cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prediction of graft patency and mortality after distal revascularization and interval ligation for hemodialysis access-related hand ischemia.

Objective The treatment goals of access-related hand ischemia (ARHI) are to reverse symptoms and salvage the access. Many procedures have been described, but the optimal treatment strategy remains unresolved. In an effort to guide clinical decision making, this study was undertaken to document our outcomes for distal revascularization and interval ligation (DRIL) and to identify predictors of bypass patency and patient mortality. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent DRIL at the University of Florida from 2002 to 2011. Diagnosis of ARHI was based primarily upon clinical symptoms with noninvasive studies used to corroborate in equivocal cases. Patient demographics, procedure-outcome variables, and reinterventions were recorded. Bypass patency and mortality were estimated using cumulative incidence and Kaplan-Meier methodology, respectively. Cumulative incidence and Cox regression analysis were performed to determine predictors of bypass patency and mortality, respectively. Results A total of 134 DRILs were performed in 126 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 57 [12] years) following brachial artery-based access. The postoperative complication rate was 27% (19% wound), and 30-day mortality was 2%. The wrist-brachial index and digital brachial index increased 0.31 (0.25) and 0.25 (0.29), respectively. Symptoms resolved in 82% of patients, and 85% continued to use their access. Cumulative incidences (± standard error of the mean) of loss of primary and primary-assisted patency rates were 5% ± 2% and 4% ± 2% at 1 year and 22% ± 5% and 18% ± 5% at 5 years, respectively, with mean follow-up of 14.8 months. Univariate predictors of primary patency failure were DRIL complications (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-8.9; P = .02), configuration other than brachiobasilic/brachiocephalic autogenous access (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.4-8.3; P = .009), and two or more prior access attempts (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.6-10.4; P = .004). Brachiocephalic access configuration (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.04-0.8; P = .02) and autogenous vein conduit (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.06-0.58; P = .004) were predictors of improved bypass patency. All-cause mortality was 28% and 79% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. Multivariable predictors of mortality were age >40 (hazard ratio [HR], 8.3; 95% CI, 2.5-33.3; P = .0004), grade 3 ischemia (HR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.5-4.6; P = .0008), complication from DRIL (HR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.3-4.5; P = .004), and smoking history (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-4; P = .007). Patients with no prior access attempts had lower predicted mortality (HR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; P = .02). Conclusions The DRIL procedure effectively improves distal perfusion and reverses the symptoms of ARHI while salvaging the access, but the long-term survival of these patients is poor. Given the poor survival, preoperative risk stratification is critical. Patients at high risk for DRIL failure and mortality may be best served with alternate remedial procedures.
The economics of cancer care

Considerable attention has been paid to the high cost of cancer care. These medical services are expensive, accounting for 10% of total health care expenditures. Factors contributing to high costs include (1) the likelihood that anticancer treatments will lead to costly medical complications ; (2) intensive research and development necessary to ensure rapid introduction of a broad array of treatment options ; and (3) specialized facilities required for delivery of care. Such efforts as rationing of care and utilizing practice guidelines have been ineffective in controlling costs. To realize savings, we must develop new therapies with sufficient specificity so that anticancer interventions do not impair the patient's general health.
Iterative minimization of quadratic functional

A complete solution is given to the problem of determining when a certain iteration will converge to the minimum of an important type of quadratic functional. It is shown that convergence occurs whenever the minimum exists, and that the iterates produced by the iteration will be unbounded for every starting point if the minimum does not exist. Applications are given concerning an adaptive filtering algorithm and nonharmonic series expansions.
SHAPE OPTIMIZATION AND ELECTRON BUBBLES

We present an analytical treatment of the shape optimization problem that arises in the study of electron bubbles. The problem is to minimize a weighted sum of a Laplace eigenvalue, volume, and surface area with respect to the shape of the domain. The analysis employs the calculus of moving surfaces and yields surprising conclusions regarding the stability of equilibrium spherical configurations. Namely, all but the lowest eigenvalue result in unstable configurations and certain combinations of parameters, near-spherical equilibrium stable configurations exist. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems are considered and numerical results are presented for the two-dimensional case.
Coupling between the voltage-sensing and pore domains in a voltage-gated potassium channel

article i nfo Voltage-dependent potassium (Kv), sodium (Nav), and calcium channels open and close in response to changes in transmembrane (TM) potential, thus regulating cell excitability by controlling ion flow across the membrane. An outstanding question concerning voltage gating is how voltage-induced conformational changes of the channel voltage-sensing domains (VSDs) are coupled through the S4-S5 interfacial linking he- lices to the opening and closing of the pore domain (PD). To investigate the coupling between the VSDs and the PD, we generated a closed Kv channel configuration from Aeropyrum pernix (KvAP) using atomistic simulations with experiment-based restraints on the VSDs. Full closure of the channel required, in addition to the experimentally determined TM displacement, that the VSDs be displaced both inwardly and laterally around the PD. This twisting motion generates a tight hydrophobic interface between the S4-S5 linkers and the C-terminal ends of the pore domain S6 helices in agreement with available experimental evidence.
Mean reversion in real exchange rates

Abstract A modified Dickey–Fuller test, which is approximately uniformly most power invariant, is employed to examine mean reversion in real exchange rates. Results from this test provide a wider and more significant support for mean reversion than the standard Dickey-Fuller test.
Intracytoplasmic Annulate Lamellae in a Primary and Explanted Canine Malignant Melanoma

Summary Intracytoplasmic smooth-walled paired fenestrated membranes arranged in parallel stacks were observed by electron microscopy in one of eleven malignant melanomas derived from eleven separate dogs. These annulate lamellae were a striking feature of the cytoplasm of cells comprising the primary tumour as well as in tumour cells established in culture. Zusammenfassung Intrazytoplasmatische Lammellae annulatae in einem primaren und explantierten malignen Melanom beim Hund Bei einem von 11 bei 11 verschiedenen Hunden diagnostizierten malignen Melanomen wurden mittels Elektronenmikroskopie intrazytoplasmatische glattwandige, paarige, fenestrierte Membranen beobachtet, die parallel angeordnet waren. Diese Lamellae annulatae waren ein auffalliges Charakteristikum des Zytoplasmas der Zellen des Primartumors und der betreffenden Tumorzellen in der Zellkultur.
Integrated CMOS mm-wave phase shifters for single chip portable radar

This paper demonstrates, for the first time, a systematic analysis of different CMOS mm-wave phase shifter architectures for single chip portable radar. Three different active and passive phase shifters are designed and fabricated in standard 1P7M 90nm CMOS process to operate in the frequency band of 50 GHz to 56 GHz. The fabricated passive phase shifter has a phase tuning range of 141° with an average RMS gain error of 1.93 dB. The innovative active quadrature-generator-based active phase shifter has an average RMS gain & phase error of 0.64 dB & 6.36° while the passive quadrature-generator-based active phase shifter has an average RMS gain and phase error of 1.36 dB & 15°. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the fabricated CMOS active phase shifters exhibit the best performances reported till date with a continuous phase tuning range of 360° at frequencies above 40GHz.
Reasoning With Neural Tensor Networks for Knowledge Base Completion

Knowledge bases are an important resource for question answering and other tasks but often suffer from incompleteness and lack of ability to reason over their discrete entities and relationships. In this paper we introduce an expressive neural tensor network suitable for reasoning over relationships between two entities. Previous work represented entities as either discrete atomic units or with a single entity vector representation. We show that performance can be improved when entities are represented as an average of their constituting word vectors. This allows sharing of statistical strength between, for instance, facts involving the "Sumatran tiger" and "Bengal tiger." Lastly, we demonstrate that all models improve when these word vectors are initialized with vectors learned from unsupervised large corpora. We assess the model by considering the problem of predicting additional true relations between entities given a subset of the knowledge base. Our model outperforms previous models and can classify unseen relationships in WordNet and FreeBase with an accuracy of 86.2% and 90.0%, respectively.
Application of Signal Processing to Addressing Wireless Data Demand [In the Spotlight]

Recently, CNN reported on work at the U.S. Federal Communications Com mission (FCC) to free up portions of unused radio spectrum to address the challenges that wireless service operators are facing from the ever growing demand from customers for faster wireless service [1]. Effectively answering these challenges requires not only making new spectrum available but also state-of-the-art radio transceiver technology to enable effective and efficient access to this spectrum. Perhaps the technology that has received the most attention in this regard is cognitive radio. In this article, we highlight the role that signal processing can play in improving the performance of increasingly adaptive and heterogeneous communications systems.
Mechanical aspects of thrust faulting driven by far-field compression and their implications for fold geometry

In this paper we present a mechanical model that intends to captures the kinematical aspects of thrust fault related folds induced by regional-scale far-field contraction. Fold shapes may be the only surface evidence of the geometry of underlying faults, so complex fault interactions are assessed in terms of how they influence fold geometry. We use the finite element method to model the fold and finite deformation frictional contact to model the activation and evolution of slip throughout preexisting faults. From several simulated 2D fault patterns we infer how one may form an anticline similar to that observed at Sheep Mountain Anticline, Wyoming.
Mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells decrease renal injury in experimental swine renal artery stenosis through different mechanisms

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) augment tissue repair but possess slightly different properties. How the cellular phenotype affects the efficacy of this approach in renovascular disease is incompletely understood. This study tested the hypothesis that EPC and MSC protect the poststenotic kidney by blunting different disease pathways. Peripheral blood EPC and adipose-derived MSC were expanded and characterized by cell surface markers (e.g., CD34/kinase insert domain receptor, or CD44/CD90). Single-kidney hemodynamics and function were assessed in pigs after 10 weeks of renal artery stenosis (RAS) treated 4 weeks earlier with an intrarenal infusion of vehicle (n = 7), EPC (RAS+EPC) or MSC (RAS+MSC) (both 10 × 10(6), n = 6), and normal controls (n = 7). Kidney disease mechanisms were evaluated ex vivo. The ability of EPC and MSC to attenuate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was also studied in isolated ER and in tubular cells cocultured with EPC and MSC. Glomerular filtration rate in RAS was lower than controls, increased in RAS+EPC, and further improved in RAS+MSC, although both improved renal blood flow similarly. EPC prominently enhanced renal growth factor expression and decreased oxidative stress, while MSC more significantly attenuated renal inflammation, ER stress, and apoptosis. Furthermore, MSC induced a greater decrease in caspase-3 and CHOP expression in cultured tubular cells through mechanisms involving cell contact. EPC and MSC achieve a comparable decrease of kidney injury in RAS by different mechanisms, although MSC elicited slightly superior improvement of renal function. These results support development of cell-based approaches for management of renovascular disease and suggest cell selection based on the underlying pathophysiology of kidney injury.
Spectra of Atomic Theories

For a countable structure $\mathcal{B}$, the spectrum is the set of Turing degrees of isomorphic copies of $\mathcal{B}$. For a complete elementary first order theory $T$, the spectrum is the set of Turing degrees of models of $T$. We answer a question from [1] by showing that there is an atomic theory $T$ whose spectrum does not match the spectrum of any structure.
The implications of failure of the gastroscope to pass the cardiac orifice of the stomach.

Summary The gastroscope could not be insinuated beyond the cardia on repeated attempts in 26 of 900 consecutive examinations. On 24 occasions it was possible to ascertain the cause for the failure. The chief causes were, 1) mechanical blockage, and, 2) failure of the esophagus to accommodate itself to the relatively rigid gastroscope. Extra-gastrointestinal factors interfered with passage of the gastroscope beyond the cardia more frequently than those originating within the organs of the alimentary canal. Repeated failure to pass the instrument into the stomach should be viewed as strong evidence of an abnormality which should be clarified by other diagnostic methods.
A short-term inpatient program for agitated demented nursing home residents.

Objective This case series describes the various contributors of disruptive behavior in demented nursing home residents and outlines the necessary steps to identify and treat them. Design Evaluation of overall clinical improvement and agitation at discharge from the hospital and at follow-up. Setting Nursing home residents consecutively admitted to the geriatric psychiatry service of a psychiatric university hospital in the New York metropolitan area. Patients 15 elderly demented nursing home residents with agitation. Measures Overall clinical improvement was assessed with the ‘global assessment of functioning scale’. Agitation was evaluated with the ‘brief agitation rating scale’ and the ‘nursing home scale for agitation’. Medication side-effects were measured with the ‘Simpson–Angus scale’ and the ‘abnormal involuntary movement scale’. Results The patients showed significantly more overall clinical improvement at discharge compared with admission. Additionally, agitation scores were significantly lower at discharge and at follow-up compared with admission. Conclusion A comprehensive medical and neurological assessment, an accurate identification of comorbid psychopathology, evaluation of drug toxicity, and a thorough history of psychotropic medication trials are essential steps for a successful treatment. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A flexible implementation of maximum-homogeneity filtering for 2-D and 3-D images

The authors define, for both three-dimensional and two-dimensional images, a more flexible implementation of the maximum-homogeneity filter. The implementation, based on a mathematically defined 'spotlight' operator, permits varying levels of region sharpening and artifact removal. Test results demonstrate that the technique gives performance comparable to other edge-preserving filters. >
Operational equations for the five-point rectangle, the geometric mean, and data in prismatic array

This paper describes the results of three applications of operational calculus: new representations of five data in a rectangular array, new relationships among data in a prismatic array, and the operational analog of the geometric mean.
Prevalence and Cost of Office Visits Prior to Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer Screening

This study uses employer-sponsored private insurance claims data to determine the proportion of colonoscopies for colon cancer screening and polyp surveillance that were preceded by office visits and the associated insurance payments for those visits between 2010 and 2013.
中国国际私法与比较法年刊, 中国国际私法与比较法年刊 (Class Actions in Brazil - A Model for Civil Law Countries)

The English version of this document can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=903188Chinese Abstract: 断言类行动与民事法律系统兼容，作者描述了巴西的集体诉讼，比较它与美国对口单位，并将它放在其他法律制度的途径方面。巴西的集团诉讼制度是独特的创作方式，它涉及的集体诉讼起诉，类型的组权限，既判力和待决诉讼权等方面。巴西的经验表明民法系统可以成功地使用类诉讼程序，但不能移植到他们的系统不大适应美国类操作模型。翻译成中文教授陈荣和志力English Abstract: Asserting that class actions are compatible with civil law systems, the author describes the Brazilian system of class actions, comparing it with its American counterpart, and placing it in the context of other systems' approaches to class action litigation. In this paper, the author presents the Brazilian class action system to an international audience.The Brazilian class action system is a unique creation in the way that it addresses aspects of class action litigation such as standing to sue, types of group rights, res judicata and lis pendens. The Brazilian experience demonstrates that civil law systems can employ a class suit procedure successfully but cannot transplant the American class action model into their systems without substantial adaptation.Translated into Chinese by Professors Chen Rong and Zhi Li断言类行动与民事法律系统兼容，作者描述了巴西的集体诉讼，比较它与美国对口单位，并将它放在其他法律制度的途径方面。巴西的集团诉讼制度是独特的创作方式，它涉及的集体诉讼起诉，类型的组权限，既判力和待决诉讼权等方面。巴西的经验表明民法系统可以成功地使用类诉讼程序，但不能移植到他们的系统不大适应美国类操作模型。翻译成中文教授陈荣和志力
Investigate Data Dependency for Dynamic Gene Regulatory Network Identification through High-dimensional Differential Equation Approach

Gene regulation plays a fundamental role in biological activities. The gene regulation network (GRN) is a high-dimensional complex system, which can be represented by various mathematical or statistical models. The ordinary differential equation (ODE) model is one of the popular dynamic GRN models. We proposed a comprehensive statistical procedure for ODE model to identify the dynamic GRN. In this article, we applied this model to different segments of time course gene expression data from a simulation experiment and a yeast cell cycle study. We found that the two cell cycle and one cell cycle data provided consistent results, but half cell cycle data produced biased estimation. Therefore, we may conclude that the proposed model can quantify both two cell cycle and one cell cycle gene expression dynamics, but not for half cycle dynamics. The findings suggest that the model can identify the dynamic GRN correctly if the time course gene expression data are sufficient enough to capture the overall dynamics o...
German Sociology Under Hitler, 1933–1941

have to gain separate and individual advantages for themselves. Similarly, physical planning of land utilization becomes possible and satisfactory when the alternatives, advantages, and principles involved are widely understood. The folk schools of Denmark recognized the need for abstract knowledge if technical knowledge were to have meaning and take its proper place in the structure of society. Many people have been going to Nova Scotia to observe the improvement in living conditions achieved by people who dwell in fishing villages. It might be assumed that people learned technological changes first and thereby freed themselves to pursue a richer life. But this is the reverse of what happened. They first learned the fundamentals of economics and of living together, and then freed themselves through this mastery. There are experiments in this country which demonstrate that community effectiveness does not rest on this or that particular plan of organization nor on a series of attacks on specific problems; but rather upon clear comprehension by the community itself of the powers and limitations of its people. This may seem to be the slow way and the hard way, and the way which fails to produce the quickest measurable results. But it seems to be the most hopeful way. This puts adult education and technological education in a wholly different perspective. The general assortment of courses and libraries made available to individuals under adult education programs have their rightful place in the scheme of things. And it is all very well to have public forums and panels on a varied assortment of pressing public questions. But it is a false notion that more and more information about race, United Nations, shortage of nurses, and the usefulness of freezer lockers will necessarily make community relations more satisfactory. Furthermore, it is certainly logical to believe that technological education whether received by individuals or by means of collective study is likely to assist in raising levels of living. But it does not follow that raising the level of living necessarily results in happy and satisfactory community relationships. This can come only through understanding the conditions involved-the institutional relations, in other words. We close our community level discussion, therefore, in the same key in which we opened our note on international relations. When we merely distribute the knowledge and products of technology and create unlimited wants, or when we organize for the relief or amelioration of immediate and symptomatic problems while we ignore the deeper and more fundamental understanding of relationships we support confusion and revolution. The ideas and meaning which may emerge from such revolution can be far from the sweet democratic dreams we may desire. We might paraphrase Lincoln with the ideas of Mannheim by saying that communities cannot exist on half science and half folklore. They must embrace one and move on to confusion and enslavement or cleave to the other and become free.
The Melting of Crystalline Polymers

Abstract Polymer molecules are characterized by the unique structural feature of being composed of a large number of chain units covalently linked together. Despite this complexity of structure macromolecular systems still retain the ability to exist in different states, a property common to all substances. Two of the states of matter observed for monomeric substances, the liquid and crystalline states, are also found in polymeric substances. The liquid or amorphous state is characterized by the fact that, because of the freedom of rotation about the bonds connecting the chain atoms, a single polymer molecule can assume a large number of configurations. In this state, therefore, the chain units of different molecules are arranged in a random, disoriented array uncoordinated with one another. Under appropriate thermodynamic conditions, however, a spontaneous ordering of portions of the chain molecules can occur, and in contrast there results a state of configurational order, the freedom of rotation being l...
Method for defect stability diagram from ab initio calculations: A case study of SrTiO 3

Point defects play a dominant role in determining the wide spectrum of electronic and physical properties of semiconducting materials that have vast technological applications. Using ab initio simulations, a method to calculate equilibrium defect concentrations, Fermi energy and defect stability diagrams as functions of external parameters, such as temperature and pressure, is presented. Using SrTiO${}_{3}$ as a representative material, we report our analysis of the stability of oxygen vacancies and interstitials, in their different charge states, as a function of temperature, oxygen partial pressure and Fermi energy of the system. Further, by analyzing the defect chemistry at experimentally relevant temperatures, we find that at low oxygen partial pressure, neutral oxygen vacancies are most dominant and at intermediate and high oxygen partial pressure, doubly charged oxygen vacancies are dominant.
Growth and Infestation of Bollworms and Other Insects on Glanded and Glandless Strains of Cotton

Laboratory and field rests with experimental cotton lines showed that larval growth of the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and the tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.), was related to content of gossypol in the host plant supplied through pigment glands. Larval growth was greater on glandless than on glanded cotton strains, the glandless plants were highly attractive to several other insects which are not pests of glanded commercial varieties, an indication that commercial use of glandless varieties might introduce new insect-control problems. Results of the studies suggest that it may be possible to increase the resistance of cotton to insects by breeding for a higher gossypol content.
An epidemiological investigation on a food-born outbreak of noroviru caused by Sydney 2012 G II.4 strain

Objective To identify the source of infection, route of transmission and risk factors related to a cluster of acute gastroenteritis cases in a university of Guangzhou. Methods Cases were identified according to the definition. Descriptive epidemiological approaches and case- control study designs were employed in the analysis. All the samples were tested for norovirus by RT-PCR. Positive samples were subjected to both nucleotide sequence and homology analysis. Results A total of 141 cases related to norovirus gastroenteritis were identified in January 8 to 21, 2013, with the attack rate as 8.5%0 （ 141/16 600）. The peak in morbidity was seen on January 8 to 9. No clustering was found in different classes or dormitories. Results from the case-control study revealed that early cases were infected in Restaurant A （0R=3.46,95%CI： 1.07-11.16） and the cold shredded chicken set meal （OR= 17.82, 95%CI： 4.46-78.17） served at lunch （0R=4.34, 95%CI： 1.18 -17.37） on January 7 was under suspicion. A total of 266 samples, including rectal swabs from the patients and kitchen wokers, leftover food and environmental swabs, were collected. Twenty-one samples （collected from 17 persons） were positive for norovirus by RT-PCR. About 29.6% （8/27） of the kitchen workers in the Restaurant A were tested positive for the virus. The pathogen was identified as the new norovirus genotype II .4 variant, termed Sydney 2012. The virus strains isolated from the patients among student and staff and the kitchen workers were 100% identical in their nucleotide sequence. Conclusion This was the first reported acute gastroenteritis outbreak caused by the new norovirus genotype II .4 variant, Sydney 2012, which showed that the food was contaminated by the asymptomatic kitchen workers who carried the virus. Key words: Norovirus; Acute gastroenteritis; Outbreak; Epidemiology
How Social Movements Die: Repression and Red Squads

What is the role of the government in the context of behavioral challenges to authorities, and what is the role of the government in the specific context of Detroit and the Republic of New Africa (i.e., how is government involved with the repressive policies used to subdue the organization, what exactly does it do, and what type of information is collected to assist with these efforts)? As I attempt to contextualize the US-RNA interaction into literature concerning state repression and to discuss what information is used to evaluate the argument put forward earlier, these are the questions that I address within the current chapter. Why Repress? Although several different reasons for state repression have been advanced, none has the resonance or standing of the desire to counter behavioral challenges. Indeed, it seems uncontroversial to say that governments are interested in keeping challenges and challengers within parameters that they deem acceptable (see Tilly 1978 for useful discussion). Although this varies somewhat from place to place and time to time, I would argue that several elements of this process are fairly stable. For example, political authorities consistently like to keep the goals of any challenge or challenger as moderate as possible (i.e., not advocating the overthrow of the existing political-economy and/or removal of individuals associated with it), the behavior of these challengers nonviolent, and the number of participants in relevant activity small. Now any deviations from one of these preferred states may communicate to authorities (as well as to the mass citizenry) that there is a “threat” to political order. Indeed, any one of these may threaten the perception that the existing government is in control of the relevant territory and that all those under their jurisdiction can exist without the fear of something bad happening to them or their interests (e.g., their property being damaged or destroyed and their lives taken or irreparably damaged). If several of these dimensions are present at the same time (e.g., there is a radical transformation proposed and the challenge is violent in nature or the challenge is violent and the number of participants is significant), then the magnitude of the threat will be increased. If all three dimensions are present, then one has a situation of civil war and/or what many would call “anarchy” or “state failure,” situations where some centralized authority has failed in its attempt to wield coercive control over a specific territorial jurisdiction.
The Effect of Consumers’ Consciousness on Brand Perceptions: A Cross-Cultural Study

Despite increasing interest in understanding consumers’ self-concept, there is relatively limited research on consumer’s self- consciousness, one of the foundations of self concept (Belk, 1988; Chang 2006; Fenigstein et al., 1975). In addition, a disposition to focus attention on one’s self (Buss, 1980), self-consciousness needs to be further explored with another related but different concept – gender consciousness, to provide a well rounded foundation of self concept (Gould, 1996). Gender consciousness, as defined by consumer’s awareness of his/her gender identity (Gould, 1996; Gould and Stern, 1989), has long been considered important in social psychology since “one’s consciousness of one’s own gender will influence one’s feelings about oneself’ (Gould and Stern, 1989, p. 130). However, this concept has received scant attention in the marketing literature. Previous literature suggests that self-consciousness and gender consciousness may provide insights to some key issues of consumer behavior, including expression of values (Millenson, 1985), manifestation of personality traits (e.g. Dichter et al., 1989) and product choices (Gould and Stern, 1989). However, these studies have focused on either self- consciousness or gender consciousness, Thus, this study attempts to address the shortcomings in extant literature and provide knowledge base to marketing managers.
Tools for Studying Macromolecules

This chapter discusses some of the tools available for studying protein models and suggests strategies for learning the unfamiliar terrain of a new protein. The chapter also discusses computer models of molecules. This comprises details about two-dimensional images from coordinates, basic modeling operations, three-dimensional display and perception, and types of graphic models. It provides information on a molecular modeling program and informs about importing and exporting coordinate files, loading and saving models, viewing models, editing and labeling the display, coloring, measuring, exploring structural change, exploring the molecular surface, exploring intermolecular interactions through multiple models, displaying crystal packing, building models from scratch, scripts and macros, and automating routine structure analysis. Finally, the discussion is concluded by listing and briefly describing additional tools for studying structure, especially the ones used in conjunction with modeling on graphics systems.
Immortalized Leydig Cell Lines as Models for Studying Leydig Cell Physiology

This chapter provides a brief overview of the properties of various immortalized Leydig cell lines and their usefulness in the study of Leydig cell physiology.
The Achievements and Future of Business Education

The dean of Columbia Business School is joined by the deans of Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton in discussing the challenges and opportunities facing today's graduate business schools. Most business schools aim to provide students with a certain body of knowledge—in disciplines such as marketing, finance, and accounting—as well as some general management and leadership training and skills. The biggest challenge to this model of business education is now coming from the high cost of the traditional two-year MBA program and the threat of disruption by “online” alternatives. But the consensus of the four deans is that the combination of training and experience provided by today's top business schools will enable them to withstand the threat from online alternatives. And thus for the leaders of these top schools, one of the main challenges in designing and maintaining a successful business school program is to find the right mix of theory and practice, classroom and “experiential” learning. To the extent the schools succeed in achieving and maintaining this balance, they should continue to produce graduates who are sought by employers that include not only companies large and small, but non-profits and, at some points in their careers, even the public sector. What's more, the deans all sense the growing demand for business to play a larger role in addressing social problems that have traditionally been seen as the responsibility of government and non-profits. And one implication of this demand is that business schools, besides producing talent that finds its way to the public as well as private sectors, should prepare to play a greater role in the public debate over solutions to social challenges, such as protecting the environment while at the same time trying to stimulate enough economic growth to limit rising inequality.
Effect of dispersion on the convergence rate for Green's function retrieval

Much information about wave propagation in a variety of structures has been obtained from Green's function retrieval by noise correlation. Here it is examined how dispersion affects Green's function retrieval and, in particular, its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). On recalling how the inherent spread of a signal due to band limitation is augmented by spread due to dispersion and propagation distance, and how both affect amplitude, it is argued that SNR in highly dispersive media can be substantially lowered by strong dispersion. It is argued that this is most relevant for gravity waves over large propagation distances in the ocean or atmosphere. In particular, it is discussed that dispersion could explain recent retrieval failure from surface gravity wave noise in the ocean. Methods are considered to ameliorate the poor SNR due to dispersion. Numerical simulation is used to substantiate the analytic results.
Treatment Charges for Traumatic Brain Injury Among Older Adults at a Trauma Center.

Objective To provide charge estimates of treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), including both hospital and physician charges, among adults 65 years and older treated at a trauma center. Methods We identified older adults treated for TBI during 2008-2012 (n = 1843) at Maryland's Primary Adult Resource Center and obtained hospital and physician charges separately. Analyses were stratified by sex and all charges were inflated to 2012 dollars. Total TBI charges were modeled as a function of covariates using a generalized linear model. Results Women comprised 48% of the sample. The mean unadjusted total TBI hospitalization charge for adults 65 years and older was $36 075 (standard deviation, $63 073). Physician charges comprised 15% of total charges. Adjusted mean charges were lower in women than in men (adjusted difference, -$894; 95% confidence interval, -$277 to -$1512). Length of hospital and intensive care unit stay were associated with the highest charges. Conclusions This study provides the first estimates of hospital and physician charges associated with hospitalization for TBI among older adults at a trauma center that will aid in resource allocation, triage decisions, and healthcare policy.
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder exhibit altered emotional processing and attentional control during an emotional Stroop task.

Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with attention allocation and emotional regulation difficulties, but the brain dynamics underlying these deficits are unknown. The emotional Stroop task (EST) is an ideal means to monitor these difficulties, because participants are asked to attend to non-emotional aspects of the stimuli. In this study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and the EST to monitor attention allocation and emotional regulation during the processing of emotionally charged stimuli in combat veterans with and without PTSD. Method A total of 31 veterans with PTSD and 20 without PTSD performed the EST during MEG. Three categories of stimuli were used, including combat-related, generally threatening and neutral words. MEG data were imaged in the time-frequency domain and the network dynamics were probed for differences in processing threatening and non-threatening words. Results Behaviorally, veterans with PTSD were significantly slower in responding to combat-related relative to neutral and generally threatening words. Veterans without PTSD exhibited no significant differences in responding to the three different word types. Neurophysiologically, we found a significant three-way interaction between group, word type and time period across multiple brain regions. Follow-up testing indicated stronger theta-frequency (4-8 Hz) responses in the right ventral prefrontal (0.4-0.8 s) and superior temporal cortices (0.6-0.8 s) of veterans without PTSD compared with those with PTSD during the processing of combat-related words. Conclusions Our data indicated that veterans with PTSD exhibited deficits in attention allocation and emotional regulation when processing trauma cues, while those without PTSD were able to regulate emotion by directing attention away from threat.
A Supernumerary Nipple-Like Clinical Presentation of Lymphangioma Circumscriptum

Lymphangioma circumscriptum is a superficially localized variant of lymphangioma. The characteristic clinical presentation is a “frogspawn” grouping of vesicles or papulovesicles on the proximal limb or limb girdle areas. Though most lymphangiomas develop congenitally, the lymphangioma circumscriptum subtype is known to present in adults. We report a case of lymphangioma circumscriptum on the left inframammary area of an African American female with an unusual supernumerary nipple-like clinical presentation. Our patient presented with a firm, smooth, hypopigmented papule, and the clinical diagnosis of keloid was made initially. However, she returned reporting growth of the lesion and was noted to have a firm, exophytic, lobulated, pink to skin-colored nodule. Histopathological examination demonstrated dilated lymphatic vessels, consistent with the diagnosis of lymphangioma. The presentation as a firm, hypopigmented papule and later exophytic, lobulated, skin-colored nodule in our case represents a clinical presentation of lymphangioma circumscriptum not previously described in the literature. Correct diagnosis in lymphangioma circumscriptum is vital, as recurrence following surgical resection and secondary development of lymphangiosarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma following treatment with radiation have been reported. Thus, it is important to consider lymphangioma circumscriptum in the differential of similar lesions in the future to allow appropriate diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring.
Robotic Gastrointestinal (GI) Procedures in Gynecology

Robotic gynecological procedures are becoming more common in tertiary and quaternary referral centers [1]. Multidisciplinary approaches to extensive endometriosis or advanced gynecological malignancies are now commonplace. The GI surgeon may be consulted electively for en bloc resection of bowel or assistance with adhesiolysis and exposure of the pelvis. Nonelective consultation may result from injury to the surrounding gastrointestinal tract (colon or small bowel) during complex gynecology surgery. The anatomical proximity of the small bowel and colon with respect to the female pelvic organs renders this unavoidable. In the setting of robotic gynecology surgery, intestinal encounters may be observed in the background of tumor involvement in gynecologic malignancies, implants in deep infiltrating endometriosis, or inadvertent intestinal injury. The role of the GI surgeon may involve segmental resection of the colon or small intestine with anastomosis, colostomy or ileostomy formation, and primary repair of bowel injuries.
Does the inter-unit reliability (IUR) measure reliability?

In monitoring health care providers, various outcomes are used to assess the performance and quality of care given. We consider a measure that is normally distributed across the majority of providers with both a within and between component contributing to the overall variability of the measure. In such cases, the inter-unit reliability (IUR) is commonly used to assess the usefulness of a measure for identifying extreme providers. In this article, we define and discuss the IUR and note its role under various assumptions about the source of the between-provider variance. This variability may be due primarily to differences in the patients that are not accounted for in the measured covariates, or differences in the quality of care provided, or a combination of these two. The IUR is a simple population characteristic specifying the proportion of the variation in the measure that is related to between-provider differences without regard to the source of that variation. On the other hand, the IUR does not characterize the suitability of a measure for profiling or identifying outliers except in very special circumstances where all the variation is due to quality of care and there are no outliers. In assessing the reliability of a measure for profiling, the key question is whether outlying providers with poor (or excellent) quality of care give rise to extreme values of the measure.
Parallel Poisson and Biharmonic solvers

In this paper we develop direct and iterative algorithms for the solution of finite difference approximations of the Poisson and Biharmonic equations on a square, using a number of arithmetic units in parallel. Assuming ann×n grid of mesh points, we show that direct algorithms for the Poisson and Biharmonic equations require 0(logn) and 0(n) time steps, respectively. The corresponding speedup over the sequential algorithms are 0(n 2) and 0(n 2logn). We also compare the efficiency of these direct algorithms with parallel SOR and ADI algorithms for the Poisson equation, and a parallel semi-direct method for the Biharmonic equation treated as a coupled pair of Poisson equations.
Gestural Communication Learning in Mentally Retarded Adults with Down's Syndrome

Ten mentally retarded adults with Down's Syndrome were assigned to American Indian Gestural Code (Amer-Ind) and American Sign Language (ASL) teaching groups to compare sign comprehension, imitation, and retrieval learning in relation to system characteristics (iconicity, motoric complexity of signs) and subject specific factors (language and motoric ability). Twenty lexical items, significantly different in iconicity and motor difficulty for the two gestural systems, were taught to the subjects during 20 thirty-minute sessions. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in individual subject performance at five session measurement intervals but no significant differences between the two groups. Subject factors rather than differences in sign system characteristics appeared to be the best predictors of language/gestural code learning for the mentally retarded adults.
Dimensions of Cross Cultural Treatment with Late Adolescent College Students

This paper addresses the need to develop culturally sensitive services on university campuses with a student population that is rapidly becoming more culturally diverse. It explores the different psychological paradigms of Western and non-Western cultures, the adolescent developmental process within diverse cultural constructs and the notion of “self” cross-culturally. Clinical practice implications in cross-cultural treatment are investigated. These include the therapist's self-disclosure, resistance and countertransference issues, verbal and non-verbal communication in the therapeutic relationship, and the dynamics of power and authority. Two short vignettes illustrate some of these clinical issues and emphasize the value of the therapist's knowledge and awareness of cultural differences as well as the importance of their willingness to modify more traditional clinical practices to fit diverse cultural paradigms.
Fish community and single-species indicators provide evidence of unsustainable practices in a multi-gear reef fishery

Abstract Using information on the species composition and length-frequencies of fish caught in the spear and hook and line fisheries of Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Belize, we evaluated changes between 2004–2010 and 2011–2017 in single-species and ecosystem sustainability indicators. The two gears differed in species caught, and both changed species composition between time periods, with the line fishers targeting smaller species, and the spear fishers responding to a parrotfish ban by catching more snappers and small groupers, as well as grey angels. Both gears caught smaller fish in 2011–2017 compared to 2004–2010, indicating overfishing. Species often caught immature were black grouper, Nassau grouper and mutton snapper with spears, and black snapper with lines. Most fish of other species were mature, but many were smaller than the optimal size for harvest. Fishing mortality rates were higher than natural mortality rates for most species in both gears in both time periods, whether calculated from average length or by length-based spawning potential ratio (LBSPR), implying that most populations were experiencing overfishing. Many species also had a low spawning potential ratio, implying a high probability that they were overfished. In general, many species were subject to unsustainable levels of fishing, and, according to the Froese indicators, some would benefit from size limits to protect immature individuals. These results are supported despite uncertainty in life history parameters for fishes in Belize, and differences between data poor assessment methods.
Adeno-Associated Virus Production, Purification, and Titering

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are exemplary tools for studying gene function in vivo and are particularly favorable for transferring genes of interest into brain tissues. They have shown great promise as a gene therapy vector for preclinical and clinical applications. However, the ability to use this tool is often hampered because the viruses themselves are not readily available. Many methods have been developed for AAV production. Here, we describe a simple method for small- to medium-scale (1012 -1013 viral particles) production of AAV based on Polyethylenimine Max (PEI Max)-mediated triple transfection of HEK 293 cells and purification with iodixanol gradient ultracentrifugation. These methods will provide users with ample material of sufficient quality for performing in vivo gene transfer. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.