cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Exploration of Leadership in Virtual Communities of Practice

This qualitative phenomenological research study represents the personal and professional lived experiences of midlevel leaders’ effective management of virtual committees of practice (VCoP) in medical device companies in the Atlanta metro area. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 leaders of VCoP from different medical device functional specialties. The study used a combination of the modified van Manen (1990) and van Kaam methods (Moustakas, 1994) to facilitate the analysis of the data gathered through in-depth interviews. This method served as the template for data collection and analysis. The research study revealed common themes after an analysis of data. Six emergent themes were identified: (a) empowerment, (b) communication, (c) trust, (d) encouragement/inspiration, (e) integrity, and (f) connecting with individuals. The research findings revealed a leadership model that relies on the development of genuine leaders/follower relationships to lead a VCoP effectively.
An intraoperative brain-shift monitor using shear-mode transcranial ultrasound: Preliminary results

A device that uses the shear mode of transcranial ultrasound transmission for intraoperative monitoring has been designed, constructed, and tested with 10 human subjects. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained with the device spatially registered to the MR reference coordinates. Peaks in both the ultrasound and MR signals were identified and analyzed both for spatial localization and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The first results aimed towards validating the prototype device against MRI have demonstrated excellent correlation (n = 38, R2 = 0.9962) between the structural localization abilities of the two modalities. In addition, the overall SNR of the ultrasound backscatter signals (n = 38, SNR = 25.4plusmn5.2 dB) was statistically equivalent to that of the MR data (n = 38, SNR = 22.5plusmn4.8 dB).
Uncatalyzed Carboboration of Seven-Membered-Ring trans-Alkenes: Formation of Air-Stable Trialkylboranes

Seven-membered-ring trans-alkenes undergo rapid, uncatalyzed carboboration reactions to form trialkylboranes as single diastereomers. In contrast with other trialkylboranes, which can ignite in the presence of oxygen, these trialkylboranes are stable in air. Hindered trialkylboranes can undergo reverse hydroboration reactions to form allylic silanes or can be oxidized to afford highly substituted triols. This reaction sequence permits the construction of compounds with up to five consecutive stereocenters. Control experiments and computational studies support a concerted mechanism for the migratory insertion of the alkene into the carbon–boron bond, similar to the mechanism for hydroboration.
Surgery for Gliomas

Surgical resection, with the goal of maximal tumor removal, is now standard of care for the overwhelming majority of newly diagnosed gliomas. In order to achieve this goal while minimizing the risk of postoperative neurologic deficits, intraoperative brain mapping remains the gold standard. Recent advances in technical aspects of preoperative and intraoperative brain mapping, as well as our understanding of the functional anatomy of the human brain with respect to language, movement, sensation, and cognition, particularly at the subcortical level, have improved our ability to safely perform aggressive resective surgeries in eloquent areas. In this chapter, the functional anatomy of the human brain relevant to intrinsic tumor resection is reviewed. In addition, general principles governing surgical management of patients are highlighted, with a particular emphasis on awake brain mapping.
Noticing Learners’ Strengths Through Cultural Research:

Cultural research can help to identify strengths of cultural communities that are often viewed through a deficit model. Strengths-based approaches open researchers, practitioners, and the public to seeing the logic and value of cultural practices that vary from mainstream approaches. Strengths-based approaches include and extend beyond concerns for social equity: They are necessary for scientific characterization of human cognitive and social processes as well as for effective educational and societal practices. An example of a cultural strength is the sophisticated collaboration shown by many Indigenous-heritage children from North and Central America, which contrasts with the common practice in middle-class communities of dividing up activities into separate roles. These distinct approaches to working together fit with broader cultural paradigms that offer insights into human development as well as inspiration for alternative approaches. As an anonymous reviewer noted, the strengths of each group can be leveraged to mesh with the strengths of others.
Attachment, household chaos, and children's health.

Author(s): Klemfuss, J Zoe; Wallin, Allison R; Quas, Jodi A | Abstract: INTRODUCTION:Despite growing interest in the links between sociocontextual factors and children's behavioral functioning, few studies have investigated how such factors, in combination, relate to health outcomes or vary across mental and physical well-being. We evaluated the direct and interactive associations of parental attachment and household chaos with preschool-age children's mental and physical health. METHOD:Ninety-four parents completed questionnaires about their attachment styles, disorganization and confusion in the home, and their children's health functioning. RESULTS:Attachment avoidance and anxiety in parents predicted poorer mental health in children, particularly in highly chaotic homes. Moreover, parental attachment anxiety, but not avoidance, predicted poorer reported physical health in children and, in conjunction with chaotic homes, more hospitalizations. DISCUSSION:The results help illuminate how multiple domains in children's immediate environment jointly influence their physical and mental health and how these influences may vary across domains of functioning. Findings have implications for targeting interventions to have impact across facets of children's health. (PsycINFO Database Record
An experimental study of furan adsorption and decomposition on vicinal palladium surfaces using scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract The intact adsorption and decomposition of furan (C4H4O) on vicinal palladium surfaces with (111)-oriented terraces has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) over a range of temperatures. STM images at 225 K show that furan molecules lie flat and prefer to adsorb at upper step edges. At 225 K, furan molecules adsorbed on “narrow” terraces of 20 to 45 A in width appear to diffuse more readily than those adsorbed on “wide” terraces of 160 to 220 A. A distinct population of smaller features appears in STM images on “narrow” terraces at 288 K and on “wide” terraces at 415 K and is identified with the C3H3 decomposition product, agreeing with prior studies which demonstrated that furan dissociates on Pd(111) to yield carbon monoxide (CO) and a C3H3 moiety in the 280 to 320 K range. Based on our direct visualization of this reaction using STM, we propose a spatial mechanism in which adsorption of furan at upper step edges allows catalysis of the dissociation, followed by diffusion of the product to lower step edges.
Morphological Transition in Diamond Thin-Films Induced by Boron in a Microwave Plasma Deposition Process.

The purpose of this study is to understand the basic mechanisms responsible for the synthesis of nanostructured diamond films in a microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) process and to identify plasma chemistry suitable for controlling the morphology and electrical properties of deposited films. The nanostructured diamond films were synthesized by MPCVD on Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrates using H2/CH4/N2 precursor gases and the plasma chemistry was monitored by the optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The synthesized thin-films were characterized by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The addition of B2H6 to the feedgas during MPCVD of diamond thin-films changes the crystal grain size from nanometer to micron scale. Nanostructured diamond films grown with H2/CH4/N2 gases demonstrate a broad (111) Bragg x-ray diffraction peak (Full-Width at Half-Maximum (FWHM) = 0.93° 2θ), indicating a small grain size, whereas scans show a definite sharpening of the diamond (111) peak (FWHM = 0.30° 2θ) with the addition of boron. OES showed a decrease in CN (carbon–nitrogen) radical in the plasma with B2H6 addition to the gas mixture. Our study indicates that CN radical plays a critical role in the synthesis of nanostructured diamond films and suppression of CN radical by boron-addition in the plasma causes a morphological transition to microcrystalline diamond.
Meshfree analysis of structures modeled as extensible slender rods

Abstract The analysis of members that can be modeled as extensible elastic slender rods is investigated. A meshfree formulation using a Local Radial Point Interpolation Method (LRPIM) is developed that utilizes radial basis functions in curvilinear coordinates. This approach bypasses the need to utilize more conventional element meshes and significantly reduces the number of equations needed for the numerical solution. The slender rod formulation presented allows for tension variation, axial stretch, incremental loading and distributed load variation along the rod. It is well suited for nonlinear problems that involve large deflections and rigid rotations. The position and tangent vectors are expressed using Hermite-type approximations, and radial basis functions, while the interpolation of tension variation and distributed loads are described using polynomials. The solution procedure of weighted residuals Galerkin weak formulation combined with an incremental iterative numerical scheme is introduced to address the incremental loading and large deflection issues for static and quasi-static problems. The implementation of the analytical formulation and the numerical procedure are illustrated using three nonlinear problems. The first two examples provide insight into the validity, accuracy, and efficiency of the methodology. The third example presents the case of a moving boundary condition problem which models a cable entangled by fishing boat-trawling equipment.
THE CURRENT SOCIETY OF THORACIC SURGEONS MODEL RECLASSIFIES MORTALITY RISK IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) scores are used to screen patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study evaluates the reclassification of predicted risk of mortality (PROM) using current online STS score calculator [based on the adult cardiac surgery database (
Tensile testing of MEMS materials: Recent progress

Tension tests, while standardized for common structural materials, are currently being developed and used for MEMS materials by a small number of researchers. This paper presents recent progress at Hopkins in four areas: ○ Comparison of the tensile test method with different approaches; agreement is found with Young's modulus measurements from membrane tests and with fracture strengths from other tensile tests. ○ Tension-tension fatigue; increased life with decreased applied stress is measured, yielding S-N plots similar to those of metals. ○ Stress versus axial and lateral strain of thick-film silicon carbide; Young's modulus = 420 GPa, Poisson's ratio = 0.21, fracture strength = 0.8 GPa. ○ Polysilicon stress-strain behavior at high temperatures; it deforms inelastically at temperatures above 750°C.
Increase business benefits by using on-line models: Industrial application of known methods

Abstract The obstacles of transferring theoretical methods to practical application in an industrial environment are easily underestimated. To tackle this problem technical, methodological as well as communicative aspects have to be considered. Cooperation and communication between plant management, engineering and software suppliers are of key importance to implement theoretical tools into a process environment. Models-reduced and rigorous-with plant adjusted complexity extract the maximum information from the raw process data. We have applied on-line models in four different continuously operated plants: A black box model in a 80 000 jato vinylacetate plant for mass-energy balance, plant scale-up and process follow-up. A dynamic model of a acetylacetone reactor for predicting optimal reactor performance. The Kalman-Filtering technique for change-point control in a diketene reaction system to meet safety requirements. A ketene cracker dynamic model for cracker design and plant revamping. The model approach reduces operating costs up to 15% mainly by reduction of overall plant variance, which allows operation closer to limits.
Transport parameter estimation from lymph measurements and the Patlak equation

Two methods of estimating protein transport parameters for plasma-to-lymph transport data are presented. Both use IBM-compatible computers to obtain least-squares parameters for the solvent drag reflection coefficient and the permeability-surface area product using the Patlak equation. A matrix search approach is described, and the speed and convenience of this are compared with a commercially available gradient method. The results from both of these methods were different from those of a method reported by Reed, Townsley, and Taylor [Am. J. Physiol. 257 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 26): H1037-H1041, 1989]. It is shown that the Reed et al. method contains a systematic error. It is also shown that diffusion always plays an important role for transmembrane transport at the exit end of a membrane channel under all conditions of lymph flow rate and that the statement that diffusion becomes zero at high lymph flow rate depends on a mathematical definition of diffusion.
On the Complexity of Reconnaissance Blind Chess

This paper provides a complexity analysis for the game of reconnaissance blind chess (RBC), a recently-introduced variant of chess where each player does not know the positions of the opponent's pieces a priori but may reveal a subset of them through chosen, private sensing actions. In contrast to many commonly studied imperfect information games like poker, an RBC player does not know what the opponent knows or has chosen to learn, exponentially expanding the size of the game's information sets (i.e., the number of possible game states that are consistent with what a player has observed). Effective RBC sensing and moving strategies must account for the uncertainty of both players, an essential element of many real-world decision-making problems. Here we evaluate RBC from a game theoretic perspective, tracking the proliferation of information sets from the perspective of selected canonical bot players in tournament play. We show that, even for effective sensing strategies, the game sizes of RBC compare to those of Go while the average size of a player's information set throughout an RBC game is much greater than that of a player in Heads-up Limit Hold 'Em. We compare these measures of complexity among different playing algorithms and provide cursory assessments of the various sensing and moving strategies.
An Agent-Based Model of the Spatial Distribution and Density of the Santa Cruz Island Fox

Abstract During the 1990s, the endemic Santa Cruz island (SCI) fox (Urocyon littoralis santacruzae) population experienced heavy predation from invasive golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and nearly went extinct. The Island Fox Recovery Program instituted in 2002 has since reestablished the population to normal levels. We have constructed an agent-based model (ABM), which simulates the population dynamics of the SCI foxes in both the absence and presence of golden eagle predation. Geographic information system (GIS) data are integrated into the model to replicate the distribution of multiple vegetation types on the island, and the location of golden eagles’ nests and hunting territories. Using the model, we determine how both island vegetation and predation by golden eagles impacted the spatial density and distribution of the foxes across SCI. Model analysis shows the 10 golden eagles known to reside on the island during the 1990s and 2000s were sufficient to have caused this rapid population decline even without the presence of other factors such as disease or competition. Additionally, model analysis shows that while removal of the golden eagles was necessary for the survival of the SCI fox population, the remaining population of 75–100 foxes had a 90% survival probability without aid. The model we present provides a powerful tool for understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of the SCI fox population, can be used and adapted to facilitate the further management of the population, and provides a working example in integrating GIS data with ABMs.
La imposibilidad de la verdad en Chicas muertas de Selva Almada

Selva Almada, en su reciente novela Chicas muertas (2014) narra la historia de tres chicas que fueron asesinadas en los anos ochenta, en una provincia argentina, tres muertes todavia impunes. La narracion de ese presente, cuando todavia no existia #NiUnaMenos ni se hablaba de feminicidio, muestra el desorden informativo presentado por la radio, los diarios de los pueblos, las conversaciones de las personas. Almada escribe ese 'presente' entre generos: el policial, la narracion realista, dentro de un paisaje social del interior, rural y sordido, en un ambiente en el que viven estos personajes encerrados y oprimidos. Almada se hunde en un recorrido que escapa a lo meramente literario, entrevista a familiares, recorre lugares, lee expedientes, habla con jueces, reflexiona sobre su genero y la violencia ejercida sobre el. A partir de este engranaje discursivo, a la busqueda de la verdad, como si fuera un thriller , pero sin responder a sus reglas, en este espacio intermedio entre generos literarios, se desarrolla la historia de las tres chicas muertas, con el telon de fondo del retorno de la democracia. En esta bus-queda de la verdad recurre infructuosamente a diversos sis- temas de informacion, desde videntes a familiares y amigos de las victimas.
Abstract 2042: Modeling estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer bone metastasis to query osteolytic effects of tumor ER signaling

Estrogen receptor α-positive (ER+) breast cancers (BrCAs) have the greatest predilection for forming clinically evident bone metastases (BMETs). To query ERα’s role in osteolytic BrCA BMET progression, tumoral vs bone microenvironment effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) were determined in a human xenograft murine model of ER+ BrCA BMET. Female athymic mice aged 4 weeks (young) or 15 weeks (mature) were inoculated with 1x105 human ER+ MCF-7 BrCA cells via the left cardiac ventricle 2 days post-placement of 60-day release E2 pellets (0.05, 0.10, 0.18, 0.36, & 0.72 mg E2). Osteolytic BMET formation was assessed radiographically and E2effects on bone were determined by DXA and microCT at various time points. The BMET size and proliferation were assessed by immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses at the end of the experiment (42 days). The effect of E2 on tumoral secretion of the osteolytic factor, parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP), was determined using a commercially available radioimmunoassay. The incidence and size of osteolytic BMET, which were not evident in the absence of E2 supplementation, were E2 dose-dependent in young mice. In contrast, E2 effects on the bone microenvironment were not dose-dependent, and resulted in identical increases in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume (BV/TV). In skeletally immature (young) mice vs skeletally mature mice treated with an identical E2 dose (0.72 mg), which caused significantly different effects on bone turnover, progression of E2-dependent BMET was identical. These results suggest that E2 effects on the tumor, rather than bone, were driving E2-dependency of BMET progression. IHC analysis demonstrated that neither the size of human cytokeratin-positive tumors nor the proportion of Ki67-positive proliferating tumor cells in bone were E2 dose-dependent, suggesting that proliferative effects of E2 could not explain E2-dose dependent differences in osteolytic BMET formation. PTHrP, an osteolytic factor expressed in most clinical BrCA BMET, was E2-inducible ex vivo and secreted in higher levels by tumor cells isolated from BMETs. These results suggest that during ER+ BrCA BMET progression, tumoral effects of E2 not only support ER+ BMET proliferation, but may also have bone-specific effects due to the induction of PTHrP, which may explain the marked osteolytic capacity of the ER+ tumor cells in this model despite a microenvironment where bone volume is markedly increased. Citation Format: Julia N. Cheng, Jennifer B. Frye, Susan A. Whitman, Andrew G. Kunihiro, Madison M. Egan, Julia A. Brickey, Lily A. Alvord, Janet L. Funk. Modeling estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer bone metastasis to query osteolytic effects of tumor ER signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2042.
Inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uniporter enhances postmortem proteolysis and tenderness in beef cattle

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of mitochondria in postmortem calcium homeostasis and its effect on proteolysis and tenderness. We hypothesized that mitochondria buffer cytosolic calcium levels and delay the activation of calpain-1 and subsequently the development of meat tenderness. To test this hypothesis, pre-rigor bovine longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle samples were injected with DS16570511 to inhibit mitochondrial calcium uptake. Free calcium, tenderness, texture profile analysis (TPA), calpain-1 activity, and proteolysis were evaluated over a 336 h aging period. Inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uptake increased (P < .0001) cytosolic calcium concentration and calpain-1 autolysis and activity at 24 h compared to control steaks. Further, tenderness and TPA at 168 and 336 h, calpastatin degradation at 24 h, and proteolysis at 168 h were all enhanced (P < .05) in the treated steaks. Collectively, these data indicate that inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uptake can enhance postmortem proteolysis and tenderization through an early activation of calpain-1.
Early life stress exposure associated with reduced polyunsaturated-containing lipids in low-income children

Psychosocial stress in early childhood is associated with adult obesity and cardiometabolic disease. The association of psychosocial stress with the metabolome in childhood is unknown. Low-income children (n = 28, mean age 1.8 years), recruited from the community, participated. Psychosocial stress was measured by diurnal salivary cortisol (cortisol intercept and slope) and by mother-reported chaos in the home using the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS). At mean age 6.1 years, anthropometry was collected and fasting metabolites measured using an untargeted metabolomics and shotgun lipidomics platform. Cortisol slope was inversely associated with fatty acid (FA) 20:3, FA 20:4 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) metabolites. A higher CHAOS score was associated with lower very long-chain PUFA metabolites and a trend towards lower long-chain PUFA containing triglycerides. Psychosocial stress in early childhood, measured with both biological markers and parent report, was associated with lower PUFAs later in childhood. Future work should examine potential mechanisms of association, including dietary intake or direct effects on polyunsaturated fatty acid levels or metabolism.
Realism and great power subversion

I present a realist theory of subversion among great powers, an understudied phenomenon in the burgeoning literature on subversive statecraft. I show that a simple, rational cost-benefit calculus a...
An Economic Cost Assessment on HALEU Fuels for Small Modular Reactors

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are currently being considered as future investments for commercial entities due to perceived advantages over traditional large-scale power reactors, particularly their considerably lower capital costs. One strategy for lowering the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of SMRs is to increase their burnup by utilizing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuels, which range from 5 to 20 weight percent (w/o) of U-235. By increasing fuel enrichment to HALEU levels, with higher specific fuel costs compared to standard enrichment, a plant may achieve an increased capacity factor by extending its fuel cycle and thereby reducing average yearly fuel supply costs. It is expected that the benefits of optimizing fuel enrichment to extend a reactor’s fuel cycle outweigh the added cost due to more expensive fuel. In this paper, the net benefit of extending an SMR’s fuel cycle by enriching uranium fuel to HALEU levels was estimated using 2017 nuclear fuel production market data with NuScale’s 160 MWt SMR design as a case study. It was found that, for NuScale’s design, plant LCOE decreased with increasing cycle length enabled by higher fuel enrichment. It was also observed that doubling cycle time from 24 months to 48 months netted each reactor a 1.23 $/MWh reduction in LCOE. The total savings for a 12-module SMR design were estimated to be around $5,840,000 per year. Therefore, utilizing HALEU fuel in SMRs can vastly improve their economic efficiency.
Where’s the beef: how one woman navigated advertising’s male-dominated creative world

While much light is shone on issues when women are unable to achieve leadership positions in advertising, less attention is afforded to examining the paths of those women who were able to be succes...
Demographic disparities in clinical outcomes of COVID-19: data from a statewide cohort in South Carolina

BackgroundCurrent literature examining the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients under-represent COVID-19 cases who were either asymptomatic or had a mild illness. ObjectiveTo generate a state-level description and examine the demographic disparities of clinical outcomes of COVID-19. DesignStatewide population-based cohort study SettingCOVID-19 surveillance facilities in South Carolina PatientsAdults COVID-19 cases reported to the SC DHEC by Case Report Form during March 04-December 31, 2020 MeasurementsThe primary predictors were socio-demographic characteristics. The outcomes were COVID-19 disease severity, hospitalization, and mortality, which collected from the standardized CRF. ResultsAmong a total of 280,177 COVID-19 cases, 5.2% (14,451) were hospitalized and 1.9% (5,308) died. Individuals who were older, male gender, Blacks, Hispanic or Latino, and residing in small towns had higher odds for hospitalization and death from COVID-19 (Ps<0.0001). Regarding disease severity, 144,157 (51.5%) were asymptomatic, while 34.4% and 14.2% had mild and moderate/severe symptoms, respectively. Older individuals (OR: 1.14, 95%CI: 1.11, 1.18), Hispanic or Latino (OR: 2.07; 95%CI: 1.96, 2.18), and people residing in small towns (OR: 1.15; 95%CI: 1.08, 1.23) had higher odds of experiencing moderate/severe symptoms, while male and Asian (vs Whites) patients had lower odds of experiencing moderate/severe symptoms. LimitationsPotential misclassification of outcomes due to missing data; other variables were not evaluated, such as comorbidities. ConclusionAs the first statewide population-based study using data from multiple healthcare systems with a long follow-up period in the US, we provide a more generalizable picture of COVID-19 symptoms and clinical outcomes. The findings from this study reinforce the fact that rural residence, racial and ethnic social determinants of health, unfortunately, remain predictors of poor health outcomes for COVID-19 patients.
The “cost” of noise at work: an occupational injustice among low wage workers and communities

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Noise exposure is ubiquitous in the US and has been associated with various health outcomes. Chronic occupational noise exposure of an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) ≥85 A-w...
Association of a Medicare Outpatient Payment Reform With Hospital-Primary Care Integration: Heterogeneity Across Markets and Physicians.

BACKGROUND Hospital-physician integration increased rapidly in the past decade, threatening the affordability of care with minimal gains in quality. Medicare recently reformed its facility fee payments to hospitals for office consultations delivered by hospital-integrated physicians. This policy reform, affecting 200 million office visits annually, may have inadvertently encouraged hospitals to integrate with certain primary care physicians. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether the policy reform was associated with hospital-primary care integration. RESEARCH DESIGN I used a large sample of primary care physicians (n=98,884) drawn from Medicare claims data. I estimated cross-sectional multivariable linear probability models to measure whether the change in physicians' value-to-hospitals was associated with integration. RESULTS The reform created heterogenous results: some physicians' value-to-hospitals decreased, while others increased (first percentile to 99th percentile, -$16,000 to $47,000). This change in value had a small association with integration: for every $10,000 increase, a physician was about 0.34 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.52) more likely to become integrated. Among high-volume physicians, the reform had larger effects: physicians whose value-to-hospitals grew by $20,000 or more were nearly 3 percentage points more likely to become integrated. Changes in value had no effect in concentrated hospital markets and rural areas. CONCLUSIONS Effects of Medicare's site-based payments on hospital-primary care integration were concentrated among a small subset of physicians. Reforms to Medicare payment policy could influence integration among this group.
Parametric Cardinality Probing in Set Partitioning

In this work, we investigate parametric probing methods based on solution cardinality for set partitioning problems. The methods used are inspired by the early work of Gass and Saaty on the parametric solution to linear programs, as well as the later work of Joseph, Gass, and Bryson that examined the duality gap between the integer and relaxation solutions to general integer programming problems. Computational results are presented for a collection of set partitioning problems found in the literature.
The Geomorphology of the Glacial Valley Cross Section

Several alpine valley systems in the southeastern Beartooth Mountains, Montana and Wyoming, have been examined using techniques similar to methods of stream system analysis. The general equation y ...
The End of Innocence? Federal Habeas Corpus Law After In re Davis

"This Court has never held that the Constitution forbids the execution of a convicted defendant who has had a full and fair trial but is later able to convince a habeas court that he is "˜actually' innocent."
Addition of Angular Momenta—The Wigner-Eckart Theorem

In Section V.1 the elementary rotator is defined as the system described by an irreducible representation of the algebra of angular momentum. Section V.2 discusses then the direct product of two irreducible representations of angular momentum and its reduction with respect to the total angular momentum. The Clebsch-Gordan coefficients are introduced, their recursion relations are derived, and their most frequently used values are tabulated. In Section V.3 tensor operators are introduced and the Wigner-Eckart theorem for the rotation group is stated without derivation. In Section V.4 a new observable, parity, is introduced. Parity is then applied to discuss the spectrum of diatomic symmetric-top molecules. In an Appendix to Section V.3 the irreducible representations of the algebras of SO(3, 1), SO(4), and E(3) are derived.
Risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: disparity between African Americans and other race/ethnic groups.

BACKGROUND African Americans have a higher incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma compared with non-Hispanic whites. Whether other clinical differences exist between these two groups is not well known. METHODS The authors conducted a population-based retrospective analysis of all patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma in both a regional and a statewide database between 1988 and 1998. Their goal was to evaluate differences in incidence rates, clinical presentation, including age at diagnosis, gender, and tumor characteristics, and treatment among race/ethnic groups. RESULTS African Americans had a higher age-adjusted incidence rate of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (8.78) compared with non-Hispanic whites (5.89), Hispanics (5.09), Asians (4.75), and all race/ethnicities combined (5.82). African Americans also presented at a later stage of disease and received less surgery than all other race/ethnicities, despite equal availability of medical insurance. The analyses also revealed gender differences. In general, males maintained a higher incidence rate of pancreatic adenocarcinoma than females across all race/ethnicities. In all race/ethnic groups, females were diagnosed at an older age and an earlier stage of disease than males. The proportional hazard mortality ratio for females age < 60 was significantly less than that for males in the same age group (P < 0.02), even after accounting for stage and treatment. CONCLUSIONS African Americans in California had a higher incidence rate of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, had a slightly higher risk of presenting with advanced-stage diseas and with nonresectable tumors (i.e., tumors located in the body or tail of the pancreas), and underwent less surgical treatment than all other race/ethnicities. Younger females in all race/ethnic groups had a survival advantage over males of the same age. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Regulation of renin-angiotensin system in unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Regulation of renin-angiotensin system in unilateral ureteral obstruction. The effect of 24-hour unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) on the expression and regulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in rats and of pretreatment with lisinopril (5 mg/kg/day) or the AT 1 -R inhibitor, losartan, (10 mg/kg/day) on renal hemodynamics was evaluated. Both drugs improved the post-obstructed kidney (POK) renal hemodynamics, lowered MAP, and normalized eicosanoid excretion by the POK. Cortex and medulla POK:CK ratio of relative density R mRNA was ˜3.5 for both. Sham, POK, and CK showed renin immunoreactivity and R mRNA exclusively in juxtaglomerular position. In addition, in POK renin was expressed in mesangial cells, along greater lengths of afferent arterioles and in dilated distal tubules and loops of Henle. In situ hybridization revealed that ˜20% more glomeruli in POK than CK overexpressed R mRNA. Blood vessels of POK consistently showed greater ACE and Ao mRNA expression than CK. Overexpression of the genes coding for members of the RAS is possibly responsible for local Ang II production which, in view of the response to CEI and AT 1 R inhibitors, is at least partly responsible for the severe hemodynamic changes in UUO.
Anatomy of arm veins: Significance for vein valve transplantation

Vein valve transplantation is a recently described operation to treat the sequelae of lower extremity venous hypertension resulting from valvular dysfunction. The operation involves harvesting a segment of an arm vein contianing a competent valve and transplanting it into a lower extremity vein. To determine the optimal incisions for obtaining a suitable valve-containing segment of vein, 20 cadaver arms were dissected. Cephalic, basilic, and brachial veins were examined for size, distribution of valves, and presence of tandem valves (defined as valves separated by 2 cm or less). Because patency rates are low in vascular grafts < 4 mm in diameter, only veins of this size or greater were considered adequate for transplantation. Cephalic veinswere found to have a consistently smaller diameter than basilic or brachial veins (P < 0.0001). Incisions for exposure of the basilic and brachial veins were evaluated. When exposure was limited to the middle third of the arm, an adequate vein, either the basilic or one of the brachial veins, was found in all cases. When either the distal or proximal third of the arm was exposed, however, an adequate vein was found in only 70% of the cases (P < 0.02). Tandem valves, although potentially useful, were present in only 5%, 25%, and 20%, respectively, of distal, middle, and proximal arm segments. Based on the results of this study, a medial incision along the middle third of the arm, exposing a basilic or brachial vein, is recommended as the optimal approach for vein harvesting in vein valve transplantation.
South American monkeys in the development and testing of malarial vaccines - a review

South American Aoutus an d Saimiri monkeys, which are susceptible to infection with human malarias, have been used to develop models for the testing of huma malaria vaccines. Studies indicate that blood-stage and sporozoite vaccines can be tested in these monkeys using appropriate strains of parasites.
Development of NADPH-diaphorase expression in chemosensory systems of the opossum, Monodelphis domestica

Using NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, the present study describes development of olfactory and vomeronasal systems in postnatal opossums, Monodelphis domestica. NADPH-dependent staining is absent at and around the time of birth. By 2 weeks of age and through adulthood, intense staining is seen along the luminal surface of the olfactory epithelium (OE) and of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VNE), as well as in Bowman's glands of the OE. Staining of the adult VNE is not homogeneous; it is restricted to the superficial 2/3 of the epithelium. At 2 weeks of age, staining in the brain is seen only at the surface of the ventricles and in blood vessels. At 1 month of age and through adulthood, staining of varying intensity is seen in individual olfactory bulb glomeruli, although the incoming olfactory axons are relatively unstained. Interestingly, whereas at 30 days of age, staining of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) glomeruli is uniform, 2 weeks later and in the adult, NADPH staining is concentrated in the rostral half, with little or no staining observed in the posterior portion. Darkly stained periglomerular cells are seen throughout the extent of the differentially-stained glomerular layer. From 30 days of age and through adulthood, intense NADPH staining is also observed in the islands of Calleja, as well as in cells of the dorsal cortex, often associated with the path of the rostral migratory stream.
Nanomagnetism and spin electronics: materials, microstructure and novel properties

We present an overview of the critical issues of current interest in magnetic and magnetoelectronic materials. A broad demonstration of the successful blend of materials synthesis, microstructural evolution and control, new physics and novel applications that is central to research in this field is presented. The critical role of size, especially at the nanometer length scale, dimensionality, as it pertains to thin films and interfaces, and the overall microstructure, in determining a range of fundamental properties and potential applications, is emphasized. Even though the article is broad in scope, examples are drawn mainly from our recent work in magnetic nanoparticles and core-shell structures, exchange, proximity and interface effects in thin film heterostructures, and dilute magnetic dielectrics, a new class of materials for spin electronics applications.
Synergism of Cytotoxic Effects of Vinorelbine and Paclitaxel in Vitro

AbstractEmpiric combinations of vinca alkaloids with taxanes have been recently used in clinical oncology. To enhance the activity of these two classes of agents, we evaluated the sequence and duration of exposure, looking for synergistic effects. Cell lines DU 145, PC 3, LnCaP, LL 86, MCF7wt, and MCF7/ADR (NCI/ADR-RES) were incubated with varying concentrations of paclitaxel or vinorelbine. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by a semiautomated MTT (3–[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method. Synergism or antagonism of these two agents either sequentially or in combination was determined by median effect analysis. Prolonged exposure of cells to either drug enhanced cytotoxic effect. Synergism or antagonism with vinorelbine and paclitaxel were both sequence dependent and cell line specific. In the case of MCF7wt, synergism was seen when a 48-hr exposure to vinorelbine preceded paclitaxel, whereas antagonism was noted when both agents were applied simultaneously or when the sequence was r...
Kinesthetic Compensation for Sensorimotor Rearrangements

The authors report a new sensorimotor phenomenon in which participants use hand-sensed kinesthetic information to compensate for rotational sensorimotor rearrangements. This compensation benefits from conscious awareness and is related to hand posture. The technique can reduce control inefficiency with some misalignments by as much as 64%. The results support Y. Guiard's (1987) suggestion that in bimanual tasks one hand provides an operational frame of reference for the other hand as in a closed kinematic chain. Results with right-handed participants show that the right and left hands are equally effective at providing such a cue. A constant-angular-targeting-error model, similar to that used for hand movements by H. Cunningham and I. Vardi (1990) and for walking by S. K. Rushton, J. M. Harris, M. R. Lloyd, and J. P. Wann (1998), is used to model the trajectories of targeting hand movements demonstrating the phenomenon. The model provides a natural parameter of the error.
Enhanced MHT encryption scheme for chosen plaintext attack

Efficient multimedia encryption algorithms play a key role in multimedia security protection. One multimedia encryption algorithm known as the MHT (Multiple Huffman Tables) method was recently developed by Wu and Kuo in [4] and [5]. Even though MHT has many desirable properties, it is vulnerable to the chosen-plaintext attack (CPA). An enhanced MHT algorithm is proposed in this work to overcome this drawback. It is proved mathematically that the proposed algorithm is secure against the chosen plaintext attack.
Sum Frequency Generation Imaging Microscopy of Patterned Self-Assembled Monolayers with Terminal -CH3, -OCH3, -CF2CF3, -C=C, -Phenyl, and -Cyclopropyl Groups

Vibrational spectroscopic imaging is demonstrated for a variety of organic monolayer-functionalized surfaces patterned using microcontact printing. The images from sum frequency generation imaging microscopy (SFGIM) are analyzed using different contrast mechanisms in the interpretation of the transition from stamped to backfilled regions of interest. For this experiment, microcontact printing is used to spatially control the surface monolayers by using a patterned stamp and by varying the terminal functional group of the backfilling solutions. Analysis by the three different methods suggests that significant mixing occurs between the stamped and backfilled regions, which influence the contrast in the images at the resonant peaks. In addition, the interference between the resonant peaks and nonresonant background also has an effect on the appearance of the image.
The supplier–firm–buyer game and its m-sided generalization

Abstract Two-sided assignment games are a natural model for buyer–seller markets. The focus on the firm in business strategy suggests the use of a three-sided game to model suppliers, firms, and buyers. Although, in general, a three-sided game may have an empty core, this paper shows that the supplier–firm–buyer game of Brandenburger and Stuart (1996) always has a non-empty core. This class of games suggests a condition, called local additivity, which is shown to be a sufficient condition for non-emptiness of the core in m -sided assignment games.
Frontal-view face detection

ABSTRACT This paper presents a symmetry measurement based on the correlation coefficient. This symmetry measure-ment is used to locate the center line of faces, and afterward, to decide whether the face view is frontal or not. A483-face image database obtained from the U. S. Army was used to test the algorithm. Though the performance ofthe algorithm is limeted to 87%, this is due to the wide range of variations present in the database used to test ouralgorithm. Under more constrain conditions, such as uniform illumination, this technique can be a powerful toolin facial feature extraction. In regards its computational requirements, though this algorithm is very expensive,three independent optimizations are presented; two of which are successfully implemented, and tested.Keywords: symmertry, symmetry measurement, face detection, frontal view face detection. 1 INTRODUCTION. This paper presents an algorithm based on symmetry measurements, useful to extract information about sym-metric objects from images. The proposed technique was developed and tested in the context of face recognition,but it might find applications in other areas of computer vision in which symmetry is involved. The motivationfor this work is the high amount of symmetry present in frontal view faces; the claim is that this information canbe useful in the estimation of face orientation, as well as in the extraction of feature points.In a face recognition system based on template matching, estimating the orientation of the probe faces helps indiscarding templates that do not need to be searched reducing the computational requirements and the executiontime.1 On the other hand, this algorithm as a preprocessing step, provides information usually assumed as inputdata in facial feature extraction techniques. In a more general context, symmetry measurements combined withsome knowledge can be used to verify the presence of (symmetrical) objects in a given image.Much work has been previously done in this area; from the development of symmetry operators24 for detectionof interesting points, to fast algorithms for the location of axis of symmetry on images.5 However, the problemhas been stated as the location of the regions with the largest amount of symmetry to guide the feature extractionassuming their presence. In the context of face recognition, we use a symmetry measurement to decide if theprobe image is a frontal view; for each case, we also provide an estimation of the tilt angle, and the location ofthe center line.
Controlled dis‐integration: Toward a strategy for United States foreign economic policy

Abstract Suggested agendas for future U.S. economic strategy have proliferated in recent years in view of the rapid and profound changes in the nature of the international economic system. This paper assesses several of the most significant proposals for international economic policy in the light of contemporary theoretical works on the subject of international political economy. The article weighs the practicality of several recommendations and outlines a new United States strategy characterized by both renewed activist leadership and selective, controlled decoupling.
Elliptic curve cryptography based mutual authentication scheme for session initiation protocol

The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the most widely used signaling protocol for controlling communication on the internet, establishing, maintaining, and terminating the sessions. The services that are enabled by SIP are equally applicable in the world of multimedia communication. Recently, Tsai proposed an efficient nonce-based authentication scheme for SIP. In this paper, we do a cryptanalysis of Tsai's scheme and show that Tsai's scheme is vulnerable to the password guessing attack and stolen-verifier attack. Furthermore, Tsai's scheme does not provide known-key secrecy and perfect forward secrecy. We also propose a novel and secure mutual authentication scheme based on elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem for SIP which is immune to the presented attacks.