn. They also provide evidence that chronic stress impairs eCB signaling in the DRn, which may contribute, at least in part, to the dysregulation of the stress homeostasis.