cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Balancing on Land and at Sea: Do States Ally against the Leading Global Power?

Scholars often interpret balance of power theory to imply that great powers almost always balance against the leading power in the system, and they conclude that the absence of a counterbalancing coalition against the historically unprecedented power of the United States after the end of the Cold War is a puzzle for balance of power theory. They are wrong on both counts. Balance of power theory is not universally applicable. Its core propositions about balancing strategies and the absence of sustained hegemonies apply to the European system and perhaps to some other autonomous continental systems but not to the global maritime system. Sea powers are more interested in access to markets than in territorial aggrandizement against other great powers. Consequently, patterns of coalition formation have been different in the European system and in the global maritime system during the last five centuries. An empirical analysis demonstrates that counterhegemonic balancing is frequent in Europe but much less frequent in the global system. Higher concentrations of power in the global system lead to fewer and smaller rather than more frequent and larger balancing coalitions, as well as to more frequent and larger alliances with the leading sea power than against it.
In vitro assessment of antiretroviral drugs demonstrates potential for ototoxicity.

Several studies have reported an increased incidence of auditory dysfunction among HIV/AIDS patients. We used auditory HEI-OC1 cells in cell viability, flow cytometry and caspases 3/7-activation studies to investigate the potential ototoxicity of fourteen HIV antiretroviral agents: Abacavir, AZT, Delavirdine, Didenosine, Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Indinavir, Lamivudine, Nefinavir, Nevirapine, Tenofovir, Ritonavir, Stavudine and Zalcitabine, as well as combinations of these agents as used in the common anti-HIV cocktails Atripla™, Combivir™, Epzicom™, Trizivir™, and Truvada™. Our results suggested that most of the single assayed anti-HIV drugs are toxic for HEI-OC1 auditory cells. The cocktails, on the other hand, decreased auditory cells' viability with high significance, with the following severity gradient: Epzicom ∼ Trizivir >> Atripla ∼ Combivir > Truvada. Interestingly, our results suggest that Trizivir- and Epzicom-induced cell death would be mediated by a caspase-independent mechanism. l-Carnitine, a natural micronutrient known to protect HEI-OC1 cells against some ototoxic drugs as well as to decrease neuropathies associated with anti-HIV treatments, increased viability of cells treated with Lamivudine and Tenofovir as well as with the cocktail Atripla, but had only minor effects on cells treated with other drugs and drug combinations. Altogether, these results suggest that some frequently used anti-HIV agents could have deleterious effects on patients' hearing, and provide arguments in favor of additional studies aimed at elucidating the potential ototoxicity of current as well as future anti-HIV drugs.
The inverted initialization problem for fractional-order derivatives

The problem of 'inverted initialization' as it applies to the fractional-order derivative is introduced in this paper. For the inverted initialization problem of fractional derivatives, the history information is not provided for the variable being differentiated, the usual case, but instead is given in terms of the fractional-order derivative of the variable. The case undertaken in this study requires the fractional derivative to be constant during the historic period as opposed to the normal case where the initialization is based on the differentiated variable. An example compares the inverted and normal initializations.
Risk Assessment and Laboratory Diagnosis of Trichomoniasis in Men

Control of Trichomonas vaginalis is assuming higher priority because recent studies have suggested that trichomoniasis enhances susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus infection and the risk for delivery of low-birth weight infants. In a cross-sectional study, 50 cases were identified among 447 men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. As previously reported, trichomoniasis was associated with nonchlamydial nongonococcal urethritis. Other risk factors included sexual contact with an infected woman or prior treatment for trichomoniasis or nongonococcal urethritis. Urethral and first-void urine cultures were positive in 80% and 68% of positive cases, respectively. When combined, these two cultures diagnosed 49 (98%) of 50 cases. These data suggest that criteria for selection of men for culture should include presence of nonchlamydial nongonococcal urethritis, recent exposure to trichomoniasis, or a history of trichomoniasis or nongonococcal urethritis. In addition, combining urethral and urine sediment cultures may prove accurate for evaluating T. vaginalis infection.
Interpretation of head CT scans in the emergency department by fellows versus general staff non-neuroradiologists: a closer look at the effectiveness of a quality control program

Prior studies have evaluated discordance rates among radiology residents in interpretation of head computed tomograms (CTs). To our knowledge, there has been no study to compare performance among first-year fellows and more experienced general staff radiologists. This study will compare performances of these groups and evaluate the effect of a redundant system as part of a quality control program. Retrospective review of 3,886 consecutive head CTs in the Emergency Department from 7/01/04 to 6/30/2005 was performed. Fellows interpreted 2,150 and general staff radiologists 1,736 cases. Staff radiologist mean experience was 4 years (2-10 years). All primary interpretations were over-read by staff neuroradiologists (>10 years experience) as quality control. Discrepancies were divided into "major discordance" and "minor discordance." Major discordance is defined as a misread occurred that potentially delayed clinical management and thus may have incurred in mortality or disability. Minor discordance is defined as if there was no change in clinical management or impact on the patient's outcome. The patient electronic medical records were obtained and retrospectively reviewed to identify if there was an acute change in clinical management. Overall discordance rate of both groups was 2.7% (103/3,886), 0.3% major false negative (10/3,886), 1.7% minor false negative (65/3,886), 0.4% false positive (15/3,886). Fellows overall discordance rate was 2.6% (55/2,150) with major false negatives 4/2,150 (0.2%) and 2.8% (48/1,736) for general staff radiologists with 6/1736 (0.3%) major false negatives, p values 0.69 and 0.14, respectively. Three out of ten major false negatives were confirmed with the quality assurance interpretation on follow-up studies; four cases were in agreement with initial interpretation. Performance among first-year fellows and general staff radiologists in interpretation of head CTs was highly accurate (97.3%) without statistically significant difference between the groups. The overall relatively low discrepant rate between fellowship trainees and generalist staffs, as well as the negligible change in clinical management, suggests little utility in over-reads of head CT scans by the neuroradiology service as part of a year-round quality control program. However, because of a relative high discrepant rate in the early months of fellowship training (>5%) in our study, it may be wise to implement a quality assurance program in the first few months to improve patient care. Increasing over-reading rate may reduce false negative rate, as the overall false positive rate is relatively low (<0.5%).
A time-lapse, image digitization videomicroscope system based on a mini computer with large peripheral memory

We describe a time-lapse image digitization videomicroscope system that uses a mini computer as the main processing unit in conjunction with a large peripheral memory for storing multiple digitized images. The advantage of the system lies in its ability to facilitate acquisition and analysis of data relative to size, location and optical density of cells and cellular structure using elementary image processing techniques. This system can also potentially control microscope stage movement, enabling acquisition of larger amounts of data per time-lapse experiment.
Intraocular inflammation following intravitreal injection of bevacizumab

Background Injection of drugs into the vitreous can lead to intraocular inflammation through infectious and non-infectious processes. Failure to recognize an eye with anterior chamber and vitreous cell as sterile inflammation can lead to unnecessary treatment for endophthalmitis.
Estimation of Reliability in a Multicomponent Stress-Strength Model

Abstract A stress-strength model is formulated for s of k systems consisting of identical components. We consider minimum variance unbiased estimation of system reliability for data consisting of a random sample from the stress distribution and one from the strength distribution when the two distributions are exponential with unknown scale parameters. The asymptotic distribution is obtained by expanding the unbiased estimate about the maximum likelihood value and establishing their equivalence. Performance of the two estimates for moderate samples is studied by Monte Carlo simulation. Uniformly most accurate unbiased confidence intervals are also obtained for system reliability.
Laser synthesis of Pt, Pd, CoO and Pd–CoO nanoparticle catalysts supported on graphene

Abstract We have developed a facile laser reduction method for the synthesis of transition metal nanoparticle catalysts supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets. Using 532 or 355 nm laser irradiation of a mixture of graphene oxide and metal ion precursors in water, we report the photocatalytic reduction of the metal ions simultaneously with the partial reduction of GO, and the synthesis of metal nanoparticle catalysts well-dispersed and supported on the reduced GO. The Pd–CoO composite nanoparticles were found to have significantly enhanced activity for CO oxidation over both the Pd and the CoO catalysts. The simple synthesis method without chemical reducing agents, the formation of alloy nanoparticles with variable catalyst loading and composition, and the low cost of GO could enhance the commercial viability of these supported catalysts.
Independent core propagation in two-core photonic crystal fibers resulting from structural nonuniformities

Small random nonuniformities in two-core photonic crystal fibers can lead to essentially independent core propagation by drastically reducing the efficiency of coupling. The simulated results are explained through a comparison with coupled mode theory.
The C-Terminal Half of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mad1p Mediates Spindle Checkpoint Function, Chromosome Transmission Fidelity and CEN Association

The evolutionarily conserved spindle checkpoint is a key mechanism ensuring high-fidelity chromosome transmission. The checkpoint monitors attachment between kinetochores and mitotic spindles and the tension between sister kinetochores. In the absence of proper attachment or tension, the spindle checkpoint mediates cell cycle arrest prior to anaphase. Saccharomyces cerevisiae Mad1p is required for the spindle checkpoint and for chromosome transmission fidelity. Moreover, Mad1p associates with the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and is enriched at kinetochores upon checkpoint activation. Using partial mad1 deletion alleles we determined that the C-terminal half of Mad1p is necessary and sufficient for checkpoint activation in response to microtubule depolymerizing agents, high-fidelity transmission of a reporter chromosome fragment, and in vivo association with centromeres, but not for robust NPC association. Thus, spindle checkpoint activation and chromosome transmission fidelity correlate and these Mad1p functions likely involve kinetochore association but not robust NPC association. These studies are the basis for elucidating the role of protein complexes containing Mad1p in the spindle checkpoint pathway and in maintaining genome stability in S. cerevisiae and other systems.
Respiratory assessment in centronuclear myopathies.

The centronuclear myopathies (CNMs) are a group of inherited neuromuscular disorders classified as congenital myopathies. While several causative genes have been identified, some patients do not harbor any of the currently known mutations. These diverse disorders have common histological features, which include a high proportion of centrally-nucleated muscle fibers, and clinical attributes of muscle weakness and respiratory insufficiency. Respiratory problems in CNMs may manifest initially during sleep, but daytime symptoms, ineffective airway clearance, and hypoventilation predominate as more severe respiratory muscle dysfunction evolves. Respiratory muscle capacity can be evaluated using a variety of clinical tests selected with consideration for the age and baseline motor function of the patient. Similar clinical tests of respiratory function can also be incorporated into preclinical CNM canine models to offer insight for clinical trials. Since respiratory problems account for significant morbidity in patients, routine assessments of respiratory muscle function are discussed.
A method for the preparation of methaemoglobin-containing human red cell suspensions.

Summary The variables affecting the formation and stability of intracellular methaemoglobin were examined. A method is proposed for the preparation of intracellular methaemoglobin specimens.
Better Late than Never The Long Journey for Noncontrast Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion Imaging in Acute Stroke

See related article, p 1018. This report1 describes the authors' experience using a noncontrast brain perfusion method, arterial spin labeling (ASL), in patients with acute ischemic stroke and compares this with dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI. This latter technique is also sometimes referred to simply as perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) to emphasize its complementary nature to diffusion-weighted imaging. The authors found excellent overlap between imaging information available with PWI and ASL with no measurable difference in perceived signal-to-noise ratio or lesion conspicuity. They also found that the effects of slow flow on the ASL signal, although present, were not an insurmountable impediment to image interpretation in that they correlated with the changes seen in the PWI time-to-maximum of the residue function (Tmax) and the nondelay-corrected cerebral blood flow …
Measuring information content from observations for data assimilation: relative entropy versus shannon entropy difference

The relative entropy is compared with the previously used Shannon entropy difference as a measure of the amount of information extracted from observations by an optimal analysis in terms of the changes in the probability density function (pdf) produced by the analysis with respect to the background pdf. It is shown that the relative entropy measures both the signal and dispersion parts of the information content from observations, while the Shannon entropy difference measures only the dispersion part. When the pdfs are Gaussian or transformed to Gaussian, the signal part of the information content is given by a weighted inner-product of the analysis increment vector and the dispersion part is given by a non-negative definite function of the analysis and background covariance matrices. When the observation space is transformed based on the singular value decomposition of the scaled observation operator, the information content becomes separable between components associated with different singular values. Densely distributed observations can be then compressed with minimum information loss by truncating the components associate with the smallest singular values. The differences between the relative entropy and Shannon entropy difference in measuring information content and information loss are analysed in details and illustrated by examples.
Simulation of the LAN behavior in the Distributed HP-UX environment

The ability of local area networks (LANs) to handle the large amount of data transfer among distributed workstations is frequently questioned. A LAN study is reported which investigated both the Ethernet LAN and the Distributed HP-UX data communication protocol implemented on it. An approach involving experimentation and analytical and simulation modeling was followed. The models were vigorously validated against each other and the measurements. The performance study of the DUX/LAN system concentrated on investigating the causes of the message transit time and its variability. According to this study, the message communication time is dominated by transmission delays and not LAN contention, and the LAN performs well in the 30-50% channel utilization range. >
Alternative RNA Splicing Produces Multiple Forms of c-Myb with Unique Transcriptional Activities

The c-Myb transcription factor regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells, and activated alleles of c-myb induce leukemias and lymphomas in animals. Relatively minor changes in the structure of c-Myb protein change the genes that it regulates and can unleash its latent transforming activities. Here, quantitative assays were used to analyze the alternative splicing of human c-myb transcripts. We identified an array of variant transcripts, expressed in highly regulated, lineage-specific patterns, that were formed through the use of alternate exons 8A, 9A, 9B, 10A, 13A, and 14A. Expression levels of the different splice variant transcripts were regulated independently of one another during human hematopoietic cell differentiation, and the alternative splicing of c-myb mRNAs was increased in primary leukemia samples. The alternatively spliced c-myb transcripts were associated with polysomes and encoded a series of c-Myb proteins with identical DNA binding domains but unique C-terminal domains. In several types of assays, the variant c-Myb proteins exhibited quantitative and qualitative differences in transcriptional activities and specificities. The results suggest that the human c-myb gene encodes a family of related proteins with different transcriptional activities. Enhanced alternative splicing may be a mechanism for unmasking the transforming activity of c-myb in human leukemias.
Membrane-Spanning and Periplasmic Segments of CcmI Have Distinct Functions during Cytochrome c Biogenesis in Rhodobacter capsulatus

In gram-negative bacteria, like Rhodobacter capsulatus, about 10 membrane-bound components (CcmABCDEFGHI and CcdA) are required for periplasmic maturation of c-type cytochromes. These components perform the chaperoning and thio-oxidoreduction of the apoproteins as well as the delivery and ligation of the heme cofactors. In the absence of any of these components, including CcmI, proposed to act as an apocytochrome c chaperone, R. capsulatus does not have the ability to produce holocytochromes c or consequently to exhibit photosynthetic growth and cytochrome cbb3 oxidase activity. Previously, we have demonstrated that null mutants of CcmI partially overcome cytochrome c deficiency phenotypes upon overproduction of the CcmF-R. capsulatus CcmH (CcmF-CcmHRc) couple in a growth medium-dependent manner and fully bypass these defects by additional overproduction of CcmG. Here, we show that overproduction of the CcmF-CcmHRc couple and overproduction of the N-terminal membrane-spanning segment of CcmI (CcmI-1) have similar suppression effects of cytochrome c maturation defects in CcmI-null mutants. Likewise, additional overproduction of CcmG, the C-terminal periplasmic segment of CcmI (CcmI-2), or even of apocytochrome c2 also provides complementation abilities similar to those of these mutants. These results indicate that the two segments of CcmI have different functions and support our earlier findings that two independent steps are required for full recovery of the loss of CcmI function. We therefore propose that CcmI-1 is part of the CcmF-CcmHRc-dependent heme ligation, while CcmI-2 is involved in the CcdA- and CcmG-dependent apoprotein thioreduction steps, which intersect at the level of CcmI during cytochrome c biogenesis.
Plasma Thermodynamics I: Properties of Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium as Pure Elemental Plasmas

The problem of computing the thermodynamic properties of a plasma composed of atoms, atomie ions, and electrons is examined from an initially rigorous point of view. Sufficient detail of the subsequent approximations that are required to develop a tractable physical model are presented to indicate the major problem areas and the optimum approximations that permit a solution of the problem. For each of the three elements considered, tables are presented for the thermodynamic excess functions that were evaluated by considering the plasma to be a Debye-Huckel ionic solution. Tables are also presented to show the effect of the Debye-Huckel nonideality on the equilibrium ionization. Thermodynamic property tables for these species were computed using a minimization of free energy technique which is also briefly described. These data and comparisons encompass the range 2000 to 50000 deg K and 100 to 0.0001 atm. (auth)
Pirbenicillin: Pharmacokinetic Parameters in Mice

The rapid intravenous administration to mice of pirbenicillin, carbenicillin, and ampicillin produced biexponential blood concentration-time curves when assessed by frequent blood samplings at short intervals. The pharmacokinetic behavior of pirbenicillin and the other penicillins was analyzed by the two-compartment open model. This is thought to be the first study giving detailed pharmacokinetic values of penicillins in mice. Some significant differences were noted between the pharmacokinetic values of pirbenicillin, ampicillin, and carbenicillin. These values suggest that the interchange of pirbenicillin between the central and peripheral body compartments of the mouse was slower than that of either carbenicillin or ampicillin and indicated that a greater fraction of the pirbenicillin than the ampicillin dose reached the peripheral compartment.
Comment On Hausman & Woodward On The Causal Markov Condition

AbstractHausman & Woodward present an argument for the Causal Markov Condition (CMC) on the basis of a principle they dub ‘modularity’ ([1999, 2004]). I show that the conclusion of their argument i...
In Osler’s Day it was Syphilis

As is so often the case, the research with which I have been identified had an odd and tortuous beginning. Chance has played an overwhelming role. The medical school to which I went, then known as the Long Island College for Medicine, was a perfect illustration of a trade school rather than a component of a university. Since I had early conceived the thought of becoming a pediatrician, it was my good fortune, in the course of a variety of contrived roles, to meet up with two residents in pediatrics who were university-minded and a cut above their peers. One was Dr. Harold Eisenberg and the other was Dr. Martin Glynn. They kept an eye on my progress and I consulted with them toward the end of what was then the standard two-year internship. Dr. Glynn both guided and paved my way toward a pediatric residency in the prestigious New York Hospital. The time this was to begin was a year past the completion of my internship, and of this year, six months were already planned to be devoted to a term in communicable diseases and tuberculosis at the then-flourishing Kingston Avenue Hospital for Communicable Diseases. This left six unsettled months before the much-desired residency at the New York Hospital was to begin. At this juncture, Dr. Eisenberg offered a suggestion. In his day pediatric residents of the Long Island College Hospital got their communicable disease experience in a hospital with a famous name (the Charles V. Chapin Hospital) in a place that was little known to most of us (Providence, Rhode Island).
Impact of Scaling on Thermal Behavior of Silicon-on-Insulator Transistors

In this manuscript, the impact of scaling on self-heating of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors is investigated. For the first time the effect of temperature dependent phonon-boundary scattering in silicon thin films, which results in reduction in thermal conduction in the channel region, is incorporated to the hydrodynamic simulation of electrons and holes in a commercial electro-thermal simulation tool. Results of DC electro-thermal simulations are used to study drain current degradation due to self-heating and to obtain the thermal resistance of SOI devices as a function of the gate length and silicon layer thickness. The device thermal resistance is increased by more than a factor of 2 due to the scaling of gate length from 180nm to 45nm. Neglecting phonon-boundary scattering in the channel region may underestimate the degradation of drain current due to self-heating by nearly a factor of two. Thermal resistance of SOI devices with 25nm silicon layer can be up to 8 times larger than that of bulk devices
On the performance of state estimation for visual servo systems

Discusses the use of computer vision for real-time state estimation in feedback control systems. To this end, the authors construct a system for visual state estimation of simple state vectors and study the effects of various real-world disturbances on the state estimates. Simulations are performed using a detailed camera model to study the performance of an image plane position estimation algorithm for a single circular feature. Various disturbances, such as lens distortion, noise, defocus, and blurring are simulated and analyzed with respect to this estimation routine and visual state estimation in general. >
Correspondences of point sets using Particle Filters

The paper shows how particle filters can be used to establish visually consistent partial correspondences between similar features in unrestricted 2D point sets representing shapes. Given an update rule, the PF system has the advantage that global constraints can be learned. We motivate and define the update rule for the given task and show its superior performance in comparison to a globally unrestricted approach.
Thyroglossal duct infections and surgical outcomes.

Purpose: Thyroglossal duct cysts (TGDC) are the most common head and neck congenital anomalies in children and often present as infected neck masses. The authors reviewed their experience with TGDC to determine if preoperative infection was related to postoperative complications, including recurrence and postoperative infection. Methods: The medical records of 99 patients undergoing excision of TGDC from January 1991 to July 2002 were reviewed. Factors thought to be associated with recurrence (age, history of infection, drainage, abscess, and operative procedure) were analyzed. Results: Ninety-nine patients made up the study group. The mean age at operation was 5.0 years (range, 6 months to 16 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. TGDC recurred in 12.1% (12 of 99) of these patients. There was no gender difference for those with and without recurrence. The presence of an abscess or cellulitis preoperatively (22 of 99 patients) did not correlate with recurrence (NS). In addition, postoperative infection occurred in 13 of 99 patients and also was independent of preoperative infection. However, postoperative infection clearly was associated with an increased risk of TGDC recurrence. Seven of 87 patients without recurrence had a postoperative infection, whereas 6 of 12 of those who had a recurrence had a postoperative infection (P .001). The mean follow-up was 3.7 years and was comparable for the 2 groups (recurrence v. resolution). Twelve patients successfully underwent a second procedure for recurrence. Conclusions: In this large series of TGDC, preoperative infection occurred in approximately 1 of 5 patients and was not predictive of recurrence. Although postoperative infection did not correlate with the presence of preoperative infection, it was clearly associated with a statistically significant incidence of recurrent disease. J Pediatr Surg 39:396-399. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Stability robustness of linear feedback-controlled mechanical systems in the presence of a class of unmodelled flexibilities

The author considers a class of linear mechanical systems containing flexible elements and subject to linear, memoryless, output-feedback controllers. The damping and stiffness properties of some of the flexible elements are parameterized linearly in mu /sup -1/ and mu /sup -2/, respectively, where mu >0 and these components become more rigid as mu approaches zero. If a controller stabilizes a system model in which these components are assumed rigid, then it also stabilizes the model in which these components are flexible, provided mu is sufficiently small. The results are illustrated by an example. >
Characterization of data on the Gnutella peer-to-peer network

The paper presents a characterization of the different types of files for which users search on the Gnutella network. The searches are classified into five different categories: audio files; video files; image files; documents and program files; files that cannot be classified as one of the other four types. Audio files are the most abundant type of file for which users search, followed closely by video files. Relatively few documents and program files are queried, and queries for image files are almost negligible. The percentage of queries for X-rated material is found to constitute a significant portion of the total queries. In addition to queries, the paper also quantifies the distribution of distinct files shared by hosts and duplicate files that are shared by more than one host.
The influence of surgeon age on distal radius fracture treatment in the United States: a population-based study.

Purpose This study attempted to determine the extent to which surgeon age influences treatment patterns for distal radius fractures (DRFs). We hypothesized that younger surgeons perform open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for DRFs among elderly individuals more frequently than older surgeons, who employ a wider range of treatment modalities. Methods We identified 61,314 Medicare beneficiaries who experienced DRFs and the 12,823 surgeons who performed ORIF, external fixation, pinning, or closed reduction on them during 2007. We examined the effect of surgeon age on DRF treatment pattern, controlling for patient characteristics and other surgeon factors using multinomial logistic regression. We then stratified our analysis by American Society for Surgery of the Hand membership to more closely examine the influence of surgeon specialization on the association between surgeon age and DRF treatment. Results Surgeons aged 40 years and younger were more likely to perform ORIF and less likely to choose external fixation and percutaneous pinning to treat DRFs, compared with older surgeons. Surgeon specialization mitigated this relationship, and American Society for Surgery of the Hand members were more likely to choose ORIF compared with nonmembers. However, surgeon age remained a significant predictor of treatment choice after controlling for other factors and surgeon specialization. Conclusions Younger surgeons are more likely to perform ORIF for DRFs among Medicare beneficiaries over 65 years of age. Given the lack of evidence supporting any single treatment option for DRF, understanding the factors that drive dissemination of operative techniques may provide insight into treatment disparities within the Medicare population. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Digital Immersive Virtual Environments and Instructional Computing

This article reviews theory and research relevant to the development of digital immersive virtual environment-based instructional computing systems. The review is organized within the context of a multidimensional model of social influence and interaction within virtual environments that models the interaction of four theoretical factors: theory of mind, communicative realism, behavioral systems level, and situational self-relevance. The ways in which social interactional processes in digital immersive virtual environments may be easily filtered and transformed in ways relevant to instructor–learner interactions are discussed. Relevant experimental investigations are reviewed that indicate their potential to increase the adaptivity of immersive virtual environment systems for learners and instructors.
The Guru as Pastoral Counselor

Presents a series of vignettes illustrating the sort of pastoral counsel given by Pramukh Swami, a contemporary guru of Swaminarayan Hinduism. Notes the roles, process, and goals of this type of religious counseling.
The Role Of Service In P&T Decisions

Promotion and tenure are very important to faculty members, especially to faculty that are untenured or are in the lower academic ranks. Typically, universities grant promotion and tenure (P & T) based on three components: research, teaching, and service. Research is usually relatively well defined and is based on some combination of quality and quantity of presentations and publications. Teaching effectiveness is typically evaluated using peer evaluations, student evaluations, and the ratings of administrators. The third component, service, tends to be the least well defined of the three. The reason for this may be that service is more difficult to quantify because its components tend to be numerous and vague. This study investigates the perceived importance, what is, of service in the P & T decisions and how important service should be in those decisions. Email questionnaires were sent to faculty across the nation to obtain their perceptions concerning the overall importance of service in the P & T process at their school. The survey is designed to capture data regarding the perceived present importance of service in the promotion and tenure process, and what the importance of service in the promotion and tenure process should be. The results indicate that service is considered to be between “slightly” and “moderately” important in obtaining promotion and tenure. Respondents indicated that service should be at least “moderately important” in the P & T decision process. These differences between how important service is and how important it should be are all statistically significant at the 1% level. Overall, the results show that service is more important for the promotion to full professorship decision than it is for the promotion to associate and granting of tenure decisions. In addition, analyses show that how important service is and how important it should be varies significantly with some of the demographic characteristics of the respondents’ schools.
Vaccination with bispecific antibody armed T cells (BATC) in metastatic breast cancer patients and transfer of anti-breast cancer immunity in primed T cells after stem cell transplant: a proof of principle study

Meeting abstracts Despite improvements in treatment options, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains an incurable disease. In our recent Phase I immunotherapy (IT) trial in 23 women with MBC, 8 infusions of activated T cells (ATC) armed with anti-CD3 x anti-HER2 bispecific antibody (HER2Bi) given in
Tungsten Chemical Mechanical Polishing Endpoint Detection

Conventional methods of controlling tungsten Chemical Mechanical Polishing (WCMP) processes have included blanket wafer polish rate and platen temperature monitoring. In order to enhance process control of WCMP, a second generation motor-current sense endpoint system was chosen as the evaluation tool. The endpoint detection system (Luxtron 9300) was installed on a WCMP polisher (IPEC 472) at the Motorola MOS6 facility. Endpoint algorithms were evaluated under various polishing conditions during time periods between pad changes. The data collected over 3 months led to a reliable endpoint recipe for both the contact and via WCMP process. The endpoint data compared with the conventional timed recipe, indicated that a time reduction at WCMP could be achieved, with a 10% increase in throughput. In addition, contact and via W-plug endpoint data showed a strong signal versus pattern density for given device types. In summary, the motor current endpoint system tested verified reliable endpoint, process control, and characterization capabilities.
Tracking Changes in the U.S. Senate

The character of the U.S. Senate has changed markedly over the last 30 years. The Senate can no longer be characterized as a well-bounded entity ruled by an “inner club” of insular grandees. Increasingly, rather, the Senate is a great forum, an echo chamber, a theater, where dramas—comedies and tragedies, soap operas and horse operas—are staged to enhance the careers of its members and to influence public policy by means of debate and public investigation. Its special role today in the contemporary American political system is as an incubator of policy ideas and political innovations (Polsby 1984). This stands in dramatic contrast with the Senate as late as the 1950s, which was far more a body that had positioned itself as a critic and a respondent—frequently an inhospitable one—to the political innovations hatched in the executive branch and by activist presidents and forwarded to it by the House of Representatives. Thus over the last three decades the Senate has evolved from a rather negative repository of states-rights thinking, dominated by a mostly southern-led “inner club,” and hence an explicit agent of the devolved aspect of the federal system, into a predominantly nationally-oriented body. The principal agent of this transformation has been the very great change in the life chances and therefore in the political ambitions of a large number of U.S. senators. Earlier, not so many of them entertained presidential ambitions. Today, the Senate is the main institutional source of presidential hopefuls, and for a large fraction of senators such hopes play a significant part in guiding their behavior in the Senate.
Two Spinning Mites Attacking the Incense Cedar in California

Female.—Ground color rusty-green-amber, with a dark green lateral area which embraces a number of blackish spots and blotches; most of cephalothorax, and median portion of abdomen paler. Legs and palpi rusty greenish amber. A single perfect eye cornea on each side, deep carmine. Body setae pale, large for the size of the mite, not arising from tubercles, 26 in number. Body broadly oval, widest across middle of cephalothorax. A series of measured females averaged 0.259 mm. long by 0.201 mm. wide. Anterior margin of cephalothorax conspicuously truncated. Mandibular plate abnormally large, often more than half length of body; emarginate anteriorly in younger stages, becoming rounded at maturity. Location of main dorsal suture aberrant in that it occurs behind midpoint of body, thus resulting in a greatly reduced abdomen. “Thumb” of palpus much shortened axially, considerably thicker than long, bearing at its tip a non-clavate “finger” which is only slightly longer than thick; the clavate dorsal sensilla is diminutive compared to the terminal “finger”; just dorsad of the terminal “finger” arise the customary pair of digituli which are tacklike, and exceed somewhat the tenninal sensilla; a short hair arises near the base of the dorsal sensilla, and a stronger pedestaled seta arises dorsally from the “thumb” near its base; a hair arises laterally from near the ventrodistal angle of “thumb.” Legs rather short, foreleg not over four-fifths the length of the body, well supplied with strong hairs. Relative lengths of the joints of foreleg as follows: Coxa, 16; trochanter, 18; femur, 20; patella, 16; tibia, 16; tarsus, 18. Tip of tarsus (female) supplied with a strong, gently curving claw; at a point about one-fifth the length of the claw from its base arise six straightish spurs whose tips about equal that of the main claw; four tenent hairs, as usual, arise in pairs on either side of the base of the main claw. Collar trachea extending downward and backward as a straightish narrow tube, ending in a slightly enlarged chamber. Egg distinctly flattened (lenticular).
The Likert Scale Revisited

This study examined the effect of alternative scale formats on reporting of intensity of attitudes on Likert scales of agreement. A standard one-stage format and an alternate two-stage format were ...
A Transfer Matrix Approach to Vibration Localization in Mistuned Blade Assemblies

A study of mode localization in mistuned bladed disks is performed using transfer matrices. The transfer matrix approach yields the free response of a general, mono-coupled, perfectly cyclic assembly in closed form. A mistuned structure is represented by random transfer matrices, and the expansion of these matrices in terms of the small mistuning parameter leads to the definition of a measure of sensitivity to mistuning. An approximation of the localization factor, the spatially averaged rate of exponential attenuation per blade-disk sector, is obtained through perturbation techniques in the limits of high and low sensitivity. The methodology is applied to a common model of a bladed disk and the results verified by Monte Carlo simulations. The easily calculated sensitivity measure may prove to be a valuable design tool due to its system-independent quantification of mistuning effects such as mode localization.
70 EFFECTS OF LOW OXYGEN SATURATION LIMITS ON CLOSURE OF DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS IN EXTREMELY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS.

Background Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are at increased risk for developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and lower oxygen saturation limits have decreased the incidence of severe ROP. Although oxygen is known to constrict the ductus arteriosus (DA), a localized ductal wall tissue hypoxia is required for permanent closure of the DA. Objective To compare the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and the need for ductal ligation in ELBW infants before and after implementation of lower oxygen saturation limits. Methods Retrospective data analyses of prospectively collected data on ELBW infants admitted to one of our neonatal intensive care units 4 years before and after the implementation of a new oxygen saturation limit for prevention of ROP were included in the study. Patients with a gestational age of less than 23 weeks were excluded. During the period prior to the implementation of the lower saturation limits (83-89%), ELBW infants requiring oxygen were maintained at oxygen saturations of 89 to 94%. Results A total of 186 ELBW infants comprised our study population. There were 108 patients (birth weight [BW] 744 ± 125 g, gestational age [GA] 25.8 ± 1.6 weeks) before and 78 patients (BW 777 ± 128 g, GA 25.9 ± 1.7 weeks) after the implementation of the lower oxygen saturation limit protocol. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of stage III or greater ROP (26% vs 11%, p = .015). However, the incidence of PDA (52% vs 55%) and ductal ligation (41% vs 42%) was unchanged. Conclusions The use of the lower oxygen saturation limits in ELBW infants resulted in a significant reduction in severe ROP without significantly impacting the incidence of PDA or the need for DA ligation.
An improved method for the determination of total arsenic in seafood using wet digestion coupling with atomic fluorescence spectrometer

Objective:To establish a stable and precise method for the determination of total arsenic in seafood.Methods: After a pretreatment with nitric acid/perchloric acid/sulfuric acid tri-acid digestion process,we used atomic fluorescence spectrometer methodology to detect total As in seafood.Results: Under the optimized pretreatment process and detection conditions: KBH4 concentraton,2%(w/w);lamp current,60 mA;flow rate of carrying gas,400 ml/min;carrying flow,5% HCl,wide linear relationship was achieved in the range of 0 μg/L~40.0 μg/L with relative coefficient of 0.9998 and the detection limit was estimated to be 0.072 μg/L.The proposed procedure was validated by applying it for the determination of total As in Certified Reference Material GBW08573 and GBW08517(China).Results were satisfactory with RSDs of 6 replicate experiments less than 3.8%.The proposed method was sucessfully applied to detect total As in seafood supplied by Ningbo hotels.Conclusion: The present method is precise and reliable for the determination of total As in seafood.
A Central Move for CB2 Receptors

The function of the CB2 cannabinoid receptor in the brain has long been a matter of debate. In this issue of Neuron, Stempel et al. (2016) describe a mechanism whereby endocannabinoid production leads to a cell-intrinsic hyperpolarization that controls self activity.
The site controlling the specificity of N action is outside the promoter-operator region: a triple hybrid phage lambda N21 imm434nin5.

Abstract A short interval of homology between imm λ, imm 434 and imm 21 DNAs was identified near the leftward promoter-operator region. This homology, denoted Hs, was revealed by electron microscopic examination of λ imm λ/λ imm 21 and λ imm 434/λ imm 21 heteroduplexes, and permitted us to construct a special λ hybrid (λ hy B) which contains the N region of phage 21 and the adjacent imm region from phage 434. This triple hybrid, λN 21 imm434nin5 , was analysed by genetic, transcriptional and electronic micrographic techniques. Its leftward and rightward promoter-operator regions are of phage 434 specificity and are controlled by the 434 repressor. Suprisingly, the N 21 gene of λ hy B was found to be defective, perhaps to preserve the viability of the hybrid. Its leftward N- recognition system ( nut L) is of phage 21 specificity since it responds only to the N 21 function in complementation tests, as measured by antitermination of leftward transcription initiated at the p L promotor in the imm 434 region. We conclude, therefore, that the p L o L region of 434 contains no information for the specificity of N antitermination. Both λ imm 21 and λ hy B were found to be missing the t L 1 terminator function (see also Salstrom and Szybalski, 1978b). In these phages, the t L 2 terminator was found to be only 60% effective under N − 21 conditions, and therefore expression of their red-gam genes is sufficient to endow the λ hy B and λN − 21 imm21nin5 phages with the Fec + phenotype.
Sober as a Judge

In Ockham's Razors: A User's Guide, argues that parsimony considerations are epistemically relevant on the grounds that certain methods of model selection, such as the Akaike Information Criterion, exhibit good asymptotic behaviour and take the number of adjustable parameters in a model into account. I raise some worries about this form of argument.
Concept Maps & Vee Diagrams as Tools For Learning New Mathematics Topics

This paper presents the data for 6 students who participated in a study that investigated the use of the metacogntive tools of concept maps and vee diagrams in learning and solving problems for selected mathematics topics. The six students used the tools to learn about new mathematics topics. Initially, students struggled to understand their new topics and the tools. However, with independent research and progressively mapping their findings on concept maps and vee diagrams, and with critiques and feedback from others, students eventually developed enhanced and deeper understandings of their chosen topics.
A review of the plants of the Princeton chert (Eocene, British Columbia, Canada)

The Princeton chert is one of the most completely studied permineralized floras of the Paleogene. Remains of over 30 plant taxa have been described in detail, along with a diverse assemblage of fungi that document a variety of ecological interactions with plants. As a flora of the Okanagan Highlands, the Princeton chert plants are an assemblage of higher elevation taxa of the latest early to earliest middle Eocene, with some components similar to those in the related compression floras. However, like the well-known floras of Clarno, Appian Way, the London Clay, and Messel, the Princeton chert provides an additional dimension of internal structure. In the present study, we outline the history of Princeton chert plant research, starting with Boneham and others, and extending into studies by Stockey and her students and colleagues. These studies were undertaken primarily at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. We then re-examine the individual elements of the Princeton chert flora, using the framework of the...